Inquiry 3 Ecumenism & Apologetics

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INQUIRY 3- ECUMENISM & APOLOGETICS

Wednesday, September 17th, 2025

Evangelist: George Peate
Facilitator: Shannon Counihan

2025/26 Class Schedule

Part One: Ecumenism

What is ECUMENISM?
It is the joint effort made by the Catholic Church and other Christian churches to work toward the full restoration of unity
between all Christians.

Jesus prayed at the Last Supper for the unity of His Church:
“I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee… that they may be one even as We are one, I in them and Thou in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me and hast loved them even as Thou hast loved Me.” -John 17:20-23

Church Documents that Relate to Ecumenism

The Catholic Church makes an active and constant effort to unite all Christians in matters of faith and truth.

"By the sacrament of Baptism, whenever it is properly conferred in the way the Lord determined and received with the proper dispositions of soul, man becomes truly incorporated into the
crucified and glorified Christ and is reborn to a sharing of the Divine life…. Baptism, therefore, constitutes the sacramental bond of unity existing among all who through it are reborn. But Baptism, of itself, is only a beginning, a point of departure, for it is wholly directed toward the
acquiring of fullness of life in Christ. Baptism is thus ordained toward a complete profession of faith, a complete incorporation into the system of salvation such as Christ Himself willed it to be, and finally, toward a complete integration into eucharistic communion." Decree on Ecumenism [UR #22] (See Dogmatic Constitution on the Church [LG] #15-16)

"It remains true that all who have been justified by faith in baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church…. For men who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in some, though imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church…. Moreover, some, even very many, of the most significant elements and endowments which together go to build up and give life to the Church itself, can exist outside
the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church: the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements. All of these, which come from Christ and lead back to Him, belong by right to the one Church of Christ." - Vatican II Council: Decree on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio) [UR #3]

"Since cooperation in social matters is so widespread today, all men without exception are called to work together; with much greater reason is this true of all who believe in God, but most of all, it is especially true of all Christians, since they bear the seal of Christ’s name. Cooperation among Christians vividly expresses that bond which already unites them…. "[UR #12]

Part Two: Apologetics

What are APOLOGETICS?
The term apologetics comes from the Latin word, "apologia" meaning:
‘speech in self-defense’.
As Catholics we are offering an ‘apology’ or defense of the teachings and practices
of the Catholic Church.

St Peter advises all Christians to know & understand what they believe & be ready to explain it:
“Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence and keep your conscience clear” I Peter 3:15-16

Two General Approaches to Apologetics:

 Intellectual Approach
(based on Reason)
This type of approach is most affective in dialogue with atheists and agnostics.
For example, ‘Proofs for the existence of God’
[‘Intelligent Design’]
[‘A Rumor of Angels’ by Peter L Berger]
Bible verses:
Genesis Chapter 1,
Romans 1:19-20 & Acts 17:16-29

 Faith Approach
(in harmony with Reason)
This type of approach is most affective in dialogue with those who believe in God. The approach varies depending on the group one is speaking with. For example, believing Jews and Muslims accept the Divine authority of the Old Testament. Non-Catholic Christians accept the authority of both the Old Testament & the New Testament.

We will discuss three of the most challenged topics by non-Catholics:

1. Mary, the Mother of Jesus – Her role & position in the Church
Q. Why do Catholics (and Orthodox) pray to her?

2. Tradition - the basis of ‘tradition’ within the Church
Q. Are Catholic traditions made up or are they inspired by the Holy Spirit?

3. Confession (aka The Sacrament of Reconciliation)
Q. Where in the Bible do we get this idea?

Are you ready? Let's dive in:

1. Mary, the Mother of Jesus – Her role & position in the Church

There are so many misconceptions that Catholics "worship" Mary.
Worship can be given to God alone. A proper understanding of who Mary is and what her role in the church is, can be gained through several biblical studies. Let us examine just a few of them:

The Mystery of the Mother of Jesus

God promised a Messiah, over and over and over again:

The Old Testament is the story of God's love for His people. From the beginning of Genesis throughout the Old Testament we see constant foreshadowing of the coming of the messiah, and also of the one who would bear Him.

"Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Emmanuel" (Is 7:13-14).

"Mary’s faith can also be compared to that of Abraham, whom St. Paul calls “our father in faith” (cf.Rom 4:12) Abraham’s faith constitutes the beginning of the Old Covenant. Mary’s faith at the Annunciation inaugurates the New Covenant." John Paul II, Mother of the Redeemer, #14
March 25, 1987

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF MARY

“For the messenger greets Mary as ‘Full of Grace’; he calls her thus as if it were her real name. He does not call her by her proper earthly name: Miryam (=Mary), but by this new name: ‘Full of Grace’.” #8 See Vatican II, Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) # 53, 56

She has been “redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son and united to him by a close and indissoluble tie…” #53

See Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) # 490 – 493

See Mother of the Redeemer (Redemptoris Mater),
Pope John Paul II, # 7 – 11

[Cf. Ephesians 1:4, ‘The Second Eve’, ‘Prototype’…. Church Fathers; “all holy / free from every stain of sin”]

THE INCARNATION

“The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation. They say that God became Man. Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this.”
-C.S. Lewis, Miracles

“The Mary miracle is the fountainhead miracle; it’s the beginning of all God’s wonder-works of redemption. It didn’t start in a manger in Bethlehem, but in a womb in Nazareth. She is the ‘first of a kind’; the prototype, if you will, of the way God works to bring His wonders unto and through people.” Pastor Jack Hayford, The Church on the Way, Van Nuys, CA
-The Mary Miracle

Prophecies Fulfilled in New Testament

“The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!’”
-Luke 1:26-27

Mary’s Magnificat

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden….” -Luke 1:46-48

Mary Conceives in Her Heart & in Her Womb

Mary carries within her two treasures “of great joy:”

1. The Incarnate Son of God (within her womb)
2. An organic Christian Faith-Creed (within her heart & intellect)

Both treasures, intended for humanity, will grow and take shape within the body and soul of Mary, “the handmaid of the Lord.”

Mary’s Information Sources (Jesus Unborn & Newborn)
Divine/Angelic/Human (per Luke & Matthew)

The Integrity of Mary’s Early Sources

Archangel Gabriel (who “stands in the presence of God”)
The Most Holy Trinity – Father, Holy Spirit and Son

Elizabeth (“filled with the Holy Spirit”)
Unborn John the Baptist (“filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb….leaped for joy”)
Mary herself (“full of grace….found favor with God”)
Zechariah (Archangel Gabriel / “filled with the Holy Spirit”)
Joseph (“angel of the Lord”)
Shepherds (“angel of the Lord…multitude of the heavenly host”)
Simeon (“the Holy Spirit was upon him”)
Anna (“a prophetess”)
Wise Men (seeking for the “king of the Jews”/ “warned in a dream”)
Joseph (“angel of the Lord”)

Wedding at Cana:
Conversation between Mary and Jesus

"When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to Him, 'They have no wine.' And Jesus said to her, 'Woman, how does your concern affect Me? My hour has not yet come.' His mother said to the servers, 'Do whatever He tells you.' Now 6 stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding 20 or 30 gallons. * Jesus said to them, 'Fill the jars with water.' And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, 'Now draw some out and take it to the steward of the feast.' So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, 'Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.'" -John 2:3-5 [NAB] * 6 x 25 gallons = 150 gallons

JESUS “Manifested His Glory”

"This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. After this He went down to Capernaum, with His mother and His brethren and His disciples."
-John 2:11-12

Christ Crucified

"But standing by the cross of Jesus w[as] His mother … When Jesus saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing near, He said to His mother, 'Woman, behold your son!' Then He said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother!'" -John 19:25, 26-27

MARY – THE 2ND EVE
[Note: I Cor.15:45, also Romans 5:15-19, Galatians 4:4]

Genesis 3:15
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

1st Messianic Prophecy in O.T. “Proto-Gospel”

John 2:1-12
“O woman, what have you to do with me?”

This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee

John 19:25-27
“Woman, behold your son!” ... “Behold, your mother!”

After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished…

The last words Jesus spoke to His mother.

Revelation 12:1-17
“A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child…"

The only human being featured in the last book of the N.T.

Revelation Apostle John

“I John, your brother…. was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus…” -Revelation 1:9

“And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child…. she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne…” -Revelation 12:1-2, 5 [cf. Psalm 2:7-9]

“Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear witness to Jesus.” -Revelation 12:17

PENTECOST

"…They went up to the upper room, where they were staying… All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the Mother of Jesus, and with his brethren."

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place."
Acts 1:13-14, 2:1

Mary was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory

“The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians.”
-Catechism of the Catholic Church, #966

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” -2 Timothy 4:7-8 [Cf. Gen. 5:24 (Enoch), 2 Kings 2:11-12 (Elijah)]

2. Tradition - the basis of ‘tradition’ within the Church

“Sacred Tradition and sacred Scripture,
then, are bound closely together,
and communicate one with the other.”
Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation

Jesus Instructs His Apostles about Handing On Essential Traditions

“With many such parables he spoke to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.”
-Mark 4:33-34 [Also Matthew 13:10-17]

Peter is Given Authority by the Lord

“You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
-Matthew 16:18-19

Jesus Teaches at Last Supper

“I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth…. You know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you…. These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” -John 14:16-17, 25-26

The Great Commission

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” -Matthew 28:18-20

TRADITION & THE APOSTOLIC PREACHING

“In those days Peter stood up among the brethren…
So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us – one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” -Acts 1:15, 21-22

"But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them...
This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses…"
"Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart…
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
-Acts 2:14, 32, 37, 41-42

St. Paul Relies on the Authority of Tradition

“I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you.” -1 Corinthians 11:2

“...the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.” - 1 Timothy 3:15
“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” - 2 Timothy 2:1-2

[Also 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 2 Timothy 1:13-14, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, 15:1-11]

An Example of Apostolic Tradition Passed on Through the Church

St. John – Apostle & Evangelist wrote his Gospel c. 90 -100 A.D.
St. Polycarp (c. 69/70 – 155/156 A.D.) A disciple of the Apostle John & Bishop of Smyrna
St. Irenaeus (c. 140 – 202 A.D.) As a youth had been a pupil of Bishop Polycarp (probably in Smyrna) Bishop of Lyons [Wrote Adversus Haereses (Against Heresies), c. 180-199 A.D.]

VATICAN II
Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, #10

“…. In the supremely wise arrangement of God, sacred Tradition, sacred Scripture and the Magisterium of the Church are so connected and associated that one of them cannot stand without the others. Working together, each in its own way under the action of the one Holy Spirit, they all contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.”

THE THREE PILLARS OF THE CHURCH:
Sacred Tradition / Sacred Scripture / Magisterium (Teaching Office)

THE CHURCH FORMS THE CANON OF SACRED SCRIPTURE

51- 125 A.D. The books of the New Testament are written
140 A.D. Marcion, a businessman in Rome, taught that there were two Gods: Yahweh, the cruel God of the Old Testament, and Abba, the kind father of the New Testament. Marcion eliminated the Old Testament as scriptures and, since he was anti-Semitic, kept from the New Testament only 10 letters of Paul and 2/3 of Luke's gospel (he deleted references to Jesus' Jewishness). Marcion's "New Testament", the first to be compiled, forced the mainstream Church to decide on a core canon: the four Gospels and Letters of Paul.
200 A.D. The periphery of the canon is not yet determined. According to one list, compiled at Rome (the Muratorian Canon), the New Testament consists of the 4 gospels; Acts; 13 letters of Paul; 3 of the 7 General Epistles (1-2 John and Jude); and also the Apocalypse of Peter.
367 A.D. Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, in his Festal letter # 39 of 367 A.D. arranges the books of the New Testament in current order.
382 A.D. Council of Rome (whereby Pope Damasus started the ball rolling for the defining of a universal canon for all city-churches). Listed the New Testament books in their present number and order.
393 A.D The Council of Hippo, which began "arguing it out." Canon proposed by Bishop Athanasius.
397 A.D. Council of Carthage, which refined the canon for the Western Church, sending it back to Pope Innocent for ratification. In the East, the canonical process was hampered by a number of schisms (esp. within the Church of Antioch).
405 A.D. Pope Innocent sends a response to Exsuperius, bishop of Toulouse as to which books should be received, and which books were to be condemned.
419 A.D. Council of Carthage further expressions of a common canon for all churches.
787 A.D. Ecumenical Council of Nicaea II warns against heresies and confirms canon as presented.
1442 A.D.: Council of Florence confirmed the Roman Catholic Canon of the Bible which Pope Damasus I had published a thousand years earlier. This is 100 years before the Reformation.
1536 A.D.: Luther (a Catholic monk and priest) removed 4 N.T. books (Hebrews, James, Jude, and Revelation) and placed them in an appendix saying they were less than canonical.
1546 A. D.: Council of Trent, the Catholic Church reaffirmed once and for all the full list of books.
(Timeline of how the Bible came to us by CatholicBridge.com)

3. Confession (aka The Sacrament of Reconciliation)

Sacrament of Reconciliation (aka ‘Confession’)

“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week… Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side… Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’” -John 20:19-23 [James 5:16; “Confess your sins to one another…”]

‘Examination of Conscience’

“Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord.”
-Lamentations 3:40 [NKJV]
“Examine yourselves, as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.”
-2 Corinthians 13:5 [NKJV]
“Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”
-1 Corinthians 11:27-28 [NKJV]

Conclusion & Call to Action

“Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence and keep your conscience clear.” -1 Peter 3:15-16

-GO DEEPER-

RESOURCE LINKS

Two California Catholic Organizations Dedicated to Apologetics:

Catholic Answers
2020 Gillespie Way,
El Cajon, CA 92020
(888) 291-8000
www.catholic.com

CATHOLIC ANSWERS

Pope John Paul II Society of Evangelists
P. O. Box 5584
Bakersfield, CA 93388
(661) 393-3239
www.pjpiisoe.org
Email: [email protected]

PJP2 Society of Evangelists

Quick-Use Verse Index

Eucharist: Jn 6; Synoptic Last Supper + 1 Cor 11; 1 Cor 10:16–21; Lk 24:30–35; Ex 12; Ex 16.
Papacy: Mt 16:18–19 ↔ Isa 22:22; Lk 22:31–32; Jn 21:15–17; Acts 1–2; 10–11; 15.
Mary: Lk 1:28, 41–43; Jn 2:1–11; 19:26–27; Rev 11:19–12:1; 2 Sam 6; 1 Kgs 2:19.
Tradition: 2 Thess 2:15; 1 Cor 11:2; 2 Tim 2:2; Acts 15.
Saints: 1 Tim 2:1; Jas 5:16; Heb 12:1; Rev 5:8; 8:3–4.
Purgatory: 1 Cor 3:11–15; Mt 5:25–26; 12:32; 2 Macc 12:44–45; Rev 21:27.

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