CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS

"There are not over a hundred people...who hate the Roman Catholic Church.
There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church"
-Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

Catholicism is one of the most misunderstood religions in the world. �It is truly amazing how many gross misconceptions about her abound to this day.

For instance, some people think that Catholicism is a pagan cult, which has cleverly masqueraded as Christianity for centuries even though it worships the goddess Ishtar (under the deceptive guise of Jesus' Mother - those wily Romanists!). �They think that this "cult" also teaches its ignorant, superstitious followers to worship angels and saints, idols, old bones, the pope and even a wafer of bread!

Others think that Catholicism is a misogynist church, which worships a crusty old male god and only grudgingly admitted that women have souls after denying it for centuries. �Its celibate male heirarchy supposedly refuses to ordain women out of a "fear of female power", and only opposes contraception and abortion in order to keep women enslaved to the humiliation of constant childbearing (all that talk of fetuses and murder is just a ruse, they think; the Church's "real motive" is to deny women their "right" to "control their bodies"!).

Still others think that Catholicism is a greedy religion which runs a lucrative, worldwide simony racket. �It allegedly sells Masses, indulgences and other graces for a price; then uses the money to gild its altars, fill Vatican coffers - anything to keep it away from the poor!

I could go on, but it would become tedious. �Bishop Sheen was right; it's no wonder people who believe such things hate the Catholic Church! �He also states that if the Church were really like that, he would hate it too!

To which I say a hearty AMEN! I find nothing attractive in the miserly, woman-hating heathenism described above. �Yet I also do not recognize in that description the face of the Mother Church whom I have come to know and love. �Catholicism is totally different from the characatures set forth by her detractors!

Below are the pages on this site which explain and defend the true teachings and practices of Holy Mother Church, the Bride of Christ. �(This site does not yet address every misconception cited above; hopefully it soon will, God willing.)

ANSWERS TO COMMON MYTHS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT CATHOLICISM.

• How Is This Apologetics Site Different?

• Is Catholicism Unbiblical?

• Scripture Questions

• Theology Questions Ever wonder how Jesus could be both "God" and "the Son of God"? Find the answer to this question and others on this FAQ!

• Questions on Church Policy and Practice Find out why the Church collects money, has gold in its churches, and other facts.

• Some Things that Catholics Do Not Believe

• Do Catholics Worship "Another Jesus"?

• When Did Jesus Become the Son of God? Answer: He always was!

• Is Jesus Omnipresent?

• Is the Catholic Church Christian?

• Should Christians Use A Crucifix?

• Should We Say the "Lord's Prayer"? Some people think we shouldn't!

• Pray To Whom? Is God the Father the only one to Whom we should address prayers? Some people think so, but here's the truth.

• Do Catholics Worship "In Spirit and In Truth"?

• Why Does the Catholic Church have a Closed Communion? An explanation of a rather controversial Church practice.

• The Alleged "Soulless Women" Doctrine. Did the Church ever teach that women have no souls? Learn the truth about this rumor!

• Why Can't the Church Ordain Women? A very controversial topic in modern times. The answer lies in an understanding of the relationship between the New Adam and the New Eve.

• Were Hitler and Mussolini Catholic?

• Is Christianity a Religion?

• In Defense of Organized Religion
  * Part I
  * Part II

• Did Jesus Found an Organized Religion?

• An Imaginary Dialogue on Organized Visitation A somewhat humorous takeoff on some common objections to "organized religion".

• Catholic Teachings on Mary: A Defense A subsection containing eleven articles defending Catholic Mariology.

• Can Mary Influence Us? Part I
• Can Mary Influence Us? Part II

• For "bergson": On Mary's Virginity

• My Belief in the Immaculate Conception Doctrine, By Daniel Joseph Barton. �A former Eastern Orthodox, now Eastern Catholic, defends the Immaculate Conception of Mary from an Eastern point-of-view.
  * Part I
  * Part II
  * Part III

• Links to Marian Apologetics Pages on the Web.

• Is the Blessed Trinity a Pagan Concept?
• Is the Incarnation a Pagan Concept?
• Is The Virgin Birth Pagan?
• Dying Gods?
• Is Marian Devotion Pagan?
• Do Catholics Worship the Sun?
• Are Christmas and Easter Pagan? -Updated 6/00
• Is Santeria Catholic?

These are (public domain) apologetics-oriented Catholic pamphlets, written by other people, which have made the rounds for a long time offline.

• A "Mohammedan" (sic) Questions a Bishop (Note: "Mohammedan" is an erroneous term for a Muslim which I don't personally use; someone else wrote this tract.)
• The Hail Mary of a Protestant
• Religion, an Exact Science
• Ten Reasons Why I Never Wash
• Mary's Dream (A Christmas Tract)

• The Blessed Trinity: an Explanation

• My Statement of Faith

EXTERNAL LINKS

There are so many terrific Catholic apologetics sites online. The following are some pages or articles selected from them, which answer questions about salvation.

• What must I do to be saved? What the Bible really says; the whole gospel, not just the part anti-Catholics quote.

• Salvation Past, Present, and Future by James Akin. The Bible teaches that salvation is a process, not a single, past "crisis-point conversion" experience.

• What is the Gospel?

• To Ex-Catholics: Did You Leave for the True Gospel?

• The Once-Saved-Always-Saved Quiz by Gary Hoge. Slightly humerous refutation of "eternal security".

• Some Tough Questions for "Bible Christians" More difficulties of Protestantism.

• "How Do Catholics Hear The Gospel?" by Gary Michuta. Have you ever heard an ex-Catholic say "I never heard the Gospel taught in the Catholic Church"? Here's an answer to that charge!

• "If Catholicism Is True, Then Why Are So Many Catholics So Ignorant?" The title speaks for itself, as do the next two.

• Dialogue: Nominalism and Sin in the Catholic Church

• Dialogue on "Dead" Catholics and "Saved" Protestants

• 150 Reasons Why I am a Catholic Long but enlightening.