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Crash Course Catholicism

Crash Course Catholicism

Written by: Dr Caitlin West
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 A summary of the teachings of the Catholic Church, given to you in short, easy-to-digest episodes, uploaded fortnightly. --- www.caitlinwest.comDr Caitlin West Christianity Ministry & Evangelism Spirituality
Episodes
  • 106 - St Nicholas: The Original Santa Claus

    106 - St Nicholas: The Original Santa Claus
    Dec 22 2025

    What do we know about the life of St Nicholas of Myra? What is his relationship with the modern-day Santa Claus? Should Catholics tell their children that Santa exists?


    PLEASE NOTE: This entire episode is one giant spoiler about the existence of Santa Claus. If you have small children who have not yet been disillusioned, you might want to listen to this one when they're not in the room.

    This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:

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    Contact the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠www.caitlinwest.com⁠⁠⁠

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    References and further reading/listening/viewing:

    Catholic Encyclopedia, St Nicholas of Myra

    Britannica Encyclopedia, St Nicholas

    Catholic Answers:

    Santa Claus for Catholics: Yes or No?

    The Weird History of Santa Claus

    St Nicholas of Myra, by Michael the Archimandrite

    Amber Rose, Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus? Catholic Ways to Celebrate!

    The Augustine Institute, St Nicholas and Santa Claus

    St Nicholas Center
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    23 mins
  • 105 - St. John Henry Newman

    105 - St. John Henry Newman
    Dec 8 2025
    Cardinal St John Henry Newman is a Catholic saint who lived in the nineteenth century and was canonised in 2019. In November 2025, he was officially declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIV. This is a title held by only 38 saints in the entire history of the church, and it is given to those whose writings are of benefit to the whole church. John Henry Newman was an Anglican priest and Oxford academic who converted to Catholicism and was eventually made a cardinal. He is one of the most significant Catholic figures of the nineteenth century, known for his academic brilliance and his personal holiness. In today's episode, we discuss the life of this incredible saint. This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate via PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact the podcast: ⁠⁠www.caitlinwest.com⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠References and further reading/listening/viewing:The Newman Reader - Works of John Henry NewmanSt. John Henry Newman: The Mission Prayer"Conscience", from A Letter Addressed to the Duke of Norfolk The "Biglietto Speech"Apologia Pro Vita SuaPhilip Boyce, "Newman's Reception into the Catholic church"Bishop Robert Barron:Bishop Barron Q&A on St. John Henry Newman’s Life, Theology, and BooksBishop Barron on St. John Henry Newman: Beyond the Left and the RightCelebrating St. John Henry Newman Becoming a Doctor of the ChurchDr Scott Hahn on Newman's conversionCardinal Newman's Legacy | Scott Hahn w/ Jeff MorrowSt. John Henry Newman: Meeting the Challenges of ModernityEWTN: St. John Henry Newman: From Anglican to Saint CardinalFocus: The Life and Legacy of John Henry Cardinal NewmanThe Life of Saint John Henry Newman: From Anglican Priest to Catholic SaintDiscover the life of St. John Henry Newman to-be Doctor of the Church
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    29 mins
  • 104 - Common Questions about the Bible Pt. 3

    104 - Common Questions about the Bible Pt. 3
    Nov 27 2025
    caitlinwest.comFINAL EPISODE OF THE DEEP DIVE LET'S GOOOOIn this episode, we consider common moral problems that people encounter when they read the Bible. Why does the God of the Old Testament seem so angry and cruel, while Jesus seems merciful and loving? Why does God give such harsh punishments to people in the Old Testament? Does the Bible condone things like slavery and genocide? What about all those people who do terrible things in the Bible?Basically just a few really easy simple questions that aren't at all controversial, you're welcome. This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate via PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact the podcast: ⁠www.caitlinwest.com⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠References and further reading/listening/viewing:Matthew 22:37-40Isaiah 13:92 Kings 13Joshua 11:8-9The Catechism of the Catholic Church, pts. 42, 53Trent Horn, Hard SayingsJimmy Akin, Genocide in the BibleJoe Heschmeyer, Did God Command Genocide in the Old Testament?The Bible in a Year, Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and HailCatholic Answers:The Reason for Divine WrathDoes God Have Emotions?Does the Bible Support Slavery?Pope Benedict XVI: God and the World: Believing and Living in Our TimeThe Catholic Encyclopedie, Slavery and ChristianityThomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, II.i, Q.79Fr Mike Schmitz:Did God Change?Old Testament God vs. New Testament GodPints With Aquinas, The Problem of Violence in The Old Testament? /W Trent HornBishop Robert Barron, Understanding Violence in the Old TestamentBreaking In The Habit, Why is God so Angry in the Old Testament?
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    33 mins
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