Skip to main content
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.
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Castbox Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

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

Controversies in Church HistoryMay 11, 2022

00:00
55:47
The Church WEIRD: How the Medieval Church Invented Modern Society

The Church WEIRD: How the Medieval Church Invented Modern Society

The latest episode of Controversies in Church History covers a curious topic and debate among academics. Why are modern Western societies so different from other civilizations? Why are they WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) when so much of the world is not? In this episode, we take a look at the thesis that the medieval Church's prohibitions on marriage paved the way for changes in social structure that account for the modern West's WEIRDness, and why the Church insisted on those prohibitions in the first place.


Mar 19, 202439:31
Latinization VIII: A Ruthenian Tragedy, 1870-1910

Latinization VIII: A Ruthenian Tragedy, 1870-1910

Hello everyone! The latest installment in our series on the Latinization of the Eastern Churches is now available to all of our listeners. In it, we discuss the conflict between the Latin rite bishops of the United States in the late nineteenth century and the immigrant clergy of the Ruthenian Catholic Church, which resulted in the defection of tens of thousands of Ruthenian Catholics to Orthodoxy. 


Feb 29, 202453:35
Baldwin IV: the Leper King

Baldwin IV: the Leper King

The latest Catholic Lives episode, in which we look at notable non-saints in Catholic history, delves into the brief life of Baldwin IV, King of Jerusalem (1174-1185). Famous for contracting leprosy when he was a child, he fought multiple battles with the Muslim emir Saladin, and successfully protected the kingdom while he lived. Face with particularly difficult personal, political and diplomatic challenges, Baldwin IV earned the praise of contemporaries, and continues to fascinate today. 


Jan 26, 202432:28
What We've Been Reading (2023)

What We've Been Reading (2023)

Hello! The latest episode of the podcast is now available. Last year I did a "what I've been reading episode" and the feedback was in favor of a repeat, so here we go. In this episode, I recount the ten best books I have read this year, from poetry to history and liturgy. Enjoy!


Books Covered:


1. John Dryden, The Hind and the Panther (1687), Poetry

 

2. Byung Chul-Han, The Disappearance of Rituals: a Topology of the Present (2019), Philosophy

 

3. Julian Jackson, A Certain Idea of France: the Life of Charles de Gaulle (2018), Biography

 

4. William Blake, Songs of Innocence and Experience (1794), Poetry

 

5. Carlos Eire, War Against the Idols: The Reformation of Worship From Erasmus to Calvin (1986), History

 

6. Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J., Christendom Lost and Found: Meditations for a Post-Post Christian World (2022), Religion

 

7. Yamen Manai, The Ardent Swarm (2017), Novel

 

8. Mike Yomer, Please Tell Me (2023) Novel

           

9. James Simpson, Under the Hammer: Iconoclasm in the Anglo-American Tradition (2010) Literature/Art

 

10. Michael Fiedrowicz, The Traditional Mass: History, Form and Theology of the Classical Roman Rite (2011/2021) Theology/Liturgy

 

 


Jan 12, 202451:43
What Happened to the Liturgical Movement?

What Happened to the Liturgical Movement?

In this episode, we take a look at the Liturgical Movement of the early twentieth century in the Catholic Church. The Liturgical Movement's original aim was to make the Catholic faithful partake of the Church's liturgy more deeply and fruitfully.  However, it did not originally envision a radical revision of the liturgy as actually occurred after Vatican II. I try to answer the question of what might have changed between the early twentieth century and the Second Vatican Council in the Liturgical Movement that might account for this. Pax!


Jan 07, 202401:10:11
Latinization VII: Southern & Eastern Europe, 1450-1800

Latinization VII: Southern & Eastern Europe, 1450-1800

In the final episode on the Early Modern Era, our series on Latinization covers the relations of the Latin Church with Eastern Christians in Eastern Europe, primarily the Ukrainians, as well as the sad tale of the Italo-Albanian Church and its struggles to maintain its heritage in Italy. Finally, we also take a look back at the Early Modern Period itself, and discuss the changes spurred the increasing insistence of the Western Church that its traditions and customs take precedence over those of Eastern Christians. 

Dec 31, 202301:04:11
Latinization VI: The Latinization of the Thomas Christians, c. 1500-1800

Latinization VI: The Latinization of the Thomas Christians, c. 1500-1800

The latest episode in our series on the Latinization of the Eastern rites is now available. In the latest installment, we examine how and why Catholic missionaries in the 16th century forced Latin customs on the Thomas Christians of India, native Indian Christian communities who trace their ancestry back to St. Thomas the Apostle. 


Nov 11, 202357:54
Where Does it Say What the Pope Can't Do?

Where Does it Say What the Pope Can't Do?

In this episode, I take a look at some of the most important magisterial documents that state there are limits to papal authority issued in the recent history of the Church (since 1870).


Sep 19, 202338:18
Of Smurfs and Synodality

Of Smurfs and Synodality

Hey everyone. On this episode of the podcast, I read a blog post in which I look at the term and concept of "synodality," and argue that it is an unnecessary novelty which neither "conservative" or "traditionalist" Catholics should not use.

Sep 04, 202313:59
Latinization, Episode V: The Church of the East, 1450-1800

Latinization, Episode V: The Church of the East, 1450-1800

The latest episode in our series on Latinization deals with the Church of the East, the ancient Church of Persia associated with the Nestorian heresy, which flourished in the first millennium but declined thereafter. In this, we talk about how some of these Eastern Christians came into communion with Rome in 1553, creating the Chaldean Catholic Church, which is one of the Eastern Rite Churches in communion with Rome today. 


Sep 02, 202335:35
Listener Response and Updates

Listener Response and Updates

In this brief episode, I respond to a listener's question about Elisabeth Anscombe and Truman, while also giving an update on future episodes of the podcast.

Aug 29, 202313:51
ReView: God Owes Us Nothing

ReView: God Owes Us Nothing

In this episode, I take a look back at a 1995 book by the Polish philosopher Lezsek Kolakowski, "God Owes Us Nothing: A Brief Remark on the Religion of Pascal and the Spirit of Jansenism." Kolakowski's book tackles the problem of theodicy (how a good and just God can allow evil in the world) via an examination of the 17th century heresy of Jansenism. In this episode I take a look at his arguments for the idea that God is not a subject of any human moral obligations, and that the modern split between faith and science has left believers with an all-powerful but inscrutable God who "owes us nothing."

Aug 23, 202341:40
Word Youth Day Syndrome

Word Youth Day Syndrome

From the blog, a meditation on the controversy over World Youth Day, and what it says about larger trends in the Church since Vatican II. You can check out the original post on the website here:

https://churchcontroversies.com/2023/08/14/world-youth-day-syndrome/

Aug 18, 202314:34
Anscombe, Truman and the Bomb

Anscombe, Truman and the Bomb

In this brief episode, I discuss Elisabeth Anscombe's argument against the dropping of the atom bomb on Japan and defenses of Harry Truman's actions. But the real purpose is to ask the listeners what they think--was Anscombe right in saying that Truman was a mass murderer?

Aug 09, 202317:49
Modernism as Colonialism

Modernism as Colonialism

In this episode, I read an article of mine which takes at look at the attitude so common in Western life today, which sees its past and its heritage as a backward stage in history that needs to be overcome. In doing so, I compare the influence of Modernism to that of 19th century Western Colonialism, reading this attitude through the prism of Chinua Achebe's book, Things Fall Apart.

Aug 08, 202328:34
ReView: Kingdom of Heaven

ReView: Kingdom of Heaven

In this episode, we take a look back at Ridley Scott's 2005 film "Kingdom of Heaven," his epic about the Third Crusade which ended with capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim prince Saladine. We examine how it treats the beliefs of characters in the past, specifically those of Christian Crusaders, and what it says about modern Hollywood's sense of history--or lack thereof. 

Aug 01, 202326:29
The Rise and Fall of the Integrated Humanities Program, 1966-1979

The Rise and Fall of the Integrated Humanities Program, 1966-1979

In 1970, three professors at the University of Kansas created a unique humanities program--the Pearson Integrated Humanities Program--that captivated students, introducing them to the "Great Books" of the Western tradition and the "perennial philosophy." But some in the university did not care for this program, and pointed to the Catholic faith of the three professors in claiming they were "brainwashing" their students. When six students in the program entered a monastery, their opponents seized on this to help bring the program to an end. In this episode of Controversies in Church History, we take a closer look at the rise and fall of the IHP, and the role of ideology and anti-Catholicism in its demise.


Jul 21, 202301:16:35
Latinization, Episode IV: the Ottoman World, 1450-1800

Latinization, Episode IV: the Ottoman World, 1450-1800

In the fourth installment of our series on Latinization of the Eastern Churches, we take a look at Rome during Renaissance and Reformation era and its relationship with the Eastern Churches that come into communion with it, above all the Maronite Church. We also take a look at the influence of European powers on this process, as well as the creation of new Eastern Catholic Churches in the 18th century.

Jun 27, 202357:54
ReView: Becket

ReView: Becket

In this episode of Controversies in Church History, we take a look at the 1964 feature film Becket, a bio pic about the medieval marytr and bishop St. Thomas Becket. After a brief relation of the history of Becket's martyrdom, we take a look at the film, which based on the play by Jean Anouilh, and assess its strengths and weaknesses as a film and as history. 


Jun 20, 202337:28
Shorts: The Maronites in Renaissance Rome

Shorts: The Maronites in Renaissance Rome

Hey everyone! This is new Short, a preview of the latest patron only episode for everyone else. This is from Episode IV of our series on Latinization, which is on Rome's relationship with Eastern Christians in the Ottoman Empire between 1450 and 1800. In this clip, I discuss the relationship between Rome and the Maronite Church of Lebanon during the late 16th century, and how both sides sought to gain from their relationship, but which contributed to Latinization of the Maronites in the long run. The full episode will be available to all listeners at months end, but if you want to listen to it now (and free of ads), consider becoming a patron of the podcast. Pax Christi!

Jun 08, 202305:56
ReView: A Man For All Seasons

ReView: A Man For All Seasons

Hello! The latest episode of the podcast is another "ReView" of an historical film This time, I riff on the one of the most heralded movies about a ever made about a Catholic historical figure. I am of course talking about "A Man For All Seasons," the biopic about St. Thomas More which won six Oscars in 1966, and in the film I discuss what it gets right and wrong historically, and also talk about the inspiration for the film's writer, Rober Bolton, to write about a Catholic saint.

Jun 03, 202335:60
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