Reclaiming Catholicism

When you think of the Catholic Church, what comes to mind? Maybe it's the scandal of the sex abuse crisis. Maybe you think of an archaic institution with large, empty churches clinging to the old world. Maybe you don't even think about it at all. In reality, the little bit of Catholic history people do know about tends to be filled with misconceptions, over generalizations, and even fabrications. In his new Patheos series, Reclaiming Catholicism , Franciscan Priest, Fr. Casey Cole, examines some of the less understood and frequently sensationalized parts of Catholic history. He points out the warts, asks the uncomfortable questions, and clarifies the oft misunderstood and misrepresented parts of their history. Unquestionably, the story of the Catholic Church is complex and muddied—but it’s an important part of the world’s history, and whether you’re Catholic, Protestant, or not even a Christian, this series will enlighten, entertain, and help to “reclaim” important parts of world and religious history.

TV-G

1 seasons

Episodes

Season 1

Introducing "Reclaiming Catholicism" with Fr. Casey Cole OFM

Catholic Church. What does that make you think of? We have partnered with Fr. Casey Cole OFM from @BreakingInTheHabit to re-examine the history of the Roman Catholic Church, its sins, triumphs, and long history. In each episode, Fr. Casey will give context to old stories, uncover new ones, and make you smile in the process.

1

Was St. Ignatius a Franciscan in Disguise?

Most agree Saint Ignatius of Loyola was converted to faith by an account of the life of St. Francis. But there’s a lot more Franciscan influence on the Jesuits than just a story. One might even say there would be no Society of Jesus if the Franciscans hadn’t taught them everything they know first. Fr. Casey reclaims some Catholic history by looking at the roots of the Jesuits and many of the Order's practices.

2

What Bartolomé de las Casas Really Taught Us

He's called both "Protector of the Indians" and "Father of the African Slave Trade," but Bartolomé de las Casas is much more complicated than those titles suggest. Fr. Casey from @BreakingInTheHabit reclaims Catholic history by examining the complicated life, growth, and ideas of Bartolomé. The saint had lots of ideas that were deplorable by our standards, so why did we venerate instead of cancel Bartolomé de las Casas?

3

The (False) Battle Between Science and Religion

Hypatia, Bruno, and Galileo are all considered martyrs for science, but that's not the whole story. While religion has the reputation for being anti-science, Catholics have been at the forefront of scientific discovery for centuries. Fr. Casey OFM explores some of the myths about the war between science and religion.

4

Vatican II: Bringing the Catholic Church Up to Date

The Vatican II council is often thought of as modernizing and liberalizing the Catholic Church, but that's an oversimplification of what the Council actually accomplished. Fr. Casey Cole, @BreakingInTheHabit, reclaims some Catholic history by examining the motivations of the Vatican II council and the ways it influenced modern Catholicism.

5

Five Saints You Don't Know (But Should)

A noble woman, a maid, a slave, a refugee, and an aristocrat. These five saints may not be as popular as St. Paul or St. Francis, but the saints history has forgotten have been essential to the growth of the Church and the mission of the Gospel.

6

Deacons, Deaconesses, and Women's Ordination

Scholars agree that women were once ordained as deacons, but it's less clear what that means for the Catholic Church today. What lessons and principles can we learn from our history? Fr. Casey, @BreakingInTheHabit, reclaims more Catholic history in this episode that unravels some of the misconceptions and assumptions we have about female ordination in Christianity.

7

A New Perspective on the Spanish Inquisition

Yes, the Spanish Inquisition was full of corruption and violence, but was it as bad as pop history claims? Probably not. Fr. Casey, from @BreakingInTheHabit, reclaims some more Catholic history by explaining the real history, causes, and outcomes of the inquisitions we think we know.

Most Recent Episode

A New Perspective on the Spanish Inquisition

Yes, the Spanish Inquisition was full of corruption and violence, but was it as bad as pop history claims? Probably not. Fr. Casey, from @BreakingInTheHabit, reclaims some more Catholic history by explaining the real history, causes, and outcomes of the inquisitions we think we know.

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