Radio Replies (Volume 3) Paperback – June 1, 2001

"Radio Replies" is considered a foundation text for Catholic apologetics. The three volumes are transcripts of a 1930's radio program in which two priests, one from Australia and one from the United States, answer write-in questions inquiring about (or in many cases outright attacking) Catholic beliefs on just about every subject you can think of.Volume One is fascinating both as a work of apologetics and as an historical document. In terms of apologetics, Catholic positions are stated coherently, concisely, and consistently, with arguments appealing to reason as well as drawing heavily from Scripture. The overriding message is that the Catholic Church is alone the true church established by Christ, and this assertion is backed up with arguments that can not be easily dismissed.The stridency of tone in this book will sound peculiar to many readers today. Historically, it is interesting to see how things have changed over the last seventy-odd years. Frs. Rumble and Carty speak often of man's duty to himself, to fellow man, and the necessity to submit totally to the will of God. Such talk is certainly not in vogue today. In the strongest language, the priests assert the Catholic's profound responsibility to attend Mass every Sunday, to abstain from meat on Friday, to refuse participation in other religious services, etc. Since Vatican II, many such strict guidelines have been loosened, and one wonders, when reading this, how beneficial that has been. The priests abhor a world of moral relativism, and attribute its development in part to Protestantism, with its ever-increasing theological fragmentation, its substitution of man-made law for God's law, and the crisis in faith and morals that result. (It is important to note the priests do not attack Protestants personally, their good will, or their good works; they object only to the underlying precepts of the movement itself.) When one looks at the moral chaos in our society today, the words of caution and dire predictions of "Radio Replies" seem at times prophetic.One weakness in this volume-the vast majority of questions (over 1500 in Volume One) are posed by lay people who obviously have little understanding of Catholicism and a highly prejudiced attitude toward Catholic people and practices. The one- or two-line questions are basically softballs, which the priests easily hit clear out of the park. So although "Radio Replies" contains an enormous amount of indispensable information, it does not take on many intellectually rigorous challenges. That being said, "Radio Replies" provides incredibly clear insight on what the Catholic Church stands for, and why.

Ever since I first saw this book and the other two volumes, I realized how fortunate I was to find it. It ought to be purchased by all Roman Catholics and anyone else interested in knowing about the Catholic faith. So many people, even Catholics who were badly catachized, are in the dark about what its teacings are. This series is so complete and informative that one will never regret purchasing it. It can be read over and over again, as there is so much to learn and remember.

A wonderful educational work that is indispensable for the Catholic and non-Catholic alike. For those Catholics looking to understand their faith better and to be able to defend their faith, this book is vital. For others, like me, a Protestant looking to convert to Catholicism, this book was wonderful.

Answers a lot of the questions people may have of the Catholic Church in a very smart way that is steeped in church history.

Recommend this book to any one wanting to know the truth of the catholic church,weather you wish to become catholic or not. Very powerful and reveling.

An amazing book that I would HIGHLY recommend to all Catholic and non-Catholic Christians.

I am currently taking RCIA classed to join the Catholic church and the clear answers to the questions asked by listeners to radio show have helped me a great deal.

Just plain great and easy to understand. The school purchased these for the high school graduates.