Considering Catholicism (A Catholic Podcast)

Greg Smith and Cory Lakatos dive into the profound question of what happens when we die. In this second episode of the Heaven series, they explore the separation of soul and body, the particular judgment, and the three intermediate destinations—heaven, purgatory, or hell. They debunk pop-culture myths like reincarnation and clarify why death feels so unnatural. Rooted in the Catechism and enriched by insights from C.S. Lewis, this episode offers orthodox answers for curious non-Catholics and Catholics seeking deeper understanding of the afterlife.   Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Join Greg Smith and Cory Lakatos as they kick off a deep dive into Catholic teaching on Heaven. In this first episode, they lay the foundation by defining key terms like "soul," "heaven," "purgatory," "beatific vision," and more, ensuring you're ready for the journey ahead. Expect clear, orthodox insights drawn from the Catechism, with a conversational style that's engaging for curious non-Catholics and cradle Catholics alike. Tune in to clear up pop-culture misconceptions and get a solid start on what the Church really teaches about the afterlife.   Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Greg Smith reflects on the joyful inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, unpacking its rituals, from the emotional moment Leo received the Fisherman's Ring to the inclusive rite of obedience. He answers why the ceremony is grand yet humble, why it's called the Mass for the Petrine Ministry, and how Leo's Chicago-to-Peru journey shapes his universal call. Greg reveals the Catholic Church as the Roman Empire transformed, where Peter's bones and Michelangelo's dome proclaim Christ's victory. With world leaders and Eastern patriarchs gathered, this episode explores a mature faith uniting two hemispheres, one Church.   Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

What's “Reformed” theology today? Greg Smith, a former Reformed pastor, unravels the tweed-coated posturing of a brand that claims intellectual edge but feels like evangelicalism with elbow patches. From preaching TULIP to questioning its cracks, he exposes a vague identity coasting on buzzwords. Catholicism's 2,000-year depth—think Aquinas, cathedrals, Chesterton—makes Reformed flexing look silly. Join Greg's journey from Calvinism to Rome, and ask: Is Reformed just a brand for smarter but generic evangelicals?   Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com  

Greg addresses conservative non-Catholic friends asking if Pope Leo XIV is “red” or “blue,” arguing that the 2,000-year-old Catholic Church transcends American political categories. Acknowledging concerns about Pope Francis's perceived meddling on issues like immigration and climate change, Greg explores where red and blue ideologies intersect with Catholic teaching, reassuring listeners that Leo XIV's balanced approach offers hope for unity. Citing Leo XIV's first homily, which warns against reducing Jesus to a political avatar and living in “practical atheism,” Greg invites listeners to let the Church's wisdom shape their civic life. Join him for a heartfelt call to prioritize the City of God over partisan divides. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com  

Hours after white smoke announced Pope Leo XIV, Greg reflects on Cardinal Robert Prevost's election as the first American pope. Exploring Leo XIV's choice of name, traditional regalia, and call to “build bridges,” Greg sees hope for a pope who unites past and future, left and right, in a tumultuous century. Rejecting speculation, he calls for loyalty, prayer, and faithful living, grounding his commitment in Christ's promise to the Church. Join Greg for a heartfelt reaction to a historic moment. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Dive into the wild Tartaria conspiracy and discover a deeper truth: modernity bulldozed a sacred way of life, but Catholicism holds the key to reclaiming it. Host Greg explores how cathedrals, G.K. Chesterton, and the Mass connect us to a lost world, and why today's souls are hungry for roots—and why the Church is their home–sparking a Catholic revival among young seekers.   Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

In this episode, Greg Smith dives into Flannery O'Connor's bold claim: “If it's only a symbol, to hell with it.” Reflecting on his own conversion and a pivotal moment on Ireland's Skellig Michael, Greg explores why the reality of Catholic sacraments and aesthetics matters. He critiques three groups—liberal Protestants, evangelicals, and progressive Catholics—who treat the Church's sacred elements like props, stripping them of their truth. A must-listen for anyone wondering if Catholicism is more than just beautiful symbols. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

What kind of pope does the Church need today? In this episode, Greg argues against the modern expectation of a charismatic, media-savvy “influencer” pope, reflecting on how John Paul II's global brand set a new standard that shaped perceptions of Benedict XVI and Francis. Instead, Greg calls for a quiet, faithful steward who guards the truth, cleans up scandals, and focuses on the Church's core mission. A counterintuitive take for our media-driven age, this episode challenges listeners to rethink what makes a pope effective. Join us for a thoughtful exploration of the papacy's role in the 21st century. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Greg dives into the Vatican politics shaping the 2025 papal conclave, revealing a 60-year fight for the Church's soul between the Concilium and Communio visions born after Vatican II. While Concilium's openness to modern culture has often aligned with Western leftist ideals, Communio champions timeless tradition, and these dueling perspectives will divide the cardinals choosing the next pope. Far from American left-right divides, this struggle defines the conclave's stakes, offering insight into what's next for the Church.   Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

When Pope Francis's funeral drew millions and the world's eyes turned to Rome, it revealed something unique: only the Catholic Church has a global leader. In this episode, Greg explores why the papacy matters, how it holds Christianity together, and what the upcoming conclave says about the need for one voice in a divided faith. Join us to discover why the pope's death stopped the world—and why it should matter to you.   Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Pope Francis' funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at St. Peter's Basilica. But he has chosen to be buried in another church, the Basilica of St. Mary Major on the Esquiline Hill in central Rome. This magnificent basilica, founded in 432 AD, is the home of the relic of the Holy Manger and the Salus Populi Romani, one of the most beloved icons of the Catholic Church. Greg explains why this church is a hidden gem and ought to be near the top of your list of places to visit when you go to Rome. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Pope Francis passed away this morning. He was 88 years old and had served as the Holy Father 12 years. We pray for the repose of his soul and for the transition the Church will undergo in the weeks ahead. Greg shares some thoughts about what might or might not happen, and how we should approach those possibilities. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com  

Two years ago, after a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Greg described what insights into the Holy Week can be gained from visiting Jerusalem. Perhaps he'll lead a Considering Catholicism pilgrimage to Israel someday! (With Greg so busy during Holy Week this year, we're sharing this classic from the vault.) Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com   Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Two years ago, after a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Greg described what insights into the Gospel can be gained from seeing the Sea of Galilee firsthand. Perhaps he'll lead a Considering Catholicism pilgrimage to Israel someday! (With Greg so busy during Holy Week this year, we're sharing this classic from the vault.) Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com  

This was the 13th episode of Considering Catholicism, way back in 2022. Since then, the challenges to a biblical and Catholic understanding of the human person and the resurrection have grown more dramatic. Just one year ago, in 2024, the United States Government declared March 31, Easter, to be "Transgender Visibility Day." Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

What does it mean to be confirmed in the Catholic faith? Greg unpacks the sacrament of Confirmation, exploring its roots, its role in strengthening believers, and why it's more than just a rite of passage. It's the Holy Spirit equipping us for a bold, purposeful life. A compelling look at how Confirmation seals us as witnesses to Christ in a world that needs it now more than ever!   Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com  

Is the world overpopulated, or are we facing a demographic free fall? In this episode, Greg and Ed dive into the startling reality of population collapse, debunking the overpopulation myth with hard numbers—like the critical 2.3 replacement rate—and real-world stats from nations like Japan and South Korea. They explore why shrinking birth rates threaten economies, cultures, and even our sense of purpose, while contrasting secular anti-human narratives with Catholic teaching on the family as the heartbeat of human flourishing. A wake-up call for anyone who's bought into the population bomb lie!   Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Does the Catholic Church's stance on contraception doom families to misery?Greg and Ed unpack whether the ban on birth control truly burdens households or if rejecting it has unleashed unexpected struggles in our modern world. Were large families a source of strain—or a strength we've lost? Could the Church's unwavering authority hold a deeper truth about happiness we've overlooked? Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

The Good Samaritan: just a call to help the needy? Explore a 2,000-year-old Catholic twist—Christ as rescuer, the Church as refuge. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho might lead to Rome, revealing salvation's depth beyond morality. A surprising ride awaits!   Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

How can heaven be perfect if the things that bring us joy in this life are not there with us? For example, the one creature that God gave us capable of being man's best friend: how can I be happy in heaven without my dog who brings me so much happiness? Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com  

Last week, those who have prepared to enter the Catholic Church at Easter attended the "Rite of Election" at their local cathedral. The "catechumens," those who will be baptized at Easter signed the "Book of the Elect" along with the bishop. What does "election" and "the elect" mean? And how does the Catholic Church's use of these New Testament terms differ from how they are used in Reformed theology (Calvinism)? Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com  

Catholic leaders—priests, bishops, even popes—sometimes share their opinions about various political issues. Some Catholics and those considering Catholicism often wonder, "Do I have to agree with them?" Greg and Ed ask whether all Catholics have to all have the same politics. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com  

The Catholic Church is a universal community, transcending time, space, races, languages, nations. So can you be a faithful Catholic and still be patriotic, loyal to your own place, time, tribe, and nation? Greg and Ed discuss the Catholic concept of "patria." Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com  

Lent is a time of self-denial, which is a feature (not a bug) of ancient Christianity. It's a form of "asceticism," which Protestants and Evangelicals abandoned. Greg explains what asceticism is, and why sometimes telling ourselves no is a yes to God. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com  

As Lent begins, it's time for the annual Lent-bashing on social media (particularly on X) by some Protestants and fundamentalist Evangelicals. Greg takes on the most common myths they drag out every year. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Greg and Ed speculate about how the Catholic Church might (or might not) change whenever Pope Francis passes. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Pope Francis has been in the hospital for a couple of weeks. We are praying for his recovery, but it raises the question: what happens when a pope passes? Greg and Ed talk about the process of papal transitions. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

In practice, most Protestants believe that after justification we are called to grow in sanctification through good works, which is the Catholic position. So, what's this whole faith vs. works controversy really about? Greg wraps this series by suggesting that it's about whether you believe the Church is a real thing, with real sacraments, that really dispenses grace. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

This is one of those age-old debates—“Once saved, always saved?” or can you lose your salvation? And who's really fretting at night—Catholics, or our Protestant and Evangelical brothers and sisters? Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Greg tackles one of the trickiest, most misunderstood words in Catholic theology: “merit.” The very mention of merit sets off alarm bells for many non-Catholics (and even some Catholics!), who suspect that we're advocating a system where we earn salvation through human effort. But does the Catholic Church really teach that? Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

The whole Faith vs. Works debate really kicked off in 1517, when Martin Luther complained about the Catholic Church charging German peasants money for something called "indulgences." Since then, Protestants will pull this out as a kind of trump card: "The Catholic Church sells salvation through indulgences! That proves it believes in salvation by works!" Greg takes this topic on, explains the myth from the reality, and brings the receipts. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

We've been talking about how salvation is a multi-phase process, not a single event. It involves justification, which is entirely by grace through faith and repentance. It also involves sanctification, the journey towards holiness, maturity in Christ. But what happens if we don't complete that journey by the time we die? Can unholy people stand before a holy God? The Catholic doctrine of purgation (the process) and Purgatory (the state) is a kind of spiritual chemotherapy that burns all the metastic and residual sin out of us so that we can enter heaven having been made clean. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Greg and Ed discuss their friend Danny, who is going through an extremely difficult experience. Ed realizes that before he began considering Catholicism, he didn't really have a way to make sense of this kind of suffering, but he's begun to see the value in it. Greg explains that Catholicism teaches us that Danny might be closer to the Kingdom of God than either of them. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Catholicism identifies three categories of sin: original, mortal, and venial. What are the differences? How are they addressed or overcome in salvation? And to which types are our good works applied? Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Protestants teach that we have "imputed righteousness" because Christ, in a one-time legal transaction, swaps our guilt and debt for his innocence and perfect credit score. Based on the totality of scripture, Catholicism (and all its ancient branches) teaches *infused* righteousness. We are gifted new life planted in us like a see, but we must cooperate with God's grace to cultivate that new life through good works until it bears fruit. Salvation is the totality of that process. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Greg explains that the "Romans Road," a handful of cherry-picked verses from the first half of Paul's Letter to the Romans, is the interpretive lens for man Protestants. They read the words of Jesus through this limited view of Paul. But when he began reading Paul through Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and parables, Catholicism lept of the pages. And the Protestant Romans Road became his Road to Catholic Rome. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Greg takes the tired old cliche that Catholicism is a works-based religion in which we earn our way to heaven on our own steam. In this first installment of a series-within-a-series, he looks at some Bible stories that illustrate the Catholic position. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

This next installment of the Arguing with Protestants series, takes on the tired old cliche that Catholicism is a works-based religion in which we earn our way to heaven on our own steam. In this first installment of a series-within-a-series, he "brings the receipts" on what Scripture and the Catholic Church actually teaches on the issue. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

This is the 300th episode of the podcast, released almost to the day on the third anniversary of the show. Greg explains that so many arguments with Protestants are endless and result in frustration because Protestants play "Proof Text Poker." Catholics make the mistake of trying to play it with them rather than seeing that it's often a trap, a dishonest Protestant tactic. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Protestant apologists claim that the Bible is the foundation, the beginning of the Church. Catholicism has always said the Church came first and the Bible arose from and derives its authority from the Church. So, which is it? Greg points out that Protestants make logical errors of conflation and equivocation when they confuse passages about the "Word of God" with the written Bible. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Protestant apologists like Wesley Huff claim that the Roman Catholic Church didn't exist in ancient times, that the early church was a sort of nondenominational, generic Christianity, a sort of proto-Protestantism. Greg responds by pointing out this involves both category (verbal sleight of hand) and factual errors, and that Catholicism is the ancient and original Christian faith. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us." In 1 Corinthians 9:27, St. Paul said that he did works of faith lest "after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified." But in 2 Timothy 4:7, written from prison before his martyrdom, he declares, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." What does Catholicism teach about disqualifying ourselves, losing our salvation, and failing to finish the race? Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

The author J.R.R. Tolkien was not only one of the greatest storytellers of the 20th century, he was also a devout Catholic. In a letter to his son, he described, "the one great thing to love on this earth." Greg explain what it is, and why. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

In the song, on the twelfth days of Christmas, his true love gave to him "12 drummers drumming." But in Catholicism, the twelfth day of Christmas is Epiphany. Among other things, it commemorates the visit of the "magi from the East" to the Christ child and their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Greg and Cory discuss the nature, history, and significance of this important feast day. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

From the podcast vault, this is Greg's annual response to something that blows Protestant minds: Catholicism kicks off the new calendar year with the Solemnity Feast of Mary, the Mother of God. Why? To the Protestant mind, this is just paganism and idolatry. They ask, "How did the Catholic Church come up with something so outrageously unbiblical?"  

A reflection on Mary and the Messiah she gave birth to on this happy morn. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com  

Every Christmas, we revisit this classic episode from the Considering Catholicism Podcast. Greg, Ed, and Cory discuss the disappearance of genuine Christmas carols. Why haven't any new ones been written in more than 100 years? How does it reflect changes in Christianity and the broader culture in the West? Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

For thousands of years, Catholics used to celebrate Christmas communally with processions, public gatherings, pilgrimages, etc. But in America, especially over the last 50-100 years, Christmas traditions have become private, family affairs. Why? Greg and Cory talk about what was and what has changed. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com  

Greg shares an update on what's been going on behind the scenes and where the podcast is going next. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmai

Lords a leaping? Maids a milking? Partridges in pear trees? What's the "12 Days of Christmas" and what does it have to do with Catholicism? Greg and Ed explain why Catholic Christmas lasts 12 days and what happens during them. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com