FIRE BRANDED Episode #37
Why do so many Catholics distrust the Church — and did the Church actually earn it?
In this episode, I expose the real roots of modern suspicion, media narratives, scandals, and the truth most people never investigate.
Full Description and Links
Do you trust the Catholic Church — or do you secretly scrutinize everything she says?
In this Fire Branded episode, I break down the real origins of distrust toward the Church: the sex abuse crisis, COVID lockdown controversies, media framing, historical myths, and the cultural forces that shaped modern suspicion. But here’s the question most people never ask: What does the evidence actually prove — and what are we just assuming?
Drawing from my article “Distrust of the Church and the Malady of Suspicion,” I trace how public perception, headlines, and emotional narratives can shape belief more powerfully than facts — and why that matters for your faith, your reasoning, and your understanding of authority.
Trust the Church
If you’ve ever questioned the Church, struggled with scandal, or wondered whether the institution is trustworthy, this episode will challenge your assumptions and sharpen your thinking.
👍 Like, comment, and subscribe if you want more bold Catholic commentary on faith, culture, and truth.
Links:
The Article at Stoking the Embers - https://www.stokingembers.com/p/distrust-of-the-church-and-the-malady
Also check out The Forge for Catholic Commentary that HITS
https://theforge.fm
Chapters
00:00 Why Catholics Distrust the Church (and why it matters)
03:16 From Inquisition Myths to Modern Scandals: How suspicion takes root
15:28 COVID Pandemic Failures
23:25 Clergy Scandal Bomb
28:40 Distrust Goes Deeper than the Scandal
33:58 TJ's Reaction to the Scandal
40:25 Catholic Media, Present Distrust
44:25 "We Grade the Church; Rate the Pope"
52:49 Trust the Church, Not the Outrage Machine
58:14 Live Q&A: