The True Value of Inaccessible Authority… An Historical Critique of Sola Scriptura

November 14, 2023 By Dennis Knapp

In past articles, I addressed the topic of sola scriptura. An issue for me, and others, concerns what stands as the final authority in a Christian’s life. Discussions of this subject between Protestants and Catholics often go down multiple rabbit holes. The Catholic tends to camp on their belief that the Protestant’s appeal to the Bible alone equates to the justification of personal interpretation and theological novelty. On the other hand, Protestants tend to stress that the Bible alone is... Read more

In a Spirit of Solidarity, I Call on All US Bishops Who Support Bishop Strickland to Immediately Offer Their Resignations to Pope Francis

November 11, 2023 By Dennis Knapp

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Your Excellencies, On November 11th, 2023, the Holy Father removed one of your brother bishops, Joseph Strickland, from his office. A vocal critic of Pope Francis, Bishop Strickland often challenged the Holy Father in much the same way St. Paul challenged St. Peter at Antioch (Galatians 2:11-13). A consummate defender of the Faith, Bishop Strickland has led his diocese towards greater spiritual and administrative health during his 10-year tenure. According to Catholic News Agency, Bishop Strickland’s diocese current has 21... Read more

Synodal Surprises: The Rise of Catholic Africa/a Sign of Things to Come

November 8, 2023 By Dennis Knapp

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As stated, in a previous article in July, “regardless of how the Synod of Synodality turns out, disappointment is the only certain outcome for all involved.” And considering the responses from those hoping for significant change within the Church, the above statement appears prophetic, or at least partially so. Of all the contingents involved, one seemed to exert an uncommonly strong influence over the final document released by Synod of Synodality (SoS). This group, with its strong commitment to Catholic... Read more

The Travels of a Christian Pilgrim – Guest Contributor

November 3, 2023 By Dennis Knapp

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The below article was provided by regular reader and commentator, Pilgrim. The Travels of a Christian Pilgrim “The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51:17) Saint Augustine in his Commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, begins with the proclamation that “anyone who piously and earnestly ponders the Sermon on the Mount – as we read in the Gospel according to Mathew – I believe he... Read more

“I think It’s Time to Say Goodbye…” A Reflection on All Souls’ Day (In Honor of My Deceased Father)

November 1, 2023 By Dennis Knapp

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Two days before my father passed away, the doctors gave him strong pain medication after one of the procedures to drain his lungs of fluids due to his congestive heart failure. Due to the medication, he mostly slept and hardly acknowledged me. Except for the one time he did… He opened his eyes, and in a moment of uncommon seriousness, looked me in the eyes and said, “I think it’s time to say goodbye.” He then closed his eyes and... Read more

JRR Tolkien, Middle Earth, and the Problem of Evil

October 30, 2023 By Dennis Knapp

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JRR Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings (LOTR), lived and died a devout Roman Catholic. His books, including LOTR, reflect his Catholicism. He went so far as to verify this fact in one of his letters. Tolkien’s legendarium, The Silmarillion, also reflects this worldview. In this work, Tolkien lays out the foundation for the world eventually occupied by “the good”: Frodo, Bilbo, Aragorn, and Gandalf, and “the evil”: Saruman and Sauron. As with Catholicism, Tolkien’s legendarium includes the... Read more

Is “Blessing” the Sinner also an Approval of Sin? Well, It Depends…

October 26, 2023 By Dennis Knapp

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We live in a fascinating time of Church history. Some on the Left side of the ideological spectrum think Pope Francis is open to the possibility of blessing same-sex unions. Moreover, some on the Right also see this same openness on the part of the Pope, yet they decry it as another indication of the chaos surrounding the Francis papacy. Still others, including me, think the Pope is not open to blessing same-sex union. However, the language Pope Francis uses,... Read more

Open Letter to Michael Lofton Concerning the Hermeneutic of “Suspicion” Surrounding Pope Francis

October 23, 2023 By Dennis Knapp

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Hello Michael, First, allow me to state that I enjoy watching your channel, Reason & Theology, and find your content exceptional and engaging. For the most part, I agree with your clarifications of Pope Francis’ comments and teachings. However, as I have written about on my blog at Patheos (The Latin Right), many of the Holy Father’s actions contribute to the hermeneutic of “suspicion” many traditionalist clerics and pundits employ when engaging the Pope’s writings and comments. I ask you... Read more

The Parable of the Bad Patient and Good Physician

October 21, 2023 By Dennis Knapp

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One day, a man visited his doctor for routine tests. His doctor ran the tests and discovered the man had a very treatable form of cancer. He provided the man a care plan and referred him to a trusted oncologist. An inquisitive man, the man researched his form of cancer online and discovered that some doctors considered his cancer a good and totally natural occurrence. He also found websites and online groups that advocated for not treating the cancer and... Read more

An Ambiguous Revolution: Changing the Church through Vagueness and Ambiguity

October 17, 2023 By Dennis Knapp

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In a recent article concerning the five dubias addressed to Pope Francis, I concluded that the faithful require greater clarity from the Holy See. Not alone in my conclusion, I then posted an open letter from a priest in the trenches also calling for greater clarity from Pope Francis directly. Sadly, for this priest, the Pope’s ambiguity harms his ministry. After reading articles from various authors and the comments by those who read my blog, it hit me—maybe ambiguity and... Read more