Good news for those evangelicals and nominally Reformed folk who are thinking of going to “Rome Sweet Home:” Yesterday, the Holy Father himself promulgated a new plenary indulgence (HT: διαθηκη). “What?” you say, “I thought Rome was shamed into giving up plenary . . . Continue reading →
roman catholicism
Luther Wasn't Just Another Moral Reformer (Updated)
But that’s what Cardinal Walter Kaspar wants to make him.
How Rome Turns Paul and David Upside Down
Jason has been listening to Mike Horton’s interview with Robert Sungenis and considering Sungenis’ case for the Roman doctrine of justification. Sungenis argues that 2 Sam 11–12 and Rom 4:5–8 prove that “if there is any passage of Scripture that supports the . . . Continue reading →
Has the Roman Doctrine of Justification Changed?
It’s often said that Rome “doesn’t do that anymore.” I’ve heard that said about indulgences. “We don’t do that any more, not since Vatican II.” Really? Holy Mother church offered plenary indulgences at late as 2000 when there she offered a plenary . . . Continue reading →
Was the Reformation Necessary and Necessarily Grumpy?
Jason asks another provocative question at DRD. Clark responds:
Selling Indulgences?
It is believed by some that the Roman communion has abandoned the doctrine and practice of indulgences. The HB has noted, however, that the practice of indulgences continues. In one of these posts it was suggested that Rome has never authorized the . . . Continue reading →
Perkins on Sacramental Efficacy
Thanks to Chris Gordon for posting a brief bit from Perkins where he ties the efficacy of the sacraments, not to any power inherent in the sacraments, but to the will and good pleasure of God. He has a nice follow-up post . . . Continue reading →
The Beginning of the End of the Reformation?
Father Eric Bergman, a former Anglican who converted to Rome, who shepherds a congregation of Anglicans who’ve been received into the Roman communion, predicts that the influx of Anglicans into Rome will end the Reformation. You may remember that back in October . . . Continue reading →
John Knox is at 7500 RPM
As he spins in his grave. Why? The Church of Scotland has adopted a “joint liturgy for the re-affirmation of baptismal vows” with the Roman Catholic Church. Craig Brown, writing in The Scotsman reports, “As a result, Scotland has the first Protestant . . . Continue reading →
Another Area Where a Two-Kingdoms/Spheres Ethic Would Help
Rome still doesn’t seem to understand how grave the problem of pedophile priests is. NPR (HT: RNS) reports on the new measures adopted by the Vatican, including revisions to canon law, to address the crisis.
Rome and Westminster Seminary California (Updated)
27 November 2010 I continue to receive queries about this topic because of an anonymous YouTube post. So, I re-post what I wrote in July, 2008. In what follows I am not speaking in any official capacity nor am I speaking on . . . Continue reading →
R. C. Sproul: Are We Together? Not Really
This book is not what you might assume: a rehearsal of slogans. Rather, it is an intelligent and engaging primer for Protestants and Roman Catholics alike about what Rome actually teaches and what are the profound issues that continue to separate confessional, . . . Continue reading →
Who Are the True Catholics? (3): Original Sin
Part 2 The next point of contention is over the doctrine of original sin, i.e., the teaching that “in Adam’s fall sinned we all.” The issue is not whether we sinned in Adam but whether, as Perkins put it, “after baptism…how far . . . Continue reading →
We Are Not Heretics or Schismatics
It is not because we have renounced any article of the catholic faith. We are not heretics. We cordially receive all the doctrines contained in that Symbol which is known as the Apostles’ Creed. We regard all doctrinal decisions of the first six ecumenical councils to be consistent with the Word of God, and because of that consistency, we receive them as expressing our faith. We therefore believe the doctrine of the Trinity and of the person of Christ as those doctrines are expressed in the symbols adopted by the Council of Nicea AD321, that of the Council of Constantinople AD381 and more fully that of the Council of Chalcedon AD451. Continue reading →
Who Are the True Catholics? (4) The Assurance of Salvation
Part 3: Original Sin Perkins’ third point against Rome concerned the assurance of salvation. According to Perkins, the Protestants and Rome agree that: A man in this life may be certain of salvation; and the same thing does the Church of Rome . . . Continue reading →
Has Rome Really Changed?
Chris Castaldo (HT: Justin Taylor) takes issue with R. C. Sproul’s claim: The indisputable fact is that Rome made a number of strong, clear theological affirmations at the Council of Trent. Because Trent was an ecumenical council, it had all the weight . . . Continue reading →
Audio Available Now: Is the Reformation Over?
The audio from the Central Valley Conference on Reformed Theology at Zion Reformed Church in Ripon, California is online now (below). Thanks to Pastors Kevin Efflandt and Angelo Contreras and to everyone at Zion for their hard work in preparing for the . . . Continue reading →
An Interesting Conversation at My Door
Saturday morning a Roman Catholic laywoman and a male companion (who stood behind her with his rosary saying prayers) came to my door on behalf of St Mary Church in Escondido. She asked if there were any Catholics in the house. I . . . Continue reading →
Godfrey on Rome
Videos by independent film maker Anthony Parisi.
Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss
Benedict XVI, who turns 86 in April, will abdicate the papacy at the end of this month. The election of a new pope is a good opportunity for a brief tutorial on some of the aspects of the papacy that the mass . . . Continue reading →