This is one of a series of my reviews of the book by prominent Catholic journalist, editor, and author Philip Lawler, entitled Lost Shepherd: How Pope Francis is Misleading His Flock (due to be released on 26 February 2018). Phil was kind enough to send me a review copy, and he and others have encouraged me to read the book and review it. Their wish is granted! For background, see my paper, On Rebuking Popes & Catholic Obedience to Popes, and three posts concerning... Read more
This is one of a series of my reviews of the book by prominent Catholic journalist, editor, and author Philip Lawler, entitled Lost Shepherd: How Pope Francis is Misleading His Flock (due to be released on 26 February 2018). Phil was kind enough to send me a review copy, and he and others have encouraged me to read the book and review it. Their wish is granted! For background, see my paper, On Rebuking Popes & Catholic Obedience to Popes, and three... Read more
Should Pope Francis be censured and corrected for teaching heresy or heterodox practices? And should it be public? This is a direct continuation of the exchanges in my previous post, Dialogues with Karl Keating & Phil Lawler on Pope Francis. These all occurred on Karl’s public Facebook page. His words will be in blue. ***** My recent post about Phil Lawler’s upcoming book, “Lost Shepherd,” has generated over 300 comments and replies–and that’s just on my Facebook timeline. My post has... Read more
Has Pope Francis strayed from Catholic tradition? Currently, a big debate is taking place among Catholics about that. It has even infiltrated the ranks of Catholic apologists (my field), with prominent figure Karl Keating now being openly critical of Pope Francis, in a way that I think far exceeds the proper bounds of propriety and established fact. We’re good friends, and we disagree amiably, but we sure have some major disagreements on this score. For background, see my recent articles, On Rebuking Popes... Read more
Matthew 16:18 (RSV): “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.” (KJV): “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” ***** The rock at Caesarea Philippi is the place where Jesus called Peter the “Rock.” He was using the surroundings to... Read more
Neither the Church nor the pope can fall away from the faith. It’s never yet happened in 2000 years, and will not. This is the doctrine of indefectibility. Catholics believe in the indefectibility of the Church, which includes the pope, on a biblical basis, as well as a traditional one. St. Robert Bellarmine (in teaching that was reiterated by the First Vatican Council in 1870) taught that the pope could never bind the faithful to heresy; that it would and could never... Read more
+ Does The Word Order in Galatians 2:9 Suggest a Lowering of Peter’s Primacy? The answer is yes: Galatians 1:15-24 (RSV) But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, [16] was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, [17] nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before... Read more
Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman’s approach to this topic was vastly different from many (and the most fashionable, chic opinions) today: I have said that, like St. Peter, he is the Vicar of his Lord. He can judge, and he can acquit; he can pardon, and he can condemn; he can command and he can permit; he can forbid, and he can punish. He has a Supreme jurisdiction over the people of God. He can stop the ordinary course of... Read more
Contrary to many non-Catholic claims, biblical evidence for these practices is abundant. *** 1) We ask others on earth to pray for us. 2) Angels (many passages) and dead saints (Rev 6:9-10) care very much for us. 3) Angels are aware of earthly events (Lk 15:10, 1 Cor 4:9, and many other passages); so are dead saints (Heb 12:1). Moreover, angels are extremely intelligent and can deduce our thoughts and follow our actions. 4) We observe both angels (Rev 8:3-4;... Read more
Some Protestants tell us that all such images are “graven images” and “idolatry”. John Calvin thought even statues of Christ were idols. But is it true that they are never connected to prayer, bowing (using them as aids to devotion), or worship in the Bible? No . . . ***** The ark of the covenant — the most sacred item to the ancient Israelites — had cherubim carved on top of it: on both sides of the “mercy seat” (Ex 25:22;... Read more
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