2025-07-21T11:54:55-04:00

Last updated on: July 21, 2025 at 11:54 am   By
BaptismJesus3
The Baptism of Christ, by Joachim Patinir (c. 1480-1524) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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I. BAPTISM
II. HOLY EUCHARIST  
III. RECONCILIATION / PENANCE / CONFESSION / ABSOLUTION 
IV. CONFIRMATION 
V. HOLY ORDERS / ORDINATION 
VI. MATRIMONY 
VII. ANOINTING / EXTREME UNCTION 
VIII. SACRAMENTS (GENERAL), SACRAMENTALISM, AND SACRAMENTALS
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I. BAPTISM
 
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Protestant Unity on “Central” Doctrines?: Baptism as Test Case (vs. Methodist Philosophy professor Jerry Walls) [1-9-17]
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What the Bible Reveals About Infant Baptism [National Catholic Register, 7-27-17]
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John 3:5: Baptism or No? [Facebook, 2-17-18]
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Baptismal Regeneration and Justification (vs. Jason Engwer) [6-4-20]
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14 Bible Verses That Show We’re Saved Through Baptism [National Catholic Register, 11-30-21] [see also my video commentary on the article, from 10-25-24]
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Debate: Is Baptism Necessary to Salvation? (vs. Jerome Smith) [1-15-22]
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Explicit Biblical Instruction on Saving Souls [National Catholic Register, 2-28-22]
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The Sacrament of Baptism (chapter seven of my 2009 book, Bible Truths for Catholic Truths: A Source Book for Apologists and Inquirers) [11-3-23]
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VIDEO: BAPTISM NOW SAVES YOU – Fridays With Dave!! [I appear on Catholic Bible Highlights with Kenny Burchard, in a 49-minute discussion, 10-25-24]
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Born Again: Baptism in the Early Fathers (Evangelical Catholic Apologetics)
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Church Fathers on Baptism (Armchair Theologian; Lutheran site)
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The Church Fathers on Baptismal Regeneration (Bryan Cross, Called to Communion)
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II. HOLY EUCHARIST  

(see Eucharist, Sacrifice of the Mass, & Liturgy Index Page)


III. RECONCILIATION / PENANCE / CONFESSION / ABSOLUTION 

(see Saints, Purgatory, and Penance Index Page)

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IV. CONFIRMATION 
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The Sacrament of Confirmation (chapter eight of my 2009 book, Bible Truths for Catholic Truths: A Source Book for Apologists and Inquirers) [11-3-23]
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V. HOLY ORDERS / ORDINATION 
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(see Church and Papacy Index Pages) 
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VI. MATRIMONY 

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(see Sexuality, Gender, Feminism, and Divorce and Life Issues Pages)

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VII. ANOINTING / EXTREME UNCTION 
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Sacrament of Anointing / Extreme Unction: The Biblical Evidence [2009; Addendum added on 1-10-17]

Sacrament of Anointing: Yay or Nay? (vs. Calvin #52) [12-21-09]

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VIII. SACRAMENTS (GENERAL), SACRAMENTALISM, AND SACRAMENTALS

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Heartfelt Sacramentalism (Not Mere Charms) [1996]

Thief on the Cross (Are Sacraments Unnecessary?) [1996]

Why do Catholics Believe that Sacraments are Necessary? [2002]

“Man-Centered” Sacramentalism: The Remarkable Incoherence of James White: How Can Martin Luther and St. Augustine Be Christians According to His Definition? [11-26-03]

Sacraments & the Moral Responsibility of Their Recipients [8-26-06]

Are Relics & Sacraments Mere Magical Charms? [2007]

Luther on Crucifixes, Images, & Sign of the Cross [4-15-08]

Bible on Candles, Incense, & Symbolism for Prayer [2-16-09]

Dialogue on Sacramentalism, Holy Objects, and Relics [2-26-09]

Bible on Physical Objects as Aids in Worship [4-7-09]

Unbiblical Antipathy to Holy Water (vs. Calvin #29) [8-25-09]

Sacraments: Bible & Church Fathers (vs. Calvin #34) [9-25-09]

Sacraments & the Church Fathers (vs. Calvin #36) [10-19-09]

Sacramentalism & Ex Opere Operato (vs. Calvin #37) [10-21-09]

Radically Anti-Traditional Sacramentalism (vs. Calvin #38) [10-27-09]

Crucifixes: Abominable Idols or Devotional Aids? [11-10-09]

Tonsure, Holy Oil, and “Judaizing”? (vs. Calvin #54) [12-22-09]

St. Augustine Accepted All Seven Catholic Sacraments [9-25-10]

Sacraments vs. Jesus?: Unbiblical False Dichotomies [3-20-17]

The Biblical Understanding of Holy Places and Things [National Catholic Register, 4-11-17]

Biblical Evidence for Sacramentalism [National Catholic Register, 8-29-17]

Did St. Augustine Accept All Seven Sacraments? [National Catholic Register, 11-15-17]

How Many Sacraments: According to Martin Luther? (+ Luther Expert James Swan’s and Luther’s Works Editors’ Confusion as to Luther’s Position) [11-17-18]

Madison vs. Jesus #8: Holy Eucharist as “Grotesque Magic”? [8-7-19]

Sacraments and Our Moral Responsibility [National Catholic Register, 1-7-20]

Is it Biblical to Say That We Are Saved & Redeemed by Jesus’ Blood? [Facebook, 6-6-23]

Reply to Hays’ “Catholicism” #27: Historic Exodus; NT & Jesus’ Blood; Hays vs. Omnipresence; God & Matter; Hays’ Anti-Biblical Hyper-Rationalism; Holy Eucharist & Other Miracles; Luther & the Real Presence; Manna & the Eucharist [6-7-23]

Does the Catholic Church Claim Sole Possession of the Sacraments? [Catholic365, 11-28-23]

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Practical Matters:  I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider a much-needed monthly or one-time financial contribution. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV).
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PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: [email protected]. Here’s also a second page to get to PayPal. You’ll see the term “Catholic Used Book Service”, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing (including Zelle and 100% tax-deductible donations if desired), see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information.
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You can support my work a great deal in non-financial ways, if you prefer; by subscribing to, commenting on, liking, and sharing videos from my two YouTube channels, Catholic Bible Highlights and Lux Veritatis (featuring documentaries), where I partner with Kenny Burchard (see my own videos), and/or by signing up to receive notice for new articles on this blog. Just type your email address on the sidebar to the right (scroll down quite a bit), where you see, “Sign Me Up!” Thanks a million!
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Last updated on 21 July 2025
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2025-07-25T09:52:25-04:00

Last updated on: July 25, 2025 at 9:52 am   By
Cover (555 x 828)
(September 2010, 189 pages)
[see full book content and purchase info.]
Spanish Cover (165 x 246)
“La Virgen de los católicos”: ¿Muy al contrario de la Biblia?
(Spanish translation by Lizette Sellar Moon: June 2017, 220 pages)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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I. GENERAL
II. SINLESSNESS, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, NEW EVE, AND THE ANNUNCIATION 
III. A SUPPOSED “SINFUL MARY” AND ALLEGED INSTANCES OF JESUS “REBUKING” OR “DISRESPECTING” HER
IV. BODILY ASSUMPTION 
V. MOTHER OF GOD (THEOTOKOS) / SPOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 
VI. PERPETUAL VIRGINITY / VIRGIN BIRTH
VII. EARLY PROTESTANTS’ BELIEF IN MARY’S PERPETUAL VIRGINITY
VIII. MARY’S IN PARTU VIRGINITY (MIRACULOUS, NON-NATURAL CHILDBIRTH)
IX. VENERATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY / [“EXCESSIVE”?] MARIAN DEVOTIONS 
X. THE ROSARY
XI. QUEEN OF HEAVEN / QUEEN MOTHER / REVELATION 12
XII. INTERCESSOR AND SPIRITUAL MOTHER
XIII. MARY MEDIATRIX 
XIV. MARIAN APPARITIONS
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I. GENERAL
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Mary: Do Catholics Have a Biblical View?  [cartoon tract; art by Dan Grajek; early 90s]
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“Live Chat” Debate on Mary (vs. James White) [12-29-00]
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Catholic Converts’ Qualms: Mariology, Formal Worship, Etc. [2-11-04; some new recommended links added on 5-2-17]
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Did Mary Know That Jesus Was God? [National Catholic Register, 4-29-18]
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The Exalted Blessed Virgin Mary and Theosis [National Catholic Register, 11-28-18]
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The “High”, Glorious Mariology of Cardinal Newman (Foreword to The Mariology of Cardinal Newman, by Rev. Francis J. Friedel) [4-11-19]
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St. John Henry Newman’s High Mariology [National Catholic Register, 10-18-19]
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II. SINLESSNESS, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, NEW EVE, AND THE ANNUNCIATION 
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Blessed Virgin Mary & God’s Special Presence in Scripture [1994; from first draft of A Biblical Defense of Catholicism]
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“All Have Sinned” vs. a Sinless, Immaculate Mary? [1996; revised and posted at National Catholic Register on 12-11-17]
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Was Mary’s Immaculate Conception Absolutely Necessary? [1-5-05; published at National Catholic Register on 12-8-17]
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Sinless Mary: Dialogue w OT Professor (Dr. Jonathan Huddleston) [12-8-14]
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Martin Luther’s “Immaculate Purification” View of Mary [National Catholic Register, 12-31-16]
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Scripture, Through an Angel, Reveals That Mary Was Sinless [National Catholic Register, 4-30-17]
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Why Would a Sinless Mary Offer Sacrifices? (vs. Matt Slick) [10-29-20]
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St. Thomas Aquinas and Mary’s Immaculate Conception [National Catholic Register, 6-13-24]
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VIDEO: Was the Virgin Mary A Sinner? [The Bible has the answer!] (with Kenny Burchard on the Catholic Bible Highlights YouTube channel, 12-6-24)
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III. A SUPPOSED “SINFUL MARY” AND ALLEGED INSTANCES OF JESUS “REBUKING” OR “DISRESPECTING” HER
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“All Have Sinned” vs. a Sinless, Immaculate Mary? [1996; revised and posted at National Catholic Register on 12-11-17]
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On Whether Jesus’ “Brothers” Were “Unbelievers” [National Catholic Register, 6-11-20]
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Why Would a Sinless Mary Offer Sacrifices? (vs. Matt Slick) [10-29-20]
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Immaculate Mary and the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple [National Catholic Register, 8-31-22]

Did Mary Sin By Thinking Jesus was Crazy? (vs. Lucas Banzoli) [9-8-22]

Lucas Banzoli’s Mindless Denigration of an Imagined “Mary” (Including Extensive Biblical Analyses of Exceptionally “Righteous” and “Holy” People, and Merit) [9-11-22]

Was Our Lady Among Those Who Accused Our Lord of Being ‘Beside Himself?’ [National Catholic Register, 9-28-22]

Anti-Catholic Eric Svendsen Blasphemes Mary & Claims She (the Mother of God Whom an Angel Declared was “Full of Grace”!) Didn’t Have the “Light of Faith” During Jesus’ Ministry [Facebook, 2-3-23]

Mary and “Crazy” Jesus, Pt. II (vs. Lucas Banzoli): In Which Our Quixotic Anti-Catholic Warrior Desperately Savages Several Highly Reputable English Bible Translations in Order to “Prove” That Mary Thought Jesus was Out of His Mind [2-9-23]

Reply to Steve Christie on Catholic Mariology (Part I: Steve’s 15-Minute Opening Statement, Covering the Perpetual Virginity, Immaculate Conception, & Bodily Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary) [+ Part II / Part III] [7-12-23]

Luther’s Odd Take On Mary & Jesus In The Temple At 12 (And James Swan’s Unwarranted Conclusion from Luther’s Sermon, That He Was Accusing Her of Sin) [6-14-24]

Immaculate Conception: Reply to Gavin Ortlund (Including Analysis of Catholic Anathemas in Dogmatic Statements / Development of Doctrine and Mary) [8-22-24]

Jesus Rebuked Mary at Cana? (vs. Dr. Robert Gagnon) [8-24-24]

Jesus Rebuked His Mother (Jn 2:4)? (Robert Gagnon) (“What have you to do with me?”) [9-16-24]

Jesus Disparaged Mary (“Woman”)? (vs. Robert Gagnon) [9-19-24]

Mary Wasn’t a “Believer”?: Robert Gagnon’s Ignorance [9-20-24]

Mary’s Spiritual Knowledge and Belief in Jesus [10-31-24]

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Jesus’ Use of the Term “Woman” [for Mary. Was it Disrespectful?] (by Jimmy Akin)

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IV. BODILY ASSUMPTION 

Bodily Assumption of Mary (John Saward: Protestant) [edited in 1994; Facebook]

Cardinal Newman on the Bodily Assumption of Mary [edited in 1994]

Ven. Fulton Sheen on the Bodily Assumption of Mary [edited in 1994]

Assumption & Immaculate Conception: Part of Apostolic Tradition (vs. James White) [June 1996]

Mary’s Assumption: Dialogue w Evangelical Protestant [1-21-02]

Bodily Assumption of Mary: Harmonious with the Bible? [2002]

Mary’s Assumption: Brief Explanation, with a New (?) Biblical Parallel [3-1-07]

Mary’s Assumption vs. Material Sufficiency of Scripture? [4-22-07]

Mary’s Assumption & “Reformer” Heinrich Bullinger [4-6-08]

Mary’s Assumption & Historic Protestantism [6-30-08]

Immaculate Conception and Assumption: Why Defined So Late? [2-1-09]

Mary’s Bodily Assumption: Eleven Related Bible Passages [2009]

Defending Mary (Revelation 12 & Her Assumption) [5-28-12]

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Biblical Arguments in Support of Mary’s Assumption [National Catholic Register, 8-15-18]
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Debate on Mary’s Assumption & the Bible (vs. Matt Slick) [11-17-20]
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V. MOTHER OF GOD (THEOTOKOS) / SPOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 
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VI. PERPETUAL VIRGINITY / VIRGIN BIRTH
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Jesus’ “Brothers” Always “Hangin’ Around” Mary … (Doesn’t This Prove That They Are Actually His Siblings?) [8-31-09]
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Perpetual Virginity: Not “Intuitive” But Still True (see also the vigorous discussion with a deist in the combox underneath) [4-13-18]
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Biblical Evidence for the Perpetual Virginity of Mary [National Catholic Register, 4-13-18]
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More Biblical Evidence for Mary’s Perpetual Virginity [National Catholic Register, 4-25-18]
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Perpetual Virginity of Mary: “Holy Ground” [National Catholic Register, 5-8-18]
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Were Sts. Simon and Jude the Cousins of Jesus? [National Catholic Register, 12-24-21]
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Mary’s Perpetual Virginity and Biblical Language [National Catholic Register, 1-20-23]
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VIDEO: Undeniable Truth: Jesus had NO Siblings!! [20+ Verses Prove It] [Dave Armstrong & Kenny Burchard, Catholic Bible Highlights), 11-1-24]
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Calvin & Mary Ever Virgin (expanded version, with Tim Staples vs. James Swan) [6-5-14]
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VIII. MARY’S IN PARTU VIRGINITY (MIRACULOUS, NON-NATURAL CHILDBIRTH)
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Mary’s Perpetual Virginity “In Partu” (a Miraculous, Non-Natural Childbirth) is a Binding Catholic Dogma [9-24-08; expanded on 9-21-15]

Luther & Mary’s Virginity During Childbirth [10-12-11]

Rationalist Objection to the In Partu Virginity of Mary [Facebook, 1-9-13]

Mary Was a Virgin During Jesus’ Birth (In Partu) [9-19-14; slight modifications and additions on 4-18-18]

Martin Luther’s Belief in the Perpetual Virginity of Mary (+ Reformed Apologist James Swan’s Belittling Contempt of Luther) [9-23-14]

Mary’s Virginity During Childbirth: Ott’s Revision & Latin Analysis [9-29-15]

Dialogue: Mary’s “In Partu” Virginity (During Birth) (with Ryan Grant) [3-9-17]

Biblical and Patristic Evidence for Mary’s “In Partu” Virginity [National Catholic Register, 11-14-19]

Mary’s “In Partu” Virginity: Reply to False Charges [11-16-19]

Why Protestants Reject Mary’s Perpetual Virginity / “In Partu” [9-3-22]

Martin Luther: Mary Was a Perpetual Virgin [6-10-24]

Brief Reply to an Orthodox Priest Who Denies Mary’s In Partu Virginity [Facebook, 6-14-24]

Luther & Mary’s Perpetual Virginity: More Context (+ His Belief in Her Virginity During Christ’s Birth (In Partu) [12-17-24]

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The Virginitas in Partu Revisited (Msgr.  Arthur Calkins)

The Virgin Birth of Christ — What the Church Really Teaches (Fr. Ryan Erlenbush)

The Virginity of Our Lady In Partu: The Painless, Miraculous Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ (biblical, patristic, and magisterial proofs)

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IX. VENERATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY / [“EXCESSIVE”?] MARIAN DEVOTIONS 

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The Blessed Virgin Mary is Our Role Model [National Catholic Register, 4-20-17]
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50 Biblical Reasons to Honor Jesus Through Mary [National Catholic Register, 7-24-19]
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Catholics Do Not Worship Mary Like God (vs. Matt Slick) [11-13-20]
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Catholics Don’t Worship Mary — We Love and Honor Her [National Catholic Register, 7-31-23]
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X. THE ROSARY
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The Rosary: ‘Vain Repetition’ or Biblical Prayer? [National Catholic Register, 3-16-18]
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XI. QUEEN OF HEAVEN / QUEEN MOTHER / REVELATION 12
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Mary as the “Queen Mother” and “Queen of Heaven”: Is 1 Kings 2:17-25 a Fatal Counter-Example? (with Steve Ray) [9-5-08]
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Mary is Queen Mother and Queen of Heaven [National Catholic Register, 6-6-19]

Vs. James White #12: Mary the Woman of Revelation 12 [11-7-19]

Is Our Lady the Woman of Revelation 12? [National Catholic Register, 11-27-19]

The Queen Mother & the Bible (vs. James White) [10-8-21]

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XII. INTERCESSOR AND SPIRITUAL MOTHER

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Reflections on the Spiritual Motherhood & Mediation of Mary [1994]

Mary: Spiritual Motherhood & Rosary: Dialogue w Protestant [1-21-02]

Defense of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Devotion vs. Calvinists [7-16-07]

People Extend God’s Comfort & Peace (Communion of Saints) [Sep. 2010]

Martin Luther’s Belief in the Invocation and Intercession of Mary and the Saints, as Late as 1521 [10-4-11]

Does Invoking Mary at Death Ignore Jesus? [2013]

Dialogue with an Anglican on “Praying to Mary,” Patron Saints, Etc. [11-10-14]

Reply to Lutheran on Invocation of Saints [12-1-15]

Lutheran Pastor Bashes Prayer to Mary and the Rosary (“Vain Repetition”) [5-5-17]

Can Mary Hear “Simultaneous” Prayers of Millions? (vs. Matt Slick) [9-30-20]

How Can a Saint Hear the Prayers of Millions at Once? [National Catholic Register, 10-7-20]

Reply to Gavin Ortlund on Praying to the Saints (Including a Reply Regarding the [Blasphemous?] “Excesses of Marian Prayers” from the Protestant Point of View) [5-15-22]

Why Do We Ask Mary to Pray for Us? [National Catholic Register, 5-24-22]

5 Replies to Questions About Catholic (and Biblical) Prayer [National Catholic Register, 11-30-22]

“God as the Mediator of Mary”?: vs. Francisco Tourinho [1-18-23]

How Can a Human Like Mary Hear Millions of Prayers? The Answer Is in the Bible [National Catholic Register, 2-18-23]

Our Mother Mary & “Mother Earth” (Rosemarie Scott) [4-4-23]

Mary, Mother Of The Church (By Dr. Robert Fastiggi) [3-18-24]

Quick Refutation of James White Re Praying to Mary [Facebook, 5-10-24]

VIDEO: Praying To Mary?? [Catholic Bible Highlights, with Kenny Burchard, utilizing my biblical research, 10-9-24]

Quick Reply to a Lutheran Pastor About “Prayer” to Mary [Facebook, 11-11-24]

Reply to Anglican E. B. Pusey #2 (Mary’s Intercession Analogous to “The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects”: James 5:16) [1-23-25]

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XIII. MARY MEDIATRIX 

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Reflections on the Spiritual Motherhood & Mediation of Mary [1994]

Mary Mediatrix (Fr. William G. Most) [originally compiled in 1994; Facebook]

Mary Mediatrix: Patristic, Medieval, & Early Orthodox Evidence [1998]

Dialogue on Mary Mediatrix & Spouse of the Holy Spirit [1998]

Mary Mediatrix: A Biblical Explanation [1999]

Mary Mediatrix: Dialogue w Evangelical Protestant [1-21-02]

Mary Mediatrix vs. Jesus Christ the Sole Mediator? [1-30-03]

Mary Mediatrix & the Bible (vs. Dr. Robert Bowman) [8-1-03]

Critique of Mary — Another Redeemer? by James White (Whitewashing History: By William Possidento and Dave Armstrong) [3-12-04; slight revisions and updated links: 6-12-20] 

Defense of Critique of Jame’s White’s Misinformed Mariology (particularly with regard to the differing views on early Mariology of Protestant Church historians J.N.D. Kelly and Philip Schaff) (vs. James Swan) [3-15-04 and 9-7-05]

Mary Mediatrix and the Church Fathers (+ Documentation That James White Accepts the Scholarship of the Protestant Church Historians I Cite [J. N. D. Kelly and Philip Schaff] ) [9-7-05]
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Exchange on Catholic Mariology and Mary Mediatrix [12-3-16]

Mary Mediatrix: Close Biblical Analogies [National Catholic Register, 8-14-17]

Mary Mediatrix & Jesus (Mere Vessels vs. Sources) [8-15-17]

Todd Baker’s Exodus from Rome (Tradition, Mary, Sola Fide) [4-23-18]

Pope Francis vs. the Marian Title “Co-Redemptrix”? (+ Documentation of Pope Francis’ and Other Popes’ Use of the Mariological Title of Veneration: “Mother of All”) [12-16-19]

Pope Francis’ Deep Devotion to Mary (Esp. Mary Mediatrix) [12-23-19]

“God as the Mediator of Mary”?: vs. Francisco Tourinho [1-18-23]

Mary, Not Jesus, is the Catholic “Savior”? (Response to More Misrepresentation of St. Alphonsus de Liguori’s Book, The Glories of Mary) [7-21-23]

Mary Mediatrix: A Biblical and Theological Introduction (Including a Discussion of the Doctrine’s Dogmatic Status and Espousal of it by Nine Recent Popes and Vatican II) [9-15-15; revised and expanded on 1-18-25]

Reply to Anglican E. B. Pusey #2 (Mary’s Intercession Analogous to “The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects”: James 5:16) [1-23-25]

VIDEO: MARY – Mediatrix of ALL Graces (THE BIBLICAL PROOF!) [my discussion with Kenny Burchard at Catholic Bible Highlights, 1-24-25]

Reply to Anglican E. B. Pusey #3 (Admirable Ecumenical Sentiments; Mary as Our “Hope” & “Refuge” & “Comfort”; Must We Always Know of Mary’s Co-Mediation?) [1-26-25]

Vs. Geisler on Catholicism #17: Mary Mediatrix [7-25-25]

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Seven Contemporary Fruits from a New Marian Dogma (Mark Miravalle) [1-15-19]

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XIV. MARIAN APPARITIONS
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Biblical Evidence for Marian Apparitions [National Catholic Register, 5-21-17]
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The Amsterdam Apparitions: Where Are We Now? (by Dr. Robert Fastiggi) [8-13-21]
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Last updated on 25 July 2025
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Practical Matters:  I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider a much-needed monthly or one-time financial contribution. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV).
*
PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: [email protected]. Here’s also a second page to get to PayPal. You’ll see the term “Catholic Used Book Service”, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing (including Zelle and 100% tax-deductible donations if desired), see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information.
*
You can support my work a great deal in non-financial ways, if you prefer; by subscribing to, commenting on, liking, and sharing videos from my two YouTube channels, Catholic Bible Highlights and Lux Veritatis (featuring documentaries), where I partner with Kenny Burchard (see my own videos), and/or by signing up to receive notice for new articles on this blog. Just type your email address on the sidebar to the right (scroll down quite a bit), where you see, “Sign Me Up!” Thanks a million!
*
***
*
2025-07-16T10:09:15-04:00

Last updated on: July 16, 2025 at 10:09 am   By
[published in March 2012, 150 pages]
***
[Papal Encyclicals Online: fabulous resource: includes Kindle / Nook / ePub capability]
***

Pope Francis Defended: Resources for Confused Folks [321 articles or videos from others]

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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I. PETRINE AND ROMAN PRIMACY / ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL
II. GENERAL PAPAL ECCLESIOLOGY
III. PAPAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESSION
IV. PETER THE “ROCK” / “KEYS OF THE KINGDOM”
V. PAPAL INFALLIBILITY, SUPREMACY, AND ROMAN PRIMACY 
VI. PAPAL INDEFECTIBILITY
VII. POPES, COUNCILS, CONCILIARISM, AND COLLEGIALITY
VIII. DISAGREEING WITH OR TRYING TO PERSUADE POPES / HONOR AND RESPECT FOR POPES / POPE-BASHING
IX. PAPAL SCANDALS / “BAD POPES”
X. DID POPES CLAIM TO BE GOD? / POPES AS ANTICHRIST?
XI. VEN. POPE PIUS XII AND THE NAZI HOLOCAUST
XII. POPE ST. JOHN PAUL II
XIII. POPE BENEDICT XVI
XIV. POPE FRANCIS
XV. POPE FRANCIS: PHIL LAWLER’S HIT-PIECE, LOST SHEPHERD 
XVI. POPE FRANCIS: ROSS DOUTHAT’S HIT-PIECE, TO CHANGE THE CHURCH
XVII. POPE FRANCIS: HENRY SIRE’S HIT-PIECE, THE DICTATOR POPE
XVIII. POPE FRANCIS: KARL KEATING’S TOME, THE FRANCIS FEUD
XIX. POPE FRANCIS: ARCHBISHOP VIGANO’S RANTINGS
XX. POPE LEO XIV
***
*** 
I. PETRINE AND ROMAN PRIMACY / ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL
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50 Biblical Indications of Petrine Primacy and the Papacy [National Catholic Register, 11-20-16]
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Top 20 Biblical Evidences for the Primacy of St. Peter [National Catholic Register, 1-8-18; see also my video commentary on this article with Kenny Burchard on the Catholic Bible Highlights channel, 11-8-24]
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Papal Passages Lk 22:31-34 & Jn 21:15-17 (vs. Jason Engwer) [5-12-20]
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Is Peter’s Primacy Disproved by His Personality? [National Catholic Register, 11-30-20]
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Reply to Lucas Banzoli’s 205 Potshots at St. Peter, Part I [5-26-22]
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Lucas Banzoli’s 205 “Petrine Potshots”, Part II [5-27-22]
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The Authority of Popes (chapter three, pp. 139-158, of my 2009 book, Bible Truths for Catholic Truths: A Source Book for Apologists and Inquirers) [10-16-23]
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VIDEO: Was Peter REALLY the first Pope? [Dave Armstrong & Kenny Burchard on the Catholic Bible Highlights channel, 11-8-24]
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The Origins of the Denial of Peter’s Roman Sojourn (Nicholas Gulda, The Crossroads, 9-4-22)
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II. GENERAL PAPAL ECCLESIOLOGY
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III. PAPAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESSION
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The Development of the Papacy (St. John Henry Cardinal Newman) [Facebook, 1997]
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Papal Succession: Biblical and Logical Arguments [National Catholic Register, 5-26-17]
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IV. PETER THE “ROCK” / “KEYS OF THE KINGDOM”
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Jesus Christ and St. Peter — Are Both Rocks? [National Catholic Register, 6-29-22]
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The Meaning of the Keys of St. Peter [National Catholic Register, 8-25-22]
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V. PAPAL INFALLIBILITY, SUPREMACY, AND ROMAN PRIMACY 
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A Brief History of Papal Infallibility [National Catholic Register, 5-21-18]
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Protestant Objections to Papal Infallibility [National Catholic Register, 2-29-20]
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Explicit Papal Infallibility in 96 AD (Pope St. Clement) [originally from 7-30-21; posted at Catholic365 on 11-20-23]
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The Supposed Fall of Honorius and His Condemnation (J. H. R., American Catholic Quarterly Review, vol. 7, 1882, pp. 162-168)
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The Condemnation of Pope Honorius (Dom John Chapman, O.S.B., London: Catholic Truth Society, 1907)
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Pope Honorius I (Catholic Encyclopedia [Dom John Chapman])
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The Truth about Pope Honorius (Robert Spencer, Catholic Answers, 9-1-94)
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Was Pope Honorius I a heretic? (Ron Conte, Jr., The Reproach of Christ, 9-17-16)
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The Alleged Fall of Pope Liberius (P. J. Harrold, American Catholic Quarterly Review, vol. 8, 1883, 529-549)
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Pope Liberius (Catholic Encyclopedia [Dom John Chapman])
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The Sixth Nicene Canon and the Papacy (James F. Loughlin, American Catholic Quarterly Review, vol. 5, 1880, 220-239)
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Was Pope Vigilius a Heretic? (Mark Hausam, Where Peter Is, 4-12-20)
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Papal Infallibility and the Case of Pope Vigilius (Lawrence McCready, Unam Sanctam Catholicam, 7-7-12)
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The Transformation of Pope Vigilius (Warren H. Carroll, Faith & Reason, Winter 1982)
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An In-Depth Examination of Pope Vigilius: Historical and Theological Insights [Video (2 1/2 hours) by William Albrecht and two guests, 9-6-24]
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St. Thomas Aquinas and the Origins of the Doctrine of Papal Infallibility (Emmett O’Regan, Nova et Vetera, Winter 2025, Vol. 23, No. 1)
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VI. PAPAL INDEFECTIBILITY
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VII. POPES, COUNCILS, CONCILIARISM, AND COLLEGIALITY
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Pope Silvester and the Council of Nicaea (vs. James White) [August 1997]
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Peter Kwasniewski: Gotta Exorcise Vatican I (1870) [12-4-20]

Which Has More Authority: A Pope or an Ecumenical Council? [National Catholic Register, 5-19-21]

Did Peter or James Preside at the Jerusalem Council? (And Was it the Prototype of Ecumenical Councils or Merely a Local Synod?) [5-21-21]

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VIII. DISAGREEING WITH OR TRYING TO PERSUADE POPES / HONOR AND RESPECT FOR POPES / POPE-BASHING

Denunciations of Incessant Bashing of Pope Francis [2-22-15]

Is Pope Francis Wrong? Thoughts on the “Filial Correction” [9-24-17]

Radical Reactionary Affinities in “Filial Correction” Signatories [9-28-17]

On Rebuking Popes & Catholic Obedience to Popes [12-27-17]

On Rebuking Popes & Obedience to Popes, Part II [12-28-17]

Fr. Angel Sotelo on the Scandal of the Current Pope-Bashing [Facebook, 1-4-18]

Negative Reactionary Views of Popes Since 1958 [3-18-18]

Honoring Popes / Scriptural Honor of Even Wicked Rulers [11-30-17; some additions on 3-26-18]

Pope-Criticism: Vigorous Exchanges w Karl Keating [3-27-18]

Do I Think Popes Can Never be Criticized for Any Reason? Nope. (I Respectfully Criticize the Prudence of Pope Francis’ Repeated Interviews with an Atheist Who Lies About Him [Eugenio Scalfari]) [3-31-18]

Olson’s Nitpicking, Persnickety Guide to Gaudete et Exsultate [4-10-18]

Honoring Popes (Even Alleged “Bad” Ones) as Persons [4-11-18]

Are Pope-Critics Evil? Reply to Karl Keating [4-13-18]

Why Have Popes At All if We Reject Papal Guidance? [8-4-18]

Protestant Champion Jerry Walls Notes the Obvious: Many Catholics Think Like Protestants, With Regard to the Authority of the Pope and the Rule of Faith [Facebook, 8-7-18]

Pope Francis Accusers Reject Magisterial Teaching on Popes (The pope’s teaching is indefectible and cannot be judged or “overruled” by any man: or even an ecumenical council) [7-23-20]

St. Paul’s Rebuke of St. Peter = Francis-Bashing? [8-19-20]

If We Have to Constantly Defend Holy Scripture, How Much More the Pope? [Facebook, 10-23-20]

Kwasniewski vs. Cdl. Newman Re Pope- & Council-Bashing [12-3-20]

Pope Francis: Popes Can be Respectfully Criticized [7-21-21]

Did Pope Francis Rebuke Pelosi Re Abortion? (And Why One Seeming Methodological Approach Towards the “Right” and a Very Different One Towards the “Left”?) [10-11-21]

Erasmus’ Criticism of Popes = Today’s Pope-Bashing? [11-10-21]

On the Last Three Popes’ Appointments of Cardinals: Traditionalists Have a Valid Point About Bad Appointments and the Disastrous Appeasement of Theological Liberals in the Church [7-18-22]

“Lying about the Holy Father is a mortal sin” [Facebook discussion thread, 8-22-22]

Pope St. Pius X on Obedience to the Pope + Great Group Discussion [Facebook, 5-19-23]

Ed Feser’s “Respectful and Reserved Criticism” of the Holy Father (?) [Catholic365, 11-29-23]

Bible on the Disgraceful Attitude & Behavior of So Many Pope-Bashers [Facebook, 12-24-23]

Bible on Deference to Popes & Leaders, & Disobedience [12-26-23]

Get it Right! Yours Truly on Papal Criticism (from the Year 2000) and on My Distinctions Among Papal Critics (2018) [Facebook, 1-13-24]

Pope-Criticism: Ultra-Rare, Private, & Saintly (Reply to Clueless Accusations That I Supposedly Think Popes Should Never be Criticized At All, & Make No Distinctions Whatsoever Concerning Papal Critics) [1-15-24]

St. Ignatius of Antioch [50-110 or 117] on Submission to the Bishop [Facebook, 1-25-24]

We Can’t Disagree with Mere Political Opinions of Popes? St. Cdl. Newman Disagrees [Facebook, 2-13-25]

In Case You’re Wondering What Steve Ray Really Thought About Pope Francis [Facebook, 5-4-25]

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IX. PAPAL SCANDALS / “BAD POPES”

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Papal Critics Concede: No Proof of Canonical Papal Heresy [5-10-19]

Reactionary Infiltration of Taylor Marshall’s Book, Infiltration [5-30-19]

Pope Francis Accusers Reject Magisterial Teaching on Popes (The pope’s teaching is indefectible and cannot be judged or “overruled” by any man: or even an ecumenical council) [7-23-20]

Pastor Aeternus (1870): Can a Pope Ever Make Heresy Binding? (Dr. Robert Fastiggi and Ron Conte; edited by Dave Armstrong, in Response to Timothy Flanders) [12-1-20]

Kwasniewski vs. Cdl. Newman Re Pope- & Council-Bashing [12-3-20]

Pope Francis: Most Theological Errors? (Ed Feser) [8-26-22]

Post-Vatican II “Liberal” Popes [Ch. 13 of my book, Reflections on Radical Catholic Reactionaries (December 2002; revised in November 2023 for the purpose of the free online version) ] [11-25-23]

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X. DID POPES CLAIM TO BE GOD? / POPES AS ANTICHRIST?
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XI. VEN. POPE PIUS XII AND THE NAZI HOLOCAUST
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[see the many links on my Jews, Judaism, & Old Testament page]
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XII. POPE ST. JOHN PAUL II
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John Paul II Kissing the Koran: Dialogue with Traditionalists [2012; new Introduction added on 6-4-19] [6-4-19]
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Was Pope St. John Paul II a “Modernist”? [Ch. 15 of my book, Reflections on Radical Catholic Reactionaries (December 2002; revised in November 2023 for the purpose of the free online version)] [11-27-23]
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XIII. POPE BENEDICT XVI
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Benedict and Clergy Sexual Abuse: Decisive and Aggressive Action (Judy Roberts; National Catholic Register,  3-5-13)
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XIV. POPE FRANCIS
 
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Pope Francis, Foot-Washing, & Humility (Pete Vere & Dave Armstrong) [3-13-13 and 3-30-13]
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Exchange on Pope Francis and the Church (vs. Tony Jokin) [Facebook, 12-17-14]
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Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato si: A Beautiful and Profoundly Wise Statement of Christian Environmentalism and Theology of Creation [9-11-15]

Forcing Pope Francis Into Our Own Image [9-18-15]

Reply to Dr. Phil Blosser’s Critique of My Book, Pope Francis Explained [9-24-15]

Must the Pope Explicitly Mention Abortion to Congress? [9-24-15]

Pope Francis’ Strongly Pro-Life Comments to the UN (“Both/And”!) [9-25-15]

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Dialogue: “Bad” Bishops & “Confusing” Francis (vs. Dr. Peter Kwasniewski) [4-28-16]
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I Hope the Pope Will Provide Some Much-Needed Clarity (Re: Answering the Dubia) [National Catholic Register, 9-30-17]
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Burning Heretics, Frying Murderers, & Slavery (Analogies) [8-3-18]

Yes, Virginia, the Pope Believes Mary is Immaculate [12-29-18]

Papal Ring-Kissing, Gossip, & Pharisaical Nitpicking [3-29-19]

Reactionary Signees of Easter “Heresy” Letter (13 of 19) [5-6-19]

Ecclesiological Errors of “Easter Letter” Reactionaries Summed Up (That is, Ones Not Specifically Related to Pope Francis: Especially Vatican II as the Big Bad Wolf) [5-9-19]

Papal Critics Concede: No Proof of Canonical Papal Heresy [5-10-19]

Dr. Echeverria: Francis Wants Development, Not Revolution [5-28-19]

Taylor Marshall’s Whopper: Pope Francis Denies Hellfire? [6-7-19]

Taylor Marshall Lies About Pope Francis & Divorce [6-8-19]

No, Pope Francis Did Not Deny Transubstantiation (Phenomenological Language in Holy Scripture and in the Addresses of Pope Francis) [6-25-19]

Brief Exchange with a Sedevacantist Regarding Pope Francis [Facebook, 6-25-19]

Does Pope Francis Deny the Catholic Doctrine of Merit? No [7-1-19]

Pope Francis & Transubstantiation (vs. Sedevacantists) [7-2-19]

Am I a “Pope Francis Defender”? (Statement of Intent & Purpose) [11-5-19]

Being Anti-Francis is Apparently Far and Away the Most Important Thing for Millions of Catholics These Days. God Help Us! [11-12-19]

Is Pope Francis Against Apologetics & Defending the Faith? [11-26-19]

“Confusing” Pope Francis & Ignorant, Lazy Lay Catholics [11-27-19]

Pope Benedict’s Enthusiastic Approval of Pope Francis [11-27-19]

Hysterical Reactionaries Opposed Pope Francis from Day One (The “inside story” — from Hilary White — of what happened among a cadre of well-known fanatical reactionaries on the very night Pope Francis was elected) [12-3-19]

“Ambiguity”: Classic Reactionary Talking Point & Mantra [12-5-19]

Pope St. John Paul II Respectfully Referred to Pachamama (+ Orthodox Catholic References to “Mother Earth” and Similar Biblical Motifs) [12-13-19]

Pope Francis vs. the Marian Title “Co-Redemptrix”? (+ Documentation of Pope Francis’ and Other Popes’ Use of the Mariological Title of Veneration: “Mother of All”) [12-16-19]

Debate: Pope Francis on Doctrine, Truth, & Evangelizing (vs. Dr. Eduardo Echeverria) [12-16-19]

Pope Francis’ Deep Devotion to Mary (Esp. Mary Mediatrix) [12-23-19]

Pope Francis’ Emphasis on Criticizing Reactionaries (A Theory) [12-30-19]

Pope Francis’ Slap & Loss of Temper (Close Examination) [1-2-20]

Dialogue: Pope Francis vs. Gospel Preaching & Converts? No! (vs. Eric Giunta) [1-3-20]

Reactionaries and Other Pope-Bashers Have a Ready “Answer” to Every Proof of Pope Francis’ Orthodoxy: He’s Simply Lying Through His Teeth! [Facebook, 1-3-20]

Pope Francis (and Others) and Analogies to Jesus (Explanation of a Widely Misunderstood Aspect of Analogical Arguments) [1-6-20]

Pope Francis: Strong Defender of Priestly Celibacy [1-14-20]

Striking Similarities of Pope Francis Derangement Syndrome and Donald Trump Derangement Syndrome / Near-Impossibility of Rational Discussion [Facebook, 1-16-20]

Pope’s Querida Amazonia: Reactionaries Step in it Again [2-13-20]

Dialogue w Timothy Flanders #2: State of Emergency? [2-25-20]

Dr. Fastiggi Defends Pope Francis Re “Pachamama Idolatry” [3-3-20]

Pope Francis vs. the Gospel? Outrageous & Absurd Lies! (Anti-Catholic Protestant James White and Catholic Reactionary Steve Skojec Echo Each Other’s Gigantic Whoppers) [5-26-20]

Legalism Re Pope Francis & Papal Attire (Mozzetta) [7-10-20]

Fratelli tutti: Love is Great; How to Best Apply It? [10-8-20]

Steve Skojec: Pope Sez Death Penalty is Intrinsically Evil (?) [10-8-20]

Death Penalty, Reactionaries, & a Devious Liar-Pope? [10-10-20]

Three Popes & Capital Punishment (vs. Ed Feser) (with Catholic Theologian Dr. Robert Fastiggi) [10-20-20]

Pope Francis, Same-Sex Unions, & Chicken Little Mass Hysteria [10-22-20]

Pope Francis & the Diversity of Religions (The Sedevacantist Outfit Novus Ordo Watch Lies Yet Again About Pope Francis) [11-29-20] 

Kwasniewski vs. Cdl. Newman Re Pope- & Council-Bashing [12-3-20]

Kwasniewski vs. Pope Francis Re “Fundamentalism” (Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI Fully Concur with Pope Francis) [12-9-20]

Pope Francis’ Proper Use of the Term “Fundamentalism” (. . . and the Similar Sociologically Proper Use of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope St. John Paul II) [12-28-20]

Dr. Fastiggi on Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis, & Aquinas [2-1-21]

Fr. Z Asks for Pro-Francis “Compendium”. I Provide It [3-9-21]

“Gay Unions”: Leftist & Reactionary Catholics vs. Pope & CDF [3-23-21]

Pope Francis vs. Same-Sex “Marriage”: The Record [3-25-21]

Fr. Peter Stravinskas & Irrational Pope Francis-Bashing: Sad Case Study in Taking the Holy Father’s Words Out of Context and Indefensibly Misrepresenting Them [4-15-21]
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Pope Francis: Indissoluble Marriage & No Divorce (+ Analysis of Ed Feser’s “Doctrinally Problematic” Criticisms) [6-1-21]
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XV. POPE FRANCIS: PHIL LAWLER’S HIT-PIECE, LOST SHEPHERD 
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Quasi-Defectibility and Phil Lawler vs. Pope Francis (see also more documentation of Lawler’s reactionary leanings, on the Facebook thread) [12-28-17]
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Protestant Takes Solace in Douthat’s Pope-Bashing Book (also discusses Phil Lawler) [3-24-18]
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Chris Ferrara & My Debates w Keating & Lawler Re Pope Francis [1-1-18 and 1-2-18; minor additions and changes: 9-25-20]
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XVI. POPE FRANCIS: ROSS DOUTHAT’S HIT-PIECE, TO CHANGE THE CHURCH
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XVII. POPE FRANCIS: HENRY SIRE’S HIT-PIECE, THE DICTATOR POPE
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XVIII. POPE FRANCIS: KARL KEATING’S TOME, THE FRANCIS FEUD
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XIX. POPE FRANCIS: ARCHBISHOP VIGANO’S RANTINGS
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XX. POPE LEO XIV
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*

Practical Matters:  I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider a much-needed monthly or one-time financial contribution. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV).
*
PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: [email protected]. Here’s also a second page to get to PayPal. You’ll see the term “Catholic Used Book Service”, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing (including Zelle and 100% tax-deductible donations if desired), see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information.
*
You can support my work a great deal in non-financial ways, if you prefer; by subscribing to, commenting on, liking, and sharing videos from my two YouTube channels, Catholic Bible Highlights and Lux Veritatis (featuring documentaries), where I partner with Kenny Burchard (see my own videos), and/or by signing up to receive notice for new articles on this blog. Just type your email address on the sidebar to the right (scroll down quite a bit), where you see, “Sign Me Up!” Thanks a million!
*
***
*

Last updated on 16 July 2025

***

2025-06-16T13:02:23-04:00

Last updated on: June 16, 2025 at 1:02 pm   By
 Fire

Photograph by Hans [Pixabay / CC0 public domain]

*****

TABLE OF CONTENTS

***

I. INTRODUCTORY / OVERVIEW 

II. CATHOLIC MARTYRS OF THE ENGLISH “REFORMATION” 

III. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT (ON THE CONTINENT) FOR HAVING DIFFERENT BELIEFS
IV. PLUNDERING AND THEFT OF CATHOLIC CHURCH PROPERTIES

V. OPPOSITION TO CO-EXISTENCE WITH CATHOLICS AND THE MASS (“ANTI-ECUMENISM”)

VI. ANTI-CATHOLIC PENAL LAWS

VII. ICONOCLASM (DESTRUCTION OF ART AS “IDOLATRY”) / EDUCATION

VIII. PROTESTANT INTOLERANCE AND PERSECUTIONS

IX. GERMAN PEASANTS’ REVOLT (1524-1525)
***
***

 

I. INTRODUCTORY / OVERVIEW

II. CATHOLIC MARTYRS OF THE ENGLISH “REFORMATION” 

[1375 martyrs of Protestant tyranny documented in four papers] 

 

III. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT (ON THE CONTINENT) FOR HAVING DIFFERENT BELIEFS 

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IV. PLUNDERING AND THEFT OF CATHOLIC CHURCH PROPERTIES
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VI. ANTI-CATHOLIC PENAL LAWS

Anglican Persecution of Catholics: 1559-1829 [3-10-08]

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VII. ICONOCLASM (DESTRUCTION OF ART AS “IDOLATRY”) / EDUCATION

VIII. PROTESTANT INTOLERANCE AND PERSECUTIONS

*
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IX. GERMAN PEASANTS’ REVOLT (1524-1525)
***
*
*
*

*
***
*

Practical Matters:  I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider a much-needed monthly or one-time financial contribution. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV).
*
PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: [email protected]. Here’s also a second page to get to PayPal. You’ll see the term “Catholic Used Book Service”, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing (including Zelle and 100% tax-deductible donations if desired), see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information.
*
You can support my work a great deal in non-financial ways, if you prefer; by subscribing to, commenting on, liking, and sharing videos from my two YouTube channels, Catholic Bible Highlights and Lux Veritatis (featuring documentaries), where I partner with Kenny Burchard (see my own videos), and/or by signing up to receive notice for new articles on this blog. Just type your email address on the sidebar to the right (scroll down quite a bit), where you see, “Sign Me Up!” Thanks a million!
*
***
*
Last updated on 16 June 2025
2025-07-26T13:28:47-04:00

Last updated on: July 26, 2025 at 1:28 pm   By
ChurchSignAnti-Catholics
TABLE OF CONTENTS
***

I. JIM ANDERSON

II. VICTOR ANDRADE

III. DR. JOHN ANKERBERG AND DR. JOHN WELDON (BAPTIST)
 
IV. DR. GREG BAHNSEN
 
V. TODD BAKER
 
VI. LUCAS BANZOLI
 
VII. CHRIS BAYACK

VIII. RICHARD BENNETT

IX. BIBLE AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
 
X. GABRIEL BRASILEIRO
XI. BART BREWER
 
XII. JOHN BUGAY
 
XIII. KEVIN CAULEY (CHURCH OF CHRIST)
 
XIV. CHAT ROOM DEBATE CHALLENGE
 
XV. JACK CHICK
 
XVI. JASON ENGWER

XVII. “EXCATHOLIC4CHRIST” (TOM)

XVIII. FOXE’S BOOK OF MARTYRS

XIX. DR. ROBERT GAGNON
 
XX. PEDRO FRANCA GAIAO 
 
XXI. STEVE HAYS (REFORMED)

XXII. MATT HEDGES

XXIII. TIMOTHY F. KAUFFMAN

XXIV. DAVID T. KING

XXV. BRUNO LIMA
XXVI. LEN LISENBEE 
XXVII. LUTHERANISM
XXVIII. DOUGLAS MABRY (aka “GOJIRA”)
XXIX. DR. JOHN MACARTHUR
XXX. YAGO MARTINS
XXXI. JAMES McCARTHY
XXXII. JUAN ROBERTO DE OLIVEIRA
XXXIII. ORTHODOX ANTI-CATHOLICISM
XXXIV. POPE AS “GOD” OR “ANTICHRIST” 
XXXV. AUSTIN REED
XXXVI. “SAINT AND SINNER”
XXXVII. GEORGE SALMON (19TH CENTURY ANGLICAN)
XXXVIII. MATT SLICK (PRESBYTERIAN; FOUNDER OF CARM)
XXXIX. DR. ERIC SVENDSEN
XL. JAMES SWAN (REFORMED)
XLI. KEN TEMPLE (REFORMED BAPTIST)
XLII. EDGAR TREVIÑO
XLIII. FRANK TURK (AKA “CENTURION”) (BAPTIST)

XLIV. FRANCOIS TURRETIN (1623-1687)

XLV. “TURRETINFAN” (AKA “THE ANONYMOUS ONE” OR “TAO”) (REFORMED)

XLVI. JERRY WALLS (+ KENNETH COLLINS)

XLVII. WILLIAM WEBSTER
XLVIII. WILLIAM WHITAKER

XLIX. BISHOP JAMES WHITE (REFORMED BAPTIST)

L. MIKE WINGER

LI. CATHOLIC INQUISITION

LII. MISCELLANEOUS REFUTATIONS AND OBSERVATIONS

LIII. “ANTI-CATHOLIC” / “ROMANISM”: DEFINITIONAL AND TERMINOLOGICAL CONTROVERSIES

LIV. IDOLATRY CHARGE (THE MASS, IMAGES, AND MISC.)

LV. IDOLATRY CHARGE (MARIAN VENERATION)
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I. JIM ANDERSON

Dialogue on Meritorious Works & the Gospel [6-30-23]

Dialogue: Rich Young Ruler, Works, & Salvation [7-3-23]

II. VICTOR ANDRADE

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III. DR. JOHN ANKERBERG AND DR. JOHN WELDON (BAPTIST)
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IV. DR. GREG BAHNSEN
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V. TODD BAKER
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VI. LUCAS BANZOLI
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Defense of Immortal, Conscious Souls (vs. Lucas Banzoli) [17-Part Series]:
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VII. CHRIS BAYACK
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VIII. RICHARD BENNETT

IX. BIBLE AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
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Did Luther Rescue the Bible in German from Utter Obscurity? [National Catholic Register, 10-30-17]

The Catholic Church Does Not Claim Superiority Over the Bible [National Catholic Register, 8-13-18]

Catholic Biblical Interpretation: Myths and Truths [National Catholic Register, 12-3-18]

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X. GABRIEL BRASILEIRO
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XI. BART BREWER
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XII. JOHN BUGAY
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Anti-Catholic “Humor”: St. Thérèse of Lisieux as Hitler (John Bugay Tries to Justify it Based on Historic Anti-Semitism) [11-24-11]

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XIII. KEVIN CAULEY (CHURCH OF CHRIST)
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XIV. CHAT ROOM DEBATE CHALLENGE
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XV. JACK CHICK
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Jack Chick’s Lies: The Real Alberto Rivera Exposed (including a letter from an Alberto supporter and counter-reply) [7-9-03]
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XVI. JASON ENGWER
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Dialogue on Development of Doctrine (Esp. the Papacy) [2000]

Dialogue on Doctrinal Development (Papacy & NT Canon) [2-26-02]

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Papias (c. 60-c. 130) & the Rule of Faith [1-18-10]

Papal Passages Lk 22:31-34 & Jn 21:15-17 [5-12-20]

My Four Ballyhooed Debates w Anti-Catholics (All Forfeited): My Opponent Split Before It Was Over, Every Time (!) [5-21-20]

Invocation of Saints and Angels (Luke 16 [Lazarus & the Rich Man & Abraham] is One of the Most Unanswerable Arguments in Catholic Apologetics) [5-26-20]

Jesus’ “Brothers” Were “Unbelievers”? (Jason Engwer also claims that “Mary believed in Jesus,” but wavered, and had a “sort of inconsistent faith”) [5-27-20]

Dialogue: Galatians 3 & Justification [5-29-20]

Baptismal Regeneration and Justification [6-4-20]

Invocation of Saints: Jesus Allegedly “Calling on Elijah” [6-8-20]

Reply to Protestant Challenges Re Eternal Security [7-26-20]

Defense of Bible Passages vs. Eternal Security & Faith Alone [8-12-20]

Mary’s Assumption: Patristic Analogy to Protestant Distinctives [8-15-20]

St. Peter Listed First in Lists of Disciples: A Debate [10-12-20]

Anti-Catholic Hypocrisy Re the Term “Anti-Catholic” (Jason Engwer Sez Catholicism is Not Christian & Teaches a False Gospel) [10-14-20]

Jason Engwer, Origen, & the New Testament Canon [10-15-20]

Jason Engwer, Origen, & Intercession of Saints [10-16-20]

Jason Engwer, Hippolytus, & Mary’s Perpetual Virginity [10-17-20]

Peter’s Primacy is Disproved By His Personality? (Protestant Apologist Jason Engwer Continues His All-Out War on St. Peter & the Papacy) [10-18-20]

Jason Engwer and a Supposedly Sinful Mary (Doubting Jesus’ Sanity? / Inconsiderate (?) Young Jesus in the Temple / “Woman” and the Wedding at Cana) [11-16-20]

Reply to Engwer’s Alleged “Absence of a Papacy” [8-25-21]

Jesus’ “Brothers” (Not Siblings) 0101: vs. Jason Engwer (The Actual Biblical Data Brought to Bear, Rather Than Late (Post-Luther and Post-Calvin) Protestant Traditions of Men) [9-23-21]

I Timothy 3:15 vs. Sola Scriptura & Jason Engwer [10-4-21]

Anti-Perpetual Virginity Arguments Debunked (vs. J. Engwer) [11-7-21]

Was Mary Sinless? (vs. 3 Church Fathers & Jason Engwer) [11-9-21]

Was Jesus Unclear in John 6 (Eucharist)? [11-16-21]

Refuting Jason Engwer’s “Real Absence” Argument (Including Biblical Evidence of Analogous Miracles of a Supernatural Change of a Substance Minus Outward Physical Evidence) [11-18-21]

Mary’s Assumption & Biblical Evidence (Analogies) [11-30-21]

James Listed Before Peter (Gal 2:9)? (vs. Jason Engwer) [12-3-21]

Anti-Catholic Argument (!) for Mary’s Assumption [3-11-22]

Is First Clement Non-Papal? (vs. Jason Engwer) [4-19-22]

Sinning Mary in the Bible? (vs. Jason Engwer) [6-21-22]

Jason Engwer, Trent Horn, & My 50 NT Petrine Proofs [7-28-22]

No Papacy in the NT? Think Again (vs. Jason Engwer). With Special Emphasis on the Protestant Exegesis of “The keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:19) [8-1-22]

Jason Engwer’s Anti-Papalism Refutes Denominationalism [8-2-22]

A Lot of Patristic Problems with Sola Scriptura [Facebook, 8-17-22]

Debate: Early Catholic Authority & Development of Ecclesiology [12-10-22]

Polycarp vs. “Faith Alone” (vs. Jason Engwer) [1-27-23]

Protestant Anti-Catholic Apologist Jason Engwer Denies Direct Biblical Proof of Sola Scriptura [Facebook, 2-18-23]

Prayers to and for the Dead (vs. Jason Engwer): Did Jesus & Peter Talk to Dead People Before They Rose from the Dead, and — Along with Elijah and Elisha — Pray for the Dead, or Only Ask Them to Move After They Were Raised? (+ Part 2) [3-13-23]

Jason Engwer vs. the Biblical Case for Invoking Saints [4-22-23]

Invocation of Saints: Jason Engwer Still Out to Sea [7-19-23]

Does Baptism Save or Only Sanctify (1 Pet 3:21)? [9-19-23]

St. John Chrysostom Rejected “Faith Alone” (Contra Jason Engwer) [Facebook, 9-22-23]

Reply to Jason Engwer on Justification [9-23-23]

Reply to Jason Engwer Re Eternal Security [9-26-23]

Vs. J. Engwer Re Church Authority, #1: Preliminaries (Including St. Augustine on the Visible Catholic Church; St. Irenaeus on Church Infallibility; Biblical Data Regarding Infallibility & Indefectibility; Peter & the “Keys”; Jesus’ Prayer for St. Peter) [10-12-23]

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XVII. “EXCATHOLIC4CHRIST” (TOM)

“Catholic Verses” #1: 1 Tim 3:15 (Church) (Also, the Biblical Definition of the Gospel) [10-24-23]

“Catholic Verses” #2: Jerusalem Council (Also: the Ten Commandments in the New Covenant; Church Fathers On the Binding Nature of the Council of Nicaea) [10-25-23]

“Catholic Verses” #3: Tradition, Pt. 1 (Including the Church Fathers’ Opinion Regarding Authoritative Apostolic Oral Tradition) [10-26-23]

“Catholic Verses” #4: Sinners in the Church (Including the Biblical Conception of “Saints” and “Sinners”) [10-26-23]

“Catholic Verses” #5: Denominationalism (Including “Straight Talk” on the Catholic and Protestant Inquisitions) [10-27-23]

“Catholic Verses” #6: Interpreting Scripture (Including: How Far Away Were the Cities that the Jerusalem Council Bound to its Decrees?) [10-30-23]

“Catholic Verses” #7: Tradition, Pt. 2 [11-1-23]

“Catholic Verses” #8: Tradition, Pt. 3 [11-1-23]

“Catholic Verses” #9: The Papacy [11-2-23]

XVIII. FOXE’S BOOK OF MARTYRS

Inaccuracies of Anti-Catholic Foxe’s Book of Martyrs [2-10-11]

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XIX. DR. ROBERT GAGNON
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XX. PEDRO FRANCA GAIAO 
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XXI. STEVE HAYS (REFORMED)
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Hays’ Calvinist Prooftexts #3: Absalom’s Judgment [10-27-21]

Hays’ Calvinist Prooftexts #4: Judgment of Assyria [10-27-21]

Debate: Matthew 16:18-19 & the Papacy (vs. Steve Hays) [10-30-21]

Steve Hays, Onan, Bible Commentary, & Contraception [1-11-07, 2-28-14; revised & expanded on 12-14-21]

Sola Scriptura: Self-Refuting? (vs. Steve Hays) [12-14-21]

All in a Day’s Work: The Late Anti-Catholic Polemicist Steve Hay’s Amazing and Colorful Variety of Ultra-Slanderous, Lying Insults Sent My Way (+ “Dr.” James White’s & James Swan’s Childish, Ridiculous Insults) [Facebook, 12-10-22]

Reply to Steve Hays’ Caricatures of the Papacy [2-28-23]

Tackling Steve Hays’ 695-page Catholicism [Facebook, 5-11-23]

Reply to Hays’ “Catholicism” #1: 6-10,000-Year-Old Universe (?); “Myths” in Genesis; Straw Men; Protestant Scholarly “Authorities”; Exorcism; Symbolic Interpretation of Scripture [5-12-23]

Reply to Hays’ “Catholicism” #2: Asking Patron Saints to Intercede; Miracles Among Catholics & Protestants [5-14-23]

Anti-Catholic Steve Hays’ Remarkable Change of Mind Regarding Me as a Person and Apologist [Facebook, 5-14-23]

Reply to Hays’ “Catholicism” #3: Catholic Miracles Unfairly Criticized & Biblically Defended; St. Padre Pio; St. Joseph Cupertino [5-15-23]

Reply to Hays’ “Catholicism” #4: Miracle of the Sun at Fatima [5-15-23]

Reply to Hays’ “Catholicism” #5: Our Lady of Fatima [5-16-23]

Reply to Hays’ “Catholicism” #6: Purported Cures from Lourdes [5-17-23]

Reply to Hays’ “Catholicism” #7: Bogus Charges of Catholic Eisegesis; Biblical Types & Symbols; Mystical Church; “Full of Grace”; Protestant False Dichotomies [5-17-23]

Reply to Hays’ “Catholicism” #8: Tradition & Authority; Bankruptcy of Sola Scriptura [5-18-23]

Reply to Hays’ “Catholicism” #9: Rule of Faith; Catholic Mariology [5-18-23]

Reply to Hays’ “Catholicism” #10: Conversion Paradigms; Dispensers of Sacraments; Salvation Outside the Church; Catholicism: Bible Totally Inerrant [5-20-23]

Reply to Hays’ “Catholicism” #11: Visible Church; Eucharist in Acts 2:42; Ever-Changing Catholicism? [5-22-23]

Reply to Hays’ “Catholicism” #12: Church, Seven Sacraments, Papacy, Saints, Priesthood, & Mariology in the Gospels [5-22-23]

Reply to Hays’ “Catholicism” #13: Denominationalism; Salvation Outside the Church; Catholic & Protestant Baptism; Catholic Scholars; Doctrinal Development [5-23-23]

Reply to Hays’ “Catholicism” #14: Canonicity; God’s Guidance; Ancient Contraception; Relics; Intercession of Saints [5-24-23]

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Series: Reply to [Steve] Hays’ “Biblical Calvinism”: the many replies are posted on my Calvinism & General Protestantism web page in the first section at the top (starting on 6-12-23)
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XXII. MATT HEDGES

Dialogue on St. John Chrysostom & Sola Scriptura (Includes a Discussion of the Proper Definition of Sola Scriptura) [2-23-21]

Did Pope Gelasius (r. 492-496) Deny Transubstantiation? [3-24-21]

Pope St. Clement of Rome & Papal Authority [7-28-21]

St. Augustine, St. Basil the Great, & Veneration of Images (+ St. Augustine’s Enthusiastic Advocacy of Relics) [8-3-22]

Biblical Defense of Images and Icons (vs. Matt Hedges) [8-3-22]

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XXIII. TIMOTHY F. KAUFFMAN

St. Ignatius, Bishops, & the Rule of Faith (vs. T.F. Kauffman) [7-14-23]

Is All Bowing Before Images “Idolatry”? (vs. T.F. Kauffman) [7-14-23]

Catholics Think Mary is “Co-Creator”? (vs. T.F. Kauffman) (Refuting a Distortion of What St. Alphonsus de Liguori Actually Teaches in The Glories of Mary) [7-17-23]

Bible on Imitating Saints (vs. T.F. Kauffman) [7-17-23]

Sinless(?) Joseph, John the Baptist, Anne, & the Incarnation [7-18-23]

Mary, Not Jesus, is the Catholic “Savior”? (Response to More Misrepresentation of St. Alphonsus de Liguori’s Book, The Glories of Mary) [7-21-23]

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XXIV. PASTOR DAVID T. KING (REFORMED)

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“Romanists” Killed 100 Million? David T. King & Other Geniuses [6-29-00]

Was Cardinal Newman a Modernist? Pope St. Pius X vs. Anti-Catholic Polemicist David T. King (Development, not Evolution of Doctrine) [3-6-02]

Absurd Anti-Newman Rhetoric in Anti-Catholic Polemics [3-19-02 and 9-27-05]

Chrysostom & Irenaeus: Sola Scripturists?: Refutation of Anti-Catholic Polemicist and Reformed Protestant Pastor David T. King [4-20-07]

Mary’s Assumption vs. Material Sufficiency of Scripture? (Refutation of Anti-Catholic Polemicist & Reformed Protestant Pastor David T. King) [4-22-07]

“Podunk” & Self-Publishing Efforts of Leading Anti-Catholics: David T. King, William Webster, and Eric Svendsen [4-17-09]

Anti-Catholic Double Standards on Self-Published Books (James Swan and His Love of the Ridiculous Self-Published Books of David T. King and William Webster) [8-1-11]

John Henry Newman’s Alleged Disbelief  in Papal Infallibility Prior to 1870, and Supposed Intellectual Dishonesty Afterwards (Classic Anti-Catholic Lies: George Salmon, James White, David T. King et al) [8-11-11]

Answer to Sola Scriptura “Prooftexts” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 & Romans 16:15-16 (vs. Reformed Pastor David T. King) [6-26-12]

David T. King and William Webster: Out-of-Context or Hyper-Selective Quotations from the Church Fathers on Christian Authority: Introduction to the Series [11-8-13]

David T. King and William Webster: Out-of-Context or Hyper-Selective Quotations from the Church Fathers on Christian Authority: Part I: St. Cyril of Jerusalem [11-9-13]

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David T. King Ignores Sola Scriptura Biblical Disproofs  (Incl. lengthy analysis of 2 Peter 1:20: “no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation”) [11-13-17]
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XXV. BRUNO LIMA
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XXVI. LEN LISENBEE
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XXVII. LUTHERANISM
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XXVIII. DOUGLAS MABRY (aka “GOJIRA”)
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XXIX. DR. JOHN MACARTHUR
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XXX. YAGO MARTINS
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XXXI. JAMES McCARTHY
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XXXII. JUAN ROBERTO DE OLIVEIRA
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Next Brazilian Protestant to be Refuted: Juan Roberto de Oliveira [Facebook, 9-27-23]
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XXXIII. ORTHODOX ANTI-CATHOLICISM
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XXXIV. POPE AS “GOD” OR “ANTICHRIST”
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What Year Did Popes Become Antichrist? (vs. John Calvin) [3-11-10]
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XXXV. AUSTIN REED

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XXXVI. “SAINT AND SINNER”
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Six Anti-Catholics Challenged: “Is Catholicism Christian?” Wouldn’t a real debate be nice for a change? (All Declined) [in effect, S&S declined on 10-27-07 by saying “amen” to “Turretinfan’s” decline and giving no indication otherwise after five previous related comments (one / two / three / four / five) ] [10-8-07] 
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XXXVII. GEORGE SALMON (19TH CENTURY ANGLICAN)

Absurd Anti-Newman Rhetoric in Anti-Catholic Polemics [3-19-02 and 9-27-05]

John Henry Newman’s Alleged Disbelief  in Papal Infallibility Prior to 1870, and Supposed Intellectual Dishonesty Afterwards (Classic Anti-Catholic Lies: George Salmon, James White, David T. King et al) [8-11-11]

Next Big Project: Replies to Anglican Anti-Catholic Polemicist George Salmon (1819-1904) [Facebook, 3-10-23]

Irish Ecclesiastical Record vs. Anti-Catholic George Salmon, Pt. 1 [3-10-23]

Irish Ecclesiastical Record vs. Anti-Catholic George Salmon, Pt. 2 . . . In Which Dr. Salmon Accuses Cardinal Newman of Lying Through His Teeth in His Essay on Development, & Dr. Murphy Magnificently Defends Infallibility and Doctrinal Development Against Gross Caricature [3-12-23]

Irish Ecclesiastical Record vs. Anti-Catholic George Salmon, Pt. 3 . . . In Which Our Sophist-Critic Massively Misrepresents Cardinal Newman and Utterly Misunderstands the Distinction Between Implicit and Explicit Faith [3-12-23]

Irish Ecclesiastical Record vs. Anti-Catholic George Salmon, Pt. 4 . . . in which Dr. Salmon Sadly Reveals Himself to be a Hyper-Rationalistic Pelagian Heretic, and Engages in Yet More Misrepresentation of Development of Doctrine and Cardinal Newman’s Statements and Positions [3-15-23]
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Irish Ecclesiastical Record vs. Anti-Catholic George Salmon, Pt. 5: Private Judgment, the Rule of Faith, and Dr. Salmon’s Weak Fallible Protestant “Church”: Subject to the Whims of Individuals; Church Fathers Misquoted [3-15-23]
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Irish Ecclesiastical Record vs. Anti-Catholic George Salmon, Pt. 6: The Innumerable Perils of Perspicuity of Scripture and Private Judgment [3-16-23]
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XXXVIII. MATT SLICK (PRESBYTERIAN; FOUNDER OF CARM)
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XXXIX. DR. ERIC SVENDSEN
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Have Heterodox Catholics Overthrown Official Doctrine? (vs. Eric Svendsen, James White, Phillip Johnson, & Andrew Webb) [6-3-96]
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Apostolic [Quasi-] Protestantism?: Dialogue with Eric Svendsen [6-26-96]

Debate on the Nature of the Church and Catholicism [7-5-96]

Dialogue on “Tradition” in the New Testament [1996]

Dialogue with Protestants on Various Aspects of Development of Doctrine (Particularly Concerning the Canon of Scripture) [vs. Jason Engwer & Eric Svendsen] [3-19-02, at Internet Archive]

Eric Svendsen: Catholics Raise Mary to the Holy Trinity [4-2-04]

What is it With Anti-Catholics & Written Debate? (The Sad Case of Eric Svendsen as a Typical Example) [10-4-04, at Internet Archive] 

“It’s Greek to Me”: Illuminating Exchange w Eric Svendsen [6-5-03 and 1-10-05]

James White’s, Eric Svendsen’s, and Jason Engwer’s Glowing Tributes to Pope St. John Paul II [4-5-05, at Internet Archive]
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Eric Svendsen Sez Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, and Dr. James Dobson Betray the Gospel and R Lousy Evangelicals, in Distinct Danger of Damnation [4-28-05, at Internet Archive]

“Podunk” & Self-Publishing Efforts of Leading Anti-Catholics: David T. King, William Webster, and Eric Svendsen [4-17-09]

Follies of Anti-Catholic Former Apologist Eric Svendsen [4-25-10] 

Dave Armstrong Fan Club #2: Anti-Catholic Protestant Polemicist Eric “the Yellow” Svendsen [Facebook, 3-3-19]

Svendsen’s Dissertation on Mary: 1. Preliminaries (Including Explicit Biblical Indications or Analogies for Mary’s Universal Intercession and the Notion of “Fittingness”) [2-2-23]

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XL. JAMES SWAN (REFORMED)

Martin Luther’s Mariology: Reply to James Swan: . . . Particularly the Immaculate Conception / Has Present-Day Protestantism Maintained the Classical “Reformational” Heritage of Mariology? [4-26-03; rev. 4-6-23]

Luther’s Mariology: the Protestant View [4-26-03]

Use of Primary Citations: James Swan’s Double Standards (and his particular animus against the Austrian Jesuit and biographer of Luther: Hartmann Grisar) [4-26-03; expanded on 7-15-20] 

Anti-Catholic Caricatures of Catholic Mariology [4-26-03]

Vs. James Swan #2 Re Luther’s Mariology (+ Part 2) [original full dialogue: 6-28-03; uploaded on 4-29-24]

2nd Reply to James Swan Re Luther’s Mariology [6-28-03; abridged on 7-19-20]

Defense of Critique of Jame’s White’s Misinformed Mariology (particularly with regard to the differing views on early Mariology of Protestant Church historians J.N.D. Kelly and Philip Schaff) [3-15-04 and 9-7-05]

Biblical “Ass” (Donkey) & Holier Than Thou Anti-Catholics (subtitle: It Matters Not to Anti-Catholics Like James Swan Whether “Ass” is a Legitimate Term in the Bible, Shakespeare, & Even John Calvin) [2007; abridged & revised: 1-19-19]

Luther: Death Penalty for Anabaptists & 1525 Peasants’ Revolt (Critique of James Swan’s Misrepresentation on the Radio Show, Iron Sharpens Iron, with Chris Arnzen) [11-6-07] 

Anti-Catholic James Swan’s Goofy Anonymous “Reviews” of My Book [6-30-10]

How Anti-Catholic Apologists “Argue” and “Reason”: Documentation of James Swan’s Avalanche of Childish Personal Insults and Ridiculous Flat-Out Lies About Yours Truly [6-30-10]

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Calvin & Mary Ever Virgin (w Tim Staples vs. James Swan) [6-5-14]

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XLI. KEN TEMPLE (REFORMED BAPTIST)
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XLII. EDGAR TREVIÑO
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XLIII. FRANK TURK (AKA “CENTURION”) (BAPTIST)
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Salvation by Works in the Catholic Catechism? [5-8-02]

Proper Theological Application of the Term “Anti-Catholic” [9-24-05]

Frank Turk and Phil Johnson Reply to My Critique With Christlike Examples of Charity and Reason / James White’s January 2001 Resolution to Avoid All Interaction With Me (!!) [7-21-11, at Internet Archive]

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XLIV. FRANCOIS TURRETIN (1623-1687)

For many counter-replies, see the section, “Replies to Francois Turretin” on my Calvinism & General Protestantism: Catholic Critique web page.

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XLV. “TURRETINFAN” (AKA “THE ANONYMOUS ONE” OR “TAO”) (REFORMED)

Did Jesus Commission the New Testament (or the Disciples?) [5-31-18]

Armstrong Fan Club #5: Reformed Protestant Fanatic “Turretinfan” [Facebook, 3-5-19]

Rome, the Biblical Canon, & Tradition (vs. Turretinfan & James White) . . . Observed in the Views of John of Damascus (aka John Damascene: c. 676-749) [11-7-19]

Chalice or Host Only Contain the Body & Blood of Christ (Reply to Two Direct Challenges from the Calvinist Anti-Catholic Sophist and Polemicist, “Turretinfan”) [11-21-19]

Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) Decrees: Universally Binding? [11-21-19]

“Turretinfan” Calls a Statue of Jesus Christ an “Idol” (While His Buddy Bishop James White Praises the Statues of “Reformers” Calvin, Farel, Beza, and Knox) [6-8-10; rev. 6-24-20]

Origen & the Rule of Faith (vs. “Turretinfan”) [12-2-21]

Is the Catholic Definition of “Christian” Deceptive? (Vs. “TurretinFan”: Including Some “Reminiscing” About Past Interactions with the Major Anti-Catholic Apologists Online) [7-26-25]

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A Discourse on The Discourse on the Holy Theotokos (Anti-Catholic Distortion of St. Athanasius) (Paul Hoffer) [4-10-09]

TAO’s Continued Use of the Pejorative Papist (+ Part Two) (Paul Hoffer) [6-23-09]

What Saint Augustine, Bishop, Saint and Doctor of the Catholic Church Actually Held Pertaining to Transubstantiation: A Response to Turretinfan (+ Part Two) (Paul Hoffer) [8-20-11]
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XLVI. JERRY WALLS (+ KENNETH COLLINS)
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Series of Critiques of Kenneth Collins’ and Jerry Walls’ Book, Roman but Not Catholic: What Remains at Stake 500 Years after the Reformation (Oct. 2017):

My Amazon Review (good overview of #1-#10 below) [10-21-17]

Defense of My Amazon Review [10-23-17]

Odd Trio: Jerry Walls, Ken Collins, & Anti-Catholic John Bugay [10-24-17]

#1: Newman’s Mariology [10-17-17]

#2: Queen of Heaven [10-18-17]

#3: Necessity of Immaculate Mary? [10-18-17]

#4: Mary “Not a Genuine Human Being”? [10-19-17]

#5: The Church “Gave” the Bible? [10-19-17]

#6: Assumption, Queen Redux [10-19-17]

#7: Unbiblical / Non-Patristic Purgatory? [10-19-17]

#8: Heretical Tobit? (Alms & Salvation) [10-20-17]

#9: “Apocrypha” (Jerome, Athanasius, Etc.) [10-21-17]

#10: St. Peter & the Papacy [10-21-17]

#11: Good & Bad Monothelite Heretics [10-22-17]

#12: Salvation (Soteriology) [10-22-17]

#13: “Reformed” Censorship & Intolerance [10-26-17]

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XLVII. WILLIAM WEBSTER
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XLVIII. WILLIAM WHITAKER
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XLIX. BISHOP JAMES WHITE (REFORMED BAPTIST)

The material formerly listed here has been moved to a new page: Bishop “Dr.” [???] James White: Anti-Catholic Extraordinaire

L. MIKE WINGER

Reply to Mike Winger on Sola Scriptura [4-30-22]

Symbolic Adult Baptism? (vs. Mike Winger) [5-2-22]

Papal Authority In The NT And The Fathers (Vs. Mike Winger): Incl. “Papal” & Patristic Exegesis of Matthew 16 and John 21; Relationship of the Bible & the Church [3-9-24]

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LI. CATHOLIC INQUISITION

“Romanists” Killed 100 Million? David T. King & Other Geniuses [6-29-00]

The Inquisition Killed 4.9 Million? (John Bugay’s Whoppers) [6-4-10]

Catholic Inquisition Murdered “50-68 Million”? [April 2014]

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Were 50 Million People Really Killed in the Inquisition? [National Catholic Register, 5-30-18]
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The Inquisition, as Medieval Catholics Would View It [National Catholic Register, 7-31-19]
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LII. MISCELLANEOUS REFUTATIONS AND OBSERVATIONS

Classic Anti-Catholic Polemicists (Chick, Boettner, & Hislop) [1-25-91]

Anti-Catholicism: Classic Catholic Replies and Retorts [1-25-91]

Are Catholics Christians? (vs. James White) [May 1995]

Dialogue on Grace (vs. Anti-Catholic Phil Johnson) [1996]

“Xmas” & the Christian “Fish”: Etymology & History (vs. Matthew Bell) [12-22-98]

Sophistry: Reflections on “Debating” Anti-Catholic Polemicists [11-27-00]

Oral vs. Written Debates About Theology: Which is Better? [Jan. 2001; rev. 9-30-04]

Anti-Catholics Are Catholics’ Brothers in Christ [4-18-02; reposted on 4-22-24]

Books by Dave Armstrong: Twin Scourges: Thoughts on Anti-Catholicism and Theological Liberalism [June 2003]

Latest Anti-Catholic Theory on Catholic Converts: Filthy Lucre (Scott Hahn and Steve Ray Supposedly Were Motivated Primarily or Solely by Financial Gain, to Become Catholics?) [7-15-04; rev. 1-27-17]

Absurd Anti-Newman Rhetoric in Anti-Catholic Polemics [3-19-02 and 9-27-05]

“Moderate” Heinrich Bullinger: “Reformation” Anti-Catholicism [1-16-07]

Old website editions of the Anti-Catholicism Page preserved at the Internet Archive (much material later deleted or modified: choose from between the dates of 6-11-04 and 2-11-07)

Prayer For Our Non-Catholic Brothers and Sisters (Especially Those Who Do Not Regard Us As Their Brothers and Sisters in Christ) [6-2-07, at Internet Archive]

The “Adolescent Theory” of Pervasive Anti-Catholic Mindsets and Behavior [Facebook, 10-4-07]

Zwingli, Bucer, Oecolampadius: Luther & Lutherans Not Christians [1-10-08]

Anti-Catholics: Sincere & Ignorant or Malicious? [10-7-08]

Why Folks Like the New Catholic Answer Bible (+ Clueless Anti-Catholic Attacks On It) [4-5-09; slightly revised on 8-5-21]

“Podunk” & Self-Publishing Efforts of Leading Anti-Catholics: David T. King, William Webster, and Eric Svendsen [4-17-09]

Clarification of Why I No Longer Attempt Debate With Anti-Catholic Protestants [7-4-09, at Internet Archive]

Mary as a Guide & Model of Holiness: Mutual Monologues with Several Anti-Catholics + One Real Dialogue [10-14-09]

Is the Anti-Catholic Myth of Total Catholic Apostasy Analogous to the Jewish-Christian Split in the 1st Century? [12-8-09]

Judaizers: “Proto-Catholics”? (Alleged Works-Salvation) [12-14-09]

Amazing Grace: “Anti-Catholic” Hymn? [11-1-10]

How Anti-Catholics Often Argue (Massive Use of Ad Hominem, Personal Insult, Smear Tactics) / My Humorous, Satirical Retorts [2-24-10, at Internet Archive]

Young Earth Creationism of Notable Anti-Catholic Protestants [9-18-10]

High Praise from a Protestant Critic of Mine [sarcastic title: Facebook comment on an anonymous critic who claims that no Protestant apologist takes me “seriously” at all; 12-22-11]

C. S. Lewis’ Belfast Childhood & Contra-Catholicism [6-26-12]

Pitting Paul Against Peter (Pathetic, Pitiful Pedantry): Reply to Failed Anti-Catholic Protestant Attempts to Tear Down St. Peter and His Papal Authority [8-10-12]

Dialogue on Newman’s Kingsley / “Apologia” Controversy [11-27-12]

Multiple Meanings of “Paradise” in Scripture and Anti-Catholic Cluelessness About Literary Genre  [see also the accompanying Facebook discussion] [12-1-14]

Bizarre Anti-Catholic Junk Refuted (Series) [compiled on 4-7-16]

Debates with Anti-Catholic Polemicists [compiled 4-20-16]

Brief Exchange with an Anti-Catholic Regarding Whether Catholicism Teaches a False Gospel [Facebook, 3-18-17]

A Friend of 34 Years (Who is Anti-Catholic) Would Rather End Our Friendship Than Read and Discuss One of My Papers [Facebook, 8-11-17]

“Church Sign” Regarding Anti-Catholic Willful Ignorance [Facebook, 3-22-19]

St. Cardinal Newman on English Anti-Catholic Prejudice [2-17-20]

Defining “Church”: “Exchange” w Anti-Catholic Zealot [3-9-20]

More of that Profound Anti-Catholic Calvinist Love (Gene “Troll” Bridges) [Facebook, 8-15-20]

Is it Wrong to Celebrate and “Make Merry” About the Birth of Jesus and God Becoming Man? No! Clear Biblical Models [Facebook, 12-15-20]

Christmas: Theological (Reformed / Calvinist) Opposition . . . With My Biblical and Historical Refutations [12-16-20]

Discussion with Brazilian Catholics About the Leading Brazilian Anti-Catholic Protestant Apologists [Facebook, 5-24-22]

Does Lucas Banzoli Intend to Ignore My Critiques [So Far, Ten] of His Writing? [Facebook, 6-7-22]

Just a Coincidence (Five Influential Anti-Catholics Who — After Years of Debates With Me — Suddenly Pretended That I No Longer Existed) [Facebook, 9-19-23]

My 29-Year Experience with Anti-Catholic Protestant Debate Opponents: Notice Any Pattern Here? [Facebook, 4-3-24]

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LIII. “ANTI-CATHOLIC” / “ROMANISM”: DEFINITIONAL AND TERMINOLOGICAL CONTROVERSIES

Dialogue on the Anti-Catholic Definition of “Christian” (vs. Matthew Bell) [1-11-99; new introduction added on 3-16-11]
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Dialogue: Definition of “Christian” (vs. Reformed Pastor) (+ Did Trent Anathematize all Protestants?) [6-5-10]

Debates on the Controversial Term, “Anti-Catholic[ism]” [compilation of old archived discussions, from 5-11-16]

Anti-Catholic Hypocrisy Re the Term “Anti-Catholic” (Jason Engwer Sez Catholicism is Not Christian & Teaches a False Gospel) [10-14-20]

Quick and Handy Definition of “Anti-Catholic” [Facebook, 7-29-24]

“Romanist”: Dialogue with a Protestant [12-3-24]

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LIV. IDOLATRY CHARGE (THE MASS, IMAGES, AND MISC.)

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The Absurdity of Claiming That the Mass is Idolatrous [National Catholic Register, 6-17-19]
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LV. IDOLATRY CHARGE (MARIAN VENERATION)
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Practical Matters:  I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider a much-needed monthly or one-time financial contribution. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV).
*
PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: [email protected]. Here’s also a second page to get to PayPal. You’ll see the term “Catholic Used Book Service”, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing (including Zelle and 100% tax-deductible donations if desired), see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information.
*
You can support my work a great deal in non-financial ways, if you prefer; by subscribing to, commenting on, liking, and sharing videos from my two YouTube channels, Catholic Bible Highlights and Lux Veritatis (featuring documentaries), where I partner with Kenny Burchard (see my own videos), and/or by signing up to receive notice for new articles on this blog. Just type your email address on the sidebar to the right (scroll down quite a bit), where you see, “Sign Me Up!” Thanks a million!
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 Last updated on 26 July 2025
  

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2025-05-12T20:24:12-04:00

Last updated on: May 12, 2025 at 8:24 pm   By

Front Cover (550 x 828)

[published in 2013]

[see full book and purchase information]

*****

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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I. INDIVIDUAL CONVERSIONS

II. MY METHODIST AND PAGAN YEARS / EVANGELICAL CONVERSION (1977)

III. MY CATHOLIC CONVERSION (1990)

IV. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS AND INFORMATION

V. C. S LEWIS AND CATHOLICISM

VI. PROTESTANT ANALYSES OF CATHOLIC CONVERSION (AND MY COUNTER-REPLIES)

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I. INDIVIDUAL CONVERSIONS

G. K. Chesterton’s Conversion to Catholicism (In Brief) [1991; published by The Coming Home Newsletter, Sep. / Oct. 1996]

Ronald Knox’s Conversion to Catholicism (In Brief) [1991; published by The Coming Home Newsletter Jan/ / Feb. 1997]

Malcolm Muggeridge & His Conversion to Catholicism [1991; published by The Coming Home Newsletter, March / April 1997]

Why I Returned to the Catholic Church; Including a Searching Examination of Various Flaws and Errors in the Protestant Worldview and Approach to Christian Living (Al Kresta) [transcript of his talk in my home, 26 April 1992]

Absurd Anti-Newman Rhetoric in Anti-Catholic Polemics [3-19-02 and 9-27-05]

On Irrational Hostility to Conversion Stories (Esp. Scott Hahn’s) [3-3-06]

James White’s Lies Re the Return of Francis Beckwith to the Church [5-6-07]

Fifteen Conversion Stories (in my book, Catholic Converts and Conversion: 2013)

Cardinal Newman’s Conversion Odyssey, in His Own Words (September 1839 to December 1845) [3-19-15] [see also the Spanish version (shorter version) ]

Cardinal Newman on Catholic Conversion & Converts (Especially His Own & that of Anglicans Who Become Catholics) [May 2015]

Malcolm Muggeridge: The Iconoclast (Old Links Page) [4-18-16]

Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman: “Father” of Vatican II (Old Links Page) [4-18-16]

G. K. Chesterton: The “Colossal Genius” (Old Links Page) [4-18-16]

Malcolm Muggeridge & Mother Teresa: A Blessed, Fruitful Meeting [9-6-16]

The Holy Collaboration of Mother Teresa and Malcom Muggeridge [National Catholic Register, 6-20-18]

Cardinal Newman’s Conversion Agonies: Jan. 1842 to Feb. 1844 [10-10-19]

My First Book, by God’s Grace, Helped Someone Come Into the Church (Coming Home Network Testimony) [Facebook, 9-14-20]

II. MY METHODIST AND PAGAN YEARS / EVANGELICAL CONVERSION (1977)

My “Romantic / Imaginative” Conversion to Christianity [1997; rev. 9-19-03 and 9-23-15]

Gratefulness for My Evangelical Protestant Background [3-18-08]

My Two Conversions: Interview with Spanish Journalist Itxu Díaz [3-31-11]

My Nature-Mystic, Occultic, Practical Atheist  Period (1967-1977) [7-27-11]

Dialogue with a Friendly Atheist #1: My Pagan / Occultic Period (+ Circumstances and Factors Regarding my Evangelical Conversion in 1977 at Age 18 and Catholic Conversion at Age 32) [8-3-17]

[see also the earlier portions of my ten-part conversion story in the next section below]

III. MY CATHOLIC CONVERSION (1990)

My Odyssey from Evangelicalism to Catholicism [9 December 1990 / revised: July 1992 / expanded: 1993. My draft of what was later somewhat edited and included in Patrick Madrid’s 1994 runaway bestseller book, Surprised by Truth] [see also the Spanish version]

150 Reasons Why I Became (and Remain) a Catholic [1992; revised 9-28-05] [see also the Spanish version (1992 original) and Portugese version]

How Newman Convinced Me to Become a Catholic [1996; published in Latin Mass Magazine and Coming Home Newsletter] [see also the Spanish version and Portugese version]

My Catholic Conversion (Radio Interview with Al Kresta): Transcript (listen to the audio file; see #3) [9-8-97]

Radio Interview: My Conversion Story, with Al Kresta, Kresta in the Afternoon [4-30-02; free audio file; see #6]

Radio Interview: My conversion story, with Steve Wood, of Faith and Family Live [7-10-03; free audio file; see #7]

Epistemology of My Catholic Conversion + My (Protestant) Letter to Karl Keating in 1990 / How I Became an Apologist [4-25-04]

White’s & Hays’ Anti-Catholic Analyses of My Catholic Conversion [Dec. 2004; added dialogue from 2-21-17; additional citations added on 2-24-18]

My Catholic Conversion in a Nutshell [5-1-06]

My Conversion: Not Due to Hostility to Evangelicalism [9-9-06]

My Supposed “Hybrid” Post-Conversion Faith [9-19-06]

Flawed Conversion Blurb & James White’s Personal Insults [9-7-07]

Am I a “Protestantizing” Catholic (Formerly “Catholicizing” Protestant)? [7-24-08]

My Earliest Catholic Apologetics (1990-1995) [1-5-11]

My Two Conversions: Interview with Spanish Journalist Itxu Díaz [3-31-11]

Radio Interview in My Conversion: Blessed John Paul the Great Leafeater’s Club, with hosts Terry Moran and John Lillis (audio file: see #13) [6-1-12]

My Conversion to Catholicism: “Five Minute Version” [1-17-13]

My Conversion: Apathy, Occult, Evangelicalism, & Catholicism (Ten Parts) [2013]:

Part One: Nominal Methodism, Occult, and the Seeds of a Serious Christian Commitment (1958 – early 1970s)

Part Two: Nature Mysticism, Romanticism, Bible Movies, and the “Great Depression” (1968-1977)

Part Three: Evangelical “Born-Again” (?) Experience, More Lukewarmness, and Personal Revival (1977-1982)

Part Four: Apologetics, Abundant Evangelical Blessings, and Protestant Evangelistic Campus Ministry (1983-1989)

Part Five: Collapse of My Protestant Ministry: Disillusionment and the End of One Chapter of My Life, But with Faith Intact (1985-1989)

Part Six: Pro-Life Rescue Movement, Letter to Karl Keating, My Ecumenical Gatherings, & the First “Domino”: Contraception (1988-1990)

Part Seven: Ecclesiology (the Church), the “Protestant Myth” of Church History, and My Vehement Opposition to Catholic Infallibility (1990)

Part Eight: Bombshell and Paradigm Shift: Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman’s Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine (1990)

Part Nine: The Slow But Inevitable Paradigm Shift, Fr. John A. Hardon, and Another View of the “Reformation” (1990)

Part Ten: Thomas Howard & Liturgy, My New Catholic Apologetics Career, and the Long-Awaited Fulfillment of My Calling (1990-1991)

Radio Interview: My conversion story, with Al Kresta, Kresta in the Afternoon [4-14-14; free audio file: see #15]

Why This “Jesus Freak” Became a Catholic [published at Catholic365 on 22 March 2015]

Here’s What I Discovered That Made Me Become Catholic [National Catholic Register, 9-29-16]

Dialogue with a Friendly Atheist #1: My Pagan / Occultic Period (+ Circumstances and Factors Regarding my Evangelical Conversion in 1977 at Age 18 and Catholic Conversion at Age 32) [8-3-17]

Todd Baker’s Exodus from Rome (Attack on My Conversion) [4-24-18]

30-Year Anniversary of the Beginning of My Conversion Odyssey to Catholicism [Facebook, 2-8-20]
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IV. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS AND INFORMATION

Catholic Conversion: Classic Analyses (Chesterton, Belloc, Pelikan) [1991]

Catholic Conversion: Random Thoughts & Reflections [5-13-03]

Catholic Converts’ Qualms: Mariology, Formal Worship, Etc. [2-11-04]

Conversion to Catholicism: Reflections on its Complexity [9-7-05]

Catholic Fundamentalism & “Insufficiently Converted Catholics” [2-21-06]

Potential Catholic Converts: My “Hands Off” Approach [7-1-06]

Christianity & Judaism, Messianic Jews, & Jewish Converts [12-4-07]

Vatican II on Effectively Sharing the Fullness of Catholic Faith [2-18-08]

Difficulty of Catholic-Protestant Marriage: Some Thoughts [5-7-08; rev. 4-25-18]

“Official” Catholic Use of “Convert” to Describe New Catholics [4-6-09]

Augustine’s Confessions: Model for Conversion Stories [6-10-09]

Dialogue: Do Vatican II & Ecumenism Discourage Converts? [Sep. 2009]

“Why Convince Protestants to Become Catholics?” [4-30-15]

Cardinal Newman on Catholic Conversion & Converts (Especially His Own & that of Anglicans Who Become Catholics) [May 2015]

Should Catholics Try to Persuade Protestants? [5-25-16]

Catholic Ecumenism + Apologetics (James Swan’s Cluelessness) [11-18-17]

Why Not Become a Protestant, Due to the Sex Scandals? [3-7-19]

Ironclad Rule #13 in Anti-Apologetics Rhetoric: “If such a screed goes on for more than ten seconds, the statistical probability of a disparaging remark about Scott Hahn approaches one.” / Cyclical History of Interest in Catholic Conversion Stories [Facebook, 7-1-19]

Fruit: 156 Reasons Why Catholic Apologetics is a Good Thing (Documented Conversions or Reversions in Part Due to My Work: Completely Caused by God’s Grace) [7-3-19]

“Jesus Revolution” Film & the Sacrament of Baptism [3-1-23]

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V. C. S LEWIS AND CATHOLICISM

C. S. Lewis’ Views on Christian Unity & Ecumenism [6-16-03]

C. S. Lewis’ Childhood in Belfast & Contra-Catholicism (Biographers and/or Friends Kreeft, Pearce, Derrick, and Possibly Tolkien Think This is Why Lewis Never Became a Catholic) [6-26-12]

Why Didn’t C. S. Lewis Become a Catholic? [8-29-14]

Dialogue on Why C. S. Lewis Didn’t “Pope” [9-1-15]

C. S. Lewis vs. St. Paul on Future Binding Church Authority [National Catholic Register, 1-22-17]

Why C. S. Lewis Never Became a Catholic [National Catholic Register, 3-5-17]

C. S. Lewis on Catholicism (Correspondence: 1934-1947) [9-13-19]

DOCUMENTARY: C. S. Lewis On Why He Never Became a Catholic  [Lux Veritatis, 5-12-25]

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VI. PROTESTANT ANALYSES OF CATHOLIC CONVERSION (AND MY COUNTER-REPLIES)

Latest Anti-Catholic Theory on Catholic Converts: Filthy Lucre (Scott Hahn and Steve Ray Supposedly Were Motivated Primarily or Solely by Financial Gain, to Become Catholics?) [7-15-04; rev. 1-27-17]

Is Conversion to Catholicism Mainly Emotional or “Doctrinal”? [9-11-04]

Catholic Conversion: Some Silly Protestant “Analyses” [3-6-04, 3-30-04, and 9-26-05]

My Conversion: Not Due to Hostility to Evangelicalism [9-9-06]

James White’s Top Ten Questions for “Romanist” Converts Answered [9-4-07]

Am I a “Protestantizing” Catholic (Formerly “Catholicizing” Protestant)? [7-24-08]

Todd Baker’s Exodus from Rome (Attack on My Conversion) [4-24-18]

Why Not Become a Protestant, Due to the Sex Scandals? [3-7-19]

James Swan Foolishly Attacks Catholic Conversion Stories [11-25-19]

Lucas Banzoli on Catholic Converts, and My Reply [Facebook, 9-26-22]

Why Protestants Become Catholics (w Gavin Ortlund) [2-22-24]

James White’s Blast at Catholic Converts Contrary to My Initial Radical Conversion to Christ in 1977 [Facebook, 5-16-24]

Lutheran Dr. Jordan Cooper on the “Many” Conversions to Catholicism [Facebook, 8-6-24]

Gavin Ortlund Affirms That Many Protestants Are Anxious and Considering Conversion to Catholicism: So Much So That He Felt Led to Write a Book to Counter It [Facebook, 8-23-24]

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Practical Matters:  I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider a much-needed monthly or one-time financial contribution. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV).
*
PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: [email protected]. Here’s also a second page to get to PayPal. You’ll see the term “Catholic Used Book Service”, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing (including Zelle and 100% tax-deductible donations if desired), see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information.
*
You can support my work a great deal in non-financial ways, if you prefer; by subscribing to, commenting on, liking, and sharing videos from my two YouTube channels, Catholic Bible Highlights and Lux Veritatis (featuring documentaries), where I partner with Kenny Burchard (see my own videos), and/or by signing up to receive notice for new articles on this blog. Just type your email address on the sidebar to the right (scroll down quite a bit), where you see, “Sign Me Up!” Thanks a million!
*
***
*

Last updated on 12 May 2025

2025-08-02T10:00:30-04:00

Last updated on: August 2, 2025 at 10:00 am   By
Strasbourg Cathedral
Strasbourg Cathedral (Alsace, France). At 466 feet, it was the world’s tallest building from 1647 to 1874. It remains the highest extant structure built entirely in the Middle Ages. Photo by David Iliff (2-8-14) [Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 3.0 license]
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This testimony of the universal holy Christian Church, even if we had nothing else, would be a sufficient warrant for holding this article [on the sacrament] and refusing to suffer or listen to a sectary, for it is dangerous and fearful to hear or believe anything against the unanimous testimony, belief, and teaching of the universal holy Christian churches, unanimously held in all the world from the beginning until now over fifteen hundred years.
 
(Martin Luther, in the year 1532; from Protestant Luther biographer Roland H. Bainton, Studies on the Reformation [Boston: Beacon Press, 1963], p. 26; primary source: WA [Werke, Weimar edition in German], XXX, 552)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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I. GENERAL ECCLESIOLOGY 
II. THE INDEFECTIBILITY OF THE CHURCH
III. APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION
IV. CLERGY AND ORDINATION / HOLY ORDERS / BISHOPS
V. WOMEN’S ORDINATION / CATHOLIC VIEW OF WOMEN
VI. ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITY / HIERARCHICAL AND EPISCOPAL ECCLESIOLOGY
VII. RULE OF FAITH (BIBLE + CHURCH + TRADITION)
VIII. CONSCIENCE AND PRIVATE JUDGMENT / DISSENT
IX. ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITY: THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL
X. ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITY: THE FIRST VATICAN COUNCIL
XI. ECCLESIAL INFALLIBILITY AND INFALLIBLE ECUMENICAL COUNCILS 
XII. HERETICAL CONCILIARISM
XIII. THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL (ACTS 15)
XIV. REASONS WHY PEOPLE LEAVE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
XV. THE “INFALLIBILITY REGRESS” (PROTESTANT POLEMICAL ARGUMENT)
XVI. THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT
XVII. CLERICAL CELIBACY
XVIII. TITLE OF CATHOLIC
XIX. GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
XX. ST. TERESA OF CALCUTTA (MOTHER TERESA)
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I. GENERAL ECCLESIOLOGY 
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Are Catholics Christians? (vs. James White) [May 1995]
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Is the One True Church a Visible or Invisible Entity? [National Catholic Register, 9-12-18]
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II. THE INDEFECTIBILITY OF THE CHURCH
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“Could the Catholic Church Go Off the Rails?” (Indefectibility) [1997]

Anti-Catholic Orthodox Claims of Exclusive Apostolic Succession [Nov. 1998; revised in 2004]

Indefectibility: Does God Protect His Church from Doctrinal Error? [11-1-05; abridged and reformulated a bit on 2-14-17]

“The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail” Against the Church [11-11-08]

Indefectibility of the One True Church (vs. Calvin #9) [5-16-09]

Indefectibility & Apostolic Succession (vs. Calvin #10) [5-18-09]

Sunny Optimism Regarding God’s Guidance of His Church Now and Always (Including Liturgical Discussion) [7-22-11]

Dialogue with a Lutheran on Ecclesiology & Old Testament Indefectibility Analogies [11-22-11]

St. Francis de Sales: Bible vs. Total Depravity (+ Biblical Evidence for the Indefectibility of the Church, from the Psalms)  [11-24-11]

The Bible on the Indefectibility of the Church [2013]

Michael Voris’ Ultra-Pessimistic Views Regarding the Church [7-3-13]

Critique of Three Michael Voris Statements Regarding the State of the Church [7-3-13]

Indefectibility, Fear, & the Synod on the Family [9-30-15]

Quasi-Defectibility and Phil Lawler vs. Pope Francis (see also more documentation of Lawler’s reactionary leanings, on the Facebook thread) [12-28-17]

Salesian Apologetics #1: Indefectibility of the Church [2-4-20]

Reply to a Despairing Catholic Seminarian (Indefectibility) [6-26-21]

The Indefectibility of the Church [Ch. 3 of my book, Reflections on Radical Catholic Reactionaries (December 2002; revised in December 2023 for the free online version) ]
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III. APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION
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Apostolic Succession as Seen in the Jerusalem Council [National Catholic Register, 1-15-17]
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Answers to Questions About Apostolic Succession [National Catholic Register, 7-25-20]
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A New Biblical Argument for Apostolic Succession [National Catholic Register, 4-23-21]
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IV. CLERGY AND ORDINATION / HOLY ORDERS / BISHOPS
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Bishops in the Apostolic Church [1-16-01; rev. 5-7-03]
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Bishops: NT, Early Church, & Baptists (vs. James White) [1-16-01] 
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Dialogue: “Bad” Bishops & “Confusing” Francis (vs. Dr. Peter Kwasniewski) [4-28-16]
*
The Biblical Basis for the Priesthood [National Catholic Register, 11-2-18]
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*
*
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Offices in the Early Church [Facebook, 10-16-23]
*
YouTube VIDEO: Biblical Proof you should call Catholic Priests “Father” (Kenny Burchard, utilizing my research, 9-15-24)
*
V. WOMEN’S ORDINATION / CATHOLIC VIEW OF WOMEN
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Dialogue with a Traditionalist Regarding Deaconesses (vs. Dr. Peter Kwasniewski) [5-13-16]
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VI. ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITY / HIERARCHICAL AND EPISCOPAL ECCLESIOLOGY

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Anathemas of Trent & Excommunication: An Explanation [5-20-03, incorporating portions from 1996 and 1998; abridged on 7-30-18]
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Catholics Accept All of the Church’s Dogmatic Teaching [National Catholic Register, 9-18-18]
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Orthodoxy: The ‘Equilibrium’ That Sets Us Free [National Catholic Register, 3-29-19]
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Does Sola Scriptura Create Chaos? (vs. Steve Hays) [5-15-20]
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VII. RULE OF FAITH (BIBLE + CHURCH + TRADITION)

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Papal Infallibility Doctrine: History (Including Luther’s Dissent at the Leipzig Disputation in 1519) (Related also to the particular circumstances of the origins of sola Scriptura) [10-8-07]
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Orthodoxy: The ‘Equilibrium’ That Sets Us Free [National Catholic Register, 3-29-19]
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1 Timothy 3:15 = Church Infallibility (vs. Steve Hays) [5-14-20]
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Does Sola Scriptura Create Chaos? (vs. Steve Hays) [5-15-20]
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VIII. CONSCIENCE AND PRIVATE JUDGMENT / DISSENT
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Conscience Must be Formed in Harmony with the Church (Proof from Scripture & the Catechism of the Catholic Church) [7-19-09] 
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How Much Can Catholics Disagree with the Church? [4-7-01 and 3-13-09 and 9-23-10]
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Irish Ecclesiastical Record vs. Anti-Catholic George Salmon, Pt. 5: Private Judgment, the Rule of Faith, and Dr. Salmon’s Weak Fallible Protestant “Church”: Subject to the Whims of Individuals; Church Fathers Misquoted [3-15-23]
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Irish Ecclesiastical Record vs. Anti-Catholic George Salmon, Pt. 6: The Innumerable Perils of Perspicuity of Scripture and Private Judgment [3-16-23]
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IX. ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITY: THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL
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Dialogue on Vatican II: Its Relative Worth, Interpretation, and Application (with Patti Sheffield vs. Traditionalist David Palm) [9-15-13]
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Series: Vs. Paolo Pasqualucci Re Vatican II
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Vatican II Upheld Biblical Inerrancy (vs. David Palm) [4-23-20]
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Bp. Schneider Evokes Luther’s Disdain for Councils [7-17-20]

Is Vatican II Analogous to “Failed” Lateran Council V? (Reply to Timothy Flanders) [8-11-20]

Viganò’s Outrageous Lie Re Pope Benedict XVI & Tradition (Unwillingness to Make Even Rudimentary Efforts to Consult Context or to Understand a Pope’s Overall Thinking) [8-21-20]

Vatican II: Documentation of Bishops’ Voting on its Documents (Ranked in Order from Most Dissenting Votes to Least Dissenting Votes) [9-17-21]

Defense of Vatican II vs. Oliveira Leonardo’s Attacks [10-13-22]

Is Vatican II a “Modernist” Council? [Ch. 11 of my book, Reflections on Radical Catholic Reactionaries (December 2002; revised in November 2023 for the purpose of the free online version)] [11-22-23]
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Are the Vatican II Documents “Ambiguous”? [Ch. 12 of my book, Reflections on Radical Catholic Reactionaries (December 2002; revised in November 2023 for the purpose of the free online version)] [11-24-23]
*

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A Response to Archbishop Viganò’s Letter about Vatican II (Fr. Thomas G. Weinandy, OFM., Cap., The Catholic World Report, 8-13-20)

Vatican II and “weaponized ambiguity” (Dr. Pedro Gabriel, Where Peter Is, 10-1-20)

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X. ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITY: THE FIRST VATICAN COUNCIL
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XI. ECCLESIAL INFALLIBILITY AND INFALLIBLE ECUMENICAL COUNCILS 
*

Pope Silvester and the Council of Nicaea (vs. James White) [August 1997]

Conciliar Infallibility: Summary from Church Documents [6-5-98] 

Infallibility, Councils, and Levels of Church Authority: Explanation of the Subtleties of Church Teaching and Debate with Several Radical Catholic Reactionaries [7-30-99; terminology updated, and a few minor changes made on 7-31-18] 

Eastern Orthodoxy, Councils, & Doctrinal Development [2000]

The Analogy of an Infallible Bible to an Infallible Church [11-6-05; rev. 7-25-15; published at National Catholic Register: 6-16-17]

Cdl. Newman, Vatican I & II, & Papal Infallibility (Clarification) [12-10-05]

The Bible on Papal & Church Infallibility [5-16-06]

Galileo Affair: No Disproof of Catholic Infallibility (vs. Ken Temple) [5-18-06]

Council of Nicea: Reply to James White: Its Relationship to Pope Sylvester, Athanasius’ Views, & the Unique Preeminence of Catholic Authority [4-2-07]

Protestant Historian Philip Schaff: The Church Fathers Believed in Conciliar Infallibility Based on the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) [Facebook, 10-8-07]

Infallibility: Dialogue with a Traditional Anglican [10-6-08] 

Papal Participation in the First Seven Ecumenical Councils [4-22-09]

Popes & Early Ecumenical Councils (vs. Calvin #16) [6-15-09]

Authority and Infallibility of Councils (vs. Calvin #26) [8-25-09]

Catholic Development of Doctrine: A Defense (vs. Jason Engwer; Emphasis on the Canon of the Bible & Church Infallibility) (+ Pt. II / Pt. III / Pt. IV) [1-15-10]

Dialogue with an Atheist on the Galileo Fiasco and its Relation to Catholic Infallibility (vs. Jon Curry) [8-11-10]

Books by Dave Armstrong: Biblical Proofs for an Infallible Church and Papacy [2012]

“Reply to Calvin” #2: Infallible Church Authority [3-3-17]

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1 Timothy 3:15 = Church Infallibility (vs. Steve Hays) [5-14-20]
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Ecumenical Councils: Catholic vs. Lutheran Perspective (vs. Pastor Ken Howes [LCMS]) [6-16-20]
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Irish Ecclesiastical Record vs. Anti-Catholic George Salmon, Pt. 2 . . . In Which Dr. Salmon Accuses Cardinal Newman of Lying Through His Teeth in His Essay on Development, & Dr. Murphy Magnificently Defends Infallibility and Doctrinal Development Against Gross Caricature [3-12-23]
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Irish Ecclesiastical Record vs. Anti-Catholic George Salmon, Pt. 5: Private Judgment, the Rule of Faith, and Dr. Salmon’s Weak Fallible Protestant “Church”: Subject to the Whims of Individuals; Church Fathers Misquoted [3-15-23]
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XII. HERETICAL CONCILIARISM
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Which Has More Authority: A Pope or an Ecumenical Council? [National Catholic Register, 5-19-21]
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XIII. THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL (ACTS 15)
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Apostolic Succession as Seen in the Jerusalem Council [National Catholic Register, 1-15-17]
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Were the Jerusalem Council Decrees Universally Binding? [National Catholic Register, 12-4-19]
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Which Has More Authority: A Pope or an Ecumenical Council? [National Catholic Register, 5-19-21]
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XIV. REASONS WHY PEOPLE LEAVE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
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Leaving Catholicism (Not Primarily Due to Sex Scandals!) (reply to Michael Boyle & Melinda Selmys) [10-5-18]
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Why Do I Continue to Blog at Patheos Catholic: Which Also Hosts Many Heterodox and Leftist Writers? (+ discussion of Mindy Selmys’ departure) [Facebook, 3-16-19]
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Are Abuse Scandals a Reason to Leave the Church? [National Catholic Register, 3-31-19]
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XV. THE “INFALLIBILITY REGRESS” (PROTESTANT POLEMICAL ARGUMENT)
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XVI. THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT
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Catholic Charismatic Movement Defended [1998; abridged on 8-2-18] 
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The People of the Bible Were ‘People of Praise’ [National Catholic Register, 10-15-20]
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XVII. CLERICAL CELIBACY

Clerical Celibacy & the Principle of Asceticism in Catholicism (Louis Bouyer) [1997; Facebook]

Mandatory Celibacy of Priests & Religious (Dialogue) [1997-1998]

Why Peter’s Marriage Doesn’t Disprove Catholicism: A Dialogue [January 1999]

Clerical Celibacy: Hostile Protestant Commentary & Catholic Replies [2-21-04]

Martin Luther & Antipathy Towards Clerical Celibacy [2-21-04]

Dialogue w a Baptist on Required Clerical Celibacy [7-2-06] 

Objections to Clerical Celibacy: In-Depth Dialogue [7-12-06]

Unbiblical Rejection of Priestly Celibacy (vs. Calvin #31) [9-15-09]

Clerical Celibacy: Dialogue with John Calvin [9-17-09]

Mandatory Celibacy of Catholic Priests in the Western / Latin Rite: A New (?) Argument [11-16-12]

Further Reflections on Mandatory Priestly Celibacy [8-2-14]

The Fruitfulness of the Eunuch Devoted to God (Isaiah 56) (Paul Seberras) [Facebook, 2-7-17]

Consecrated Virginity & Catholic “Both / And” [9-13-17]

Priestly Celibacy: Ancient, Biblical and Pauline [National Catholic Register, 9-18-17]

Priestly Celibacy: Garden-Variety Objections Debunked [9-18-17]

Married Bishops (1 Tim 3) & Catholic Celibacy: Contradiction? [9-18-17; expanded on 6-20-18]

Q & A with a Critic of Priestly Celibacy [National Catholic Register, 2-4-19]

Thoughts on Fr. Jonathan Morris’ Laicization Request [5-21-19]

Madison vs. Jesus #5: Cultlike Forsaking of Family? [8-5-19]

Pope Francis: Strong Defender of Priestly Celibacy [1-14-20]

Priestly Celibacy as a Discipline: Steve Skojec’s Ignorance [3-20-20]

St. Peter’s Marriage and Priestly Celibacy [National Catholic Register, 4-9-20]

Dialogue: Are More Married Catholic Priests Desirable? [1-13-22]

On Whether Required Celibacy is “Biblical” (vs. Lucas Banzoli) [9-24-22]

Objection to Mandatory Priestly Celibacy Based on Married Bishops (1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9) [Facebook, 9-24-22] 

Clergy Celibacy: Back-and-Forth with Lucas Banzoli [11-16-22]

Priestly Celibacy: Explicit and Undeniable Biblical Proof [Catholic365, 11-6-23]

Peter’s Wife, James Swan, Celibacy, & Catholicism (The Perfectly Sensible and Explicit Biblical Rationale for Priestly Celibacy) [3-15-24]

Celibate Clergy: Reply to a Methodist Polemic [5-20-24]

Is Celibacy “Superior” to Marriage in Some Sense? [7-24-24]

Consecrated Celibacy (vs. Lutheran von Hase) [3-28-25]

Priestly Celibacy: A Short Exchange [Facebook, 5-4-25]

Brief Observation on the Eastern Catholic Antipathy to Required Priestly Celibacy [Facebook, 8-2-25]

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XVIII. TITLE OF CATHOLIC

Catholic or Roman Catholic? (Proper Titles) (w J. Akin) [1996] 

Catholic Christian Implies a Non-Catholic Ecclesiology? [3-23-06] 

Objections to the Reactionary Epithet Neo-Catholic [3-9-07] 

In What Century Did the Title, “Catholic Church” Begin? [7-22-07]

On the Use of Traditionalist Preceding the Name of Catholic [7-3-13]

On the Use of the Titles Catholic & Roman Catholic [10-20-17]

Jame’s White: Hypocritical Use of “Roman Catholic Church” [11-11-19]

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XIX. GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS

Is Catholicism Half-Pagan? [1999; revised in one section on 2-22-06]

Is Catholicism Half-Pagan, & a Blend of Gospel & Lies? [2007]

Biblical Evidence for Expensive Church Buildings [3-18-08]

Why Is the Catholic Church Singularly Despised & Hated? [7-7-08]

“Why are Catholics So Legalistic and Rationalistic?” (Response to Orthodox and Protestant Criticisms) [9-8-08]

Biblical Evidence Against Tithing [2-4-09]

Biblical Evidence for Holy Days [9-21-09]

Mandatory Tithing: Further Thoughts [11-1-09]

“Leaven” of the Pharisees: Hypocrisy or False Doctrine? (vs. Nathan Rinne) [11-3-11]

Reply to Robin Phillips’ “Why I’m Not a Catholic” [1-31-12]

Dialogue on the Renaissance: Good or Bad Thing? [3-20-13]

Discussion of the Met Gala, in Which Catholicism was Mocked in Some of the Costumes [Facebook, 5-8-18]

Take Heart: Notre Dame Will be Rebuilt: Better Than Ever! [4-16-19]

“Who is My Mother?”: Beginning of “Familial Church” [8-26-19]

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XX. ST. TERESA OF CALCUTTA (MOTHER TERESA)

Mother Teresa on Love & Theology [9-5-16]

Malcolm Muggeridge & Mother Teresa: A Blessed, Fruitful Meeting [9-6-16]

The Holy Collaboration of Mother Teresa and Malcom Muggeridge [National Catholic Register, 6-20-18]

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Practical Matters:  I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider a much-needed monthly or one-time financial contribution. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV).
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PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: [email protected]. Here’s also a second page to get to PayPal. You’ll see the term “Catholic Used Book Service”, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing (including Zelle and 100% tax-deductible donations if desired), see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information.
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You can support my work a great deal in non-financial ways, if you prefer; by subscribing to, commenting on, liking, and sharing videos from my two YouTube channels, Catholic Bible Highlights and Lux Veritatis (featuring documentaries), where I partner with Kenny Burchard (see my own videos), and/or by signing up to receive notice for new articles on this blog. Just type your email address on the sidebar to the right (scroll down quite a bit), where you see, “Sign Me Up!” Thanks a million!
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Last updated on 2 August 2025

***** 
2025-05-01T12:29:19-04:00

Last updated on: May 1, 2025 at 12:29 pm   By
Trinity2

Basic minimal (equilateral triangular) version of the “Shield of the Trinity” or “Scutum Fidei” diagram of traditional Christian symbolism [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]

*****

TABLE OF CONTENTS

***

I. CHRISTOLOGY / DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST

II. EVENTS IN JESUS’ LIFE / JESUS’ TEACHING

III. DIALOGUES WITH JEWISH APOLOGIST MICHAEL J. ALTER ON JESUS’ RESURRECTION AND ALLEGED NT “CONTRADICTIONS”

IV. JESUS AND MARY

V. YOUNG MESSIAH FILM (2016) / KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS

VI. TRINITARIANISM / THE HOLY TRINITY / THE HOLY SPIRIT

VII. THEOLOGY PROPER (THEOLOGY OF GOD) / GOD’S ATTRIBUTES AND NATURE 

VIII. GOD AS JUDGE

IX. THEISTIC ARGUMENTS

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I. CHRISTOLOGY / DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST
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50 Biblical Proofs That Jesus is God [National Catholic Register, 2-12-17]
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Can the Prayers of Jesus Go Unanswered? [National Catholic Register, 6-10-19]
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The Bible is Clear — Jesus is True God and True Man [National Catholic Register, 9-12-20]
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9 Ways Jesus Tells Us He is God in the Synoptic Gospels [National Catholic Register, 10-28-20]
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II. EVENTS IN JESUS’ LIFE / JESUS’ TEACHING
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The Resurrection: Hoax or History? [cartoon tract with art by Dan Grajek: 1985]
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The Passion of the Christ: Review and Reflections [2-29-04; abridged and edited on 4-10-17]
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Silent Night: A “Progressive” and “Enlightened” Reinterpretation [12-10-04; additionally edited for publication at National Catholic Register: 12-21-17]
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Was Christ Actually Born Dec. 25? [National Catholic Register, 12-18-18]
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The Bethlehem Nativity, Babe Ruth, and History [National Catholic Register, 1-1-19]
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Are the Two Genealogies of Christ Contradictory? [National Catholic Register, 1-5-19]
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What Does “Turn the Other Cheek” Mean? [National Catholic Register, 7-20-19]
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Did Jesus Teach His Disciples to Hate Their Families? [National Catholic Register, 8-17-19]
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Why Jesus Opposed the Moneychangers in the Temple [National Catholic Register, 9-26-19]
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Jesus’ Agony in Gethsemane: Was it “Anxiety”? [National Catholic Register, 10-29-19]
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On Whether Jesus’ “Brothers” Were “Unbelievers” [National Catholic Register, 6-11-20]
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Star of Bethlehem, Astronomy, Wise Men, & Josephus (Amazing Astronomically Verified Data in Relation to the Journey of the Wise Men  & Jesus’ Birth & Infancy) [12-14-20]
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Conjunctions, the Star of Bethlehem and Astronomy [National Catholic Register, 12-21-20]
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A Fresh Look at Joseph, Mary and Bethlehem [National Catholic Register, 3-25-22]
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What We Know About Nazareth at the Time of Jesus [National Catholic Register, 11-24-23]
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50 OT Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus [initial research from 1982; slightly revised in 1997; revised and reformatted for RSV edition in 2012; separated from the larger article on 11-26-24]
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III. DIALOGUES WITH JEWISH APOLOGIST MICHAEL J. ALTER ON JESUS’ RESURRECTION AND ALLEGED NT “CONTRADICTIONS”
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IV. JESUS AND MARY
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V. YOUNG MESSIAH FILM (2016) / KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS
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VI. TRINITARIANISM / THE HOLY TRINITY / THE HOLY SPIRIT
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Filioque: Catholic-Orthodox Dialogue (William Klimon) [July 1997]
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50 Biblical Evidences for the Holy Trinity [National Catholic Register, 11-14-16]
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VII. THEOLOGY PROPER (THEOLOGY OF GOD) / GOD’S ATTRIBUTES AND NATURE 
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Dialogue w Mormon Apologist: God & Doctrinal Development (vs. Dr. Barry Bickmore) (+ Part Two) [12-22-01]
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Is God in Time? (vs. John W. Loftus) [11-30-06]
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Is God the Author of Evil? (vs. John Calvin) [Oct. 2012]
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Thoughts on the Level of Our “Comprehension” of God (St. John Chrysostom) (dialogue with Deacon Steven D. Greydanus) [Facebook, 9-14-17]
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Seidensticker Folly #20: An Evolving God in the OT? (God’s Omnipotence, Omniscience, & Omnipresence in Early Bible Books & Ancient Jewish Understanding) [9-18-18]
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Does God Ever Actively Prevent Repentance? [National Catholic Register, 9-1-19]
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Who Caused Job to Suffer — God or Satan? [National Catholic Register, 6-28-20]
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The Bible Teaches That Other “Gods” are Imaginary [National Catholic Register, 7-10-20]
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Does God Have Any Need of Praise? [National Catholic Register, 9-24-20]
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God in Heaven & in His Temple: Contradiction? (vs. Dr. Steven DiMattei) [11-23-20]
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God in Heaven and in His Temple: Biblical Difficulty? [National Catholic Register, 12-10-20]
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Dark Energy, Dark Matter and the Light of the World [National Catholic Register, 2-17-21]
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Bible on God’s Revealed Nature & Character (Ch. 6 of the book, Inspired!: 191 Supposed Biblical Contradictions Resolved: which examines examples of alleged biblical contradictions & disproves all of these patently false claims) [12-5-23]
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VIII. GOD AS JUDGE
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Grace, Faith, Works, & Judgment: A Scriptural Exposition [12-16-09; reformulated and abridged on 3-15-17]
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Does God Punish to the Fourth Generation? [National Catholic Register, 10-1-18]
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IX. THEISTIC ARGUMENTS
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Seidensticker Folly #13: God Hasta Prove He Exists! [8-29-18]

Dialogue: Has God Demonstrated His Existence (Romans 1)? [9-1-18]

Seidensticker Folly #14: Something Rather Than Nothing [9-3-18]

Seidensticker Folly #38: Eternal Universe vs. an Eternal God [4-16-20]

Seidensticker Folly #41: Argument from Design [8-25-20]

Seidensticker Folly #42: Creation “Ex Nihilo” [8-28-20]

Creation Ex Nihilo is in the Bible [National Catholic Register, 10-1-20]

“Quantum Entanglement” & the “Upholding” Power of God [10-20-20]

Quantum Mechanics and the “Upholding” Power of God [National Catholic Register, 11-24-20]

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Practical Matters:  I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider a much-needed monthly or one-time financial contribution. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV).
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PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: [email protected]. Here’s also a second page to get to PayPal. You’ll see the term “Catholic Used Book Service”, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing (including Zelle and 100% tax-deductible donations if desired), see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information.
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You can support my work a great deal in non-financial ways, if you prefer; by subscribing to, commenting on, liking, and sharing videos from my two YouTube channels, Catholic Bible Highlights and Lux Veritatis (featuring documentaries), where I partner with Kenny Burchard (see my own videos), and/or by signing up to receive notice for new articles on this blog. Just type your email address on the sidebar to the right (scroll down quite a bit), where you see, “Sign Me Up!” Thanks a million!
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Last updated on 29 March 2025

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2025-07-18T10:06:53-04:00

Last updated on: July 18, 2025 at 10:06 am   By
Cover (552x832)
(October 2010, 187 pages)
***** 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
***
I. GENERAL (CATHOLIC SOTERIOLOGY) / INFUSED JUSTIFICATION 
II. “FAITH ALONE” / FAITH AND WORKS 
III. SANCTIFICATION
IV. THEOSIS / DIVINIZATION / DEIFICATION
V. PRAYER
VI. SIN / MORTAL AND VENIAL SIN
VII. ASSURANCE OF SALVATION / ETERNAL SECURITY / FALLING AWAY / APOSTASY / EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
VIII. PREDESTINATION / GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY / PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS 
IX. LIMITED VS. UNIVERSAL ATONEMENT  
X. ERROR OF UNIVERSALISM
XI. THE GOSPEL, DISCIPLESHIP, REVIVAL, “RELIGION”, “PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS” 
XII. GRACE, IRRESISTIBLE GRACE, CATHOLIC ANTI-PELAGIANISM, AND SYNERGISM
XIII. MERIT AND REWARDS / HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE 
XIV. ORIGINAL SIN AND TOTAL DEPRAVITY 
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I. GENERAL (CATHOLIC SOTERIOLOGY) / INFUSED JUSTIFICATION 
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“Catholicism Refuted”? (Kevin Cauley): Pt. V: Salvation (+ Purgatory Again) [12-11-04]

Catholics’ Underemphasis on Justification by Faith [3-30-06]

Ecumenical Dialogue: Protestant & Catholic Soteriology [7-8-07]

Comparative Soteriology (Salvation): A Handy Chart [7-19-08]

The Theology of Salvation (+ Pt. 2): chapter four (pp. 161-235) of my 2009 book, Bible Truths for Catholic Truths: A Source Book for Apologists and Inquirers [10-17-23]

Salvation is a Process & Not Instantaneously Assured [2009]

Bible on the Nature of Saving Faith (Including Assent, Trust, Hope, Works, Obedience, and Sanctification) [380 passages] [1-21-10]

Biblical “Power”: Proof of Infused (Catholic) Justification [12 passages] [3-14-11]

Justification: Not by Faith Alone, & Ongoing (Romans 4, James 2, and Abraham’s Multiple Justifications) [10-15-11]

Various Thoughts on Salvation “Outside” the Church [2012]

St. Paul’s Use of the Term “Gift” & Infused Justification [19 passages] [2013]

Salvation: By Grace Alone, Not Faith Alone or Works [19 passages] [2013]

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Salvation, Eternal Security, & Grace: Dialogue w Bethany Kerr [4-13-15]

“Catholic Justification” in James & Romans [11-18-15]

Catholicism = “False Gospel”?: Exchange with Anti-Catholic [3-18-17]

Is God Alone Holy, According to Scripture? Or Can We Be Too? [5-3-17]

Why Desire Salvation?”: Reply to a Non-Christian Inquirer [National Catholic Register, 7-7-17]

“The Lord Helps Those Who Help Themselves” [National Catholic Register, 7-19-17]
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Biblical Evidence for Salvation as a Process [National Catholic Register, 8-4-17]
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Biblical Evidence for Catholic Justification [National Catholic Register, 11-2-17]

Seidensticker Folly #29: Repentance: Part of Salvation [10-26-18]

Salvation and Eternal Afterlife in the Old Testament [26 passages] [8-31-19]

Salvation and Immortality Are Not Just New Testament Ideas [National Catholic Register, 9-23-19]

Weekly Mass Attenders Can Still End Up in Hell? Yes! (Attending Mass — Even for an Entire Lifetime — Doesn’t Excuse Us from the Moral Requirements of Christianity, Including Confession of Sin [1-24-20]

Dialogue: Galatians 3 & Justification (vs. Jason Engwer) [5-29-20]

Baptismal Regeneration and Justification (vs. Jason Engwer) [6-4-20]

The Bible Makes It Clear: Religion Means Relationship With God (and good works) [National Catholic Register, 6-18-21]

Ehrman Errors #3: Jesus vs. Paul on Salvation? [3-22-22]

Justification: A Catholic Perspective (vs. Francisco Tourinho) [6-22-22]

Reply to Francisco Tourinho on Justification: Round 2 (Pt. 1) [+ Part 2] [+ Part 3] [7-19-22]

Ongoing Justification and the Indwelling Holy Spirit [National Catholic Register, 8-1-22]

The Great Justification Debate [with Francisco Tourinho] (Waitin’ . . .) [Facebook, 8-22-22]

Biblical Justification: vs. Francisco Tourinho (Round 3, Pt. 1) [10-20-22]

Peter and Paul Distorts Peter’s Life & Paul’s Teaching [2-25-23]

Justification: vs. Francisco Tourinho (Round 3, Pt. 2) [8-23-23]

Justification: vs. Francisco Tourinho (Rd. 3, Pt. 3) [8-30-23]

Abraham: Justified Twice by Works & Once by Faith [8-30-23]

Justification in the Book of James (Different from Paul?) [8-30-23]

The Prophet Isaiah Explains How God Saves Us [National Catholic Register, 8-30-23]

Abraham and Ongoing Justification by Faith and Works [National Catholic Register, 9-19-23]

Rescuing Romans from Martin Foord [9-22-23]

Justification is Ongoing, By Analogy Like Salvation (As Ten NT Passages Assert) [Facebook, 9-22-23]

Reply to Jason Engwer on Justification [9-23-23]

Abraham’s Multiple Justifications by Works & Faith: Quick Summary of Biblical Proofs [Facebook, 10-4-23]

Last Day: What Jesus Says To The Elect (Vs. Gavin Ortlund) + Bible Passages On the Organic Relationship of Faith, Works, Grace, Obedience, & Salvation [2-16-24]

Justification: Reply to Jordan Cooper (Highlighting Love as the Fulfilling of the Law & Commandments, in Relation to Justification & Salvation) [4-23-24]

Augsburg Confession Dialogues: Justification [5-3-24]

Grace-Caused Faith is Catholic Teaching, Too! (Please, Someone Tell James Swan and Get Him Up to Speed) [6-12-24]

Millions of Christians Think Baptism Is Unrelated to Justification — Here’s Why They’re Wrong [National Catholic Register, 6-22-24]

Catholic Soteriology (Theology of Salvation) in a Nutshell [Facebook, 9-23-24]

Salvation as a Process: 75 NT Passages [11-16-24]

Catholic Salvation: 1871 Bible Passages [12-27-24]

Works & Sanctification Partly Cause Salvation: 34 Passages [1-30-25]

The “Three-Legged Stool” of Salvation (Catholic Soteriology Briefly Explained) [Facebook, 2-13-25]

Hold Fast to Hope: A Biblical Guide to Confidence in Salvation [National Catholic Register, 2-27-25]

VIDEO: NO! Jesus and Paul never taught “FAITH ALONE” [20+ Bible Verses] [with Kenny Burchard at Catholic Bible Highlights, 3-14-25]

VIDEO: What The Bible REALLY Says About Faith and Good Works [20+ Bible Verses; Part 2] [with Kenny Burchard at Catholic Bible Highlights, 3-27-25]

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II. “FAITH ALONE” / FAITH AND WORKS 

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Dialogue w Three Lutherans on Justification & Salvation [2-1-07]

Final Judgment & Works (Not Faith): 50 Passages [2-10-08] 

Catholic-Protestant Common Ground (Esp. Re Good Works) [4-8-08]

“Working Out” Salvation & Protestant Soteriology (vs. Ken Temple) [4-9-08] 

Martin Luther: Good Works Prove Authentic Faith [4-16-08] 

St. Paul on Grace, Faith, & Works (50 Passages) [8-6-08]

John Calvin: Good Works Manifest True Saving Faith [9-4-08] 

Original Sin, Imputation, & Baptism (vs. Calvin #40) [11-17-09] 

Bible on Faith, Works, and Judgment (vs. Jason Engwer) [12-16-09] 

Grace, Faith, Works, & Judgment: A Scriptural Exposition [12-16-09; reformulated & abridged on 3-15-17]

Bible on Participation in Our Own Salvation (Always Enabled by God’s Grace)[1-3-10]

Monergism in Initial Justification is Catholic Doctrine [1-7-10]

Martin Luther: Faith Alone is Not Lawless Antinomianism [2-28-10] 

Catholics & Justification by Faith Alone: Is There a Sense in Which Catholics Can Accept “Faith Alone” and/or Imputed Justification (with Proper Biblical Qualifications)? [9-28-10] 

Dialogue with a Lutheran: Salvation & Miscellany [10-14-11] 

“Leaven” of the Pharisees: Hypocrisy or False Doctrine? (vs. Lutheran Nathan Rinne) [11-3-11] 

The “Obedience of Faith” in Paul and its Soteriological Implications (Justification and Denial of “Faith Alone”) [from Ferdinand Prat, S. J.; Facebook, 2-1-12] 

Can Only Regenerate Men Perform Truly Good Works? (vs. John Calvin) [Oct. 2012] 

Catholic & Calvinist Agreement on Justification & Works [2012]

Scripture on Being Co-Workers with God for Salvation [72 passages] [2013]

New Testament Epistles on Bringing About Further Sanctification and Even Salvation By Our Own Actions [7-2-13]

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Final Judgment Always Has to Do with Works and Never with “Faith Alone” [9-5-14]

Jesus vs. “Faith Alone” (Rich Young Ruler) [10-12-15] 

Dialogue: Rich Young Ruler & Good Works [10-14-15] 

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Final Judgment is Not a Matter of “Faith Alone” At All [National Catholic Register, 10-7-16]
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Reply to a Calvinist on Faith Alone and Works [of God Only?] [4-4-17]

Debate with a Lutheran Pastor on Faith and Works [5-4-17]

Catholics and Protestants Agree on Grace Alone and the Necessity of the Presence of Good Works in Regenerate and Ultimately Saved Persons; Disagree on Faith Alone [5-4-17] 

How Are We Saved? Faith Alone? Or the Way Jesus Taught? [National Catholic Register, 5-11-17] 

Armstrong vs. Collins & Walls #8: Heretical Tobit? (Alms & Salvation) [10-20-17] 

Armstrong vs. Collins & Walls #12: Salvation (Soteriology) [10-22-17] 

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“Faith Alone”?: Quick & Decisive Biblical Refutation [1-8-19]

“Faith Alone” & Salvation: Dialogue w Lutheran Pastor (vs. Rev. Ken Howes) [2-18-19] 

Calvinist Origin of Luther’s (?) “Snow-Covered Dunghill”? [5-14-19] 

‘Doers of the Law’ Are Justified, Says St. Paul [National Catholic Register, 5-22-19]

Jesus on Salvation: Works, Merit and Sacrifice [National Catholic Register, 7-28-19]

Jesus: Faith + Works (Not Faith Alone) Leads to Salvation [8-1-19]

Old Testament Sacrifices: Killing Animals to be Saved? [8-17-19]

David Madison vs. Paul and Romans #3: Chapter 3 (Pauline / Biblical Soteriology: Faith and Works, Grace and Merit / Hyperbole [“No one is good”]) [8-27-19]

Good Works and Men, God’s Grace, and Regeneration (vs. John Calvin) [National Catholic Register, 8-6-20]

Defense of Bible Passages vs. Eternal Security & Faith Alone (vs. Jason Engwer) [8-12-20]

Banzoli’s 45 “Faith Alone” Passages; My 200 Biblical Disproofs [6-16-22]

What the Bible Says About Justification by Faith and Works [National Catholic Register, 7-27-22]

Luther’s Translation of “Faith Alone” in Romans 3:28 (Also: Did “Early Erasmus” Agree with Luther?) [12-7-22] 

Luther, James, Faith & Works: Additional Relevant Data [3-7-23] 

“All Our Righteousnesses Are As Filthy Rags” (Is 64:6, KJV): Does Isaiah 64:6 (“even our best actions are filthy through and through”: GNB) Prove That All Works Whatsoever, Done by Regenerated Persons in Faith and By Grace, Are Absolutely Worthless? [6-30-23] 

Dialogue on Meritorious Works & the Gospel [6-30-23]

Dialogue: Rich Young Ruler, Works, & Salvation [7-3-23] 

Jesus: Good Works are Meritorious & Salvific: Highlighting the Discourse at the Last Supper and Sermon on the Mount [9-4-23]

The Classic Catholic-Protestant Debate on “Faith Alone” (Sola Fide) in a Nutshell [Facebook, 9-23-23]

Why the Apostles Would Have Flunked Out of Protestant Seminary (original title: “Meritorious and Salvific Works According to Jesus”) [National Catholic Register, 9-28-23]
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“Catholic Verses” #2: Jerusalem Council (Also: the Ten Commandments in the New Covenant; Church Fathers On the Binding Nature of the Council of Nicaea) [10-25-23]

Sola Fide (Faith Alone) Nonexistent Before the Protestant Revolt in 1517 (Geisler & McGrath) [Catholic365, 10-31-23]

Abraham’s Justification By Faith & Works (vs. Jordan Cooper) + Catholic Exegesis Regarding St. Paul’s Specific Meaning of “Works” in Romans 4 [3-1-24]

Luther’s “Tower” Justification Idea & Catholicism + Early Catholic Church & St. Thomas Aquinas on Grace Alone (Contra Pelagianism) & Justification [5-28-24]

Eck vs. Protestantism Chronicles: Good Works [5-31-24]

Works & Salvation: Luther vs. Scripture [7-4-24]

Bible vs. Faith Alone: 2 Thessalonians 2:13 [7-15-24]

Bible vs. Faith Alone: Romans 6:22 [7-15-24]

Bible vs. Faith Alone: Acts 26:18 [7-18-24]

Bible vs. Faith Alone: Acts 15:9 [7-19-24]

Quick, Decisive Refutation of “Faith Alone” from Jesus, Paul, and James [Facebook, 8-15-24]

Meaning of “Live By Faith” (Hab 2:4, Rom 1:17, Etc.) [8-16-24]

Reply to Melanchthon: Justification #1 (Moral Assurance of Salvation / Examination of Conscience / Bible On Apostasy / Initial Justification & Faith Alone) [8-29-24]

Reply to Melanchthon: Justification #2: Good Works 1 (“Working Together” with God / Human Striving & Merit / Tridentine Soteriology / David’s & Paul’s Godly “Boasting” / Regenerate Sinners / Romans 7 & 8 & Sin / God is Pleased by Our Meritorious Acts / Colossians 1:28: Imputed Justification?) [8-31-24]

Reply to Melanchthon: Justification #3: Good Works 2 (Trent on “Faith” / Meritorious Works / “Trust” in God / How the Error of “Faith Alone” Originated / Mortal Sin / “Faith” in James) [9-3-24]

Philip Melanchthon in Effect Fights with Jesus Over Faith Alone (Rich Young Ruler Passage) [Facebook, 9-4-24]

Reply to Melanchthon: Justification #4: Good Works 3 (James Refutes Faith Alone / Faith Without Love is Dead, Too / Love & Justification / Jesus Denies Faith Alone: Rich Young Ruler) [9-5-24]

Reply to Melanchthon: Justification #5: Good Works 4 (Isaiah vs. Protestant Soteriology / Absolution, Love, & Remission of Sins / Was Mary Who Wiped Jesus’ Feet with Her Hair, a Believer When She Did So? / Good Works of the Regenerate Rewarded with Heaven) [9-6-24]

Jesus vs. “Faith Alone”: Quick Handy Summary [Facebook, 9-24-24]

Sanctification and Works Are Tied to Salvation [National Catholic Register, 9-26-24]

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VIDEO: Can I be saved by “Faith Alone”??? [30+ Verses to Highlight!!] [Kenny Burchard, utilizing my biblical research, 10-6-24]
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VIDEO: Sharing the Gospel with non-Catholics and non-Christians [Kenny Burchard, utilizing my biblical research, 10-16-24]
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Faith Alone? 80 Bible Verses Say Otherwise [National Catholic Register, 10-31-24]
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VIDEO: NO! Jesus and Paul never taught “FAITH ALONE” [20+ Bible Verses] [with Kenny Burchard at Catholic Bible Highlights, 3-14-25]
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VIDEO: What The Bible REALLY Says About Faith and Good Works [20+ Bible Verses; Part 2] [with Kenny Burchard at Catholic Bible Highlights, 3-27-25]
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III. SANCTIFICATION

St. Paul on Justification, Sanctification, & Salvation [1996]

“All Have Sinned” vs. a Sinless, Immaculate Mary? [1996; revised and posted at National Catholic Register on 12-11-17]

Catholic Bible Verses on Sanctification and Merit [12-20-07]

Martin Luther: Strong Elements in His Thinking of Theosis & Sanctification Linked to Justification [11-23-09]

Jesus Associates Works, Merit, & Heroic Sacrifice w Salvation [11-10-18]

Absolution, Sanctification, & Forgiveness: Reply to Calvin #7 [12-19-18] 

Random Thoughts on Justification and Sanctification [Facebook, 6-20-22]

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Theosis and the Exalted Virgin Mary [7-11-04]

Martin Luther: Strong Elements in His Thinking of Theosis & Sanctification Linked to Justification [11-23-09]

“In Him” An Expression of the Oneness of Theosis? [3-13-14]

Theosis / Deification / Divinization in Western Spirituality [2015]

Vs. Pasqualucci Re Vatican II #1: Gaudium et Spes (Incarnation) [7-11-19]

Banzoli’s 45 “Faith Alone” Passages; My 200 Biblical Disproofs [6-16-22]

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V. PRAYER
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Biblical Prayer is Conditional, Not Solely Based on Faith [National Catholic Register, 10-9-18]
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Can the Prayers of Jesus Go Unanswered? [National Catholic Register, 6-10-19]
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VI. SIN / MORTAL AND VENIAL SIN
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Does God “Want” Men to Sin? Does He “Ordain” Sin? [2-17-10 and 3-16-17]

Martin Luther and Lutherans on Mortal & Venial Sins [10-30-17]

What the Bible Says on Degrees of Sin and Mortal Sin [National Catholic Register, 7-6-18]

“Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner”: Biblical & Christlike? [8-21-18]

Should We Pray for All People or Not (1 John 5:16)? [9-5-18]

Vs. James White #8: St. Basil on Mortal & Venial Sin [11-13-19]

“Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner” — Quite Biblical! [National Catholic Register, 1-29-20]

Mortal & Venial Sin: Proof from “Unwitting” Passages [10-26-21]

Question on Whether Ignorance of Mortal Sin is a Good Thing [Facebook, 7-8-23]

“Catholic Verses” #4: Sinners in the Church (Including the Biblical Conception of “Saints” and “Sinners”) [10-26-23]

Bible On Mortal & Venial Sin (vs. Anglican Stearns #5) [31 passages] [3-20-25]

VIDEO: Can some sins cause you to LOSE your salvation? (Mortal & Venial Sin) [Dave Armstrong & Kenny Burchard at Catholic Bible Highlights, 4-5-25]

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VII. ASSURANCE OF SALVATION / ETERNAL SECURITY / FALLING AWAY / APOSTASY / EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
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Dialogue on Luther’s “Getting to a Gracious God” (vs. Lutheran historian “CPA”) [6-4-06]

St. Paul: Two-Faced Re Unbelief? (Romans 1 “vs.” Epistles) [7-5-10]

Novelist Anne Rice’s Deconversion: Straw Men & “Baby / Bathwater” (conversion to humanism but not atheism) [7-30-10 and 8-9-10]

Absolute Assurance of Salvation?: Debunking “Prooftexts” [Oct. 2010]

Salvation, Eternal Security, & Grace: Dialogue w Bethany Kerr [4-13-15]

“Once Saved, Always Saved”: Is it Biblical? Antinomian? [8-18-15]

My “Review” of Martin Scorsese’s Silence (+ Facebook Discussion #1 / Facebook Discussion #2) [1-13-17]

Some Nagging Questions About Scorsese’s Silence [National Catholic Register, 2-19-17]

Seidensticker Folly #3: Falsehoods About God & Free Will [8-14-18]

Should We Pray for All People or Not (1 John 5:16)? [9-5-18]

Madison vs. Jesus #7: God Prohibits Some Folks’ Repentance? [8-6-19]

Vs. James White #4: Eternal Security of Believers? [9-19-19]

Vs. James White #7: My Refutations of Calvinism & His Non-Replies [11-12-19]

Reply to Protestant Challenges Re Eternal Security (vs. Jason Engwer) [7-26-20]

Defense of Bible Passages vs. Eternal Security & Faith Alone (vs. Jason Engwer) [8-12-20]

The Bible is Clear: ‘Eternal Security’ is a Manmade Doctrine [National Catholic Register, 8-17-20]

Eternal Security vs. the Bible [National Catholic Register, 8-23-20]

Seidensticker Folly #64: A Saved Dahmer & Damned Anne Frank? [11-24-20]

Perseverance of the Saints: Reply to a Calvinist [5-17-21]

Westminster vs. Bible #1: Assurance of Salvation [5-19-21]

Is True Faith Always Permanent? (vs. Calvin #62) [3-7-23]

No “Eternal Security” in 1 and 2 Timothy (Contra Jason Engwer) [Facebook, 9-25-23]

Reply to Jason Engwer Re Eternal Security [9-26-23]

Reply to a “Reformation Day” Lutheran Sermon [Vs. Nathan Rinne] (Including St. Augustine’s View on the Rule of Faith & the Perspicuity of Scripture; Luther & Lutherans’ Belief in Falling Away) [10-31-23]

VIDEO: Can Catholics even know if they’re saved? [Kenny Burchard, utilizing my Bible research, 9-19-24]

Debate: Catholic Assurance of Salvation [10-1-24]

What the Bible Says About Moral Assurance of Salvation [National Catholic Register, 11-13-24]

Falling Away (Apostasy): 150 Biblical Passages (+ Catalogue of Sixty Traits That Apostates Formerly Possessed When They Were in God’s Good Graces) [11-19-24]

VIDEO: “Once Saved Always Saved” REFUTED! – [20+verses] [Dave Armstrong & Kenny Burchard at Catholic Bible Highlights, 11-22-24]

Why Examination of Conscience Is Biblical [National Catholic Register, 11-25-24]

Biblical “Hope” & Catholic Moral Assurance of Salvation [2-11-25]

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VIII. PREDESTINATION / GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY / PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS 
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IX. LIMITED VS. UNIVERSAL ATONEMENT  
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Limited Atonement: Refutation of James White [9-1-21]

Biblical Reasons Why Catholics Don’t Believe in ‘Limited Atonement’ [National Catholic Register, 10-27-21]

More Biblical Reasons Why Catholics Don’t Believe in ‘Limited Atonement’ [National Catholic Register, 10-30-21]

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X. ERROR OF UNIVERSALISM

XI. THE GOSPEL, DISCIPLESHIP, REVIVAL, “RELIGION”, “PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS” 
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“In You I Hope” (Poem of Mine from 1982) [about trusting God and waiting on Him with confidence]
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“The Harvest is Ready”: 14 Tips for Catholic Evangelism [National Catholic Register, 7-12-17]
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Swearing and Sharing the Faith Don’t Mix Very Well! [National Catholic Register, 7-16-18]
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Some Thoughts on Evangelism and Being “Hated by All” [National Catholic Register, 7-20-18]
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Biblical Evidence: Personal Relationship with Jesus [14 passages] [2013; expanded on 1-18-19]
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On Whether Jesus’ “Brothers” Were “Unbelievers” [National Catholic Register, 6-11-20]
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Dialogue on Biblical Views Re Following Jesus & Riches (vs. Dr. Steven DiMattei) [11-21-20]
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Who Must Renounce All Possessions to Follow Jesus? [National Catholic Register, 1-21-21]
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Explicit Biblical Instruction on Saving Souls [National Catholic Register, 2-28-22]
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Which is Greater?: Love or Faith? [Facebook, 3-20-23]
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Biblical “Gospel” 0101 [Facebook, 10-24-23]
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VIDEO: How Catholics Get Saved [by Kenny Burchard at Catholic Bible Highlights, utilizing my biblical research, 10-12-24]
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XII. GRACE, IRRESISTIBLE GRACE, CATHOLIC ANTI-PELAGIANISM, AND SYNERGISM
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Is Grace Alone (Sola Gratia) Also Catholic Teaching? [National Catholic Register, 2-5-18]
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XIII. MERIT AND REWARDS / HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE 
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24 Biblical Passages on Meritorious Works [National Catholic Register, 9-30-24]
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Merit in a Nutshell [Facebook, 10-24-24]
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XIV. ORIGINAL SIN AND TOTAL DEPRAVITY 
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Historicity of Adam and Eve  [9-23-11; rev. 1-6-22]
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Total Depravity & the Evil of the Non-Elect (vs. John Calvin) [10-12-12]
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Practical Matters:  I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider a much-needed monthly or one-time financial contribution. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV).
*
PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: [email protected]. Here’s also a second page to get to PayPal. You’ll see the term “Catholic Used Book Service”, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing (including Zelle and 100% tax-deductible donations if desired), see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information.
*
You can support my work a great deal in non-financial ways, if you prefer; by subscribing to, commenting on, liking, and sharing videos from my two YouTube channels, Catholic Bible Highlights and Lux Veritatis (featuring documentaries), where I partner with Kenny Burchard (see my own videos), and/or by signing up to receive notice for new articles on this blog. Just type your email address on the sidebar to the right (scroll down quite a bit), where you see, “Sign Me Up!” Thanks a million!
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Last updated on 18 July 2025

***
2025-07-11T16:53:48-04:00

Last updated on: July 11, 2025 at 4:53 pm   By
BibleRosary
Photograph by Chris Sloan, 28 Nov. 2009 [Flickr / CC BY 2.0 license]
*****

Table of Contents

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I. Relationship of the Bible to the Church
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II. Tradition (Apostolic)
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III. Sola Scriptura (Scripture as the Only Infallible Authority)
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IV. Perspicuity (Clearness) of Scripture
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V. Material and Formal Sufficiency of Scripture / Rule of Faith
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VI. The Canon of Scripture
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VII. Deuterocanonical Books (So-Called “Apocrypha”)
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VIII. Biblical Accuracy / Alleged Biblical Contradictions and Difficulties
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* * * * *
I. RELATIONSHIP OF THE BIBLE TO THE CHURCH
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Why Do Christians Believe in Biblical Inspiration? (Archaeological, Prophetic, and Manuscript Evidences) [1987]

An Introduction to Bible Interpretation [1987]

Apologetics-Oriented Biblical Commentary on Philippians (RSV) [1998]

Apologetics-Oriented Biblical Commentary on Colossians (RSV) [1998]

Laymen’s Greek & Hebrew Bible Resources for Free [1-22-02; linked sources added on 11-28-16]

“Why Don’t Catholics Read the Bible?” [6-26-02]

Catholic “Three-Legged Stool”: Scripture, Tradition, & Church: Dialogue with an Anglican on the Catholic Rule of Faith (vs. Jon Jacobson) [10-31-02]

The Freedom of the Catholic Biblical Exegete / Interpreter + Bible Passages that the Church has Definitively Interpreted [9-14-03]

“Biblical Evidence” from the Catholic Point of View [2-1-08]

Bibles & Catholics, Sunday School?, Memorization, Etc. [9-25-08]

Books by Dave Armstrong: Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths: A Source Book for Apologists and Inquirers [4-18-09]

Why Folks Like the New Catholic Answer Bible (+ Clueless Anti-Catholic Attacks On It) [4-5-09; slightly revised on 8-5-21]

How Do Catholics Approach & Interpret Holy Scripture? [6-17-09]

Catholic Interpretation of Scripture (Hermeneutics / Exegesis): Resource List (Links) [6-28-09]

Were Vernacular Bibles Unknown Before Luther? (Luther’s Dubious Claims About the Supposed Utter Obscurity of the Bible Before His Translation) [6-15-11]

Reply to a Lutheran on Tradition & the Patristic Rule of Faith [1-10-12; additions on 2-20-18]

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Dialogue on Authoritative Bible Interpretation in the New Testament (vs. Reformed Baptist Elder Jim Drickamer) [1-14-17]
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Church Fathers and Sola Scriptura [originally July 2003; somewhat modified condensation: 4-5-17]
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Catholics R More Biblical Than Protestants? (Dialogue) (vs. Dustin Buck Lattimore) [5-3-17]
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The Analogy of an Infallible Bible to an Infallible Church [11-6-05; rev. 7-25-15 and 6-7-17; published at National Catholic Register: 6-16-17]
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Why Are Catholics So Deficient in Bible-Reading? [National Catholic Register, 11-22-17]
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Catholic Biblical Interpretation: Myths and Truths [National Catholic Register, 12-3-18]
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Martin Luther on the Exact Nature of Being “Biblical” [11-10-14; revised and expanded on 1-5-20]
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Vatican II Upheld Biblical Inerrancy (vs. David Palm) [4-23-20]
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No, Pope Innocent III Did Not Prohibit the Bible in 1199 [National Catholic Register, 8-2-21]
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Catholic Church “Above” the Bible? (vs. Lucas Banzoli) [5-25-22]
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“Church vs. the Bible” (vs. Francisco Tourinho) (Examining the Presuppositions That Lie Behind Past Catholic Recommended Restrictions on Individual Bible Reading) [6-5-22]
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Tourinho Knows More About Catholicism Than I Do? (His Stubborn & Foolish Pride in Refusing to Accept Correction Re the Non-Infallible Status of  Unigenitus [1713]) [6-7-22]
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II. TRADITION (APOSTOLIC) 
 
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Dialogue on “Perspicuous Apostolic Teaching” (vs. James White) [May-June 1996]
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“Tradition” Isn’t a Dirty Word [late 90s; rev. 8-16-16]
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 “Tradition” Is Not Always a Bad Word! [written specifically for children: 12 or younger; 2-12-14]
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Church Fathers and Sola Scriptura [originally July 2003; somewhat modified condensation: 4-5-17]
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Tradition is Not a Dirty Word — It’s a Great Gift [National Catholic Register, 4-24-17]
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Martin Luther on the Exact Nature of Being “Biblical” [11-10-14; revised and expanded on 1-5-20]
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2 Thessalonians 2:15 & Tradition (vs. Steve Hays) [5-12-20]
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The Bible Alone? That’s Not What the Bible Says [National Catholic Register, 3-5-21]
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Extra-Biblical, Spirit-Led Prophecy After the Day of Pentecost [4-1-21; published at Catholic365, 11-7-23]
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How Did the Gospel Writers Know About ‘Hidden’ Events? [National Catholic Register, 3-31-22]
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Pharisees, “Moses’ Seat”, Tradition & Catholicism [Dec. 2003 and May 2005; a condensed, re-edited, and mildly revised version: 5-1-22]
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The Authority of Apostolic Tradition: chapter one of my 2009 book, Bible Truths for Catholic Truths: A Source Book for Apologists and Inquirers [10-9-23]
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VIDEO: No Tradition? Fine. NO CHRISTIANITY! [13 Verses To Highlight] [Kenny Burchard, utilizing my biblical research, 9-22-24]
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 III. SOLA SCRIPTURA
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Debate: Church Fathers & Sola Scriptura (vs. Jason Engwer) [8-1-03]

Ten Church Fathers & Sola Scriptura (vs. Jason Engwer) [8-1-03]

Sola Scriptura: Unbiblical!: Refutation of Dr. Richard Bennett [9-15-03]

Refutation of Dr. John MacArthur’s Sola Scriptura Defense: “The Sufficiency of the Written Word” [9-15-03]

Biblical Argumentation: Same as Sola Scriptura? [10-7-03]

Quick Ten-Step Refutation of Sola Scriptura [10-10-03]

55-Minute Interview on Catholic Answers Live: “Why we Need More than the Bible” (listen to audio file: see #8) (10-10-03)

“Moses’ Seat” & Jesus vs. Sola Scriptura (vs. James White) [12-27-03]

Sola Scriptura and Private Judgment Are Logically Circular [1-28-04; slight modifications and abridgment on 9-5-17]

Difficulties of Authority: Luther, Calvin, & Protestantism [4-11-04]

Sola Scriptura is Self-Defeating and False if Not in the Bible (vs. Kevin Johnson) [5-4-04]

Jerusalem Council vs. Sola Scriptura [9-2-04]

Analyzing Luther / Protestant Traditions of Men Inevitable [9-29-04]

Dialogue: Lutherans, Sola Scriptura, & the Church Fathers [5-29-05]

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Papal Infallibility Doctrine: History (Including Luther’s Dissent at the Leipzig Disputation in 1519) (Related also to the particular circumstances of the origins of sola Scriptura) [10-8-07]
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Sola Scriptura Debate (vs. C. Michael Patton) [10-19-08]
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10-Point Biblical Refutation of Sola Scriptura [National Catholic Register, 12-11-16]
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Church Fathers and Sola Scriptura [originally July 2003; somewhat modified condensation: 4-5-17]
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Catholics R More Biblical Than Protestants? (Dialogue) (vs. Dustin Buck Lattimore) [5-3-17]
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3 Effective Biblical Refutations of Sola Scriptura [National Catholic Register, 11-12-17]
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David T. King Ignores Sola Scriptura Biblical Disproofs (Incl. lengthy analysis of 2 Peter 1:20: “no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation”) [11-13-17]
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The New Testament Canon is a “Late” Doctrine [National Catholic Register, 1-22-18]
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Martin Luther on the Exact Nature of Being “Biblical” [11-10-14; revised and expanded on 1-5-20]
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1 Timothy 3:15 = Church Infallibility (vs. Steve Hays) [5-14-20]
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Does Sola Scriptura Create Chaos? (vs. Steve Hays) [5-15-20]
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Is Sola Scriptura Self-Refuting? (vs. Bruno Lima) [10-12-22]
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How Martin Luther Invented Sola Scriptura [National Catholic Register, 5-21-24]
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IV. PERSPICUITY (CLEARNESS) OF SCRIPTURE
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Baptismal Regeneration: Central Doctrine, According to Luther & Lutheranism [1996]

Dialogue: Clearness (Perspicuity) of Scripture and the Formal Sufficiency of Scripture (vs. Carmen Bryant) [6-8-00]

Dialogue: Church Fathers on Perspicuity & Sola Scriptura [6-11-00]

The Sufficiency & Perspicuity of Scripture & the Trinity [6-16-03; slightly revised on 1-20-04]

The Revised Fundamentalist Baptist Version (RFBV) [5-18-04]

Is the Bible in Fact Clear, or “Perspicuous” to Every Individual? [2007]

Luther: Scripture Easily Grasped by “Plowboys” [11-1-08]

Erasmus’ Hyperaspistes (1526): Sola Scriptura and Perspicuity of Scripture [2-12-09]

25 Brief Arguments Regarding Biblical “Clearness” [2009]

The Perspicuity (Clearness) of Scripture: A Summary [1-22-10]

The Anglican Newman (1833-1838) on the Falsity of Perspicuity (Clearness) of Holy Scripture [3-7-11]

Bible: Completely Self-Authenticating, So that Anyone Could Come up with the Complete Canon without Formal Church Proclamations? (vs. Wm. Whitaker) [July 2012]

Perspicuity (Clearness) of Scripture (vs. Wm. Whitaker) [July 2012]

The Bible: “Clear” & “Self-Interpreting”? [February 2014]

Perspicuity (Clarity) of Holy Scripture [11-21-15]

Protestant Unity on “Central” Doctrines?: Baptism as Test Case (vs. Methodist Philosophy professor Jerry Walls) [1-9-17]

Dialogue on Authoritative Bible Interpretation in the New Testament (vs. Reformed Baptist Elder Jim Drickamer) [1-14-17]

The Clearness, or “Perspicuity,” of Sacred Scripture [National Catholic Register, 11-16-17]

Biblical Interpretation & Clarity: Dialogue w an Atheist [5-26-18]

Is Inspiration Immediately Evident in Every Biblical Book? [National Catholic Register, 7-28-18]

Bible “Difficulties” Are No Disproof of Biblical Inspiration [National Catholic Register, 6-29-19]

“Difficulty” in Understanding the Bible: Hebrew Cultural Factors [2-5-21]

An Omniscient God and a “Clear” Bible [National Catholic Register, 2-28-21]

Did Pope Innocent III Forbid the Bible in 1199? (+ Does the Bible Itself Teach That it Should be Read Without Need of Any Authoritative Interpretation?) [5-11-21]

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Irish Ecclesiastical Record vs. Anti-Catholic George Salmon, Pt. 6: The Innumerable Perils of Perspicuity of Scripture and Private Judgment [3-16-23]
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What the Bible Says About Misreading the Bible [National Catholic Register, 4-30-25]

*

V. MATERIAL AND FORMAL SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE / RULE OF FAITH
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The Sufficiency & Perspicuity of Scripture & the Trinity [6-16-03; slightly revised on 1-20-04]
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Church Fathers and Sola Scriptura [originally July 2003; somewhat modified condensation: 4-5-17]
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Martin Luther on the Exact Nature of Being “Biblical” [11-10-14; revised and expanded on 1-5-20]
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1 Timothy 3:15 = Church Infallibility (vs. Steve Hays) [5-14-20]
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VIDEO: 100% Biblical Proof FOR Catholic Authority vs. Sola Scriptura [12+ Verses to highlight] [Catholic Bible Highlights with Kenny Burchard; utilizing my biblical research, 9-28-24]
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VI. THE CANON OF SCRIPTURE
***
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Development of the Biblical Canon: Protestant Difficulties [2-26-02 and 3-19-02, abridged with slight revisions and additions on 7-19-18]
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The Deuterocanon: 27-Point Catholic Summary [3-19-02; slightly modified and reposted on 5-27-24]
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The New Testament Canon is a “Late” Doctrine [National Catholic Register, 1-22-18]
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VII. DEUTEROCANONICAL BOOKS (SO-CALLED “APOCRYPHA”)
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The Deuterocanon: 27-Point Catholic Summary [3-19-02; slightly modified and reposted on 5-27-24]
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How to Defend the Deuterocanon (or ‘Apocrypha’) [National Catholic Register, 3-12-17]
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VIII. BIBLICAL ACCURACY AND INSPIRATION / ALLEGED BIBLICAL CONTRADICTIONS AND DIFFICULTIES   
[see also related papers in the Atheist and Agnostic section]
 
FEATURED: Inspired!: 198 Supposed Biblical Contradictions Resolved (free online book) [6-3-23]
Master Lists and  Resources 
 
***
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General 
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Refutation of 194 Biblical “Contradictions” (#26-50) [4-6-22] [links to the entire eight-part series included]
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See also:
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How Ancient Authors Wrote (Jimmy Akin, 3-19-22)
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Jesus 
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The Resurrection: Hoax or History? [cartoon tract with art by Dan Grajek: 1985]
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Atheist “Refutes” Sermon on the Mount (Or Does He?) [National Catholic Register, 7-23-17]
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What Does “Turn the Other Cheek” Mean? [National Catholic Register, 7-20-19]
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*
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The Signs Of His Coming (David Palm, 1993) [Master’s Thesis on whether Jesus thought the end times were coming during the lifetime of His hearers] 
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Gerasenes, Gadarenes, Pigs and “Contradictions” [National Catholic Register, 1-29-21]
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Miscellaneous
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Dialogue with a Skeptic of Christianity (vs. Charlie Kluepfel) [5-2-99]
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Vatican II Upheld Biblical Inerrancy (vs. David Palm) [4-23-20]
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Who Caused Job to Suffer — God or Satan? [National Catholic Register, 6-28-20]
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God in Heaven & in His Temple: Contradiction? (vs. Dr. Steven DiMattei) [11-23-20]
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Genesis, Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, & Other Early Figures
***
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Historicity of Adam and Eve [9-23-11; rev. 1-6-22]
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Defending the Historical Adam of Genesis (vs. Eric S. Giunta) [9-25-11]
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“Did Adam and Eve Really Exist?” (Dr. Dennis Bonnette, Crisis Magazine, 11-24-14)
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The Genesis Creation Accounts and Hebrew Time [National Catholic Register, 7-2-17]
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New Testament Evidence for Noah’s Existence [National Catholic Register, 3-11-18]
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Orthodox Interpretation of Genesis and the Serpent [National Catholic Register, 11-19-18]
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Golden Calf & Cherubim: Biblical Contradiction? (vs. Dr. Steven DiMattei) [11-23-20]
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A Bible Puzzle About the Staff of Moses and Aaron [National Catholic Register, 1-14-21]
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Bible and Science
*

Scripture, Science, Genesis, & Evolutionary Theory: Mini-Dialogue with an Atheist [8-14-18; rev. 2-18-19]

The Bible and Mythical Animals[National Catholic Register, 10-9-19]

The Bible is Not “Anti-Scientific,” as Skeptics Claim[National Catholic Register, 10-23-19]

Herod Agrippa I “Eaten By Worms”: Myth or Plausible? [6-20-23]

*

Massacres and Wars of Annihilation / God’s Judgment
***
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Last updated on 11 July 2025
*****

*
***
*

Practical Matters:  I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider a much-needed monthly or one-time financial contribution. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV).
*
PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: [email protected]. Here’s also a second page to get to PayPal. You’ll see the term “Catholic Used Book Service”, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing (including Zelle and 100% tax-deductible donations if desired), see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information.
*
You can support my work a great deal in non-financial ways, if you prefer; by subscribing to, commenting on, liking, and sharing videos from my two YouTube channels, Catholic Bible Highlights and Lux Veritatis (featuring documentaries), where I partner with Kenny Burchard (see my own videos), and/or by signing up to receive notice for new articles on this blog. Just type your email address on the sidebar to the right (scroll down quite a bit), where you see, “Sign Me Up!” Thanks a million!
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