A conveniently anonymous "Roman Catholic scholar"; perhaps fabricated, for the sake of the anecdote? Heh, heh.
The truth of the matter is, the best Roman Catholic apologetic scholars (like Hilaire Belloc) regard John Calvin as the greatest of all "heresiarchs", and Calvinism as the most lively and effective of all "heresies". Mormonism, to the extent that Catholic apologists even consider the small Utah-centered religious sect, is generally regarded as a rather silly little theological absurdity; hardly worthy of the big guns of Roman Catholic apologetic scholarship.
"A conveniently anonymous "Roman Catholic scholar"; perhaps fabricated, for the sake of the anecdote? Heh, heh.
Perhaps, but I tend to doubt it. I've read a lot of what some would call anit-Mormon material over the years, and I've never seen the veracity of this "anecdote" challenged (sorry for the anecdote). I think you might be the first to do so! ;)
"The truth of the matter is, the best Roman Catholic apologetic scholars (like Hilaire Belloc) regard John Calvin as the greatest of all "heresiarchs", and Calvinism as the most lively and effective of all "heresies". Mormonism, to the extent that Catholic apologists even consider the small Utah-centered religious sect, is generally regarded as a rather silly little theological absurdity; hardly worthy of the big guns of Roman Catholic apologetic scholarship."
This I don't doubt. My aim in posting this wasn't to defend the LDS church, but to toss out some food for thought. You seem well read. What's your take on the substance of the either/or claim? Is it true the Protestants don't have a leg to stand on?
Your response sent me in search of the answer.
John M. Reiner. He spoke at the Tabernacle in SLC in 1898.
See the following post and the ensuing discussion for more information:
http://bycommonconsent.com/2008/01/16/a-footnote-to-the-strength-of-the-mormon-position/