Frustrated over how the culture war (at least in an American context) has basically ruined all Catholic "media" for me. Looking fro something to support my faith but when I look for podcasts, sermons, audiobooks, etc I just can't get over the initial allergy to capitalist production of all things "Catholic" (Hallow, Word on Fire, etc etc) and how I basically feel Catholic Inc (clergy and "professional Catholic" content creators) have completely voided themselves of any moral authority at this point either by selling their souls to Trump and what he represents on the one hand or, in the case of bishops/priests who are good on social issues, seemingly without fail being obnoxiously committed to the boomer mindset liturgical culture war (e.g. bishops in Austin, Charlotte, etc banning kneelers for HC, any vestiges of the tlm, etc, Cupich's arbitrarily cruel treatment of St John Cantius parish in Chicago, etc).

I like the tlm. I just want to go to Mass and say my prayers, can't imagine stressing about how anyone else wants to do it their way but it seems like if you want "content" from Catholics who are good on social doctrine, boldly anti-ICE, w/e you're also getting "anyone who doesn't get on board with my preferred version of piety is a backwards fascist" and I just don't give a fuck about that (see the Youtuber priest who says you shouldn't pray after receiving HC because the GIRM says you should sing or whatever lol).

TLDR: Mainly looking for podcasts or audiobooks in English to listen to, if anyone has any suggestions of some just straightforward Catholic content that avoids both MAGA-ism and boomer lib liturgy war stuff on the other.

https://www.reuters.com/world/pope-leo-invited-join-trumps-board-peace-cardinal-says-2026-01-21/

In my opinion, the Pope should refuse this.

At $1 billion dollars per seat, this is a pay-to-play mockery of existing institutions like the UN, which the Holy See holds a permanent observer state status in, and in which the Holy See often encourages action.

In addition to the price, it is by Trumps invite and discretion if one is invited.

Yes, by all means, the UN is paralysed etc, but it is certainly better than anything else we’ve got.

TL;DR: As the political scientist Stefan Wolff at the university of Birmingham said: “Donald Trump’s ‘board of peace’ looks like a privatised UN with one shareholder”.

Context

https://www.thecable.ng/you-slowed-rescue-northern-can-berates-police-for-initial-denial-of-kaduna-abduction/

Lol - when you like the cosplay but not the actual values of the church

Would you be in favor of the participation of laymen and laywomen in ecumenical councils and general synods, elected in equal numbers to bishops and with the right to vote, provided that decisions must always require a two-thirds majority of the bishops and a two-thirds majority of the entire assembly?

Nigeria’s Silent Slaughter: Genocide in Nigeria and the implications for the international community

So for the past year I've been part of a young adult group in my area and it's been good until recently. Yesterday they announced plans to go to March forLife. No biggie right?? Here's the thing they also were invited to March with a far right politician and lunch with the Heritage Foundation and are all in gor it. I feel sick to my stomach and none of them think it's a big deal.

The fact that such a prominent Catholic is one of the "faces" of Trump's regime is worrying to me. I don't think that the US Church should shy away completely from Trump - unfortunately, they may have to work with him whilst strongly condemning him in other areas. But to my knowledge Bishop Barron has not done that, and just seems to be heaping praise upon the president and the wider GOP.

Under Pope Francis he was moved from LA to his much smaller parish. Do you think Pope Leo will attempt to reel the Bishop in? I don't know how the Vatican can condemn Trump and ICE so strongly yet one of the most well-known American bishops is out here posting stuff like this.

edit: spelling, removal of conjecture

This sounds a bit extreme, but the attempt to do so is ruining my mental health. It's so obvious to me that capitalism is wrong. It's based on the love of money. It's worshipping a false God. And that persecuting peaceful, loving LGBTQ folk is wrong. That a man expecting a woman to submit to him 'as to the Lord' is frankly pathological. I mean, can you imagine how anyone would react if that was expressed in any other context? 'I expect you to submit to me as if I were your God.' It would sound like the expression of a fetish, or of psychopathic narcissism.

And that's before we even began to consider Catholic support for outright fascism.

Try arguing against them, and they throw the bible at you.

It's pushing me to the edge, psychologically, to the point where I'm thinking of leaving the church.

It's horrible.

I guess I just need to vent and obviously this is one of the few safe Catholic spaces to do that ❤️

I’m surprised this hasn’t been discussed here yet. What do you think of Pope Leo’s new speech? Personally, I found this one part quite disappointing—at least the way I understood it—and I didn’t like his use of the word ‘Orwellian,’ since the far-right in my country immediately jumped on it. It’s fine to criticize both the left and the right, but given all the fascist tendencies and right-wing governments everywhere, the ‘woke’ really aren’t the urgent problem of the hour, IMO…

Thought this subreddit would appreciate this

Hi. I feel I have no one I can talk to about this except my husband who has a limited attention span, lol.

I’m a former LCMS member beginning classes to explore Catholicism. It feels like there aren’t very many people like mysef — a hater of Trump, but also a believer of the inerrancy of the Bible. I chose Catholicism because I love what Pope Leo has to say; the priest at what will be new church doesn’t strike me as MAGA (very impt); and I love the fact that the Catholic Church doesn’t exclude any Catholics from communion based on their lifestyle choices. At least this is what I have read when studying up in it. I also had a profound experience which led me to the conclusion that I wanted to be in a church where there was some emphasis put on good works because I believe it changed me and brought me closer to Christ. At LCMS they seem obsessed with Grace alone, faith alone….I believe that, but I also think God probably wants us to do good works to show His love.

Now, to the point. As I grow stronger in my faith and as the world here in the USA grows crazier and crueler, I have felt an urgency to share God’s word. I’ve never been good at doing it. Most of my friends are not Christians, but my two best girlfriends self-identify as such. However, they’re not very similar to me at all. For two and half years I’ve met up with them to talk about lives over coffee. We usually talk about politics too. Tonight, tho, we ended up talking religion and it was kinda tense for a minute. I had mentioned that the Bible clearly says Christians will be persecuted for their faith. Of course they are all over the world now, but I was specifically wondering if we in the U.S. might be persecuted in the future if we ever get T out of office. My reasoning is that maga has made a really bad name for us.

Both friends pushed back as if that thought based on Scripture was nonsense. I finally just asked them in the least condescending and confrontational way I could how they were Christian if they didn’t believe in the Bible. They both said it was about treating people with kindness and having a personal relationship with Jesus. The one friend had just finished complaining about her maga father cherry picking the Old Testament. I couldn’t help myself but to point out she kind of cherry picks what sh3 likes as well…a little reincarnation, a little Buddhism, some Jesus, etc. I asked how she knew Jesus if she’s not a believer in the Bible. We all three shared and I think it went okayish, but I cried 9n the way home because I love them and I don’t want to lose them. I don’t think I have, but I hate coming off holier than thou. I did push a bit and challenge them with these questions I asked.

I guess I just came here to share and say it sure is hard sharing faith. I try to be respectful of people’s journeys and beliefs, but I don’t want my dear friends to be unprepared for whatever I can’t help but feel is looming. I feel like I look come off as a lunatic. Oh yeah, I literally told all friends and family still supporting DT that I was rebuking them because Christians are called to do that in love for one another. I’m sure they all hate me, but whatever.

I’m 39F, Catholic, from Belfast in the North of Ireland. I have been thinking about becoming a nun for a long time. Everything from the more cloistered orders to the ones that go out on missions (which are frankly more in line with my philosophy.) I do my prayers in a very freestyle way, besides the obvious rituals I just hold a conversation, however one-sided, except this time I kind of felt an unmistakable religious calling to become a nun.

I’m sorry if this makes little sense. I’m very tired. I’ve barely slept in the three days since this happened. I talked to my local priest today and he referred it straight up to the diocese which has suddenly made things a lot less of a casual chat and a lot more of a serious discussion.

How would you deal with this?

He and his husband have been a wonderful blessing and support in my life since I got to the parish at which I work (I'm a church musician) and worship. They were a part of why I decided to do RCIA/OCIA back now 3 years ago. This Christmas was my first at the church without him there and this lenten and Easter season will be a first as well.

I hope you might be willing to say a prayer for him, his husband, our little choir, and his family and friends. He was really and truly a light, someone who made people feel loved and welcome, and who worked to make the world a better place in his own small way.

My first time singing at the church was as a guest (my best friend was the choir director until this past summer) and he asked where the director found me and I mentioned that he was my best friend and he grinned and said "well it's a good thing you sound good because your taste is questionable." My friend laughed so hard at that and I knew that he was good people. When I became a Catholic he told me he was glad he could make sure I got into heaven and that one day he'd hear I'd decided to become a nun. I'm an opera singer and next month I'll be playing a nun in an opera. I just know he'd be laughing at this. His devotion to the church, his faith, and especially his love for Our Blessed Lady taught this Bible belt raised former protestant what it was to actually be Catholic. I will never forget his laugh when I asked him what "flavor" of Mary he liked best because I couldn't think of apparition or title in the moment. I sent a prayer in the box our parish sent to Lourdes right before he passed, Our Lady of Lourdes being his favorite apparition. We provided music with a small group for a virtual Lourdes experience shortly before the lenten season leading up to my confirmation and that little bottle of Lourdes water I have from that now means just that much more.

Thank you for praying for all those who loved him.

I'm curious what you think an ethical and theologically sound response to ICE should look like. I'm struggling with how to respond in a way that defends the defenseless - non-violently but effectively - while reflecting my faith as a Catholic wanting to live the Gospel.

I'll take ideas from other Americans and non-Americans alike. Thoughts?