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2020-10-10T11:17:20-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Death Penalty, Reactionaries, & a Devious Liar-Pope?

Last updated on: October 10, 2020 at 11:17 am By Dave Armstrong

I have been watching with a disdainful curiosity as reactionaries and other pope-bashers line up to accuse Pope Francis of scheming, two-faced equivocation and flat-out lying (or the “Lite” version of same: a deliberate “ambiguity”: just as these same folks habitually attribute to Vatican II), since they can’t make a straightforward case that he (in his recent encyclical Fratelli tutti) has classified capital punishment as intrinsically evil or immoral. Failing that, they switch over to the cynical, unethical, very unCatholic behavior... Read more

Life Issues

Papacy & Infallibility

capital punishment

Catholic social teaching

2026-06-05T23:57:10-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Steve Skojec: Pope Sez Death Penalty is Intrinsically Evil (?)

Last updated on: June 5, 2026 at 11:57 pm By Dave Armstrong

This dead horse continues to be beaten. Philosopher Ed Feser is a big proponent of it [capital punishment], and many reactionary Catholics take this tack. Skojec, of One Vader Five infamy, pontificated on this question yesterday, and revealed himself to be quite the cynical mind-reader. Skojec in his infinite wisdom, told us what he thinks the pope is doing on a wide scale (basically, being devious, deceptive, and two-faced), and specifically in his latest encyclical, Fratelli tutti. * This is now... Read more

Life Issues

Papacy & Infallibility

Traditionalism vs. Radical Catholic Reactionaries

capital punishment

Catholic social teaching

2026-06-06T00:43:04-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Fratelli tutti: Love is Great; How to Best Apply It?

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:43 am By Dave Armstrong

First, a bit of humor before I get super-serious: when I first saw the name of this encyclical, all I could think of was the late great Little Richard’s 1955 hit song, Tutti Frutti. Many inevitable, inveterate critics of this latest encyclical of Pope Francis will, no doubt, say that its contents are about as clear as the lyrics of that song. I, too, will offer some criticism, but it is done with the utmost reverence towards the office of... Read more

Papacy & Infallibility

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Catholic social teaching

Fratelli tutti

papal encyclicals

Pope Francis

2020-10-20T10:09:48-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Seidensticker Folly #58: Jesus Erred on Time of 2nd Coming?

Last updated on: October 20, 2020 at 10:09 am By Dave Armstrong

with David Palm Atheist and anti-theist Bob Seidensticker, who was “raised Presbyterian”, runs the influential Cross Examined blog. He asked me there, on 8-11-18: “I’ve got 1000+ posts here attacking your worldview. You just going to let that stand? Or could you present a helpful new perspective that I’ve ignored on one or two of those posts?” He added in June 2017 in a combox: “If I’ve misunderstood the Christian position or Christian arguments, point that out. Show me where I’ve mischaracterized them.” Delighted to oblige his wishes . . . ... Read more

Atheism & Agnosticism

Bible and Tradition

Hell & Satan & Last Things

Trinitarianism & Christology

2nd Coming

alleged Bible contradictions

atheist-Christian discussion

2020-10-01T17:10:01-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Prayer to Creatures Proven from Holy Scripture

Last updated on: October 1, 2020 at 5:10 pm By Dave Armstrong

This is a reply to Matt Slick: Presbyterian pastor and head of the large and influential anti-Catholic Protestant CARM discussion forum. I am responding to his article, “Is praying to the saints biblical?” His words will be in blue. ***** One of the erroneous teachings of the Roman Catholic Church is the doctrine of praying to the saints. Catholicism teaches that it is okay to offer prayers not only to God but also to creatures such as Mary, Joseph, and others... Read more

Anti-Catholicism

Saints & Purgatory & Penance

CARM

communion of saints

intercession

intercession of angels

intercession of saints

2020-10-01T12:19:44-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Sore Losers?: Hillary & Dems or Trump & the GOP?

Last updated on: October 1, 2020 at 12:19 pm By Dave Armstrong

Hillary & Dems’ Tactics of Projecting Ballot Fraud & Refusal to Concede (and Treason) Onto Trump & Republicans According to an NBC News article (8-26-20), the noble, inimitable Hillary Clinton opined: Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances, because I think this is going to drag out, and eventually I do believe he will win if we don’t give an inch, and if we are as focused and relentless as the other side is . . . [Republicans will... Read more

Political & Ethical & Moral Issues

Mueller investigation

Trump & conservatives

Trump & the GOP

Trump-hatred

2020-10-03T17:12:53-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Can Mary Hear “Simultaneous” Prayers of Millions?

Last updated on: October 3, 2020 at 5:12 pm By Dave Armstrong

This is a reply to Matt Slick: Presbyterian pastor and head of the large and influential anti-Catholic Protestant CARM discussion forum. I am responding to his article, “Can Mary hear our prayers?”. His words will be in blue. ***** There is nothing in the Bible that says that Mary can simultaneously hear the prayers of people all over the world, in different languages, spoken, and thought, an attribute that God possesses. But, the Catholic Church says she can. . . . Roman... Read more

Anti-Catholicism

Blessed Virgin Mary

Saints & Purgatory & Penance

Can Mary hear prayers?

CARM

communion of saints

intercession

intercession of angels

intercession of Mary

intercession of saints

2020-09-30T13:40:57-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Presidential Debate: Interruptions vs. Irreverent Incoherence

Last updated on: September 30, 2020 at 1:40 pm By Dave Armstrong

Trump clearly won on substance and noting his accomplishments in office. Biden’s basic modus operandi was simply to deny everything: every radical position he holds (sometimes essentially forced into by the radical left base of his party), he pretended not to hold (because he has to, to win). He offered no convincing policy proposals. Basically, he simply trashed Trump, which is no surprise at all. It’s what you do, when you have exhausted your own [constructive / positive] ideas. Unfortunately,... Read more

Political & Ethical & Moral Issues

2020 presidential debate

2020-09-29T13:35:50-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Penal Laws Against American Catholics: 1606-1789

Last updated on: September 29, 2020 at 1:35 pm By Dave Armstrong

[the first part below is an abridged version of Part IV of the article, “Penal Laws,” in The Catholic Encyclopedia; written by Edwin Burton, E. A. D’Alton & Jarvis Kelley, 1911; originally posted on my blog on 3-10-08] ***** Anglican Establishments The first Virginia Charter in 1606 established the Anglican Church. The second, in 1609, repeated the terms of the establishment and prescribed the Oath of Supremacy. Intolerance of dissent was latent and implicit. Lord Baltimore, refusing as a Catholic to acknowledge the... Read more

Protestant Persecution & Intolerance

burning heretics

burning witches

capital punishment for heresy

Catholic martyrs

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Inquisition

penal laws

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Protestant Inquisition

Protestant intolerance

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religious freedom

religious persecution

religious tolerance

2020-09-29T13:23:58-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

English Persecution of Irish Catholics: 1536-1829 & Beyond

Last updated on: September 29, 2020 at 1:23 pm By Dave Armstrong

[Slightly abridged version of Part III of the article, “Penal Laws,” in The Catholic Encyclopedia; written by Edwin Burton, E. A. D’Alton & Jarvis Kelley, 1911; originally posted on my website on 3-10-08] ***** Although the penal laws of Ireland were passed by a Protestant Parliament and aimed at depriving Catholics of their faith, such laws were not the outcome of religious motives only. They often came from a desire to possess the lands of the Irish. When Henry VIII... Read more

Protestant Persecution & Intolerance

burning heretics

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capital punishment for heresy

Catholic martyrs

death penalty for heresy

drowning Anabaptists

English persecution of Irish Catholics

hanged drawn and quartered

Protestant Inquisition

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Protestant persecution

religious freedom

religious persecution

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