I had seen the book, but I didn't realize the author was Byzantine Catholic...

A number of indicators point to a resurgence in Catholic orthodoxy. A new group of emerging Catholic thinkers, writers, apologists, and leaders are already carrying the New Evangelization into the third millennium. Among them is Deacon David Hess.

Perhaps not yet as well known as some of his colleagues, Hess has nevertheless received considerable attention for the depth of research in his co-authored apologetic book Jesus, Peter and the Keys: A Scriptural Handbook on the Papacy (Queenship, 1996). Hess's current research and writing project will defend the Church against attacks from schismatic traditionalist movements. If that work is anything like his previous book, Hess's name will be increasingly familiar to Catholic apologists in the years to come...

As he explains it, he fell "head over heels in love with the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom." After finishing study in the diaconate in the Byzantine Catholic Church, he was ordained in February of 1997. He serves at Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church in San Diego. http://www.holyangelssandiego.com/

http://www.envoymagazine.com/backissues/5.1/diplomaticcorps.htm

That book's a good source.

I bought the book just two days ago, and I've already read through much of it. I plan to supplement it pretty soon with Hans Urs von Balhasar's "The Office of Peter and the Structure of the Church", Steve Ray's "Upon This Rock" -- another massive compilation of Biblical and Patristic resources on the papacy -- and "The Primacy of the Bishop of Rome and Ecumenical Dialogue" of Fr. Adriano Garuti. I'm also waiting for the reprint of Soloviev's classic "The Russian Church and the Papacy."

While it is very exhilarating for this Catholic to read so many proofs for the Primacy of Rome, I have this uneasiness whenever I read standard Roman Catholic apologetics (especially in pamphlet or journal form) regarding the Papacy. This uneasiness comes from the feeling that many Catholic apologists -- and I hope that Deacon David Hess is not one of them -- argue on and on about the existence of the Primacy and other issues that are not the real issues as far as the Protestants and the Orthodox are concerned. Even the Orthodox admit that Rome had the Primacy in the First Millennium. The real issues -- which few Catholic apologists bother to deal with -- have to do with the theoretical and actual historical exercise of the Petrine Primacy in canonical and theological terms; and the question of whether primacy guarantees infallibility or orthodoxy.

For Catholics, the fact that the Pope of Rome has the primacy ultimately underpins and implies its infallibility, while the Orthodox think the other way around: Rome has the primacy only so long as it does not deviate from the Apostolic Faith, and it had the primacy precisely because it upheld the Apostolic Faith with exceptional purity during the First Millennium.

I look forward to the day when Catholic apologists can cover all bases adequately!

I might add that Father Deacon Hess' church looks very "Byzantine" indeed, complete with rich iconography all over the church, Feast Day Vigils and Saturday Evening Vespers!

Yes it is. And evidently there is another one on the way that directly addresses some of the Orthodox issues with Papal Primacy as defined by Rome. I look forward to reading it.

God bless,

Gordo

What I like most is that an author's narrative does not impede a reading, he allows his sources to speak.

The book is not for everyone, it can be daunting; but it is not one of those books that must be read cover-to-cover. If the question or interest of a reader is covered by one of the chapters, then he can read that chapter and be satisfied.

Terry

Deacon David Hess no longer serves at Holy Angels in San Diego. He moved some years ago to the Midwest... Ohio, I believe...