catholic

The term Catholic originates with a Greek word, katholikos, which means “general” or “universal.” The expression is not found in the Scriptures but has been employed in various senses in church his...

Benedict XVI, the current “pope” of the Roman Catholic Church, recently ignited a firestorm of controversy by reaffirming the oft-made church claim that salvation is found exclusively in the Roman Church.

The sexual improprieties of many priests within the Roman Catholic Church is a stormy controversy these days. Is this problem a natural result of the Church’s attitude regarding sexual activity? Read this article and draw your own conclusion.

A religious denomination is a body or sect subscribing to a particular set of doctrinal tenets that is set apart from other religious groups by its name and human creed. 

Denominations find no div...

Why does the Catholic Church place such great emphasis upon Mary, the mother of Christ? Is this proper?

In 2003, we published a review of Dr. Thomas West’s book, Jesus and the Quest for Meaning. West is a Professor of Theology at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota. In our review, we censured Professor West for his unorthodox ideas relative to the resurrection of Christ. The Professor has vigorously protested our essay. As a courtesy to him, we are publishing his letter of protest, and our response to the same.

Mary was a Hebrew maiden who was chosen to be the mother of Jesus Christ. Her miraculous conception was prophesied in the O.T. (Isa. 7:14). Mary was certainly worthy of honor as a godly Jewish woma...

Does any man have the right to forgive sins? Some suggest that Jesus granted this authority to the apostles, and then, through them, to others (see John 20:23). Can you explain this passage?

The article explores the Roman Catholic belief of Apostle Peter as the original pontiff of the primitive church, arguing against it with references from Peter’s personal writings and other biblical texts.

According to recent news reports, “Mother” Teresa, the deceased Catholic nun, is on the fast-track toward “sainthood” — a process that usually takes many years. A claim is now being made that the departed “sister” has performed a miracle from the grave.

On October 16, 2002, John Paul II celebrated the anniversary of his 24th year of service as pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. News commentators compared this lengthy tenure with that of Peter himself! In this week’s Penpoints, Jason Jackson discusses the alleged connection between the apostle Peter and the man who now claims to be the apostle’s modern successor.

News sources report that a recently published document from Roman Catholic scholars attempts to promote a compromise between Jewish and Christian views regarding the Messiah? What is the basis of this ecumenical attempt?

This article discusses the false doctrine of the “immaculate conception” of Mary, mother of Jesus.

This article critically analyzes the role and authority of the Pope in the Roman Catholic Church, questioning the biblical support for Peter’s primacy and the doctrine that the church was founded upon him.

This editorial discusses the recent Vatican affirmation regarding the “primacy of Peter.”

Are contraceptive methods of birth control equivalent to the practice of abortion?

On October 31, 1999 in Augsburg, Germany, representatives of Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism met to sign a “peace treaty” of sorts.

The term “works” is a perfectly noble word; yet, in the minds of some, there is a distorted view of this biblical term. Especially has the Protestant world reacted negatively to Catholicism’s "work...

“Extreme Unction” is one of the so-called “sacraments” of the Roman Catholic Church. It is the action of a priest in applying oil to someone who is at the point of death. The priest reads prayers a...

This word signifies “change in substance,” and it reflects the Roman Catholic doctrine that in the communion service, when the priest pronounces the words, “this is my body” and “this is my blood,”...