Catholic Closed Communion: Reply to a Foolish Objection

Last updated on: March 23, 2018 at 12:58 pm By Dave Armstrong

[A person (words in blue) commented on closed communion, in replying to my “Treatise on Transubstantiation in Reply to Protestants”] *** This seems much ado about very little difference. For years I went to both the Lutheran (ELCA) and the Catholic church every weekend, receiving communion at both services. I did my best to think differently, transubstantiation in the Catholic church and consubstantiation in the Lutheran church. But it seemed very much [the] same: communion, bread and wine, with fellow... Read more

Does Communion in One Kind “Trivialize” the Sacrament?

Last updated on: March 21, 2018 at 12:05 pm By Dave Armstrong

Communion in one kind is not automatically a “trivialization” (as a Protestant critic charged). The fact remains that given the assumption of bodily Real Presence, Jesus is fully present under either form (since He can’t be divided). This is a biblical teaching: 1 Corinthians 11:27 (RSV, as throughout) Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Note the all-important “or.”... Read more

On Misunderstanding Theology & Refusing Any Correction

Last updated on: March 21, 2018 at 11:31 am By Dave Armstrong

The following exchange was with an anti-Catholic Protestant named Douglas Mabry. The original debate had to do with the communion of saints, but the details of that are not my present concern. Rather, it is with the general principle of how misunderstandings are to be ascertained and corrected, and how people rationalize that they understand what they in fact do not understand at all (something that anti-Catholics habitually do when it comes to Catholicism). His words will be in blue.... Read more

“Divine Family Planning” (Unlimited Children / Anti-NFP): Critique

Last updated on: March 20, 2018 at 6:11 pm By Dave Armstrong

This more absolute position against contraception and in favor of large families (known as “Quiverfull”) is one that Protestant friends of ours who have lots of kids have called “divine family planning.” In this thinking, married couples simply have sex, with no need to plan at all. They don’t even need to think about it. They simply “let nature take its course” (which entails God’s Providence in the end, in this matter, as is everything else in some sense). Whatever... Read more

Why Papal Infallibility Was Made a Dogma in 1870

Last updated on: March 19, 2018 at 5:53 pm By Dave Armstrong

An Anglo-Catholic (words in blue) on the Coming Home Network board asked: Shalom to all and I hope you can answer my question about this topic. I am familiar with the general rule throughout the centuries concerning the Church–by papal pronouncement or via a synod or council–speaking on a matter of faith and morals and making what comes to be accepted as a binding doctrine of faith for all the faithful. The teachings of the first seven councils were to... Read more

Libros de Dave Armstrong: “Evidencias bíblicas para el Catolicismo”

Last updated on: October 16, 2019 at 1:12 pm By Dave Armstrong

[completó el 3-16-18. 199 páginas] [diseño de la cubierta por Dave Armstrong; imagen de fondo de la cubierta de Andrew C. de Bucarest, Rumania] [para informaciones de compras, ir a la parte inferior de la página] *** CONTENIDO I. Biblia / Tradición 1. Tradición no es una palabra indigna 2. Sola Escritura y Juicio privado – Diálogo ficticio con un protestante 3. Biblia y Tradición: “Mantened la Tradición . . .” (de A Biblical Defense of Catholicism) 4. Refutación de Sola... Read more

Negative Reactionary Views of Popes Since 1958

Last updated on: March 19, 2018 at 1:54 pm By Dave Armstrong

1. Pope St. John XXIII (1958-1963): despised, because he began Vatican II, which they despise as anti-traditional and “neo-Catholic.” And he talked about ecumenism; said nice stuff about Protestants . . . 2. Blessed [soon to be canonized] Pope Paul VI (1963-1978): despised because he presided over the ending of Vatican II, which they despise, and because he didn’t (with the possible fleeting exception of Humanae Vitae) sufficiently clarify Catholic doctrine over against the liberals who were wreaking havoc... Read more

Reactionaries Begin Savage Attacks on Pope Benedict

Last updated on: March 18, 2018 at 3:53 pm By Dave Armstrong

Folks, I called all this years ago. My first book on the radical Catholic reactionaries, entitled, Reflections on Radical Catholic Reactionaries was completed in 2002. It had chapters called, “Post-Vatican II ‘Liberal’ Popes” and “Was Blessed Pope John Paul II a ‘Modernist’?” It’s all the same mentality. This is one of the trademarks of reactionary thought: pope-bashing. And if you bash one pope, you will bash any pope. I wrote about the same thing in my second book about reactionary Catholics:... Read more

Illogic & Silliness Re Benedict-Francis “Blurring” Incident

Last updated on: March 17, 2018 at 3:45 pm By Dave Armstrong

It never ceases to amaze me how prior bias will adversely affect the 1) logic and the 2) objectivity of people. Critics of Pope Francis take one side of this debate over what Pope Benedict thinks of Pope Francis. But it’s not logical thinking, as I will show. They are seeing only what they want to see, which is what happens when strong prior bias comes into play. For the background to the controversy, see Edward Pentin’s article, which I... Read more

Formal Human Forgiveness of Sins in the Bible

Last updated on: March 16, 2018 at 3:16 pm By Dave Armstrong

The direct basis for these beliefs are found in three passages, taught by Jesus Himself: Matthew 16:19 (RSV) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. John... Read more

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