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

Apostles Became Bishops (Apostolic Succession)

Last updated on: February 24, 2017 at 3:32 pm By Dave Armstrong

The Synaxis of the holy and the most praiseworthy Twelve Apostles (Russian, early 14th century) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]***(1997)***I had the following exchange with an Orthodox member of my e-mail discussion list. * * * The office of apostle was unique. Apostles did not become bishops. Wrong. I need only bring Eusebius to the stand to refute this assertion: All that time most of the apostles and disciples, including James himself, the first Bishop of Jerusalem, known as the... Read more

Heartfelt Sacramentalism (Not Mere Charms)

Last updated on: April 18, 2017 at 6:37 pm By Dave Armstrong

A Choir of Angels Dispels the Sorrows of St. Francis, by Josep Benlliure y Gil (1855-1937) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** (1996) *** Blessed Pope Paul VI, in his Apostolic Constitution on the Revision of Indulgences, of January 1, 1967, made some statements which have relevance to all devotional and pious practices of Catholics, such as the scapular and the Rosary: To gain indulgences the work prescribed must be done. But that is not all. The faithful must have the dispositions that are... Read more

Bishops in the Apostolic Church

Last updated on: April 18, 2017 at 6:38 pm By Dave Armstrong

The Fathers of the Church: St. Basil of Caesarea, St. John Chrysostom, St. Gregorius of Nazianzus: 17th century icon from Lipie, Historic Museum in Sanok, Poland [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * (1-16-01; rev. 5-7-03) *** The fact remains that, according to historic Christianity, from the second century onwards (even according to historians who reject the concept, such as Philip Schaff and the Baptist Kenneth Scott Latourette), there is such a thing as an episcopacy (NT Gk. episkopos... Read more

Women’s Head Veils (Mantillas) in Church

Last updated on: February 24, 2017 at 3:37 pm By Dave Armstrong

Head Veil, or Mantilla, for sale from The Catholic Company *** (7-31-08) ***** The January 2005 issue of This Rock (“Quick Questions”) dealt with the issue of veils (mantillas): Q: Did the Vatican ever publish a document stating that women are not supposed to wear head veils to church anymore? A: No. Women are free to wear a head covering to church if they so desire. It’s just not required. The document Inter Insigniores [ link ] by the Congregation... Read more

Luther on Crucifixes, Images, & Sign of the Cross

Last updated on: February 24, 2017 at 3:38 pm By Dave Armstrong

Lutheran church in Greve, Denmark. Photograph by Bill Smith (8-6-14) [Flickr / CC BY 2.0 license] ***** (4-15-08) **** All words below are from Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism, from primary sources. This material is drawn from Chapter Ten of my book, Martin Luther: Catholic Critical Analysis and Praise. *** CRUCIFIXES The custom of holding a crucifix before a dying person has kept many in the Christian faith and has enabled them to die with a confident faith... Read more

On Traditionalist Use of “Conservative Catholic”

Last updated on: February 24, 2017 at 3:40 pm By Dave Armstrong

A fictional social network diagram: created by “DarwinPeacock” (12-22-14) [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license] (5-8-15) *** “Conservative Catholic” becomes common nomenclature in practice because Catholic traditionalists insist on splitting the category of “orthodox Catholics”: which includes them and also non-traditionalists. So they have to have a name for the Other Guys. They call themselves “traditionalists” and so we also do so out of respect for their wishes. We simply call ourselves “Catholics” and if pressed as to type, “orthodox... Read more

Biblical Evidence for Prohibiting Divorce

Last updated on: February 24, 2017 at 3:41 pm By Dave Armstrong

(2004) *** [from pages 205-214 (the complete chapter 14) of my book, The Catholic Verses; Bible verses: RSV] *** See related papers: Matthew 19:9 “Divorce Exception” Translation Bias [11-6-08] Biblical Evidence for Annulments [2002] Annulment is Not “Catholic Divorce” [11-17-15] Divorce: Early Church Teaching [Oct. 1998] OUR LORD JESUS’ “STRICT” STANCE ON DIVORCE Matthew 19:9: “And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another, commits adultery.” The Catholic teaching on this passage and... Read more

Divorce: Early Church Teaching

Last updated on: February 24, 2017 at 3:43 pm By Dave Armstrong

Detail of The Seven Sacraments (matrimony), a 1445 painting by Rogier van der Weyden (c. 1400-1464) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]***(October 1998)***From: “Mixed Marriages: A Theological Analysis,” excerpt from Église et Théologie, I (1970), pp. 229-260.by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. (one of America’s leading orthodox Catholic catechists) The critical difference between Catholicism and Orthodoxy on marriage is that the latter does not consider Christian matrimony indissoluble. Everything in the administration of the sacrament suggests a permanent union, and all... Read more

Moses’ Anger: Righteous or Sinful?

Last updated on: February 24, 2017 at 3:44 pm By Dave Armstrong

Smashing the Tablets and the Rock at Meribah Moses Strikes Water (1633-1635), by Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * * * (5-22-08) *** This is a follow-up, in a way, to my paper, Did Moses (& God) Sin by Judging the Midianites? * * * * * I dealt in the above paper with the notion that Moses was often merely giving his own opinion in Scripture, and acting sinfully. I showed, I think, how this was... Read more

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