Catechism & Church Teaching

The Abuse Scandal and the Authority of the Church

Does the clerical sexual abuse scandal disprove the Catholic Church’s authority to teach? The answer turns on infallibility, indefectibility, and impeccability.

Who Actually Killed Goliath? David, Elhanan, and the Textual Transmission of 1–2 Samuel

2 Samuel 21:19 in Hebrew credits Elhanan, not David, with killing Goliath. The Catholic tradition has long-standing tools for the textual problem.

Why Catholics Confess to a Priest: A History of the Sacrament of Reconciliation

A scholarly Catholic history of the sacrament of reconciliation: its biblical, patristic, medieval, and Reformation roots, for curious Protestant readers.

The Historical David: Archaeology, the Hebrew Bible, and Catholic Doctrine in 2026

What archaeology, the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Catholic doctrine say about whether King David was a real historical figure.

Did the Catholic Church Ban the Bible? What History Actually Shows

Did the Catholic Church ban the Bible? Examining the councils, indices, and regional restrictions—what's myth, what's exaggeration, and what's actually true.

Scriptural Inerrancy and the Hard Passages of the Old Testament

How Catholic inerrancy handles the conquest of Canaan, the Aqedah, the imprecatory psalms, and other hard Old Testament passages. Five approaches.

Every Ex Cathedra Papal Statement: A Complete Guide

The complete list of ex cathedra papal statements: only two are universally recognized — Ineffabilis Deus (1854) and Munificentissimus Deus (1950) — plus disputed candidates including Benedictus Deus, Unam Sanctam, and Ordinatio Sacerdotalis. Vatican I's four conditions explained.

Joseph Ratzinger, Doubt, and Humility

How Joseph Ratzinger's writings on doubt cultivate Christian humility—and why the humble submission of doubt to faith is more honest than relativism.

God Desires All Men To Be Saved

What does 1 Timothy 2:4 mean for Catholic theology? A reflection on Catechism §74, predestination, free will, and God's universal desire for salvation.

Progressive Revelation of the Divine Character

The God of the Old Testament is only partially revealed. In Christ, that progressive revelation reaches its fullness, and no further revelation follows.

The Full Revelation of God

Jesus Christ is the full revelation of God. CCC 65-67 on why no public revelation will supplement or surpass Christ, the Father's definitive Word.

Joseph Ratzinger and the Purpose of Theology

How Joseph Ratzinger grounds theology in the Church as a living conversation with God, drawing humanity together in Christ's liberating work.

Stages of Revelation

How God progressively revealed himself through Noah, Abraham, and Israel—a Catholic reflection on Catechism §§ 54–64 and salvation history.

God’s Gradual Revelation of Himself

Why did God reveal himself gradually? A Catholic reflection on Catechism §§ 51–53 and the divine pedagogy that prepared humanity to receive Christ.

Errors in Scripture and Biblical Authority

Do contradictions undermine biblical authority? A Catholic look at inerrancy, Dei Verbum § 11, and reading Scripture for the truth it teaches for our salvation.

Can We Know God?

Since our knowledge of God is limited, our language about him is equally so. The Catechism teaches that we can name God only by taking creatures as our starting point—and that our words always fall short of the mystery.

To Know God as a Catholic

Catholic teaching on knowing God: reason, revelation, and grace. A walk through CCC §§31–35 with Reformed and Arminian parallels.

The Catechism as an Exposition of Divine Love

God is love, and the Catechism must be read in its entirety as the outworking of that divine love in the world.

Proof-Texting and The Catechism

In this post, I discuss proof-texting and the importance of considering each of the teachings of the faith as part of a unified whole.

Catholic-Protestant Relations and the Catechism

In this post, I take a look at Catholic-Protestant relations in light of the Catholic Church’s organization of her own Catechism.

Catechesis and the Preservation of the Faith

In this post, I continue my reflection on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, giving particular attention to the Church’s understanding of catechesis.

Prologue to the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Reflecting on the Catechism's opening: how Christ and God's love for humanity form the foundation of Catholic theology and address Protestant misconceptions.

How to Talk to Protestants About Tradition

How to explain the Catholic understanding of tradition to Protestants and build understanding across Christian traditions without conflict.

How to Talk to Protestants about Divine Revelation

Both Catholic and Protestant traditions affirm divine revelation through Christ. This post explores their common ground and the fundamental difference in how each tradition discerns revelation's meaning.