Stephen K. Ray's Blog, page 506

Questions I Answered on Catholic Answers Live

Tonight the topic was "The Power of Kindness in Apologetics" and the phone lines were hopping! For info on various ways to listen to the archived show, click here. I will post the link to listen on-line when it's available on Tuesday.

First, I promised Sheila I would post a link to my blog on Water Baptism and Becoming Born Again. Her boyfriend has "accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior" which he calls "baptized in the word," but he has not been baptized in water.

I would suggest Sheila read the blog I wrote as a starting point. You can read it here.

These are the questions I answered tonight:

1. How can I approach my daughter about returning to the Catholic Faith?

2. I haven't seen my brother in years and he is married to a non-Catholic. How do I bring up the Faith in the short time I am with him?

3. How do I explain the importance of water baptism to my boyfriend and his family?

4. My brother is gay and our conversations always get emotional. Can you offer any advice?

5. My husband is Muslim and our children are favoring his religion; what should I do? (answer short due to time.)

Are you Born Again by "Water and the Spirit"?

It seems that God is kind of predictable in a way :-) since He always starts new things in the same way – with "water and the Spirit". Consider the following:

1) The first creation came from the the earth which was covered with WATER and the SPIRIT hovered over the waters and from the water emerged land and man and God's first creation (Gen 1:1-2).

2) A new humanity was started with Noah through WATER and SPIRIT. The ark went through the water and a dove (representing the Spirit) hovered overhead with an olive branch. Peter said this represents baptism which "now saves us" (1 Peter 3:18-21).

3) The nation of Israel was created through the WATER of the Red Sea (baptism) with the cloud and fire of the Holy SPIRIT overhead — my oh my, again we have water and Spirit (Ex 14; 1 Cor 10:1-4).

4) Ezekiel then describes what the New Covenant will look like and he said we will be sprinkled with clean WATER and his SPIRIT will be placed in us (Ez 36:25). Born again, I suspect.

5) Then Jesus, right before saying you must be born of "water and the Spirit" had just gone down into the WATER of the Jordan and the SPIRIT came down and landed on his head. Again, water and the Spirit (Mt 3:16; Jn 1:29).

6) Jesus teaches Nicodemus that he must be born again, or from above which is accomplished through "WATER and the SPIRIT."

7) When Jesus finished these words what was the first thing he did? He went down and baptized people in the Jordan with his disciples (Jn 4:1-2).

8) At the first Holy Ghost Gospel Revival meeting :-) Peter stood up at Pentecost and said,  "Repent, and be baptized (WATER) every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy SPIRIT" (Acts 2:38).

9) Peter also says "Baptism now saves you" (1 Pet 3:18), and Paul is told "Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16), and Paul writes that we are saved "by the washing of regeneration (WATER) and renewal in the Holy SPIRIT" (Titus 3:5).

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Too bad many Evangelicals and Fundamentalists refuse to see it but the Bible is pretty clear about new birth through the sacrament of baptism. Jesus is not ambiguous in this matter and he is alluding quite clearly to new beginnings in the Old Testament. The Early Church is also very clear and so is the teaching of the Catholic Church today.

(Picture to right is the place in the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized. Click for larger image.)

St. Augustine said, "Who is so wicked as to want to exclude infants from the kingdom of heaven by prohibiting their being baptized and born again in Christ?"

When someone asks me "Have you been born again?"  I simply answer "Absolutely, but I've been born again the Bible Way!"

Nuns on Oprah AGAIN!

From my friend Sister Joseph Andrew:

We'll be on Oprah's Show again on Tuesday (Nov. 23) – if you wish to watch!  She could not have been more happy to see us!  God is touching her heart, it certainly appears!! She even mentioned her rosary which the Sisters gave her last time….no idea whether that will make it through the editors!  Please spread the word and beg God to be able to use our efforts for His greater glory!

Did Catholics Invent Pilgrimages?

No, it was something the Holy Family did at least once a year!

Look what the Catechism says: "[Jesus'] public ministry itself was patterned by his pilgrimages to Jerusalem for the great Jewish feasts" (583). And the Psalmist wrote: "Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage" (Psa 119:54 in RSV-Catholic Edition).

Remember when Jesus was lost in Jerusalem and his parents found him in the Temple? They were on pilgrimage:  "Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when [Jesus] was twelve years old, they went up according to custom" (Luke 2:41-42).

Along the way they sang the Pilgrimage Psalms, the Psalms of Ascent — Psalms 120-134.  Here is one of them:

Psalm 122:1 A Song of Ascents. Of David.

"I was glad when they said to me,

"Let us go to the house of the Lord!"

Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!

Jerusalem, built as a city which is bound firmly together,

to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord,

as was decreed for Israel,

to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

There thrones for judgment were set,

the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

"May they prosper who love you!

Peace be within your walls,

and security within your towers!"

For my brethren and companions' sake I will say,

"Peace be within you!"

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

I will seek your good."

Join us on a pilgrimage. Visit www.FootprintsOfGod.com

Pope Benedict Discusses Condoms and the Spread of AIDS

What did the Pope Ready Say? Find out the TRUTH before the secular Media spins it into anti-Catholic hype:

An excerpt from Light of the World, Peter Seewald's book-length interview with Pope Benedict XVI

From Chapter 11, "The Journeys of a Shepherd," pages 117-119:

The Question the Pope was Asked : "On the occasion of your trip to Africa in March 2009, the Vatican's policy on AIDs once again became the target of media criticism. Twenty-five percent of all AIDs victims around the world today are treated in Catholic facilities. In some countries, such as Lesotho, for example, the statistic is 40 percent. In Africa you stated that the Church's traditional teaching has proven to be the only sure way to stop the spread of HIV. Critics, including critics from the Church's own ranks, object that it is madness to forbid a high-risk population to use condoms."

Go here for the Pope's answer and more — the full context of his answer which L'Osservatore Romano failed to provide!

What does the Holy Father really say about condoms in the new book?

By Dr. Janet E. Smith

This week, Light of the World , a book-length interview given by Pope Benedict XVI to journalist Peter Seewald, will be released worldwide. Several of the Holy Father's statements have already started making news, particularly his comments regarding condom usage in the prevention of the spread of HIV.

To the charge that "It is madness to forbid a high-risk population to use condoms," in the context of an extended answer on the help the Church is giving AIDs victims and the need to fight the banalization of sexuality, Pope Benedict replied …

Resources:

For the rest of Janet Smith's article go here.

Especially Good: Jimmy Akin's comments here .

Catholic Vote article here .

National Catholic Registers good article here .

Ed Peter's comments on L'Osservatore Romano here

Archangel Institute here.

Three Tours of Church of St. Paul in Rome

in response to my show today with Relevant Radio, I have posted this blog.Thanks to host Chuck Neff and producer Doug Thompson for inviting me.

Join us on a future pilgrimage: *Egypt & Jordan, *Israel, *Fathers of the Church in Italy, St. Paul Cruise and *Poland! Check out www.SteveGoes.com, or call Suzanne at 800-727-1999.

The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls launched a newly renovated Web site to collect prayers, offer a virtual tour, and further the Apostle's worldwide evangelization effort.

Online visitors can read news related to the basilica and the tomb of St. Paul, virtually tour the church, make reservations for guided tours of the building, visit the gift store, and watch a video of Benedict XVI during celebrations in the basilica.

They can also write intentions that will be offered up in the prayers of the Benedictine monks of the Abbey of St. Paul Outside the Walls, as well as read the Pope's catechetical texts on the Apostle.

Click here to visit this cool new site.

I recently made a short YouTube video showing the end of Paul's life. It takes you into the Church of St. Paul Outside the Walls where the bones of St. Paul are located. Enjoy!

Inside the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul on our last pilgrimage a few days ago.

Two Tours of Church of St. Paul in Rome

The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls launched a newly renovated Web site to collect prayers, offer a virtual tour, and further the Apostle's worldwide evangelization effort.

Online visitors can read news related to the basilica and the tomb of St. Paul, virtually tour the church, make reservations for guided tours of the building, visit the gift store, and watch a video of Benedict XVI during celebrations in the basilica.

They can also write intentions that will be offered up in the prayers of the Benedictine monks of the Abbey of St. Paul Outside the Walls, as well as read the Pope's catechetical texts on the Apostle.

Click here to visit this cool new site.

I recently made a short YouTube video showing the end of Paul's life. It takes you into the Church of St. Paul Outside the Walls where the bones of St. Paul are located. Enjoy!

On Relevant Radio & Catholic Answers Live Monday

In the morning (and replayed twice during the day) I will be on Relevant Radio's Sean Herriott's show at 7:00 AM Eastern to discuss We will discuss Peter and Paul since Nov. 18 is the Feast Day of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul in Rome (where I was two days ago and which churches I just visited :-)

We will discuss why we build churches to these saints and why we keep their relics – isn't it morbid? We will also talk about their final days, arrests and executions. If time allows we will also discuss St. Clement who was a disciple of Peter and the third Pope whose feast day is Nov. 23.

In the evening I will join Patrick Coffin on Catholic Answers Live on Monday at 6:00 PM Eastern time. The topic will be "The Power of Kindness in Apologetics." To listen on-line, go to www.Catholic.com.

Geez, and I am just getting home Sunday night at 10:00 PM after being away for 6 weeks!

Priestesses? Why Only Boys Can be Daddies!

This is an excellent audio talk by Peter Kreeft on why the Catholic Church has a male-only priesthood.

Why Only Boys Can Be Daddies

It was only a month ago we were in Israel and a group of Anglican priests and priestesses stayed in the same hotel. Some of the men wore pinkish-purple shirts with white collars and most of the women wore black shirts with white collars. One wanted to be called Fr. Christina.

For dissent Catholics who want no pope, a democratic church that accepts and approves of sexual deviations, homosexual marriages and priests, female priestesses, gay and women bishops — there is a church just for you. The Anglican church is just for you!

But remember, orthodox Anglicans and Episcopalians are leaving their schism by the boatload to find refuge in the Catholic Church.

Can you imagine going to this group of "priestesses" for confession?

Pope Benedict Discusses Condoms and the Spread of AIDS

What did the Pope Ready Say? Find out the TRUTH before the secular Media spins it into anti-Catholic hype:

An excerpt from Light of the World, Peter Seewald's book-length interview with Pope Benedict XVI

From Chapter 11, "The Journeys of a Shepherd," pages 117-119:

On the occasion of your trip to Africa in March 2009, the Vatican's policy on AIDs once again became the target of media criticism. Twenty-five percent of all AIDs victims around the world today are treated in Catholic facilities. In some countries, such as Lesotho, for example, the statistic is 40 percent. In Africa you stated that the Church's traditional teaching has proven to be the only sure way to stop the spread of HIV. Critics, including critics from the Church's own ranks, object that it is madness to forbid a high-risk population to use condoms.

Go here for the Pope's answer and more.

What does the Holy Father really say about condoms in the new book?

By Dr. Janet E. Smith

This week, Light of the World , a book-length interview given by Pope Benedict XVI to journalist Peter Seewald, will be released worldwide. Several of the Holy Father's statements have already started making news, particularly his comments regarding condom usage in the prevention of the spread of HIV.

To the charge that "It is madness to forbid a high-risk population to use condoms," in the context of an extended answer on the help the Church is giving AIDs victims and the need to fight the banalization of sexuality, Pope Benedict replied …

For the rest of Janet Smith's article go here.

Jimmy Akin's comments here .

Catholic Vote article here .