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++++ Not In The Bible

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Dear brothers and sisters in Christ....      Catholics often hear, “That’s not in the Bible,” from non-Catholics. It is one of the favorite exressions of anti-Cahtolics, in particular. But before jumping up all excited at this, Catholics should ask a deeper question: "Does the Bible itself teach that every Christian belief must be found explicitly in its pages?" THE CLAIM 💬"That’s Not in the Bible.”      Many Protestant Christians argue that if a teaching is not stated clearly and directly in the Bible, then Christians should not believe it.  This has been their go-to for several centuries, and is called sola scriptura ( Latin for, "by scripture alone").      It  is   most intensely and strictly emphasized by Baptists, non-denominational Evangelicals, Reformed/Presbyterian churches, and the Churches of Christ.      They weigh everything against the Bible, from their denominations' practices and doctrine, to Sund...
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Protestant Myth #1: Democracy and Liberty

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MYTH #1: The Protestant Reformation Birthed Democracy and Liberty. THE PROPAGANDA SPIN: Luther and Calvin awakened the conscience of man, liberating Europe from monarchy and tyranny. CATHOLIC REALITY:      The main problem here is it just is not true. There is a half truth, in that the Reformation pushed people away from The Church, so they could, "do their own thing."      But one cannot say that the movement singlehandedly made democracy and liberty the new standard. Quite the opposite, in fact - as we shall see. 🟦 The Catholic Defense of Ordered Freedom     It should be recognized that Catholic theology recognizes both the dignity of the individual and the authority of the common good. This never has changed as a source of doctrine, despite the occasional human 'bad actor' in the mix. Gaudium et Spes teaches that true liberty is “freedom from slavery to sin and to self.” (GS §17).     The Church has upheld subsidiarity long befo...
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What About Works?

One of the most common accusations Catholics will hear from anti-Catholic Protestants goes like this: "Catholics aren't saved." Or... "You Catholics believe you earn your way to heaven." "You trust your works - instead of Jesus." "Only faith saves."     A nti-Catholic make these claims so often, in fact, that they assume they're true. It's the fallacy of bandwagon logic..., that is, if enough people tell themselves something long enough, they call it true.And if you're an anti-Catholic reading this, it probably sounds familiar.      But here's the question: have they ever bothered to ask Catholics what Catholics actually say about it – what THEY believe? And if so, do they accept it?     Y ou see, they are outside the Church, either unwittingly, or deliberately.      They've heard many things 2nd or 3rd hand ABOUT Catholicism, for a long time, from enemies and opponents of Catholicism...and there are many of t...
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Evil vs. Good

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  Scripture and Reflection: The Illusion of Evil and the Peace of the Righteous In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. First Reading Micah 2:1–5 "Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil upon their beds! When the morning dawns, they accomplish it because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and seize them; houses, and take them away. They oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance. Therefore thus says the Lord: 'Behold, I am devising against this family a disaster from which you cannot remove your necks; and you shall no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity... When the Lord again apportions the land among His people, they shall have no share in it.'" The Word of the Lord. Key Points God sees injustice even when people appear to prosper. Evil begins in the heart before it becomes an action. Those who exploit others may seem powerful, but God's justice is ce...
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