catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0039.html
This can be helpful … a Catholic apologetics cheat sheet
Many of the questions that get “asked” are of the “Catholics can never answer this …” variety. Keep confident. Almost blase. Calmly look up the answers to sincere questions.
Trick questions like Jesus used to get? Ignore them politely. They’re just traps. Jesus didn’t answer such … but often asked a counter question that was much better (toward holiness and away from human arguing).
The thing is not to argue so much.
If they argue with you, deflect first … but sound collegial. As in “I think we can find the answer to that question.” or
“I don’t know … maybe its … (and share what you know)” or “I don’t know offhand. I’ll see what the Church says. It always answers my questions … in fact the answers are so GOOD I find that some of my questions were silly or insincere (laugh at yourself in a self-deprecating way) … sometimes I’m just argumentative and rebellious”.
Does your Church have a Catechism? How do you know what it is teaching now?
For a question about the Bible … I always look to the Church of the Bible.
But keep in the Spirit. Jesus loves that other person who thinks they are saving you – but are actually helping you to a deeper level of your own faith – so treat them royally and respectfully so long as they are sincere in their search and not just slanderers of the Church Jesus founded and gave the promise to. (The gates of hell will not prevail against her!). You MAY learn together and have an ally - Jesus wants his servants to be one.
A couple “Catholic Church” Verses
http://blog.oregonlive.com/news_impact/2008/10/large_Slide1.jpg
Psalms 127:1 ** …* Unless the LORD build the house,*** they labor in vain who build. Unless the LORD guard the city, in vain does the guard keep watch.
(Jesus founded the Catholic Church … men founded the others) Similarly -
**Matthew 7:23 ** Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’
24 "Everyone who listens to these words of mine **and acts on them **will be like a wise man who
built his house on rock.
25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse;*** it had been set solidly on rock.***
26 And everyone who listens to these words of mine* but does not act on them *will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined."
28 When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at
his teaching,
29 for he taught them as** one having authority,** and not as their scribes.
Bolded words above emphasize a Catholic teaching. Christ bulds his Church on Rock (Peter), sends it for to teach “Go and teach” (with authority). And does this before the CHURCH writes the New Testament and begins to teach about it.
Jesus often emphasizes “doing” or “going” - works (that demonstrate faith).
The Catholic Church is not “based on the Bible” but rather the “Church of the Bible” that wrote the New Testament and never forfeited its power TO the Bible.
“The Bible” calls “the Church” the pillar and foundation of truth. But the Bible of course makes no such claims for itself … let alone “Sola Scriptura” which is what some would call “unbiblical” < (another construct not found in the Bible but taught anyway).
