Catholic Biblical Apologetics

Apologetics without apology!

What does the Roman Catholic Church teach about ...? ... and why?

This website surveys the origin and development of Roman Catholic Christianity from the period of the apostolic church, through the post-apostolic church and into the conciliar movement. Principal attention is paid to the biblical basis of both doctrine and dogma as well as the role of paradosis (i.e. handing on the truth) in the history of the Church. Particular attention is also paid to the hierarchical founding and succession of leadership throughout the centuries.

This is a set of lecture notes used since 1985 to teach the basis for key doctrines and dogmas of the Roman Catholic Church. The objectives of the course were, and are:

To present the biblical basis for the origin and development of the Roman Catholic Church.
To present the development of the canon of Scripture and evolution of biblical teaching in the Church.
To understand the role of paradosis/tradition in the oral transmission of revelation.
To study the Council of Jerusalem, described in the 15^th chapter of The Acts of the Apostles and its role in the development of doctrine in the conciliar movement in the Church.
To understand the revelation, doctrinal development and practice of the sacramental life in the history of the Church.
To study the role of the Holy Spirit as teaching authority in the Church.
To study the revelation and development of hierarchical authority in the Church.
To understand the hierarchy of truths in the Church as well as the role of private devotion and personal growth in holiness.

The course grew out of the need for the authors to continually answer questions about their faith tradition and their work. (Both authors are active members of Catholic parish communities in the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Robert Schihl was a Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Communication and the Arts at Regent University. Paul Flanagan is a consultant specializing in preparing people for technology based changes.) At the time these notes were first prepared, the authors were spending time in their faith community answering questions about their Protestant Evangelical workplaces (Mr. Flanagan was then a senior executive at the Christian Broadcasting Network), and time in their workplaces answering similar questions about their Roman Catholic faith community. These notes are the result of more than a decade of facilitating dialogue among those who wish to learn more about what the Roman Catholic Church teaches and why.

Vatican I

When and where: 1870. (St. Peter's Bascilica)
Crisis or controversy: A return to life of the Catholic Church: needed a revival of religious life
General restoration and restatement of the faith was needed;
Christian marriages and education needed safeguarding.
Attendees: 747 bishops, and the following notables:
Convened: Pius IX, Pope;
Ratified: Pius IX, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Promulgated decrees on the Catholic Faith and on the Church;
Condemned the Rationalists and Semirationalists;
Defined the charism of infallibility.

Vatican II

When and where: 1962 - 1965.
Crisis or controversy: Constant need for reform and revival;
Needed translation of faith into modern era: communication media;
Christians and Jews; religious freedom, etc.
Attendees: 2908 bishops, and the following notables:
Convened: John XXIII, Pope;
Ratified: Paul VI, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Issued 16 documents:
On Divine Revelation;
The Pastoral Constitution;
On The Church in the Modern World;
On The Church

The 16 Documents of Vatican II

SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL

The 16 Documents

1. Sacrosanctum concilium, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 1963.
    English Latin

2. Inter Mirifica, Decree On the Means of Social Communication, 1963.
    English Latin

3. Lumen Gentium, Dogmatic Constitution On the Church, 1964.
    English Latin

4. Orientalium Ecclesiarum, Decree On the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite,1964.
    English Latin

5. Unitatis Redintegratio, Decree on Ecumenism, 1964.
    English Latin

6. Christus Dominus, Decree Concerning the Pastoral Office of Bishops In the Church,
1965. English Latin

7. Perfectae Caritatis, Decree On Renewal of Religious Life, 1965.
    English Latin

8. Optatam Totius, Decree On Priestly Training, 1965.
    English Latin

9. Gravissimum Educationis, Declaration On Christian Education, 1965.
    English Latin

10. Nostra Aetate, Declaration On the Relation Of the Church to Non-Christian
Religions, 1965. English Latin

11. Dei Verbum, Dogmatic Constitution On Divine Revelation, 1965.
     English Latin

12. Apostolicam Actuositatem, Decree On the Apostolate of the Laity, 1965.
     English Latin

13. Dignitatis Humanae, Declaration On Religious Freedom, 1965.
     English Latin

14. Ad Gentes, Decree On the Mission Activity of the Church, 1965.
     English Latin

15. Presbyterorum Ordinis, Decree On the Ministry and Life of Priests, 1965.
     English Latin

16. Gaudium et Spes, Pastoral Constitution On the Church In the Modern World,1965.
     English Latin

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