Review: We Have a Pope: 2000 Years of Preserving the Faith

First, let me say that I really enjoy Steve Ray's apologetics books and videos.  This booklet, We Have a Pope: 2000 Years of Preserving the Faith, is a great example of what I like best about Ray's work:  he has a quirky sense of humor and a way with words that is only excelled by his deep love and understanding of the Catholic faith. 

We Have a Pope is a short booklet ... only 32 pages ... but each page gives a clear and concise (often with just a touch of humor) explanation for the question asked.  The topics discussed include:

• why do we need a pope
• who instituted the papacy
• why Peter
• what's so important about a name change
• what authority did Peter have
• who actually led the early Church
• Rome, not Jerusalem or Antioch
• how do we know that Peter had successors
• how were successors chosen
• what does "papal primacy" mean
• did the early Church think the pope had primacy
• what about the pope's titles
• what does the pope do
• do Catholics always have to agree with the pope
• infallibility
• if popes sin, how can we trust what they say
• should the pope matter to non-Catholics
• why the pope should matter to you

These questions are all clearly answered, making this a great booklet to have on hand for answering Catholics and non-Catholics alike when they question the papacy.  Ray (and his co-writer, R. Dennis Walters) quotes scripture extensively to prove their arguments when answering the above questions.  It's hard to refute scripture and Ray is a master as using the Bible to elucidate Catholic truths.

This is one of those booklets that should be in every home and Catholic classroom.  Many people (both Catholic and non-) just really don't understand who the Pope is and why we must follow his teachings on faith and morals, why we have a Pope at all. 

Boy, 32 pages sure can pack a punch!

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Disclaimer:  This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on We Have a Pope and be sure to check out their great selection of baptism gifts while you are there.