North of the Shire

This story is almost a year old, but I first heard about it on Catholic radio last week, on the Catholic Channel on Sirius, Across the Nation with Bob Dunning.

I don’t wish to mock those Christians who are dispensationalist, even though there is no warrant, either in Tradition or Scripture for their fanciful end times theories, but I have to admit I had a belly laugh at this one.

http://www.mainstreet.com/article/lifestyle/all-dogs-dont-go-heaven-post-rapture-pet-care

John Martignoni’s latest newsletter, taking on the vitriolic anti-Catholic Mike Gendron reminded me of something that struck me the last time I read his newsletter on the same topic.

Guilt and Temporal Punishment

A core element of the doctrine of purgatory and also of merit and indulgences is the distinction between punishment due to the guilt of sin, and the temporal punishment that may quite likely be a result of that sin.

The Broken Window

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Here’s a fascinating look from a very articulate and plain-spoken man who converted from Calvinism to the Catholic Church. He brings something unique to the discussion, in my opinion, which I have not seen brought into focus, and which caught my eye and ear. First the discussion with Fr. Mitch Pacwa and Dr. David Anders.

I think back and realize that in the course of my life, for the sake of brevity and short-hand shall we say, somewhere along the way I fixed a time point of my own conversion experience, my own “born-again” experience in my youth, growing up in an Evangelical Protestant home. There is a time Continue Reading »

The reason I am returning to this issue of Sola Fide is because I recently received John Martignoni’s latest newsletter, and it contains a link to the following video.

But what I found interesting is the novel way that he approaches the Scripture passage James 2:26. (We’ll include the verse of contention #24)

[24] You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
…
[26] For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.

-RSVCE

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Here’s a comment from Steve to our post “Why Was The Cross Necessary?”. I wish to highlight it because he hits upon something that has bothered me in the past, having come to the Catholic Faith from being raised in a Baptist home and having had the Evangelical experience and all that entails. First, here is the comment; Continue Reading »

Here are a couple of segments that pertain to the discussion from our most recent post.

That is a question I have asked at various times, trying to understand the great mystery of our redemption. Here’s an answer from Father Barron that makes a lot of sense;

Here’s another from Insight Scoop posted by Carl Olson of Father Barron talking about why God made the world.


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Here’s a fascinating article. I heard it mentioned on the radio today and was intrigued.

Apparently Dr. Bloom has conducted studies that conclude, at least to his own satisfaction, that it is demonstrable that babies have the recognition of good and evil from the time they are born.

My response is a long drawn out, “duhhhh!” Continue Reading »