The Catholic church is reeling from its most significant sex abuse scandal for many years. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, retired Archbishop of Washington DC, has been suspended from ministry following a wave of detailed allegations that he molested seminarians. 

Damian Thompson is joined by Ed Condon

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The young atheist writer Guy Stagg threw in his job a few years ago to undertake a pilgrimage to Jerusalem via Rome - choosing a hazardous medieval route across the Alps. It nearly killed him: at one stage, trying to cross a broken bridge in Switzerland, he ended up partially submerged in the water, held up only by his rucksack. 

On this week’s Holy Smoke podcast, Guy explains why his journey was a pilgrimage, not just travels. And Damian talks to Harry Mount, editor of The Oldie, why he’s irresistibly drawn to church buildings while remaining an unbeliever - albeit an agnostic rather than an atheist.

Presented by Damian Thompson.

Produced by Connor O'Hara and Cindy Yu.

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‘Juan Carlos, that you are gay does not matter. God made you like this and loves you like this and I don’t care. The pope loves you like this. You have to be happy with who you are.'

These are the words allegedly spoken by Pope Francis to a Chilean man. He appears to have pressed the 'delete' button on the Church's teaching that homosexuality is 'intrinsically disordered'. In this Holy Smoke, Damian Thompson talks to Father Alexander Lucie-Smith, in a frank and sensitive discussion on homosexuality and the Church.

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This summer, adherents of our national quasi-religion are marking the 70th anniversary of its foundation by St Aneurin Bevan. How did a secular model of delivering health care acquire this aura of holiness? 

Dr Max Pemberton and the Spectator's Deputy Editor, Freddy Gray talk to Damian Thompson.

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With Tony Trowbridge.

Presented by Damian Thompson.

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With Ysenda Maxtone Graham, author of the Church Hesitant and regular contributor to The Spectator.

Read her article here: https://specc.ie/2q9OztD.

Presented by Damian Thompson.

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With Stephen Bullivant, Professor of Theology and the Sociology of Religion at St Mary's University.

Presented by Damian Thompson.

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With Alastair Thomas.

Presented by Damian Thompson.

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With Ed Condon.

Presented by Damian Thompson.

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With Lara Prendergast, Harry Mount and Freddy Gray.

Presented by Damian Thompson.

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