Protestant Charity World Vision announced a few weeks ago that they would now employ same sex “married” couples. World Vision president Richard Stearns explained that the decision was meant to serve Church unity. Since Protestant denominations disagree on the morality of homosexual unions, World Vision decided (allegedly) not take a stand either way. World Vision […]
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Why Did Christ Die?
The late atheist Christopher Hitchens once complained that the Christian God was a kind of celestial dictator, “Greedy, exigent . . . and swift to punish the original sins.” I have known others to reject Christianity on similar terms. For such skeptics, nothing is a greater obstacle to Christian faith than the doctrine of the […]
Continue readingWhy Would Anyone Want to be Catholic?
I heard from a woman last week who watched a PBS documentary on the Vatican. The show was little more than a sensationalistic “hit piece,” meant to defame the Church as much as possible. Propaganda, pure and simple. But it was effective propaganda. After watching, the woman asked me, “Who, on earth, would ever want […]
Continue readingDo the Saints Pray for Us?
Last week (February 14, 2014), my local paper – The Birmingham News – published an article critical of Catholics and their devotion to the saints. The article suggested that we don’t really need the saints. It argued that Christians should pray to God on their own and not ask the saints for prayer. As a convert […]
Continue readingGod and Evil
How can a good God allow so much evil in the world? Historically, this question has posed the single most important atheist challenge to theism, and is one of the most vexing theological problems. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that evil is “a mystery.” This side of Heaven, we can never fully […]
Continue readingWhich God don’t you believe in?
“I don’t believe in God?” “God does not exist.” What do people mean when they say these things? Often, people who say this do not really understand what Catholics mean by the proposition “God exists.” So, when dealing with atheists, it becomes very important to clarify, “What do you mean by God?” What do you […]
Continue readingLove God, Love People . . .
Years ago, I got into an intense theological exchange with a fellow student just before one of my graduate classes. I was more or less oblivious to the people around me, to the demands of the classroom, or to time. I was only focused on the discussion. Finally, the professor herself walked out of the […]
Continue readingTwo Ways of Being Human
This week we recognize two milestones in American history. On Monday, January 20th, we celebrated the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. On Wednesday, we confronted the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Each has profound implications for the soul of our nation, for how we understand what it means to be a human being. There […]
Continue readingCan you show me in Scripture . . . ?
I wrote last week about the doctrine of Mary’s divine maternity and its implications for her Immaculate Conception. In response, I received an email from a non-Catholic gentleman challenging me to “show him in Scripture where it says that Mary was Immaculately Conceived.” I really appreciate this kind of question because it gives me an […]
Continue readingThe Most Important Thing About Mary
Catholics love Mary. It is one of the things that make us distinct. We celebrate her with rich devotions, profess our faith in beautiful Marian doctrines, and glory in her powerful intercession. But in our faith and devotion one article stands above all else – that Mary is the Mother of God. She gave birth […]
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