Swimming Upstream

In the 100th episode of this podcast, I make a special announcement, plus I also share a talk I recently gave on the Four Last Things.

I recently gave a talk to a women's group on the topic of "Sanctification Through Work." We spend most of our lives working, whether it's paid or not, and so we need to make sure work draws us closer to—rather than farther away from—God. I'm sharing the recording of the talk on this episode of Swimming Upstream.

I recently taught a class for my parish and the topic was marriage. I covered a number of areas related to the sacrament, but in particular I focused on the three purposes of marriage, and their corresponding importance. Topics covered: Origin of marriage Marriage defined Purpose of marriage Essential elements of marriage Christ elevates marriage […]

There’s a lot of in-fighting in the Catholic world, among traditional Catholics, among conservative Catholics, and particularly between traditional and conservative Catholics. In this episode, I go full Rodney King and ask, “Can we all just get along?” Topics covered: A desire to “Unite the Clans” “He that is not against us is for us.” […]

In today's Church, there are many different kinds of Catholics, with three main categories: liberal, conservative, and traditional. I take a look at these labels and what they mean in this episode of "Swimming Upstream".

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have left the public spotlight since their highs in late 2017. What is going on in the cryptocurrency industry these days? Is the promise of blockchain technology still possible? Or was it all hype?

With Lent approaching, it's time to re-look at a traditional Christian practice that has been sadly forgotten: fasting.

An examination of the Church and its role in salvation.

This week it was announced that the Vatican approved a 2nd miracle attributed to Bl. John Henry Newman, which clears the way for him to be canonized a Saint of the Catholic Church. I have a devotion to this great man, and so I use this announcement as an opportunity to talk about his life […]

I've finally said "enough is enough" and won't be giving to my diocese's annual appeal this year.

Shows like Doctor Who and Star Trek have made time travel a staple of science fiction. And we all dream about time travel as well: can I go back and pick the winning lottery numbers? Can I go forward to see how my life turns out? But is time travel even possible, not just scientifically, but philosophically?

In this episode, I present a lecture I recently gave at my parish on the creation and origin of man. It's obviously a controversial subject, and I tried to present what the Church allows and doesn't allow to be believed, while focusing on how to interpret the Biblical account from Genesis 1.

The Government Shutdown continues, which means that all "non-essential" personnel are currently furloughed. But this raises the question: what functions of government are essential? In this episode, I take a closer look at anarcho-capitalism, which would answer: no government functions are essential.

Today is the March for Life and next week is the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Although legalized abortion has been a tragedy beyond comprehension, God has brought good out of the pro-life movement, including my conversion to Catholicism.

This week two institutions I admire—Opus Dei and the Franciscan University of Steubenville—were hit with separate scandals. This has led me to think about how we typically react to scandal and what our proper reaction should be.

Helping the poor has in modern times become a "liberal" issue. But if you are a Christian, no matter your political leanings, you are obligated to help the poor. But what are the best ways to do that?

t's the end of the year, which means it's time for New Year's Resolutions. In this episode, I discuss my own resolution to live a simpler 2019, which is something Pope Francis also called for in his recent Christmas Eve homily.

In a recent interview, Ben Shapiro asked Bishop Robert Barron, "I’m a Jew. I follow the Law. Can I go to Heaven?" Bishop Barron's response has led to a vigorous debate as to what is necessary for salvation. I tackle this issue in this episode, outlining my main practical and theological criticisms of Bishop Barron's answer. 

Today we face massive gender confusion in our culture. Men and women are said to be the exact same, and men can claim to be women, and women can claim to be men. I would argue that one of the best ways to combat this confusion can be found in how we celebrate the Mass.

Recently my pastor asked me to sub for him in our adult catechism class at our parish. The topic to be covered was "faith." I decided to use the class to distinguish between the five different meanings of the word "faith". 

Discontent with Pope Francis has led some Catholics to suspect that perhaps he's not the real pope. Instead "Pope Emeritus" Benedict XVI is still the true pope. I look into this assertion in this episode of Swimming Upstream.

A popular song asks the question, "Mary, Did You Know?" Well, what did Mary know, and when did she know it?

I address the allegations that Franciscan University is becoming "liberal".

The Season of Advent is a wonderful time to grow spiritually. In this episode, I explain three traditional Advent devotions that can help your family prepare for the coming of the Christ Child this Advent.

After years of struggling with health problems, I’ve finally found something that makes me feel better, have more energy, and lifts my brain fog: intermittent fasting. Read about how I came to embrace intermittent fasting here.

With the 2018 midterm elections approaching, I wanted to address the issue of voting. Specifically, what priorities should Catholics consider when voting? My answers might not be what you expect.

The history of the papacy is filled with saints and sinners, good popes and bad popes. Sometimes Catholics want to deny that we can have bad popes, or that the pope they are living under could be a bad pope. In this episode of Swimming Upstream, I take a look at what makes for a […]

For decades there’s been a battle for the soul of the Vatican – will it be faithfully Catholic, or will it conform to the world? For most of that time this battle has been quietly raging behind the scenes, but in recent months it’s come out into the open. What does this mean for the […]

With the end of the 2018 MLB season, I wanted to review some of the highlights (and lowlights) of the season. I decided to bring on a special guest, someone who is an expert on baseball – and also happens to be my son. Topics covered: Review of our 2018 pre-season predictions Best player of […]

The bruising Supreme Court confirmation battle over Brett Kavanaugh is another in a long list of battles dating back to Robert Bork. I take a look at Kavanaugh and this particular battle in this episode of Swimming Upstream. Topics covered include: An analysis of Kavanaugh’s views The sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh The real issue: […]

Abortion is a contentious issue among libertarians, with the majority saying they are “pro-choice,” while a sizable minority says they are “pro-life.” In this episode of Swimming Upstream, I tackle this issue to try to determine the best libertarian position on abortion. Topics discussed: The divide among libertarians regarding abortion. What makes a person a […]

With the rampant corruption infecting the Catholic hierarchy, it’s time to look to reform. And I don’t mean rejecting the institution of the hierarchy, a la Protestantism. I mean reforming the human elements of how things operate at the highest levels of the Church. In this episode, I give four vital steps I think reform […]

Today is Labor Day, and I want to talk about the primary fruit of our labor: money. Specifically, how government’s control of money makes everyone poorer over time. Topics Covered: The Three Properties of Money Why do some forms of money fail? Why have some forms of money (like gold) succeeded over time? The problem […]

The recent allegation that Pope Francis knew about former Cardinal McCarrick’s immoral activities has sent shockwaves throughout the Catholic Church. Some are calling for the Pope’s resignation. Should he resign? If he doesn’t, can he be forced out? I discuss all this on today’s episode of Swimming Upstream. Resources: Ex-Nuncio Accuses Pope Francis of Failing […]

With the ongoing sex abuse crisis in the Church, it can be hard to be Catholic. But I still love the Church! Why? I give five of my reasons in this episode of Swimming Upstream.

Why is socialism enjoying a surge in popularity in recent years? Why are young people in particular attracted to it? I take a look at this phenomenon in today’s episode of Swimming Upstream.

There hasn’t been this much disgust from lay Catholics toward the Catholic hierarchy since before the Protestant Reformation. The McCarrick scandal has revealed there is rot deep within the episcopacy. Many lay Catholics want to know: What can I do? I give some practical suggestions. Resources: When Bishops Lose Their Authority An Invitation to the […]

It’s common among Catholics to claim that libertarianism is incompatible with Catholicism. Liberal Catholics dismiss it as uncaring toward the poor and needy. Conservative Catholics would say libertarians endorse immorality like abortion and same-sex marriage. But I would argue that these criticism flow from a misunderstanding of libertarianism (and a misunderstanding of Catholicism). Some topics covered in […]

Recently I’ve been under fire for noting that it’s not “pro-life” to endorse every government program under the sun. Some have even gone so far as to call me “anti-Catholic” because they believe Catholics must support such programs. But is this the case? In this podcast I argue that good intentions are not enough – we need to […]

You hear it everywhere now: Immigration is a pro-life issue. Racism is a pro-life issue. Health care is a pro-life issue. It seems that everything is a pro-life issue now. In this episode, I argue that such a promiscuous use of the label threatens to dilute it and fragment the pro-life movement.

What is causing the rise in suicides in our country? Is it simply a case of mental illness? Is it Trump’s fault for cutting various programs? Or is it more of a cultural issue? I look at what I think are some of the causes of his tragic epidemic. Resources: Suicide Rates Are Rising. What […]

This month is “Gay Pride Month,” so of course Fr. James Martin is out there as the pied piper for the gay rights movement. But how should Catholics actually respond to Gay Pride Month? The standard response is “love the sinner, hate the sin.” And this is true, but I think we need to go deeper. […]

This podcast includes a commencement address I recently gave at the graduation ceremonies for a local homeschool association. In my address I noted that many leaders urge our young people to be “counter-cultural,” yet being counter-cultural is now ironically the cultural norm. What is truly counter-cultural? Being a practicing Catholic – being a saint.

More school shootings have occurred recently, which means more calls for gun control. But are guns the problem? Or is it something deeper? I take a look at this issue in this week’s episode. Originally a Facebook Live Video. Resources: There Are Fewer School Shootings Now Than During the 1990s We Don’t Have A School […]

Fr. James Martin has made a career of skirting the fine line between implicitly criticizing Church teaching without explicitly rejecting it. But even when he is explaining Church teaching, as he did in a recent America Magazine article, he’s still undermining it. Resources: What is the official church teaching on homosexuality? Responding to a commonly asked question (by […]

I watched Avengers Infinity War last week so I thought I’d review it here. I also found some religious themes in the movie which I wanted to explore a bit. Note that this review does contain spoilers, so you’re forewarned.

The case of Alfie Evans gripped the world last week. It was a classic case of David (Alfie and his family) against Goliath (the UK government and health system). Sadly, Goliath won this battle. In this podcast, I discuss how the events surrounding Alfie’s death touched on end-of-life medical decisions, parental rights, the role of government in health […]

Recent comments by Pope Francis have called into question the existence of hell, or if anyone is actually there if it does exist. I take a look at the Church’s teaching on hell, as well as what it takes (or doesn’t take) to get there.  

Last week President Trump authorized air strikes against Syria, because the Syrian leader had supposedly used chemical weapons against his own citizens. Is this military strike legitimate under Just War Doctrine? Is it constitutional? And does it make sense? Resources: Petition Against the Expansion of the Syrian Conflict A History of American Intervention in the Middle […]

After the news that 30,000 people entered the Catholic Church this past Easter, I thought I’d look at the numbers from previous years to see what I find. I wish I hadn’t. Resources: Article: The Incredibly Shrinking Catholic Convert Rate

There’s a lot to be upset with if you’re a practicing Catholic these days. It seems a day doesn’t go by that some Church teaching isn’t being undermined or denied by Church leaders. What’s a regular Catholic to do? Is it okay to get upset? Or should we just relax? That’s the topic of this […]