Controversies in Church History

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.

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. 

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. 

Bishops and priests from the Orthodox Church in Ukraine entered into communion with the bishop of Rome in 1596, creating the Ukrainian Catholic Church. This episode explores the history and significance of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, the controversy surrounding the Union of Brest, and its impact on the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. It also discusses Poland's efforts to reconcile with the Orthodox Ruthenians and the historical context that led to the union. Additionally, it delves into Putin's distorted perception of the schism in Ukraine.

This episode explores the decline of liberation theology in the 1980s and 1990s, Vatican efforts to curb its excesses, and Pope Francis' relationship to the movement. It discusses the criticism and role of Marxism in liberation theology, the concept of true liberation, the decline of the movement due to various reasons, and the future of the church and liberation theology as discussed by Pope Francis. The episode also concludes with a call for support from listeners.

Explore the growth of Liberation Theology in Latin America during the 1970s amidst guerrilla warfare and government repression. Learn about the rise of left-wing politics, the involvement of the church in the revolution, and the support received from religious orders and base communities.

This podcast episode on Liberation Theology covers the Cuban Revolution's impact on Latin America in the late 1950s, the emergence of the movement in Latin America, the Mission de Pachiv's influence on the French clergy and liberation theology, European influences and infiltration of the movement, the formation of base communities, and the rising influence of liberation theology in Latin America.

This podcast explores Liberation Theology in Latin America, discussing its rise, impact, and decline. It examines the complex relationship between the Catholic Church and liberation movements, the role of populist leaders in the region, and the historical overview of Latin American countries in the 20th century.

In 2018, the Vatican announced it had made a diplomatic agreement with the People's Republic of China, in the hopes that it would lead to formal recognition by both parties. The intervening years have seen an intensification of the Chinese government's policy of "Sinicization," of forcing religious and ethnic groups to adapt their beliefs, institutions to Chinese communism. In this bonus episode, we will provide some background on relations between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China since its inception in 1945, and assess the agreement in light of that history. LINKS: YouTube Website SOCIAL: Facebook Twitter

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.