Catholic Theology Show

How can Catholics engage with contemporary debates on sexuality and gender through a lens of faith and reason?

Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Michele Schumacher, private docent at the University of Freiburg, Switzerland, and author of Metaphysics and Gender: The Normative Art of Nature and Its Human Limitations, to explore these questions. Dr. Schumacher shares her journey from questioning God’s existence to becoming a moral theologian specializing in sexual ethics, emphasizing the universal call to motherhood, the grace of sacramental marriage, the transformative power of love in suffering, and the importance of Eucharistic adoration in aligning with God’s design. 

Resources:  

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community) 
• Ave Maria University website 
• Dr. Michele Schumacher on Amazon, which lists her books, including Metaphysics and Gender: The Normative Art of Nature and Its Human Limitations 
• The University of Freiburg website, where Dr. Schumacher serves as a private docent in the Theology department 

How does the Catholic Church understand the unique role of Jesus Christ in salvation?

Dr. Michael Dauphinais hosts Dr. Eduardo Echeverria, author of Jesus Christ: Scandal of Particularity, Vatican II, A Catholic Theology of Religion’s Justification and Truth. They explore Vatican II’s teachings, the importance of apologetics, the dangers of religious indifference, and Echeverria’s journey from evangelical Protestantism back to Catholicism. 

Resources:  

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community) 

• Ave Maria University website 

• Discover Dr. Eduardo J. Echeverria's books on Amazon, including Jesus Christ: Scandal of Particularity, Vatican II, A Catholic Theology of Religion’s Justification and Truth 

• Dr Eduardo Echeverria's Lectio Publishing author page 

How can the historical wisdom of the Habsburg dynasty guide us in modern times? 

Dr. Michael Dauphinais hosts Eduard Habsburg, Archduke of Austria and author of The Habsburg Way: Seven Rules for Turbulent Times, to explore lessons from 800 years of Habsburg history. They discuss the seven principles that shaped the dynasty, including the importance of marriage, the Catholic faith, and how these can be applied today. 

Resources: 

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community)
• Ave Maria University website
• Eduard Habsburg on X
• Eduard Habsburg on Amazon, which lists his books, including Building a Wholesome Family in a Broken World : Habsburg Lessons from the Centuries
• The Habsburg Way: Seven Rules for Turbulent Times, by Eduard Habsburg, published by Sophia Institute Press

Help support this podcast and Our Lady's University by joining the Annunciation Circle!

Get more information about Ave Maria University!

How can Catholics navigate the challenges of modern social interactions while staying true to their faith?

Dr. Michael Dauphinais, in a talk given at the SEEK 2025 conference hosted by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, explores how to live meaningfully in a world facing social and spiritual challenges. He proposes seven practices—digital detoxing, acknowledging personal failings, intentional socializing, detaching with love, redirecting desires, avoiding despair, and trusting in divine providence—to recover joy, peace, and meaningful human connection through faith. 

Resources: 

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community)
• Ave Maria University website
• Dr. Michael Dauphinais’s faculty page 

Help support this podcast and Our Lady's University by joining the Annunciation Circle!

Get more information about Ave Maria University!

How does the Catholic tradition address the complex reality of war? 

Dr. Michael Dauphinais hosts Dr. Joseph Capizzi, dean and professor of moral theology and ethics at the Catholic University of America, to explore just war theory. They discuss its roots in Roman and Christian thought, particularly through Augustine and Aquinas, and the role of mercy and forgiveness in fostering lasting peace.

Resources: 

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community)
• Ave Maria University website
• Dr. Joseph Capizzi’s faculty page at the Catholic University of America
• Joseph E. Capizzi on Amazon, which lists his books, including Politics, Justice, and War: Christian Governance and the Ethics of Warfare (Oxford University Press)

Help support this podcast and Our Lady's University by joining the Annunciation Circle!

Get more information about Ave Maria University!

How can a Catholic scientist navigate the intersection of faith, medicine, and public health crises?  

Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Robert Redfield, former CDC director and Catholic physician, to explore his journey from a scientific worldview to a deep Catholic faith, shaped by a transformative encounter with Pope John Paul II. They discuss Redfield’s work with AIDS patients, the redemptive value of suffering, and lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the importance of transparency in public health and the role of faith in facing life’s challenges. 

Resources: 

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community)
• Ave Maria University website
• Dr. Robert Redfield’s BPGbio staff page

Help support this podcast and Our Lady's University by joining the Annunciation Circle!

Get more information about Ave Maria University!

How can Catholics deepen their spiritual life through theology and contemplation? 

In this episode of the Catholic Theology Show, Dr. Michael Dauphinais engages with Fr. Thomas Joseph White, O.P., Rector of the Angelicum in Rome, to discuss his book, Contemplation and the Cross: A Catholic Introduction to the Spiritual Life. The conversation addresses challenges like moral therapeutic deism and the notion of an impersonal God, emphasizing disciplined practices such as Scripture reading, the Sacraments, and the Rosary to foster a living relationship with God.

Resources: 

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community)
• Ave Maria University website
• Fr. Thomas Joseph White's page on Angelicum
• Contemplation and the Cross: A Catholic Introduction to the Spiritual Life, by Fr. Thomas Joseph White, published by Catholic University of America Press
• Discover Fr. Thomas Joseph White’s other works on Amazon
• Thomistic Institute's YouTube Channel
• Is Christianity Reasonable? w/ Fr. Thomas Joseph White

Help support this podcast and Our Lady's University by joining the Annunciation Circle!

Get more information about Ave Maria University!

What is the significance of the Jubilee Year in the Bible, and how does it relate to Jesus’s mission and the Catholic Church? 

In this episode, Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Dr. John Bergsma, a Catholic theologian, author, and vice president of mission at the Saint Paul Center, to explore the biblical concept of the Jubilee Year. They discuss Bergsma’s book, Jesus and the Jubilee: The Biblical Roots of the Year of God’s Favor, which examines the Jubilee’s origins in Leviticus 25, its prophetic fulfillment in Jesus’s ministry, and its enduring relevance in the Church today.

Resources: 

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community)
• Ave Maria University website
• Dr. John Bergsma's personal website
• Dr. John Bergsma on Amazon, which lists all his books
• Saint Paul Center website, where Dr. Bergsma serves as Vice President for Biblical Theology and Mission Effectiveness
• Dr. John Bergsma's new book, Jesus and the Jubilee: The Biblical Roots of the Year of God's Favor and its digital companion from the St Paul Center
• Follow St Paul Center, Emmaus Road Publishing, and Dr John Bergsma on Instagram
• Restoring the Kingdom: The Catholic Church and the Bible w/ Dr. John Bergsma

Help support this podcast and Our Lady's University by joining the Annunciation Circle!

Get more information about Ave Maria University!

How can Catholics rediscover a sense of wonder in a world that feels disconnected from meaning? 

Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Kyle Washut, president of Wyoming Catholic College, to discuss the importance of recovering an enchanted view of the universe. They explore how the Catholic intellectual tradition, rooted in Scripture and the natural world, counters the modern "buffered self" that isolates individuals from God, others, and creation. 

Resources: 

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community)
• Ave Maria University website
• Kyle Washut's personal website
• Wyoming Catholic College website

Help support this podcast and Our Lady's University by joining the Annunciation Circle!

Get more information about Ave Maria University!

How can faithful Catholics understand and navigate the modern crisis of identity?

Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Angela Franks, theologian, author, and professor at Saint John’s Seminary, to talk about issues relating to identity and the "empty self." During their conversation, they also discuss related themes such as the historical roots of identity struggles and how to guide children toward their God-given identity with faith and compassion.

Resources: 

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community)
• Ave Maria University website
• Angela Franks' personal website
• Dr. Angela Franks books on Amazon