Crisis Point: Recent Episodes
Crisis Magazine
Since 1982, Crisis Magazine has been America's leading source for Catholic perspectives on religion, culture, and politics. Join editor-in-chief Eric Sammons and leading Catholics on "Crisis Point."
Almost forty years ago thousands of Christians were being arrested throughout the country for blocking abortion clinic doors. Here’s my first-hand account of what we did and why we did it—and how it changed the pro-life movement for both good and ill.
Fr. James Martin recently argued that “gay” men should be ordained priests, in spite of explicit Vatican guidelines against the practice. What are the problems of ordaining even celibate men with same-sex attraction as priests?
When it comes to giving to the Church and to charity, how much of one’s income should Catholics give? We’ll look at what the Church has said over the years.
For those who recognize the severe crisis in the Church, there’s a temptation to black-pill: to see only the chaff and none of the wheat. But that’s another way Satan pulls souls away from God.
In today’s world, creating a sane and sanctifying home life is incredibly difficult. Here are ten pillars to increase your chances of success.
Candace Owens has created a podcasting empire based on wild conspiracy theories, but the Tyler Robinson trial is revealing cracks in the facade. We’ll look both at her and the problem of internet “personalities.”
For years the “Unite the Clans” movement tried to bring all traditional Catholic groups together under a common cause. Is this still possible after the SSPX consecrations?
The Vatican issues two decrees related to the SSPX episcopal consecrations, one on the penalties imposed and another on the procedures for those who wish to leave the SSPX. Who exactly is excommunicated, and does this mean a Catholic can’t attend an SSPX Mass?
The key issue surrounding the upcoming SSPX episcopal consecrations is whether they are justified by a “crisis” in today’s Church. Is there a crisis, and if so, what is its nature and what responses are legitimate?
Stephen Spielberg’s big-budget movie “Disclosure Day” is a failed attempt to capture our fascination with aliens and the spiritual consequences their disclosure might bring.
Is Pope Leo considering dropping the filioque clause from the Creed in order to advance unity with the Eastern Orthodox? If so, would that be a step forward or a step back?
Elon Musk claimed that artificial intelligence will one day make jobs optional and money obsolete. We'll look into why reading Genesis 1-3 shows he's completely wrong.
Last week's USCCB meeting just highlighted what we already knew: it's an irrelevant organization that does more harm than good. When will the bishops recognize this and move on?
A growing debate in the Catholic Church is the relationship between Judaism and Catholicism. We'll talk with a Jewish convert to Catholicism about the history of Catholic/Jewish relations, antisemitism, and the Zionist project.
After a strong start to the second Trump presidency, things have begun to unravel and support is falling for President Trump. What happened?
Science fiction has been dominated by an atheistic, materialist worldview for decades, helping to lead many of its readers away from transcendent truths. But there's a revival of Catholics writing science fiction that hopes to topple that regime. We'll speak to one such author today.
The Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has declared that it is "not appropriate" to give to Mary the often-used title "Co-redemptrix." We'll break down the reasons given and what it means.
With the threat of the food stamp program being temporarily halted for 40+ million Americans, it would be useful to explore the program's morality, both for the individual receiving it and the government offering it.
An upcoming documentary claims the government is covering up proof of extraterrestrial intelligence. What is a Catholic to think about claims of aliens, either visiting us or out in the stars?
Nick Fuentes is one of the most popular, and most controversial, commentators in today's new media landscape. We'll take a look at his work and whether it's a good idea for Catholics to align with him.
With the election of Pope Leo XIV, everyone's talking about Pope Leo XIII's famous encyclical Rerum Novarum. But most of what you read about it is wrong.
Recently the Diocese of Knoxville decided to replace the traditional Latin Mass with a "traditionalized" Novus Ordo. Should traditional Catholics be satisfied with that change?
St. John Henry Newman is about to be declared a Doctor of the Church because of his "decisive contribution to the renewal of theology and to understanding Christian doctrine in its development." We'll look at what Newman meant by "development" (and what he did not mean).
We live in an increasingly anti-Catholic, divisive, and combative society. As Catholics, we need to respond forcefully. I'll detail how I'm doing that today.
Pope Leo upset many Catholics by seeming to support Cardinal Cupich giving a lifetime achievement award to a pro-abortion politician. Is it time to resurrect Recognize and Resist?
Which is the greater threat to the common good and Catholic interests today: Radical Islam or Zionism? Why not both?
Most Catholics believe in a role for the papacy that goes far beyond Church teaching. We'll break down what the Church really says about the duties and powers of a pope (and yes, we'll look at Vatican I).
Pope Leo gave his first full interview last week, and many topics of interest came up, including the future of the TLM and the immutability of the Church's teaching. We'll break down what he said and whether we should be worried.
Now that's it's been a week since Charlie Kirk was publicly assassinated, the inevitable conspiracy theories are arising, particularly related to Israel's potential role. Is there any validity to these theories?
America has been in a cold civil war for at least a decade; could the Charlie Kirk assassination turn it into a hot one? We'll look at the different possible scenarios that could play out over the next few years.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk clearly demonstrates that we are fighting against truly evil forces. How should we as Catholics respond?
The recently-canonized Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati have been promoted as "ordinary" Catholics. But are Saints ordinary, and should ordinary Catholics be canonized?
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has led many Catholics to side with Israel for theological reasons, believing God has promised certain land to the Jewish people. Is this legitimate? Are Catholic obligated to defend the modern state of Israel?
Ever since Pope Francis began to restrict the TLM, many have pointed to prominent traditionalists online as the reason. Is this true? If so, what does that say about the pope?
The United Kingdom has broken out into riots over the issue of mass immigration and a unfair policing system in place to deal with it. How did this start, and where will it end?
The anointing of Kamala Harris as the Democratic Presidential Nominee signals the deeply anti-Catholic nature of that party. So why do some self-proclaimed Catholics still support her?
Recent news stories have highlighted that young Catholics—both clergy and laity—are increasingly conservative. We'll look at the reasons behind that growing trend.
The last month has been a relentless onslaught of crazy news stories, with the world seeming to be falling apart. We'll take a look at the latest news and also discuss how Catholics properly fight for the Truth while maintaining our peace in Christ.
The modern conflict between religion and science has only intensified in recent years. While some Catholics want to completely reject all modern scientific findings, many scientists act as infallible guides to all of reality. What is the proper Catholic perspective?
The National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis generated a great deal of enthusiasm among Catholics, but was it successful in its mission? We'll explore both the highs and the lows of the Congress.
We live in a fundamentally unhappy time. Modern life and modern culture have led many to be profoundly unhappy and to seek happiness in many directions. How do we truly find happiness?
President Trump avoided being assassinated by less than an inch on the anniversary of an apparition of Our Lady of Fatima. A coincidence or heavenly intervention?
Archbishop Viganò was excommunicated, in part, for "his refusal to recognize...the Supreme Pontiff," a view broadly known as sedevacantism. What leads people to accept this view and what are the problems with it?
A new Catholic college is starting up this fall in the Deep South. What makes this college unique and what does it offer for students?
A possibly rigged election, a potential World War III, and imprisoning political opponents are all threats to the future of our country. As we celebrate our nation's birthday this week, we have to ask if this will be the last one for America as we know it.
The reign of Pope Francis has revealed a crisis in the relationship between bishops and the pope. From the sacking of Bishop Strickland to the Vatican micromanagement of dioceses and even parishes, what is the proper relationship between Peter and the other apostles?
Both the Vatican and our surrounding culture are attacking faithful Catholics: how should the Church Militant respond?
The director of the highly-acclaimed Mass of the Ages movie trilogy gives his thoughts on the future of his project, as well as the future of the TLM.
The upcoming National Eucharistic Congress is the milestone event of the three-year National Eucharistic Revival. Will the Congress (and the Revival) be successful? How will we know?
There's been strong resistance in the African Church to the growing acceptance of homosexuality in the worldwide Catholic Church. We'll talk today with someone who went to Africa to discuss this important issue with Church officials there.
After his revelations about former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò became one of the most well-known bishops in the Church. Since then he's used his platform to promote highly controversial views, leading even some supporters to question his judgement.
Seven months ago Bishop Joseph Strickland was removed as the bishop of Tyler, Texas. What has he been doing since then, what does he think of the current state of the Church and her bishops, and what advice does he have for faithful priests and lay people today?
Why the recent felony convictions of Donald Trump are leading many former Trump critics to now support him.
Traditional, Conservative, Progressive, Boomer, Millennial: there are many tribes within Catholicism. Is there any way we can all coexist?
Recent comments by Pope Francis on the impossibility of women being ordained and against the widespread homosexuality among the clergy have raised eyebrows. Is the pope changing his views, or do these comments reflect something else?
The Great Reset still sounds to some like a crazy conspiracy theory. Today we'll talk about what it is, why it's real, and most importantly, how to fight against it.
Two competing visions for the future of Catholicism were on display last week with the Harrison Butker speech and the latest Pope Francis interview. Which one has the most energy behind it and is most likely to prevail?
Today we’ll talk with a man who has publicly defended the Catholic Faith for more than 30 years. We'll find that Catholics often are wrong about what they think the Church definitively teaches.
Millions of Americans have witnessed some amazing celestial events recently, including a total solar eclipse and the aurora borealis. Are these signs from God, perhaps of the End Times?
In an age where lots of Catholics talk about the New Evangelization while millions leave the Church, how should we share the Catholic Faith with others?
A recent AP story claims that the Catholic Church in America is being taken over by conservatives and traditionalists, pushing liberal Catholics out the door. Is this true, and if so, what does it mean?
Why are so many Catholic families looking into farm life? Why is homesteading becoming a popular alternative to the suburban and city life?
The recent controversy involving Catholic Answers' "Fr. Justin" AI program raises deeper questions: How should Catholics use technology to advance the Faith? Should we accept and use all new technologies without question?
For decades "liberal" or "progressive" Catholicism has been dominant in the Catholic Church in America, deeply influencing parishes and parishioners. What are the dangers of this brand of Catholicism, and what can we do to combat it?
Waffling on abortion, spending billions on foreign wars, playing identity politics, defending moral evils: the Conservative Establishment has little to do with actual conservatism these days. What is the political path forward for conservative Catholics?
I recently returned from a trip to Gower, Missouri to venerate Sister Wilhelmina, founder of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, and an incorrupt.
Defending the papacy has always been a primary obligation of Catholics engaging in apologetics, but in the era of a weak pope, it becomes particularly challenging. We'll give practical tips on how to take on all challengers.
A recent survey revealed continued decline in the practice of Catholicism and other mainline religions. One of the biggest factors was the dramatic rise in the LGBTQ religion.
The 20th century saw many changes to the Catholic liturgy; none more so than during Holy Week. What changes were made, why were they made, and did they help Catholics enter into Holy Week more deeply?
The Catholic Church is undergoing a crisis of masculinity. Most parishes are dominated by women, and men are rarely at the forefront of spiritual leadership in a parish. What can be done to reinstate men as spiritual leaders?
Traditional Catholics face a number of challenges in 2024, but not everything is dire in tradville. We'll discuss the most important issues that impact traditional Catholics right now.
The Catholic Church has a long and deep history in Ireland, but does the Faith remain on the Emerald Isle?
Fiducia Supplicans exposed deep divisions within the Catholic Church, and now it is reaching its tentacles beyond the Church to scuttle attempts at union with non-Catholic churches.
8 out of every 10 Catholics believe that other religions can lead to eternal life. How does this religious indifference impact the Catholic Church's ability to live out her mission to convert the entire world to Catholicism?
This past weekend Pope Francis beatified an entire family of nine, including their unborn child. We'll look at the theological implications of raising an unborn— and therefore unbaptized— child to the altars.
The Book of Genesis proposes answers to some of life's most important—and most controversial—questions. But often readers misunderstand or miss those answers. How can we properly interpret this most important Biblical text?
Some Catholics argue that vaccines—whether the flu shot or the Covid vaccine or any other vaccine—are morally obligatory to receive. We will dissect the many flaws in this argument in today's podcast.
In April of this year, the body of Sr. Wilhelmina Lancaster, founder of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, was found to be incorrupt four years after her death. Who was Sr. Wilhelmina and what is God trying to tell us through this miracle? We'll talk to a member of the order she helped found to discover what made this woman so remarkable.
Pope Francis was recently asked his opinion of American Catholics, and he didn't hold back in his criticisms. But are his criticisms legitimate?
Perhaps the greatest apologetical challenge for Catholics today is defending the papacy when its occupant is doing such a poor job. How can Catholics still support the papacy from the attacks of Protestants, Orthodox, and others?
Conspiracy theories have always been with us, but lately they are on the rise as many conspiracy theories have become conspiracy facts. How should Catholics approach these theories?
Wokeness surrounds us, from government to Hollywood to corporations to social media, and it impacts us in negative ways big and small. What are practical ways we can escape its grasp in our own lives?
For the past sixty years, Catholics have been imitating Protestants in our liturgy, youth outreach, and other aspects of Catholic life. How has this impacted the Church, and is there a better way forward?
"Sola Scriptura" (Scripture Alone) is the foundational doctrine of Protestantism. But the doctrine itself is based on certain false presuppositions, which makes the whole doctrinal house of cards fall apart.
A recent survey shows the Covid pandemic caused a dramatic decrease in religious belief and practice by Gen Xers. Why did this happen, and can Catholics do anything to reverse the trend?
Since its inception in the 1980's, World Youth Day has drawn millions of young Catholics to its events for the purpose of strengthening the faith of the next generation. But do WYDs accomplish their mission? Should they continue to be held?
The inclusion of a sex scene with nudity in the movie "Oppenheimer" recently generated huge controversy in the Catholic world. What are the moral implications of watching such scenes and supporting such movies?
How can we put our current situation in Biblical, historical, and theological context? What is the antichurch? Are we seeing the possible coming of the Antichrist in our lifetime? This is Part 2 of a two-part series.
Catholic bishops are called to be shepherds of souls. But Our Lord warns against hirelings and thieves watching over the flock instead. What is your bishop—a shepherd, a hireling, or a thief?
How can we put our current situation in Biblical, historical, and theological context? What is the antichurch? Are we seeing the possible coming of the Antichrist in our lifetime? This is Part 1 of a two-part series.
Church leaders are insisting the upcoming Synod on Synodality will not change doctrine. That may be true, but it could do something even worse.
Recent papal appointments have revealed a clear agenda at the Vatican, and it's one that threatens to upend the Church. Eric Sammons & Timothy Flanders discuss what these appointments mean and how Catholics should respond.
In this age of confusion there is understandably much in-fighting among Catholics. How do we work to unite faithful Catholics to fight the evils of our time?
The Fourth of July is a day to celebrate America. But in a country that is increasingly despotic and anti-Catholic, should Catholics still be patriotic?
Music is integral to the human person and integral to divine worship. What is good music and what is bad music? What kind of music is best for everyday life and what is best for worship?
The apostolic visitation of Bishop Joseph Strickland exposes the sham that is "synodality," as it seems the Vatican only wants certain voices to be heard.
Years ago Pope Benedict warned against the "Dictatorship of Relativism," but it seems today the problem is with woke moralists who appear to be absolutists in their wokeism. But when we look deeper we'll see they are actually the dictatorial relativists Benedict warned us about.
Cancel culture dominates our public discussions, and it's growing within Catholicism. What does it mean to "cancel" someone and is it the Christian thing to do?
I'm convinced that one of the best ways to overcome the crisis in the Church today is for Catholics to dive into Sacred Scripture. A new online program is designed to help Catholics to do just that.
The art of apologetics—giving a reasoned defense of the faith—has always been part of Catholic evangelization. After hitting a lull in the 1970's and 1980's it revived in the 1990's and beyond. But it seems that today Catholic apologetics is becoming less effective. Why is that?
One of the great questions man has pondered is, "Are we alone in the universe?" Is there intelligent alien life out there, and if so, how would that impact the Catholic Faith?
Following stories of invalid baptisms across the country in previous years, now we hear that some Masses in Kansas City have been invalid. Can Catholics trust the validity of the sacraments they receive?
As Catholics we believe that God created everything out of nothing. But how He did that is the subject of intense debate among Catholics. We'll talk today to a proponent of the theory of "Intelligent Design."
Catholics are starting to fight back against Pride Month, resisting the dominant forces that demand we endorse sin and corrupt our kids. What practical steps can we take this year to overcome the deadliest of months?
The body of an American religious foundress was found to be miraculously incorrupt, four years after her death. What does this mean, and what might God be telling us through this? We'll talk with someone who knows the community and recently visited Sister Wilhelmina's body.
Starting three years ago the world was bombarded with one of the greatest brainwashing campaigns in human history. Did you fall for it? Did your family or friends? What can we do to make sure no one falls for it in the future?
Popular Catholic author and "Dad with a Webcam" Taylor Marshall announced last week that he's running for President of the United States. We'll talk to him about his candidacy and what he hopes to accomplish.
Pope Francis has made a habit of denigrating those who look to the past for answers. But isn't tradition an important part of Catholicism? We'll look at the proper relationship between the pope and tradition.
A new book makes the provocative case that the Eucharist can save our civilization. We'll find out how that can happen on today's podcast.
College or no college? Catholic college or secular college? What are the choices for Catholic young adults, and which are the best ones that will help them stay Catholic?
This century has seen a dramatic collapse in religious practice, including Catholicism, in America. What is causing so many people to lose their faith?
Our culture is horribly confused about the proper roles of men and women. From those who wish to eliminate sex differences to those who create more differences than God intended, we don't know what it means to be a man or a woman.
An upcoming symposium in Dallas, Texas will look at the life of Blessed Karl of Austria, the last Habsburg Emperor who was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2004. What can we learn from this man? Links: • Blessed Emperor Karl Symposium • Blessed Karl of Austria website • Blessed Charles of Austria: A ... Read more
With the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles III, Catholics are once again asking: Is there any value to a monarchy that is built upon anti-Catholic foundations? ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Breaks down the byproduct of alcohol responsible for rough mornings after drinking. BrandSupport the show
The Pontifical Academy for Life has created controversy again, recently releasing a book that questioned the Church’s teaching on artificial contraception. What’s behind this attempt to undermine Church teaching? Links: • “Pontifical Academy for Life: Personal Values Reign Supreme” (article) • Janet Smith website • “Contraception:Why Not?” (talk) ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Breaks down the byproduct ... Read more
President Biden and the Left are warning that democracy is under attack from Trump and the MAGA Republicans. But is the threat actually from the Left, and more importantly, is democracy worth defending? ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Breaks down the byproduct of alcohol responsible for rough mornings after drinking. BrandSupport the show
With the fall of Roe, the fight against abortion has taken new directions. What is the state of the pro-life movement today, and what needs to be done to make abortion illegal and unthinkable in all 50 states? We’ll ask the host of EWTN Pro-Life Weekly these important questions. Links: • ETWN Pro-Life Weekly • ... Read more
Outreach, “an LGBTQ Catholic Resource” created by the Jesuit-run America Magazine, recently ran an article by a Protestant Biblical scholar claiming that we should read the Bible to be—surprise!—more inclusive and welcoming of LGBTQ people. We’ll take apart the article on today’s Crisis Point. Link: • St. Paul Center ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Breaks down the ... Read more
William Shakespeare is the greatest playwright of all time. Was he also a secret Catholic? Links: • The Quest for Shakespeare • Through Shakespeare’s Eyes • Shakespeare on Love • Ignatius Critical Editions Shakespeare Set • Joseph Pearce website ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Breaks down the byproduct of alcohol responsible for rough mornings after drinking. BrandSupport ... Read more
In the 1960’s, the Catholic Church enthusiastically embraced the ecumenical movement after decades of being cold to it. Sixty years later, has this embrace helped or hindered the mission of the Church? Link: • “Deadly Indifference” (book) ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Breaks down the byproduct of alcohol responsible for rough mornings after drinking. BrandSupport the show
In today’s world, especially in the West, monarchy is looked upon as, at best, a quaint relic of the past, or, at worst, a fundamentally repressive institution. But Catholicism has a deep relationship with monarchy and some Catholics argue it is the best form of government possible. Should Catholics be monarchists? Links: • Blessed Charles ... Read more
One of the fundamental debates in today’s “liturgy wars” is the idea of reverence. What makes a Mass reverent? Is it the language, the orientation, the music, or something else? ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Breaks down the byproduct of alcohol responsible for rough mornings after drinking. BrandSupport the show