Treatise on Communion of Saints (Anthony Zarrella)

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 12:25 pm By Dave Armstrong

The metaphor of Hebrews 12:1, referring to “witnesses” is comparing saints in heaven to spectators in an arena. This photograph is from StockSnap (taken on 30 May 2014) [Pixabay / CC0 public domain] *** The following exchanges occurred underneath my post, Dialogue on Praying to Abraham (Luke 16). Protestant commenter Jim Drickamer (his words will be in blue) raised some issues that I briefly addressed (my words are in green). Catholic commenter Anthony Zarrella (words in regular black), a lawyer who... Read more

Personal Tribute to Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J.

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 12:26 pm By Dave Armstrong

Personal family photo, at a restaurant after my son Paul’s baptism in 1991. **** (1 January 2001) *** Servant of God Fr. John A. Hardon is being considered for possible future canonization. I had the great honor and privilege of knowing him personally. I met him in 1990, just as I was starting to consider the fuller truth of Catholicism. I studied with him for many months, with others, in Ignatian Catechist courses. He had me read his Catholic Catechism... Read more

“Forced” Morality & Ubiquitous “Bigotry”

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 12:28 pm By Dave Armstrong

Left-wing mobs burn an American flag and punch and physically intimidate Trump supporters at a Donald Trump rally in June 2016 [You Tube video / Creative Commons license] *** This occurred in the combox of my post, 16 Atheists / Agnostics & Me (At a Meeting). The words of Houndentenor will be in blue. *** I’m an atheist. I really don’t care what other people believe except when it starts affecting me. Because I am an American and religion is injected... Read more

Dialogues w Atheists on Miracles

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 12:29 pm By Dave Armstrong

Christ Healing the Blind Man, by Eustache Le Sueur (1616-1655) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** These discussions took place underneath my post, 16 Atheists / Agnostics & Me (At a Meeting). The respondents are atheists or perhaps agnostics. Words of Mountain Dew Fan will be in blue. Those of Francis Bacon will be in green. *** I would say that when examining evidence it is more like: 1) The assertion is that Jesus raised from the dead. 2) There are several plausible... Read more

Catholic Nuclear Ethics: Friendly Dialogue

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 12:30 pm By Dave Armstrong

(vs. Deacon Jim Russell) Image uploaded by “geralt” [Pixabay / CC0 public domain] ***** Words of my friend, Deacon Jim Russell, will be in blue. This is part of a lengthy Facebook discussion underneath my collection of my papers on the issue, with many participants. *** Dave–I’ve been reading a lot of the recent posting on this question. I don’t see much attention paid to CCC 2309 (below) and its clear concluding statement: “The evaluation of these conditions for moral... Read more

Farewell to My Lewis, Chesterton, & Newman Pages

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 12:31 pm By Dave Armstrong

(October 2012, 415 pages) [see full book and purchase information] ***** It’s the end of an “era” for me, in terms of one aspect of my online activities. I have maintained web pages on the great writers and/or apologists C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton, and Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman from the time I began my website in February 1997. The idea was to provide a service for readers: collect in one place just about any significant link I... Read more

Honorius: Disproof of Papal Infallibility?

Last updated on: October 22, 2017 at 5:54 pm By Dave Armstrong

Mosaic depicting Pope Honorius I, from the 7th century basilica of Sant’Agnese fuori le mura, Rome [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license] *** From my book, The One-Minute Apologist (2007); but this is my initial draft version: significantly different from the text of the published book. *** The case of Pope Honorius proves that popes have erred, even ex cathedra If this heretical pope could err so greatly when teaching doctrine, how can we believe that popes... Read more

Does Catholic Merit = “Works Salvation”?

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 12:33 pm By Dave Armstrong

Photograph by “Gadini” (2-23-15) [Pixabay / CC0 public domain] *** From my book, The One-Minute Apologist (2007); but this is my initial draft version: different in several ways from the text of the published book. *** The Catholic System of Merit is Contrary to Grace Alone No one can earn salvation by their own works; it’s impossible Initial Reply Many non-Catholics dimly understand the Catholic notion of merit. Rightly understood (see Catechism citations below), it is indeed harmonious with Grace... Read more

16 Atheists / Agnostics & Me (At a Meeting)

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 12:34 pm By Dave Armstrong

Further Adventures at an Atheist “Bible Study” Group Image by “josemiguels” [Pixabay / CC0 public domain] *** (11-24-10) ***** Last night I attended for the third time an “atheist Bible study” group in metro Detroit led by Jon, a former evangelical and friendly fellow, with whom I have debated the Galileo issue. He has a blog called Prove Me Wrong. The first time I went there, several months back, I was invited as a guest speaker. It was simply a... Read more

Nuclear Bombings vs. Catholic Social Teaching: A Collection

Last updated on: July 27, 2019 at 11:18 am By Dave Armstrong

Nagasaki, Japan, before and after the atomic bombing of August 9, 1945 [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** Nuclear Bombing of Japan vs. Just War Ethics [8-25-05] Nuclear Bombing of Japan vs. Just War Ethics (Part II) [9-5-05] Nuclear Bombings of Japan: Justified by “Double Effect”? [8-28-05 and 9-5-05] Declassified 1945 Documents Regarding Nuclear Strikes (President Harry Truman and Others Reveal Moral Qualms and Quandaries Concerning the Nuclear Bombing of Japan) [8-29-05] Indiscriminate Nuclear Destruction: Condemned by the Magisterium [1-23-06] Ethics of Hiroshima & Nagasaki: Catholic... Read more