The original purpose behind the Mackerel Snapper Blog was to reach out to other individuals like myself who were considering joining the Catholic Church or were already in the process of doing so. My goal was to explain the Catholic faith from a convert’s perspective and present it in a simple, Joe Anybody manner that’s … [Read more…]
It’s widely known that the Catholic Church doesn’t allow non-Catholics to receive the Eucharist (read about it here), but what about the flip side of that coin? If for some reason a Catholic is attending a Protestant service, can they partake in communion? No, they cannot. Under no circumstances are Catholics to receive communion from … [Read more…]
“I am and always will be the optimist, the hoper of far-flung hopes and the dreamer of improbable dreams.”—The Eleventh Doctor The above passage is one of my favorite quotes from Doctor Who. There’s nothing exactly profound about it, but that’s often what’s so genius about The Doctor. In the past, I struggled with being … [Read more…]
With my recent pieces on divorce, I’ve used the word “adultery” a great bit. Within the context, however, I discussed the adultery that comes after a divorce when either party attempts to start a new relationship. I’d like now to discuss adultery in the way that we normally see it–as infidelity in a marriage, or … [Read more…]
In my last essay, I discussed how divorce is pretty much never okay. Since then, some questions have been raised to me about Paul’s teachings on divorce, and I’d like to address them now. Before I dig into the scripture, however, I’d like to express my bewilderment at how many Christians are so quick to … [Read more…]
I recently delivered an emotional, first hand appeal to Christian parents and couples to avoid divorce — no matter what. Now, I’d like to take a look at divorce from a more objective, theological view. The big question is this: Is it ever okay for Christians to get a divorce? Short, safe answer? No, … [Read more…]
Last month I wrote about how Catholics do not accept the doctrine of Sola Scriptura (meaning scripture alone) as truth. Now I’d like to move to another “Sola” that is perhaps the one of the biggest rifts separating Catholicism and Protestantism: Sola Fide. Sola Fide translates to “faith alone”. Adherents of Sola Fide express that … [Read more…]
At this point, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Catholic teaching strictly prohibits abortion in any and all situations. Despite what you may hear from slanted news stories or dissenting groups like Catholics for Choice, the Church’s stance is unwavering. Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured … [Read more…]
I think the fear of death is largely derived out of the unknown. How will I die? When will it happen? Will it hurt? It’s natural to fear death — or at the very least feel apprehensive about it. However, as Catholics, we believe that our final days can be a time of great glory … [Read more…]
Over the years, I’ve become an outspoken opponent of war in virtually every situation. Much like my stance on the death penalty, my beliefs about war were cemented upon discovering the truth of Catholicism. War is a horrible and evil entity—albeit an unfortunate reality in our world. When it comes to such a thing, there … [Read more…]