Steve Ray’s Blog

Here are the Bible verses we discussed on Teresa Tomeo's Catholic Connections–aired on Ave Maria Radio, Guadalupe Radio, EWTN and Sirius Satellite Radio:

1) "Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. Corresponding to that [Noah being saved through water], baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ," (1 Peter 3:21) 
 
I thought it was faith ALONE that saved us? Why was I blind to this verse? I was confronted by a Baptist once who said, "You Catholics believe you're saved through rituals and sacraments–the Bible says we are saved by Faith alone." I asked him to open his Bible and read 1 Peter 3:21 and asked "Is this the kind of ritual or sacrament you are referring to"? I used to wear Baptist glasses which obscured such verses from my vision.
 
2) "Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)
 
Why didn't Peter say, "Accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and ask him into your heart?" Do Evangelicals today use different words and phrases than those used in the Bible? Why? The first Holy Ghost Gospel Message ever preached was "under the big tent" in Jerusalem at Pentecost. Peter preached the Catholic gospel which sounds very different than the Fundamentalist gospel.
 
3) "‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’" (Acts 22:16 )

What did Paul hear from Ananias about how to have his sins forgiven? Again, why not the American Evangelical gospel? How should we read this and apply it today?
 
4) "Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:3-5) 
 
What did Jesus mean by "born of water and the Spirit"? Did Jesus just pull this phrase out of thin air, or were there Old Testament percedents that Nicodemus should have been aware of? The first creation was out of water and spirit (Gen 1:1-2), Noah was saved by water and spirit (1 Peter 3:18-21), the nation of Israel was created from water and spirit (1 Cor 10:1-4), etc.

Are You Born Again? Read this!

Janet and I are happy to announce our EXTREME FOOTPRINTS OF ST. PAUL PILGRIMAGE!

Yeah, it is long - THREE WEEKS!
Yeah, it is costly - traveling extensively with cool experiences planned in FOUR COUNTRIES!
Yeah, it is extreme - floating in the Mediterranean, a boat ride on the Aegean Sea, a basket ride down the wall in Damascus, Mass in the catacombs, hiking on old Roman Roads and much more.
Yeah, it's St. Paul - we will follow him from birth to death.
Yeah, it is deeply spiritual, biblical & Catholic - just like Steve did in his documentary.
Yeah, it fun! We have lots of unique and wonderful things planned for you; great food, wine & accommodations.
Yeah, it's cultural! Eat in a goat-hair tent like Paul made, meet local Christians, eat food like Paul ate, float of driftwood in the Sea, see Mount Olympus of the gods, and more!
Yeah, its eductional - learn to defend the faith, hear Steve's talks on Paul and his theology, study the Bible!
Yeah, the Pope - if he is Rome we plan to see him at the General Audience; and to see all the Principle Churches!

We hope you can join us. We have LIMITED seats! We have to keep this group small and intimate. If you have time in February 2009, put on your sandals and join us!

Click here for our brochure, or click on the brochure image.

Listen over the internet, or for downloading for iPODS, etc., click here.

Questions answered Thursday evening by Steve on Catholic Answers Live:

1 - Is it OK to wear the Rosary around my neck (it keeps breaking in my pocket)?

2 - Evolution: is it OK for Catholics to believe in some aspects of evolution? What must we believe and not believe?

3 - When I pray the Rosary for more than one person at a time, am I diluting the grace or does God answer them all equally?

4 - What can I read to learn why the Reformation happened? (I recommended Belloc's book "How the Reformation Happened." Two other books are Roots of the Reformation, by Karl Adam and Spirit and Forms of Protestantism, Louis Bouyer (though it covers far more than just the causes). Also check out the scholarly volumes of Warren Carroll.)

5 - My daughter's godparents have abandoned her and denied the faith. Can I get her new godparents?

6 - I've heard you talk about Peter and the big rock in Israel. Can you tell me more about the rock and cave in your talk?

7 - Six year old Mary asked, "Why do we sin?" (Wow, was she cute and sincere about the faith!)

8 - I have a two year old and I love her dearly; how can I relate this to my life and how can I understand and love God more?

Sam Miller, prominent Cleveland businessman - Jewish, not Catholic - is fighting mad about the seemingly concentrated effort by the media to disparage the Catholic Church in the United States.  The following are excerpts of a speech by well-known Cleveland businessman Mr. Miller at the City Club of Cleveland, given on Thursday, March 6. Even though of the Jewish faith, Miller has been a staunch supporter of the Cleveland Diocese and Bishop Anthony Pilla. It was published in the May-June issue of the Buckeye Bulletin

Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States, namely the Catholic Church?

Do you know - the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost to your Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. Your graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%, all at a cost to you. To the rest of the Americans it's free.

The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students. The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people - not just Catholics - in the United States today.

But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. . . .

For the whole speech, click here and wait only a second.

Bishop John M. Quinn

Detroit, May 3, 2008 / 06:16 am (CNA).- On Saturday Bishop John Quinn of Detroit will offer a funeral Mass for twenty-five babies whose bodies were recovered from garbage dumpsters behind an abortion clinic.

In March Dr. Monica Migliorino Miller, who heads the group Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, videotaped the contents of several bags of trash removed from the back of a Lathrup Village abortion clinic named Womancare of Southfield.  The graphic video shows bloody surgical materials, hypodermic needles, private medical records, and the remains of aborted human babies.

“This is no ordinary funeral,” said Father Frank Pavone, head of Priests for Life, writing in his column on priestsforlife.org.  “There are still too many of our fellow citizens who don’t even acknowledge that the people who will be buried this Saturday are people at all. To mourn their deaths publicly, therefore, is not just to honor them, but to sound a wake-up call to our nation that we are living amidst the biggest holocaust of all time.”

He called upon priests to alert their congregations of the burial of these children who were “brutally, legally killed.”

“Abortion has become too abstract,” Father Pavone continued.  “The word has lost its meaning. The conceptual knowledge that children are being killed is no longer enough to awaken many people to action. We need the funerals, we need to see the bodies, we need to hear the disgusting details of the abortions in order to be roused out of our moral slumber and end this killing once and for all.”

According to Father Pavone, Alberto Hodari, the head of the abortion clinic where the bodies were found, also threw patient medical records into the dumpster.  “Sadly, that is the only issue on which he may get into trouble,” he said.

“When society will punish a man for the pieces of paper he threw in the garbage but excuse him for throwing babies into that same garbage, we have become guilty of straining the gnat and swallowing the camel,” Father Pavone said.

Father Pavone said that two weeks after the funeral, pro-life advocates in Dallas will pray at a grave of 1,300 babies.  They have prayed at the grave there for 25 years in a row.

At 1 PM Eastern today, Steve will join Chuck Neff on Relevant Radio to talk about Pentecost. This may sound ho-hum to some, but it is really quite an exciting and interesing topic that really relates to us. It is the birthday of the Church! You can listen on line at www.relevantradio.com.

For Steve's audio CD "Fifty Days to Pentecost: Fire on your Head!"  click here. For Bible Study Computer software, click here. For recommended Bibles and books for Bible study, click here.

Watch this new video which will soon be aired on television. It is produced by Catholics Come Home and is beautifully done. Makes one proud to be a Catholic. Pass this l link on to family and friends, especially those you know who may have left the Church.

Click here to watch this moving video http://www.catholicscomehome.org/epic/epic120.phtml

To see other videos and TV ads they have created, click on the image below.

Several months ago I was criticized for my comments about St. Ignatius of Antioch during an appearance on Catholic Answers Live. The criticism was pathetic and I didn't even waste my time responding, just like I don't respond to a lot of nonsense that hits my Inbox.

However, a few friends responded a while ago here and here. But now Catholic apologist Benjamin Douglass has uploaded and posted his response http://www.pugiofidei.com/white.htm. You will find his text and his videos to be helpful and instructive.

Ben's first GodTube video is on the anti-catholics view of predestination, followed by the lack of charity in apologetics, and lastly about St. Ignatius' view of the Eucharist. I happen to be mentioned in some of these and I appreciate Ben's excellent clarification and defense. You can find the links here along with the text and — check out Ben's website while you're there.

I will be joining Fr. Mitch Pacwa in Sparks Nevada to give three talks on Mary at the "Mary, Perfect Disciple and Mother" conference at Immaculate Conception Church. Check my Schedule for more info. Looking forward to seeing all these good folks again. Thanks Dave and Mary Vidimos!

Bible Verses Missed by Some Protestants

You can now listen on-line to my last Catholic Answers Live show here. For other listening options, click here. We will do another show like this with Teresa Tomeo on Ave Maria Radio, Sirius Satellite and EWTN Radio on Friday, May 9, at 9:30 AM.

We discussed verses that Protestants often don't see in the Bible. This time we emphasized verses related to Baptism. We will be doing other follow up shows with other verses.

Obviously these verses are in the Bible and read by Protestants, but it is easy to miss some of these verses that don't quite fit Evangelical traditions. This show begins a mini-series as we consider some of these verses that really stand out.

What started the conversation were comments like the one below sent to me by Apologist John Martignoni.

"I'll never forget the time I showed a co-worker (PCA) the verse from John 20 about Jesus giving the disciples the authority to forgive or retain sins.  Her jaw dropped open.  She said, "I've read John 20 times and I've never seen that verse."  
          Then she noticed that I had a "Catholic Study Bible," and she got this big smile on her face and said, "Oh…wait a minute…this is a Catholic Bible.  Let me go get my King James."  A minute later she walked back into my office as she was flipping through her KJV and when she came to John 20, she froze and literally could not speak for several seconds…she just stared at me.  At which point I took her on a Catholic tour of the Bible for the next couple of hours.  
              She never came into my office and told me where the Catholic Church had "gotten it wrong" again…which she had done several times previous to that encounter."  

Worth watching!

http://www.wbaltv.com/video/15859167/index.html

Why are Catholics the only ones that can get kicked and take it. Can't do it with Jews, Blacks, Muslims, Homosexuals or any other group. Why do Catholics not fight back? Here's one guy that should be used as an example or our clout and willingness to defend ourselves.

http://www.firebillmaher.com/

The Vatican recently sponsored a survey on how Christians view the Bible.

There is no longer diversity among various Christian traditions regarding a relationship with Scripture, according to a survey presented in the Vatican.

Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, presented today in the Vatican press office the results of a study on the reading of Scripture in nine countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Poland and Russia.

Click here to read the Zenit article.

Four cheers for New York’s Cardinal Egan . . .

. . . who has finally had it with Rudy Giuliani flaunting the sacraments. Read more about it here.

Read the extensive CNA report here.

I am currently working on Genesis 24 for www.CatholicScriptureStudy.com. In this chapter Abraham sends his unnamed servant to find a bride for his son Isaac. The servant prays to God and asks, "Whichever girl at the well offers me a drink, and offers to water my camels as well, let her be the one you've chosen for Isaac."

Come on! Get real! What girl is going to draw water by hand for a group of men and TEN CAMELS? Do you know how much a camel can drink?  Try and guess!

Camels can drink _______ gallons in 10 minutes
Camels can drink _______ gallons in one session
Camels can drink _______ gallons in a day
Rebekah drew __________ gallons for 10 thirsy camels

No wonder the servant thought Rebekah was a good wife for Isaac. Good grief, this girl must have been amazing.

I am writing the Genesis study for www.CatholicScriptureStudy.com. Just finished Genesis 22 and today I'm on the Genesis 23. Studying Scripture like this is one of my favorite things to do in the whold world. Nice little tidbits pop out, like the one I found yesterday.

When God said to Abraham: "Take Isaac, your only son, the one whom you love, and offer him up on a mountain which I will show you," he did not give Abraham a firm command, but rather a request. This being the case, it makes Abraham's response all the more impressive. Abraham had been agonizing over a son for more than 25 years and well after childbearing years, 90 year old Sarah is finally granted the joy of a son.

We have no idea today of the importance of that son to Abraham; all of his hopes and dreams were centered on that son. All of God's promises, his covenant, his possessions, the land — all that would be fulfilled through Isaac. And now God asks Isaac to sacrifice him on an altar and burn his body. )By the way, human sacrifice was not uncommon in Canaan at the time, though it was an abomination to God and he never intended Abraham to actually sacrifice his son.)

It is one thing to say OK when God when he gives a pure and deliberate command, but in the nuances of the Hebrew language, God's "command" to Abraham actually have the effect of a request. It is like God is saying "Please." And to a "please" one can say "no" without violating a law or incurring guilt. Here is what Jewish Publications Society commentary on Genesis says,

The Hebrew adds the participle naʾ to the imperative, which usually softens the command to an entreaty, as noted in Sanhedrin 89b, Genesis Rabba 55:7, and Rashi’s commentary. Abraham has absolute freedom of choice. Should he refuse, he would not incur any guilt. (For imperative with naʾ cf. Num. 20:10; Judg. 13:4; 16:6, 10, 28; 18:5; Isa. 1:18; Amos 7:2, 5.) (The JPS Torah commentary (151). Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society.)

Word Biblical Commentary says,

The reader has been alerted by the verb “test” that something difficult is about to be asked of Abraham, while he [Abraham], of course, is quite in the dark. The way the command is put here tries to soften the blow for Abraham while maximizing our realization of its enormity. “Please take.” The use of the enclitic נא “please” is rare in a divine command and makes it more like an entreaty, another hint that the Lord appreciates the costliness of what he is asking. (Wenham, G. J. (2002). Vol. 2: Word Biblical Commentary : Genesis 16-50. Word Biblical Commentary (104). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.)

I was impressed with Abraham's utter docility and obedience to God before, but even moreso now. He said "Yes" to God's request even when it was not commanded in strong terms. A descendant of Abraham, a joung Jewish, a young girl also said "Yes" to God, as did her Son. She said, "Let it be done to me as you have spoken," and he said, "Not my will but thine be done."

These shining examples call us to a higher obedience and love for God. We must aspire to do – not only what he commands, but also what he wishes. In the end, we are the ones who are blessed beyond measure.

I agree with Jimmy Akin. I appreciate Cardinal Newman for his profound impact on my own conversion to the Catholic Church. His treatise on the Development of Doctrine had a profound effect on me and my understanding of historical Christianity. He deserves to be a Doctor of the Church.

One of my favorite Newman qoutes is "To be deep in history is to cease being a Protestant!" How true!

Read Jimmy Akin's excellent review of this at www.JimmyAkin.org or click here.

New York abortuary closes after 40-day prayer vigil

New York, Apr. 25, 2008 (CWNews.com) - An abortion clinic in Rockland County, New York, announced its closing on April 25. It was one of 50 American abortion centers targeted by the “40 Days for Life” prayer campaign.

EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed
A mini-review by Stan Williams, PhD
Check out Stan's website here

The metaphors Stein employs at the film's beginning, which parallel the Nazi worldview with the current "big science" worldview in the U.S., seem to be over the top and Stein's dry humor comes off as dark. But the stakes are high, and he soon shows how Darwinians, whether they understand it or not, are promoting a Marxist-Nazi worldview of humanity, and one that Margaret Sanger embraced in her bid to rid the U.S. of "weeds" through birthcontrol and abortion.

Ben Stein, a Jew, is to be congratulated for pulling this off. Only he could.

Verses often Overlooked by Protestants

Steve will discuss some of the Bible verses overlooked by many Protestants. The verses tonight center on Baptism. For more info, or to get the RealAudio links as soon as they are available, click here.

Born Again? 

Fundamentalist Evangelist: "Hey Catholic, are you born again?"

Bible-reading Catholic: "You betcha! But I'm born again the BIBLE way!"

I am truly pleased that so many have found my Message Board to be so helpful, such a blessing, and a way to share the faith, make friends and keep in touch. I am humbled.

YouTube Tribute from — I don't know who http://youtube.com/watch?v=JzjBpHxytgE

St. Mark: Very Important, Yet Relatively Unknown
Feast Day - April 25

"His voice boomed over the crowds in Rome as they had all around the Empire. The large fisherman was aging but his voice was still filled with intensity and conviction. The thronging crowds listened with curiosity.

      "Rome was the hub of the civilized world and Peter preached the message of a Jewish rabbi named Jesus from the far away country of Israel. Many in the crowd had believed in Jesus and had become part of this new society called the Church—the Church of which Peter was the acknowledged head. Standing at his side was his fellow-worker and secretary John Mark……"

For the whole story, click here.  For the story of Peter and Rome filmed on location, click here.

Thousands flock to venerate Padre Pio

San Giovanni Rotondo, Apr. 24, 2008 (CWNews.com) - An estimated 15,000 people attended Mass in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, as the remains of St. Pio of Pietrelcina were exposed for public veneration.

Rome's four options in regard to Bp. Fernando Lugo

Who is not happy to see Paraguay's junta finally voted out of office? That the election was peaceful and, so far, seems to be accepted by the old guard is even better. But that is not the issue in regard to Paraguay's new president, Bp. Fernando Lugo. The issue here is canonical (and by implication, theological and pastoral): Lugo was ordained to the fullness of holy orders for the spiritual service of God's people.

Read more about it here: http://www.canonlaw.info/2008/04/romes-options-in-regard-to-bp-fernando.html

For the www.Zenit.org article, click here . 

Fr. Frank Pavone and Priests for Life. Fr. Pavone recently posted two videos on You Tube in which he describes and demonstrates the two most common abortion techniques, using the actual instruments of abortion and the words found in medical textbooks and court testimony.

You can view these videos at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us_y9GP_-DA (Dismemberment abortion) and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBOAPleF1t0 (Suction abortion).

These videos are part of a new project called, “Is This What You Mean?” It aims to educate the public about the nature of abortion and to challenge public officials and candidates who support the legality of abortion to admit what it is. A full description of the project is at www.priestsforlife.org/action/abortion-procedure-revealed.htm.

While you are at it, also watch "The Silent Scream" here
Part I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iipPDUsojng&NR=1,
Part II http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU_DQ_7NcDA&feature=related 
Part III http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvshMADC7s0&feature=related,
Part IV http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?next_url=/watch%3Ffeature%3Drelated%26v%3D_NwOn1wvL4Y

Pass this information and these links to others so we can inform people about the horrors of abortion. There is far too much ignorance about what an abortion really is and how it is performed.

After decades of disinterest, suddenly two Canon 1405 cases?

Pope Benedict XVI is believed to be mulling over the possibility of expelling a bishop, Fernando Lugo, from the clerical state. That would certainly be a first under the 1983 Code, and I'm pretty sure, it never happened under the 1917 Code.

Read what options the pope has here: http://www.canonlaw.info/2008/04/after-decades-of-disinterest-suddenly.html

Ben Douglas has uploaded a few video critiques of an anti-Catholic which many of you may find interesting. Ben has promised future editions on Charity with Opponents and St. Ignatius of Antioch. Stay tuned!

Predestination Part 1 and Part II.  Ben posted the text of the his comments here. Check out his excellent website Pugio Fidei here.

Phoenix, Apr 7, 2008 / 10:28 am (CNA).- In less than three weeks, 3,000 Catholics returned to the Church in the Diocese of Phoenix due to the effort of a new lay apostolate, CatholicsComeHome.org. The program consists of a website and commercials aired on local television that effectively portray the truth and goodness of the Catholic Church.

In an interview with CNA, Catholics Come Home, Inc. founder and president, Tom Peterson explained that the ads are designed to take people to the website, CatholicsComeHome.org, where they can find answers to questions about Church teachings, and also to put them into contact with their local parish to be led home, back to the Catholic Church.

For the whole article, click here.  For my earlier blog on this excellent effort, click here.

Attached are comments by EWTN News Anchor Raymond Arroyo on the Pope’s visit to the U.S. for use in stories analyzing the impact of the Pope’s visit. God bless! 

“Journalists are now calling inquiring about whether the Pope's trip was successful and what impact it has had. I stand by two sentences I wrote weeks ago,” said EWTN News Anchor Raymond Arroyo “’The measure of this trip’s success will not be found so much in what the Pope does, as in the echo that remains after he does it. The response of those who hear him will tell the tale.’” This papal visit will play out in big and small ways, in the hearts and minds of those who have heard Benedict's call. 

"From a purely external perspective (the media perspective if you will), the trip has been a triumph,” Arroyo continued. “Pope Benedict's ‘theatre of substantive acts’: his meeting with victims of clerical sexual abuse; the visit with religious leaders at the John Paul II Cultural Center; his warm, ‘impromptu’ stop at the Park East Synagogue in New York, and the solemn prayer service at Ground Zero all brilliantly revealed a man of faith willing to engage the world with hope and love.  

“I have been struck by the number of non-Catholics who have stopped me in the streets of New York or written to share how touched they have been by the events of this week. Many say they are strangely drawn to this ‘new pope.’

 “I think we have all found ourselves fascinated and drawn to this Pontiff ­– not due to his dazzling oratory or ability to entertain, but for his willingness to challenge and risk for the sake of the Gospel message. It has been quite a week. Quiet, bold Benedict has left his mark.” Before the Pope visited the John Paul II Culture Center for his interreligious talk, Arroyo talked about the Pope’s controversial speech at Regensburg, which made some question the Pope’s tactics. But here’s what those critics don’t know: 

 “Since the Pope quoted a Byzantine Emperor’s belief that Islam was an ‘evil and inhumane’ religion in Regensburg, there have been concerns in some quarters as to whether this was an appropriate way to engage Muslims in a meaningful conversation,” said EWTN Anchor Raymond Arroyo. “Whatever those concerns might have been, it seems the Pope has been vindicated.

“As a direct result of the Regensburg speech, 138 Muslim scholars wrote to the Pope requesting a dialogue with Christians. Now a permanent Catholic/Muslim forum has been established which will hold its first formal meeting at the Vatican this coming November. Saudi King Abdullah, the custodian of the Muslim shrines in Mecca and Medina, has joined Benedict’s call for an interfaith dialogue and is supporting his efforts. There are suddenly negotiations underway to erect a Catholic church in Saudi Arabia and one has already sprung up in Qatar. This is astounding progress,” Arroyo continued.

 “To my eye, Benedict is the only world leader, secular or religious, with the credibility and the courage to engage Islam in a candid discussion about religious freedom and the imperative that faith should never be used to condone or encourage violence.”

Ignatius Press just gave us the green light to move forward on our next Footprints of God DVD.

We had an informal meeting in Napa where I was speaking at the Napa Valley Men's Conference this weekend along with Dr. Ray Gurendi. It was an exceptional group of men who were passionate and excited about the Catholic Faith. It was great to be with them and to see Tony Ryan and Mark Brumley from Ignatius Press again.

The next DVD will be entitled ABRAHAM: FATHER OF FAITH & WORKS and will be filmed in Iraq, Turkey, Israel and the Palestinian West Bank. Our hope is to have the DVD ready for release by Christmas 2009 or more likely Easter 2010. Please add this project to your prayer list.