Jesus Teaches in the Synagogues, by James Tissot (1836-1902) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (12-4-07) *** I was asked a question about how to reply to a husband who is involved in a form of messianic Judaism (i.e., Christianity) that observes all the Jewish laws and holy days, and believes in Saturday worship. He argued that Jesus kept all the Jewish laws, so why should His followers do any differently? He thinks that the Old Covenant Law remains in... Read more
Nicodemus and Jesus on a Rooftop (1899), by Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (1-2-09) *** I shall contend that Paul and the early Christians did not consider Judaism and Christianity two separate religions or fundamentally different. * I had one of those wonderful “aha!” moments today when I noticed a few small (but highly important!) details, in defending the broad notion of the openness of the young Church to the existing Judaism (which I have dealt... Read more
Resources and Recent Catholic Repentance Dave & Judy Armstrong in the underground tunnel tour next to the current Western or “Wailing” Wall in Jerusalem (October 2014): exploring the ancient temple retaining walls built by Herod, in Jesus’ time. [photograph by Margie Prox Sindelar] *** (7-7-08) *** Suggested Examples of Patristic Anti-Semitism St. Ignatius of Antioch (98-117 A.D.) – Epistle to the Magnesians For if we are still practicing Judaism, we admit that we have not received God’s favor…it is wrong... Read more
The Preaching of St Paul at Ephesus (1649), by Eustache Le Sueur (1616-1655): St. Paul is being a “mini-mediator”: by sharing God’s grace through his proclamation of the gospel [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (10-14-08) ***** 1 Timothy 2:5 (RSV) For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. I was asked: “How do Catholics deal with the sole mediation of Jesus versus the mediation of the saints?” Perhaps the following... Read more
The Bad Rich Man in Hell, by James Tissot (1836-1902) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (7-8-14) *** Luke 16:24 (RSV) And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Laz’arus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.’ This is the Abraham of the Bible: long dead by that time, being asked to do something by a “rich man” (16:19, 22), traditionally known... Read more
American Anti-Slavery Tract: 1853 [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** Bernard Davis is a Facebook friend of mine from Birmingham (UK), who always makes challenging and interesting comments: usually about political and ethical matters (he is very informed about US politics). We almost always disagree, but he is unfailingly polite and congenial (which I greatly respect). His political description on his Facebook profile is: “G.K.Chesterton Liberal, Communitarian, Civilization of Life”. This was an exchange on my Facebook page. I had posted... Read more
vs. Dr. Edwin Woodruff Tait Ku Klux Klan members burning a cross in Denver, Colorado: 1921 [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** Edwin Tait has been an online friend for about 18 or so years, and we have engaged in many debates which I enjoyed, and thought were helpful and constructive (so that I have posted them on my blog). He is an Anglican church historian who recently decided to enter the Catholic Church. The rhetoric concerning the campaign and... Read more
Steve Bannon: currently challenging President-elect Donald Trump for the coveted, prestigious honor of being “The Most Hated Person in America” (i.e., by liberals) [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license] ***** Mark Shea: the guy who used to specialize in writing excellent and insightful Catholic apologetics (which continue to be excellent and very worthwhile, on the rare occasion that he still produces such material), has been on a relentless campaign to Tarnish and Trash Anything Trump. Mark... Read more
Venerable Pope Pius XII (r. 1939-1958) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (8-16-13) *** The first indented part was something I wrote prior to 2002, which was included in my book, Reflections on Radical Catholic Reactionaries. I then had a discussion with “Boniface”: a well-known legitimate traditionalist, who runs the large website, Unam Sanctam Catholicam. I invited him to my house not long ago, to give a presentation on traditionalism, so we have met. His words will be in blue. ***... Read more
. . . including by high-ranking cardinals. Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke (2-22-14) [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license] ***** So why are Cardinal Burke and three other retired cardinals asking for it again? I have massively documented the repeated clarifications and defenses of this papal document, in my collection, Pope Francis Defended: Resources for Confused or Troubled Folks. Here are the articles I have compiled (including a few thoughts of my own), with their original numbers in my... Read more
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