The largest American religious denomination
POPULARITY
Luke brings up a topic he has been nervous to raise: does the way American Catholics apply the Church's teaching on birth control account for what happens to a person's freedom under real constraint? It's a good conversation. It's not heterodox (we promise). No need to send that email. Gomer walks through his own family's case and then through what the Church actually says about grave matter, full knowledge, and consent of the will. The conversation runs long enough that the fellas decide to finish it next episode. In This Episode: Luke's caveats before the topic: not arguing the Church's teaching, not arguing Humanae Vitae, only asking what full consent looks like when someone's freedom is genuinely constrained Gomer's own case—three miscarriages, an ectopic pregnancy that almost killed Shannon, the doctor's warning that another pregnancy could kill her, and the principle of totality that had to be satisfied before a hysterectomy could be recommended The three conditions for mortal sin, and what pornography, hypersexualization, and monetary inflation do to knowledge and consent Having a lot of kids as a measure of Catholic seriousness, the people who feel judged for three or four, and the practical questions about the pill, IUDs, and abstinence Occasions of sin and why this became a two-part conversation Resources Mentioned: Catching Foxes Website Pope Francis Generation Humanae Vitae by Pope St. Paul VI Love and Responsibility by Karol Wojtyła Catching Foxes on Substack Chapters: 00:00: Intro 02:15: Rethinking the American Catholic approach to birth control 04:59: Humanae Vitae, and what is not up for debate here 07:53: Full consent, the unitive good, and when NFP does not work 10:16: Gomer's story—miscarriages, an ectopic pregnancy, and the principle of totality 16:49: What mortal sin requires, and growing up in a culture of death 23:48: Settled teaching and where the Church is still exploring 31:38: The pill, IUDs, and abstinence that wounds the marriage 35:10: Psychological impairment, cultural conditioning, and mitigated guilt 50:25: The alcoholic, the crack addict, and near occasions of sin 01:01:09: IVF, the heroically moral choice, and postpartum realities 01:07:40: Unitive and procreative—von Hildebrand, Wojtyła, and splitting the conversation Produced by Saint Kolbe Studios
Tom and Noelle Crowe are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about Mount Saint Macrina. Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Tom and Noelle are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about Our Lady of Lebanon Shrine in North Jackson, Ohio.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Want to reach out to us? Want to leave a comment or review? Want to give us a suggestion or berate Anthony? Send us a text by clicking this link!Something feels off for a lot of men right now: more content than ever, more arguments than ever, and somehow less real community. We get into that discomfort head-on with Jason Craig, co-founder of Fraternus and editor behind Sword and Spade, and we talk about the missing ingredient most Catholic masculinity conversations avoid: actual brotherhood, in real places, with real responsibility.We unpack what Fraternus is and why it starts with forming men before trying to “fix the youth.” Jason lays out a clear framework for men's formation, rites of passage, and why fatherhood requires other men around you. Then we go practical: living historically, building for future generations, and turning the household back into a productive unit instead of a consumption machine. Whether you have acreage, a small yard, or a tight urban lot, the question stays the same: what are you building with your family that your children can see, touch, and eventually carry forward?From there, we zoom out to American Catholic culture, localism, and the threats that quietly hollow out towns and parishes. We talk private equity, zoning battles, and why “defense” starts with cultivation, showing up, and refusing to abandon your ground. We also take listener questions on awkward converts who need formation, discernment about relocating for the Latin Mass, and how Catholic men should think about healing and hope in hard personal struggles.If this conversation challenges you, share it with a friend, subscribe, and leave a review, then tell us: what is one concrete thing you can build locally in the next 30 days?Support the showGet 10% off an amazing Black Monk Rosary by going to https://www.blackmonkrosaries.com/?ref=AVOIDINGBABYLON and using code AVOIDINGBABYLON at checkout!Check out our sponsor, Nic Nac, at www.nicnac.com and use code "AB25%" for 25% off of your first order!Please subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKsxnv80ByFV4OGvt_kImjQ?sub_confirmation=1https://www.avoidingbabylon.comMerchandise: https://avoiding-babylon-shop.fourthwall.comLocals Community: https://avoidingbabylon.locals.comFull Premium/Locals Shows on Audio Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1987412/subscribeRSS Feed for Podcast Apps: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1987412.rss
Tom and Noelle Crow are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell us about the faith of baseball hero Yogi Berra.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Tom and Noelle Crowe are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about Jack Kerouac.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Patrick opens with reflections on faith, everyday choices, and the modern Catholic experience, threading through topics like Pope Leo XIV’s message to the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and how American Catholics pray for unity at the nation’s 250th anniversary. He confronts thorny questions about SSPX excommunications, homeschooling, and the tough decisions parents face around school culture and innocence, breaking these down with specific details about confession, canon law, and discipline. Humor seeps in through animated burger debates and rapid-fire reflections on family life, addiction, temperance, and unexpected listener calls. 05:23 Eucharist’s role in pilgrimage 09:39 Understanding Excommunication in Church 11:50 SSPX excommunication and reconciliation 16:29 Schism and SSPX lay members 17:48 SSPX reconciliation procedures 23:25 Adam's role in naming animals 28:22 Concerns about kids and smartphones 31:19 Homeschooling and socialization benefits 37:40 Discussing moderation and addiction 38:53 Discussing addiction and temperance 44:01 Discussing Alcohol Consumption Approaches 45:33 Catholic in Recovery program details
Tom and Noelle Crowe are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about Casimir Pulaski.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Tom and Noelle Crowe are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about John Fitzgerald.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
From 1950 to 1970, the Vatican sent thousands of Italian children to eager American Catholics for adoption. The children entered the United States on orphan visas. The trouble was most of the children were not orphans. They were the children of unwed mothers, many of whom were alive and searching for their children. How the Vatican got into the orphan business is the subject of The Price of Children. Bill Whitaker speaks to author Maria Laurino and to American adoptees still struggling with the decades of separation from their birth families. Heather Abbott is the producer.Correspondent Jon Wertheim journeys by boat (and winch) into the world's smallest—and unlikeliest—state: the Principality of Sealand. Just off the English coast, and roughly the landmass of two tennis courts, it boasts a full-time population of one. It was built during World War II as a nautical fort, and later repurposed as a “pirate radio” station under its monarchs, the Bates family. Wertheim takes a tour of this micronation and its history of piracy, coups, countercoups and rogues. Michael Gavshon is the producer.Legendary Hollywood director Christopher Nolan, whose blockbuster films have earned 18 Academy Awards, meets with correspondent Scott Pelley on his adaptation of Homer's classic, “The Odyssey.” Pelley interviews Nolan and those who know him best about his filmmaking at a young age, his trademarks, and his most ambitious project yet. Nicole Young is the producer.
Tom and Noelle Crowe are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about Fr. Stephan Badin. Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Homily from the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Citizens must live with conviction, responsibility, and courage. On the 250th anniversary of our nation, it is a moment to stop and reflect on our identity. Are we "subjects" or are we "citizens"? Are we "American Catholics" or are we "Catholics who are citizens of America"? And what would it be to live as a citizen without the virtue of patriotism? Mass Readings from July 5, 2026: Zechariah 9:9-10 Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14Romans 8:9, 11-13 Matthew 11:25-30
Even as Donald Trump's approval ratings continue to plummet across the country, voters in the deep-red state of Wyoming, where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than six to one, remain solidly in support of the president. So it took real courage for Bishop Steven Biegler—appointed by Pope Francis in 2017 to lead the Diocese of Cheyenne, encompassing all of Wyoming—to promulgate a pastoral letter on migration just a few months ago. Bishop Biegler is keen to point out that Be a Merciful Neighbor is not a political document. Instead it asks Catholics to evaluate policies of mass deportation in light of the values of the Gospel—especially Christ's unequivocal call to welcome the stranger. On this episode, Bishop Biegler speaks about the letter, and its surprising reception by Wyoming Catholics, with Commonweal Senior Correspondent Heidi Schlumpf. Before their interview, Schlumpf also updates listeners on recent news affecting American Catholics. For further reading: Heidi Schlumpf on the Church's continued fight on behalf of migrants Pablo Christian Soenen on moral ambiguity in the borderlands Paul Moses on the evils of immigration enforcement under Tom Homan
Tom and Noelle Crowe are back for another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about Puerto Rico.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
The modern relationship between the Vatican and the State of Israel is rooted in a long history of hostility between Judaism and Roman Catholicism. Through the centuries, popes and theologians marginalized the Jewish people, assigning them collective guilt for the death of Jesus Christ and claiming that the sacred territory of Palestine was the true patrimony of the Roman Catholic Church. With the advent of political Zionism in the nineteenth century, Catholic fears of a Jewish-dominated Palestine were renewed. Contesting Zion: The Vatican, American Catholics, and the Partition of Palestine (McGill-Queen's UP, 2025) examines the relationship between the Vatican and the Zionist movement from the Balfour Declaration in 1917 to the first decade of Israeli statehood. Adrian Ciani considers the transnational nature of Catholic responses to Zionism and the creation of Israel, with a focus on the Catholic Church in the United States. From the 1920s through the 1950s, American Catholic leaders became crucial intermediaries between Washington and the Vatican. Speaking as both loyal American citizens and devout Catholics, they were uniquely positioned to articulate the Vatican's policy objectives to the American government, including on the future of Palestine. American Catholics were also instrumental in advocating the church's Palestine policy at the United Nations, playing a central role in the Holy See's attempts to shape the twentieth-century international order. Roberto Mazza is currently a visiting scholar at the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs at Northwestern University. He is the host of the Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast and to discuss and propose a book for interview can be reached at robbymazza@gmail.com. Blusky and IG: @robbyref Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
The modern relationship between the Vatican and the State of Israel is rooted in a long history of hostility between Judaism and Roman Catholicism. Through the centuries, popes and theologians marginalized the Jewish people, assigning them collective guilt for the death of Jesus Christ and claiming that the sacred territory of Palestine was the true patrimony of the Roman Catholic Church. With the advent of political Zionism in the nineteenth century, Catholic fears of a Jewish-dominated Palestine were renewed. Contesting Zion: The Vatican, American Catholics, and the Partition of Palestine (McGill-Queen's UP, 2025) examines the relationship between the Vatican and the Zionist movement from the Balfour Declaration in 1917 to the first decade of Israeli statehood. Adrian Ciani considers the transnational nature of Catholic responses to Zionism and the creation of Israel, with a focus on the Catholic Church in the United States. From the 1920s through the 1950s, American Catholic leaders became crucial intermediaries between Washington and the Vatican. Speaking as both loyal American citizens and devout Catholics, they were uniquely positioned to articulate the Vatican's policy objectives to the American government, including on the future of Palestine. American Catholics were also instrumental in advocating the church's Palestine policy at the United Nations, playing a central role in the Holy See's attempts to shape the twentieth-century international order. Roberto Mazza is currently a visiting scholar at the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs at Northwestern University. He is the host of the Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast and to discuss and propose a book for interview can be reached at robbymazza@gmail.com. Blusky and IG: @robbyref Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/jewish-studies
The modern relationship between the Vatican and the State of Israel is rooted in a long history of hostility between Judaism and Roman Catholicism. Through the centuries, popes and theologians marginalized the Jewish people, assigning them collective guilt for the death of Jesus Christ and claiming that the sacred territory of Palestine was the true patrimony of the Roman Catholic Church. With the advent of political Zionism in the nineteenth century, Catholic fears of a Jewish-dominated Palestine were renewed. Contesting Zion: The Vatican, American Catholics, and the Partition of Palestine (McGill-Queen's UP, 2025) examines the relationship between the Vatican and the Zionist movement from the Balfour Declaration in 1917 to the first decade of Israeli statehood. Adrian Ciani considers the transnational nature of Catholic responses to Zionism and the creation of Israel, with a focus on the Catholic Church in the United States. From the 1920s through the 1950s, American Catholic leaders became crucial intermediaries between Washington and the Vatican. Speaking as both loyal American citizens and devout Catholics, they were uniquely positioned to articulate the Vatican's policy objectives to the American government, including on the future of Palestine. American Catholics were also instrumental in advocating the church's Palestine policy at the United Nations, playing a central role in the Holy See's attempts to shape the twentieth-century international order. Roberto Mazza is currently a visiting scholar at the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs at Northwestern University. He is the host of the Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast and to discuss and propose a book for interview can be reached at robbymazza@gmail.com. Blusky and IG: @robbyref Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/middle-eastern-studies
Tome and Noelle Crowe are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about Perry ComoSubscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
The modern relationship between the Vatican and the State of Israel is rooted in a long history of hostility between Judaism and Roman Catholicism. Through the centuries, popes and theologians marginalized the Jewish people, assigning them collective guilt for the death of Jesus Christ and claiming that the sacred territory of Palestine was the true patrimony of the Roman Catholic Church. With the advent of political Zionism in the nineteenth century, Catholic fears of a Jewish-dominated Palestine were renewed. Contesting Zion: The Vatican, American Catholics, and the Partition of Palestine (McGill-Queen's UP, 2025) examines the relationship between the Vatican and the Zionist movement from the Balfour Declaration in 1917 to the first decade of Israeli statehood. Adrian Ciani considers the transnational nature of Catholic responses to Zionism and the creation of Israel, with a focus on the Catholic Church in the United States. From the 1920s through the 1950s, American Catholic leaders became crucial intermediaries between Washington and the Vatican. Speaking as both loyal American citizens and devout Catholics, they were uniquely positioned to articulate the Vatican's policy objectives to the American government, including on the future of Palestine. American Catholics were also instrumental in advocating the church's Palestine policy at the United Nations, playing a central role in the Holy See's attempts to shape the twentieth-century international order. Roberto Mazza is currently a visiting scholar at the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs at Northwestern University. He is the host of the Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast and to discuss and propose a book for interview can be reached at robbymazza@gmail.com. Blusky and IG: @robbyref Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies
The modern relationship between the Vatican and the State of Israel is rooted in a long history of hostility between Judaism and Roman Catholicism. Through the centuries, popes and theologians marginalized the Jewish people, assigning them collective guilt for the death of Jesus Christ and claiming that the sacred territory of Palestine was the true patrimony of the Roman Catholic Church. With the advent of political Zionism in the nineteenth century, Catholic fears of a Jewish-dominated Palestine were renewed. Contesting Zion: The Vatican, American Catholics, and the Partition of Palestine (McGill-Queen's UP, 2025) examines the relationship between the Vatican and the Zionist movement from the Balfour Declaration in 1917 to the first decade of Israeli statehood. Adrian Ciani considers the transnational nature of Catholic responses to Zionism and the creation of Israel, with a focus on the Catholic Church in the United States. From the 1920s through the 1950s, American Catholic leaders became crucial intermediaries between Washington and the Vatican. Speaking as both loyal American citizens and devout Catholics, they were uniquely positioned to articulate the Vatican's policy objectives to the American government, including on the future of Palestine. American Catholics were also instrumental in advocating the church's Palestine policy at the United Nations, playing a central role in the Holy See's attempts to shape the twentieth-century international order. Roberto Mazza is currently a visiting scholar at the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs at Northwestern University. He is the host of the Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast and to discuss and propose a book for interview can be reached at robbymazza@gmail.com. Blusky and IG: @robbyref Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of The Open Door, panelists Thomas Storck, Andrew Sorokowski, and Christopher Zehnder interview Jared Staudt, editor of The American Catholic Land Movement (June 10, 2026)
Tom and Noelle Crowe are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about Sacred Heart Chapel.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Tom and Noelle Crowe are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about Fr. Francis Sampson.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Tom and Noelle Crowe are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about the first basilica in the United States, St. Mary's in Minneapolis.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Tom and Noelle Crowe are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about the Basilica of Our Lady, Help of Christians.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Tom and Noelle Crowe are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about St. Mary's in Galviston.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Jack Thornell's photographs of the Civil Rights Movement remind us why we need the Voting Rights Act now as much as ever. Ben riffs. Denali Dasgupta compares the vast contrast in the lives and legacies of Amisha Patel and Rudy Giuliani. Also, a “real moment” for American Catholics. And a few words about taxing the rich. Denali is an activist in Chicago. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born head of the Roman Catholic Church. We speak with Dr. Stephen Okey, theology professor at Saint Leo University near Tampa, about Leo's first year in office, controversies with the U.S. government, future issues of concern for the pontiff and how American Catholics feel about someone leading their church who has a native understanding of U.S. politics and culture. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tom and Noelle Crowe are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about the Baltimore Basilica. Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Bear Woznick sits down with Jason Jones to have a conversation about Charlie Kirk's legacy, and the spiritual battle young men have in the Catholic Church.Jason Jones explains his work in Gaza and how being an American Catholic we can carry out the basic act of loving and caring for vulnerable people. Jason explains how he as an American Catholic joins the battle in promoting human dignity and inspiring solidarity through the vulnerable people project. The conversation goes into explaining how knowing the nature of God brings so many things into order. Also how because of reason and discipline it gives the opportunity for young men to flock to the Catholic Church. Full Episodes! https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detai...https://www.bearschoolofmanliness.com/Full Episodes! https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detai...https://www.bearschoolofmanliness.com/SUBSCRIBE & SHARE BEAR'S VIDEOSWEBSITE DeepAdventure.ComNEWEST BOOK "12 Rules for Manliness | Where Have All the Cowboys Gone" on Amazon or Bear's Online Store https://my-site-100622-104377.square....DONATE TO THE CAUSE: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_...PATREON EARLY RELEASE OF CONTENT HERE: / bearwoznickdeepadventure FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/BearWoznick/...#Jesus #Catholic #Faith #Hope #Love #God
Tom and Noelle Crowe are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about the Catholic stories of Alfred Hitchcock.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Jesus is not a Republican. Jesus is not a Democrat. And if we try to force Him into either box, we misunderstand the Gospel entirely.In this episode, we break down the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17) and what it reveals about one of the biggest problems in the Church today: Catholics dividing Jesus into political ideologies.One year after the death of Pope Francis and one year into the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, tensions among American Catholics are still high. From debates about immigration, social teaching, and the “order of love,” to disagreements between political leaders and Church authority, many Catholics are asking:
Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV are probably the two most prominent Americans in the world right now, and they're fighting. So we asked American Catholics (including those who voted for Trump) what they thought of their feud, and about Trump's Truth Social Post depicting himself as Jesus. JVL returns to the show with some choice words for some of his fellow Catholics, and discusses the role the Catholic Church has played in American politics more broadly.Get tickets to The Bulwark's May live shows in San Diego and Los Angeles!
Patrick answers questions on topics ranging from diabolical possession to parish registration, Catholic charities, and immigration through Aquinas’s lens, always keeping the conversation candid and current. He draws a line between spiritual and psychological explanations, addresses ethical concerns about workplace expenses, and examines boundaries in youth ministry when it comes to praying over minors. Throughout, Patrick weighs unrest about Islam’s growth, political upheaval involving the Pope, and patriotism’s place beneath a Catholic identity, urging honesty, faith, and discernment over outrage. Ty – Is there a paranormal aspect to 'gang-stalking'? (00:56) Mary - I think Catholic Charities is not under the Catholic Church. What did Thomas Aquinas say about immigration? We need to follow immigration laws. (07:41) Pete - I worked for Catholic Charities. Catholic Charities was never sold. There are 160 different agencies that all serve a diocese. (15:24) Kirby (email) - A good portion of your callers are delusional (21:14) Tim (email) - Companies do things all the time that are illegal and/or immoral, so personally, I wouldn't use them as my moral compass. Tom - Pope Leo said that Muslims and Christians should live together side by side in peace. Does he understand who Muslims are? The Islam religion is wrong. It’s the only religion where you can get murdered for leaving the faith. (26:10) Paul - Do we have authority to pray over teens in Confirmation class? (33:21) Jared – How, as an American Catholic, do I handle being discouraged by the current administration?
Pope Leo XIV says he is not afraid of the Trump administration. That statement followed a series of public criticisms from the president and vice president.President Trump bashed Pope Leo over issues like war and crime. Vice President Vance claimed that the pope does not understand Just War Theory.But Pope Leo has remained steady, saying that he will speak truth wherever he goes. It's a strange time for American Catholics.Our guests discuss it. In studio: Jamie R. Fazio, M.Div., director and university chaplain in the Center for Spirituality at Nazareth University Patricia Schoelles, Ph.D., moral theologian and director of mission integration for the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Rochester ---Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.---Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter. Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.---Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.
Joe examines how Trump’s blasphemous meme actually points to a more serious problem spiritually in our culture today, and it’s a problem that most of us struggle with. Transcript: Joe: Welcome back to Shameless Popery. I’m Joe Heschmeyer, and this Easter season has been a wild one for American Catholics, particularly in terms of the clash of church and state. On Easter Sunday morning, President Trump tweeted to the Iranians threatening to attack power plants and bridges and to open the bleeping straight, or they would be living in hell, signing off with a mocking praise be to...
Tensions rise as political messaging from the Vatican sparks backlash among American Catholics. With past election trends showing shifting support, questions are emerging about faith, politics, and influence. Is the Church shaping politics—or are believers pushing back? ⚡ HOOK (OPEN) When faith meets politics, who actually listens—and who pushes back?
Tom and Noelle Crow are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about Joseph Warren Revere. Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Tom and Noelle Crow are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today's they tell you about Babe Ruth.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Tom and Noelle Crowe are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about Carlos Rodriguez Santiago. Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Tom and Noelle Crowe are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell us about the founding of Maryland.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Dr. R. Jared Staudt joins Steve and Becky to discuss the history and elements of living the homestead life. His book is the American Catholic Land Movement: Past, Present, and Future.
TRADCAST EXPRESS - Episode 223 Topics covered: Novus Ordo parish in Italy provides venue for Muslim prayer during Ramadan. Blasphemous 'Queer Stations of the Cross' in Austrian churches. Leo XIV and mortal sin. No church service for deceased Mafia boss in Sicily. A papal tiara for Leo XIV? Links: Giving Up Christ For Lent: Italian Novus Ordo Parish Provides Worship Space for Muslims During Ramadan (Mar. 13, 2026) Info on 'Archbishop' Carlo Roberto Maria Redaelli 'Queer Stations of the Cross' in Austrian 'Catholic' Churches Focus on Suffering of Aberrosexual Refugees (Mar. 17, 2026) Address of Leo XIV to Participants in the Course on the Internal Forum Promoted by the Apostolic Penitentiary (Mar. 13, 2026) Alexander Lucie-Smith, No funeral for the Mafia Boss Nitto Santapaola (Mar. 13, 2026) Tyler Arnold, American Catholics launch crowdfunding effort to gift Pope Leo XIV papal tiara (Mar. 2, 2026) Zelda Caldwell, The day the pope gave up his papal tiara to feed the poor (Aug. 19, 2018) Sign up to be notified of new episode releases automatically at tradcast.org. Produced by NOVUSORDOWATCH.org Support us by making a tax-deductible contribution at NovusOrdoWatch.org/donate/
Tom and Noelle Crowe are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about John Boyle O'Reilly, poet and author.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Tom and Noelle Crowe are back with another American Catholic History lesson. Today they tell you about the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the U.S. Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Under Pope Leo XIV, the Catholic Church is speaking out against right-wing politics around the world, including President Trump's immigration agenda and treatment of migrants. It's a sharp shift in tone from Pope Francis and a counter to conservatives increasingly invoking faith to defend Trump's policies. Scott and Marisa are joined by Christopher Hale, a progressive Catholic and political operative who writes the Letters from Leo Substack. He argues that it's time for Catholics to decide which path to follow — the Pope's or Trump's. Check out Political Breakdown's weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Liza Moore reads her poem "Under Van Gogh's Stars," and Johanna Caton, O.S.B., reads her poem "Little Dog" from our current Winter issue. Liza Moore is an artist and storyteller who resides with her husband and son in Round Rock, TX. She has created three children's books, and some of her artwork, poetry, and essays have been published in various journals, including Fathom Mag, Ekstasis Magazine, EcoTheo Review, Apple Valley Review, Thimble Lit Mag, Humana Obscura, St. Katherine Review, and Calla Press. To learn more about Liza and her creative work, please visit https://campsite.bio/liza_moore_art.Johanna Caton, O.S.B, is a Benedictine nun of Minster Abbey, in Kent, England. Her poems have appeared in a number of publications, including The Christian Century, St. Austin Review, Ekphrastic Review, Amethyst Review, One Art, Today's American Catholic, Fathom, Fare Forward, Windhover, The Catholic Poetry Room, and in two anthologies published by Amethyst Press: All Shall be Well, Poems for Julian of Norwich and Thin Places and Sacred Spaces. She is a Pushcart Prize nominee.
St. Isaac does not flatter us. He does not tell us that the ascetic life is noble. He tells us it burns. He does not tell us it is peaceful. He tells us it wounds. He does not tell us it feels like fulfillment. He tells us it feels like loss. Because what stands at the heart of the ascetic life is not discipline. It is death. Not the death of the body, but the death of the self that has lived for itself. And until that self begins to die, the soul remains cold. The modern man wants illumination without humiliation. He wants consolation without affliction. He wants joy without tears. He wants Christ without crucifixion. But St. Isaac tells us plainly. The sign that the soul is drawing near to life is not comfort. It is fire. Your heart is aflame both day and night. This fire does not come from effort. It comes from surrender. It comes when a man has ceased defending himself. It comes when he has ceased preserving his image. It comes when he has ceased negotiating with God. He stands stripped of illusions. He sees his poverty. He sees his weakness. He sees that he has nothing. And this is where grace begins. Because God does not fill what is full. He fills what has been emptied. The Lord says through the prophet Isaiah I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite. The fathers knew this. Abba Poemen said The man who understands his sins is greater than the man who raises the dead. Because the one who raises the dead may still live for himself. But the one who sees his sins has begun to die. And it is this death that gives birth to tears. St. Isaac says that tears join themselves to every work. Not because the man is trying to weep. But because he can no longer protect himself from reality. He sees God. He sees himself. He sees the distance between them. And he weeps. These tears are not weakness. They are truth. They are the breaking of the heart that has lived in false strength. King David understood this when he said My sacrifice is a contrite spirit. A humbled and contrite heart you will not spurn. God does not desire your accomplishments. He desires your brokenness. Because brokenness is the door through which He enters. This is why St. Isaac says that afflictions suffered for the Lord are more precious than every offering. Because affliction destroys the illusion that you are alive apart from God. Affliction reveals the truth. That you are dust. That you are weak. That you cannot save yourself. And the ego cannot survive this revelation. This is why affliction is feared. Not because it harms us. But because it exposes us. The Apostle Paul understood this mystery when he said We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed. Perplexed, but not driven to despair. Struck down, but not destroyed. Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. Affliction carries death into the false self. So that life may be born in the true self. And this is where the paradox appears. Because the man who embraces affliction does not become miserable. He becomes free. St. Isaac says that when this fire is born in the soul, the whole world becomes ashes. Not because the world is hated. But because it no longer enslaves him. He no longer needs it to feel alive. He no longer needs recognition. He no longer needs control. He no longer needs to preserve himself. Because he has found something greater. He has found Christ. And Christ becomes his life. St. Paul says I count all things as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. This is not poetry. This is the testimony of a man who has passed through affliction into freedom. Because when the false life dies, the true life appears. And this life cannot be taken. This is the joy that St. Isaac speaks of. Not emotional happiness. But the unshakable certainty that Christ has become your life. This joy is born in tears. It is born in humiliation. It is born in affliction. It is born when the man ceases running from the cross. Christ did not say Avoid suffering. He said Take up your cross and follow me. Because the cross is not the end. It is the door. On the other side of affliction stands resurrection. On the other side of humiliation stands freedom. On the other side of tears stands joy. This is why St. Isaac warns us. If the fire grows cold, woe to you. Because the greatest tragedy is not suffering. It is returning to sleep. It is returning to self protection. It is returning to the illusion that you can live apart from God. The ascetic life is not about becoming strong. It is about becoming defenseless before God. It is about allowing Him to strip away everything false. It is about allowing Him to destroy what cannot live. So that what is eternal may appear. And when this happens, the man no longer fears affliction. Because he has seen what it produces. He has seen the fire. He has tasted the tears. He has known the joy that cannot be taken. And he understands at last the words of Christ Your sorrow will turn into joy. Not because suffering disappears. But because Christ has become your life. And nothing can take Him away. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:00:58 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 177 paragraph 24 00:07:15 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 177 paragraph 24 00:07:36 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Ascetic life begins where excuses die When a man stops speaking about God and begins to suffer for Him Humility takes root so deeply that tear flow unceasingly Heart burns without knowing why When grace comes the battle grows more dangerous - soul tempted to become prudent. Where most turn back Ascetic life requires a kind of violence against instinct to survive 00:16:15 Jesssica Imanaka: Looks I can attend these retreats since they don't start until the 21st. 00:20:28 Angela Bellamy: The devil does not only tempt with sin — he tempts with carefulness. I remember that from the "Unseen warfare" 00:30:50 Sr Barbara Jean Mihalchick: Baptism of the Holy Spirit? 00:31:58 Ryan Ngeve: Father with his emphasis on tears, does that mean a lack of tears entails the lack of working of the Holy Spirit 00:32:00 Angela Bellamy: Does such a thing that has happened that the unemotional/tenderness tears come... Would "carefulness take it away before time" 00:36:24 Angela Bellamy: Reacted to "Does such a thing th..." with ❤️ 00:39:24 Angela Bellamy: But with certainty one can assume that they are the one who pulled away, not Him? So there can be a drawing near again...? 00:46:03 Holly Hecker: it would appear that consolations at these times could be sort of dangerous - do we want to go back or go forward 00:46:09 David Swiderski, WI: I have noticed when repentance seems distant my mind turns towards pride forgetting being freed from it is not by me but by grace of something. When I turn back to repentance I find myself like Abba moses walking around with a hole in a bag of sand and more open to others struggles 00:50:21 John ‘Jack': Since reading the fathers, I've come to realize that I am only responsible for my own salvation, it seems like our culture has convinced us that we are somehow responsible for others salvation. Since I've been focused on this I've found my “witness” if you will has become far less burdensome. 00:54:35 Joan Chakonas: My prayers are usually in context of afflictions (my judgmentalism, my ridicule, my thoughts in general from living my day )and asking for Gods help and guidance. When I am at peace I am not actively petitioning God for abstract things - I am trying to repent all the time and peace is what I get when I get His message. 00:55:09 David Swiderski, WI: Sin is followed by shame, Repentance is followed by boldness- St. John Chrysotom 00:56:10 Joan Chakonas: I just say thank you God over and over when I get to peace. 00:56:26 John ‘Jack': Perfectly stated, Father thank you. 00:56:53 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "I just say thank you..." with ❤️ 01:01:18 Anthony: Preach Father! I saw the Faith in Southern Italy was so different in its tone than what I've seen as an American Catholic. 01:01:41 Myles Davidson: A word for sorrowful joy seems like a word we lack in English (bittersweet is probably the closest). Is this the Greek word you mean Father? χαρμολύπη (charmolýpi)… pronounced as khar-mo-LEE-pee 01:02:05 Ben: Anna; This conversation reminds me of something Jesus said, "This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you." 01:02:45 Angela Bellamy: Reacted to "Anna; This conversat..." with ❤️ 01:02:57 David Swiderski, WI: Reacted to "Anna; This conversat..." with ❤️ 01:05:51 Angela Bellamy: I'm not really sure why this conversation reminds me of Malachi.
This episode of the Italian American Podcast offers a rich and intimate look at the enduring legacy of women religious through a conversation with Sister Helen Sanchez, with hosts Patrick O'Boyle and Marianna Gato. Centered on the Religious Teachers Filippini—an Italian-founded order devoted to the education of girls and women—the episode blends personal vocation, immigrant history, and Catholic education into a single, compelling narrative. Sister Helen recounts her path to religious life as a Puerto Rican woman entering an Italian order, and her years teaching in Italian-American parishes across New Jersey, Ohio, and beyond. The discussion explores how ethnic religious communities shaped Catholic schooling—preserving language, music, and devotion while adapting to new immigrant populations. These institutions emerge not merely as schools, but as cultural anchors for successive generations. The conversation also honors the often-unseen heroism of the Filippini Sisters, from their educational mission to their wartime courage, including efforts to shelter Jews during World War II and the scholarly legacy documenting that work. Personal stories of sisterhood, aging communities, and vocational discernment are woven together with festive traditions, underscoring how faith, culture, and memory endure. Warm, thoughtful, and deeply human, this episode is a tribute to women religious and their quiet but lasting imprint on the Italian American story. HOSTS: Patrick O'Boyle Marianna Gatto SPECIAL GUEST: Sister Helen Sanchez PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia
Thousands of American Christians are converting to the Eastern Orthodox faith — yet most American Catholics and Protestants know little to nothing about it. What do the Orthodox believe, what sets them apart from other denominations, and what has it attracting so many converts? Charlie spoke to Orthodox convert, priest, and author Fr. John Strickland for more than hour to learn the ins and outs of this ancient form of Christianity that is brand new to most of America. You can find "The Age of Nihilism" and other books by Fr. Strickland at https://store.ancientfaith.com/the-age-of-nihilism-christendom-from-the-great-war-to-the-culture-wars/ Watch every episode ad-free on members.charliekirk.com! Get new merch at charliekirkstore.com!Support the show: http://www.charliekirk.com/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.