The Defensores Fidei Foundation, a non-profit lay organisation committed to Catholic apologetics and evangelisation will resume its “Blessed to be Catholic” monthly talks, commencing with topics regarding the significance of Chinese martyrs & their contribution to the Catholic faith. It will be held from 8:30 AM to noontime on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at the second floor of the Amici Building (specifically the room adjacent to Totus Bookstore) in Greenhills. The speaker would be Fr. Simon Zhu Jie, a priest from Beijing currently studying here in the Philippines.

Admission is free.

2008 Apologetics Course

The Defensores Fidei Foundation is offering its Fourth Annual Apologetics Seminar from September 6 to December 13, 2008.

Unlike the past three seminars, the fourth seminar will be free!

Date : September 6th on (every Saturday except November 1)
Time : 9 AM to NOON (registration starts at 8:30 AM)
Fee : FREE

Where : September 6 – 27: Mary the Queen Parish (St Ignatius Room) Madison St. San Juan next to Xavier School.

October 4 to December 13: Lay Force at San Carlos Seminary Makati

Speakers:

1) Atty. Marwil Llasos — Catholic apologist and Marian lecturer

2) Carlos Antonio Palad — DFF commentator on historical and liturgical issues

3) Fr. Abraham Arganiosa — Catholic priest, apologist and TV host

4) Fr. Carlos Estrada — Catholic priest, Doctor of Philosophy and University Chaplain, UA&P

5) Ed de Vera — Columnist for Kerygma, author of “Catholic Soul” and “Mysteries of Salvation History”

Schedule:

1. Introduction to Apologetics (orientation for seminar participants) — September 6
2. The Church and the Magisterium — September 13
3. Holy Scripture and Tradition — September 20
4. The Papacy — September 27
5. Questions in Church History – October 4
6. Sacraments I – October 11
7. Sacraments II — October 18
8. Mariology – October 25
9. Christology – November 8
10. Sola Fide and Sola Scriptura — November 15
11. Local Sects (Iglesia ni Kristo, Ang Dating Daan, etc.) and their Common Objections – November 22
12. Foreign (Protestant) Sects – November 29
13. Contemporary Moral Issues — December 6
14.Graduation, Holy Mass and Christmas Party- December 13

(The Holy Mass on December 13 will be Latin Novus Ordo, hopefully ad orientem and with Gregorian chant)

Any questions, please call Totus Bookstore at 7234326 or email at totusbookstore@yahoo.com

This post shall only be an introduction to the erroneous Scriptural assertions by a local sect in the Philippines about those who exclusively possess the right to know about the essence of the Holy doctrines of the Church of God, purchased by Christ with His own blood. According to diverse claims by this psuedo-Christian group (I used the term pseudo-Christian as they deny the fundamentals of authentic Christian truths in their doctrinal corpus), only the “baptised” and “church members” are those entitled to understand the whole of Christian teachings, as Scripture forbids that those outside the Church behold the wondrous and sacred tenets of Christian allegiance. They hence cite Matthew’s gospel (7:6) as support and proof for their belief.

But is this sort of explanation VERILY in line with Christ’s mission in drawing all men to Himself?

Forthcoming as a continuation to this post are Scriptural proofs debunking such aforementioned claims, and what the Church (and the early Christians as well as Apostles) really teaches on salvation and preaching the Word of God. Hopefully I can finish this first apologetics article of mine before the coming weekend.

Deo gratias.