Nature of Tradition & Church: (vs. Two Lutheran Pastors)

Last updated on: July 30, 2018 at 12:49 pm By Dave Armstrong

Pastor Larry A. Nichols (Lutheran – Missouri Synod, or “LCMS”) is the author of several books, including Dictionary of Cults, Sects, Religions, and the Occult (Zondervan Publishing House, 1993, with George A. Mather & Alvin J. Schmidt), Masonic Lodge (Zondervan, 1995; with George A. Mather & Alan W. Gomes), Discovering the Plain Truth: How the Worldwide Church of God Encountered the Gospel of Grace (Intervarsity Press, 1997; co-author George A. Mather), and Encyclopedic Dictionary of World Religions (2006; with George A. Mather & Alvin J. Schmidt). He has also... Read more

Anathemas of Trent & Excommunication: An Explanation

Last updated on: July 30, 2018 at 12:23 pm By Dave Armstrong

The vivid Greek term anathema, meaning “accursed,” is directed by the Council of Trent and other Catholic ecumenical councils primarily towards doctrines, rather than persons, based on the ancient practice in the Church of condemning heretical teachings — a procedure itself derived biblically from passages such as Galatians 1:8-9 and 1 Corinthians 16:22 (the latter has anathema both in Greek and in many English versions). There is nothing improper whatsoever in defining correct doctrine and rejecting contrary notions. St. Paul does this constantly. The Catholic... Read more

Classic Catholic Reflections on Indulgences

Last updated on: July 29, 2018 at 5:30 pm By Dave Armstrong

A. Servant of God John A. Hardon, S .J. ‘The remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins forgiven as far as their guilt is concerned, which the follower of Christ with the proper dispositions and under certain determined conditions acquires through the intervention of the Church, which, as minister of the redemption, authoritatively dispenses and applies the treasury of the satisfaction won by Christ and the saints’ (Pope Paul VI, Apostolic Constitution on Indulgences). As originally understood,... Read more

Classic Catholic Reflections on Penance

Last updated on: July 29, 2018 at 5:14 pm By Dave Armstrong

I. PENANCE: INTRODUCTION / DEFINITIONS 1. Penance A. Servant of God John A. Hardon, S. J. The virtue or disposition of heart by which one repents of one’s own sins and is converted to God. Also the punishment by which one atones for sins committed, either by oneself or by others. And finally the sacrament of penance, where confessed sins committed after baptism are absolved by a priest in the name of God. (Pocket Catholic Dictionary, New York: Doubleday Image,... Read more

Classic Catholic Reflections on Purgatory

Last updated on: July 29, 2018 at 4:44 pm By Dave Armstrong

Servant of God John A. Hardon, S. J. The place or condition in which the souls of the just are purified after death and before they can enter heaven. They may be purified of the guilt of their venial sins, as in this life, by an act of contrition deriving from charity and performed with the help of grace. This sorrow does not, however, affect the punishment for sins, because in the next world there is no longer any possibility... Read more

Classic Reflections on the Communion of Saints

Last updated on: July 29, 2018 at 4:17 pm By Dave Armstrong

The following material is from the first draft of my book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism (1994). It ran about 750 pages and contained many citations (along the lines of Josh McDowell’s Evidence That Demands a Verdict). I revised the whole thing in 1996, incorporating citations from the new Catechism and omitting much material (particularly early Protestant history). I think the revision makes for a much better book, yet what was deleted is not, I think, without value and usefulness. Protestant quotations will be in blue... Read more

Catholic Conversion: Random Thoughts & Reflections

Last updated on: July 28, 2018 at 12:47 pm By Dave Armstrong

***** When it comes to things like conversion (to Christ or to another faith community) it really comes down to faith. This is how conversion works. We are not computers or machines. We are whole people. Christianity is a faith, and requires faith to adopt (in whatever one of its brands). There is no avoiding this. One can never absolutely prove their system. That is not only true for Christianity but for any thought-system, in my opinion. Faith is also... Read more

Flawed Conversion Blurb & James White’s Personal Insults

Last updated on: July 28, 2018 at 12:27 pm By Dave Armstrong

Words of the anti-Catholic polemicist James “Dr.” [???] White will be in blue. ***** King of the anti-Catholics, Reformed Baptist apologist James White has issued his by now standard mocking “reply” to any reasoned criticism I offer to his work (the latest one having to do with his unfortunate and ultimately heretical claim that “vicar of Christ” can only apply to the Holy Spirit and not to the pope). [see a similar later paper of mine] There is little new... Read more

James White’s Lies Re the Return of Francis Beckwith to the Church

Last updated on: July 27, 2018 at 7:05 pm By Dave Armstrong

It seems that Bishop White was itching for some good discussion on this matter and wanting very much to defend his atrocious ethics of announcing someone’s conversion before the party in question wanted to announce it. He could have done so here, or he could have on Jimmy Akin’s blog, in a discussion that had more than 150 comments. But that would entail dealing with experienced Catholic apologists: both quite familiar with his methods, and others with such experience, too,... Read more

Q & A: Catholic View on Sexual Morality & Contraception

Last updated on: November 20, 2019 at 12:45 pm By Dave Armstrong

Photo credit: Adam and Eve (c. 1508), by Jan Gossaert (1478-1532) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] This article has been re-posted, under the title of “Q & A: Catholic Sexual Morality and Contraception” ***** Read more