Godsplaining

What do you do when you've been genuinely hurt by someone in the Catholic Church? What if a therapist, friend, or loved one tells you that leaving the Church is the answer?

In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Gregory and Fr. Bonaventure discuss church hurt, trauma, abuse, forgiveness, and the difficult distinction between the holiness of the Church and the failures of her members. The friars explore why Catholics shouldn't dismiss real experiences of pain or mistreatment, why the failures of priests and other Catholics don't negate Christ's promises to His Church, and how someone who has been hurt can begin to heal without abandoning the faith.

During their discussion they offer practical advice for Catholics struggling to return to a parish or trust Church leaders again—including when it may be appropriate to create space, attend another parish, seek professional and spiritual guidance, and allow healing to unfold over time.

What does forgiveness require? Does forgiveness always mean reconciliation? And can God bring something new out of even our deepest wounds? Listen to the full episode to hear what the friars have to say.

 

Join Exodus 90 for St. Michael's Lent with with Fr. Columba Jordan starting on August 12th: https://exodus90.com/godsplaining

 

For the St. Dominic Rosary and more from the Catholic Woodworker: https://catholicwoodworker.com/products/st-dominic-rosary?utm_source=godsplaining&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=stdominic

 

Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org

Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining

 

Support the Podcast

Join Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining

Shop merch: https://godsplaining.org/store/

 

Shop Books Written by the Friars

Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://a.co/d/0dx0V5AT

O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://a.co/d/0hLdv7oU

Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1

Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech

Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/

St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392

Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/

 

Connect on Social Media

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsplaining/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godsplaining/

Follow us on X: https://x.com/godsplaining

 

To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org

To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org

Why are more people cutting off family members, friends, and loved ones? What does the rise of “no contact” reveal about the way we understand relationships?

Fr. Gregory sits down with Ethics and Public Policy Center Fellow and author Noelle Mering to explore the growing phenomenon of fractured relationships. They discuss the influence of social media and therapy-speak, the meaning of “toxic” and “traumatic,” our increasing discomfort with disagreement, and the temptation to treat relationships like online spaces that can simply be blocked, muted, or unfollowed.

Noelle and Fr. Gregory also consider how politics and ideology can reshape our understanding of family, obligation, and identity—and why Christian faith offers a radically different vision of love: one rooted in relationship, responsibility, forgiveness, and the dignity of the person in front of us.

 

Pre-order No Contact by Noelle Mering here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/804101/no-contact-by-noelle-mering/

Check out her book Awake, Not Woke: https://tanbooks.com/products/books/awake-not-woke-a-christian-response-to-the-cult-of-progressive-ideology

Follow her work with Theology of Home: https://theologyofhome.com/

 

Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org

Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining

 

Support the Podcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining

Shop merch: https://godsplaining.org/store/

 

Shop Books Written by the Friars

Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://a.co/d/0dx0V5AT

O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://a.co/d/0hLdv7oU

Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1

Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech

Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/

St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392

Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/

 

Connect on Social Media

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsplaining/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godsplaining/

Follow us on X: https://x.com/godsplaining

 

To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org

To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org

Why do Catholics, and Thomists in particular, have such a problem with René Descartes?

Fr. Bonaventure and Fr. Patrick Briscoe take another look at one of the most controversial figures in modern philosophy. From “I think, therefore I am” and the mind-body problem to Descartes’ Catholic faith and surprising Augustinian influences, they ask whether the father of modern philosophy deserves his reputation.

Was Descartes really the enemy of the Catholic philosophical tradition? Or have Catholics been too quick to dismiss him?

What thinkers and philosophers would you like the friars to discuss next? Let us know in the comments!

 

Join Exodus 90 for St. Michael's Lent with with Fr. Columba Jordan starting on August 12th: https://exodus90.com/godsplaining

 

For the St. Dominic Rosary and more from the Catholic Woodworker: https://catholicwoodworker.com/products/st-dominic-rosary?utm_source=godsplaining&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=stdominic

 

Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org

Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining

 

Support the Podcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining

Shop merch: https://godsplaining.org/store/

 

Shop Books Written by the Friars

Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://a.co/d/0dx0V5AT

O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://a.co/d/0hLdv7oU

Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1

Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech

Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/

St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392

Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/

 

Connect on Social Media

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsplaining/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godsplaining/

Follow us on X: https://x.com/godsplaining

 

To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org

To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org

Is laughter just entertainment, or is it an important part of the Christian life?

In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Gregory and Fr. Joseph-Anthony explore the surprising virtue of humor. They discuss why Christians sometimes become overly serious, how St. Thomas Aquinas viewed wit as a virtue, and why laughter can deepen friendship, relieve tension, and even help us speak the truth with charity.

Have a favorite joke? We want to hear it, drop it in the comments!

 

Join Exodus 90 for St. Michael's Lent with with Fr. Columba Jordan starting on August 12th: https://exodus90.com/godsplaining

For the St. Dominic Rosary and more from the Catholic Woodworker: https://catholicwoodworker.com/products/st-dominic-rosary?utm_source=godsplaining&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=stdominic

 

Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org

Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining

 

Support the Podcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining

Shop merch: https://godsplaining.org/store/

 

Shop Books Written by the Friars

Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://a.co/d/0dx0V5AT

O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://a.co/d/0hLdv7oU

Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1

Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech

Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/

St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392

Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/

 

Connect on Social Media

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsplaining/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godsplaining/

Follow us on X: https://x.com/godsplaining

 

To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org

To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org

Why are so many Christians rediscovering the Catholic Church?

In this episode of Guestsplaining, Fr. Gregory Pine sits down with Catholic apologist Trent Horn to discuss Protestantism, apologetics, conversion, and what ultimately draws people into the fullness of the Catholic faith. They explore why arguments matter, but also why arguments alone are never enough.

Trent explains the biggest misconceptions Protestants have about Catholicism, how apologetics should lead to deeper discipleship, and why every convert must eventually move beyond debates into a life of prayer, the sacraments, and authentic friendship with Christ.

Whether you're Catholic, Protestant, exploring Christianity, or simply curious about the differences, this conversation offers a thoughtful and charitable look at one of today's most important religious conversations.

 

Keep up the Counsel of Trent: https://www.youtube.com/TheCounselofTrent

Learn more about books written by Trent Horn: https://www.trenthorn.com/

Read through his catalog of articles for Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/trent-horn

 

Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org

Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining

 

Support the Podcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining

Shop merch: https://godsplaining.org/store/

 

Shop Books Written by the Friars

Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://a.co/d/0dx0V5AT

O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://a.co/d/0hLdv7oU

Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1

Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech

our Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/

St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392

Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/

 

Connect on Social Media

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsplaining/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godsplaining/

Follow us on X: https://x.com/godsplaining

 

To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org

To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org