{"id":40470,"date":"2019-11-05T14:47:17","date_gmt":"2019-11-05T18:47:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/?p=40470"},"modified":"2019-11-06T13:21:29","modified_gmt":"2019-11-06T17:21:29","slug":"am-i-a-pope-francis-defender-statement-of-intent-purpose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2019\/11\/am-i-a-pope-francis-defender-statement-of-intent-purpose.html","title":{"rendered":"Am I a “Pope Francis Defender”? (Statement of Intent & Purpose)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/p>\n

[book and purchase information<\/a>]<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Please note once again that \u2014 technically \u2014 I am not\u00a0defending<\/i>\u00a0whatever happened in this ceremony [regarding the statues and indigenous Amazonian spirituality<\/a> at the Synod] as perfectly orthodox and hunky dory. What I\u2019m doing is vigorously denying that the critics dead set against it have\u00a0adequately\u00a0proven<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0documented<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>their case that it is\u00a0definitely\u00a0<\/span>blasphemous idolatry<\/b><\/i>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s two different things. The prudent person reserves judgment until all the relevant and necessary facts and proofs are in.<\/p>\n

What I definitely\u00a0do<\/b><\/i>\u00a0believe is that a lot of hysteria and irrationalism are occurring: among the usual radical reactionary suspects (Lifesite News<\/i>, Michael Voris, Taylor Marshall,\u00a0One Peter Five<\/i>,\u00a0The Remnant<\/i>\u00a0et al,\u00a0ad nauseam<\/i>), and also among an ever-increasing pool of otherwise orthodox Catholics who are either outright anti-Francis or [more and more] suspicious of him as some kind of subversive heretic.<\/p>\n

All along, it\u2019s not so much that I have been defending Pope Francis and thinking everything he says and does is absolutely wonderful; (couldn\u2019t be better<\/em>!) \u2014 even though I am routinely considered a \u201cFrancis defender\u201d. Rather, I have consistently argued that the accusations made against him have failed to conclusively establish that he has espoused any heresy<\/span> or radical departure<\/span> from Catholic moral tradition<\/em><\/strong>. Conversely, there is much compelling counter-evidence, I think, that he has\u00a0not<\/b><\/i>\u00a0done so.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s like being on a jury. If the jury decides\u00a0not<\/i>\u00a0to render a \u201cguilty\u201d verdict, their view is \u201cnot guilty\u201d as opposed to \u201cinnocent.\u201d It\u2019s not saying that \u201che definitely did not do this crime, and we are absolutely certain of that.\u201d It\u2019s saying that \u201cwe do not have enough evidence and proof, beyond a reasonable doubt, to decide that he is guilty. We think there is enough doubt to not be able in good conscience to render the verdict of guilty.\u201d<\/p>\n

The task of the apologist is to determine what are good and bad arguments for any given proposition. I\u2019ve been doing apologetics for now 38 years. And I apply that methodology and attempted objectivity and rationality to Pope Francis, as well as the usual extreme reverence that Catholics ought to always extend to popes and the office of the papacy; also to Holy Mother Church, which is both infallible and indefectible.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Related Reading:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Replies to Critiques of Pope Francis (Dave Armstrong)<\/a>\u00a0[139 of my own articles]<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Pope Francis Defended: Resources for Confused or Troubled Folks<\/a>\u00a0[373 articles]<\/span><\/p>\n

Is Pope Francis a Heretic?<\/a> (+ Part II<\/a>) (Tim Staples, Catholic Answers<\/em> blog, October 3-4, 2016)<\/span><\/p>\n

Documentation: Pope Francis is Orthodox, Pro-Tradition and Against Modernism\u00a0<\/a>(Dan Marcum, Catholic Answers Forum, 1-9-15)<\/span><\/p>\n

The Politically Incorrect Francis\u201414 Shocking Statements\u00a0<\/a>(Paul Kengor,\u00a0Crisis Magazine<\/i>, 3-22-19)<\/span><\/p>\n

Pope Francis On . . .\u00a0<\/a>[31 different issues]\u00a0(Mark Mallett,\u00a0The Now Word<\/em>, 4-24-18)<\/span><\/p>\n

Folks Willing to Understand Pope Francis, Can; Unwilling Won\u2019t\u00a0<\/a>[1-18-14]<\/span><\/p>\n

The Ridiculous \u201cAnti-Francis\u201d Mentality: My Theory in Brief\u00a0<\/a>[12-7-15]<\/span><\/p>\n

On Rebuking Popes & Catholic Obedience to Popes\u00a0<\/a>(+\u00a0Facebook discussion<\/a>) [12-27-17]<\/span><\/p>\n

Negative Reactionary Views of Popes Since 1958\u00a0<\/a>[3-18-18]<\/span><\/p>\n

Pope-Criticism: Vigorous Exchanges w Karl Keating<\/a>\u00a0[3-27-18]<\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
Do I Think Popes Can Never be Criticized for Any Reason? Nope. (I Respectfully Criticize the Prudence of Pope Francis\u2019 Repeated Interviews with an Atheist Who Lies About Him [Eugenio Scalfari])<\/a>\u00a0[3-31-18]<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
Are Pope-Critics Evil? Reply to Karl Keating<\/a>\u00a0[4-13-18]<\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
Papal Critics Concede: No Proof of Canonical Papal Heresy<\/a>\u00a0[5-10-19]<\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
\n
Reactionary Signees of Easter \u201cHeresy\u201d Letter (13 of 19)<\/a>\u00a0[5-6-19]<\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
Ecclesiological Errors of \u201cEaster Letter\u201d Reactionaries Summed Up (That is, Ones Not Specifically Related to Pope Francis: Especially Vatican II as the Big Bad Wolf)\u00a0<\/a>[5-9-19]<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

Radical Reactionary Affinities in \u201cFilial Correction\u201d Signatories\u00a0<\/a>[9-28-17]<\/span><\/p>\n

Reactionary Influence:\u00a0Correctio<\/em>\u00a0& June 2016 Criticism of the Pope<\/a>\u00a0[10-3-17; expanded on 1-24-18]<\/span><\/p>\n

Keating &\u00a0The Francis Feud<\/em>: Six Errors Documented<\/a>\u00a0[6-2-18]<\/span><\/p>\n

Phil Lawler\u2019s\u00a0Lost Shepherd<\/em>: My One-Star Amazon Review\u00a0<\/a>[2-26-18]<\/span><\/p>\n

Forcing Pope Francis Into Our Own Image<\/a>\u00a0[9-18-15]<\/span><\/p>\n

On the Endless Second-Guessing of Pope Francis<\/a>\u00a0[2-25-16]<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
Is Pope Francis a Heretic?: Options and Respectful Speculations on the Synod on the Family,\u00a0Amoris Laetitia<\/em>\u00a0and Practical Applications\u00a0<\/a>[12-13-16]<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
Reactionary Infiltration of Taylor Marshall\u2019s Book,\u00a0Infiltration\u00a0<\/em><\/a>[5-30-19]<\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
My (Censored) Amazon Review of Dr. Marshall\u2019s\u00a0Infiltration<\/em><\/a>\u00a0[6-20-19]<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
***<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
Unfortunately, Money Trees Do Not Exist<\/strong>:<\/span>\u00a0If you have been aided in any way by my work, or think it is valuable and worthwhile, please strongly consider financially supporting it (even $10 \/ month \u2014 a mere 33 cents a day \u2014 would be very helpful). I have been a full-time Catholic apologist since Dec. 2001, and have been writing Christian apologetics since 1981 (see\u00a0my Resume<\/a>).\u00a0My work has been proven (by God\u2019s grace alone) to be fruitful, in terms of changing lives (see the tangible evidences\u00a0from unsolicited \u201ctestimonies\u201d<\/a>).\u00a0I have to pay my bills like all of you: and have a (homeschooling) wife and three children still at home to provide for, and a mortgage to pay.<\/div>\n
\n

*<\/p>\n

My book royalties from\u00a0three bestsellers in the field<\/a>\u00a0(published in 2003-2007) have been decreasing, as has my overall income, making it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.\u00a0 I provide over 2600 free articles here, for the purpose of your edification and education, and have\u00a0written 50 books<\/a>.\u00a0It\u2019ll literally be a struggle to survive financially until Dec. 2020, when both my wife and I will be receiving Social Security. If you cannot contribute, I ask for your prayers. Thanks! See my\u00a0information on how to donate<\/a>\u00a0(including 100% tax-deductible donations). It\u2019s very simple to contribute to my apostolate via PayPal, if a tax deduction is not needed (my \u201cbusiness name\u201d there is called \u201cCatholic Used Book Service,\u201d from my old bookselling days 17 or so years ago, but send to my email: apologistdave@gmail.com). Another easy way to send and receive money (with a bank account or a mobile phone) is through\u00a0Zelle<\/a>. Again, just send to my e-mail address.\u00a0May God abundantly bless you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

***<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[book and purchase information] ***** Please note once again that \u2014 technically \u2014 I am not\u00a0defending\u00a0whatever happened in this ceremony [regarding the statues and indigenous Amazonian spirituality at the Synod] as perfectly orthodox and hunky dory. What I\u2019m doing is vigorously denying that the critics dead set against it have\u00a0adequately\u00a0proven\u00a0and\u00a0documented\u00a0their case that it is\u00a0definitely\u00a0blasphemous idolatry. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2331,"featured_media":40473,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[138],"tags":[5332,3435,1760,285,4443,5335,4791,3434,5187,2140,1134,353,1761,5642,5329,2644,4800,156,159,158,157,1848,162,1713,5169,2648,1688,135],"class_list":["post-40470","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-papacy-infallibility","tag-aka-catholic","tag-cardinal-burke","tag-catholic-family-news","tag-chris-ferrara","tag-correctio","tag-criticism-of-popes","tag-deference-to-popes","tag-dubia","tag-henry-sire","tag-hilary-white","tag-karl-keating","tag-liberalism","tag-lifesite-news","tag-lost-shepherd-the-francis-feud","tag-louie-verrecchio","tag-one-peter-five","tag-phil-lawler","tag-pope-francis","tag-pope-francis-dissidents","tag-pope-francis-and-the-media","tag-pope-francis-myths","tag-pope-bashing","tag-popes","tag-rorate-caeli","tag-ross-douthat","tag-steve-skojec","tag-the-remnant","tag-theological-liberalism"],"yoast_head":"\nAm I a "Pope Francis Defender"? 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Formerly a campus missionary, as a Protestant, Dave was received into the Catholic Church in February 1991, by the late, well-known catechist and theologian, Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave\u2019s articles have appeared in many influential Catholic periodicals, including \\\"This Rock\\\" (now called \\\"Catholic Answers Magazine\\\"), \\\"Envoy Magazine\\\" (Patrick Madrid), \\\"The Catholic Answer,\\\" \\\"The Coming Home Journal,\\\" \\\"Gilbert Magazine\\\" (American Chesterton Society), and \\\"The Latin Mass.\\\" He also writes a featured column for every issue of \\\"The Michigan Catholic\\\": published by the archdiocese of Detroit, and was editor for most of the apologetics tracts published by the St. Paul Street Evangelization apostolate. Dave\u2019s apologetics and writing apostolate was the subject of a feature article in the May 2002 issue of \\\"Envoy Magazine.\\\" He served as the staff moderator at the Internet discussion forum for The Coming Home Network, from 2007-2010. Dave has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated Catholic radio shows, including \\\"Catholic Answers Live\\\" (twice), \\\"Faith and Family Live\\\" (Steve Wood), \\\"Kresta in the Afternoon,\\\" \\\"Son Rise Morning Show,\\\" \\\"Catholic Connection\\\" (Teresa Tomeo), and \\\"The Catholics Next Door.\\\" His large and popular website, \\\"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism,\\\" was online from March 1997 to March 2007, and received the 1998 Catholic Website of the Year award from \\\"Envoy Magazine.\\\" His blog of the same name (now transferred to Patheos), begun in February 2004, contains more than 1,500 papers, at least 500 debates or dialogues, and over 50 distinct \\\"index\\\" web pages. Unsolicited correspondence has indicated many hundreds of conversions (or returns) to the Catholic faith as a result, by God's grace, of these writings. Dave's conversion story was published in the bestselling book \\\"Surprised by Truth\\\" (edited by Patrick Madrid; San Diego: Basilica Press, 1994). Sophia Institute Press has published six of his books: \\\"A Biblical Defense of Catholicism\\\" (Foreword by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J., 1996 \/ 2003), \\\"The Catholic Verses\\\" (2004), \\\"The One-Minute Apologist\\\" (2007), \\\"Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths\\\" (2009), \\\"The Quotable Newman\\\" (editor: 2012), and \\\"Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical\\\" (2015). He is co-author (with Dr. Paul Thigpen) of the inserts for \\\"The New Catholic Answer Bible\\\" (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), and editor for \\\"The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton: The Very Best Quotes, Quips, and Cracks from the Pen of G. K. Chesterton\\\" (Saint Benedict Press \/ TAN Books: 2009). \\\"100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura\\\" was published by Catholic Answers in May 2012. His \\\"Quotable Wesley\\\" compilation was published by (Protestant \/ Wesleyan publisher) Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Several of his 49 books are bestsellers in their field. Dave maintains a popular personal Facebook page, a Facebook author page, and has a Twitter account as well. He offers almost all of his books in e-book form on his own Biblical Catholicism site (http:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/), at a permanent deep discount: only $2.99 for ePub, mobi, and AZW, and $1.99 for PDF. His writing has been enthusiastically endorsed or recommended by many leading Catholic apologists, authors, and priests, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Devin Rose, Mike Aquilina, Al Kresta, Karl Keating, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Brandon Vogt, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. They have three sons and a daughter, and reside in southeast Michigan (metro Detroit).\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LuxVeritatisApologetics\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/author\/davearmstrong\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Am I a \"Pope Francis Defender\"? 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Formerly a campus missionary, as a Protestant, Dave was received into the Catholic Church in February 1991, by the late, well-known catechist and theologian, Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave\u2019s articles have appeared in many influential Catholic periodicals, including \"This Rock\" (now called \"Catholic Answers Magazine\"), \"Envoy Magazine\" (Patrick Madrid), \"The Catholic Answer,\" \"The Coming Home Journal,\" \"Gilbert Magazine\" (American Chesterton Society), and \"The Latin Mass.\" He also writes a featured column for every issue of \"The Michigan Catholic\": published by the archdiocese of Detroit, and was editor for most of the apologetics tracts published by the St. Paul Street Evangelization apostolate. Dave\u2019s apologetics and writing apostolate was the subject of a feature article in the May 2002 issue of \"Envoy Magazine.\" He served as the staff moderator at the Internet discussion forum for The Coming Home Network, from 2007-2010. Dave has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated Catholic radio shows, including \"Catholic Answers Live\" (twice), \"Faith and Family Live\" (Steve Wood), \"Kresta in the Afternoon,\" \"Son Rise Morning Show,\" \"Catholic Connection\" (Teresa Tomeo), and \"The Catholics Next Door.\" His large and popular website, \"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism,\" was online from March 1997 to March 2007, and received the 1998 Catholic Website of the Year award from \"Envoy Magazine.\" His blog of the same name (now transferred to Patheos), begun in February 2004, contains more than 1,500 papers, at least 500 debates or dialogues, and over 50 distinct \"index\" web pages. Unsolicited correspondence has indicated many hundreds of conversions (or returns) to the Catholic faith as a result, by God's grace, of these writings. Dave's conversion story was published in the bestselling book \"Surprised by Truth\" (edited by Patrick Madrid; San Diego: Basilica Press, 1994). Sophia Institute Press has published six of his books: \"A Biblical Defense of Catholicism\" (Foreword by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J., 1996 \/ 2003), \"The Catholic Verses\" (2004), \"The One-Minute Apologist\" (2007), \"Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths\" (2009), \"The Quotable Newman\" (editor: 2012), and \"Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical\" (2015). He is co-author (with Dr. Paul Thigpen) of the inserts for \"The New Catholic Answer Bible\" (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), and editor for \"The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton: The Very Best Quotes, Quips, and Cracks from the Pen of G. K. Chesterton\" (Saint Benedict Press \/ TAN Books: 2009). \"100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura\" was published by Catholic Answers in May 2012. His \"Quotable Wesley\" compilation was published by (Protestant \/ Wesleyan publisher) Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Several of his 49 books are bestsellers in their field. Dave maintains a popular personal Facebook page, a Facebook author page, and has a Twitter account as well. He offers almost all of his books in e-book form on his own Biblical Catholicism site (http:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/), at a permanent deep discount: only $2.99 for ePub, mobi, and AZW, and $1.99 for PDF. His writing has been enthusiastically endorsed or recommended by many leading Catholic apologists, authors, and priests, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Devin Rose, Mike Aquilina, Al Kresta, Karl Keating, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Brandon Vogt, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. They have three sons and a daughter, and reside in southeast Michigan (metro Detroit).","sameAs":["https:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LuxVeritatisApologetics"],"url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/author\/davearmstrong"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2331"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40470"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40470\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40473"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}