And just like that, with a papal decree last week, St. Irenaeus of Lyon became the 37th “doctor of the church.” Who was Irenaeus? What was the church like when he lived, sometime during the second century? And how did interpret and defend Scripture and Christian theology in a time before the Bible as we know it and the Creed even existed? To find out, we brought on Scott Moringiello, an associate professor in the Catholic studies department at DePaul University and an expert on Irenaeus and the history of biblical exegesis. We also get into what it’s like to teach undergraduates theology, often against their will.

During Signs of the Times, we discuss the report on sex abuse in the Archdiocese of Munich, where Pope Emeritus Benedict served as bishop for four years, and Gonzaga University’s decision to revoke alumnus John Stockton’s basketball seasons tickets. Finally, we discuss the role of literature in our faith lives.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis declares St. Irenaeus a doctor of the church

Explainer: Pope Francis is naming St. Irenaeus a ‘Doctor of the Church.’ What does that mean?

“The Rhetoric of Faith: Irenaeus and the Structure of the Adversus Haereses”

Podcast: What you need to know about Pope Benedict’s record on sexual abuse

Gonzaga revokes John Stockton’s season tickets over his refusal to wear masks.

What’s on Tap:

Bourbon (for some French influence to honor Irenaeus)

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