Considering Catholicism

The Church and Her Fathers, Part 3: Voices of the Early Church (#372)

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In Part 3 of "The Church and Her Fathers," Greg tackles an anti-Catholic X post dismissing the Church Fathers as mere “fragments” of history, connecting it to the series’ exploration of the Church’s visible nature and biblical roots. He exposes the flaws in claims about “lost voices” and late Christianity, highlighting the Fathers’ diverse origins and doctrinal unity as evidence of the Catholic Church’s continuity. Drawing from his Protestant past, Greg shows how the Fathers bridge the apostles to today, countering evangelical dodges. He sets the stage for a deeper dive into their lives and writings in Part 4.

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The Church and Her Fathers, Part 2: Militant, Suffering, Triumphant—And What It Means for You (#371)

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In part two of the series on the Church, Greg delves deeper into Catholic teachings from the Catechism, emphasizing the Church as both visible and invisible, human and divine. He explores the three-fold nature—the Church Militant on earth, Suffering in purgatory, and Triumphant in heaven—with direct quotes from CCC 954 and insights from Doctors like Aquinas and Augustine on their interconnected unity through the Communion of Saints. Addressing Protestant listeners, Greg explains the Catechism’s affirming view of other denominations as in imperfect communion through baptism, while calling for greater ecumenical unity. This episode invites seekers to reconsider the Church not as a mere institution but as Christ’s enduring, mystical body spanning time and eternity.

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The Church and Her Fathers, Part 1: It's Called "The Church," So Say The Church (#370)

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In Part 1 of a four-part series called “The Church and Her Fathers,” Greg dives into a pet peeve: why evangelicals insist on calling early Christianity a “movement” instead of “the Church.” Tracing the term’s modern origins in missions and Reformation biases, he calls it infantile and passive-aggressive anti-Catholicism. With a strong biblical rebuttal, Greg shows how this language contradicts Scripture’s clear use of “church” and invites listeners to reconsider the visible, enduring body Christ founded.

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Baptism, Part 2: Adults (#369)

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In this second part of the baptism series, Greg Sshifts to adults and older children, explaining when infant rules end (around age seven per canon law) and how personal intention takes over. He outlines the OCIA process for unbaptized catechumens, adaptations for ages 7-18, and recognition of most Protestant baptisms if Trinitarian. Canon law is walked through step-by-step, with practical US insights and unusual cases like emergency baptisms or impediments for those in unrepented sin handled orthodoxly and charitably. He strengthens the discussion by emphasizing baptism's regenerative nature as being "born again," contrasting it with evangelical symbolic views, and highlighting Protestant diversity on the sacrament.

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Baptism, Part 1: Infants (#368)

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In this first part of a two-episode series on Catholic baptism, Greg explores the doctrinal heart of the sacrament, explaining why infants are baptized and how it aligns with Scripture and ancient Church tradition. He clarifies that baptism brings regeneration—being "born again"—with references to the Catechism and Bible, while contrasting it with common Protestant views. The episode then dives into canon law's guidelines for infant baptism, including requirements for parents, godparents, and the "founded hope" of a Catholic upbringing. Practical parish insights and exceptional cases, like baptisms for children of same-sex couples, are handled with orthodox clarity and pastoral charity. He also bolsters the discussion with analogies for baptism's ontological change and the varied Protestant positions on the sacrament.

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Suggested episodes:

• #139, "Why Does the Church Baptize Infants?"
• #209, "Are Catholics Born Again?"

 

Old Progressives vs. Young Trads: Generational Battles in the Pews (#367)

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Greg and Cory dive into the often-confusing generational conflicts simmering in many Catholic parishes, where aging baby boomers shaped by 1960s and 70s pop culture clash with younger millennials and Gen Z seekers craving transcendence and tradition. They explore how boomers emphasized horizontal community and cultural relevance, leading to beige churches and casual liturgies, while today's converts yearn for vertical worship, smells and bells, and a countercultural faith rooted in the Church's 2,000-year history. Drawing from their own journeys as converts, Greg and Cory debunk myths tying these tensions solely to Vatican II, instead pointing to broader cultural shifts and the need for principled arguments over aesthetic preferences. They warn against repeating boomer mistakes by making the Church a slave to generational trends, urging listeners to focus on continuity, charity, and faithfulness to Christ.

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Kids in Church, Part 2: Discipline? Boredom? Learning? (#366)

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Greg and Cory revisit the challenges parents of small children face in bringing their children to Mass. In Episode #360, Greg had responded to a listener named Claire who shared that teaching her kids to sit still and pay attention in Mass was a struggle, and asked why Catholic Churches didn't have the same kind of dynamic "kid's church" programs that contemporary evangelical churches do. Cory, as a parent of four small children, had some additional thoughts.

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Hollywood's Catholic Caricatures: Fat Bishops, Mean Nuns, and the Big Con (#365)

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In this lively conclusion to a three-part series looking at myths about Catholicism, Greg and Ed the Protestant unpack how "Hollywood"—from Reformation-era propaganda to modern films, novels, and TV—ingrains unconscious biases against Catholicism through tropes like fat, greedy bishops, ugly scheming monks, mean ruler-wielding nuns, and spooky cathedrals that twist sacred awe into dread. They challenge the pervasive vibe that nobody truly believed the faith, portraying it as an elaborate con everyone winked at, questioning how such a "scam" could endure for centuries with genuine devotion from saints, martyrs, and everyday believers. Drawing on the "Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect" and personal anecdotes—like Protestant pastors' misconceptions and the absurd "candle-lighting priest" cliché—they highlight how these visceral impressions hinder apologetics, much like racial stereotypes, and urge listeners to investigate the Church firsthand beyond media distortions and "common knowledge" to discover authentic faith.

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