[Pope-bashing didn’t start with Pope Francis. I compiled the following on 9 April 2005, with additions in 2011] *** Christopher Ferrara (co-author of “the most feared book in Neo-Catholic Land”: The Great Facade) . . . . This brings us to the heart of the matter: How is it that a world in the grip of apostasy had nothing but praise for the Pope whose moral teaching it simply ignored? On every major television network politicians of the Left and the... Read more
One of my readers observed: I have to quibble with the “modern Schuberts” moniker [this is how I described the Beatles underneath a photo]. As gifted of tunesmiths as Paul, John & co. were, they don’t compare to Schubert or any other classical master. There is an immense gulf in the level of craftsmanship between, say Schubert’s 9th Symphony and Sgt. Pepper (especially as the craft in that album largely came from George Martin). The Beatles main schtick was introducing more diatonic,... Read more
There are certainly ample biblical models of “separated” servants doing the “work of the Lord”. *** I was asked: How would you explain monasticism to Protestants who feel Christians should be out in the world, seeking to convert lost souls? To them, monks/nuns are hiding from society’s ills, not helping to mend them. Well, there are several ways to respond to this. First of all, many (perhaps the majority?) monks and nuns are indeed “social,” “missionaries,” “teachers,” “charity workers” (like... Read more
Interesting & unique argument, made by my friend Tony Gerring in a guest post. *** If you are a non-Catholic Christian, can you provide some insight on how you understand this story in Scripture? In Acts 9:36-42, Peter raises the disciple Tabitha from the dead (Acts 9:36-42). Where did Tabitha’s soul go after she died? Did Tabitha’s soul leave heaven and return to earth? What about Hebrews 9:27?: “It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes... Read more
See the re-posted article, under the same name. *** (originally 7-19-05 and 10-28-10) Photo credit: Hogwarts: recreated at Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida, Photograph by Deanna Castings (6-20-17) [public domain / Pexels.com] *** Read more
C. S. Lewis developed a “theology of longing for heaven” which provides a fruitful avenue for further thought and reflection. [Words of Keith Rickert. Jr. will be in blue] *** I am a thoroughgoing Romantic. I am using the word in a sense which means far more than giving your wife or girlfriend roses or going to a restaurant with soft-lit candles and strolling violin players (though those things are certainly aspects of Romanticism, and delightful ones at that). The... Read more
[the following is a bit disjointed because it is an initial post (originally on Facebook), followed by various replies of mine in response to comments] *** I would say that the difference between the liberal / nominal / feminist / pro-abort Catholic and the radical Catholic reactionary is that the latter knows much better than to believe as they do. They are usually orthodox Catholics, for the most part, but they have become embittered and start thinking they know more... Read more
[See the review at Amazon. Here the original italics are restored and I have added links and indentation for citations.] “Peeling an Onion”: Lawler Fails to Prove His Case Phil Lawler was kind enough to send me a review copy of his book. In the Introduction he described Pope Francis and his opinions as follows: leading the Church away from the ancient sources of the Faith. . . . radical nature of the program that he is relentlessly advancing. .... Read more
Bishop “Dr.” [???] James White (words in brown) made the argument that I was supremely ignorant as an evangelical, and so that amply explained my conversion, which need not give anyone the slightest pause. Hence his description of me in December 2004 as “one who has given very little evidence, in fact, of having done a lot of serious reading in better non-Catholic literature to begin with. In fact, I would imagine Armstrong has done more reading in non-Catholic materials... Read more
Preliminary background: the filioque (Latin for “And the Son”) is the theological notion that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, Jesus. This clause is included in the Nicene Creed — seen as a legitimate development — in the Western Catholic Church, but not in the Eastern Orthodox Church, which regards it as a late corruption and heresy. It was not really a matter of controversy until the time of Photius in the second half of the 9th century,... Read more
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