CONTENTS
About the Author
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Scripture quotes extracted from the Revised Standard Version
of the Bible (Catholic Edition), copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971, and the New
Revised Standard Version of the Bible (Catholic Edition), copyright © 1989, and
the Douai-Rheims version of the Holy Bible,1899.
Extracts from The Faith of the Early Fathers, Rev.
William A. Jurgens, Copyright © 1970 by The Order of St. Benedict, Inc. Published by
The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota. Used with permission.
Extracts from The Catechism of the Council of Trent,
Issued by order of Pope Pius V, 1566, reprinted by Tan Books and Publishers Inc.,
Rockford, Illinois 61105.
Extracts from English translation of Catechism of the Catholic
Church for Australia copyright © June 1994 ST PAULS/Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
Used with permission.
Typesetting and formatting assistance from David Obeid,
Apologist and Catechist, Sydney, Australia.
Front Cover: The Creation of the World.
© Robert Haddad 1998.
DEDICATION
Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, Pray for Us!
PREFACE
Up until the early 1960s almost 250 000 people each year
converted to the Catholic Church in the United States alone. The Church was so powerful
and monolithic in its stature that many of its opponents genuinely feared alleged
"Popish" plots to take over America, destroy democracy and conquer the world.
Times have changed. Now we witness a steady stream of
"converts" heading in the other direction - to indifferentism, Protestant
Fundamentalism, the New Age Movement, atheism etc., just to name a few. In Central and
South America, for example, more than one thousand Catholics are lost each day to the
various Protestant denominations that actively seek to "win souls for Christ."
Fundamentalist proselytism is obvious and everywhere and now constitutes a worldwide
epidemic.
Darkness exists only where there is no light, and error advances only
where there is ignorance. Unfortunately, with the worldwide collapse of effective Catholic
catechesis and the confusion and denials spread by Modernism and Progressivism, there is
today much ignorance. This is a problem recently acknowledged by the Holy See, which has
strengthened the Canon Law to punish as "a heretic or an apostate
whoever denies
a truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith
with a major
excommunication
not excluding deposition" (Pope John Paul II, Ad Tuendam
Fidem, 28 May, 1998; canon 1436).
Thanks be to God, there is a growing number of Catholics who are no
longer prepared to see the Church of Christ remain defenseless in the face of the
untruths, distortions and historical inaccuracies of sectarians and other opponents.
Hence, the formation in recent years of various lay apostolates specializing in
apologetics, particularly in the United States.
This work has a two-fold purpose: firstly, it is aimed at arming
Catholics with a better knowledge and understanding of their Faith in order that they may
in turn become modern-day apostles in its defense; and secondly, to bring the light of
truth to those of good-will outside the Churchs fold.
Each topic is complete in itself, and is designed for use by teachers
or instructors of adult catechetical, apologetical, religious or home groups. The
three-fold structure of Scriptures, Fathers and Catechism has been chosen to illustrate
both the continuity of the Churchs teaching since Apostolic times and that the
Church of the New Testament and the Apostles is the same Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic
Church of today.
We pray that this work may contribute to the greater efforts of others
involved in the "good fight," and further the cause of Christs Kingdom in
the world and the salvation of souls.
October 27, 1998
Feast of Christ the King
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
Robert Haddad
Robert Haddad has been actively involved in catechetical
and apologetical work since 1990.
Graduating from Sydney University with a Bachelor's degree in Law
Robert took up an opportunity to work with a new high school established by the Lebanese
Maronite Order of Monks, (St. Charbels College, Punchbowl). Since 1990 he has
acquired a Graduate Certificate in Religious Education (Catholic) from Charles Sturt
University and set up a Religious Education course for Years 7-12 of uncompromising
soundness in doctrine and orthodoxy.
Because of his position as Religious Education Co-ordinator in the
school, Robert has been called upon regularly by both students and parishioners to
publicly defend and / or explain the Faith. These numerous encounters are the reason for
this work.
In 1996, Robert co-founded Lumen
Verum Apologetics, an apologetical lecture group meeting and working in south-west
Sydney on Friday nights. As well, Robert lectures in Apologetics at the Center for
Thomistic Studies based in central Sydney and conducts catechism classes in various
parishes around the Sydney metropolitan area. Robert is also a Board member of the Association
of Religious Educators, established in 1997 by teachers, parents and friends concerned
with the current state of Catholic education. In 1999, Robert plans to commence
Theological Studies at Charles Sturt University. This is his first work.
"Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus."
Contents
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Catholic
Apologetics - The Work of God
The
Work of God - index
www.theworkofgod.org
Catholic
Apologetics - The Apostles' Creed
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