Pope Francis & Pope Benedict XVI Refer to “Extreme Traditionalism”

Last updated on: May 27, 2017 at 4:27 pm By Dave Armstrong

Pope Benedict XVI during a visit to São Paulo, Brazil. Photo by Fabio Pozzebom, 10 May 2007. [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Brazil license] *** (8-5-13) *** I have recently decided to cease using the term radtrad in deference to the expressed wishes of mainstream “traditionalists” who are (in large numbers, we are told) offended by it, since they contend that it implicates all “traditionalists” and that radtrad implies a spectrum upon which both the radtrad and “traditionalist” sit. *** After thought and reflection... Read more

On the Use of “Traditionalist” Preceding the Name of “Catholic”

Last updated on: May 27, 2017 at 4:29 pm By Dave Armstrong

[public domain / Pixabay] *** (7-3-13) *** This took place on my Facebook page. “Boniface’s” words will be in blue. ***** I have stopped referring to myself as a traditionalist after being directed to a statement by Benedict XV saying that Catholics ought not to use those such labels. Excellent. Where did he say that? I’d like to see it. It is, moreover, Our will that Catholics should abstain from certain appellations which have recently been brought into use to... Read more

Critique of Three Michael Voris Statements on the State of the Church

Last updated on: May 27, 2017 at 4:31 pm By Dave Armstrong

Hiroshima after the nuclear bombing of August 1945 [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (7-3-13) *** Note: all italicized emphases in the original (verbal emphasis). Voris’ words, transcribed from the videos, will be in blue. My comments and critiques will be in black. *** The Whole Rotten Mess (21 June 2013) *** 4:20 The Catholic Church in the West: the establishment Catholic Church, no longer operates with the same set of first principles that we once did [sic]. The entire... Read more

Michael Voris’ Ultra-Pessimistic Views of the Church

Last updated on: May 27, 2017 at 4:33 pm By Dave Armstrong

Berlin, 1945 [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (7-3-13) *** This debate occurred on my Facebook page, on 2 July 2013. Adrian Combe’s words will be in blue; Felix Lopez’ words in green. * * * * * Do you think the Church is ‘all but destroyed’? No. I’m fighting against this position. This is what Michael Voris thinks, according to his video that I critiqued a few days ago. So, in your opinion, when God said to St. Francis,... Read more

New Testament on Sanctification by Our Own Actions

Last updated on: May 27, 2017 at 4:36 pm By Dave Armstrong

Facial composite of St. Paul created by experts of the Landeskriminalamt of North Rhine-Westphalia using historical sources, proposed by Düsseldorf historian Michael Hesemann (Feb. 2008). [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Germany license] * * * * * (7-2-13) *** Of course, we always have to mention, for the sake of our Protestant brethren (who quite often misunderstand this), that we agree that God is the source of all good things, by His grace, including the grace for us to do any good thing... Read more

Older Luther’s Illness and Frustrations and His Writing

Last updated on: May 27, 2017 at 4:38 pm By Dave Armstrong

Original title: Did the Older Luther’s Illness and Frustration Significantly (and Negatively) Impact His Writing? Luther Historians Say Yes Portrait of Martin Luther (1532), by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553). [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (6-12-13) * * * * * I made the following statement in another paper of mine: Another relevant factor to take into consideration is Luther’s ravings when he was an old, embittered, sick man (disgusted even with most Protestants, including his own party, let alone Catholics):... Read more

Martin Luther: Catholicism is Christian

Last updated on: May 27, 2017 at 4:40 pm By Dave Armstrong

Chartres Cathedral: north transept rose window, c.1235. Photograph by Guillaume Piolle, 2-7-09 [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (6-12-13) *** These are excerpts from a larger dialogue that also discussed Calvin’s view (with this new introduction and summary). All words are Luther’s except for a few comments from scholars on his views and positions, or my introductory comments, which will be in blue, and the bibliographical source information: in green. It should be noted that Luther also makes tons of negative... Read more

Did Luther and Calvin Think Catholicism was Christian?

Last updated on: May 27, 2017 at 4:49 pm By Dave Armstrong

Original Title: On the Definition of “Christian” and Whether Luther and Calvin Regarded Catholicism as Christian (vs. Anti-Catholic Calvinist Austin Reed) Cologne Cathedral [Flickr / CC BY2.0 license] *** (6-14-13) *** Austin’s words [see his Facebook page] will be in blue. We had an exchange on 1 May 2013 on Facebook about the definition of Christian (which is included as the first part below). The latest dialogue began in June 2013 on one Facebook thread, spread to another, and... Read more

Rorate Caeli’s Pope-Basher, Marcelo González: Holocaust Revisionist

Last updated on: May 27, 2017 at 4:52 pm By Dave Armstrong

Wagon loaded with corpses outside the crematorium of the Buchenwald concentration camp, Germany, following its liberation (4-16-45) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (4-8-13) *** This is another highly disturbing example of anti-Semitism among radical Catholic reactionaries (RadCathRs). One thing is for sure: there are numerous examples of outrageous anti-Semitism online, emanating from radical Catholic reactionary community (however large the problem is in “real life”). Catholic apologist and journalist Mark Shea has been documenting and decrying it for years now.... Read more

Books by Dave Armstrong: “The Quotable Eastern Church Fathers: Distinctively Catholic Elements in Their Theology”

Last updated on: November 30, 2023 at 3:16 pm By Dave Armstrong

[completed on 8 July 2013, 303 pages, and published at Lulu on the same day] [cover design by Dave Armstrong]— For purchase information, go to the bottom of the page — *** Misc. *** Introductory Post [Facebook] * Discussion and Justification of Some “Western” Terminology Used in the Book (Particularly “Sacrifice of the Mass”) [Facebook] * Favorable Review by Matthew Celestis (1-25-15) * Introduction and Sources *** This collection is devoted to documentation of examples of “distinctively Catholic” theological beliefs... Read more