A Biblical Argument for Purgatory (Matthew 5:25-26)

Last updated on: March 25, 2017 at 3:56 pm By Dave Armstrong

Fog in Austria. Photo by “E.mil.mil” [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license] * * * (10-13-04) * * * * * In my first book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism, I cited Matthew 5:25-26 and then St. Francis de Sales’ excellent commentary on it, in my chapter on purgatory. Here is that portion (pp. 129-130 of the current Sophia Institute Press edition, but the footnote numbers are different): Matthew 5:25-26 [RSV] Make friends quickly with your accuser,... Read more

25 Arguments Regarding Binding Church Authority

Last updated on: March 25, 2017 at 3:58 pm By Dave Armstrong

Salzburg Cathedral. Photo by “Hans” [public domain / Pixabay] * * * (1-13-09) * * * * * 1. Let Protestants produce an express statement in the Bible, informing us that the Church lacks binding authority, or that it cannot be trusted to preserve true doctrine. 2. If the Catholic Church is placing its authority “above God,” then the Church fathers en masse are doing the same, because they all appeal to Church and conciliar authority and apostolic succession. 3.... Read more

The Bible on Holy Places and Things

Last updated on: June 24, 2018 at 5:01 pm By Dave Armstrong

The Second Jewish Temple. Model in the Israel Museum. Photo by “Ariely” (1-8-08) [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license] * * * * * The “holy place” is a thoroughly biblical notion. Jerusalem was and is a holy city: Matthew 4:5 (RSV) Then the devil took him to the holy city, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, (cf. Neh 11:1, 18; Is 48:2) Matthew 27:53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they... Read more

The Devil’s Stupidity and Vanity

Last updated on: March 25, 2017 at 4:05 pm By Dave Armstrong

Satan before the Lord (c. 1750), by Corrado Giaquinto (1703-1765) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * * * Satan was silly enough to actually think that he could entice Jesus to sin and diversion from His ministry. He was too ignorant in his evil irrationality to know that his scheme was doomed to failure from the beginning. We give the devil too much credit. He is an idiot and simpleton as well as a “bad guy.” I say he’s... Read more

Liturgical Abuses at Mass: What to DO?

Last updated on: November 22, 2021 at 3:41 pm By Dave Armstrong

Our daughter at her first Holy Communion (7-24-11), at our home parish for 25 years this month: St. Joseph’s in Detroit (German Gothic Revival style: 1870s). It has some of the most beautiful stained glass in America and one of the largest bells. * * * (2-19-08) * * * This is from a thread on the CHN board. * * * Can. 846 ß1 The liturgical books, approved by the competent authority, are to be faithfully followed in... Read more

“Pro-Lifers” Vote for Childkillers? Huh?!

Last updated on: March 25, 2017 at 4:10 pm By Dave Armstrong

Reductio ad Absurdum Life-size model of fetus at 8 weeks after conception. Brain waves begin at six weeks, and heartbeat at 18 days. Photograph by Bill Davenport: 4 March 2007 [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license] * * * * * I have a question for Catholic Democrats or “anti-Republicans”: if a candidate made it clear that he hated black people, or Jews, or Arabs, or Catholics, or Muslims, or had neo-Nazi affiliations, would that be... Read more

Inaccuracies of Anti-Catholic “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs”

Last updated on: March 25, 2017 at 4:13 pm By Dave Armstrong

Front cover of the 1583 edition of the Book of Martyrs by John Foxe [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] (2-10-11) * * * * * Here is the first paragraph of the Wikipedia entry on this famous and notorious book (fourth and final edition: 1583): The Book of Martyrs, by John Foxe, is an account of Christian martyrs throughout Western history from the 1st century through the early 16th centuries, emphasising the sufferings of English Protestants and proto-Protestants from the 14th... Read more

Is John 6 About Holy Communion?

Last updated on: March 25, 2017 at 4:15 pm By Dave Armstrong

A Brief Summary for Those Who Deny the Eucharistic Connection Altogether Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles (bet. 1308-1311), by Duccio (1260-1318) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * * * I think there are various ways to make the parallel of John 6 to the Last Supper accounts of the three Synoptic Gospels. It was Passover time (Jn 6:4): as the Last Supper was (Mt 26:17, 19; Mk 14:12, 14-16; Lk 22:7-9, 15). Jesus distributed bread in a... Read more

Douthat’s Flawed Critique of “Conservative” Catholicism

Last updated on: March 27, 2017 at 12:10 pm By Dave Armstrong

Newsflash!: God Continues to Supernaturally Guide His Church, Despite Manifest Sins & Shortcomings of Men Socrates Teaching Pericles (1780), by Nicolas Guibal (1725-1784) [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 France license] * * * * * Socrates is the single largest non-Christian influence on my thinking and apologetics methodology. My love of back-and-forth dialogue and massive use of it as a teaching tool ultimately stems from him (with honorable mention to Peter Kreeft as well). Socrates taught by example, the technique of... Read more

Is Mary Impeccable (Incapable of Sinning)?

Last updated on: March 27, 2017 at 12:12 pm By Dave Armstrong

Immaculate Conception (c. 1652), by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617-1682) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] (10-16-09) * * * From a discussion on the CHNI forum, where I am the moderator: * * * My wife and I have been listening to the Catholic Answers Live podcasts in the car (I got an iPhone for Father’s Day) together of late, and what their guest apologists (Tim Staples, Jimmy Akin, Steve Ray, etc.) are really good at, is defending our devotion... Read more