Book Description

Fatima, relics, miracles and more: about these and scores of other claims of the Catholic Faith, most people are simply wrong . . . including many Catholics! They're mistaken about what the Church really requires believers to accept, and unclear about just what She's left to the discretion of the faithful. To overcome these errors which can breed doubts and confusion in Catholics and non-Catholics alike the late Father Hughes here provides clear, succinct, detailed answers to what Catholics are bound to believe and practice, and what they're free to dismiss. Without diluting or minimizing the obligations of Catholics, Fr. Hughes eliminates many obstacles to the conversion of Protestants who find troubling or even objectionable one or more non-essential beliefs or practices of the Church. From these eye-opening pages, you'll learn: The real reason Catholics accept the doctrines of the Church: it's simpler than you may thinkThe very minimum every Catholic must believe and do: do you know where the line is drawn?The worship and services that all Catholics must render to God (Can you name them?) and the ones they are free to practice or notHow inquirers (and believers, as well) can assent to the Catholic faith without knowing each and every one of her teachingsWhy the Church will not in fact, cannot ever ask the faithful to assent to a proven truth of reasonWhich miracles all Catholics are required to accept and the ones they can legitimately doubt (plus, an easy way to tell the difference)How revelation gives birth to and limits the reach of the Church's doctrinal authorityThat, contrary to popular belief, the Church since apostolic times has never taught a new doctrine and canWhere the Church has authority over the conclusions of science (and where She has none)The religious obedience is due even to some non-infallible declarations of the ChurchWhat, precisely, Catholics are required to accept in Church pronouncements about apparitions, relics, scapulars, shrines, holy images, and other popular devotions, and what they need not believe These brisk, refreshing pages sweep away countless errors and confusions about the Catholic faith, showing Catholics and non-Catholics that it is far more reasonable and inviting than its critics claim: indeed, the only faith fully the respects the conscience and intelligence of creatures while conveying the full truth to them about the love of God for them and their obligations to Him.