Gospel Simplicity Podcast

In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Barnabas Aspray, Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at St. Mary's Seminary, to discuss his recent book, On the Significance of Religion for Immigration Policy. Over the course of the topic, we touch on Christian Nationalism, Catholic Social Teaching, and why Christians today disagree on the topic of immigration. 

Read Dr. Aspray's Book for Free: https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/106156
Dr. Aspray's Article on Jesus as a Refugee: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/moth.12883
Dr. Aspray's Podcast: https://faithatthefrontiers.com/
Article on the book: https://www.regent-college.edu/resources/2025/november/on-the-significance-of-religion-for-immigration-policy.php

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In this interview I'm joined by Dr. Myles Werntz to discuss the nature of the church with special attention given to some of the significant developments in ecclesiology that occurred during the 20th century. We touch on Vatican 2, the World Council of Churches, the rise of Pentecostalism, and much more. Furthermore, we pay special attention to methodology, noticing how our methodological starting point in ecclesiology often shapes our conclusions. 

Contesting the Body of Christ: Ecclesiology's Revolutionary Century: https://amzn.to/3LLfQPs
From Isolation to Community: A Renewed Vision for Christian Life Together: https://amzn.to/3JlLToD
Dr. Werntz's Substack: https://substack.com/@myleswerntz

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In this interview, I'm joined by Colleen Dulle, Vatican Correspondent for America Magazine, to discuss how reporting on Catholic Scandals affected her faith. Over the course of the interview, we discuss the finances behind canonization, the treatment of nuns at the Vatican, and, of course, the sex abuse crisis. 

Colleen's Book: Struck Down, Not Destroyed: https://amzn.to/4nzAb7O
Inside the Vatican Podcast Episode on Canonization: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/deep-dive-how-saints-are-made-in-the-catholic-church/id1439165420?i=1000599945747

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Guest Bio: 
Colleen Dulle is a multimedia correspondent covering and analyzing Catholic and Vatican news at America Media, where she hosts and produces the weekly podcast Inside the Vatican. She served as an ABC News Correspondent during the 2025 conclave and has commentated on Vatican news for MSNBC, the BBC, and CBC among others. Colleen’s work has earned regional and national accolades from the Catholic Press Association, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Louisiana/Mississippi Associated Press Media Editors. She was three times named the Catholic Media Association Multimedia Journalist of the Year.

00:00 Life of a Vatican Correspondent 
03:45 Staying Catholic 
19:03 Divisions in the Church
25:25 The Economics of Canonization
34:04 Treatment of Nuns
46:20 Sex Abuse Crisis

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In this interview, I'm joined by Andrew Likoudis, editor of the new volume, Faith in Crisis, which deals with the ongoing questions of submission to the pope and the magisterium in the Catholic Church. We discuss when (if at all), a Catholic can disagree with the pope, and how that can be done. Along the way, we dive into questions about the death penalty, freedom of conscience, Vatican 2, and what happens with a heretical pope.

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Likoudis Legacy Foundation: https://likoudislegacy.com/

Faith in Crisis: https://amzn.to/3KY25Ng

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The Great Western Schism is one of the most fascinating and dramatic stories in the history of the church. And yet, many people have never heard of it. This is a story of saints against saints, councils against popes, and rival popes vying for power. For skeptics, it's proof the emperor has no clothes. For committed Catholics, it's a reminder that the church has been through far worse in its past than in its present. For everyone, it's a story worth knowing. 

Videos like these are some of the most difficult for me to make. If you'd like to see more, consider supporting the channel using the links below: 
Give monthly: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity    
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Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

00:00 Setting the Stage
00:53 Avignon Papacy
02:23 Returning to Rome
04:12 The Fateful Conclave
08:00 The Schism Begins
13:00 France Loses Patience
13:42 The Council of Pisa
14:32 Three Popes
15:47 Council of Constance
21:30 Benedict's Power Fades
24:03 The Clementine Line Sputters Out
24:53 What Now?

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In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. James Kelly to discuss the Catholic Reformation. We cover why "Catholic Reformation" is a better name than "Counter Reformation," the Council of Trent, the spread of Catholicism during colonialism, and the impact of the Catholic Reformation on daily life. 

Dr. James Kelly is Associate Professor in the History of Catholicism in the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University. Read his full bio: https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/james-kelly3/

The Catholic Reformation: A Very Short Introduction: https://amzn.to/4hahvK4

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00:00 What is the Catholic Reformation?
05:25 Sources of the Catholic Reformation
09:54 Relationship to Protestant Reformation
13:00 The Council of Trent
16:15 On the Ground Reality
20:58 Protestant Reaction
23:30 Spirit of the Council
27:24 Colonialism and Missions
36:39 Religious Orders
42:40 Daily Life
49:30 Was it a Success?
53:53 Reform of Superstition
57:02 Going Further

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In this interview, Dr. Joshua Sijuwade returns to the channel, but this time from a different church. About a year ago, he and I discussed his a priori argument for the papacy. This time, he's sharing what ultimately led him to change his mind on the papacy and become Orthodox. The conversation focuses on the structure of the church, and whether Catholics or Orthodox have retained the church structure of the first millennium. 

In a future episode, we may dive into the differences in the doctrine of God between the East and West. If you'd like to see that, let us know!

The Monograph: https://www.academia.edu/143947636/The_Identity_of_the_Church_A_Comprehensive_Argument_for_the_Truth_of_Eastern_Orthodoxy_Penultimate_Updated_Version

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In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Ian Christopher Levy to discuss freedom of conscience in medieval Catholic theology. We pay special attention to how this medieval theology showed up in the trial of Jan Hus, the Great Western Schism, and the condemnation of Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms. 

Dr. Ian Christopher Levy (Ph. D. Marquette University) is Professor of Historical theology at Providence College. He is a leading expert in medieval biblical exegesis, sacraments, and ecclesiology. His latest book, With a Pure Conscience: Christian Liberty before the Reformation, chronicles the development of the medieval conception freedom of conscience with special attention given to how freedom of conscience relates to church authority. 

With a Pure Conscience: https://amzn.to/3IBDTiN
Holy Scripture and the Quest for Authority at the End of the Middle Ages: https://amzn.to/4gLng0U

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00:00 - Teaser
00:59 - The Diet of Worms
04:27 - Freedom of Conscience
07:08 - Conscience and Authority
11:25 - Conscience and Papal Authority
15:51 - The Magisterium of the University
19:02 - Academic Freedom
21:01 - Luther and the University
30:57 - Differences in Medieval Views on Conscience
37:55 - Scripture and Conscience
42:30 - Perspicuity
47:03 - Jan Hus
51:53 - Conscience Then and Now

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Vatican 1 represents a pivotal moment in the life of the Catholic Church. It was there that Papal Infallibility was proclaimed as dogma, and the Christian world is still feeling the reverberations of that declaration. 

And yet, even for most well-informed Christians, this is all they know about the council. But the full story reveals much more. Yes, Vatican 1 declared papal infallibility as dogma, but it also had important things to say about faith, reason, and dogma in general. More than that though, understanding the council takes more than reading the documents--you need to peel back the layers and see the story that shaped the council. It's one where vibrant characters worked hard to push competing visions of what the church is and how it should address the problems of the modern world. 

Books mentioned: https://amzn.to/485d28W

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00:00 - Introduction
01:36 - The Crisis of Ideas
04:11 - Dei Filius
08:28 - The Political and Social Crises
11:11 - Pastor Aeternus
16:12 - The Aftermath
17:49 - Evaluation

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In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Beth Felker Jones, Professor of Theology at Northern Seminary, to discuss her recent book, Why I am Protestant, which is part of IVP's ecumenical dialogue series, including Dr. Matthew Levering's corresponding book, Why I am Roman Catholic.

Dr. Jones shares her reasons for being Protestant, including some arguments that I think will be brand new to you. If you're a Protestant who's wondering if staying Protestant is worth it, this video is for you.

Get the book: https://amzn.to/3K5IsT2
Dr. Jones' Substack: https://bethfelkerjones.substack.com/

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