This article is from the English Weekly Edition of L’Osservatore Romano : N. 27 — 2 July 1990 — Page 5.1 It takes up nearly all of that page, with only a few “News briefs” at the bottom.
Category: Theology
What is the Natural Law?
It is not uncommon to run across the term “natural law” in Catholic journals and newspapers. Frequently, the context is a discussion of hot-button moral issues in the culture war, such as abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality, birth control, and so-called “end-of-life … Continue reading
Cardinal Biffi and Soloviev’s Antichrist
Much attention has justly been given to Cardinal Biffi’s Lenten Retreat to the Pope and leaders of the Roman Curia (e.g., “Pope’s Retreat Preacher Speaks on Antichrist As a ‘Pacifist, Ecologist and Ecumenist’”). Soon after the retreat — because papal … Continue reading
Hans Urs von Balthasar’s New Theology
This page contains some links to articles about Hans Urs von Balthasar, the theologian perhaps most known for undermining the Church’s doctrine on hell. The links are further down.
Pro Multis
Cardinal Arinze, the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, has just affirmed that pro multis means “for many” and not “for all.” It’s a sad commentary on the state of ecclesiastical affairs that such a statement of the obvious … Continue reading
Weighing in on Limbo
It was a surprise to many that the Holy Father made no statement for or against Limbo last Friday. What had been promised by the secular press, citing members of the International Theological Commission (ITC), was that the pope would … Continue reading
A Letter to Bedfordshire (in Response to Mr. Thomas Sparks)
(240K PDF version of this same article. ) Introduction. Mr. Thomas Sparks, of Bedfordshire, England, has posted an “Open Letter” to me on his web site. The present offering is my reply.
What is Development of Doctrine?
An explanation of authentic doctrinal development. We hear a lot about doctrinal development. All too often, it is in the context of articulating some novelty that something is called a “development of doctrine.” While there is a true notion of … Continue reading
The Contradiction of Core
And immediately as he had made an end of speaking, the earth broke asunder under their feet:85 And they went down alive into hell . . . and they perished from among the people. — Num. 16:31,33 The book of … Continue reading
Catholic Teaching Concerning a Just War
Editor’s Introduction: Catholic doctrine is never an “untimely” thing. However, certain doctrines come to the fore from time to time due to circumstances in the Church and the world. Presently, there is a “perpetual war for perpetual peace,” as one … Continue reading
Holy Mary – the Flower of Carmel
Thy head is like Carmel: and the hairs of thy head as the purple of the king bound in the channels. (Cant. 7:5) In the ancient land of Palestine lies Mount Carmel (in Hebrew, Hakkarmel, “the garden”), the crown of … Continue reading
In Defense of Original Sin
There is a very ambiguous statement in Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium , Chapter 2, paragraph 16. It reads as follows: . . . Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their … Continue reading
Saint Paul against the Liberals
Men, brethren and fathers, hear ye the account which I now give unto you. I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the truth of … Continue reading
A Better Testament
“But now [Christ] hath obtained a better ministry, by how much also he is a mediator of a better testament which is established on better promises.” (Heb. 8:6) The terms “supersessionism” and “replacement theology” are used by Jews and heterodox … Continue reading
The Ark of the New Covenant
In his Epistle to the Hebrews, St. Paul calls Our Lord the “high Priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle” (9:11). Greater than the Israelite priests — those who “serve unto the example … Continue reading
