Does the Bible Really Say That?: Discovering Catholic Teaching in Scripture

I bought this hoping to get Biblical reasoning for Catholic beliefs and religious actions. I was very pleased with what I learned from the book. The author does a great job of providing Bible verses to support various Catholic beliefs. His explanations are easy to follow and understand. This is great book for those interested in learning more about Catholocism or any Catholic needing Biblical references to defend your faith.

Catholic apologetics has experienced a major resurgence in the last decade after a steep decline during a period of confusion that came in the wake of the Second Vatican Council. It is not hard to understand why - a reaction against the tepid Catholicism of the American Church, a greater understanding of what exactly the Council intended (as opposed to the ambiguous "spirit of Vatican II" used by revisionists to justify their innovations), and, most importantly, the pontificate of Pope John Paul II when many areas of Catholic life and practice were revitalized. Any church excited about its faith is going to share it with others and defend it against detractors. Hence, the number of clergy and lay Catholics engaging in both evangelism and apologetics has experienced a great upsurge. One of the more prominent writers in this vein is Patrick Madrid who as an author and and as editor of the popular Surprised by Truth series of books is frequently cited by new converts to Catholicism among the influences in "bringing them home" to the Catholic Church. Madrid's latest book, Does the Bible Really Say That?, defends the compatibility of the Catholic faith with the teachings of Holy Scripture. It is commonplace among Evangelical believers to hold that Catholicism is an "unbiblical" religion that raises the "traditions of men" above God's word. Madrid here points out the Scriptural foundations for many Catholic distinctives and how the misconception of Catholicism as ascriptural is based upon differences in how Scripture is interpreted by Catholics and Evangelicals. The book hadles each topic often raised by critics of the Catholic Church in easily understood articles that may be read indepently without too much loss of continuity. A strength of the book is that it does not merely raise banners along the Catholic/Protestant divide but also covers issues where Protestants have historically sided with Catholicism against the contemporary Evangelical position. Also tackled are areas where Protestants and Catholics agree against groups such as the Mormans and the various outgrowths of the Millerite movment. As a defense for Catholics troubled by the queries of Protestant aquaintences or those considering the claims of the Catholic Church, Does the Bible Really Say That? is a well written defense of Catholic belief and practice from Holy Scripture. Those who disagree with the Catholic interpretation of the passages will undoubtedly have a different spin on the passages cited, but at least it puts to rest the canard that Catholics do not care about the Bible.

Patrick Madrid is one of the best Catholic apologists in the country. This book is an excellent handbook for Catholics who are put on the defensive by co-workers, relatives and friends who believe many Catholic doctrines have no support in the Bible. Beyond the usual issues such as Purgatory and confession to a priest, other topics such as the divinity of Christ and the Blessed Trinity are also treated (helpful in conversations with Jehovah Witnesses). This book should give Catholics confidence that the Bible is a CATHOLIC book, and it should also help open-minded Christians appreciate the Biblical basis for many Catholic/Christian doctrinal and moral teachings.

The author calls into question popular biblical interpretations on issues such as End Times theology and apocryphal texts. Whether one agrees or not the arguments are well stated and thought provoking. I recommend it.

In his new book Madrid, a popular author and EWTN regular, examines 46 specific questions about Catholic practice and belief often raised by Protestants. He provides answers with supporting quotations from the bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The questions address Church practices, as confessing to a priest, praying the rosary, and baptizing infants, as well as public issues, as whether it is sinful to vote for pro-abortion candidates. ("...Those who intentionally promote and perpetuate the crime of abortion through their political actions or their voting are complicit in the sin of murder.") In some cases, such as the discussion of "The Rapture" (Protestant description of God's coming in secret before the end of the world to take the saved to heaven), Madrid lists the major biblical passages Protestants use to validate the Rapture claim, then explains the Catholic interpretation. Beyond these particular issues, Madrid strongly advocates reading Scripture daily to enrich and nourish your soul and "dramatically deepen your love for and knowledge of Jesus Christ."