@CatholicAndSDA
Some Christians don't like to celebrate the events in Jesus' life, and they follow a pseudo-Jewish calendar that includes passover and the other Jewish holy days.
Discussing Seventh-day Adventism from a Catholic and biblical perspective, and then just some other stuff too
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The Passover of the Jews
Three times the Bible refers to Passover as the Passover of the Jews. John 2:13, John 6:4, John 11:55.
3 days and 3 nights – from when till when?
Did Jesus die on a Friday and rise from the dead on a Sunday? Or did he die on a Wednesday or Thursday? And did he rise from the dead on a Saturday?
Pope invades another country!
Pope Francis has demanded and obtained the resignation of the head of another sovereign state, and will appoint his own temporary supervisor until the state elects a new head of state approved by the pope.
Why Sunday is an improvement on the sabbath
With no weekly 7th day sabbath under the New Covenant, Christians chose the most important day of the week to hold as special - Sunday, the day Jesus rose from the dead.
Christian holy days – a gift to Jesus
Adventists, and others, dislike the way the Catholic Church has set aside various days of the year for celebrating Jesus Christ. They label such things as "pagan" even if they aren't pagan at all. (The word "pagan" is a synonym for "Catholic" amongst many of this crowd, irrespective of actual religious origins of any practice or teaching.)
Jesus’ brothers and sisters
To complete the collection of posts I have on the virginity of Mary, I'll address the brothers of Jesus named in the Bible.
Did Catholics change the Bible?
Someone emailed me and wrote: "The Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 in the Torah match the Ten Commandments in the KJV and all the protestant bibles. That in itself is proof that the Catholic Church changed the Ten Commandments."
A simple explanation of justification
While Catholics and Lutherans (and some other Protestants) have agreed that both sides mean the same thing when they use different words, there remains tension with some regarding salvation by faith alone vs salvation by grace alone. Our response to grace is sometimes mistakenly seen by Protestants as being our own works, and therefore of no value to God.
Does the pope claim to be God on earth?
Adventists, and other anti-Catholics, claim that popes have taught that they are God. Anyone who knows anything about the Catholic Church knows that the pope doesn't consider himself to be God.
Vicarius Filii Dei and 666
Adventists like to present a fake papal title as evidence that the papacy is linked to the number 666 found in Revelation 13:18.
Free ebook – Catholic Discussion of Seventh-day Adventism
It has been suggested to me over time that I write a book on Adventism. At last I've put together the more important posts from this blog into an ebook, which is free on this website and on Lulu, and minimally priced on Amazon.
A supposedly rich Vatican
People sometimes complain that the Vatican is rich, and should sell all their stuff and donate the money to the poor. This article shows what drivel that idea is.
Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant
In the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant contained the glory of God. In the New Testament, the Ark of the New Covenant contained God himself in the flesh. Important parallels regarding the content of the Ark: Manna – Eucharist (Jesus’ body and blood) Rod of Aaron – Rod of Jesse (Jesus) 10 Commandments – Gospel One of the most striking parallels in Scripture is 2 Samuel 6 and Luke 1, which have so many parallel phrases one has to be blind or stubborn…
10 Commandments, Pentecost, and the Holy Spirit
By various means, people have calculated that it was 50 days (inclusive) after Passover that the 10 Commandments were give by God to Moses.
A Catholic understanding of St John’s Revelation
Previously I was asked about my understanding of the end times and the correct interpretation of Revelation.
Refuting an Adventist theory without providing a replacement theory
I was told that I was being unreasonable in not providing an alternative theory for Daniel's prophecies. If I wanted to refute Adventism's interpretation of Daniel, I needed to provide an alternative theory in addition to showing why Adventism was wrong.
Christmas is Christian
At this time of the year, when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and the Incarnation of God the Son in human form, scoffers appear. Adventists are amongst these. Some Adventists celebrate Christmas, some don't. Those who don't rely on two key arguments - 1) it's not commanded in the Bible, and no permission is given to do so, and 2) misinformation.
Call no man Father? Tell Ellen White!
Adventists and others accuse Catholics of disobeying Jesus by calling our priests "Father". But the interesting thing is that Ellen White referred to William Miller, the founder of the Millerite movement that started Adventism, as "Father Miller".
Halos – pagan or biblical?
Some Christians dislike halos. That is often just another excuse to dislike the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis – Jesus’ failure on the cross?
The wolves (or donkeys, depicted on the right) cannot read, or don't want to read. They see the words "failure of the cross" and abandon context and honesty in order to promote their nasty agenda. I don't see how any honest person can read the entire paragraph, notice the words "humanly speaking", and misunderstand. The wolves bear false witness. It's what they do.
Ellen White centenary prayers (novena) – Day 9
Today, on the centenary of Ellen White's death, we pray for Adventism, that its members may share the faith of the Saints of the Church, and share in their glory in heaven with Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, the Apostles, the Patriarchs, and all the Saints of God. We pray, on the eve of Ellen White's birthday, that her teachings diminish and the teachings of Christ through his Church increase. We ask Ellen, along with all the angels and saints, to pray with us…
The Maria Divine Mercy cult – beware
This blog is about Adventism, but the Maria Divine Mercy cult is much like Adventism - false prophecies, teachings contrary to the Bible, etc. In fact they're quite similar to Adventism in some ways, as Supertradmum points out on her blog Etheldredasplace: WOW from A Reader
Converting to Catholicism, and keeping the good from Adventism
Mike Senseney wrote the following on a Facebook forum, and he's given permission for me to share this. He's an ex-Adventist who found his way home to the Catholic Church.
Why I remain Catholic
It's a current trend to post why one remains Catholic. There are many reasons, but I think mine are mostly historical. I believe that the first century Christians developed into the second century Christians, who developed into the third century Christians, and then into the 4th century Christians. ...
Ellen White and St Ambrose
Ellen White has a history of making up history. She also has a history of taking completely non-Adventist groups like the Albigensians and Waldensians and claiming they were proto-Adventists. (The Waldensians were far too Catholic to come close to being Adventist, and the Albigensians were gnostics who shunned marriage and believed in a set of two Gods - the evil God of the Old Testament and the good God of the New Testament.)
Ben Carson, the next US President, and anti-Catholic?
An Adventist is possibly amongst those running for the throne that is arguably the most powerful position in the world. Dr Benjamin Solomon Carson Sr., a retired neurosurgeon and a Republican, is potentially the next US President. And he is a Seventh-day Adventist.
Laughable arguments – baptism, immersion, and Adventists
Often in discussion with Adventists, they will use strange ways to avoid answering a question, or to refute an argument in an imaginative (almost schizophrenic) way. Often they’ll just change the subject. But sometimes they make themselves look very, very weird. You sometimes wonder if they can even reason properly. I’m not sure why that is – are they just trolls baiting you, or is there some sort of mental block against the obvious preventing them from seeing it? Here are some examples. I started…
Baptism by immersion only?
Adventists baptise only by full immersion (submersion), and they don’t consider other forms of baptism to be real baptisms. They also don’t baptise infants, but that’s another story for another day. As with the Sabbath, Adventism’s doctrine is based on selected texts and not the entire biblical picture. The Catholic Church, on the other hand, recognises all three modes of baptism depicted in the Bible. We baptise by immersion (single or triple) and by pouring, and while we don’t baptise by sprinkling, we recognise its…
Bible Quiz: Are unclean meats still unclean for Christians?
Do you consider eating pork to be contrary to the Bible? Do you believe that the prohibition against eating pork applies to Christians under the New Covenant? Take this quiz and see what the Bible says.
Shame on you – Adventists, dishonesty, and the Catholic Church
Adventists have a reputation for their dishonesty, and not just among Catholics. Out there in real life and on the internet there is a huge collection of anti-Catholic propaganda waiting for gullible Catholics, and others, to ensnare them. When a Catholic meets a certain type of Adventist, this sort of propaganda abounds.
Whose truth is the real truth, and how can we know?
When Christians study the Bible and reach different conclusions, how can they figure out which conclusion is the correct one? Is there a way to know that one is right, apart from the conviction that the Holy Spirit has led one in one's study of the Bible? When someone has a different interpretation of the Bible to ours, how do we know the Holy Spirit has led us, and not them? How can we be sure that we are right? Or is there a possibility…
Just what is the Mass anyway?
For those who find the Mass somewhat strange, and wonder where on earth we got it from, the answer is short - it's based on Jewish liturgies, importantly the Passover seder.
Pope Francis and the microchip
No, Pope Francis is not making people get microchipped. I've seen this nonsense in two places now.
Catholic prayers via the Knights of Columbus
Over at the Knights of Columbus website, there is a page with links to prayers and devotions.
Did Constantine found the Catholic Church?
The short answer, no, but that won't satisfy Adventists and other anti-Catholics. Over at Almost Not Catholic, Brent has a good article debunking Adventist claims - Myth Buster: Constantine Founded the Catholic Church.
Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate
For some time now, the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate have been in the news. Marc Aupiais over at the South African Catholic News Service asked me to write something about them. In short, there is too much opinion and not enough fact out there - we don't have all the details, and are unlikely to. I've expressed my own opinion in the op-ed on what may have gone wrong, and whether or not the action taken may be justified. Also worth discussing is whether…
The Forbidden Rite
"In 2007 the Vatican made an unprecedented decision. After over half a century of bitter conflict within the Church, an ancient, almost forbidden rite was finally unleashed. For some it was the beginning of the end. For others the battle had finally begun." - Reclaiming the Sacred Productions
Eucharistic miracle in Kerala, India
A possible Eucharistic miracle has occurred at the Syro-Malabar Catholic parish of Christ the King in the village of Vilakannur, in the Kannur district of Kerala, India.
The Divine Liturgy and Salvation
Reborn Pure, about whom I've blogged before, has posted her introduction to the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Catholic Churches on YouTube. Really worth watching. And a video on salvation (the Protestant vs Orthodox views) by Fr Steve Robinson.
The 10 Commandments and the New Law in Catholic teaching
Here we look at Catholic explanations, showing that this concept of the 10 Commandments being part of the Old Covenant legal code, and therefore not the legal code in effect today, is indeed believed by Catholics and supported by Catholic teaching.
Christian Halloween
No, Halloween is NOT a pagan holiday adopted by Catholics and passed on to Protestants. That's a myth perpetuated by anti-Catholics and those who, contrary to the Bible, fear what has been offered to pagan gods. So, in reality, Halloween is a safe and fun secular practice with Christian origins. If you don't believe that, or dislike the type of Christian faith it originated in, follow Paul's advice. If you don't feel you can go that far yet, don't complain about those who have a…
What Catholics Believe – Mary, the Virgin Mother of God
As the symbol of the Church, and as the first Christian, Mary is now what we will become. She birthed God into the world; we are called to bring God to others. She was sinless; we will be made spotless. She was taken body and soul into heaven; we will ultimately be resurrected and our bodies reunited with our souls in heaven.
Cathoolic – Rosary and Apologetics – Young Evangelists
"Cathoolic - New Evangelization and Apologetics. Countering "sheep-stealing" from the Catholic Church" Cathoolic is run by Godwin Delali Adadzie from Ghana, and he also runs two other sites on Catholicism - About the Rosary and Are Catholics Christian? He's got a short book on the Rosary - visit his Rosary site to get it for your Kindle / PC / other reader.
The Catholic Apologist – Young Evangelists
Continuing my posts on young Catholic apologists/evangelists, this is part 2 of 3. A young guy called Joseph has a YouTube channel with (currently) 38 videos defending various Catholic teachings. "To all Catholics in good standing with the Church, I hope that you learn something from these videos that will help you in your life later on. To all non-Catholics and cafeteria Catholics, please be opened to the truth and let God show you the correct path."
New Catholic Generation – Young Evangelists
"New Catholic Generation is an organization composed of all Catholic Teenagers on YouTube testifying to their faith in Jesus Christ." These people are clearly Catholic apologists in their own right. They know what they believe and share it with others. Most Catholic apologists I follow are older than I am. These apologists of the future are probably all just under half my age. If the Jesuits had the vibrance and spirit of these people, the world would be converted in a matter of weeks.
Youth and the Latin Mass
The Latin Mass is growing in popularity around the world, and over the last few years I've seen several reports of how young Catholics are attracted to the ancient Mass. This is a growing movement that I don't believe can be stopped.
Testimony – Adventist converts to Maronite Catholic
This is a series of e-mails I got from a lady who converted from Anglican to Adventist, spent 20 years as an Adventist, realised how wrong it was, went back to the Anglican church for a while, and then finally converted to the Catholic faith. ... "I have only recently discovered your Catholic help webpage on the net and wish to thank you for your courage in sharing your faith, plus the extensive biblical/Early Church Fathers debunking of SDA teachings re Catholic Christianity, salvation, the…
What Catholics Believe – Sunday observance
Catholics (and most other Christians) believe Sunday is a special day to be celebrated, because it is the day Jesus rose from the dead. The Jews kept the Sabbath on Saturday, and this is reflected in the 10 Commandments. However, only the moral code of the Old Testament is applicable to Christians - we don't need to sacrifice animals, keep Passover, Yom Kippur, or the Sabbath, and we are free from the dietary restrictions as well.
What Catholics Believe – Introduction
I have been planning to write a series of posts over the next year or so that will cover some of the major points on which Catholics get hassled by non-Catholics, and in particular by Adventists and other Sabbath-keeping groups. Finally I have managed to get round to it. My intention is to present or explain what the Catholic Church believes, what the biblical evidence is, and why the commonly heard objections are faulty. I will not be writing a complete thesis on each topic,…
Pope Francis does not have an Adventist brother
When one group of Christians needs to lie about another group of Christians in order to look good and promote their cause, what does that say about them? The commandment not to lie is part of the same set of 10 that contains the commandment to keep the Sabbath. Yet some Sabbath keepers are more than willing to tell lies about the Catholic Church to promote their agenda.
Waking Up Catholic – Book review
In his new book, Waking Up Catholic, Chad Torgerson describes his journey into the Catholic Church. He discusses how his faith in Christ developed over the years, from Lutheran, to agnostic/atheist, to born-again Protestant, and finally Catholic. Specifically, he brings in how his relationship with Christ was influenced by his study of Catholic teachings and practices, and shows how they can bring one closer to Christ. The book is easy to read, but gets to the point of complex issues remarkably well without becoming too…
More photos from the Latin Mass training, 2013
As mentioned previously, a priest, Fr Noel, from the Archdiocese of Cape Town recently attended the Latin Mass training course at Ratcliffe College in England, which was organised by the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales. Fr Noel has kindly given me some photos to share.
Fraudulent anti-Catholic Adventist video
Adventism is well know for those members and clergy who misrepresent the Catholic faith. Not all Adventists are dishonest, and I've had apologies from Adventists who acknowledge and regret their church's dishonesty. Unfortunately, via Tesa Beem at "It's Okay NOT to be a Seventh-day Adventist", I've seen another example of gross misrepresentation of Catholicism by Adventists.
Liturgies – Catholic vs Orthodox
The two videos below show the differences between some modern Catholic and Orthodox Masses / Divine Liturgies. Eastern rite Catholics are similar to the Orthodox.
Worldwide Eucharistic adoration
On the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Holy Father will preside over a special Eucharistic adoration that will extend at the same time all over the world involving the cathedrals and parishes in each diocese. For an hour, at 5 PM (Rome time), the whole world will be united in prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Perpetual Rosary online
There is a website called Come, Pray the Rosary that is an "online Rosary for participation in worldwide or individual prayer" - a perpetual Rosary. I'm not sure how many people use it.
New videos of the Mass
I've posted new videos of the Mass / Divine Liturgy / liturgical celebrations on my page The Mass - video collection.
Training for the Traditional Latin Mass, 2013
A priest from the Archdiocese of Cape Town attended the recent training course for the Latin Mass in Ratcliffe College, Leicestershire, UK. More photos will follow, but here are a few from the organisers, used with the permission of Joseph Shaw of the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales.
Is Easter pagan?
Adventists, and others such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses and those groups continuing Herbert Armstrong’s legacy, often claim that Easter is derived from a pagan festival. In fact, there are two important points to raise in response to them – a) whether or not Easter is pagan, and, for the Armstrong followers, b) which days of the week the Crucifixion and Resurrection were.
Is Easter Christian? A reply to Samuele Bacchiocchi
The late Adventist scholar Samuele Bacchiocchi was influenced by the teachings of Herbert Armstrong, and promoted the observance of Jewish holy days instead of Christian holy days. In his Endtime Issues #43 he rearranges the historical evidence to form a revised version of history to support his arguments. He beautifully provides us with a typical example of how historical evidence is misapplied.
Ideas for new topics please
I don't want to become a general Catholic blog, or go into (too much) general apologetics. I want my audience to be a) Catholics who need a defence of their faith specifically from Adventist arguments against Catholicism, and b) Adventists seriously interested in understanding Catholicism and why we don't accept their arguments as sound. I have a few ideas I'm working on for future topics. For the few visitors I get, please mention what you think I could write posts on. Thanks.
Abortion in 100 years – Prime Minister Julia Gillard
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has delivered a national apology to victims of forced adoption practices that were in place in Australia from the late 1950s to the 1970s. I can imagine that one day humanity will say these words about abortion.
The Divinity of Christ, for Jehovah’s Witnesses and others
I just found the Y-Jesus site, which has some good arguments as to why Jesus is God, and why Jesus actually did claim to be God. And then Dave Armstrong's detailed argument, which I've mentioned before.
Pope Francis and Patriarch May Travel to Holy Land Together
The ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople has invited Pope Francis to travel with him to the Holy Land next year to mark the 50th anniversary of the embrace between Patriarch Athenagoras and Pope Paul VI, the pioneers of Catholic-Orthodox dialogue. During their private meeting, Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis explored possible paths towards unity, including theological dialogue, environmental defense, and a visit to the Fanar, after going through proper diplomatic channels.
“Go and repair my Church” – What should Pope Francis repair?
God said to St Francis of Assisi, "Francis, Francis, go and repair My house which, as you can see, is falling into ruins". So, what needs repair?
Pope Francis, the Latin Mass, and elaborate ceremonies – updated
Will Pope Francis suppress the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, allowing us only the Ordinary Form, thereby reversing the much-needed liturgical reform? He has that authority. He can bind and loose with the authority given to Peter. But I don't believe he will.
Pope Francis
Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam. Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum Georgium Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Bergoglio. Qui sibi nomen imposuit Francisco.
Pope Benedict’s helicopter pilot licence
Over at WikiAnswers, someone asked how Pope Benedict XVI got his helicopter pilot's licence. The answer given is quite correct - "By taking lessons, and then by taking the exam." He was even allowed to fly the papal helicopter in the earlier days of his papacy.
Pope Benedict feeding the fish at Castel Gandolfo
Pope Benedict also likes cats. Apparently Pope Paul VI had to be persuaded not to eat the frogs in this pond.
How the new pope is elected
La Stampa has a lovely walk-through of how the new pope will be elected. Very educational. I didn't know that the way things are done changes with the 34th ballot. Pope Benedict XVI changed the simple majority back to a 2/3 majority for all the ballots, though, so it could run well beyond 34.
Liturgical dancing
Liturgical dancing - abolish it! It looks silly. It looks like moon worship. It's not Catholic. I hope Cardinal Arinze is elected pope. He'd be a good pope.
Understanding the Eucharist, by Scott Hahn
Understanding the Eucharist, by Scott Hahn
Pope Benedict XVI’s last pipatum
Pope Benedict made his last pipatum yesterday, 28 February. -- "Thank you for your love and support. May you always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at the centre of your lives."
Tu es Petrus
Thanksgiving Video for Life and Ministry of Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict’s final blessing
The final blessing: Pope Benedict's last general audience
Things the next Pope will not do
The Southern Cross, the weekly South African Catholic newspaper, has a letter and an article hoping for something that will not happen. ... Abandon the Sign of the Cross? ... Deus avertat! Hopefully they will recognise that we need another Pope Benedict. We need orthodoxy.
Pope of the cats
Pope Benedict XVI is a cat lover. He even started an encyclical on cats, which he unfortunately never got round to finishing - it was to be his 25th encyclical.
23 Catholic Churches
The Catholic Church consists, currently, of 23 different Churches sui iuris. "Sui iuris" means autonomous, although all are united under the leadership of the Pope. Each Church is known as a particular Church, and the Pope, in addition to being leader of all 23, also has the authority over the Latin Church that the Patriarchs have over their sui iuris Churches. All except the Latin Church are Eastern Churches. Not all Churches have Patriarchs - some have Major Archbishops, some Metropolitans, and the rest have…
The 2005 Conclave – before and after
I remember exactly where I was on the evening of Tuesday April 19 2005. I was in Parow, in a Pick 'n Pay grocery store, near the frozen meat isle, and got a call from my mother. I was absolutely thrilled. The cardinal I had been inspired by for several years, and respected tremendously, and whom I hoped would be pope, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
Can men have opinions on abortion?
I’m not a woman who has suffered abuse, but I have an opinion on domestic abuse. I’m not a man, but I have an opinion on funding for prostate cancer research. I’m not a slave, but I have an opinion on human trafficking. I’m not a soldier or live in a war zone, but I have an opinion on Canadian military engagement. I’m not an Aboriginal person, but I have an opinion on the Idle No More movement.
The Atheists’ Pope
Though I'd read work by other Christians who laid out compelling cases for their beliefs, there was something about Pope Benedict's particular style that reminded me of the people I knew growing up. Many times I thought that if my father and his scientist friends were to become believers and explain why they believed, this is what it would look like. When I read the Holy Father's encyclicals, speeches, and books, I didn't feel so lost in the Christian world anymore. I learned what it…
From Prophetess to Pope – Conversion Story of Arthur and Teresa Beem
Arthur and Teresa Beem are ex-Adventists who became Catholic. They have a book, which I blogged on previously and I will eventually move that post to this new blog. Very, very good and insightful book. They have two blogs which I highly recommend.
Pope St Celestine V
On 28 April 2009, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI left his pallium lying on the tomb of Pope St Celestine V. At the time there was speculation that this indicated that Pope Benedict XVI would follow in the footsteps of Pope St Celestine V. Pope St Celestine V resigned on 13 December 1294. He had been pope for 5 months. There was no pope for two years prior to that - the election that resulted in him becoming pope took 27 months. 11 Cardinals participated…
Pope Benedict’s resignation
This is a very sad day for the Catholic Church, but it was inevitable that his reign come to an end. He has been a tremendous force in bringing the Church back in line, and turning people back to God. I don't think he will lose his status as my favourite pope. He is my 4th pope - I was born in the reign of Pope Paul VI, who was followed by Pope John Paul I, and then Pope John Paul II.
Defending the Canon of the Bible – All 73 Books
One common dispute against the Catholic Church by well meaning but misinformed Protestants is the assertion that the Catholic Church “added” books to the Bible. As it is commonly known, Protestant Bibles only contain 66 books, as they do not include Sirach, Baruch, Judith, Tobit, Wisdom, 1 and 2 Maccabees, as well as parts of Esther and Daniel. In this two part series, with part two coming out next week, I hope to provide some guidance on defending the original 73 book canon of the…
Debate with André Reis
These comments were originally posted in the comments section of Dr Francis Beckwith comes home. They have been moved here. This is an example of a futile debate with an Adventist who only wishes to preach at Catholics. This is one of the reasons Adventists have little credibility with other Christians.
One vernacular Mass on Sunday
I am tired. Hence the long break between posts. I am do tired. And I wish the above comment would come true. Then I might have more energy. I dread the election of the next pope. What if he's not another Benedict?
Erol – 1 Corinthians 16 verses 1-2
Over at Answering Catholicism, Erol is making some interesting claims about the Catholic Church. Apart from subscribing to the long discredited Vicarius Filii Dei = papal title myth, he has a number of less unreasonable articles about Catholicism, to which he objects.
Adventist youth – the challenge of truth
As Christ said that the truth will set us free, and it has often been said that when people discover what the Catholic faith is really about, instead of hearing what their tradition wants them to believe about it, they will come to love it for what it is instead of hating and fearing what it isn't.
It’s Ok Not To Be A Seventh-Day Adventist – book review
Teresa and Arthur Beem resigned from the Adventist denomination in 2002. Their resignation letter was made public and was widely discussed in cyberspace. Since then, they have written a book to let people know about their experience in, and leaving, the Adventist movement. This is their continuing saga.
The Latin Mass in Africa – contacts
I went to Mass here in Umtata tonight. This time they said the creed. Communion was via the "take and dip" method, with no extraordinary minister of the Eucharist assisting - the chalice was on the altar, the priest down below. Interestingly, half the congregation didn't self-communicate. And at least they said the creed this time.
Those arrogant Apostles
The letter you see above is a parody of Roland Martin's letter, written by me, to depict what an early dissenter from the Apostolic faith may have said back then.
Sacraments
My second post at Re-Inventing the Adventist Wheel has just gone online. It is entitled "God reaching out through space and time" and deals with sacraments, hoping to explain in less mystifying terms, and more in terms of Adventists' experience, how we view sacraments.
Closed Communion and Catholic sacraments
There are a few comments going on at the end of one of my posts, mainly regarding closed communion and Catholic sacraments being available to non-Catholics. This post was created to continue those discussions, and served to only result in further topics being discussed - see below.
Re-inventing the Adventist Wheel – God’s visible grace
I have been invited to be a contributor on one of the progressive Adventist blogs out there in the Adventist blogosphere - Re-inventing the Adventist Wheel. God's visible grace is the title of my first post there. Quite a debate ensued here and there.
Dr Francis Beckwith comes home
Dr Francis Beckwith, current president of the Evangelical Theological Society, has converted back to Catholicism.
Limbo, or do dead babies go to hell?
Recently, the Vatican's International Theological Commission allegedly released a document indicating that Limbo, the place where unbaptised babies go after death, may be restrictive, and that there are good reasons to hope that they might be in heaven.
Partial birth abortion
One of the witnesses was a nurse who testified that she had watched Haskell put scissors into the head of a twenty-six-week Down syndrome fetus while "the baby's little fingers were clasping and unclasping, and his feet were kicking." ... Some women treat their dogs better than their own unwanted litters.
South Africa’s ruined human rights reputation
South Africa's brief debut this year on the U.N. Security Council has tattered its reputation. It has prompted human rights activists to condemn South African President Thabo Mbeki for abandoning the human rights principles that defined the anti-apartheid movement and for routinely siding with some of the world's worst human rights abusers.
Happy Birthday Pope Benedict!
Today is the Holy Father's 80th birthday. He was born on April 16, 1927, on Holy Saturday.
Abortion ends 50% of SA pregnancies
Fifty percent of all pregnancies in South Africa end up in abortion and more than 500 000 women have had the procedure done since the introduction of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) Act in 1997.
Jesus died on 14 Nisan
I've been waiting years to hear this most logical 14 Nisan crucifixion timing from a Catholic priest. And now I hear it from the pope himself. I always get given the 15 Nisan story. The explanation above goes a long way to explain why the Wednesday crucifixion theory of Herbert Armstrong is wrong, so ironically it was Herbert Armstrong who was adamant that Jesus died on 14 Nisan.
South African bishops call for action on Zimbabwe
The Catholic bishops of Southern Africa have issued a statement condemning human-rights abuses in Zimbabwe, echoing the stand of the bishops in that country.
More anti-Catholic billboards
Adventism seems to like sticking up anti-Catholic billboards. This time it was an Adventist spin-off denomination, Eternal Gospel Church. This was around the beginning of February, and commented on at Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.
Should Adventists celebrate the Resurrection with the rest of Christianity?
I applaud the Adventists, and others, who have seen the significance of Easter and Lent, and choose to celebrate Christ's resurrection as the early Christians did, and set time aside in their calendar for preparation for that celebration, along with the rest of their brothers and sisters in Christ, throughout the centuries.
When does Lent end?
Lent has changed in the past, it can change again. It's not dogma. It's just a practice. When I become Pope I'll have to change things to my preferred Lenten calendrics. Until then, we'll be confused.
Why doesn’t my church observe Lent?
Why doesn't my church observe Lent? You can find the answer here, and find out about how Lent is returning to Christian worship.
Wrongful birth, wrongful life
A case of a failed abortion for reasons of eugenics that ruined the plans of the parents.
Adventist Lent
"Could there be a way we Adventists can overcome the spectre of indiscriminate anti-Catholicism and embrace of the spirit of Ash Wednesday?"
What Jesus said about salvation
"I suggest that we tend to confuse the beginning of the faith journey with its entirety. Yes, believe in Jesus—that's the first step. Yes, invite Jesus into your heart as your personal Savior. Then, empowered by God's grace, embark on the journey of discipleship, in which you seek to love God with every fiber of your being, to love your neighbor as yourself, to live out God's moral will, and to follow Jesus where he leads you, whatever the cost."
The puzzle of Lent
The date for Easter, as most people know it, is calculated according to rules defined by the Catholic Church centuries ago. Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Dutch Reformed, and other Protestant churches that celebrate Lent, a 40 day preparation before Easter, along with most Catholics, keep Lent the way most people know it.
43 days left till Easter
Ash Wednesday was this week. Ash Wednesday began Lent, a period of 40 days of preparation for Easter, when we celebrate the resurrection of Christ from the dead.
Catholics and the Bible
Sometimes Catholic English and Protestant English use different definitions for the same words. If people want to understand each other, that is am important factor to take into account. You can't judge a statement unless you know what was intended by it.
What is purgatory?
In summary, Jesus paid the full price for our sins. That is the atonement, which relates to justification. But he did not take away the chastisement necessary for our growth as Christians. That is sanctification, and Catholics call its completion purgatory - they are one and the same thing. So there is no conflict at all with the atonement achieved for us by Christ. That atonement is not what we complete by sanctification.
Biblical proof the Jesus is God
On Dave Armstrong's blog there is a post containing a tremendous amount of evidence for the divinity of Christ. If you've got Jehovah's Witnesses or Christadelphians or other Arian religions to deal with, this is really worth reading.
A positive Adventist experience of Catholicism
Maybe this is too progressive for some. But the ProgressiveAdventism blog has taken a look at how Catholic practices are seen as positive experiences by some Adventists ... all the way down to liturgical chants.
Just what is the Mass anyway?
For those who find the Mass somewhat strange, and wonder where on earth we got it from, the answer is short - it's based on Jewish liturgies, importantly the Passover seder.
The execution of Saddam Hussein
Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion.
Thessalonian monkeys attack monastery
A group of monkeys attacked the Orthodox monastery at Mount Athos in Greece with crowbars and sledgehammers on Wednesday.
Anglican-use Catholic parishes
Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church is the first Anglican Use parish, established on August 15, 1983. They now have a blog, in addition to their website.
Christmas is not pagan
Again from the SDA2RC blog, something the Worldwide Church of God splinter groups, Jehovah's Witnesses, and some Adventists, such as Bacchiocchi, need to consider - the evidence that Christmas was not derived from a pagan celebration.
More on Sunday and Pope Sylvester I
Michael Schiefler has been trying to squeeze more water out of a stone on his anti-Catholic website. I commented on it before. He seems to think he has the name of the Pope that changed the Sabbath to Sunday nailed down - Pope Sylvester I. Scheifler is basing his claims on second-hand information based on what are probably spurious documents.
The return of Christ
We ask for what reason our Lord was unwilling to state the time of His coming (cf. Mk. 13:31-32). If we ask it, we shall not find it is owing to ignorance, but to wisdom. For it was not to our advantage to know; in order that we being ignorant of the actual moments of judgment to come, might ever be as it were on guard, and set on the watch-tower of virtue, and so avoid the habits of sin; lest the day of the…
Original sin and the Orthodox
The Eastern Orthodox Churches often object to the western / Catholic concept of original sin. The SDA2RC blog lists two excellent articles by Orthodox authors about why this may simply be a misunderstanding of terminology, with both sides quite compatible in their beliefs.
Dating Christmas
The SDA2RC blog has an article on Christmas from the Catholic News Service. Wikipedia and Truth or Fables also have articles showing that Christmas is truly Christian, not a pagan celebration. Something worth reading for those who object to "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"
Daniel’s prophecies
The prophecies in Daniel are one part of the Bible that Adventists love to interpret to their heart's content ... and to misinterpret. Daniel provides Adventism with a lot to fuel their anti-Catholic desires. And when you don't accept their interpretation of the prophecies, they often want an alternative interpretation.
Gregorian University fires famous Latin teacher
Fr. Reginald Foster, one of the most renowned Latinists in the world, was fired last week from the Gregorian University by the Society of Jesus, stating that too many students were taking Fr. Foster’s classes without paying tuition. - from the Catholic News Agency
Prayer is spiritual breathing
"Prayer is spiritual breathing; when we pray we breathe in the Holy Spirit; "praying in the Holy Spirit" (Jude 1:20). Thus, all church prayers are the breathing of the Holy Spirit; as it were spiritual air and also light, spiritual fire, spiritual food and spiritual raiment."
Is Saturday the True Sabbath?
Obviously, then, the challenge to the Catholic comes on several fronts; first, we must examine the argument that the seventh-day Sabbath was truly "given as a sign forever, and a perpetual covenant"; next, we must show from Scripture that the apostles did, in fact, worship on Sunday; finally, we have to answer the accusation that it was a pope (or council) who imposed the change, and that this was not done until (at the earliest) the mid-to-late 4th century.
Six Imprisoned Health-Care Workers in Libya
Six Imprisoned Health-Care Workers in Libya Are Pawns in a Far Larger Strategic Game
Common Declaration of Pope Benedict XVI and Patriarch Bartholomew I
Common Declaration by Pope Benedict XVI and Patriarch Bartholomew I “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!” (Ps 117:24) This fraternal encounter which brings us together, Pope Benedict XVI of Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, is God’s work, and in a certain sense his gift. We give thanks to the Author of all that is good, who allows us once again, in prayer and in dialogue, to express the joy we feel as brothers…
Lutherans rediscover Purgatory
Lutheran and Roman Catholic members of the dialogue "concurred that prayers for the dead have their basis in Scripture and tradition, and that heaven is not a place of rejoicing individually in the Lord but of our being 'together' with him and with one another in joyful communion," said the Rev. James Massa, executive director, USCCB Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.
Mary’s children
Adventists are true Protestants in the sense that they protest whatever is Catholic. Catholics believe that the mother of Jesus, Mary, had no other children apart from Jesus. Some Adventists, therefore, make it an article of faith, a doctrine, that Mary did indeed have other children.
Anima Christi
Anima Christi, sanctifica me. Corpus Christi, salva me. Sanguis Christi, inebria me. Aqua lateris Christi, lava me.
Loyal Adventists and the Pope
Yes, he does, at times, "commend the pope for addressing the socio-political issues of our time in a responsible way" ... but he says that on such issues, Adventists and Catholics should not be united in their work towards that goal.
More on the Mother of God
Jesus was God in Mary's uterus. Mary was his mother. She was not the mother of the Godhead. She did not pre-exist Jesus. But her son was God, and she was his mother - the mother of God incarnate.
Simon the stone, Peter the rock
"The modern widespread majority Protestant view on the Matthew verse agrees with the Roman Catholic view, and disagreements about primacy stem from doctrinal sources, and disagreements such as disagreements over the identification of Simon Peter with the Pope."
Mary, Mother of God
The following debate on alt.religion.christian.roman-catholic shows how people often misunderstand the concept of Mary being the Mother of God.
Was Jesus the son of Mary?
The idea that Jesus was not a biological child of Mary is a novelty not supported by the Bible, and merely a reactionary stance.
Why bother with Adventism?
If the truth gets attacked, and those preaching and preserving it get attacked, the rest of us need to defend it. That can happen in different ways - and a website showing why Adventism is wrong about its claims about Catholicism is one way of doing that. If we don't, we lose people to the traps set by those outside, and unbelievers get to laugh anyway.
Dies Domini – Adventist apologetics and research
Dies Domini "is a internet research center, dedicated to promoting an ecumenical dialogue between Catholics and Seventh-day Adventists. Founded by former Adventists who embraced the Catholic faith, this ministry exists to glorify Christ in faithful service of His Church."
Call no man father
Rom 4:1, James 2:21, Luke 1:73, and Acts 7:2 have Abraham being called a father, in an ancestral/spiritual sense. Rom 4:16 has Abraham called the "father of us all." Isaac is called "our father Isaac" in Rom 9. Timothy's father was a Greek, says Acts 16. That's not metaphorical or figurative. Yet this man was called Timothy's father, when Timothy was a Christian whose father was God. 1 Cor 4:15 has Paul calling himself a father in a spiritual sense.
Adventists changing the Bible?
He chopped out the word "commandments" in Exodus 16:28, and replaced it with "Sabbaths" - he may well be quoting from the Clear Word Bible, but I am not sure of that. The Clear Word Bible is an Adventist composition that makes tremendous changes to the actual text in order to support Adventist teachings.
Who changed the Sabbath?
Adventists often make the claim that Catholicism claims to have changed the Sabbath. They then cite their proof - unofficial texts, usually newspaper quotes, statements that disagree with the official Catholic position. This is a classic Adventist ploy. I've discussed it further here. Without that, Adventism can't pinpoint which pope they claim changed the Sabbath.
The anti-Catholic Oneness Pentecostal again
If people are not willing to be civil, to engage in reasonable discussion, I'm not interested. I have no time for rhetoric and misguided propaganda. How can they claim to be answering Catholicism when they aren't able to even represent its teachings properly when they disagree with them? They can serve as an example ... that's all such a discussion can do. So here it is.
Example of an anti-Catholic’s rhetoric
In summary, this seems to be a denomination on the very fringe of Christianity, even further out than the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, who also have a peculiar set of beliefs. They appear to be Oneness Pentecostals ... who, in my experience, are not good at honesty when it comes to Catholicism and others they disagree with.
The Catholic origins of Democracy
It looks like there is a strong case for the Catholic origins of modern democracy. Modern democracy can be traced back to Catholic roots, and was not the product of the reformation. There is convincing evidence that Thomas Jefferson, , knew of the political teachings of Robert Bellarmine, a Catholic Cardinal. Even before Bellarmine, a Jesuit, Thomas Aquinas taught the idea.
Agnes Elizabeth Hobbs
My grandmother passed away on 16 June. We will miss her terribly. Right until the end, she was very independent, living on her own in a flat at the age of 93 (she did have my aunt and uncle living next door.)
The Da Vinci Decode
I don't have the time now to blog properly on this - so instead I will simply post an e-mail I just sent off on the website of The Da Vinci Decode, a book written by Grenville Kent and Philip Rodionoff (Adventists) in Australia. It's really worth reading - no matter what your denomination. It can be downloaded here.
Coeliac disease and the Eucharist
Here we see a case of a girl being denied the Eucharist because of coeliac disease. In short, she cannot eat wheat-based products, which means that, in the Catholic Church, it can range from uncomfortable to potentially lethal to take communion in this form.
Protestants, Da Vinci Code, and Christmas
A post on the Fifth Column blog, Pagan Flesh, Protestant Bones, caught my attention the other day. It suggests that Protestant anti-Catholic tendencies are what have resulted in the current attempt by secularists in America to wipe Christmas from the calendar. They were the first to attack Christmas; the anti-Christians are just finishing what they started. He has another article on that particular topic here - How the Christians Stole Christmas.
Tesa Beem’s Letter of Resignation
Here is an interesting - and detailed - letter of resignation from the Adventist church. Tesa Beem's Letter of Resignation
Da Vinci Code – Adventist Review
The Adventist Review's response (by David Marshall) to The Da Vinci Code is critical of the book/movie, but still continues on to agree with it on matters that have long formed part of Adventist mythology.
Sal’s questions and answers – Sabbath, soul sleep, infant baptism
On AllExperts, there are two useful articles on the Sabbath and soul sleep, by a Catholic responding to Adventist questions.
Maggie – Rest in Peace
My cat, Maggie, died today. I had her since she was a kitten, got her on 17 December 1990 - more than half my life.
The death penalty
The New England Journal of Medicine's latest edition has a free full text commentary and free audio on the ethics of the death penalty from a medical perspective. Quite graphic, and very insightful. One wonders why abortion is different.
How we know what the New Testament contains
Our first list of New Testament books that includes all the books we use today comes from the Catholic bishop Athanasius, who was instrumental in defining the Trinity as doctrine at the Council of Nicaea in 324-5 AD. This was also the first list to exclude texts not considered as canonical today.
The 4th Commandment and Bacchiocchi
In his latest Endtime Issues newsletter, Samuele Bacchiocchi makes an error that has been corrected many times in the past. One shouldn't have to point out such facts to a scholar who claims to have researched issues like this, but then one must take his agenda into account.
Sola Scriptura stats
Jesus left the Apostles in charge of his Church. He told them to go and teach, not write a book. Yes, the Bible is the word of God, but neither Jesus nor the Bible tell us that the Bible was to be our sole authority once the Apostles, the original Church leaders, had finished writing it. Even Paul tells us to continue believing both what he wrote to the congregations, and what he taught verbally. A bit pointless if all he taught had been put into the texts…
Turn about – Carl Olson’s conversion
All of the criticisms were the result of twisting and misunderstanding Catholic teaching.
Ending abortion in America
This looks like a powerful attempt to end abortion in the USA. I am skeptical - I don't believe that the pro-abortion lobby will stand for it, and will somehow get it right to have this fail. I hope I am wrong. The people promoting this are the Ultimate Coalition for Unborn Children. Pray for them!
SermonAudio – no response
There seems to be silence now from the Lawless front ... no further groans from his flock. No further defence of his attitude. I think they are ashamed ... either that, or too busy finding other people to call devils.
Response from the Battlefield SermonAudio group
My message to anti-Catholics: Leave aside your objections to Catholic theology for a moment, and try to understand what Catholics actually believe. Otherwise you're just arguing against something we don't believe, and we remain unconvinced. That is what happens with 99% of the fundamentalist attempts to "witness" to Catholics. SermonAudio is a prime example.
Battlefield Baptist Church and SermonAudio
Mark Lawless's church is NOT representative of Christianity. In fact, this type of church is very much in the minority. Unfortunately, their hatred of anything different to them leads them to be more vocal than most. And, equally unfortunately, all denominations have this type.
China, abortion, rape
Via Mark La Roi's blog, I found out that the person who exposed China's forced abortion policy has been put under house arrest.
Stop abortions if the mother is in labour!
"Liu said that the medical officials would only stop an abortion if an expectant mother was in labour."
The biblical basis for relics
Karl Keating's website, Catholic Answers, has a good article on relics and why they are not some sort of mystical nonsense invented by Catholics or adopted from pagans. Quite biblical in fact. This refers back to a recent post commenting on Bacchiocchi's latest newsletter.
Father Claus
The German-born Pope delighted the crowds at his weekly audience by wearing a red velvet cap trimmed with white fur along with his scarlet cape as he drove around the square.
Worshipping Ellen White
In his latest Endtime Issues (#141,) Samuele Bacchiocchi again criticises the papal stand on moral issues, and the commitment of Catholics to the support of Catholic moral teaching. It looks like moral strength is a sign of the end-time evil power. Or so many Adventists would have us believe.
Adventist desperation on Usenet – Statues and idols
People like Andrew spend their time so grossly and dishonestly misrepresenting Catholicism, that the end result is that they misrepresent their own denomination by giving the false impression that Adventists are unscrupulous, and will stoop to incredible depths to attack other faiths. Ultimately, this only serves to benefit Catholicism - the only people who remain to take his side are equally unscrupulous characters, leaving the rest disgusted, and with a better understanding of what Catholicism really believes and practices.
Religion under attack in America
We've known that religion, and in particular Christianity, has been under attack by politically vocal but minority groups in the USA, but now we have statistics on how Americans see it.
Infant baptism
The promise and the warning apply only to the case under consideration. You can no more rightly infer from these words, it is purely a matter of inference at the most, that the infants of believers should not be baptized, than that they cannot be saved, because they cannot believe. Yet 'He that believeth not shall be condemned.' You might just as well argue from the Apostle's rule: 'He that will not work neither let him eat,' that because infants do not work they should…
Counting the 10 Commandments
Adventists often complain because Catholics count the ten commandments differently, and claim that we have changed things. Here is an Adventist commentary that explains that how they are counted is not important. So if we count it the (western) Catholic way, it's fine. If we count it the (eastern) Catholic way, like Adventists, it's also fine.
Whore of Babylon
The Catholic Church is often called the Whore of Babylon by those who oppose her. But this cannot be, for several reasons. She does not fit the picture painted in Revelation, even though some claim she does.
Spurgeon: the faith that saves is not alone
"But," says one, "do you wish us to understand, that if a man is to be saved he must use violence and vehement earnestness in order to obtain salvation?" I do, most assuredly; that is the doctrine of the text. "But," says one, "I thought it was all the work of God." So it is, from first to last. But when God has begun the work in the soul, the constant effect of God's work in us is to set us working; and where God's…
Who changed the Sabbath: Adventist misquoting
Often one sees Adventists quoting Catholic sources to show that the Catholic Church changed the Sabbath to Sunday. Usually these quotes are either from sources that are not real sources of Catholic teaching (e.g. newspapers) while others are taken out of context.
Adventist Church: “Bible not true”
Since there is an misleading and ongoing thread in various forums about the Catholic Church saying that the Bible is not true, it is appropriate to point out that Adventism, like Catholicism, takes some verses literally, and others it does not take literally. There is no real difference between what each is saying; the difference lies in interpretation, not principle.
Missing Sunday Mass a sin?
Unless there is a good reason not to, refusal to worship with fellow Christians must be seen in a negative light - it is not good for the Christian, and it is not good for the fellowship of the Church. It is in that sense that not going to church is considered to be a sin. That is the moral sense that existed when the Sabbath was in force as well, and while the timing on the 7th day is no longer of importance to…
Pope John Paul I to Pinocchio
Albino Luciani, later to become the Smiling Pope, HH Pope John Paul I, 263rd Successor of St Peter, pope from 26 August to 28 September 1978, wrote several letters to fictional or historical characters. These were compiled into a book entitled "Illustrissimi" - currently out of print, but I found a second hand copy on Amazon.com.
And no man hath ascended up to heaven
Adventists and others often use the following verse to show that Catholics are wrong in saying that the souls of the dead can go to heaven immediately after death: (Joh 3:13 KJV) And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Dignitatis Felidae – an upcoming papal encyclical
On his blog at Musum Pontificalis, he gives us a glimpse of his upcoming encyclical, Of the Dignity of Cats - Dignitatis Felidae. As he says, he has let the cat out of the bag, but HE Francis Cardinal Arinze has suggested that it be delayed until 24 other encyclicals have been written.
MegaShift or Jack Chick?
WorldNetDaily.com has given James Rutz, chairman of Megashift Ministries, a free hand to proclaim his version of the truth, which appears to be very similar to that of Jack Chick. His article is filled with the usual anti-Catholic propaganda, and doesn't seem to deal much in facts or accurate statistics; nor does he seem interested in substantiating his claims.
From the Pope to Harry Potter
This is what the Pope has to say about Harry Potter on his very own blog, Musum Pontificalis
Catholic Adventism?
That is very much a Catholic principle (Catholic means universal) for which Catholicism has, at times, been criticised by patriotic American Protestants. It's good to see that Bacchiocchi, and Adventist leaders at the General Conference, have recognised the truth in the Catholic position.
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