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Was Leaving Christianity Punishable by Death in Church History?
For most of us today, changing our religious beliefs is understood as a personal right — a matter of conscience. But throughout much of Christian history, things were very different. In many eras, leaving the faith or publicly challenging official doctrine wasn’t just discouraged… it could be illegal, and in some cases, even punishable by… Read more
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Was Leaving Christianity Punishable by Death in Church History?
Today we take religious freedom for granted — the ability to question, explore, or even leave a religion without fear. But for most of Christian history, that wasn’t the reality. In many eras, apostasy (leaving the Christian faith) and heresy (rejecting essential doctrine) were treated not just as spiritual errors, but as crimes that could… Read more
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Did Pope Benedict XVI Believe the Magisterium Has Erred?
Did Pope Benedict XVI believe the Magisterium can err—or that it has erred in the past? In this video, we explore his views across different stages of his life: his early reflections as a young theologian at Vatican II, his role as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and finally, his… Read more
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Did the Vatican Just Shut the Door on the Female Diaconate? Not Exactly
The Vatican study commission on the female diaconate recently released its findings: while it does not support a sacramental form of the female diaconate at this time, it leaves the door open for the magisterium to reconsider in the future. Meanwhile, a non-sacramental female diaconate is still possible today. What does this really mean for… Read more
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From Innocent III to Vatican II: Crusades, Religious Freedom, and the Magisterium
From Innocent III to Vatican II: Crusades, Religious Freedom, and the Magisterium By Michael Lofton I recently read a fascinating paper on the Albigensian Crusade, which shows that Pope Innocent III issued multiple papal documents authorizing the use of force against a group of non-combatant heretics in France. In return, lay participants who took up… Read more
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“Thought provoking and thought purifying, R&T is a faithful lodestone for Catholics looking to navigate the complexities of our doctrine and practice.”
Founder of Reason & Theology
Michael Lofton
Michael Lofton is an adjunct professor of theology at Catholic Polytechnic University and the Instructor at RT Media. He earned his Master of Arts in Theological Studies (cum laude) from Christendom College Graduate School in 2018, graduating as valedictorian. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in theology at Pontifex University, writing his dissertation on the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Michael is also the founder of the Reason & Theology show, where he has interviewed many leading voices in contemporary theology, and has contributed to Catholic Answers as well as appeared on EWTN, SiriusXM Radio, and Radio Maria.
Contact michael@reasonandtheology.com for more information
