Can Catholics play football if the ball is made of pigskin? (Leviticus 11). Am I to be stoned to death if I work on the Sabbath? (Exodus 31:14–15 and Numbers 15:32–36). These questions may seem trivial, perhaps even silly, in our modern world. However, the applicability of the Old Testament prohibitions to Catholicism has frequently been the source of confusion for Catholics and criticism from skeptics. In this essay, I will examine the foundation of the Old Testament laws and... Read more
It is a common question: Why do bad things happen to good people? The presence of evil and suffering in the world is one of the most challenging problems in theology. The problem can be stated in various ways and understood from several aspects, but it is generally formulated in this way: If God is all-good, there would be no evil or suffering in the world. There is evil and suffering in the world; therefore, God is not all-good. In... Read more
Our time does not look kindly on hierarchies and judgments. The modern mind “feels” that such things are forms of discrimination. There are two problems with such a position. First, we commit a category error when we mistake emotion and reason. Emotions do not make judgments, or at least do not adequately make judgments, necessary for critical thought. Second, we automatically and even subconsiously view the term discrimination as wrong or evil. This conclusion is not without merit when the... Read more
“I believe in…life everlasting.” – Taken from the conclusion of the Apostles Creed. Catholicism is about spreading the Evangelium—the good news of the Gospel. Regardless of how it is understood, that good news cannot be divorced from salvation. What exactly is salvation, and what must we do, if anything, to obtain it? In this paper, I will explore this question through the lens of a conversation depicted in Luke’s Gospel. Is Salvation An Inheritance? The eighteenth chapter of Luke records... Read more
Pope Leo XIV is a pope of firsts. He is the first American to be elected pope, as well as the first pope to come from the Order of Saint Augustine. In this paper, I want to examine the theological beliefs of Pope Leo through an examination of the people and institutions that have influenced him. First, however, it behooves us to review the personal history of Pope Leo XIV. The Formation Of A Pope The child of Italian and... Read more
From the whisper of a Rosary to the grand liturgy of the Mass, prayer is the heartbeat of Catholic life. However, beneath this ancient practice lie two profound questions. Both questions must be asked in the light of the nature of God. First, why is prayer necessary, and second, should we persist in prayer? Why Pray? Before answering, it may be beneficial to define what Catholicism means by prayer. The most artful and accurate answer is that prayer is a lifting... Read more
While many people associate arguments for God’s existence with faith-based reasoning, a strong tradition within philosophy argues that the case for God can, and must, be made on purely rational grounds. The reason for this is in the assumptions that philosophy and theology begin with. In general, philosophy does not presuppose the existence of God as theology and religion do. Therefore, it is nonsensical for theology or religion to argue for a conclusion that they accept as a premise or... Read more
Owing to the object of theology (viz, God), those of us who seek to write on matters related to the Divine must make much use of analogies and metaphors. Therefore, when trying to understand God, a helpful approach is to consider three of God’s fundamental actions as a kind of “occupation.” In this paper, I will use the analogy of occupations to describe three fundamental actions of God as one who creates, sustains, and is the desired end of all... Read more
As Catholics, we are to walk in the spirit, not the flesh (Galatians 5:16-26). This concept reflects the inherent duality of the human person, which comprises both a physical body and a spiritual soul. In this essay, I will explore spiritual theology, a branch of theology that emphasizes living in the spirit rather than living in the flesh. Spiritual Theology Theology qua theology is the science of studying God. Spiritual theology may be defined as that aspect of theology that,... Read more
The Catholic-Protestant divide is a tragedy that has led to many misunderstandings and a significant amount of violence. This paper seeks to clarify this misunderstanding by demonstrating why Catholics are, indeed, fundamentally Christian. There are a myriad of reasons that fuel the Catholic-Protestant conflict. Foundational to the various issues dividing Catholicism and Protestantism is the question of what it means to be Christian and who qualifies as such. This paper will address the frequently repeated charge that Catholics are not... Read more
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