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Answering Orthodoxy: A Catholic Response to Attacks from the East
What if there’s a better Christian religion than Catholicism? One that has true apostolic doctrines, a more beautiful and ancient liturgy, and freedom from all that “pope” baggage—and valid sacraments, too.
That’s what apologists for Eastern Orthodoxy are selling. In a time of uncertainty and confusion for many Catholics, Orthodox challenges to the Church’s history, teaching, worship, and authority structure have been drawing Catholics away in hope of greener pastures in the East.
But those thinking of jumping off the barque of Peter toward the siren song of Eastern Orthodoxy—and for Protestants who’d like Catholicism’s historical pedigree without all the mess—need to think twice. In Answering Orthodoxy, Michael Lofton (Reason & Theology Podcast) shows why, with a thorough and critical refutation of Orthodox attacks against the Church.
Formerly Eastern Orthodox himself, Lofton has the knowledge and experience to uncover the flaws in the most common anti-Catholic arguments from Orthodoxy’s top advocates. From intricate doctrinal debates to the historical flubs and foibles of the popes, right on down to the basic understandings (and misunderstandings) of the sacraments Catholics and Orthodox share but don’t always agree on, Answering Orthodoxy shows where Orthodox attacks go wrong. In so doing, he not only strengthens Catholic conviction in the truth of the Faith, but also shows the Orthodox that there’s not as much distance between them and the Church as they might think, and unity with Rome might be closer than ever.
Whether you’re frustrated with today’s Church and find yourself attracted to Orthodoxy’s antiquity, beauty, and religious rigor, or you’re just looking to learn the best Catholic responses to Orthodox arguments, Answering Orthodoxy will equip and edify you.
That’s what apologists for Eastern Orthodoxy are selling. In a time of uncertainty and confusion for many Catholics, Orthodox challenges to the Church’s history, teaching, worship, and authority structure have been drawing Catholics away in hope of greener pastures in the East.
But those thinking of jumping off the barque of Peter toward the siren song of Eastern Orthodoxy—and for Protestants who’d like Catholicism’s historical pedigree without all the mess—need to think twice. In Answering Orthodoxy, Michael Lofton (Reason & Theology Podcast) shows why, with a thorough and critical refutation of Orthodox attacks against the Church.
Formerly Eastern Orthodox himself, Lofton has the knowledge and experience to uncover the flaws in the most common anti-Catholic arguments from Orthodoxy’s top advocates. From intricate doctrinal debates to the historical flubs and foibles of the popes, right on down to the basic understandings (and misunderstandings) of the sacraments Catholics and Orthodox share but don’t always agree on, Answering Orthodoxy shows where Orthodox attacks go wrong. In so doing, he not only strengthens Catholic conviction in the truth of the Faith, but also shows the Orthodox that there’s not as much distance between them and the Church as they might think, and unity with Rome might be closer than ever.
Whether you’re frustrated with today’s Church and find yourself attracted to Orthodoxy’s antiquity, beauty, and religious rigor, or you’re just looking to learn the best Catholic responses to Orthodox arguments, Answering Orthodoxy will equip and edify you.
185 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2023
58 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Michael Lofton
38 books7 followersMichael Lofton is a Byzantine Catholic and graduate of Christendom College Graduate School of Theology, where he received his Master of Arts in Theological Studies (Cum Laude) in 2018. He is currently working on a doctorate in Theology with Pontifex University and is writing a dissertation on the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Michael is the founder of the Reason & Theology show, where he has interviewed many of the leading figures in contemporary theology. He has also appeared on EWTN, Catholic Answers, SiriusXM Radio and Radio Maria and has contributed frequently to various newspapers and websites.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 19, 2024
Roman propaganda
This book is touted as an answer from a Roman Catholic convert from Eastern Orthodoxy; having read it, I could be mistaken, but from the outset, the author acknowledges having converted to the Church of Rome in 2012 (right about the time I was discovering Eastern Christianity). He then goes on to talk about having gone over to the East and ultimately deciding he’d made another error and went back to the Church of Rome. Tough the author glosses over it, this is not something an Orthodox Priest would take lightly. Having tried to give Rome another chance myself for the sake of peace in my predominantly Irish Catholic family, and having talked about THAT with my Orthodox Priest, I know had I participated in the sacraments in a Roman church, it would have had significant repercussions for me in the Eastern Church. It also takes away from the credibility of the work itself. From the synopsis, I was led to think the author was a “cradle” Orthodox convert to Roman Catholicism and come to find out he’s neither “cradle” Orthodox nor Catholic. Not that having been Eastern or Western from the cradle is critical, but the way the book was touted, it seemed as though the synopsis leaned heavily on this as some sort of credential or other, as though it lent gravitas to his perspective. I was unable to discern what, if nay, tradition in which the author was raised.
Many of this author’s presuppositions seem to come from the idea that, as many Romans believe, the Church of Rome that exists today has always existed as it exists now. Not so. Frankly, a Roman Catholic from a time as recently as the 1960’s would likely scarcely recognize the Church of Rome today, whereas the Orthodox have doggedly resisted any change, any innovation the Romans, or anyone else for that matter, have tried to- or have effectively implemented. The Orthodox believe that Christ gave the fullness of the faith to the Apostles and there is no need to expound upon or innovate; for who could possibly be so arrogant as to say they can improve upon what Christ gave us? The answer: Rome. Perhaps not the inventors of revisionist history, but certainly quite adept at its practice, Rome has in the past even gone so far as to claim the Filioque clause (the single biggest controversy at the heart of the East/West schism, although one might not know it to read this book) was always present in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan creed and that it was the Churches of the East who removed it — which is, at best, erroneous and, at worst, an outright lie.
Furthermore, no mention is made of Leo III claiming power not his to claim by crowning Charlemagne “Holy Roman Emperor,” nor the fact that there were Iconoclasts on both Western and Eastern fronts of the Church, nor that Charlemagne himself was an Iconoclast, in turn meaning (if one really examines all the facts) that Pope SAINT Leo III had indeed crowned a heretic as Emperor.
Moving on, we see the usual legalistic explanations of the Immaculate Conception, Papal Infallibility and the Assumption of Mary. The author seems to have missed the common thread between the first two, Pope Pius IX. The Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was met with resistance when formalized by bishops and priests all over the world. To quell this, 16 years later, during the first Vatican Council presided over by none-other than Pius IX, the doctrine of Papal Infallibility was formalized as well, essentially making disagreement with the Pope an excommunicable offense. No, Papal Infallibility has not always existed, though one might think so if one were to read “Dictatus Papae” or “Propriae Auctoritates Postolicae Sedis,” both works of Pope Gregory VII and both written about 800 years before Vatican I.
There is also no mention whatsoever about internal conflicts within the Church of Rome; Sedevacantists and the Society of Saint Pope Pius X (SSPPX) who, defying the sitting Pope, continue to worship in Latin while the Pope has all but forbidden the Tridentine Mass. There are even those who have taken the moniker “orthodox Catholics” to differentiate theselves from so-called “liberal Catholics,” who, although they espouse Catholic belief also openly disagree with church teaching on birth control, abortion and homosexuality.
This book was exactly what I thought it would be. Orthodox Christians who know their faith will be able to see through this for what it is: Roman propaganda.
This book is touted as an answer from a Roman Catholic convert from Eastern Orthodoxy; having read it, I could be mistaken, but from the outset, the author acknowledges having converted to the Church of Rome in 2012 (right about the time I was discovering Eastern Christianity). He then goes on to talk about having gone over to the East and ultimately deciding he’d made another error and went back to the Church of Rome. Tough the author glosses over it, this is not something an Orthodox Priest would take lightly. Having tried to give Rome another chance myself for the sake of peace in my predominantly Irish Catholic family, and having talked about THAT with my Orthodox Priest, I know had I participated in the sacraments in a Roman church, it would have had significant repercussions for me in the Eastern Church. It also takes away from the credibility of the work itself. From the synopsis, I was led to think the author was a “cradle” Orthodox convert to Roman Catholicism and come to find out he’s neither “cradle” Orthodox nor Catholic. Not that having been Eastern or Western from the cradle is critical, but the way the book was touted, it seemed as though the synopsis leaned heavily on this as some sort of credential or other, as though it lent gravitas to his perspective. I was unable to discern what, if nay, tradition in which the author was raised.
Many of this author’s presuppositions seem to come from the idea that, as many Romans believe, the Church of Rome that exists today has always existed as it exists now. Not so. Frankly, a Roman Catholic from a time as recently as the 1960’s would likely scarcely recognize the Church of Rome today, whereas the Orthodox have doggedly resisted any change, any innovation the Romans, or anyone else for that matter, have tried to- or have effectively implemented. The Orthodox believe that Christ gave the fullness of the faith to the Apostles and there is no need to expound upon or innovate; for who could possibly be so arrogant as to say they can improve upon what Christ gave us? The answer: Rome. Perhaps not the inventors of revisionist history, but certainly quite adept at its practice, Rome has in the past even gone so far as to claim the Filioque clause (the single biggest controversy at the heart of the East/West schism, although one might not know it to read this book) was always present in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan creed and that it was the Churches of the East who removed it — which is, at best, erroneous and, at worst, an outright lie.
Furthermore, no mention is made of Leo III claiming power not his to claim by crowning Charlemagne “Holy Roman Emperor,” nor the fact that there were Iconoclasts on both Western and Eastern fronts of the Church, nor that Charlemagne himself was an Iconoclast, in turn meaning (if one really examines all the facts) that Pope SAINT Leo III had indeed crowned a heretic as Emperor.
Moving on, we see the usual legalistic explanations of the Immaculate Conception, Papal Infallibility and the Assumption of Mary. The author seems to have missed the common thread between the first two, Pope Pius IX. The Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was met with resistance when formalized by bishops and priests all over the world. To quell this, 16 years later, during the first Vatican Council presided over by none-other than Pius IX, the doctrine of Papal Infallibility was formalized as well, essentially making disagreement with the Pope an excommunicable offense. No, Papal Infallibility has not always existed, though one might think so if one were to read “Dictatus Papae” or “Propriae Auctoritates Postolicae Sedis,” both works of Pope Gregory VII and both written about 800 years before Vatican I.
There is also no mention whatsoever about internal conflicts within the Church of Rome; Sedevacantists and the Society of Saint Pope Pius X (SSPPX) who, defying the sitting Pope, continue to worship in Latin while the Pope has all but forbidden the Tridentine Mass. There are even those who have taken the moniker “orthodox Catholics” to differentiate theselves from so-called “liberal Catholics,” who, although they espouse Catholic belief also openly disagree with church teaching on birth control, abortion and homosexuality.
This book was exactly what I thought it would be. Orthodox Christians who know their faith will be able to see through this for what it is: Roman propaganda.
October 2, 2024
Easy recommendation for someone who is dealing with issues between Catholicism and Orthodoxy. This book is meant to be very beginner friendly, so it is short and concise and addresses some common objections. Lofton also has a slew of citations though for those who want to dig a little deeper into the subject matter. His YouTube channel, Reason and Theology, also deals with many of these issues in greater depth and I would easily recommend that as well.
April 23, 2024
This is a decent little book that gives a simple, easy to follow overview of the common arguments that Orthodox tend to put to their Catholic brothers and sisters. It is written in a straightforward question and answer format. It is at times oversimplified and some of the topics discussed were distilled down to the way the argument is structured and not the concern behind it. Overall I think it is a great place to start to learn what the Orthodox Church says about the Catholic Church and it is a decent rebuttal to many of the criticisms. I would recommend it.
March 5, 2024
Great read for Orthodox inquirers. I have been a for a long time leaning Orthodox. This made me rethink a lot of my main arguments against Catholicism. Like the Filioque- and the history of the Papal claims
December 21, 2024
This was a good book defending the Catholic faith against common attacks from Orthodoxy. For those that critique the book, they seem to miss the central premise of the book, which is to provide a brief summary of why the most common arguments against Catholicism are not as “slam dunk” as Orthodox Christians claim. This book is not designed to be an exhaustive defense of every single objection.
You can also see that there is a real and earnest desire by Lofton to find common ground between Orthodox and Catholics. The hope for reunification is evident.
The only reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is that I would have liked a slightly more detailed defense against each objection than what was offered; otherwise, though, this was an excellent book.
You can also see that there is a real and earnest desire by Lofton to find common ground between Orthodox and Catholics. The hope for reunification is evident.
The only reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is that I would have liked a slightly more detailed defense against each objection than what was offered; otherwise, though, this was an excellent book.
April 24, 2025
If I were to tell some random person on the street who’s never heard of theology or history “I’ll give you a year and 20 books, and write me a defence of Catholicism against Orthodoxy”, the result would be very much like this.
I rolled my eyes so many times they nearly got stuck in that position. I’d love to see a scholarly work on the subject, and there are a few which are gems, but this infantile oversimplification of a “book” would appeal only to people with a partiality to Catholicism and little to no knowledge of historical theology.
There are piles of reviews online explaining the exact issues, so I won’t go into the minutiae, but I’d skip the book and read the scholarly reviews instead (as I should have done).
I rolled my eyes so many times they nearly got stuck in that position. I’d love to see a scholarly work on the subject, and there are a few which are gems, but this infantile oversimplification of a “book” would appeal only to people with a partiality to Catholicism and little to no knowledge of historical theology.
There are piles of reviews online explaining the exact issues, so I won’t go into the minutiae, but I’d skip the book and read the scholarly reviews instead (as I should have done).
September 4, 2024
Fine as a beginner’s reference for key issues in this centuries long back-and-forth between the orthodox brethren. I am just scratching the surface in some of my personal study. Obviously, Lofton’s book is more guidance and prospective answers than academic arguments. Thankfully, he provides sources in his end notes that I hope to reference as well in my future reading. As an aside, Lofton’s story is fascinating and he certainly is well-read!
December 8, 2023
The conclusion of this book shows the reality of our congregations face more objections from Protestantism rather than Orthodoxy, so this must read book will give more insight that the 1054 Schism is not instantly happen.
Finally, answering objections from Orthodoxy is not a debunking works like other religions did, but a path toward unity.
Finally, answering objections from Orthodoxy is not a debunking works like other religions did, but a path toward unity.
December 13, 2024
Pretty persuasive! Made me reconsider many of my positions personally on things like the filioque.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews