Author Archives: Ron Conte

Why Does God Permit Natural Disasters?

Posted on 19 September 2017 by Ron Conte

We are fallen sinners, so it is fitting for us to live in a fallen world, where harmful things happen. For sin causes harm. And while natural disasters are not directly the result of sin, God permits this type of … Continue reading →

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Question and Answer session (closed)

Posted on 17 September 2017 by Ron Conte

Again, I’m opening up a post to questions on a wide range of topics in theology. You can ask me general questions on faith, morals, or salvation. You can also ask questions on my writings in particular is eschatology, ethics, … Continue reading →

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Only 3 Things Make a War Just or Unjust

Posted on 14 September 2017 by Ron Conte

According to the teaching in Veritatis Splendor, only three things are needed to make any human act, that is, any decision or choice, objectively moral or immoral: (1) intention, (2) object, (3) circumstances. So this teaching must also apply to … Continue reading →

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Two Competing Versions of Humanae Vitae teaching

Posted on 12 September 2017 by Ron Conte

Here is yet another article worrying that Pope Francis might reevaluate Humanae Vitae, and revise its interpretation: Theologian: Tampering With Humanae Vitae Could Cause Untold Damage [National Catholic Register, 12 Sept 2017]. Yes, tampering with Humanae Vitae would cause untold … Continue reading →

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Two of the Four Dubia Cardinals Have Died

Posted on 7 September 2017 by Ron Conte

Here’s what that means. The dubia is a set of 5 querulous questions which challenge the authority of Pope Francis, assume that he taught grave errors in Amoris Laetitia, and demand that he answer the dubia by retracting his teaching … Continue reading →

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Who is Greatest among Christians?

Posted on 6 September 2017 by Ron Conte

Over at Canon Law Blog (In the Light of the Law), Dr. Ed Peters criticizes Cardinal Cupich of Chicago for saying “some of the greatest Christians I know are people who don’t actually have a faith system that they believe … Continue reading →

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Just War doctrine and the Likelihood of Success

Posted on 5 September 2017 by Ron Conte

One of the conditions for a war to be just (morally justifiable) is stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church as: “there must be serious prospects of success”. The reason for this condition is that a war to defend … Continue reading →

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Things that Seem Unfair in Salvation Theology

Posted on 5 September 2017 by Ron Conte

These types of questions come up quite often. Essentially, the questions are based on a comparison between what Catholic salvation theology teaches versus what seems fair. And the answer, typically, is that it does seem unfair, and would be unfair, … Continue reading →

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Certain Kinds of Behavior are Always Wrong to Knowingly Choose

Posted on 4 September 2017 by Ron Conte

Intrinsically Evil Acts The type or kind of an act, in terms of its morality, is called the “moral species” of the act. Some acts are wrong by the nature of the act. These acts are a bad type of … Continue reading →

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Are Most Civil Marriages valid in the eyes of the Church?

Posted on 3 September 2017 by Ron Conte

Dr. Ed Peters makes that claim in a recent post. I doubt it. Any Christians who attempt to contract marriage without the intention to do as the Church does, including to commit themselves to a lifelong union before God, do … Continue reading →

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Is Marriage only between one Man and one Woman?

Posted on 3 September 2017 by Ron Conte

The sacrament of marriage can only occur between one man and one woman. And natural marriage, from the beginning, was intended by God, in its fullness of perfection, to occur only between one man and one woman (Mt 19). But, … Continue reading →

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A Catholic Statement on Salvation

Posted on 1 September 2017 by Ron Conte

ONE I affirm that the state of grace is absolutely necessary at the moment of death; without it, salvation and supernatural happiness the beatific vision of God — are impossible. I deny that the state of grace is unavailable to … Continue reading →

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