St. James Catholic Church — Church Directory

Quick Facts

Pastor — the shepherd God holds accountable Very Rev. Paul D. Scalia (Pastor); Rev. John Paul Heisler, Rev. Charles Pavlick (Parochial Vicars)

Founded 1873 (erected as first parish in Falls Church); church dedicated 1903

Denomination Roman Catholic

Service Times Multiple Sunday and weekday Masses — see parish website

Men's Ministry Yes

Kids Ministry Yes

Website stjamescatholic.org

Pastor Credentials Roman Catholic ordained; Fr. Scalia is son of the late Justice Antonin Scalia and a well-known Catholic author

10-Point Theological Scorecard

Christology

Is Jesus the only way? (John 14:6)

Orthodox Trinitarian; affirms Apostles/Nicene Creed.

Strong

Scripture

Inerrancy affirmed? Final authority?

Scripture + Sacred Tradition + Magisterium co-equal (Dei Verbum).

Caution

Men's Discipleship

Intentional formation for men?

Knights of Columbus standard.

Caution

Soteriology

Faith alone? How is salvation presented?

Council of Trent (1547) anathematized justification by faith alone; salvation is faith + works + sacraments. Break with Reformation gospel — red validated.

WARNING!

Gender / Biblical Design

Biblical manhood and womanhood by God's design — patriarchal, complementarian, egalitarian, or affirming gender ideology?

Male-only priests; Marian/saint veneration.

Male-only priesthood per Catholic doctrine.

Caution

Leadership Structure

Male elders/pastors? Accountability?

Fr. Scalia confirmed pastorally (Father Scalia's Homilies, Father Scalia's Parish Emails); Arlington Diocese oversight re-confirmed on site.

Strong

Preaching Style

Expository or topical/therapeutic?

Lectionary-based Catholic homilies. Fr. Scalia is a published homilist ('Sermons in Sonnets').

Caution

Mission Clarity

Great Commission central?

Active parish evangelization and sacramental ministry.

Caution

Cultural Alignment

DEI/CRT language? Social justice crowding out gospel?

Conservative Arlington diocese; Fr. Scalia is notably orthodox and vocal on traditional Catholic moral theology.

Caution

Accountability Structure

Denominational home, elder plurality, or external network — is the pastor answerable to anyone?

Real oversight — Diocese of Arlington re-confirmed.

Strong

Assessment

St. James is the first Catholic parish in Falls Church (1873), pastored by Very Rev. Paul Scalia — son of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and a notable orthodox Catholic author ('That Nothing May Be Lost'). Under the conservative Diocese of Arlington. Nicene Trinitarian orthodoxy and male-only priesthood preserved; Catholic soteriology (faith + sacraments + works) remains the red-flag divergence from sola fide.

#roman-catholic#sola-fide-rejected#diocese-of-arlington#historic-parish#scalia

MOOP Engagement Tracker

How this church was personally verified by the MOOP directory team:

✓ Researched church website