[Apologetics] Welcome Rev. Dennis Orr

[Art Kelly]

Rev. Orr,

I'd like to welcome you to our Apologetics Group.

We are all honored to have a Baptist minister as a
member of our group. Your comments are defintely
welcome on any issue. 

As you may know, the group is mostly Catholic, but we
do have a number of non-Catholics as well. 

Ward Collins, an independent Baptist, studied for
several semesters at the ministry at the Fairfax
Baptist Academy. Dave Broderhausen is a Missouri Synod
Lutheran. There are various other denominations
represented as well. And of course, Stuart is (for
now) an Episcopalian.

Stuart does a great job of explaining Catholicism to
Protestants and Protestantism to Catholics. He taught
classes for three years at Truro Episcopal Church on
this subject.

In addition, Stuart has done something I don't believe
very many, if any, others have ever done. He's
demonstrated that the differences between Catholics
and Protestants, including fundamentalists, are not as
large as generally believed.

He does a very credible job of showing that what seems
like signficant differences in doctrines can, in fact,
be reconcilled. In that way, he is on the same page as
Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Kasper, and Cardinal
Cassidy in working for Christian unity.

I'm not convinced of all that Stuart says regarding
the similarities between Catholicism and
Protestantism, but I'll have to admit that he's moved
me several degrees in his direction.

Of course, the Lutheran World Federation and the
Catholic Church reached a joint declaration on
justification, clearing up 500 years of
misunderstanding.

In like manner, it is possible that some other issues
that separate Protestants and Catholics may be based
on misunderstandings.

Still, I think there are true differences on some
matters. And it is the mission of the Catholic members
of our group, including me, to explain and defend our
positions.

To do this, we need to hone our skills through
discussions with non-Catholics. So, feel free to
contribute your thoughts on any issue. But be prepared
for some very knowledgeable responses from us.

I hope we do this within the context of St. Peter's
mandate, "Always be prepared to make a defense to any
one who calls you to account for the hope that is in
you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence."

Art 

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ART KELLY, ATM-S
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