Letters

Old Testament

Fr Brian Harrison

Contents - Dec 2012 - Buy a copy now Homily: Benedict XVI: the new consoling certainty of Christmas - Pope Benedict XVI Culture: Western crisis is spiritual: Russian Orthodox leader - Metropolitan Hilarion News: The Church Around the World Sectarianism: Dignitatis Humanae Institute: Christian values in public life - Babette Francis Young Men of God 2012 Conference showcases Christian leadership - Br Barry Coldrey Events: iWitness Retreat / Campion College Summer Program Pilgrimage: Crossroads: young people spread the message of life and love - Angela Schumann Catholicism: The Year of Faith: time to revisit the Catechism of the Catholic Church Church - Audrey English A different fire: Vatican II and the new evangelisation - Archbishop Mark Coleridge History: Parish life in the Middle Ages (Part 1) - Frank Mobbs Caroline Chisholm Library: Melbourne's hidden gem - Angela Schumann Advent and the Second Coming: a forgotten article of faith - Br Christian Moe FSC Letters: Abortion silence - Thomas M. Kalotas Letters: Courage of convictions - Robert Bom Letters: Bob Santamaria - Brian A. Peachey Letters: Old Testament - Fr Brian Harrison Letters: Harm minimisation - Tom King Christmas: Latin Mass in Melbourne Poetry: The Reunion - Father John W. Ó Néill Books: A BIBLICAL SEARCH FOR THE CHURCH CHRIST FOUNDED, by Linus F. Clovis - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: ADAM AND EVE AFTER THE PILL, by Mary Eberstadt - Brian Peachey (reviewer) Support: Fighting Fund Books: Order books from www.freedompublishing.com.au Reflection: Feast of the Holy Innocents: Rachel weeps for her children - Anne Lastman

In his reply to my latest letter, Frank Mobbs (October AD2000) makes no attempt to counter my central point, namely, that in denying the truth of certain assertions of the biblical authors, he is taking a stand not just against some aberrant personal opinion of mine, but against the firm and constant doctrine of the Catholic Church, according to which all such assertions, in both Old and New Testaments, are coauthored by the Holy Spirit, who cannot err.

The best he can do is persist in his complaint that this doctrine "overloads" our "belief system". This seems a pretty lame objection in view of the fact that neither I nor the thousands of other orthodox Catholic scholars over two millennia who have accepted the above Catholic doctrine have ever felt "intolerably overburdened" by it.

Dr Mobbs also caricatures my position (which, I insist, is simply the Church's position) by ascribing to me "the view that God chooses to act arbitrarily, disregarding all moral requirements". Readers of my previous letter can readily see that I made no such outrageous claim. I rest my case.

FR BRIAN HARRISON OS
St Louis, Missouri, USA

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 25 No 11 (December 2012 - January 2013), p. 15