The Cordial Catholic

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Chris Kellam, a former pastor, an Evangelical seminarian, and a Catholic convert to share his absolutely amazing journey of conversion.

Chris' story is one of a serious Evangelical Christian – a pastor, working on his Master's degree at seminary – realizing that not every Christian agreed on some of the theology and belief he took for granted.

It began, for Chris, when he started working as a youth pastor at a church that practised infant baptism – something he'd never considered before – and began a deep biblical search into baptism, a search which led Chris to the Early Church Fathers, the practice of the very first Christians, and the beliefs of the Protestant Reformers – all to try and track down where Chris' own beliefs came from and why other Christians believed differently.

And that's just the beginning.

Questions about baptism led Chris to questions about what the "essential" beliefs were for Christians, why some of these beliefs were missing from the Early Church, and exactly what he ought to believe as a Christian after all.

Oh, and the conversion of a close friend and fellow seminarian to Catholicism comes out of left field, too!

It's such a remarkable story.

You can find and follow Chris on Twitter.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

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Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by the wonderful Dr. Mark Giszczak from the Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology to talk about suffering.

It's a perennial topic and, as I suggest in this episode, one of the top reasons that I hear about for people leaving the Catholic faith. Why does God allow so much suffering? What's the difference between human-caused suffering and natural disasters and sicknesses? How is suffering just? And, incredibly, how does the Catholic faith actually propose the best framework for understanding evil and suffering – something that atheists simply can't explain.

This and much more in this week's episode.

For more from Dr. Giszczak check out his book Suffering: What Every Catholic Should Know from the Augustine Institute and Ignatius Press.

And visit Dr. Giszczak's website, Catholic Bible Student.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests!

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Izabela Ciesinska to talk about her incredible faith journey and her wonderful new book.

Raised nominally Catholic, Izabela wandered into the New Age movement as a young adult and eventually into atheism, deciding that there can't possibly be a God until she was struck by incredible, natural beauty on a road trip with some friends. Suddenly confronted by inexplicable beauty Izabela began a winding journey to discover its source, journeying back through the New Age movement, through Prosperity Gospel preaching as a Protestant, and finally back to the life-giving sacraments found in the Catholic Church.

Izabela's story is fascinating and her perspective – as a filmmaker, author, and creator – is a profoundly interesting one.

In addition to her journey we talk about the role of media, how to reach and impact children with rich stories, the role of ego, darkness, and evil in the media we consume, and the power of prayer.

It's a great conversation.

For more from Izabela visit her website. And check out her wonderful new book from Ascension Kids, The Little Donkey and God's Big Plan.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests!

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by the incredible Louis Damani Jones. A revert to the Catholic faith with an incredible story to tell, an African American Catholic with a rich experience of Catholicism to talk about, and a social justice leader in the community, deeply rooted in Catholic social values and the work of some of the best and bright Catholic theologians.

You don't want to miss this episode.

Raised in an activist household Louis had to learn quickly what it meant to take action against oppressive structures from a Catholic point of view. After drifting away from his faith as a teen and young adult, Louis began to dig more deeply into Scripture, the Early Church Fathers, and Church history – and an amazing conversion journey unfolds there, too!

This is a spectacular episode about Catholic social teaching, justice, race, what it means to be an African American in today's North American Catholic Church, and what the Church, says Jones, is the absolute best vehicle for mounting social change and has the best vision of a just world too: with Christ as its centre.

For more from Louis check out the fantastic podcast we recommended Ark and Dove (on all podcasting platforms).

You can also follow Louis on Instagram and check out The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, recommended by Louis.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests!

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined once again by my good friend Catholic convert, author, and historian Rod Bennett to propose a really interesting thesis he's been chewing on these days: that the "unwritten tradition" often criticized by non-Catholic Christians was actually written down.

Maybe you've heard this claim before? That as Christians should rely on the Bible alone and that Catholics have heaped up all kinds of unwritten traditions – barnacles on the once-pure Ark of Christ – that just get in the way of good old fashion Bible Only Christianity. This is certainly the argument that Rod and I would've heard, and believed, as former Evangelical Christians.

But what happens when those so-called "unwritten traditions," those things that Catholics apparently "added" to the once-pure Christian Church, were actually there from the beginning and can be found in the writings of the earliest Christians, those that learned their faith from the apostles?

This week not the who's, Rod tackles that very idea: that the so-called "unwritten tradition" criticized by Christians who claim Catholics have added to the faith, actually existed from the very beginning. 

For more from Rod Bennett, check out his numerous previous appearances in the archives of the show including conversations about Catholic Witnesses to the Early Church (Episode 141) and Were the Early Christians Catholic? (Episode 089).

And check out These Twelve, Rod's latest book from Catholic Answers Press.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests!

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by former White House speaker writer, New York Times #1 best-selling author, Bible scholar, historian, and Catholic convert Joshua Charles to talk about his simply incredible conversion story.

A lifelong Protestant, Joshua was steeped in Scripture from an early age, collecting study Bibles as soon as he could read and it was his love for Scripture that began to find him asking some uncomfortable questions about the Evangelical faith he was practising.

Questions about authority, biblical interpretation, what "binding and loosing" meant, how to understand Baptism, and many more questions like this.

When Joshua began digging into the Bible professionally, and was tasked with researching the Early Church, he began to find himself asking even more uncomfortable questions and finding a Christianity, at its roots, that looked very different from what he had experienced in his time as an Evangelical.

This incredible story told by a prolific writer and wonderful storyteller and it's utterly captivating. What truly happens when someone abandons themselves to searching for the Church Christ founded, at its very beginning? Well Joshua is here to tell you.

For more from Joshua follow him on Twitter or check out his website.

Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Catholic Answers apologist extraordinaire Joe Heschmeyer to talk about a topic that we get lots of questions about on this show: Calvinism.

What does the Catholic Church have to say about this Reformation-era idea? What's the Catholic view of it? What's the Catholic response to it? And how can a Catholic become equipped to speak about Calvinism from place of understanding as a Catholic.

Plus, with Joe as our guide, we drop back in time to the Early Church and look at how the first disciples of Christ understood Calvinism. Can we find its roots in the Early Church? Or is this truly a Reformation-era innovation? And, if so, how do we address that, too?

It's a fantastic conversation.

For more from Joe check out latest book The Eucharist Really Is Jesus  from Catholic Answers Press and visit his website Shameless Popery where you can find links to all the amazing things Joe is doing – including his podcast Shameless Popery, available everywhere podcasts can be found.

Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by the very cordial John Martignoni, an author, speaker, long-time radio host, and the founder and president of the Bible Christian Society to mine some of the questions that Protestantism – that I, as a Protestant Evangelical Christian – had the hardest time answering.

These are questions like that John calls the "pea under the mattress." Questions like what did Jesus mean in Matthew 18:15 when he explained how to resolve disputes (and how can it possibly be implemented in Evangelical Christianity)? What kind of unity was Christ praying for in John 17? And what did Jesus mean when he gave the apostles – and Peter in particular – the power to "bind and loose"?

These questions, and more, explored this week with John's trademark insight and straight-forward apologetic style. It's a great conversation!

For more from John check out the Bible Christian Society.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests!

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Catholic convert and author Shaun McAfee to talk about the wonderful, wild, and sometimes downright weird world of Catholic sacramentals.

What is a sacramental? Why does the Church think they may be helpful in our faith journeys? What do they do? What don't they do? What are some common misconceptions about sacramentals? And how to use them.

This episode is packed full of goodness; it's a great topic.

We talk about how to approach sacramentals as a new Catholic, the point and purpose and history behind some of the most common sacramentals like prayer gestures, holy water, and scapulars. Plus, we discuss the rosary, the Stations of the Cross, and much more.

To read Shaun's beautiful new book "Compendium of Sacramentals" find it on Tan Books or wherever fine books are sold.

Follow Shaun on his website and check out EpicPew for what Shaun describes as "fun, wholesome Catholic stuff for people to live their lives better."

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests!

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Talia Kruze, a wife, mother, mental health coach, and a convert to the Catholic faith to talk about her absolutely incredible journey of conversion to the Catholic faith.

The theme throughout Talia's journey is the effect of good Catholic witnesses. Beginning when her own sister converted to Catholicism after the witnesses of the good Catholics she met at university, Talia's story is full of other Catholics sharing the faith in rich and meaningful ways, leading Talia (and other members of her family!) to become Catholic.

Whether it was a Catholic university community, her experience discerning religious life, the diagnosis of a mental illness, or her incredible encounter and friendship with Father Mike Schmitz, Talia's story is one of the powerful impact of living out your Catholic faith in earnest – and how living that life can truly change the lives of others!

For more from Talia check out her website or follow her on Instagram.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests!

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my new friend Phillip Campbell, a Catholic convert from charismatic, evangelical Christianity, to talk about his truly remarkable faith journey.

Raised nominally Catholic Phillip never went to Mass or received any of the sacraments but found Jesus through the evangelization of some close friends and their incredible examples of faith. After spending time in a number of charismatic communities – and a number of impactful religious experiences – Phillip shares what finally drew him into the fullness of the Catholic faith and why the sum total of his experiences in Christianity serve as a kind of trajectory toward Catholicism.

He has a great perspective on it all, and some incredibly wild experiences along the way!

There's so much in this story.

For more from Phillip includes his books, talks, videos, and much more visit his website.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests!

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by podcaster, writer, and speaker John Edwards to share what I think is the most incredible conversion story ever.

John breaks the record previously held by the wonderful Tsh Oxenreider as he speaks for a full hour unpacking his whirlwind conversion story: through a crippling drug addiction, successes and failures, ups and downs, and an incredible return to the Catholic Church through the grace of vulnerability and the sacraments John's story is absolutely breath-taking. I can promise you'll be on the edge of your seat throughout; and once you start, you won't be able to hit pause!

For more from John check out the Just A Guy in the Pew Podcast and his website for links to book him to speak and for more information about the resources he's creating through his ministry.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests!

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Bishop Athanasius Schneider to talk about what new Catholics, non-Catholic Christians, and even Catholics who have been around the faith for a long time can, and should, make of the current state of affairs in the Catholic Church.

How to thrive and live faithfully, following Christ, when it seems sometimes like the Church is in crisis.

How, and why, anyone should even consider becoming Catholic when it seems, some days, like the Church is a mess of confusion.

We talk about the roots of the current tensions in the Church, what it means for Catholicism going forward, why certain voices seem to crowd out others, and what hope there is for the future.

Not a pessimistic or negative conversation, Bishop Athanasius Schneider brings joy, hope, and a deep and abiding love for Christ and His Church in this fantastic interview.

For more from Bishop Athanasius Schneider, check out his new compendium of Catholic teaching Credo, out from Sofia Institute Press.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests!

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my friend Joe Goodwin. Joe was an evangelical seminarian, worship leader, and a Catholic convert. Since his conversion, Joe's gone on to work in campus ministry for a number of years and is currently the Executive Director of Canadian Priests for the Third Millennium, a group working to meet the needs of the next generation of priests.

This week on the show, Joe tells his incredible conversion story which, remarkably, intersects with my own at several different points. Joe's story is one of deep love of his faith, of Christ, and of studying the Church Fathers in an Evangelical seminary which ultimately led to his asking deeper questions and deciding to become Catholic.

Joe's an amazing guy and I hope you enjoy this conversation. It was absolutely thrilling to be able to bring it to you.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests!

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Dr. Matthew J. Thomas to talk about justification, salvation, and whether or not Evangelicals and Catholics can agree on how we're saved.

This is a wonderful topic and one of the bread-and-butter type conversations on this podcast: unpacking what both Catholics and Evangelicals believe about how we're saved and trying to come up with some agreement.

Dr. Thomas explains how the definition of words like "justification," "works," and "salvation" can often be misused and misunderstood across different groups and that being clear with our language, looking for similarities, and working through differences is how we can better understand what divided and shockingly still divides Protestant Christianity from Catholic and Orthodox believers.

For more from Dr. Matthew J. Thomas, visit  the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology.

You can read Dr. Thomas' article, "Justification," at the St. Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology.

Be sure to listen to Dr. Thomas' wife's incredible conversion story, too. A female Anglican priest-candidate, Leanne Thomas discerned a different path when she encountered the Catholic liturgy and the Early Church Fathers and ended up, along with her husband, becoming Catholic. Her episode is number 210.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests!

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
Twitter: @cordialcatholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Catholic convert, author, speaker, and, of course, Catholic priest Father Ken Geraci, CPM to talk about the realm of spiritual warfare and the uniquely Catholic tools we have to combat sin, Satan, and the demonic.

Father Ken is a truly wonderful priest – with a great conversion story! – and is full of fascinating insights into the spiritual realm and how, as Catholic, we possess the unique tools to draw us closer to Christ and away from spiritual darkness, in all its forms!

For more from Father Ken visit his website and check out his book Spiritual Warfare and Divine Mercy.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests!

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Dr. Samuel Klumpenhouwer, an expert in Medieval Catholicism, to talk about the day-to-day realities of what it was like for Catholics in the Middle Ages?

Did the Catholic Church really keep the Bible out of the hands of average Catholics? Was doctrine, dogma, and theology out of touch with Scripture and the history of the Church? Did Catholicism really go off the rails? Was the Reformation necessary?

We tackle these questions and much more this week on the show with a wonderful guest.

For more from Dr. Klumpenhouwer visit his website.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests!

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
Twitter: @cordialcatholic
YouTube: /thecordialcatholic
Facebook: The Cordial Catholic
TikTok: @cordialcatholic

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by author, podcaster, and Catholic convert Tsh Oxenreider to talk, first of all, about how the liturgies like those surrounding Advent drew her and her family deeper into the traditions and practices of Catholicism. And then about how each of us can deepen our own walk towards Christmas through embracing the season of Advent and the liturgical calendar.

We talk about trying new Advent traditions (but also doing too much!), how to truly connect with the season through choosing the right Advent traditions to take on, how the Church calls us to embrace that time of waiting, and some of the more quirky celebrations we can take on during the Advent season.

For non-Catholic Christians looking at us Catholics through the keyhole, for new Catholics looking to build some Advent liturgies into their lives, and for those Catholics who want to embrace the season even more, this is a conversation for everyone!

And I really hope you enjoy!

For more from Tsh visit her website. Her fantastic Advent book Shadow and Light is available where most fine books are found.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests!

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
Twitter: @cordialcatholic
YouTube: /thecordialcatholic
Facebook: The Cordial Catholic
TikTok: @cordialcatholic

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my friend Taylor Schroll from Forte Catholic, among other things, to talk about what's wrong (and what's right?) about the official process for converting to Catholicism.

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (R.C.I.A.) is a long-standing, historical process of initiating non-Catholics into the beauty of the Catholic Church but it's not without its faults, its pitfalls, and its problems and this week Taylor and I talk about what to do when things go wrong, how to stick with it (or move on), and what can be done to make sure the whole thing makes more sense, and creates authentic Catholic disciples.

This is such a fun conversation filled with lots of laughter, some great spicy hot takes from Taylor, and our own personal experiences of struggling through teaching and learning in the RCIA program.

I know lots of listeners to this show have had struggles (or are having struggles) with this process and we're here to try and help!

For more from Taylor check our Forte Catholic website, the podcast (available everywhere) and, in particular, the Catholic Foundations Teaching series, which is fantastic.

Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
Twitter: @cordialcatholic
YouTube: /thecordialcatholic
Facebook: The Cordial Catholic
TikTok: @cordialcatholic

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my friend and fellow Catholic convert Brantley Rutz to share the story of his conversion.

Brantley is a wonderful guy. A "dyed-in-the-wool" Protestant who even named one of his children after a famous Baptist preacher – yes, he was that serious of a Protestant. It wasn't until Brantley and his wife began investigating what they believed about Infant Baptism – and looking into what the Early Church believed about the practice – that he had ever even thought about Catholicism!

This story is a fantastic one. Listen, and learn how Brantley, a deep thinker, a dedicated Evangelical Christian, and a Calvinist to boot, made the journey into Catholicism!

To connect with Brantley find and follow him on Facebook.

Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patron Co-Producers. Thanks to Eli and Tom, Kelvin and Susan, Stephen, Victor and Susanne, Phil, Noah, Nicole, Michelle, Jordan, Jon, James, Gina, and Eyram.

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
Twitter: @cordialcatholic
YouTube: /thecordialcatholic
Facebook: The Cordial Catholic
TikTok: @cordialcatholic