catholic apologetics guide 101-eBook

1 catholic apologetics guide 101 Scriptural Reference for catholic apologetics Adadzie, Godwin Delali catholic apologetics guide 101 II catholic apologetics guide 101 Scriptural Reference for catholic apologetics Adadzie, Godwin Delali Permission is hereby granted by the author to print, copy or distribute anything in this book, provided that all contents remain intact and credit is given to the author where necessary. Send all comments to: or visit: Copyright 2007-2009 Sts. Peter and Paul Catechism Ministry Ghana All rights reserved. catholic apologetics guide 101 III PREFACE This is a little book for those seeking a right understanding of apologetics in the context of Catholicism. It is written in a simple and friendly manner. It is an attempt to look at some catholic positions in a Biblical perspective.

2 It is hoped that this book should appeal to the catholic as well as to the non- catholic readers. It is not written in a "scholarly" way, but as a plain "theological" statement with the hope of carrying conviction. This book does not pretend to be exhaustive. The field which it covers is too vast to admit of minute analysis. A good number of Catholics leave the Church every year due to poor understanding of the Faith and also the efforts of anti- catholic groups and churches. Realizing that misrepresentation and misunderstanding are the chief sources of error; this book serves as a quick guide to remove some of these errors. Many thanks to all those who have made this book a success, especially The Blessed Trinity in Unity and Our Lady of Mercy. This book is also highly indebted to catholic Apologists Mark Bonocore, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Dave Armstrong, John Salza, John Pacheco, Dr.

3 Art Sippo, Dr. Scott Hahn, Tim Staples, Mark Shea and John Martignoni among others. The works and/or influence of the following faithful shepherds and teachers were of great benefit to this material: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (of blessed memory), Fr. Martin J. Scott, (of blessed memory), Fr. Mitchell Pacwa (USA), Fr. Francis Peffley (USA), Fr. John Kobina Louis (Ghana) and all the past and present priests of the noble St. Joseph the Worker catholic Church in Community 8 Tema, Ghana, West Africa. Some versions of Sacred Scripture used in this book include: 1. American Standard Version ASV 2. Douay-Rheims Bible - DRB 3. Good News Bible GNB 4. King James Version KJV 5. Revised Standard Version RSV 6. Revised Version RV catholic apologetics guide 101 IV TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE .. III INTRODUCTION .. - 1 - Sola Fide (Faith alone) .. - 3 - Salvation & Justification .. - 7 - Sola Scriptura (Bible Alone).

4 - 14 - Baptism .. - 19 - Holy Eucharist .. - 22 - Confirmation .. - 25 - Penance (Confession).. - 26 - Purgatory .. - 30 - Petrine Ministry (Papacy) .. - 34 - Mother Mary (Mariology).. - 40 - Mother Mary and the Saints .. - 47 - Adoration and Honour .. - 52 - Perpetual virginity of Mother Mary .. - 58 - Anti- catholic Polemics and Bigotry .. - 67 - The catholic Concordance .. - 70 - Bibliography: .. - 92 - catholic apologetics guide 101 - 1 - INTRODUCTION Usually people object to the catholic Faith based on Scriptural grounds. They claim the teachings of the catholic Church are contrary to the clear teachings of the Bible, and these misrepresentations have led countless souls out of the Church. However, Scripture read in context fully supports catholic teachings. The Christianity of history is not To be deep in history is to cease to be a Protestant. (John Henry Cardinal Newman, catholic Convert) I would not believe in the Gospel, had not the authority of the catholic Church already moved me.

5 (St. Augustine of Hippo) If you undermine the catholic Church, you undermine the Bible! (Anonymous) What is apologetics ? apologetics is a branch of Theology. It comes from an ancient Greek word (apologia) which literally means an apology. An apology (an ancient sense of the word) meaning to make a reasoned defense or justification of something. In the New Testament the word apologia is found at many places such as Act 22:1, 1 Peter 3:15 etc. "In your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence. " (1 Peter 3:15, RSV) apologetics is all about knowing why we do what we do and believe what we believe. It is building the case for our Faith, learning how to explain and defend our Faith with confidence and ease. apologetics is an important part of the Church's work.

6 In Jude 3 we are told to "Contend for the faith, which was once for all delivered to the saints." To my catholic Brothers and Sisters: We should always remember these facts: 1. The Bible is a catholic book! 2. The One Holy catholic and Apostolic Church gave it to the world! 3. There is nothing in the Bible that contradicts anything in the catholic Faith. 4. There is nothing in the catholic Faith that contradicts anything in the Bible. These are important facts to keep in mind because a lot of time people will quote passages from the Bible to prove that the catholic Church is wrong. As a catholic Christian, you should point to them that you believe everything the Bible says, however, you disagree with their private interpretation of those passages. catholic apologetics guide 101 - 2 - The reasons you do not agree with their personal interpretations are: I. The Bible verse has been taken out of context.

7 II. They are reading into the Biblical text what isn t there in order to force the interpretation of the text to conform to certain preconceived ideas or theories. If you are ever asked a question about the catholic Faith that you cannot answer, don't worry. There is an answer, you just need to go and find it. Ask a catholic Priest, a Catechist, an Apologist or get some good catholic books and CDs that explain the Faith. As catholic Christians, we need to read the Bible, study it, and pray it daily. It is our book. We need to use it to bring our precious separated brothers and sisters back to the Church. Some basic apologetics rules and advice: 1. Pray to the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom to choose your words and courage to share your faith. 2. Learn a little bit more about your Faith each and every day by reading the Scripture and the Catechism of the catholic Church. 3. Aim at winning souls (for Christ) not arguments.

8 4. Always remember that the conversion of hearts is the job of the Holy Spirit not you. Just plant the seeds and let the Holy Spirit take care of the rest. If you keep these things in mind, then you are on the right path of becoming a very effective Apologist and Evangelist for the catholic Faith. Thank you. To my non- catholic Brothers and Sisters: Of course, you may strongly disagree with the above statements and other presentations as you read on. I am not debating, just explaining. I seek to set forth the what and why of catholic teachings to help you in making an informed decision in the case for Catholicism. Once there is understanding, then we can be in a relationship based on shared knowledge rather than misinformation. Thank you. Adadzie, Godwin Delali Sts.

9 Peter and Paul Catechism Ministry - Ghana catholic apologetics guide 101 - 3 - SECTION I Sola Fide (Faith alone) Faith means believing what God declares to us, not because we understand it, nor because we approve it, but simply because God, who speaks, is Truth itself, who can neither be in error nor declare what is erroneous. (1) "Faith is a personal act - the free response of the human person to the initiative of God who reveals himself. But faith is not an isolated act. No one can believe alone, just as no one can live alone. You have not given yourself faith as you have not given yourself life. The believer has received faith from others and should hand it on to others. Our love for Jesus and for our neighbor impels us to speak to others about our faith. Each believer is thus a link in the great chain of believers. I cannot believe without being carried by the faith of others, and by my faith I help support others in the faith.

10 "( 166, CATECHISM OF THE catholic CHURCH) Sola fide (Latin: by faith alone), also historically known as the doctrine of justification by faith, is a doctrine that distinguishes most Protestant denominations from Catholicism, Eastern Christianity, and most Restorationists in Christianity. (2) Sola fide asserts that, although all people have disobeyed God's commands, God declares those people obedient who place their confidence, their faith, in what God has done through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. They account Christ's obedience as their own, and the only meritorious, obedience. Their assurance is that God's work in Christ is their commendation for acceptance by God. Conversely, the doctrine says that those who trust God in this way do not trust what they themselves have done (which has no worth, because of sin). (3) The phrase (pisteo s monon, Greek) "faith alone" only occurs once in the whole of Sacred Scripture.