New Saint Thomas Institute

How to Talk about Scandalous Clergy

August 4, 2015/26 Comments/in /by Juliane Alcober

Jesus Christ told us: “Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals come: but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh.” (Mt 18:7)

Our Lord Jesus Christ promised us with 100% certainty that there would be scandals in His Church. It’s just part of following Him.

Even among His Twelve Apostles, there was the scandal of Judas Iscariot. That’s an 8.33% clergy failure rate! Clerical scandal leads Catholics and non-Catholics away from the Catholic Church. How do we handle this in apologetics? We cover this topic in this Apologetics video lesson:

Forum Focus 57: Same Sex Parenting

July 30, 2015/0 Comments/in Forum Focus /by Juliane Alcober

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OxTalk 14: How Did Christ Empty Himself: Philippians 2 and Saint Thomas Aquinas on Christ’s Beatific Vision

July 28, 2015/29 Comments/in OxTalk /by Taylor Marshall

Many questions in NSTI center on the Beatific Vision of Christ.

In this OxTalk episode, Dr. Taylor Marshall examines the “Christ emptied Himself” passage in Philippians Chapter 2 and describes 2 incorrect interpretations and then explains the orthodox teaching of Saint Thomas Aquinas.

Dr. Marshall also makes a practical lesson on how this teaching leads us to profound humility and a life of “faith and works.”

Forum Focus 56: Why Does The Catholic Church Teach Evolution?

July 23, 2015/4 Comments/in Forum Focus /by Juliane Alcober

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How to Talk with Cafeteria Catholics

July 21, 2015/23 Comments/in /by Taylor Marshall

Most of us have heard of the term “cafeteria Catholics.” The term refers to Catholics who pick and choose what they do and don’t believe.

I prefer to call them “custom Catholics.”

Everybody wants a custom experience. Do you want custom fitted golf clubs or standard golf clubs? Do you want a custom tailored suit or a standard suit off the rack? Do you want a custom house or a cookie-cutter track house?

Customization is tempting when it comes to Catholicism! How do we help and address those we know who have become “cafeteria” or “customized” Catholics? I’ll show you in this video unit:

Forum Focus 55: If someone clearly should not take Holy Communion, but does

July 16, 2015/0 Comments/in Forum Focus /by Juliane Alcober

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How to Talk with Catholic-to-Protestant Converts

July 14, 2015/32 Comments/in /by Juliane Alcober

What about Catholic-to-Protestant converts?

I was once a Protestant. I have been a member of or involved in congregations bellowing to the Methodists, Assembly of God, Presbyterian, Bible Church, and the Episcopal Church. I was an Episcopal priest before becoming Catholic.

So I went from Protestantism to Catholicism. But there are millions of people who have gone the other way. They were raised Catholic, but they have opted for some form of Protestantism. How do we talk to our friends who have left Catholicism to become Protestant. In today’s lesson will give you some practical and theological advice:

Forum Focus 54: God’s Simplicity

July 9, 2015/0 Comments/in Forum Focus /by Juliane Alcober

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How to Draw People Back into the Catholic Church

July 7, 2015/14 Comments/in /by Juliane Alcober

Wherever I go in the world. Wherever I have taught. Wherever I have spoken, there is always and everywhere people who come up to me with sadness in their eyes and say:

“Please pray for my son. He has lost his faith. Please pray for daughter. She left the Church. Pray for my husband. He hasn’t been to Mass in 15 years.”

The sadness and the burden can be seen on their faces.

What do you do when someone you love has left the Catholic Church? We provide some helpful ideas and strategies in this video lesson: