Crash Course Catholicism

We are made in the image of God, and this truth has profound implications for how we understand the human person. In this episode, we explore key dimensions of human personhood, including freedom, responsibility, the capacity for transcendence, uniqueness and unrepeatability, and equality. Understanding the full depth and complexity of human nature is essential for social doctrine, because our...

The whole of Catholic social doctrine rests on the answer to the question: What is a human being?In this episode, we discuss human nature and human dignity. What does it mean to be made in the image of God? What makes human beings unique in comparison with the rest of nature? Do human beings have a particular dignity, or are we just intelligent animals?Understanding what a human person is helps...

Catholic social doctrine did not suddenly appear in the nineteenth century. Its roots reach back to the very foundations of Scripture.In this episode, we explore the biblical vision of social life: a world shaped by justice, mercy, solidarity, and the command to love one another. From the law and the prophets to the teaching of Christ, the Bible reveals that social responsibility is not an...

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...

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...

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...

caitlinwest.comFINAL EPISODE OF THE DEEP DIVE LET'S GOOOOIn 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...

www.caitlinwest.com - 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...

⁠www.caitlinwest.com⁠⁠-How did the Church decide which books to include in the Bible? Why are Catholic Bibles bigger than Protestant Bibles? Should we read the Old Testament? How do I read the Bible?In this episode, we continue our deep dive into the Bible by addressing common questions about the Bible.This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes...

www.caitlinwest.com-In this episode, we conclude our overview of the Bible by looking at the 7 catholic epistles, and the book of Revelation. The aim of these episodes is to provide us with a bird's-eye view of the whole Bible, to help equip us to begin reading it, or to read it more deeply. In this episode, we'll look at the following books:HebrewsJames1 and 2 Peter1, 2, and 3...