Category Archives: theology

When is a teaching infallible? Must all infallible teachings be manifestly evident?

Posted on 11 June 2011 by Ron Conte

Canon law 749 n. 3 states: “No doctrine is understood as defined infallibly unless this is manifestly evident.” This Canon raises a question concerning the interpretation of teachings of the Magisterium. Must it be manifestly evident that a teaching has … Continue reading →

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The miraculous virgin birth of the Virgin Mary

Posted on 5 June 2011 by Ron Conte

From the visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich: Several days previously, Anne informed Joachim that the time of her delivery was at hand. She sent messengers to her sister Maraha, at Sephoris, also to the widow Enue, Elizabeth’s sister, in … Continue reading →

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Theology Q and A (2 June 2011)

Posted on 2 June 2011 by Ron Conte

Q: Is Baptism by sprinkling valid? A: Only if the water both touches the skin and flows across the skin. Pouring the water is preferred, since sprinkled water might only touch the clothing or might touch the skin without flowing; … Continue reading →

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Saint Thomas on Heresy

Posted on 30 May 2011 by Ron Conte

Saint Thomas Aquinas in the Summa Theologica: On the contrary, Augustine says against the Manichees [Cf. De Civ. Dei xviii, 1]: “In Christ’s Church, those are heretics, who hold mischievous and erroneous opinions, and when rebuked that they may think … Continue reading →

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The Arab Spring as a preparation for the Tribulation

Posted on 29 May 2011 by Ron Conte

Eschatology and provability Most questions in eschatology, asked at most times throughout Church history, are somewhat academic. If you lived any time from the second century to the early 20th century, the question (we now know) as to when the … Continue reading →

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Inequality within the Trinity

Posted on 28 May 2011 by Ron Conte

In my book, New Insights into the Deposit of Faith, I discuss the speculative theological question as to whether or not the Three Persons of the Trinity are equal as concerns their Personhood. “God is One Being, and the One … Continue reading →

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Why we use masculine words to refer to God

Posted on 27 May 2011 by Ron Conte

Why Masculine Words? Now there are several reasons why masculine words are fittingly used to refer to God, and feminine words are not. God is properly referred to with male pronouns, and with the figure of male family members, because … Continue reading →

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Against Catholic Fundamentalism – 1 – Private Interpretation of Scripture

Posted on 26 May 2011 by Ron Conte

There is a certain false teaching, spreading among many Catholics, which claims that the Church prohibits us from interpreting Scripture. They call this the ‘private interpretation’ of Scripture. They say that we must wait for the Magisterium to tell us … Continue reading →

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4th reply to Fr. Erlenbush on the knowledge of Christ

Posted on 24 May 2011 by Ron Conte

In the comments to Fr. Reginaldus’ post, Did Jesus know the day and the hour of the Apocalypse?, someone (not myself) has copied sections of my few posts on the subject of the knowledge of Christ, using the pseudonym ‘St. … Continue reading →

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3rd reply to Fr. Erlenbush on the knowledge of Christ

Posted on 23 May 2011 by Ron Conte

My first two replies are here: Reply to Fr. Reginaldus on agnoeticism Reply to Fr. Reginaldus on the Knowledge of Christ Those two articles are sufficient to express my position on this topic and to show that my position is … Continue reading →

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Is Jesus the Way, the Truth, and the Life?

Posted on 21 May 2011 by Ron Conte

Not according to Fr. Reginaldus (Fr. Ryan Erlenbush) of the New Theological Movement blog. In yet another serious doctrinal error, Fr. Ryan teaches that Jesus is only the Way in His human nature, and is only the Truth and the … Continue reading →

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Is it Church teaching or Personal Opinion?

Posted on 21 May 2011 by Ron Conte

One of the theological problems that plagues the faithful in the present time is an over-simplification of the Catholic Faith. This problem is particularly prevalent in Catholic sources online (blogs, discussion groups, personal devotional websites, etc.). There is a strong … Continue reading →

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