All entries by this author

To Enter the Sanctuary by the Blood of Jesus: A Literal Account of Becoming Catholic

Aug 3rd, 2014 | By | Category: Featured Articles

What follows is the story of how I became a Catholic, as best as I can remember it. I have called this a “literal account” in order to distinguish it from a more ambiguous and allusive telling of the tale that was offered here several years ago as “The Last Road.” In neither version do […]



Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology: A Catholic Perspective on a Debated Point

Jun 21st, 2014 | By | Category: Blog Posts

In theologically conversant Evangelical circles, it is (or used to be) common knowledge that one of the most basic conflicts between Dispensational theologians and Covenant theologians is that they give different answers to the question, “What is the most fundamental purpose of God’s dealings with the world, as revealed in Scripture?” The classical Dispensationalist answer […]



Catholic Life and Devotion

Apr 1st, 2014 | By | Category: Blog Posts, Catholic Life and Devotion

On the Index page of Called to Communion, there is a section entitled “Catholic Life and Devotion.” This section features reflections on life in the Catholic Church based upon CTC contributors’ growing experiences as members of the Church in full communion. There are three reasons for calling attention to this section of our website: First, as […]



Pope Francis, Atheists, and the Evangelical Spirit

May 23rd, 2013 | By | Category: Blog Posts

Some interest has been generated in online news media by Pope Francis’s recent homily in which he affirmed that atheists can accomplish some good in the created order, which provides a “meeting place” for them and religious believers. The Pope went on to say that atheists have been redeemed by Jesus Christ. I immediately took this […]



Apostolic Succession and Historical Inquiry: Some Preliminary Remarks

May 12th, 2013 | By | Category: Blog Posts

Included in the May 2013 issue of First Things is Ephraim Radner’s review of Candida Moss’s book, The Myth of Persecution: How Early Christians Invented a Story of Martyrdom (HarperOne). I found Moss’s arguments against the historicity of early Christian martyrologies to be particularly familiar and interesting in the light of some recent discussion over at Jason […]



Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2013: Day One, “Walking in Conversation”

Jan 18th, 2013 | By | Category: Blog Posts

Today, January 18, marks the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity has posted a web-page featuring some material for the week, including an ecumenical worship service, daily themes, Bible readings, reflections, and prayers. The over-arching theme for the week is the question, “What does God require of […]



Searching for the Immaculate Conception

Dec 8th, 2012 | By | Category: Blog Posts

Today, December 8th, is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The name alone is startling, and what makes it worse, the doctrine itself can seem severely abstract. Contrast this with the mysteries of the Rosary like the Visitation, the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Coronation; I have long seen and loved Mary in each of these […]



“Do You Want to Go to Heaven?”

Nov 8th, 2012 | By | Category: Blog Posts

For many Evangelical Protestants, the most important point of Christian doctrine is expressed in the affirmation: “I know for sure that I will go to Heaven when I die.” This kind of certitude about one’s eternal destiny is perhaps the biggest “selling point” for a large segment of Evangelical Christianity, as testified by innumerable gospel […]



Did Trent Teach that Christ’s Merits Are Not Sufficient for Salvation?

Jun 13th, 2012 | By | Category: Blog Posts

Reformed theologian Michael Horton recently claimed that “Trent said in no uncertain terms that Christ’s merits are not sufficient for salvation.” Whether or not that claim sounds suspicious to you, and it did to me, remember one of the cardinal rules in ecumenical inquiry: Don’t get your Catholic theology from Protestant hearsay–and vice versa. Go […]



The Gift of Salvation

Jun 7th, 2012 | By | Category: Blog Posts, Catholic Life and Devotion

Despite my objections to some of Dr. Leithart’s recently expressed opinions about the Catholic Church vis-a-vis his own Reformed catholicity, I regularly visit his website for the purpose of gathering in the little jewels of wisdom scattered along his literary shore. I found a particularly striking gem this morning, which called to mind something that […]