Forthcoming, Etc.

by modestinus

Through several kind sources I have received a flood of books, articles, and lectures on various topics that I want to address on this blog in the near future. Among these is the 12-disc audio set of the 2012 Angelus Press Conference on the Papacy. As some of you might recall, I directed a series of posts last year to their 2012 Conference on the Kingship of Christ. Though I had the luxury of a two long car rides (and miscellaneous driving) to listen to some of the talks, I am still a ways away from finishing them. One talk, by Bishop Bernard Fellay, spans three discs and is nearly three hours long. (In addition there is another disc with a 45 minute sermon by his Eminence.) One other talk that really stands out is Fr. Daniel Theman’s lecture, “The Scriptural Basis of the Papacy.” I’ve read many apologetics concerning Scripture and the Papacy over the years, but this one might be the most succinct and well-ordered defense I have encountered yet. (For those wondering, it is directed mostly at Protestant objections rather than the more prickly matter of Orthodox criticisms.) Professor John Rao’s opening lecture, “The Catholic Church as the Heir of the Roman Empire,” has a few points that will raise the hackles of the Orthodox, particularly with respect to Rao’s dismissal of oikonomia and his claim that it was the West rather than the East which, at points, managed to actualize symphonia. I suspect few (if any) Orthodox Christians will listen to the talk, but I would certainly be interested in what they would have to say about Rao’s points. For the sake of stimulating discussion, I will try — assuming I have time — to incorporate what I would consider to be obvious Orthodox objections to Rao’s view of history, though I am sure more substantive criticisms could be raised by those with a vested interest in the matter.

And if that isn’t enough, there are two books which have been gifted to me — on the Anglicans and another on Orthodoxy — that I want to comment on because I think both works are well worth reading. With some pockets of free time coming my way, I hope to at least get to some of this in the coming week, though Heaven only knows what my schedule will permit. I know I don’t “owe” frequent updates to any of my readers out there, but I would like to maintain some semblance of posting consistency on here.

And before I forget, I wish all of you a blessed (albeit belated) Candlemas and Ground Hog’s Day.

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