The Catholic Church and its views and teachings on specific subjects.
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1answer
201 views
How is 1 Timothy 2:5 interpreted relative to the Mediatrix concept?
The concept of Mediatrix has Virgin Mary in a role of a mediator in the salvation process—at least that's what Wikipedia says:
Mediatrix in Roman Catholic Mariology refers to the role of the ...
8
votes
1answer
149 views
How is spiritual progress described in eastern monastic traditions?
Catholic church has a long monastic history, and there are excellent exponents of spiritual progress whose concepts are used even today. Take Theresa of Avila's "interior castle" or Juan de la Cruz' ...
8
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2answers
184 views
In Catholicism, what are the different kinds of sins?
I have heard various persons refer to different 'kinds' of sins on this site and in other places.
I have heard of
mortal sin
grave sin
venial sin
Are there others? What is a basic definition of ...
8
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1answer
69 views
Why is the word ‘concupiscence’ so important in understanding the difference between a Catholic view and a Protestant view of ‘Original Sin’?
I have noticed this word ‘concupiscence’ a lot while studying Catholic Theology. It seems to significantly change what ‘Original Sin’ means, making a Catholic meaning of ‘Original Sin’ very different ...
8
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1answer
148 views
How does societal consecration to Mary differ from individual consecration?
For individual Catholics, consecration to Mary is a serious commitment not to be lightly entered into. It seems to me that this consecration is seen as an "advanced" step for people who are already ...
7
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4answers
460 views
Does God lie? And does devil tell the truth?
The bible quotes God saying
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, ...
7
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2answers
718 views
Is Metatron actually part of Catholic dogma?
Some time ago (source), I heard that Metatron is part of official Catholic dogma. However, I couldn't really confirm this with a cursory Google search as I keep running into stuff talking about Jewish ...
7
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2answers
407 views
Why did the Catholic church stop supporting Genesis creation?
I read that cardinal Ratzinger stated the story in Genesis 1 and 2 should not be interpreted as a literal account of the beginning of things. In spite of recent events like this, they have always been ...
7
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3answers
147 views
Format for the Catholic Mass
I've been to a Catholic Church very few times in my adult life. It's a very different experience than the protestant Churches I'm used to.
In most of the Protestant Churches, there is generally a ...
7
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2answers
278 views
What is the basis for the Catholic teaching that artificial birth control is immoral/sinful?
I understand that the original commandment to be fruitful and multiply involves reproduction. However, planning to wait a little bit here and there seems reasonable enough.
So, what is the reasoning ...
7
votes
3answers
327 views
What is the biblical basis for the doctrine of Papal Infallibility taught by the Catholic Church?
I understand that the Catholic Churches teaches the doctrine of Papal Infallibility. What is the biblical basis for this and how does that account for the Scripture that references Peter's error?
...
7
votes
4answers
1k views
Why was Thomas More canonized?
Thomas More has been canonized in 1935 by the Catholic Church. During his chancellorship between 1525 - 1529 in the campaign against the reformation people were killed and tortured in his name, for ...
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2answers
56 views
By what authority does the old Catholic Encyclopedia call itself Catholic?
This may seem like a dumb question, but I think it could be useful to people who look at links on the internet to the old Catholic Encyclopedia (which is heavily referenced on wikipedia for ...
7
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2answers
161 views
What's the origin of the Catholic object that is a staff with a cross on top?
Like I asked in the title, what's the name and origin of a staff with a cross on top? Like the one depicted in the picture.
7
votes
1answer
110 views
What is the significance of priest breaking the bread (Host) in a Catholic mass?
In a Catholic mass, just before the distribution of communion to people, priest breaks the Host in to pieces and people simultaneously acclaim: Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world, Have ...
7
votes
2answers
359 views
Do Catholics officially recognize Protestants as Christians?
I have always thought that the Pope did not recognize the validity of the faith of those outside of the Catholic church, but in comments from a different post I am surprised to find out I may be ...
7
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2answers
633 views
How does a Roman Catholic reconcile a preference for purely procreative sex with the Song of Solomon?
Premise #1: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that sex is for procreation
Peter Turner has an excellent answer to the question on Onan. In it, he suggests that Onan really was misusing sex, and that ...
7
votes
2answers
138 views
How can a particular trade of modern times get a patron saint?
In days of yore, tradesman and guilds had patron saints. These days patrons seem to only be attributed to profession in vague ways via papal declaration (i.e. St. John Vianney is the Patron of all ...
7
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2answers
86 views
Is the choice of a new Pope inspired by the Holy Spirit?
Are Roman Catholics required to believe that the Cardinals choice of a new Pope is inspired by the Holy Spirit?
If so, how do we explain "bad" popes?
7
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1answer
109 views
How do the vestments of the pontiff emeritus compare to those of a bishop emeritus?
As widely reported, Pope Benedict XVI will wear "a simple white cassock without the mozzetta" during his retirement, and will no longer use the rest of the traditional pontifical regalia, such as the ...
7
votes
1answer
135 views
Do I need to be rebaptized to take communion in a Catholic Church if I have no proof of my original baptism?
I was born in a predominantly Catholic country in Latin America and baptized a Roman Catholic, but I have no physical confirmation of my baptism outside of my recollection of my Catholic upbringing ...
7
votes
2answers
140 views
If you are forgiven through the Grace of God, why do you need an Indulgence?
Ephesians 2:8,9 (NIV)
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
And from ...
7
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2answers
114 views
Has the Roman Catholic Church ever issued an official response to the accusations of the Reformers?
I just started reading Luther's Tabletalk, and the preface, written by Dr. John Aurifaber in 1569, roundly condemns the Roman Catholic Church, presenting an analogy which compares Christians' ...
7
votes
1answer
166 views
Reformation objections to lectio divina?
It is becoming popular in Protestant circles to embrace traditional Roman Catholic (RC) mysticism, such as the practice of lectio divina. For example, see this page on the website of Timothy Keller's ...
7
votes
2answers
230 views
What is the biblical basis for and against the “filioque”?
In order to contextualize the question I add the following quote from the wikipedia article concerning Filioque clause:
Filioque, Latin for "and (from) the Son", is a phrase found in the
form of ...
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2answers
73 views
What is the Biblical basis the for Immutable Nature of God?
Dei Filius sayeth this:
God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever be in opposition to truth. The appearance of this kind of specious contradiction is chiefly due to the fact that either the ...
7
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1answer
149 views
Did Mary know that her Baby Boy would “soon deliver her”?
It's a little past Christmas, but I forgot to ask this question based on the song "Mary did you know", which really raises the question. Did Mary know?
As a Catholic, there are lots of traditions ...
7
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2answers
134 views
What is the relationship between the Catholic churches of various countries?
I currently live in Mexico, where the Catholic church is quite different than the Catholic church I'm accustomed to in the U.S. This is most obvious to me by the hostility often shown by Catholics ...
7
votes
1answer
307 views
When (and why) did the empty cross v.s. crucifix split happen?
Today, we have Catholic and Orthodox churches (and a few others) using the crucifix whereas most Protestant denominations have an empty cross. Did this empty-cross split happen around when Martin ...
7
votes
1answer
55 views
How much time did medieval Christians devote to prayer?
I was critiqued on this answer concerning it taking less time out of the day for someone to be a Muslim than a Christian, and that may be untrue for a majority of Christians today.
But how much ...
7
votes
1answer
92 views
What makes a confession sacramental?
In the Catholic tradition, confession to a priest is treated with special protection as a sacred rite. The priest is charged with maintaining the confidential nature of the confession, something they ...
7
votes
2answers
121 views
What is the difference between icons and idols in churches that permit icons?
There are a number of Protestants that say the use of the images and statues in the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church is idolatry. I know that these churches call certain images "icons", but I ...
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2answers
189 views
Where do Catholics believe the historical narrative of the Bible begins?
I heard on the Relevant Radio recently that the Genesis account of the deluge is prehistorical. Meaning, it wasn't really recorded in histories the way other more specific accounts of historical ...
7
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1answer
220 views
When are lay men and women permitted to read the Gospel in a Catholic church?
I know that reading the Gospel at Mass is restricted to ordained folks. But, is it permissible for a lay man or woman to lead a word and communion service and read from the Gospel? Can they lead a ...
7
votes
1answer
198 views
What is the Catholic concept of grace?
This question reminded me of a question I've had for a long time: What is the Catholic concept of grace?
A look at the dictionary says:
grace [greys]
noun
favor or goodwill. Synonyms: ...
7
votes
2answers
130 views
How are doxologies formed for common prayers?
I'm not sure of the exact definition, but a doxology seems to be a prayer tagged at the end which consists of some sort of invocation of the Blessed Trinity.
I'm just wondering if the actual words ...
7
votes
1answer
306 views
What is the official opinion on Swedenborg?
What is the official opinion of the Catholic Church on works of Emanuel Swedenborg, especially Heaven and Hell?
I'm interested in the opinion of the Catholic Church, but any others will be also ...
7
votes
2answers
80 views
Pre-Crucifixion Transubstantiation
The Roman Catholic church teaches the doctrine of transubstantiation--that the bread and wine literally become the body and blood of Jesus. It seems that the sacrament of taking the body and blood ...
6
votes
7answers
358 views
Why are Independent Baptist Fundamentalists labelled Protestants?
Something that always bothers me which I witness to Catholics: the well-meaning ones tell me I am a Protestant and say that "we protested the Catholic Church". This isn't true, the Baptist Church was ...
6
votes
2answers
272 views
What's a Papist exactly?
Is a papist always a Catholic who is wholly supportive of the Pope?
Must one be some sort of cleric or theologian to be considered by detractors as a papist or were every day catholic peasants and ...
6
votes
2answers
123 views
Have different Popes ever contradicted each other?
I understand that Roman Catholics do not think that everything the Pope says or does is infallible. However, has a sitting Pope ever revoked or contradicted an infallible statement made by a previous ...
6
votes
3answers
57 views
What is the “Way of the Cross”?
Our local Roman Catholic church has started advertising the "Way of the Cross" for Easter. I think I have seen this mentioned at other places I have visited and isn't a just a local event. Is the "Way ...
6
votes
1answer
67 views
Why does any Archbishop get to decide if alligator is okay for Lent?
NPR ran an interesting piece about the saga of whether or not Catholics could eat alligator on Fridays during Lent. According to the story, an alligator merchant by the name of Jim Piculas advocated ...
6
votes
3answers
132 views
What do the words Catholic and Protestant mean?
Also, what is the history of use and what languages do they come from? Is it a fitting name today or is it outdated? How do the two relate to each other?
6
votes
2answers
98 views
Did Crimen sollicitationis threaten excommunication for victims reporting crimes to the civil authorities?
Crimen sollicitationis a 1962 document by the Catholic Church describing how various matters should be handled by Church law. I have heard differing claims from various people as to whether the ...
6
votes
3answers
818 views
Debtors vs. Trespassers
I converted to the Presbyterian faith from a Catholic upbringing a while back and have always wondered - but never had anyone to ask - why Catholics use "Trespassers" in the Lord's prayer (Please ...
6
votes
2answers
125 views
What's the new rite in Tantum Ergo?
St. Thomas Aquinas' Hymn Tantum Ergo, which is usually sung at Benediction always seems better in Latin:
Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedat ritui:
Mainly because in both the transliterated and ...
6
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1answer
118 views
Who do Catholics say the Mary in Matthew 27:56 is?
Roman Catholics believe that Mary the mother of Jesus remained a virgin for her whole life. Mary the mother of Jesus is sometimes seen in the gospels with men referred to as Jesus' brothers, with ...
6
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1answer
57 views
Why would popes choose the name Pelagius in light of the Pelagian Heresey?
I was checking out the list of pope names by frequency on Wikipedia in search of minutia to defend my assertion that Pope Francis was the first new Pope name a long time and noticed that there were ...
6
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1answer
603 views
What are the requirements for a Protestant joining the Catholic church?
What are the requirements for joining the Catholic church as an adult?
I'm interested in all the requirements, including whether a previously baptized Protestant would be required to (or forbidden ...
