Coronation of the Virgin (1490-1492), by Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * (written in 1999)* * * * * A woman on my discussion list asked the following question: Alright, in the midst of this disagreement, I have a few questions…. (forgive me if I seem ignorant on some points. I am not yet Catholic – a year from this Easter, hopefully – and so I am still learning the finer points of Catholicism). As... Read more
. . . from Analogy and Plausibility Immaculate Conception (c. 1618), by Diego Velázquez (1599–1660) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] From my book, “The Catholic Mary”: Quite Contrary to the Bible? * * * * * Neither the notion nor the fact of a sinless created being is impossible. The angels (excepting the fallen ones, or demons) are sinless and always have been. They never sinned. They never rebelled against God. They’re creatures as we are, with a free will to... Read more
Reply to Failed Anti-Catholic Protestant Attempts to Tear Down St. Peter and His Papal Authority The original Peter, Paul, & Mary: Madonna and Child with Sts. Peter and Paul (1608-1609), by Giuseppe Cesari (1568-1640) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] (8-10-12)* * * * * One of my better-known articles / papers is my piece, 50 New Testament Proofs for Petrine Primacy and the Papacy, which was part of my first book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism (2001), and published in The Catholic Answer in Jan /... Read more
. . . Not Just Against God: A Biblical Exposition Moses Smashing the Tablets of the Law (1659), by Rembrandt (1606-1669) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * * * Anti-Catholic Reformed Protestant apologist Steve Hays dogmatically (and quite erroneously) proclaimed: His satire would only be blasphemous if it were directed at God (specifically, the one true God). It isn’t possible to blaspheme mere men and women. Your complaint reflects Catholic idolatry. (11-30-11) Holy Scripture contains the Greek words blaspheemeo [βλασφημέω] (Strong’s... Read more
. . . Especially that of the Early Church, and the Jerusalem Council Menno Simons (1496-1561), founder of the Mennonites, from Two Hundred German Men in Portraits and Biographies, Leipzig 1854, edited by Ludwig Bechstein. Illustration by Hugo Bürkner (1818-1897) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] (5-30-12) This exchange took place on Devin Rose’s blog, in the combox of his review of my book, 100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura. Phil Wood is a Mennonite, and sometimes calls himself an Anabaptist as well. His words will be in blue. This dialogue... Read more
Martin Luther’s German translation of the Bible; 1534 edition, from his house in Wittenberg, Germany [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] (6-5-10) These remarks and dialogues occurred in a combox on the Reformed Protestant-dominated Green Baggins website (starting at comment #259). Paige Britton’s words are in blue, rfwhite‘s in green, Jeff Cagle’s in purple. The words of anti-Catholic polemicist Ron DiGiacomo (who entered the discussion blasting with the obligatory repeated personal attacks that I won’t bore readers with below and almost immediately became a parody of himself and of a... Read more
The Heart of Mary, by Leopold Kupelwieser (1796-1862); photographed by Diana Ringo in Peterskirche, Vienna, Austria, on 9-22-13 [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license] (6-8-10) * * * The longstanding Catholic pious tradition of devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (see the Catholic Encyclopedia article on that) was developed over centuries, perhaps in part from an implicit biblical basis in passages like the following: Luke 2:16-19 (RSV)And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when... Read more
Portrait of John Calvin (1509-1564 ) from the 16th century (unknown) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * (9-17-09) * * * This paper deals with John Calvin’s arguments in Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, 12:23-28 (using the online public domain version). I’ve abridged his portions in a few portions for the sake of better flow of dialogue. Anyone wishing to read all his words or see the complete context can consult the online version. Calvin’s words will be... Read more
Fr. Georges Lemaître (1894–1966), c. 1933: Belgian priest, astronomer and professor of physics at the Catholic University of Leuven, and originator of Big Bang cosmology [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] (11-16-12) Metropolitan Damaskinos (Papandreou) of Adrianoupolis (Eastern Orthodox) stated: Marriage according to the Lord and celibacy for the Lord’s sake are two different spiritual paths, it is true, but both are incontestably valid for a true living of the content of the faith. Of these paths, anyone is free to follow either... Read more
. . . (also, approval of Luther and Lutherans) Portrait of John Wesley (1788), by William Hamilton (1751-1801) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] (7-13-09) John Wesley (1703-1791) was the founder of Methodism and a lifelong Anglican. From the book, John Wesley in Company With High Churchmen, Harrington William Holden, London: Church Press, 5th edition, 1872, pp. 84-87. Wesley’s own words will be in blue. * * * * * Wesley taught the propriety of Praying for the Dead, practiced it himself, and provided Forms, that... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In