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.

General Councils of the Church

Lateran I

When and where: 1123. (Basilica in Rome, Italy)
Crisis or controversy: Needed to face the social and religious problems of the day;
First ecumenical council in the West.
Attendees: 300 bishops, and the following notables:
Convened: Callistus II, Pope;
Ratified: Callistus
Decrees and resolutions: Promulgated canons of mixed matters.

Lateran II

When and where: 1139.
Crisis or controversy: A double papal election and ensuing schism when two rivals claiming to be pope divided the church.
Attendees: 1000 bishops, and the following notables:
Convened: Innocent II, Pope;
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Ratified: Innocent II.
Decrees and resolutions: Took measures against schism of antipope Anacletis II;
Promulgated canons of church discipline

Lateran III

When and where: 1179.
Crisis or controversy: Reorganization had to be faced; there was the ever-needed pressure to reform; restraint of abuses.
Attendees: More than 300 bishops, and the following notables:
Convened: Alexander III, Pope;
Ratified: Alexander III, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Decreed that papal elections required two-thirds majority of cardinals at the conclave;
Promulgated numerous disciplinary canons.

Lateran IV

When and where: 1215.
Crisis or controversy: Albigensian heresy: two supreme beings, Evil and Good; Christ did not die; all material things must.
Attendees: 412 bishops; 388 priests, and the following notables:
Convened: Innocent III, Pope;
Ratified: Innocent III, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Declaration of Canon Law: the law of the Church;
Decrees against Albegensians and Waldensians.

Lyons I

When and where: 1245. (City in E. France)
Crisis or controversy: The difficult and heretical behavior of Emperor Frederick II;
The persecution of religion.
Attendees: 140 bishops; more than 300 in toto, and the following notables:
Convened: Innocent IV, Pope;
Ratified: Innocent IV, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Excommunication and deposition of Frederick II.

Lyons II

When and where: 1274.
Crisis or controversy: A marked decline of the detachment of the popes from the things of the world;
Chronic restiveness of the Greeks toward Roman primacy.
Attendees: 500 bishops; 570 priests, and the following notables:
Convened: Gregory X, Pope;
St. Thomas Aquinas,
St. Bonaventure;
Ratified: Gregory X, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: General reformation of the morals of clergy and bishops;
Dogmatic constitution of filioque;
Profession of faith of Greek Emperor Michael VIII.

Vienne

When and where: 1312. (City in E. France near Lyons)
Crisis or controversy: Problems with the religious order of Knights Templars.
Attendees: 122 bishops; 300 abbots, and the following notables:
Convened: Clemens V, Pope;
Ratified: Clemens V, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Templars were suppressed;
Canon Law enacted;
Three definition of dogmas;
Disciplinary decrees written.

Constance

When and where: 1414 - 1418. (City in Germany on Swiss border)
Crisis or controversy: The Great Western Schism: two sets of popes.
Attendees: 32 Cardinals; 183 bishops; 100 abbots; 350 priests, and the following notables:
Convened: Segismund, Emperor;
Ratified: Martin V, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Reformation of the Church;
Material organization of religion.

Florence

When and where: 1438. (City of N. Italy)
Crisis or controversy: East/West reunion;
Constantinople was being threatened by Mohammedans.
Attendees: more than 150 bishops, and the following notables:
Convened: Eugene IV, Pope;
Ratified: Eugene IV, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Reunion of oriental churches.

Lateran V

When and where: 1512 - 1517.
Crisis or controversy: Needed reform in church administration;
Rise of atheistic philosophy;
Friction between bishops and orders of friars.
Attendees: 115 bishops, and the following notables:
Convened: Julius II, Pope;
Cajetan;
Ratified: Leo X, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Condemned the Averroes philosophy: the soul of man is not immortal;
Promulgated reform decrees;
Established principles of book censorship;
Rights of bishops defined.

Trent

When and where: 1545 - 1563. (in Hapsburg's Germany; now N. Italy)
Crisis or controversy: Martin Luther;
Revolt against the Pope;
Widespread heresy.
Attendees: 70 - 252 bishops, and the following notables:
Convened: Paul III, Pope;
Ratified: Pius IV, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Doctrinal decrees: restatement of belief in opposition to the new theologies;
The Catholic Reformation: the reformation of Catholic life.

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