Crash Course Catholicism

Happy New Year, friends! Welcome to the first episode on our next deep dive into the Social Doctrine of the Catholic church! This is an incredibly rich and important area of Catholic teaching that helps us to understand how human beings should function in societies. It covers topics such as human rights, the rights of workers, the responsibilities of employers, governments, and individuals, and the conditions necessary for human flourishing.

In today's episode, we begin with an overview of social doctrine -- what it is and why we need it -- before summarising the history of the development of social doctrine, especially during the twentieth century.

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References and further reading/listening/viewing:
The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church
USCCB: Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
CBCEW
A Summary of Catholic Social Teaching
Fr Roger Charles, Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic Answers:
20 Answers: Catholic Social Teaching
Does Catholic Social Teaching Change?
Are All Elements of Catholic Social Teaching Equally Important?
Broken Bay Diocese, Pope Leo XIV reveals reason behind name choice

What do we know about the life of St Nicholas of Myra? What is his relationship with the modern-day Santa Claus? Should Catholics tell their children that Santa exists?

PLEASE NOTE: This entire episode is one giant spoiler about the existence of Santa Claus. If you have small children who have not yet been disillusioned, you might want to listen to this one when they're not in the room.
This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:
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References and further reading/listening/viewing:
Catholic Encyclopedia, St Nicholas of Myra
Britannica Encyclopedia, St Nicholas
Catholic Answers:
Santa Claus for Catholics: Yes or No?
The Weird History of Santa Claus
St Nicholas of Myra, by Michael the Archimandrite
Amber Rose, Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus? Catholic Ways to Celebrate!
The Augustine Institute, St Nicholas and Santa Claus
St Nicholas Center

Cardinal St John Henry Newman is a Catholic saint who lived in the nineteenth century and was canonised in 2019. In November 2025, he was officially declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIV. This is a title held by only 38 saints in the entire history of the church, and it is given to those whose writings are of benefit to the whole church.
John Henry Newman was an Anglican priest and Oxford academic who converted to Catholicism and was eventually made a cardinal. He is one of the most significant Catholic figures of the nineteenth century, known for his academic brilliance and his personal holiness.
In today's episode, we discuss the life of this incredible saint.

This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:
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References and further reading/listening/viewing:
The Newman Reader - Works of John Henry Newman
St. John Henry Newman:
The Mission Prayer
"Conscience", from A Letter Addressed to the Duke of Norfolk
The "Biglietto Speech"
Apologia Pro Vita Sua
Philip Boyce, "Newman's Reception into the Catholic church"
Bishop Robert Barron:
Bishop Barron Q&A on St. John Henry Newman’s Life, Theology, and Books
Bishop Barron on St. John Henry Newman: Beyond the Left and the Right
Celebrating St. John Henry Newman Becoming a Doctor of the Church
Dr Scott Hahn on Newman's conversion
Cardinal Newman's Legacy | Scott Hahn w/ Jeff Morrow
St. John Henry Newman: Meeting the Challenges of Modernity
EWTN:
St. John Henry Newman: From Anglican to Saint Cardinal
Focus: The Life and Legacy of John Henry Cardinal Newman
The Life of Saint John Henry Newman: From Anglican Priest to Catholic Saint
Discover the life of St. John Henry Newman to-be Doctor of the Church

caitlinwest.com

FINAL EPISODE OF THE DEEP DIVE LET'S GOOOO
In this episode, we consider common moral problems that people encounter when they read the Bible. Why does the God of the Old Testament seem so angry and cruel, while Jesus seems merciful and loving? Why does God give such harsh punishments to people in the Old Testament? Does the Bible condone things like slavery and genocide? What about all those people who do terrible things in the Bible?

Basically just a few really easy simple questions that aren't at all controversial, you're welcome.

This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate via PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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References and further reading/listening/viewing:
Matthew 22:37-40
Isaiah 13:9
2 Kings 13
Joshua 11:8-9
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, pts. 42, 53
Trent Horn, Hard Sayings
Jimmy Akin, Genocide in the Bible
Joe Heschmeyer, Did God Command Genocide in the Old Testament?
The Bible in a Year, Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail
Catholic Answers:
The Reason for Divine Wrath
Does God Have Emotions?
Does the Bible Support Slavery?
Pope Benedict XVI: God and the World: Believing and Living in Our Time
The Catholic Encyclopedie, Slavery and Christianity
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, II.i, Q.79
Fr Mike Schmitz:
Did God Change?
Old Testament God vs. New Testament God
Pints With Aquinas, The Problem of Violence in The Old Testament? /W Trent Horn
Bishop Robert Barron, Understanding Violence in the Old Testament
Breaking In The Habit, Why is God so Angry in the Old Testament?

www.caitlinwest.com
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What should we do about all those apparent historical and scientific inaccuracies in the Bible? Like Genesis telling us the world was made in seven days, or that there was a flood that covered the whole earth, or that Jonah survived in the belly of a whale for three days?
And what about contradictions within the Bible? Why do some of the Gospel writers recount events differently? Do these discrepancies undermine the reliability of the Bible?

In this episode, we continue our discussion of common questions about the Bible.

This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:
⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate via PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Contact the podcast: www.caitlinwest.com
Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
The Catholic of the Catholic Church, pts. 112 and 2290
Trent Horn, Hard Sayings
Vatican II, Dei Verbum
Pope Leo XIII, Providentissimus Deus
Catholic Answers:
How to Resolve Alleged Gospel Contradictions
Jimmy Akin: Your Bible Questions - Catholic Answers Live
Jimmy Akin:
History As the Ancients Wrote It—Part I
History As the Ancients Wrote It—Part II
Pints With Aquinas:
The Right Way to Read Holy Scripture (Dr. John Bergsma)
Mind-Blowing Bible Study (Dr. Scott Hahn)
Your Bible Questions Answered (Dr. John Bergsma)
Peter Kreeft, The Bible: Myth or History
Ascension Presents:
Internet's Most Asked Questions about the Bible (w/ Jeff Cavins)
How Can the Church Say the Bible Is without Error?
Tim Gray and Jeff Cavins, Walking With God: A Journey through the Bible