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Crash Course Catholicism

Crash Course Catholicism

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 Spirituality
Episodes
  • 108 - The Biblical Roots of Social Doctrine
    Feb 9 2026

    Catholic social doctrine did not suddenly appear in the nineteenth century. Its roots reach back to the very foundations of Scripture.

    In this episode, we explore the biblical vision of social life: a world shaped by justice, mercy, solidarity, and the command to love one another. From the law and the prophets to the teaching of Christ, the Bible reveals that social responsibility is not an optional extra to the Christian life. Rather, it flows directly from who God is and who we are called to become. These biblical foundations form the heart of the Church’s social teaching today.

    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 PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Contact the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.caitlinwest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    References and further reading/listening/viewing:

    ⁠The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church, Pts 1-50

    JPII, Mulieris Dignitatem

    The Catechism of the Catholic Church, pts. 1906; 2062

    Deuteronomy 15:7-8

    Leviticus 19:33-34

    John 13:34-35; 17:21-22

    Catholic Answers, Natural Law


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    32 mins
  • 107 - Introduction to Social Doctrine
    Jan 19 2026

    Happy New Year, friends! Welcome to the first episode on our next deep dive into the Social Doctrine of the Catholic church! This is an incredibly rich and important area of Catholic teaching that helps us to understand how human beings should function in societies. It covers topics such as human rights, the rights of workers, the responsibilities of employers, governments, and individuals, and the conditions necessary for human flourishing.


    In today's episode, we begin with an overview of social doctrine -- what it is and why we need it -- before summarising the history of the development of social doctrine, especially during the twentieth century.



    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 PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Contact the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.caitlinwest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    References and further reading/listening/viewing:

    The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church

    USCCB: Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching

    CBCEW

    A Summary of Catholic Social Teaching

    Fr Roger Charles, Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching

    Catholic Answers:

    20 Answers: Catholic Social Teaching

    Does Catholic Social Teaching Change?

    Are All Elements of Catholic Social Teaching Equally Important?

    Broken Bay Diocese, Pope Leo XIV reveals reason behind name choice

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    34 mins
  • 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:

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate via PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Contact the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠www.caitlinwest.com⁠⁠⁠

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    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
All stars
Most relevant
Concise, informative and draws on her own experiences- definitely will keep listening. Answered a lot of questions I had all in one episode

Really enjoyable and clear listen

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