Catholic Theology Show

How can Catholics understand the moral life within the framework of Saint Thomas Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae? Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Fr. Romanus Cessario, a Dominican priest and the Adam Cardinal Maida Professor of Catholic Theology at Ave Maria University, to explore the moral theology presented in the second part of the Summa. They discuss how Aquinas situates moral theology between...

How can Catholics deepen their understanding of God and His creation through the lens of Saint Thomas Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae? In this episode, Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Dr. Daniel Lendman, a professor of theology and dean of students at Ave Maria University, to discuss the first part of the Summa Theologiae. They explore Aquinas’s approach to God’s existence, divine simplicity, provi...

How can Catholics approach the study of theology through the lens of Saint Thomas Aquinas? Dr. Michael Dauphinais engages with Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P., a Dominican priest and professor of theology at the Dominican House of Studies, to explore the significance of Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae . Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. also shares insights from his book, The Summa Illuminated , which aims to make Aquin...

What does it mean to evangelize through theology in a world of bad ideas about God and deepening cultural crises? To mark the third anniversary of The Catholic Theology Show, host Dr. Michael Dauphinais welcomes back his colleague and frequent guest, Dr. Roger Nutt, provost and professor of theology at Ave Maria University. Together, they reflect on the podcast's roots in St. John Paul II'...

How can Catholics engage with the mystery of God through reason and faith? Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Fr. James Brent, O.P., assistant professor of philosophy at the Dominican House of Studies. They explore how philosophy in the perennial tradition raises profound questions about God’s existence, His plan, the problem of evil, the human soul, life after death, and the pursuit of ultimat...

How does beauty guide Catholics toward God and shape their moral and spiritual lives? Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Dr. Janice Chik Breidenbach, a professor of philosophy at Ave Maria University, to explore the profound role of beauty in faith. They discuss how beauty, as seen in nature, art, and moral goodness, serves as an accessible yet demanding path to God, reflecting His creative order...

How can Catholics find meaning in suffering and grow closer to God through it? Dr. Michael Dauphinais engages with Megan Hjelmstad, author of Offer It Up: Discovering the Power and Purpose of Redemptive Suffering , to explore the theological and practical dimensions of suffering. They discuss how suffering, often an obstacle to faith, can be transformed into a path toward redemption by uniting it...

How can we find authentic identity in an increasingly digital world? Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Paul Vitz, Catholic psychologist and professor emeritus, to discuss his book, Analog Hunger in a Digital World: Confronting Today's Identity Crisis . They explore the tension between the analog experiences that ground human identity in reality and the digital world's tendency to disconnec...

How can Catholics faithfully approach the concept of miracles and prayer? Dr. Michael Dauphinais engages with Anthony DeStefano, a Catholic author with over 30 books, to explore his latest work, The Miracle Book: A Simple Guide to Asking the Impossible .  DeStefano shares practical, theologically sound steps for seeking divine intervention and reflects on his personal journey from skepticism to fa...

What caused the crisis of faith in the Catholic Church following Vatican II? Dr. Michael Dauphinais hosts Dr. Larry Chapp, a retired theology professor and founder of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker Farm, to discuss the cultural and theological turmoil of the 1960s and 1970s. Chapp shares his journey to starting the Catholic Worker Farm, inspired by Dorothy Day’s radical yet devout Catholicism, an...

How can Catholics address the perceived conflict between faith and science to strengthen belief, especially among youth? Dr. Michael Dauphinais hosts Fr. Robert Spitzer, president of the Magis Center and a leading Catholic scholar, to discuss this critical issue. They discuss Fr. Spitzer’s mission through the Magis Center, including his book Father Spitzer’s Universe: Exploring Life’s Big Question...

Why is governance essential for fostering Christian perfection and societal order? Dr. Michael Dauphinais engages with Dr. Donald Prudlo, author of Governing Perfection and Warren Chair of Catholic Studies at the University of Tulsa, to explore the necessity and value of governance in both ecclesiastical and secular contexts. They discuss how governance, rooted in the Christian tradition, balances...

How can Catholics engage with contemporary debates on sexuality and gender through a lens of faith and reason? Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Michele Schumacher, private docent at the University of Freiburg, Switzerland, and author of Metaphysics and Gender: The Normative Art of Nature and Its Human Limitations , to explore these questions. Dr. Schumacher shares her journey from questio...

How does the Catholic Church understand the unique role of Jesus Christ in salvation? Dr. Michael Dauphinais hosts Dr. Eduardo Echeverria, author of Jesus Christ: Scandal of Particularity, Vatican II, A Catholic Theology of Religion’s Justification and Truth . They explore Vatican II’s teachings, the importance of apologetics, the dangers of religious indifference, and Echeverria’s journey from ev...

How can the historical wisdom of the Habsburg dynasty guide us in modern times?  Dr. Michael Dauphinais hosts Eduard Habsburg, Archduke of Austria and author of  The Habsburg Way: Seven Rules for Turbulent Times , to explore lessons from 800 years of Habsburg history. They discuss the seven principles that shaped the dynasty, including the importance of marriage, the Catholic faith, and how these...

How can Catholics navigate the challenges of modern social interactions while staying true to their faith? Dr. Michael Dauphinais, in a talk given at the SEEK 2025 conference hosted by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, explores how to live meaningfully in a world facing social and spiritual challenges. He proposes seven practices—digital detoxing, acknowledging personal failings, int...

How does the Catholic tradition address the complex reality of war?  Dr. Michael Dauphinais hosts Dr. Joseph Capizzi, dean and professor of moral theology and ethics at the Catholic University of America, to explore just war theory. They discuss its roots in Roman and Christian thought, particularly through Augustine and Aquinas, and the role of mercy and forgiveness in fostering lasting peace. Re...

How can a Catholic scientist navigate the intersection of faith, medicine, and public health crises?   Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Robert Redfield, former CDC director and Catholic physician, to explore his journey from a scientific worldview to a deep Catholic faith, shaped by a transformative encounter with Pope John Paul II. They discuss Redfield’s work with AIDS patients, the red...

How can Catholics deepen their spiritual life through theology and contemplation?  In this episode of the Catholic Theology Show, Dr. Michael Dauphinais engages with Fr. Thomas Joseph White, O.P., Rector of the Angelicum in Rome, to discuss his book, Contemplation and the Cross: A Catholic Introduction to the Spiritual Life . The conversation addresses challenges like moral therapeutic deism and t...

What is the significance of the Jubilee Year in the Bible, and how does it relate to Jesus’s mission and the Catholic Church?  In this episode, Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Dr. John Bergsma, a Catholic theologian, author, and vice president of mission at the Saint Paul Center, to explore the biblical concept of the Jubilee Year. They discuss Bergsma’s book,  Jesus and the Jubilee: The Bibli...

How can Catholics rediscover a sense of wonder in a world that feels disconnected from meaning?  Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Kyle Washut, president of Wyoming Catholic College, to discuss the importance of recovering an enchanted view of the universe. They explore how the Catholic intellectual tradition, rooted in Scripture and the natural world, counters the modern "buffered self" t...

How can faithful Catholics understand and navigate the modern crisis of identity? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Angela Franks, theologian, author, and professor at Saint John’s Seminary, to talk about issues relating to identity and the "empty self." During their conversation, they also discuss related themes such as the historical roots of identity struggles and how to guide ch...

How can St. Thomas Aquinas help address the modern crisis of belief? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Fr. Michael Sherwin, O.P.,, a Dominican theologian and professor of theology at the Angelicum in Rome, to explore how Aquinas’ teachings can respond to contemporary challenges in faith. They discuss the nature of belief in Jesus Christ, the developmental journey of faith, and how Aquinas...

How does St. Thomas Aquinas shape a return to Catholic faith? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais talks with Dr. Francis Beckwith, author of Never Doubt Thomas: The Catholic Aquinas as Evangelical and Protestant, about his journey back to Catholicism. They discuss Aquinas’s influence, justification, and engaging evangelical perspectives.   Resources:  Annunciation Circle  (Ave Maria University Monthly G...

How can Catholics engage with Jordan Peterson’s ideas while remaining rooted in the faith? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais talks with Dr. Christopher Kaczor, Catholic philosopher, author, and Professor of Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University, about his book Jordan Peterson, God, and Christianity: The Search for a Meaningful Life . They explore how Peterson’s moral reading of scripture has spark...