In this episode of The Open Door, panelists Thomas Storck, Andrew Sorokowski, and Christopher Zehnder interview Dr. Virginia Arbery & George Hawley on a book co-edited by Pieter Vree and Thomas Storck entitled Catholics and the American Polity: Approaches & Contestations.

"Anti-Catholicism is one of the distinguishing marks of American history. Today, as the Church's institutional influence wanes, anti-Catholicism is once again surging. Yet Catholics mustn't retreat from civic engagement, for the Catechism says that 'intervening directly' in the 'political structuring and organization of social life' is our 'vocation.' How are we to accomplish this? Three theories have gained prominence: integralism, regime change, and the 'Benedict Option.' In this book, twenty-five thinkers grapple with the questions of whether Catholics have a 'place at the table' of American public life and how we might fulfill our vocation vis-à-vis the structuring and organization of the same." -PIETER VREE 

"What is America-a nation, a proposition, an experiment? And if a proposition or an experiment, how does America relate to the Church's own robust tradition of political thought? Is it something that a Catholic can or ought to make his peace with? This timely collection of essays highlights a range of opinion, from enthusiastic acceptance of a propositional Americanism to an equally strong rejection of such. Catholics who have not closely examined the philosophical or theological roots of American tradition or the implications of our own Church's thought, will find in this volume more than one helpful starting point for their own pondering on what it means to be both Catholic and American in the twenty-first century." -THOMAS STORCK 

Contributors Virginia L. Arbey - Casey Chalk - Will Hoyt - George Hawley - Kan Ito - A. James McAdamsPreston R. Simpson - Mark Barrett - Charles A. Coulombe - Christopher BeitingKarl Keating - Gracjan Kraszewski - Jude Russo - Marek Jan Chodakiewicz - Christopher ZehnderJohn M. Grondelski - James G. Hanink - Edmund Waldstein, O.Cist. - Thomas Storck - Edwin DygaRobert McTeigue, S.J. - Jason M. Morgan - Thaddeus Kozinski - John C. Médaille - Al Kresta 

https://www.amazon.com/Catholics-American-Polity-Approaches-Contestations/dp/1998492583/

In this episode of The Open Door, panelists Thomas Storck, Andrew Sorokowski, and Christopher Zehnder interview Felix Corley on his book Catholicos and Commissar: The Armenian Church under the Soviet Regime (October29, 2025)

Part of a two-volume set, this volume explores the history of the Armenian Apostolic Church under Soviet rule. Initially flourishing across the Russian Empire, the Church briefly enjoyed greater religious freedom after the February 1917 revolution. However, the Bolshevik regime imposed severe restrictions after October 1917: churches were seized, clergy were taxed and jailed, religious education was banned, and international ties were severed. By 1938, Stalin's purges had devastated the Church, culminating in the murder of Catholicos Khoren and the closure of almost all churches.

Despite this, a partial revival occurred after World War II. In 1945, Stalin permitted the election of a new Church leader, Catholicos Gevorg, who supported Soviet territorial claims and repatriation efforts. Although minimal, the Church's presence in the South Caucasus and southern Russia was gradually restored.

The book is based on extensive archival research, memoirs, and interviews, offering a vivid account of how the Church and its followers struggled to maintain faith under an oppressive regime.

Volume 2 continues the history of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the Soviet Union, focusing on the leadership of Catholicos Vazgen I, who served from 1955 until 1994-the longest tenure of any religious leader in the USSR. Chosen by the KGB after a lack of suitable Soviet-based candidates, Vazgen publicly supported the Soviet regime but worked quietly to strengthen the Church's presence at home and abroad. The Church's seminary at Echmiadzin grew, and diaspora ties were cautiously encouraged, though most parishes remained isolated.

Despite the appearance of normalcy, the Church operated under heavy restrictions. Major decisions were often made by the state, and KGB agents were placed among the clergy. The harsh anti-religious campaigns of the Khrushchev era forced the closure of many churches. After Khrushchev's fall, restrictions eased somewhat, but the Church remained passive, neither resisting nor expanding.

Major change came under Gorbachev's reforms in the late 1980s. Long-suppressed Armenian national aspirations, especially around Nagorno-Karabakh, erupted, followed by the 1988 earthquake. The Church responded with new community efforts. Though initially cautious about independence, Catholicos Vazgen eventually played a key role in legitimising the new Armenian state and reaffirming the Church's place as its official religion.

Like Volume One, this book draws from extensive archival research, memoirs, and interviews to tell the story of how the Armenian Church and its followers navigated Soviet repression and shifting political landscapes.

In this episode of The Open Door, panelists Thomas Storck, Andrew Sorokowski, and Christopher Zehnder talk with Matteo Mazzariol on Distributism (October 8, 2025)

For a copy of the flyer for the 1st international course on distributism, see https://wcatradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/1st-International-Course-on-Distributism.pdf

WCAT TV is an en air wing of En Route Books and Media working with WCAT Radio to share the joys of the Catholic faith. To support the station, please visit our Patreon account at https://www.patreon.com/wcatradio

In this episode of The Open Door, panelists Thomas Storck and Christopher Zehnder speak with Fr. Maxim Morariu, a prominent Romanian Orthodox theologian, cleric, scholar, and cultural figure, holding multiple doctorates and actively contributing to theological research, literature, and pastoral work in Romania and the diaspora.

In this episode of The Open Door, panelists Thomas Storck and Christopher Zehnder interview Karl Schmude, President of the Australian Chesterton Society.

Among the questions they ask are the following:

1. Australia is I think the most recent major country of European culture to be established, i.e., in the late 18th century, after a century and more of secularization in Europe, and then for a time was treated as a British prison colony. In what ways does this make Australia different from other parts of the Western cultural world? Is it proper to speak of an Australian tradition given that it was settled at the end of the European Enlightenment?
2. Has the significant numbers of immigrants - as you noted, from Italy, Malta, Poland, Lebanon, affected the originally British character of Australian culture? And has the more recent immigration affected this? In particular, has there been significant immigration from countries without any Christian cultural tradition and if so, what effect has this had?
3. I have read about the Campion Society of the 1930s, and I was very impressed by their attempt to develop Catholic intellectual, social and cultural life - an effort that I don't know had any equivalent elsewhere. Yet in the end it was not successful? Why was that?
4. One gets the impression of an increasing hostile secularist culture in Australia, e.g., the conviction of Cardinal Pell for a crime that seemingly he could not possibly have actually committed, or the Conversion Practices Ban Acts of 2024. Can you comment on such trends and the response of Catholics or other Christians. (In the U.S. Evangelical Protestants still form a powerful political and cultural bloc. Is this the case in Australia?)
5. Can you tell us something about Campion College and why it was founded? Does it attempt to carry on the work originally begun by the Campion Society in the 1930s?
6. In addition to Campion College, there are several other Catholic higher educational institutions, are there not? How would you describe these? Are any of them authentically Catholic?
7. In what ways is the task of both retaining Catholics and evangelizing different in Australia from other parts of the Catholic world?

In this episode of The Open Door, panelists Thomas Storck, Christopher Zehnder, and Andrew Sorokowski interview Dann Aungst on his Facilitator Guide entitled Winning the Battle for Sexual Purity, designed to run small groups utilizing the Winning the Battle book by Road to Purity.

https://www.amazon.com/Winning-battle-sexual-purity-Facilitator/dp/B0F5NQQB4F/

Questions asked:

1. Can you tell our viewers and listeners what is the basic thesis of your book, Winning the Battle? 
2. Holy Scripture provides more than sufficient evidence that men have lusted toward women since recorded history. In the past this was seen solely as a moral problem. Granted that lust when consented to is a mortal sin and to be avoided by the usual means of avoiding sin, why do you see psychological factors as looming so large in considerations of this sin?
3. Do you think that in the past the psychological aspect, i.e. addiction, has not been recognized or emphasized enough?
4. When counseling those addicted to pornography do you emphasize the moral or the psychological aspects more?
5. What psychological or spiritual approach do you take?
6. I once read a distinction between pornography use as something when, for whatever reason, a man is unable to have access to a real woman, versus pornography use as a preferred substitute for a real woman. Do you think that that the latter is more common today than in the past? If so, what do you see as the reasons for that?
7. The reported increase in pornography addiction is roughly in tandem with the reported "male crisis" of boys and young men who feel disoriented, demoralized, and unsure of their social roles. This, in turn, is allegedly a byproduct of contemporary feminism, with many women taking on dominant male roles in work and family.
8. Do you think these three developments are connected? If so, does your approach to porn addiction take the "male crisis" and modern feminism into account?
9. Supposedly one positive result of feminism has been that it is no longer socially acceptable for men to regard women as "objects" of lust; rather, they should see them as fellow human beings whom they should treat with respect, friendship and love. But given the (unintended?) effects of feminism on men, do you see this as paradoxical?
10. Your book is evidently addressed to committed Catholics, who are open to a religious approach to the problem of pornography addiction. But many Catholics today would regard this as a problem that the Church is not qualified to deal with, because it is led by celibate men with insufficient experience and understanding of sex; instead, they would consult with secular psychologists. How would you respond to this objection?
11. For people addicted to pornography, can you give us a couple of examples in the book's daily action plan that people can do today to help stop the habit?
12. How does your book, Winning the Battle help any addiction habit, whether it be alcoholism, sexual impurity, or drugs, fall away on its own?
13. Where can people go to purchase Winning the Battle, along with Holy Hours, and other helpful prayerful resources

In this episode of The Open Door, panelists Thomas Storck, Andrew Sorokowski, and Christopher Zehnder talk with Neal Flesher about his book Modern Chains: The Invisible Shackles of Economic Slavery.

Modern Chains examines a truth we have been conditioned to ignore: our financial system functions as a silent mechanism of enslavement. Drawing on centuries of history, philosophy, and moral reasoning, author Neal Flesher reveals how our fiat monetary order corrodes human dignity and fractures communities. This book delivers a powerful appeal to moral clarity. By exposing the architecture of fractional reserve banking, revealing the invalid logic of debt-based money, demolishing the justifications for “acceptable” inflation, and unveiling the soul-siphoning nature of usury, Flesher maps out the moral imperative to resist with logical rigor and resounding rhetorical force. Yet Modern Chains does not dwell in gloom. It presents practical tools for liberation in the form of a revolutionary monetary alternative: one requiring no trust in political promises or corporate benevolence. If you have ever sensed something deeply wrong beneath everyday economic life, this book’s philosophical depth and practical guidance may be your key to shaking off those invisible chains.

https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/modernchains/

In this episode of The Open Door, Thomas Storck, Andrew Sorokowski, and Christopher Zehnder interview Matthew Tsakanikas on his book A Catechesis on Deification, Transfiguration & the Luminous Mysteries.

This book is a catechetical exploration of Christian deification, deeply rooted in the theological insights of Saint Athanasius and other Church Fathers. The work connects the mysteries of the Rosary with the transformative grace offered through Christ, focusing particularly on the Luminous Mysteries as a lens for understanding humanity’s participation in the divine life. Central to the book is the concept of deification, described as the process by which humans become “partakers in the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4).

Dr. Matthew A. Tsakanikas emphasizes that deification does not imply losing one’s humanity but rather elevating it through grace, living in God’s will, and growing in love and virtue. Drawing on biblical passages, he demonstrates how the Incarnation, Passion, and Resurrection of Christ make this elevation possible.

The book revisits key moments in salvation history, such as the Transfiguration, where Jesus revealed the glory of divine light to his disciples, and the Eucharist’s institution, portraying these events as glimpses of the divine kingdom. Tsakanikas also explores discipleship in Mary, the Rosary’s role in cultivating divine intimacy, and the unity of Scripture’s Old and New Testaments.

Through theological reflection and practical devotion, Tsakanikas invites readers to embrace their divine calling, entering into Christ’s transformative love.

 https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/deification/

In this episode of The Open Door, panelists Thomas Storck, Christopher Zehnder, and Andrew Sorokowski interview Carlo Lancellotti, author of Touchstone article entitled "America vs. Europe: Two Roads to Totalitarianism" (June 4, 2025)

Questions asked:

1. In your article you argue that although Europe was ahead of the US in terms of "overt" secularization, American "cultural de-Christianization" actually preceded Europe's. Could you explain for our listeners and viewers what you mean by these two types of secularization?

2. If this understanding is correct, does it argue a rather superficial view on the part of American Christians as to what it means to have a Christianized society or nation? That Americans have long regarded themselves as religious merely on the basis of certain limited areas of external behavior while our intellectual and cultural life has been dominated by "a scientistic, utilitarian, individualistic, and materialistic worldview"?

3. It is a commonplace that American society has been individualistic. Would you say that this is both a cause and a result of the fact that Americans have a very weak concept of culture and the effect of culture on individual persons, and that hence we have viewed religion as simply a private affair? And if that related to the variety of religious groups in the U.S. and its generally Protestant cultural tone?

4. You refer to a discussion in the 1990s between Fr. Richard John Neuhaus and David L. Schindler, in which the former called for a revival of a "Puritan-Lockean synthesis" in the US, while the latter argued that the American "dualism" of faith versus reason had led to a separation of religion from knowledge, and thus to secularization. Would you say that Schindler's view has been vindicated by events since the 1990s?

5. You cite the Italian philosopher Augusto Del Noce regarding scientism and "politicism," and the relation between secularism and totalitarianism. Could you comment on Del Noce's views on these topics and generally on his importance for understanding modernity?

6. When thinking about "politicism," do we need to distinguish between modern and classical understandings of what we mean by the political? For example, you wrote "I believe we must call totalitarian any worldview that affirms the supremacy of politics above all aspects of social life and absorbs into politics all other forms of culture, like education, science, religion, art, and so on." Now in his Ethics (Bk. I, 2) Aristotle wrote, "If, then, there is some end of the things we do, which we desire for its own sake...clearly this must be the good and the chief good.... It would seem to belong to the most authoritative art and that which is most truly the master art. And politics appears to be of this nature; for it is this that ordains which of the sciences should be studied in a state, and which each class of citizens should learn and up to what point they should learn them; and we see even the most highly esteemed of capacities to fall under this, e.g. strategy, economics, rhetoric..." So are moderns and Aristotle speaking about the same thing? Or is there a hidden totalitarianism in Aristotle?

7. You end on a somewhat positive note, arguing that secular modernity is destroying the very institutions upon which is depends, and yet is unable to preserve, and that Christians can feel this void by "showing them in concrete ways (in education, at work, in the family, even in politics) that faith not only connects us with God, but also makes us able to address more intelligently the human needs we have in common with everybody." As far as you can see, have we begun to do anything effective along these lines? Do you have any specific ideas of how we might implement such a proposal?

In this episode of The Open Door, panelists Thomas Storck, Andrew Sorokowski, and Christopher Zehnder discuss religion in the United States. (May 14, 2025)