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Controversies in Church History

Controversies in Church History

By Darrick N Taylor

My name is Darrick Taylor, and I am the founder and proprietor of Controversies in Church History, a podcast that takes an in depth look at difficult, even disturbing, issues in the history of the Catholic Church. My perspective is unique, in that I am a faithful Roman Catholic, yet trained as a secular historian. Designed for Catholics but accessible for anyone interested in history, it balances storytelling with an academic sensibility.
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Latinization, Episode III: The Era of Reformations, 1450-1750

Controversies in Church HistoryMay 27, 2023

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41:03
Latinization, Episode III: The Era of Reformations, 1450-1750

Latinization, Episode III: The Era of Reformations, 1450-1750

Hi everyone! In this episode, we give a brief overview of the trends in the early modern era that affected Rome's attitude toward Eastern Christian customs, and how that led to instances of "Latinization." We take a look at papal policy in that era, as embodied by a papal encyclical of Benedict XIV, which lays out the papal rationale for altering (or not altering) Eastern Christian customs. 


May 27, 202341:03
Galileo's Ghost: The Trial of Galileo & the Modern Myth of Expertise

Galileo's Ghost: The Trial of Galileo & the Modern Myth of Expertise

Our latest episode is now available. In this installment, I take a look at the "Galileo Affair" as it is often called, and talk about how it became a founding myth of modernity, not only concerning the relationship between science and religion, but also the myth of the modern "expert," which is very much still a crucial part of our world today. 

May 25, 202301:03:24
Shorts: Benedict XIV on Latinization

Shorts: Benedict XIV on Latinization

Hey everyone! This is a new feature I will be using going forward. I provide early access to certain episodes to my supporters on Patreon, in particular the episodes in my longer ongoing series. After a month, I drop the episode for everyone. So, to give non-subscribers a sneak preview, I am going to share clips of the full episodes before they drop, to give you a sense of what's going on. The current series is on the topic of Latinization, how Rome "latinized" or otherwise made Eastern Churches in communion with her adopt Latin liturgical and disciplinary customs. This clip is from Episode III of that series, a primer for the Early Modern Period.

In it, I discuss Pope Benedict XIV, a scholar and pontiff of the 18th century who wrote an encyclical on the Eastern Rites in communion with Rome called Allatae Sunt (1755). The clip focuses on his contention that, barring any question of orthodoxy (which popes have a natural right to investigate), Eastern Christians in communion with the Holy See ought to keep and celebrate their own rites and not be "Latinized" by missionaries. You can hear the full discussion of this episode later in the month, or you can go to Controversies in Church History's patreon account to get access now. Thanks to all of my listeners as always. Pax Christi!

May 16, 202305:34
Is the Pope an Absolute Monarch?

Is the Pope an Absolute Monarch?

It is common to hear Catholics say the pope is an "absolute monarch." But is that true? In this episode, I examine the question and conclude that yes, he is--but not in the way you probably think.  

May 08, 202332:35
The Arian Crisis, c320-381

The Arian Crisis, c320-381

In this re-recording of an earlier episode, I take a look at the Arian Crisis of the Fourth Century, when conflict over the nature of Christ's divinity shook the Church for over half a century. In it, I discuss the nature of the dispute as well as how the Roman emperors played a role in the conflict. Finally, I consider the Arian Crisis in comparison with the current crisis of faith in the Church today, to which many have compared it.

Apr 28, 202301:02:03
Latinization, Episode II: The Middle Ages

Latinization, Episode II: The Middle Ages

In this second installment of our series on Latinization, we tell the story of how Rome's reforms in the 11th and 12th centuries led to conflicts in the border lands of Eastern and Southern Europe with the Byzantine Orthodox, and how the Crusades set in motion the (mostly) voluntary Latinization of the Armenian and Maronite Churches. We end with a consideration of the reunion councils held between the Eastern and Western Churches, and whether they can be considered attempts at "Latinization." Finally, we discuss the role of political power and ideals of "ecclesiastical universalism" in the whole question of Latinization.  

Apr 18, 202353:32
ReView: HBO's Rome

ReView: HBO's Rome

Hello everyone! On this episode of Controversies in Church History, I take a look back at another piece of recent cultural history. This time, I review the HBO TV series Rome, which aired from 2005-2007, and look at how the creators of the Show framed the series as a contrast between pagan Roman and Christian morality. 

Apr 15, 202343:24
Pope Joan

Pope Joan

In this episode of Controversies in Church History, we look at the reign of Pope Joan (855-857), the only woman ever to reign as bishop of Rome. If you like the podcast, please follow us on Spotify for Podcasters, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel, and if you are so inclined, become a patron of the podcast via our Patreon account.

Apr 01, 202302:56
ReView: The Tudors

ReView: The Tudors

In this episode, I take a look back at the Showtime historical drama The Tudors (2007-2010), and show why it was a worthy attempt to depict the Reformation era of Henry VIII, despite being what its own producers called a "soap opera." In it, I discuss what they did and did not get right about Thomas More, and why long series like this are better vehicle for history than feature films. Cheers!

Mar 30, 202333:45
ReView: William Oddie's "The Roman Option"

ReView: William Oddie's "The Roman Option"

For this episode of Controversies in Church History, we are doing something a bit different. In it, we take a look back "The Roman Option: Crisis and Realignment in English Speaking Christianity" by the Catholic journalist William Oddie. Published in 1998, Oddie details how a group of Anglicans disaffected by the Church of England's decision to "ordain" women attempted the "Roman Option," to create a corporate union of these groups in communion with Rome but were thwarted by opposition, both in and outside the Catholic Church in England. We drawe some lessons about how synodal government brought radical change to the Church of England and how inertia and indifference among its bishops allowed it to happen, both of which appear to have parallels within the Catholic Church today.

Mar 24, 202343:07
Cardinal McElroy's Dubious History

Cardinal McElroy's Dubious History

In this brief episode, I take a look at a very suspect historical claim that Cardinal McElroy makes in his recent response to critics in America Magazine. If you like what hear, please follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel, and if you are so inclined, became a patron of Controversies in Church History by visiting our Patreon page. Pax Christi!

Mar 20, 202315:41
Latinization, Episode I: What It Is, Why It Matters

Latinization, Episode I: What It Is, Why It Matters

In the first episode of our new series on Latinization, I define what Latinization is, and why it is important for understanding the Catholic Church today.  


If you like this topic, please follow us on Spotify for Podcasters, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen on the Controversies in Church History YouTube channel (please subscribe there if you follow somewhere else--I am trying to build up the channel). Finally, if you would like to support the podcast, please check out our Patreon page, where for a small monthly donation you will get early access to ad free episodes, as well as exclusive content for subscribers only.


Pax Christi!

Mar 19, 202336:37
The Reformation of the World: the Gregorian Reform, c.1050-1150

The Reformation of the World: the Gregorian Reform, c.1050-1150

In this re-recording of a lecture given in early 2020, I take a look at the Gregorian Reform movement, a medieval movement that sought to reform the Christian world with the papacy as its champion. Beginning with monastic reforms in the tenth century, a series of reforming monks and clergy sought to free the Church from lay control while reforming the behavior of the clergy. When one of their number became Pope Gregory VII in 1073, the stage was set for a clash with the Holy Roman Emperor, as the reformers exalted papal authority in a bid to reform not only the Church itself but the entire Christian world. 

If you like the podcast, please follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen, and leave comments if you have anything to say. We love the feedback! You can also subscribe to us on YouTube as well. Finally, if you want to support the podcast, please visit our Patreon page and became a patron. Pax Christi!

Mar 14, 202353:19
Updates & an Ordinariate Defense

Updates & an Ordinariate Defense

Hello friends! I am busy at work on the next few episodes of the podcast, and will be dropping some shorter episodes available to all listeners and not just subscribers. This begins now, with a short episode in which I give some updates but also read a post from my blog that I wrote several years ago, defending the Ordinariate liturgy (if you don't know what an Ordinariate is, I explain it in the episode). Be on the look our for a few more shorter episodes coming this week, free for all.  Cheers!

Mar 13, 202327:51
State of the Podcast Update

State of the Podcast Update

An update on the podcast, personal news, and an appeal to help grow the podcast from yours truly.

Jan 13, 202311:23
What We've Been Reading: 2022

What We've Been Reading: 2022

A review of some of the more interesting/enlightening books I've read  this past year, though not all of them have to do with Catholicism. Enjoy!

Dec 19, 202244:16
Catholic Lives, Episode 15: Orestes Brownson--the American Newman

Catholic Lives, Episode 15: Orestes Brownson--the American Newman

Our series of mini-biographies we call "Catholic Lives" takes a look at  the life and career of Orestes A. Brownson (1803-1876), a convert from  New England whose spiritual journey took him from Evangelical revivalism  to Unitarianism and the Transcendentalist Movement, before entering the  Catholic Church in 1844. A thinker with a wrestling, combative style,  Brownson became one of the premier Catholic thinkers in 19th century  America, and someone whose political thought was grounded in the need  for transcendent truths, above all the truth of the Catholic faith.

Oct 25, 202241:25
Church Musings 10/22

Church Musings 10/22

Controversies in Church History will return to regular (or semi-regular) podcasting in the spring. Until then, take a listen to a short audio presentation of post on the blog post concerning recent news items involving the Church in the past week. Cheers!

Oct 23, 202213:23
Much Ado About Integralism, 1872-Present

Much Ado About Integralism, 1872-Present

There is a specter haunting the Catholic world, whose name is "integralism." The term "integralism" has been used in recent years by Catholic thinkers who want to reassert the Church's teaching on the superiority of the spiritual power to that of the temporal power, and the rights of the Church over society. Some Catholic thinkers have even brought this term into American political debate on the Right. Some have decried this trend as a resurgence of theocracy or even of fascism. In this episode, I will discuss the historical origins of "integralism" in 19th century Spain and early 20th century France, before discussing its relevance for the Church today.

Jul 26, 202248:39
Kulturkampf: the German War on Catholicism, 1871-1890

Kulturkampf: the German War on Catholicism, 1871-1890

In 1871, the German Empire began passing laws meant to control the Catholic Church in Germany, which it regarded as a potential fifth column. This legislation inspired attempts by other German speaking countries, and within five years governments arrested and exiled bishops, removed priests from their parishes, seized church property and expelled religious orders from their countries. This episode has become known as the "Kulturkampf," the civilizational struggle between a modernizing German nation and the retrograde Catholic Church. Join me for this episode as I dive into the causes, effects and legacy of this traumatic event in the history of Europe and the Catholic Church.


CORRECTION: in the podcast I incorrectly refer to Silesia as a province of Germany populated by a French minority. Silesia was a Polish minority province. I meant to refer to Alsace-Lorraine, a former French territory conquered by Prussia during the Franco-Prussian War.

Jul 18, 202246:21
Heresy, American Style: The Americanist Crisis, 1890-1900

Heresy, American Style: The Americanist Crisis, 1890-1900

In 1899, pope Leo XIII wrote a letter to Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore, condemning something called "Americanism." Many contemporary Catholic historians and scholars have claimed that "Americanism" is a phantom, a term of abuse by "conservative" Catholics hurled at their opponents. In this episode, we will talk about what "Americanism" is and and isn't, the American Church in the 19th century, and why pope Leo XIII condemned the ideas associated with the term "Americanism."  Pax Christi! Please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform and share with friends. You can also subscribe on YouTube and find us on the web at churchcontroversies.com. Pax Christi!

Jul 12, 202250:00
Was Shakespeare Catholic?

Was Shakespeare Catholic?

Catholic images, beliefs, and even practices, dot the plays of William Shakespeare, the greatest playwright in the English language. And relatives of his can be identified as Catholic, even one that was executed for treason. But was William Shakespeare himself a Catholic? In this episode, we dive into the evidence for Shakespeare as a Roman Catholic, and take a look at the changing landscape of historical and literary scholarship that has led the "Catholic Shakespeare" thesis to become a popular one in recent decades. 

Jul 04, 202252:31
Mass of the Ages & Conspiracy Theories

Mass of the Ages & Conspiracy Theories

In this episode, I take a look at the otherwise admirable "Mass of the Ages" film, and claims of conspiracy with regard to history. Specifically, I talk about why the liturgical reform of the 1960s was NOT the result of a conspiracy and why conspiracy theories in general are poor explanations for complicated historical events.

Jun 25, 202241:43
My Conversion Story

My Conversion Story

In response to a viewer's request, I hereby present you with the story of my conversion to the Catholic Church, and how I went from atheism to believing in Jesus Christ. 

Jun 24, 202201:05:19
Catholic Lives, Episode 15: Orestes Brownson, The American Newman

Catholic Lives, Episode 15: Orestes Brownson, The American Newman

Our series of mini-biographies we call "Catholic Lives" takes a look at the life and career of Orestes A. Brownson (1803-1876), a convert from New England whose spiritual journey took him from Evangelical revivalism to Unitarianism and the Transcendentalist Movement, before entering the Catholic Church in 1844. A thinker with a wrestling, combative style, Brownson became one of the premier Catholic thinkers in 19th century America, and someone whose political thought was grounded in the need for transcendent truths, above all the truth of the Catholic faith.  

Jun 11, 202241:22
Catholic Lives, Episode 14: Hugh Ross-Williamson

Catholic Lives, Episode 14: Hugh Ross-Williamson

In this episode of our "Catholic Lives" series, we look at the life of Hugh-Ross Williamson, the son of a Presbyterian minister, journalist, author historian, playwright, and an Anglican clergyman before his conversion to the Catholic Church in 1955. In his later life, he was a critic of the new rite of the mass introduced in 1969, and became one of the founders of the Latin Mass movement in England. 

May 30, 202235:32
Catholic Liberalism, Episode VII: Assessing the Legacy

Catholic Liberalism, Episode VII: Assessing the Legacy

In the final episode, I briefly discuss the legacy of 19th century Catholic Liberalism, and how it influenced theological movements in the 20th century. In particular, I look at the impact of Catholic Liberalism on the thinkers who prepared the way for Vatican II, and how knowledge of Catholic liberalism helps us understand the era that followed the Council. 

May 21, 202231:43
Catholic Liberalism, Episode VI: Eclipse, 1870-1905

Catholic Liberalism, Episode VI: Eclipse, 1870-1905

The latest episode in our series on Catholic Liberalism is now available. "Eclipse, 1870-1905," begins in the aftermath of Vatican I, when the Church faced even greater hostility from liberal governments, making the position of Catholic Liberals even more difficult. The Ralliement under Leo XIII seems to embrace Catholic liberal ideals, but its failure followed by the condemnation of Americanism and the final separation of Church and State in France put an end to liberal hopes. Finally, we explore how the intellectual and social dimensions of Catholic Liberalism fed into the Modernist Crisis of the early 20th century. 

May 18, 202245:40
Catholic Liberalism, Episode V: Catholic Liberalism in Retreat, 1848-1870

Catholic Liberalism, Episode V: Catholic Liberalism in Retreat, 1848-1870

Greetings! The next episode in our series on Catholic Liberalism is now available. "Catholic Liberalism in Retreat, 1848-1870," explores how political events and a changing papacy conspired to derail the movement of Catholic Liberalism. The Revolutions of 1848, and the wars of unification in Italy and Germany, left the Church exposed to hostile, anti-clerical governments, and in response Catholics across Europe turn to the power of the papacy to shield them. At the same, time, pope Pius IX and his advisors decided on a combative stance toward political liberalism in Europe, issuing the Syllabus of Errors in 1864, and convoking the First Vatican Council in 1870, which made papal infallibility a dogma binding on the faithful. These events seemed to lead to the demise of any Catholic liberalism hoping to compromise with the modern world--or did they? 

May 11, 202255:47
Catholic Liberalism, Episode IV: Varieties of Liberalism, 1815-1848

Catholic Liberalism, Episode IV: Varieties of Liberalism, 1815-1848

Greetings everyone! In the fourth installment in our series on Catholic Liberalism, we look at the sources of Catholic liberalism beyond France. Specifically, we look at the making of Catholic liberalism in Italy, where dissatisfaction with the government of the Papal States fueled Catholic engagement with liberalism. Also discussed are Church-State relations in German speaking lands, and the emergence of theological liberalism in German Catholic circles. Finally, we note the connection between Catholic liberalism and the beginnings of the Catholic Revival in England, including its connection with John Henry Newman.

May 04, 202247:06
Catholic Liberalism, Episode III: Lamennais & the Origins of Liberalism, 1817-1834

Catholic Liberalism, Episode III: Lamennais & the Origins of Liberalism, 1817-1834

In the third installment of our series on Catholic Liberalism, we take a look at the meteoric rise and tragic fall of Felicite Robert de Lamennais (1782-1854), the apologist, writer and priest who inspired a young generations of Catholics to engage with the modern world, but whose embrace of liberalism clashed with the Vatican. Though Rome condemned his teachings, he left a legacy that influenced the Church in its attempts to come to grips with the modern world, and ensured that Catholic liberalism would long outlive him.

Apr 28, 202245:39
Catholic Liberalism, Episode II: Revolutionary Times, 1789-1848

Catholic Liberalism, Episode II: Revolutionary Times, 1789-1848

In the second installment of our series on Catholic Liberalism, we delve into the historical background out of which a Catholic form of liberalism emerged. We discuss the French Revolution and its impact on the French Church, the emergence of political liberalism in Restoration France, and the nature of the French Church after 1814, and how these contributed to the birth of Catholic Liberalism. If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe and recommend it to friends and other interested parties. 

Apr 13, 202244:41
Catholic Liberalism, Episode I: Introduction

Catholic Liberalism, Episode I: Introduction

Controversies in Church History is back with a new series. This time, we delve into the history of Catholic Liberalism, a movement that began in the French Church in the early 1800s, and whose influence touched most of Europe and even the United States during the nineteenth century. This movement sought to reconcile the Church to modern society in France, was condemned by the papacy more than once, and left a lasting impact on the Church. In this episode, we discuss what Catholic Liberalism as a movement sought to achieve, its main intellectual sources, and key terms that will help us understand this important, and still very relevant, episode in the life of the Catholic Church. 

Apr 01, 202226:43
The Union of Brest (1596) & the Ukrainian Catholic Church
Mar 12, 202201:11:33
Liberation Theology, Ep. IV: A Permanent Revolution? 1980-Present

Liberation Theology, Ep. IV: A Permanent Revolution? 1980-Present

In the final episode of our series on Liberation Theology, we examine the Vatican efforts to curb the excesses of the movement in the 1980s, as historical events lead to its decline in the 1990s. Finally, we consider Pope Francis and his relationship to this movement, and what it means for the Church today.

Feb 12, 202259:27
Liberation Theology, Ep. III: Liberation Struggles, 1968-1980
Feb 02, 202242:06
Liberation Theology, Ep. II: Awakenings, 1958-1968
Jan 26, 202201:09:36
Liberation Theology, Ep. I: Latin America to 1960
Jan 18, 202238:48
The Vatican-China Agreement
Nov 20, 202145:22
The Church & the Baroque

The Church & the Baroque

Ever wonder why Catholic churches got "wreckovated" in the 1960s? The answer is complicated, but one reason has to do with a style of art that flourished in the 17th century: the Baroque. In this episode we will dive into where the art of the baroque came from and why liturgical reformers tried to purge "baroque" elements from the liturgy. 

Nov 08, 202137:41
Conciliarism

Conciliarism

Recently, the Vatican has announced the commencement of a world-wide "Synod on Synodality" in which local churches will participate. In light of this, we are bringing you a bonus episode, in which we take a brief look at the doctrine and history of the conciliarist movement, the idea that ecumencial councils should govern the church rather than popes. 

Nov 02, 202140:15
Darkness and Light: The Church from WWII to Vatican II

Darkness and Light: The Church from WWII to Vatican II

In this special Bonus Episode of Controversies in Church History, I give a talk about trends in the Church between the Second World War and the Second Vatican Council, as well as their impact on the upheavals that followed in the 1960s.
Sep 26, 202143:18
The Traditionalist Movement, Episode 2: "Disobedient People," 1964-1974
Sep 06, 202101:35:17
The Traditionalist Movement, Episode 5: Back to the Future, 1988-Present
Sep 03, 202101:21:52
The Traditionalist Movement, Episode 4: Divisions, 1976-1988
Aug 27, 202156:14
The Traditionalist Movement, Episode 3: Rebel Priests, 1964-1978
Aug 20, 202101:40:07
The Traditionalist Movement, Episode 2: "Disobedient People," 1964-1974 (Pt. 2)
Aug 09, 202152:14
The Traditionalist Movement, Episode 2: "Disobedient People," 1964-1974 (Pt. 1)
Aug 08, 202143:60
The Traditionalist Movement, 1964-Present: Episode 1, The Outsiders
Jul 24, 202145:38
Catholic Lives, Episode 13--The Outlaw: "Bloody" Bill Longley
Jul 14, 202125:52
Great Heresies: Jansenism, 1640-1801
Jul 07, 202101:24:16
Catholic Lives Ep. 7: The Catholic Founding Father
Jul 04, 202114:33
Catholic Lives, Episode 12--From Victim to Icon: Artemisia Gentileschi
Jul 03, 202120:55
Councils of the Church: The Council of Trent, 1545-1563
Jul 01, 202157:48
In the News: Catholic Indian Schools in Canada
Jul 01, 202123:24
Councils of the Church: The Council of Constance, 1414-1418
Jun 30, 202101:09:10
Vatican II: Continuity or Rupture?
Jun 29, 202101:26:37
Catholic Lives, Episode 11: American Moses
Jun 25, 202136:03
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Help me grow my podcast and bring Church History to the mases!
Jun 25, 202100:12
Catholic Lives Episode 10: the Knight Prisoner
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The Catholic Charismatic Movement, 1967-Present
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Dignitatis Humanae: Religious Liberty & the Church
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The Modernist Crisis, c.1890-1920
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Evolution and the Catholic Church, 1859-Present
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Development of Doctrine, 1845-Present
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Catholic Lives Ep. 9: Captive, Convert and Mother Superior in Colonial America
Aug 24, 202023:24
Catholic Lives Ep. 8: The Poet-Priest of the South and the Confederate General
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Humanae Vitae
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The Case of Edgaro Mortara
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The Great Western Schism, 1378-1417
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Great Heresies: John Wyclif and the Lollards
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1054 and All That: the Latin-Byzantine Schism
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The First Council of Nicaea
Oct 03, 201901:00:55
The Wars of Religion, 1524-1649
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Black Legends: Myths of the Spanish Conquest
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The Church and the Holocaust
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The First Vatican Council & Papal Infallibility
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Catholic Lives Ep. 6: The Pope That Excommunicated Napoleon
Jun 30, 201920:32
The Trial and Condemnation of Galileo
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Catholic Lives Ep. 5: The Man Who Volunteered for Auschwitz
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The Protestant Reformation
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Catholic Lives Ep. 4: The Last Roman Emperor
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The Inquisition
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Catholic Lives Ep. 3: A Woman Author in Charlemagne's Empire
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The Crusades
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Deaconesses in the Early Church
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Catholic Lives Ep. 2: Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967)
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Liturgy Wars: Catholic Liturgy Since Vatican II
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Necessary Additions? The Marian Dogmas, 1854 & 1950
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Catholic Lives Ep. 1: The Battalion of St. Patrick
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Clerical Celibacy in the Early Church
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By This Sign Conquer: the Conversion of Constantine
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