Trad Catholic Visits The Progressive “Heretic Happy Hour”

Recently, I had the honor of participating in the first panel of Patheos bloggers to appear on the Heretic Happy Hour. The show—hosted by Keith Giles and Matthew Distefano—often explores faith and politics through an unapologetically progressive lens.

As a traditional Catholic (and a political conservative), I knew from the outset that my views would contrast sharply with those of the hosts. Still, any initial hesitation vanished as soon as the conversation began. Both Keith and Matthew engaged each guest with respect, curiosity, and a genuine desire to understand.

Here are some highlights from the episode and a few reflections on what we discussed.

Episode 352: What Does My Faith Say About Political Authority?

This episode tackled the question: What do different faith traditions teach about political authority?

In preparation, Patheos asked each panelist to write a brief article on the subject. My contribution, titled Religion and Political Authority: A Catholic Perspective, attempted to summarize the Church’s teaching on the origin and purpose of political authority.

Given that the Church predates the fall of the Roman Empire by nearly four centuries, explaining 2,000 years of thought in under 1,200 words was no easy task!

Christian Anthropology, St. John Paul II, & De-Emphasizing Doctrine

In this segment, I offer a very brief overview of Christian anthropology—particularly as developed by St. Pope John Paul II—and its role in shaping Catholic moral teaching.

I also noted how some American bishops have sought to downplay or “pastoralize” Church doctrine in this area, sometimes at the expense of clarity and truth.

Does the Church’s View of Human Dignity Come with a “But” for the LGBTQ Community?

In this clip, co-host Matthew Distefano questions whether the Church undermines its own teaching on human dignity by not affirming LGBTQ identities. He argues that the Church effectively says, “You have dignity—but…”

Matthew draws a comparison between sexual orientation and race, which reveals a critical misunderstanding. The Church distinguishes between ontology (who someone is) and actions (what someone does). Human dignity is rooted in our nature, not our behavior, beliefs, or social status.

The Church’s teaching is consistent: “You have dignity, but some actions are objectively sinful.” That’s not a contradiction; it’s a moral framework.

Can the Church Change Her View on Homosexual Activity?

At one point, Keith asked what would happen if the Church changed her position on homosexual activity. My response was rooted in the theology of St. Cardinal John Henry Newman, who outlined the criteria for legitimate doctrinal development.

A reversal on this issue would not be development—it would be rupture. Such a move would represent a fundamental break with centuries of consistent Church teaching. If that were to happen, the institution making the change would no longer be the Catholic Church.

Final Thoughts…

All in all, I truly enjoyed my time on Heretic Happy Hour. Venturing into the world of audio/video content is definitely outside my usual comfort zone, but I’m grateful for the opportunity.

My main goal was simple: represent the Catholic Church faithfully and clearly. If I managed to do that, then I consider the experience a success.