[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Welcome to Free Republic, Patrick! (When you talk to Hope next, please tell her I said "Hi!") --Polycarp (Dr. Brian Kopp)

"The Heart of an Apostle: If you want to make converts, begin by converting your own heart."

Beautiful sentiment. Rich and True.
Meaning no offense to anyone, Saint Francis of Assisi still said it best:

"Preach the Gospel at all times.
If absolutely necessary -- Use Words."

Welcome to Free Republic, Patrick Madrid. "Polycarp" is, I hope, a friend of mine. (actually, Dr. Kopp has done much more for the Pro-Life Movement than have I ever, especially in terms of nationally-published articles. I am just a run-a-the-mill OP layman. But we both served our time in support of Operation Rescue, a decade or more past)

That said, I have a question to ask you, Mr. Madrid:

Gerry Matatics
James Akin
Scott Hahn
Robert Sungenis
Paul Thigpen
Marcus Grodi

I beg forgiveness for my mild curiosity, Mr. Madrid, but I can't help but ask -- aside from "cradle-Catholic" Karl Keating, does the Church of Rome have any intention of fielding a Major Lay Apologist who was NOT trained by the Presbyterian Church?

Because it seems to me as if virtually all of the Major Lay Apologists currently fielded by the Roman Church are, so to speak, "also-ran" Presbyterians. At least, judging by the list above. (who are, of course, EX-PRESBYTERIANS -- to a man).

You'll forgive me if I placed Gerry Matatics at the top of the list. I realize that there is some question as to his "Roman Orthodoxy", given the SSPX controversy. Karl Keating says that Matatics has renounced the Pope. Matatics says that he hasn't. I don't know whom to believe.

All I know is that, having read the Debate Transcripts as a former National Collegiate Debater, it is my personal belief that Matatics is one of the most powerful Apologetic Debaters alive today. If I had to debate Akin or Hahn, I would require at least three weeks of uninterrupted prep-work to get back in shape. If I had to debate Matatics -- I would demand at least three months, and even then I'd be less-than-perfectly confident. If the Roman Catholic Church has denounced him, it's their loss -- and my gain, as a Protestant Apologist.

"Zealotry of the Convert" aside, why is it that the finest Lay Apologists in the Roman Catholic Church today are, almost uniformly, EX-Presbyterians?

Do you have something to teach us?

Or do we have something to teach you?

I have no desire to depart from the Church of Jesus, John, Paul, Peter, and Augustine.
I stayed with Augustine, and the "church" left me. Kindofa "Rehoboam-Jeroboam" thang, if you can dig it.

Best, OP

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

it is my personal belief that Matatics is one of the most powerful Apologetic Debaters alive today.

You asked me once, in private FReepMail, why I thought so highly of Matatics. Given the fact that his web-site kinda sucks these days, I didn't have a very good answer for you at the time. But I just now thought of one.

A variety of "RealAudio" Transcripts of Debates between (Reformed Baptist) James White and (Roman Catholic) Gerry Matatics may be found here, if you have the time to listen:

http://www.straitgate.com/rcc/debates.htm#

I like to think, and I personally believe, that James White generally "won" his Debates against Matatics -- at least most of the time. But many Roman Catholic Apologists ("Run and Hide" Karl Keating, most ignominiously) commonly refuse White's invitations -- because, out of 40 Million Baptists in America, James White is quite possibly the most professionally-accomplished, regularly-practiced, Reformed Baptist Lay-Apologist in America (I.E, in the World).

Matatics is actually willing to take his calls, and gives him a run for his money.
That's what I think of Matatics.