Faith and Reason

Pope Leo XIV reportedly voted in the U.S. midterm elections and met with anti-ICE activists shortly before the vote. Frank Wright, Father Murr, and John-Henry Westen examine the political and ecclesial fallout. Frank connects the Republican Party's midterm losses to the Iran war, citing J.D. Vance's comments about the political cost of the conflict and his earlier criticism of neoconservative foreign policy. Father Murr expresses concern that the United States is losing its moral foundation.A major focus is the tension between traditional Catholic teaching and the growing influence of the synodal movement. Taking a look to the Vatican's Diwali greetings, debates proposals for women to hold greater governing authority in the Church, and discusses bishops advocating for changes to traditional Catholic practice. But they also praise Bishop Robert Barron for reaffirming that the Church exists to bring people to Christ, his response to Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco's claim that the Church is not meant to convert.The conversation closes with support for Bishop Athanasius Schneider's defense of the Society of St. Pius X and hope for reconciliation between traditional Catholics and the Vatican. The Pope voted in an American election. The GOP collapsed over Iran. The synod advances. And the Church remains divided over its identity. The question is whether it will remain rooted in established doctrine and evangelizing mission, or move toward a different understanding of Catholic identity. The answer may determine whether the faith survives.HELP SUPPORT WORK LIKE THIS: https://give.lifesitenews.com/?utm_source=SOCIAL U.S. residents! Create a will with LifeSiteNews: https://www.mylegacywill.com/lifesitenews Learn how to protect your wealth with gold and silver: https://sjp.stjosephpartners.com/lifesite SHOP ALL YOUR FUN AND FAVORITE LIFESITE MERCH! https://shop.lifesitenews.com/ Connect with John-Henry Westen and all of LifeSiteNews on social media:LifeSite: https://linktr.ee/lifesitenewsJohn-Henry Westen: https://linktr.ee/jhwestenBook to livestream Rome Life Forum: romelifeforum.com

Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco says the Church is "not a proselytizing church" and isn't here to convert. John-Henry Westen and Frank Wright respond: evangelization and the salvation of souls are central to Catholicism. If the Church is not here to convert, what is it here for? The question answers itself, and the answer is damning.Reports suggest the USCCB may introduce guidelines restricting the public activities of exorcists—following the silencing of Father Chad Ripperger and other priests. The hosts argue that public exorcism ministries offer spiritual guidance in a society increasingly hostile to Christianity. The exorcists are being silenced while the demons are being tolerated.The discussion also focuses on reports that the Traditional Latin Mass pilgrimage was blocked from entering St. Peter's Basilica, while an LGBTQ pilgrimage was permitted to pass through the Holy Door. Pope Leo XIV's responsibility for the decision is questioned. The Vatican's Assisi interreligious gathering, the Pope's remarks rejecting war, and Father James Martin's ministry publishing an adapted Confiteor invoking "queer saints" and spiritual ancestors are also addressed."God's still in control." The exorcists are silenced. The pilgrims are blocked. The "queer saints" are invoked. But God is still in control. The question is whether the faithful will remain steadfast until His justice prevails. The answer is the only thing that matters.HELP SUPPORT WORK LIKE THIS: https://give.lifesitenews.com/?utm_source=SOCIAL U.S. residents! Create a will with LifeSiteNews: https://www.mylegacywill.com/lifesitenews Learn how to protect your wealth with gold and silver: https://sjp.stjosephpartners.com/lifesite SHOP ALL YOUR FUN AND FAVORITE LIFESITE MERCH! https://shop.lifesitenews.com/ Connect with John-Henry Westen and all of LifeSiteNews on social media:LifeSite: https://linktr.ee/lifesitenewsJohn-Henry Westen: https://linktr.ee/jhwesten

Fr. Ripperger, one of the Church's most prominent exorcists, has been silenced. Denver Archbishop James Golka's order bars him from public appearances, writing, and online homilies for a year, and ended his planned keynote at LifeSite's April gala. The diocese says Ripperger "readily agreed" to a one-year "fast", but the release also thanks him for accepting the request. John-Henry Westen disputes the framing. The hosts tie the silencing to Bishop Mark Beckman's ban on the St. Michael Prayer in Knoxville and to Golka's earlier role in the case of canon lawyer Msgr. Ricardo Coronado. The pattern: bishops are going after spiritual-warfare tools. Dr. Ed Mazza calls the bishops "small potatoes" compared with "the conspiracy behind the conspiracy."The Church's center has shifted. Fr. James Martin carried the monstrance at the Napa Institute's procession, received a friendly J.D. Flynn interview, and has spent years at "salon dinners" with Tim Busch. Meanwhile, a seminarian was reportedly rejected by the Jesuits for criticizing Martin.An Ecuadorian priest killed by a falling crucifix and a Texas Baptist pastor's mocking reaction supply a reflection on death and the need for the "one true Church." Westen closes with a call to prayer for the hierarchy: "To speak the truth is an act of charity." The exorcist is silenced. The dissenter is celebrated. The question is which direction the Church is heading, and whether anyone will speak before it is too late.HELP SUPPORT WORK LIKE THIS: https://give.lifesitenews.com/?utm_source=SOCIAL U.S. residents! Create a will with LifeSiteNews: https://www.mylegacywill.com/lifesitenews Learn how to protect your wealth with gold and silver: https://sjp.stjosephpartners.com/lifesite SHOP ALL YOUR FUN AND FAVORITE LIFESITE MERCH! https://shop.lifesitenews.com/ Connect with John-Henry Westen and all of LifeSiteNews on social media:LifeSite: https://linktr.ee/lifesitenewsJohn-Henry Westen: https://linktr.ee/jhwesten

Pope Leo XIV has expressed devotion to St. Oscar Romero, a figure the hosts of Faith & Reason associate with liberation theology and Marxist-influenced politics. The question follows naturally: has the Pope outed himself as a liberation theologian? The concern is that the Church risks replacing a Christ-centered faith with a human-centered political agenda, where the Gospel becomes a platform, and salvation becomes social justice.The discussion criticizes recent Vatican appointments, including Sister Mary Teresa Barron and Archbishop Vittorio Francesco Viola, claiming these decisions reflect opposition to traditional Catholic worship and open the door to changes in longstanding Church teaching. Cardinal Tagle's appointment as dean of the College of Cardinals, Bishop Jeffrey Walsh's requirements concerning female altar servers and extraordinary ministers, and the controversy over the death penalty are all addressed.The hosts argue these developments reveal a broader struggle over the Church's identity, particularly the place of the Traditional Latin Mass and the authority of historic doctrine. Despite their sharp criticism, the episode closes with a call to pray for Pope Leo XIV's health and conversion. Praying for the Pope to change course shows concern for his spiritual well-being and the Church's future, not hatred. The question is whether the Pope will listen—or whether the Church will continue its march toward a different gospel.HELP SUPPORT WORK LIKE THIS: https://give.lifesitenews.com/?utm_source=SOCIAL U.S. residents! Create a will with LifeSiteNews: https://www.mylegacywill.com/lifesitenews ****PROTECT Your Wealth with gold, silver, and precious metals: https://sjp.stjosephpartners.com/lifesitenews +++SHOP ALL YOUR FUN AND FAVORITE LIFESITE MERCH! https://shop.lifesitenews.com/ +++Connect with John-Henry Westen and all of LifeSiteNews on social media:LifeSite: https://linktr.ee/lifesitenewsJohn-Henry Westen: https://linktr.ee/jhwesten

Pope Leo XIV's planned participation in an interreligious gathering in Assisi risks suggesting that "all religions are a pathway to God", a claim that contradicts Catholic teaching. The hosts of Faith & Reason argue this is not dialogue. It is syncretism. And it is approaching apostasy.The discussion challenges the Church's current position on the death penalty after pro-life leader Kristan Hawkins wrote that Catholics who "gleefully advocate" for capital punishment are "in sin." Anthony Stine responds: the Church's traditional position on capital punishment "can't be changed even by a pontiff." Catholics are being given contradictory signals about established doctrine, and the confusion is coming from the top.The hosts critique the Amoris Laetitia summit and Pope Leo's selection of Cardinals Fernández, Cupich, McElroy, Tobin, and Hollerich. The lineup creates the appearance of a predetermined outcome rather than genuine debate. They also discuss Vatican II, the growing number of priests turning toward the SSPX, and Bishop Schneider's warning that the Church appears to be undergoing a "hostile takeover" within its administrative structure.The conflict is not about individual policies. It is a struggle over whether Catholic doctrine can remain coherent while the Church changes its teachings, structures, and approach to tradition. The question is whether Catholics will recognize the revolution before it is complete, or whether they will be swept along by a Church that no longer believes what it once taught.HELP SUPPORT WORK LIKE THIS: https://give.lifesitenews.com/?utm_source=SOCIAL U.S. residents! Create a will with LifeSiteNews: https://www.mylegacywill.com/lifesitenews ****PROTECT Your Wealth with gold, silver, and precious metals: https://sjp.stjosephpartners.com/lifesitenews +++SHOP ALL YOUR FUN AND FAVORITE LIFESITE MERCH! https://shop.lifesitenews.com/ +++Connect with John-Henry Westen and all of LifeSiteNews on social media:LifeSite: https://linktr.ee/lifesitenewsJohn-Henry Westen: https://linktr.ee/jhwesten

Pope Leo XIV speaks of unity, inclusion, and love. But traditional Catholics are being locked out of churches, denied access to relics, and excluded from pilgrimages. This Faith & Reason examines the inconsistency between calls for inclusion and the treatment of the SSPX and faithful attached to the Traditional Latin Mass, including the denial of access to relics during a pilgrimage in Ontario.The discussion turns to President Trump's decision to limit certain media organizations' access to the White House, contrasted with a guest's account of a Catholic journalist allegedly threatened with exclusion from Vatican events under Pope Francis. The hosts criticize mainstream media and its role in shaping public opinion, arguing that the same outlets demanding transparency are often complicit in suppressing inconvenient truths.Leo's references to liberty, equality, fraternity, and love are examined in relation to God and Catholic teaching—not as values independent of faith. The historical and religious implications of the French Revolution are discussed.The pattern is clear: unity is demanded from traditional Catholics, but not extended to them. The question is whether the faithful will recognize the double standard—or continue to be silenced by calls for "inclusion" that exclude them.iCatholic Mobile—supporting the Catholic faith with every connection.https://www.facebook.com/icatholicmobile https://www.icatholicmobile.com/ HELP SUPPORT WORK LIKE THIS: https://give.lifesitenews.com/?utm_source=SOCIAL U.S. residents! Create a will with LifeSiteNews: https://www.mylegacywill.com/lifesitenews ****PROTECT Your Wealth with gold, silver, and precious metals: https://sjp.stjosephpartners.com/lifesitenews +++SHOP ALL YOUR FUN AND FAVORITE LIFESITE MERCH! https://shop.lifesitenews.com/ +++Connect with John-Henry Westen and all of LifeSiteNews on social media:LifeSite: https://linktr.ee/lifesitenewsJohn-Henry Westen: https://linktr.ee/jhwesten

Pope Leo XIV has called for "clear teaching" in a message to the bishops of Latin America. But what does that phrase mean in practice? The latest episode of Faith & Reason examines Leo's decision to highlight figures associated with liberation theology and Marxist political movements as examples for Latin American bishops to study and emulate. The context, the hosts argue, changes how his call for clarity should be understood.The episode also addresses Leo's reported decision to exclude the Roman Canon from all papal Masses during his upcoming visit to France, an omission the hosts characterize as significant, highlighting the growing divide between the traditional Roman Mass and the post-conciliar liturgy. Other controversies include the appointment of a new auxiliary bishop in New York, with questions about his political donations and public statements.Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò criticizes Pope Leo's direction, asserting that the Francis-era agenda has been intensified rather than slowed. Bishop Joseph Strickland rebukes a Vatican interreligious dialogue document, warning that dialogue could overshadow evangelization and the Church's call to preach the Gospel. The pattern is clear: "clear teaching" means one thing in Rome, and something very different in the hands of the bishops tasked with applying it. The question is whether the faithful will recognize the difference before it is too late.Make the switch today to iCatholicMobile today!iCatholic Mobile—supporting the Catholic faith with every connection.https://www.facebook.com/icatholicmobile https://www.icatholicmobile.com/ HELP SUPPORT WORK LIKE THIS: https://give.lifesitenews.com/?utm_source=SOCIAL U.S. residents! Create a will with LifeSiteNews: https://www.mylegacywill.com/lifesitenews ****PROTECT Your Wealth with gold, silver, and precious metals: https://sjp.stjosephpartners.com/lifesitenews +++SHOP ALL YOUR FUN AND FAVORITE LIFESITE MERCH! https://shop.lifesitenews.com/ +++Connect with John-Henry Westen and all of LifeSiteNews on social media:LifeSite: https://linktr.ee/lifesitenewsJohn-Henry Westen: https://linktr.ee/jhwesten

A new Vatican document marking the 60th anniversary of Nostra aetate encourages Catholics to regard the doctrines of other religions with respect—while making no reference to conversion. The hosts argue the omission is not accidental. The Church's mission has been redefined: dialogue has replaced evangelization.Meanwhile, a Massachusetts Catholic family has lost custody of their 15-year-old daughter after a dispute over gender identity. The parents allege she was socially transitioned at school without their knowledge and that they were subsequently prevented from seeing her. The state has taken their child. The Church says nothing.The episode also examines recent episcopal appointments that signal increasing support for LGBT positions, Freemasonry's opposition to Catholic schools in France ahead of the 2027 presidential race, and the growing marginalization of traditional Catholic teaching. The pattern is unmistakable: progressive ideology is elevated while faithful Catholics are silenced.HELP SUPPORT WORK LIKE THIS: https://give.lifesitenews.com/?utm_source=SOCIAL U.S. residents! Create a will with LifeSiteNews: https://www.mylegacywill.com/lifesitenews ****PROTECT Your Wealth with gold, silver, and precious metals: https://sjp.stjosephpartners.com/lifesitenews +++SHOP ALL YOUR FUN AND FAVORITE LIFESITE MERCH! https://shop.lifesitenews.com/   +++Connect with John-Henry Westen and all of LifeSiteNews on social media:LifeSite: https://linktr.ee/lifesitenewsJohn-Henry Westen: https://linktr.ee/jhwesten

Pope Leo XIV has reportedly forbidden the Traditional Latin Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, while Cardinal Raymond Burke defends the titles "Mediatrix of All Graces" and "Co-Redemptrix" against a recent Vatican document that condemned their public use. Bishop Athanasius Schneider argues that interior silence constitutes genuine participation in the liturgy, defending the ancient rite against restrictions.The episode examines a growing divide: traditional Catholics face increasing restrictions while progressive figures are promoted. The panel discusses Leo XIV's remarks about "prophets of doom," debating whether Catholics should focus on the positive aspects of the modern world or recognize the serious crises facing society. The hosts argue that the Church's primary mission should remain the salvation of souls and catechesis, not climate change.The program criticizes appointments and policies associated with Leo XIV, including a Hungarian archbishop who has expressed support for Protestants remaining within their own traditions and developments in Krakow involving a document addressing LGBT issues. Ambiguity surrounding Catholic teaching, the hosts argue, weakens evangelization and creates confusion among the faithful.Make the switch today to iCatholicMobile today!iCatholic Mobile—supporting the Catholic faith with every connection.https://www.facebook.com/icatholicmobile https://www.icatholicmobile.com/ HELP SUPPORT WORK LIKE THIS: https://give.lifesitenews.com/?utm_source=SOCIAL U.S. residents! Create a will with LifeSiteNews: https://www.mylegacywill.com/lifesitenews ****PROTECT Your Wealth with gold, silver, and precious metals: https://sjp.stjosephpartners.com/lifesitenews +++SHOP ALL YOUR FUN AND FAVORITE LIFESITE MERCH! https://shop.lifesitenews.com/   +++Connect with John-Henry Westen and all of LifeSiteNews on social media:LifeSite: https://linktr.ee/lifesitenewsJohn-Henry Westen: https://linktr.ee/jhwesten