Catholic in America

Is modern life really secular—or are we just worshipping new gods?

In this powerful episode of Catholic in America, theologian Dr. William Cavanaugh joins host Jason Adkins to discuss his latest book, The Uses of Idolatry. They explore how the things we worship today—nation, market, technology, and even sports—mirror the dynamics of religion. Drawing on Scripture, St. Augustine, and Catholic sacramental theology, Cavanaugh argues that our age isn't post-religious, but deeply idolatrous.

Key topics include:

• Why secularism is a myth
• Nationalism and consumerism as modern idolatries
• How idolatry hides in plain sight
• The Eucharist as the true antidote
• Recovering a sacramental imagination
• What it means to live a life of faithful resistance

Dr. Cavanaugh challenges us to begin with self-critique: we all worship—and we all worship badly. But through the Eucharist and a deeper prayer life, we can reorient ourselves toward the true God and find joy and freedom in His presence.

Resources Mentioned

• Book by Dr. William Cavanaugh – The Uses of Idolatry
  https://academic.oup.com/book/48596 
• America Magazine Review – "Tearing Down Idols: William Cavanaugh’s Theology"
   https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2024/05/13/william-cavanaugh-uses-idolatry-246196 
• Catholic World Report – "The Idolatry and Religion of Our Present Age"
  https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2024/06/01/the-idolatry-and-religion-of-our-present-age 
• Faculty Bio – Dr. William Cavanaugh, DePaul University
  https://las.depaul.edu/academics/catholic-studies/faculty/Pages/william-cavanaugh.aspx 

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this episode of Catholic in America, Jason Adkins sits down with husband-and-wife duo Tom and Noelle Crowe, the creators and hosts of American Catholic History. Their podcast shines a spotlight on the overlooked people, places, and events that shaped the Catholic Church in the United States, from saints and missionaries to bourbon makers and baseball legends.

Together, they explore why Catholic Americans need to know their own history, how stories of holiness in our own backyard can inspire devotion, and what JP II's Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in America (1999) meant by calling us to know our “own saints.”

We’ll hear stories of:

• Sister Blandina and her Wild West missions
• The Catholic roots of bourbon distillers in Kentucky
• A possible deathbed conversion of George Washington (!)
• The hidden legacy of American Catholic builders, missionaries, and martyrs

You’ll come away with a renewed sense of hope, history, and what it means to build institutions and holiness right here in America.

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Fr. Philip Larrey, philosopher, theologian, and expert on AI ethics, joins Catholic in America to explore the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and what it means for humanity, morality, and the future of the Church’s witness. With decades of experience in epistemology and digital ethics, Fr. Larrey offers profound insight into the Vatican’s response, the philosophical limits of AI, the global AI arms race, and the moral challenges of labor, privacy, and dignity in a post-human age.

Together, Jason and Fr. Larrey unpack:

• Whether AI can ever be truly “intelligent” or self-aware
• The dangers of AI “reasoning,” blackmailing users, or rewriting its own code
• The singularity and why it may be closer than we think
• How neural implants may change what it means to be human
• The real-world impact on jobs, social structures, and global security
• The Church’s moral and unifying role in guiding the future of AI

This is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Links:

• Fr. Larrey’s Bio & Publications
• Vatican Document: Antiqua et Nova (2025)
• Open Letter Calling for AI Moratorium
• Eliezer Yudkowsky Op-Ed in Time

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

What if Catholicism isn’t just a religion, but a worldview. A way of seeing all reality as enchanted with divine purpose? In this episode, Jason Adkins sits down with Fr. William Slattery, author of Enchanted by Eternity, to explore the Catholic vision of a heavenized earth. They discuss how modern scientific discoveries, especially in quantum physics, are actually consistent with Catholic theology and why the faith is not just about heaven someday, but about renewing the world here and now.

From the cosmic to the concrete, Fr. Slattery unveils how every Catholic is called to be part of a theo-drama that transforms culture, politics, economics, and ecology. This episode is a sweeping vision of hope, enchantment, and mission.

Fr. William Slattery was ordained in 1991 by Pope John Paul II. Originally from Ireland, he serves in the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio, and teaches at Franciscan University in Steubenville. He holds a doctorate in philosophy, a licentiate in theology, and is the author of Heroism and Genius and the newly released Enchanted by Eternity: Recapturing the Wonder of the Catholic Worldview.

 Resources Mentioned

• Fr. Slattery’s Bio – Society of Ignatians
• Enchanted by Eternity – OSV Catholic Bookstore
• Review from The Catholic Times

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Why are so many young people walking away from traditional religion—not in anger, but with a shrug? In this thought-provoking episode, Jason Adkins sits down with renowned sociologist Dr. Christian Smith, author of Why Religion Went Obsolete, to unpack the quiet cultural revolution that's led to the decline of faith institutions in America.

They explore:

• Why the 1990s were a turning point for religious disaffiliation
• How the digital age and consumer capitalism changed how we think about truth, authority, and God
• Why catechesis alone won’t fix the Church’s challenges
• What it means to re-enchant the world, and why Catholicism might be uniquely suited for this moment

Dr. Smith doesn’t just diagnose the problem, he names the cultural tides reshaping our imagination, and offers hope for how the Church can meet people in a postmodern world that’s hungry for meaning.

Featuring discussion on the “millennial zeitgeist,” moralistic therapeutic deism, digital disruption, and the rebirth of paganism. This is an essential listen for anyone who cares about the future of the Church.

Links & Resources:

• Dr. Christian Smith – University of Notre Dame
• Why Religion Went Obsolete (Oxford University Press)
• Summary Article – Church Life Journal

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, world-renowned economist and advisor to both the UN and multiple popes, joins Jason Adkins to explore the profound influence of Catholic social teaching on economics, diplomacy, and the pursuit of peace. From working with Pope John Paul II on Centesimus Annus to helping shape Laudato Si’ with Pope Francis, Sachs shares how the Church’s moral vision offers a critical alternative to the modern technocratic paradigm. Their conversation covers climate change, the war in Ukraine, integral ecology, and how faith and reason together can guide public policy toward the common good.

“If St. Francis of Assisi could meet the Sultan during the Crusades, then surely today’s leaders can sit down and talk.” – Jeffrey Sachs

• Official Bio of Dr. Jeffrey Sachs
  https://www.jeffsachs.org/
• Jeffrey Sachs on the Russia–Ukraine War
  “There Is No Military Way Out” – Interview with Inside the Vatican
  https://insidethevatican.com/magazine/pontifical-academy-of-sciences-member-dr-jeffrey-sachs-there-is-no-military-way-out/
• Sachs on the Economy of Francesco
  Reflections on Pope Francis’s Call for a New Economy
  https://www.jeffsachs.org/newspaper-articles/8dy5eryflswh9z7hz5dwzrd5h9aekm

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this episode of Catholic in America, host Jason Adkins welcomes Dr. Anna Faria and Dr. Grant Clayton — economists from the University of Colorado — to unpack their groundbreaking study, Fruits of the Vine: The Economic Impact of the Catholic Church in Minnesota.

While faith institutions are often praised for spiritual and charitable contributions, this new research shines light on a lesser-known dimension: the Church’s staggering $5.4 billion annual impact on Minnesota's economy.

Through parishes, schools, hospitals, charitable organizations, and capital projects, the Catholic Church supports thousands of jobs, reduces public costs, and strengthens communities statewide.

The conversation explores:

• Why measuring the Church’s economic footprint matters for public policy
• How volunteerism, education, and magnet effects (like weddings and pilgrimages) ripple through the local economy
• The role of civil society in American life and why the Church’s presence remains vital
• Why policymakers should protect the Church’s freedom to serve, especially in an increasingly secular culture

Tune in for this eye-opening discussion that makes a compelling case for the Church’s visible — and often invisible — role in building the common good.

Resources & Links:

• “Fruits of the Vine” Report
• Minnesota Catholic Conference
• Learn more about OSV News

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this bold and eye-opening episode of Catholic in America, Jason Adkins is joined by Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, founder of the Ruth Institute, to expose the institutional forces behind the sexual revolution—and how the Church’s teachings are not only relevant, but prophetic.

Dr. Morse, a trained economist and former professor at Yale and George Mason, dives deep into how elite ideologies—disguised as progress—have systematically dismantled family life through no-fault divorce, contraception, and gender ideology. From propaganda in U.S. foreign aid to the ideology embedded in public schools, Dr. Morse explains why the Sexual Revolution is not grassroots—but an elite-driven, top-down campaign of cultural colonization.

Together, Jason and Dr. Morse discuss:

• Why the Church has been right all along about sexuality and marriage
• The myth of “neutral” sexual education and its real agenda
• How population control and foreign policy shaped feminism and gender ideology
• Why stories from survivors of the Sexual Revolution are changing the conversation
• What it means to raise a family in a world ruled by “The Sexual State”

Dr. Morse doesn’t hold back—and neither should we. If you’re concerned about the future of children, family, and faith, this conversation is a must-listen.

LINKS:

• Dr. Morse Bio: https://ruthinstitute.org/about/dr-morse/
• The Ruth Institute: https://ruthinstitute.org/
• Ruth Institute YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RuthInstitute
• Get the Book – The Sexual State: https://thesexualstate.com/

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

What if we’re looking at politics all wrong? In this episode, theologian Michael Baxter joins Jason Adkins to explore the spiritual vision behind the Catholic Worker Movement and the political witness of Dorothy Day. As America reels from another election season, Dr. Baxter invites us to shift our focus—from the ballot box to the beatitudes, from Washington to our neighborhoods. Through stories, reflection, and deep Catholic social teaching, this conversation challenges listeners to reconsider what real politics looks like and how it begins with soup, shelter, and solidarity.

Topics Covered:

• Why Dorothy Day barely mentioned elections
• The growth of big government and the loss of local political life
• The meaning of “living beyond politics”
• Subsidiarity and the Catholic Church’s vision of local action
• Building community with the poor as political witness
• The intersection of Eucharistic devotion and the works of mercy
• Catholic Worker examples: St. Joseph the Worker Job Service, Christ in the City
• Pope Francis and politics as a form of charity
• How to create parish-level social reconstruction

Guest Bio:
Michael Baxter, Ph.D. is the Director of Catholic Studies at Regis University and a Visiting Associate Professor at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame. He is a founding member of the Peter Claver Catholic Worker House and former director of the Catholic Peace Fellowship. His work focuses on political theology, the Catholic Worker Movement, and the canonization of Dorothy Day.

Resources Mentioned & Various Links:

• Michael Baxter bio – McGrath Institute
• “Living Beyond Politics: A Post-Election Reflection on Dorothy Day” – Houston Catholic Worker
• The Catholic Worker Movement – Paulist Press Resource

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

This episode discusses the rise of legalized sports gambling in the U.S. following the 2018 Supreme Court decision, and why Catholics should be concerned about it. The Catholic Church's opposition to sports gambling is explained with emphasis on its potential to drive poverty, fragment families, and fuel addiction and domestic violence. The episode features Les Bernal, National Director of Stop Predatory Gambling, who talks about the broader issue of commercialized gambling and its exploitation by state governments in partnership with powerful gambling corporations. Bernal's extensive work in advocating against predatory gambling practices and his numerous media appearances are highlighted, along with his key arguments on why sports gambling is particularly harmful.

Show Links: 

• Stop Predatory Gambling:  https://www.stoppredatorygambling.org/
• Study of 700,000 online gamblers: https://www.stoppredatorygambling.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2024-Online-Gambling-Policy-Effects-on-Tax-Revenue-and-Irresponsible-Gambling.pdf
• Background on the legal landscape of sports betting: https://newrepublic.com/article/189263/online-sports-betting-alito-losses
• Making the case for why legalizing sports betting is a mistake:  https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/legalizing-sports-gambling-was-a-huge-mistake/ar-AA1r2DLq
•  Impact of sports betting on young men: https://www.newsweek.com/2023/04/07/sports-betting-boom-linked-rising-gambling-addiction-anxiety-suicide-1789055.html

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here.