Germain Grisez justifies many direct abortions

Posted on 20 January 2018 by Ron Conte

In his book, ‘The Way of the Lord Jesus’, Roman Catholic moral theologian Germain Grisez openly rejects magisterial teaching against direct abortion to save the life of the mother. And he approves of partial birth abortions. Grisez claims that it … Continue reading →

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On Natural Marriage, Polygamy, and Indissolubility

Posted on 19 January 2018 by Ron Conte

This article presents my theological opinion on certain open questions concerning natural marriage and polygamy. How we should we regard three things: 1. the difference between natural marriage and the Sacrament as concerns indissolubility 2. polygamy in the Old Testament … Continue reading →

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Heresies taught by some conservative Catholic teachers

Posted on 18 January 2018 by Ron Conte

A partial list, in no particular order: Heresy 1: the claim that when confessing all the mortal sins that can be remembered, in kind and number, a penitent may omit confessing and even considering the number, because there are “exceptions” … Continue reading →

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What if Pope Francis retracts portions of Amoris Laetitia?

Posted on 17 January 2018 by Ron Conte

On EWTN news show “The World Over”, canon lawyer Fr. Gerald Murray said that chapter 8 of Amoris Laetitia was in “error” and he hoped it would be “withdrawn” by Pope Francis. [LifeSiteNews.com]. What would happen, in the Church, if … Continue reading →

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Phil Lawler versus Pope Francis

Posted on 17 January 2018 by Ron Conte

In a recent blog post, Phil Lawler proclaims the papacy of Pope Francis to be “disastrous,” suggests that the Vicar of Christ poses a “danger to the integrity of the Catholic faith,” and claims that Pope Francis has shown “disdain … Continue reading →

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Catholic Moral Theology: the Marriage Debt

Posted on 16 January 2018 by Ron Conte

The marriage debt is the mutual obligation that the spouses have, within a valid marriage (natural or supernatural) to have marital relations. The term is based on an Epistle of St. Paul in the New Testament: [1 Corinthians 7] {7:1} … Continue reading →

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Reply to Dr. Ed Peters on the dogmas of the Council of Trent

Posted on 15 January 2018 by Ron Conte

Dr. Peters’ new post emphasizes the main point of the previous post, that a ratum et consummatum marriage, that is, a consummated Christian Sacrament of Matrimony, is not dissoluble except by death. True, but the problems with his previous post … Continue reading →

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On the Never-failing Faith of Each Pope

Posted on 15 January 2018 by Ron Conte

The First Vatican Council infallibly taught the following. “For the holy Spirit was promised to the successors of Peter not so that they might, by his revelation, make known some new doctrine, but that, by his assistance, they might religiously … Continue reading →

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Who is and is not a Theologian?

Posted on 14 January 2018 by Ron Conte

Who is? Here is the definition that I propose for the term “theologian”: A theologian is a person who writes theology on a continuing basis. And that writing is an expression of serious study and reflection. A theologian seeks a … Continue reading →

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Why Pope Francis gave an award to Lilianne Ploumen

Posted on 13 January 2018 by Ron Conte

Lilianne Ploumen, in her role as Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation in the Netherlands, has worked to oppose the forced marriages of minors: “Forcing teenagers to marriage is an abuse.” [Vatican.va]. She was part of a panel on … Continue reading →

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News Story: a Parish Fires Three Musicians

Posted on 12 January 2018 by Ron Conte

Here’s the article: Rural Minnesota Catholic parish dismisses musicians over gay marriages. The new pastor, Fr. Drees, fired three male musicians who served at the parish. Two of the men are married to each other. The third man, Bob Bernard, … Continue reading →

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Dr. Ed Peters: his heresy on the Dissolubility of Marriage

Posted on 11 January 2018 by Ron Conte

UPDATE: Dr. Peters has now responded to my post by writing a new article on the topic on January 15th, 2018: Is the Petrine Privilege an exception to Church teaching on the indissolubility of marriage?. I’ll consider its assertions and … Continue reading →

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