Reactionary Louie Verrecchio’s Three Lies About Vatican II

Last updated on: June 19, 2019 at 12:20 pm By Dave Armstrong

I’ve written about radical Catholic reactionary Louie Verrecchio (words in blue below) three times before, though only on Facebook (one / two / three). His quasi-schismatic extremism and serious error regarding Vatican II is laid out in his “About” page from his aka Catholic website. He has followed the same sad path that Taylor Marshall, Peter Kwasniewski and other reactionaries are now also following: For years, I was warmly welcomed as a presenter in Catholic parishes and dioceses throughout the... Read more

Roberto de Mattei Misrepresents Gaudium Et Spes on Procreation

Last updated on: June 19, 2019 at 12:10 pm By Dave Armstrong

Gaudium et spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World) was promulgated at the Second Vatican Council, in agreement with Pope St. Paul VI, on 7 December 1965. Roberto de Mattei is a radical Catholic reactionary, who signed the Filial Correction of Pope Francis in July 2017. He is regularly published at the reactionary websites Rorate Caeli (e.g., 7-2-17 / 1-28-15 / 7-13-17 / 3-29-17 / 10-19-16 / 11-2-16), One Peter Five (e.g., 3-8-17 and 5-16-17), and Lifesite News. I shall critique his article published at the latter site:... Read more

23 Catholic Medieval Proto-Scientists: 12th-13th Centuries

Last updated on: June 18, 2019 at 12:57 pm By Dave Armstrong

From my 2010 book, Science and Christianity: Close Partners or Mortal Enemies? (pp. 38-46). Follow the link for book and purchase information: available for as low as $2.99. I have not checked all the links. Some may be defunct after nine years. Generally, Amazon, Google Books, and Wikipedia links are pretty stable and unchanging. [New Introduction] Many people (particularly atheists) seem to have this notion that the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages was hostile to empirical inquiry, the study of processes... Read more

Scientific & Empiricist Church Fathers: To Augustine (d. 430)

Last updated on: June 18, 2019 at 12:15 pm By Dave Armstrong

From my 2010 book, Science and Christianity: Close Partners or Mortal Enemies? (pp. 19-28). Follow the link for book and purchase information: available for as low as $2.99. I have not checked all the links. Some may be defunct after nine years. Generally, Amazon, Google Books, and Wikipedia links are pretty stable and unchanging. [New Introduction] Many people (particularly atheists) seem to have this notion that the early Church and the Church fathers were hostile to empirical inquiry, the study of processes... Read more

Swearing & Post-Boomer Generations: Literary Progress?

Last updated on: June 17, 2019 at 2:18 pm By Dave Armstrong

I’ve addressed this fascinating and complex topic many times: Biblical “Ass” (Donkey) & Holier Than Thou Anti-Catholics [2007; abridged & revised: 1-19-19] Cussing Women, Chivalry, Etc. [8-24-16] Salty Language = Being “Salt”? (+ extensive Facebook discussion) [8-26-16] Simcha Fisher, Swearing, St. Paul, & Evangelizing [2-1-17] Swearing & “Younger” Generations (Sliding Scales) [1-27-18] Swearing and Sharing the Faith Don’t Mix Very Well! [National Catholic Register, 7-16-18] Recently, a discussion on the topic developed on my Facebook page. Enjoy! ***** René Albert [early 30s, I think]: You got me where... Read more

Catholics & Origins: Irreducible Complexity or Theistic Evolution?

Last updated on: June 17, 2019 at 12:40 pm By Dave Armstrong

I ran across the article, “Two Catholic Scientists Debate Intelligent Design” (Pat Flynn, Chronicles of Strength.com). The two scientists are: Dr. Stacy Trasancos: a convert to Catholicism and a nationally-recognized author, speaker, and educator on the topic of theology and science. She has a PhD in chemistry and an MA in dogmatic theology. She is a teaching fellow for Bishop Robert Barron’s new Word on Fire Institute and regularly appears on Catholic Answers Live to answer questions about faith and... Read more

On Homeschooling & Dilapidated Public Education

Last updated on: June 15, 2019 at 12:45 pm By Dave Armstrong

Here I was responding on the Coming Home Network forum (where I was the moderator from 2007-2010) to the usual horror stories about public schools and defended our own choice to homeschool our children, while calling at the same time for Christian citizens to do something about the horrifying decline of public education. * * * Even keeping one’s child away from public school dances is not complete protection. For at least fifteen years girls’ drill teams and cheerleading squads... Read more

Neo-Scholastic Thomism & Popes John Paul II & Benedict XVI

Last updated on: June 14, 2019 at 1:30 pm By Dave Armstrong

“JS”, a Thomist, with whom I have recently been debating the nature of predestination, has claimed that Pope John Paul II was a “Thomist.” In a very broad sense, one could state this. But once one looks more closely, I think it is a misleading categorization. Here is our brief exchange, from previous comments on my blog (his words in blue), and a collection of several commentaries on the general question of Thomism and the proponents of it, in its various... Read more

Dialogue: Vatican II & Other Religions (“Nostra Aetate”)

Last updated on: June 14, 2019 at 12:33 pm By Dave Armstrong

This is a discussion with a radical Catholic reactionary who thinks that Vatican II compromised the Catholic faith. His words will be in blue.*****Your argument has two sides to it: one is a defense of the Second Vatican Council, another is an attack on those who dare to question it; let’s examine the defense. I am not attacking the people, of course, but their positions. I always make that distinction, and it is absolutely crucial in the field of apologetics, as well... Read more

Indefectibility of the Church: Reflections & Thoughts

Last updated on: October 24, 2019 at 12:08 pm By Dave Armstrong

Photo credit: ruins of the Cistercian Abbey of Our Lady in Ourscamp (Oise), France. Begun in 1129; completed in 1791. 2006 photo [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license] ***** This article has been re-uploaded with the title, “Indefectibility of Holy Mother Church: Believe It Or Not”. ***** Read more