V
Vincent
Guest
“. . . there is need of widespread catechesis and apologetics. We need not apologize for apologetic catechesis. Since its birth, Christianity has been subject to attacks from which it has had to defend itself. Jesus had to answer objections to His teachings, as the Gospels testify. St. Paul had to answer early Christian errors, and charged his disciples to protect the faithful from them while keeping pure the deposit of faith (*). Apologetics has always been part of the pastoral and theological tradition of the Church. We must today be willing and able to defend our teaching in public fora, and we need to equip the faithful so that they can defend their faith. Parish priests must encourage and support the training of lay Catholic faith defenders.”
(*) Footnote 38: “See Acts 20:28-32; Eph 4:14; Col 2:8; 1 Tim 4:1-11; 6:3-5. See also 2 Pt 3:16-18”
- Acts and Decrees of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines*, par. 222
(Paulines 5th Printing 2004, p. 80-81)