Catholic Refutations of Freemasonry (Collection of Links)

Last updated on: June 5, 2019 at 5:07 pm By Dave Armstrong

The Catholic Church & Freemasonry (Rev. Robert I. Bradley, S.J.) Can Catholics Become Freemasons? (Cathy Caridi, J.C.L.; Catholic Exchange website) Is Freemasonry Incompatible with the Catholic Faith? (Wlodzimierz Redzioch; Inside the Vatican / Catholic Culture) Irreconcilability between Christian faith and Freemasonry (L’Osservatore Romano, 11 March 1985) Can Catholics Be Freemasons? (Catholics United for the Faith, 1998; PDF) Christianity and American Freemasonry (book by William J. Whalen; “The Origins of Masonry” — excerpt from chapter two) Freemasonry and the Anti-Christian Movement... Read more

Is St. Paul Superior to St. Peter? (Dialogue)

Last updated on: December 28, 2016 at 6:31 pm By Dave Armstrong

St. Peter as Pope (1610-1612), by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]*****[1998; expanded on 5-13-02] ***** A Baptist wrote on a public bulletin board (his words in blue):* * * * * And, of course, some things happened after Paul’s conversion . . . 1) He magnifies HIS office as the Apostle to the Gentiles. Romans 11:13, Romans 15:16. * Paul being sent to the Gentiles has not a whit to do with Peter’s office and function.... Read more

Are Modern Papal Encyclicals Too Long?

Last updated on: December 28, 2016 at 6:33 pm By Dave Armstrong

Photograph by “PublicDomainPictures” (4-5-14) [Pixabay / CC0 public domain] *** (7-9-15) ***** [this was made a point of contention both by a legitimate traditionalist: “Boniface” at Unam Sanctam Catholicam, and radical Catholic reactionary Chris Ferrara at The Remnant. I responded at the former site as follows]: I thought it [Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si] was just the right length and quite clear. Saying that long stuff fails to connect is simply another way of saying that “modern folks don’t /... Read more

Were Apostles Always Aware of Writing Scripture?

Last updated on: December 28, 2016 at 6:34 pm By Dave Armstrong

Apostle Paul (1633?), by Rembrandt (1606-1669) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** (6-29-06; abridged with slight revisions on 9-25-16) *** This is an abridged version of a much longer dialogue. ***** 1 Corinthians 14:37 (RSV) If any one thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord. This doesn’t prove that Paul thought that this particular letter was Scripture. Of course it was, but this doesn’t... Read more

Orthodoxy & Heresy: Biblical Notions?

Last updated on: December 28, 2016 at 6:35 pm By Dave Armstrong

Notre Dame Basilica, Montreal. Photograph by Kris Schulze (12-27-13) [Pexels.com / CC0 public domain] * * * * I was having a discussion with an Anglican underneath one of my posts. I’m sure he is sincere and well-meaning and all that (most people are), but be that as it may, he started objecting to how the Catholic Church has doctrinal requirements in order to be a member. This is what gives many people pause. But it’s a thoroughly biblical idea. This... Read more

Bible vs. Denominationalism

Last updated on: December 28, 2016 at 6:36 pm By Dave Armstrong

. . . and Against “Primary / Secondary” Doctrines How much more does Protestantism have to “branch out” into yet more sectarianism; more sects and denominations, before its system and rule of faith is to be questioned, having produced such chaos? Photograph by “aitoff” (6-5-16) [Pixabay / CC0 public domain] ***** (8-18-06) ***** [Bible passages: RSV] *** Our Protestant brethren tell us that denominationalism is not condemned in Scripture, and that St. Paul allowed disagreement on secondary doctrines — the... Read more

Church Authority vs. Rampant Sectarianism

Last updated on: December 28, 2016 at 6:38 pm By Dave Armstrong

When will Protestant internal divisions and proliferation of sects ever end? Image by PeteLinforth (Oct. 2015) [Pixabay / CC0 public domain] *** This is a discussion that occurred underneath my post, Catholic Approach to Protestants: Reflections. Anglican Iain’s words will be in blue. *** Speaking as a Protestant (well sort of I’m an Anglican) I’m glad to know Catholics still think I’m a Christian (you might want to publicise this a bit more, though). Speaking personally, however, the reason I am... Read more

Catholic Approach to Protestants: Reflections

Last updated on: April 18, 2017 at 6:35 pm By Dave Armstrong

First Congregational Church of Ceredo, West Virginia (1886). Photo by “Youngamerican” (3-23-09) [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license] *** (8-9-13) *** Random thoughts from a Facebook discussion thread: *** If we try to dialogue and persuade at all (and we’re not obligated to do it with everyone: I don’t, myself), it has to be charitable and fair to the other. Christian Ethics 0101. *** The ecumenical approach has to do with the difference between an attempted friendly... Read more

Eucharist: Orthodox & Catholic Views

Last updated on: February 24, 2017 at 3:30 pm By Dave Armstrong

Some things are ultimately mysterious. The Holy Eucharist is one of them. Image by “uroburos” (1-29-15) [Pixabay / CC0 public domain] * * * * (5-3-13 and 9-15-16) ***** The Orthodox don’t like to explain things with reason too much. They regard that as “hyper-rationalism” (hence, Aquinas and Augustine are often their whipping-boys, which is a shame). They believe essentially what Catholics do regarding the Holy Eucharist, minus the Aristotelian discussion of substance and what-not. Let’s rejoice in what we... Read more

Biblical Arguments for Apostolic Succession

Last updated on: April 18, 2017 at 6:36 pm By Dave Armstrong

St. Augustine and St. Ambrose: detail (c. 1437), by Filippo Lippi (1406-1469) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (9-9-09) ***** The Bible contains sufficient enough indication of apostolic succession (though probably not “explicit” enough by unbiblical sola Scriptura standards to convince most Protestants: what else is new?). St. Paul appears to be passing his office along to Timothy (1 Tim 6:20; 2 Tim 1:6, 13-14, 2:1-2, 4:1-6). See, for example: 2 Timothy 2:1-2 (RSV) You then, my son, be... Read more