Martin Luther Was Extraordinarily Devoted to Mary

Last updated on: August 18, 2024 at 4:58 pm By Dave Armstrong

Despite the radicalism of early Protestantism with regard to many ancient Catholic “distinctives,” such as the Communion of the Saints, Penance, Purgatory, Infused Justification, the Papacy, the priesthood, sacramental marriage, etc., it may surprise many to discover that Martin Luther was rather conservative in some of his doctrinal views, such as on baptismal regeneration, the Eucharist, and particularly the Blessed Virgin Mary. * Luther indeed was quite devoted to Our Lady, and retained most of the traditional Marian doctrines which... Read more

Humanae Vitae: August 1968 & the “Progressive” Revolt

Last updated on: July 25, 2018 at 12:01 pm By Dave Armstrong

The following is a collection of lengthy excerpts from an article written by Cardinal James Francis Stafford, courtesy of Catholic News Agency, and published in California Catholic Daily (29 July 2008). It’s essential reading for all who want to understand a key event in the modernist crisis of the Church. Everything is here: the faddishness of the theologically liberal mindset, desire for mere popular acclaim, the herd mentality, the coercive and hostile tendency, the quick irrational judgment and impulse to polarization, knee-jerk trashing... Read more

Mary Mediatrix: St. John Paul II & Benedict XVI Clarify

Last updated on: July 25, 2018 at 11:35 am By Dave Armstrong

Many Protestants (especially the tiny minority of anti-Catholics among Protestants) are under the false impression that the teaching of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Mediatrix is somehow a new, novel thing, and that if these notions are proclaimed as the Fifth Marian Dogma, that the Catholic Church will turn a new page of ever-more outrageous heresy and unbiblical excess. Some Catholics (many of whom have not studied the issue in much depth at all) also join in on this needless... Read more

Mary Mediatrix & Jesus (Mere Vessels vs. Sources)

Last updated on: July 24, 2018 at 6:50 pm By Dave Armstrong

I answered an objection to my recent article on this topic at National Catholic Register: Of course, Jesus is our Savior, and the source of all the grace (as I made quite clear in my paper), which He then chooses to pass through Mary to us. No contradiction whatsoever. It only is for those accustomed to thinking in unbiblical either/or terms. A hose is not the ultimate source of water. An electric wire is not the source of electricity or... Read more

Predestination Mysteries: Dialogue with an Atheist

Last updated on: July 24, 2018 at 4:10 pm By Dave Armstrong

This is a follow-up to “Predestination and Salvation: Q & A with an Atheist”. Words of atheist Grimlock will be in blue. ***** [replying to my answers to his #1 and #2 questions in the previous exchange] If I’ve understood it correctly, your position is something like this: God created everything, including free beings. God also knows whether a being will end up in Hell, yet still created everything so that those beings would exist. Yet what I struggle with is... Read more

Mary as the “Queen Mother” and “Queen of Heaven”

Last updated on: July 24, 2018 at 1:28 pm By Dave Armstrong

Is 1 Kings 2:17-25 a Fatal Counter-Example? (with Steve Ray) I received the following letter: We are Anglican, and looking very deeply into the Catholic church. There is one matter that troubles me which I hope you will be able to clarify for me. I ordered Knowing Mary Through the Bible, a DVD series by Ted Sri, and have been watching it. At one point, Dr. Sri makes the point that Jesus will not refuse Mary’s requests, and the text... Read more

Predestination and Salvation: Q & A with an Atheist

Last updated on: July 24, 2018 at 11:54 am By Dave Armstrong

Grimlock (a Norwegian) is a regular (and rather inquisitive and provocative) contributor on my blog. He was responding underneath my paper, “Do Catholics Believe in Predestination? Yes! But . . .” His words will be in blue. ***** Not finding this very intuitive to grasp, so I’ve got some questions to clarify. I tried to make them yes/no questions. Let me know if any of the questions need to be clarified. 1. Does God know before a person is created whether... Read more

Do Catholics Believe in Predestination? Yes! But . . .

Last updated on: July 23, 2018 at 4:03 pm By Dave Armstrong

This was a chapter, intended for, but not included in my book, The One-Minute Apologist (2007). ***** SALVATION Catholics don’t believe in predestination *** Catholics think that man’s free will is the final determinant of salvation *** Initial Reply * The Catholic Church believes in the predestination of the elect, or those who are saved; it only denies that God predestines anyone to hell from eternity without any consideration of their own free will decisions. Extensive Reply * It is a common... Read more

Modernism vs. History in Genesis & Biblical Inspiration

Last updated on: July 23, 2018 at 8:48 pm By Dave Armstrong

This all occurred when a man came onto one of my comboxes, chiming in about an existing discussion with an agnostic / deist, saying about himself, “I’d be OK with the label progressive or even liberal.” He has (by his own report) “a Ph.D. in philosophy from Catholic University, Washington, D.C.”, and is “a retired teacher of Church, theology, liturgy, the Bible, science, children’s books, traditional virtues, social justice, ecological responsibilities, . . .”; also a “lector, cantor, and extraordinary... Read more

Dialogue w Agnostic/Deist on God’s Revelation & Character

Last updated on: July 22, 2018 at 4:31 pm By Dave Armstrong

VicQRuiz is a friendly “agnostic/deist” who commented on my 2001 exchange: The “Problem of Good”: Great Dialogue With an Atheist. I compiled those replies and my responses, and now will reply to further comments of his. His words (complete) will be in blue. My older words to which he is responding will be indented. ***** From your lengthy reply I have selected those comments upon which I think I can best opine. If there is something else you said which you think I really... Read more