

Creedal
Creedal
Zac Crippen discusses Catholic theology (and culture through the lens of Catholic theology) with guests from all over the world.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 3, 2019 • 1h 6min
E10 Is it *really* the Body and Blood? w/Kevin Beauchemin
Is it really the Body and Blood?
In this episode, Kevin Beauchemin and I break down the Church's teaching on the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, focusing on three main questions:
Is it in the Bible?
How can Jesus be in multiple times and places at once?
Is the dogma metaphysically sound?
We barely scratched the surface so can promise future episodes along these lines in the future, but if this piqued your interest, we recommend Brant Pitre's Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist and Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger's God is Near Us: The Eucharist, the Heart of Life. And, of course, the Summa Theologica.
We also mentioned:
Dominicana Journal
Scripture Catholic's Eucharist Page
We'd love to hear what you think of this episode!
Reach out to us: Email | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon
Other shows on the Vernacular Podcast Network:
Vernacular | Breaking Pod | The Popped Cast | The Lineup

Aug 26, 2019 • 59min
E9 Encyclicalpedia: Veritatis Splendor w/Kevin Beauchemin
Encyclicalpedia: Veritatis Splendor w/Kevin Beachemin
In this episode I sit down with my good friend Kevin Beauchemin to talk about St. John Paul the Great's 1993 encyclical Veritatis Splendor. We talk about the historical context for the document, the errors it corrects, and its central message: that God in His love and mercy has given us the freedom to draw closer to Him. We also talk about vocations to the priesthood, conscience, and mortal sin. It's a great conversation!
We'd love to hear what you think of this episode!
Reach out to us: Email | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon
Other shows on the Vernacular Podcast Network:
Vernacular | Breaking Pod | The Popped Cast | The Lineup

Aug 9, 2019 • 38min
E8 Tarantino's Theology w/ Fr. Jim Baron
Tarantino's Theology w/ Fr. Jim Baron
In this episode I sit down with my pastor, Fr. Jim Baron, to talk about one of his favorite subjects: the cinematic art of Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). We discuss the echoes of Flannery O'Connor in Tarantino's work, his characters' collisions with grace, the purpose of the violence, and whether or not Tarantino is a pre-modern or post-modern artist.
Fr. Jim mentioned this discussion by Bishop Barron about Tarantino's latest film.
We'd love to hear what you think of this episode!
Reach out to us: Email | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon
Other shows on the Vernacular Podcast Network:
Vernacular | Breaking Pod | The Popped Cast | The Lineup

Jul 31, 2019 • 47min
E7 Balthasar's "Dare We Hope?" w/Fr. Harrison Ayre
Dare We Hope?
In this episode of Creedal Catholic, I sit down with Fr. Harrison Ayre, Pastor of Holy Family/Notre Dame Parish in Port Alberni, Canada, to talk about Hans Urs von Balthasar's controversial Dare We Hope That All Men Be Saved? Fr. Harrison and I discuss the broader context of Balthasar's work, whether or not Balthasar is guilty of advocating apokatastasis (universal reconciliation), Josef Pieper's two categories of hopelessness, Balthasar as an antidote to the dual predestination of Calvinism, whether or not God created hell, and the devil as an "un-person." It's a fascinating conversation and I hope that you enjoy!
Fr. Harrison mentioned a few articles by Balthasar that I promised to links:
"Theology and Sanctity" is in this larger work (Ignatius)
The Fathers, the Scholastics, and Ourselves
Reach out to us: Email | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon
Other shows on the Vernacular Podcast Network:
Vernacular | Breaking Pod | The Popped Cast | The Lineup

Jul 25, 2019 • 32min
E6 Abandoning Atheism w/Leah Libresco Sargeant
Leaving Atheism w/Leah Libresco
In this episode of Creedal Catholic, Leah Libresco joins me to talk about her journey from Patheos atheist channel blogger to Catholic writer. We talk about Kantian ethics, Alasdair MacIntyre, Church scandals, and her latest book, Building the Benedict Option (Ignatius Press, 2018). Follow Leah's work at LeahLibresco.com.
Link: Leah's previous conversation on Vernacular (Transcript)
Feedback: creedalcatholic@vernacularpodcast.com.
Please consider supporting Creedal Catholic on Patreon!
Copyright 2019 by Vernacular Podcast Network

Jul 16, 2019 • 52min
E5 Mythbusters: Seminary Edition w/ Matt Kane
Mythbusters: Seminary Edition w/ Matt Kane
Seventh-year seminarian Matt Kane (Diocese of Colorado Springs) joins me to talk about his journey to the priesthood, his personal experience of receiving a call to ordination, and vocational discernment, before busting some prevalent myths about seminary life. (Do seminarians just study the Bible all the time? Are seminaries anti-science? Do the students wander around muttering in Latin?!) We also talk about the empty world of Sam Harris, and Matt reflects on what it's like to be pursuing a vocation in a Church, marred by the wounds of scandal, and why he's more excited than ever to be a priest who can help rebuild.
Let me know what you think of this episode: creedalcatholic@vernacularpodcast.com. Please also consider leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!
You can support the mission of the Vernacular Podcast Network at patreon.com/vpn.

Jul 8, 2019 • 56min
E4 Preaching, Bishops, and Staying Catholic w/Meg Hunter-Kilmer
Preaching, Bishops, and Staying Catholic w/Meg Hunter-Kilmer
Meg Hunter-Kilmer, the "Hobo for Christ" (piercedhands.com), joins me to talk about how Catholics can encourage their priests to be better at preaching, the importance of storytelling in the Gospels, scandal in the Church, the failures of bishops, why she's still so excited to be Catholic, six books every Catholic should read, and the incredible story of Blessed Peter Kibe.
The books Meg mentions:
The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ by St. Alphonsus Liguori
On Being Catholic by Thomas Howard
To Know Christ Jesus by Frank Sheed
Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist by Brant Pitre
Modern Saints, Vol. 1 by Ann Ball
Modern Saints, Vol. 2 by Ann Ball
You can follow Meg on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!
Please consider supporting Creedal Catholic on Patreon!
Copyright 2019 by Vernacular Podcast Network

Jun 3, 2019 • 45min
E3 Book Club: "A Map of Life" by Frank Sheed
Book Club: Frank Sheed's Map of Life
I'm recording from a mobile mic on my office floor this week, so thanks for your understanding on the sound quality!
In today's inaugural Book Club episode for Creedal Catholic, we're taking a look at Frank Sheed's A Map of Life: A Simple Study of the Catholic Faith.
I summarize each of the book's main chapters, which together articulate a coherent and cogent summary of the faith that is great for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. The end result: Frank Sheed's A Map of Life earns the coveted "Four Thomases" ranking. It's a great work and definitely worth an add to your bookshelf.
Mentioned on the podcast:
The Athanasian Creed
The Vernacular Podcast Network
Vernacular Podcast
The Popped Cast
Breaking Pod
Support Creedal by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/creedalcatholic

May 23, 2019 • 56min
E2 Reasons to Believe, Pt. 2 (Soteriology, Purgatory, and more)
Reasons to Believe, Pt. 2
In this episode, I finish the summary of why I became Catholic, explaining Catholic views on soteriology and how they differ from key Protestant perspectives, articulating the necessity of purgatory, and talking through some key objections to transubstantiation.
Stay tuned for more great content on The Creedal Catholic podcast feed!
Questions? Comments? Reach out at creedalcatholic@vernacularpodcast.com
And be sure to check out all of the great shows on the Vernacular Podcast Network!
Support Creedal by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/creedalcatholic

May 23, 2019 • 1h 1min
E1 Reasons to Believe, Pt. 1 (Scripture and Ecclesiology)
Reasons to Believe, Pt. 1
In this first installment of Creedal Catholic, I (Zac Crippen) talk to the listeners about my choice to join the Catholic Church four years ago, and why it's the greatest decision I ever made.
This episode focuses on the reasons for my journey from confessional Protestantism (Anglicanism) to Catholicism, with a focus on Scripture and Ecclesiology. Part 2 discusses soteriology and some of the especially "tricky" doctrines for Protestants--purgatory, Mary, transubstantiation, and more.
Stay tuned for more great content on The Creedal Catholic podcast feed!
Questions? Comments? Reach out at creedalcatholic@vernacularpodcast.com
And be sure to check out all of the great shows on the Vernacular Podcast Network!
Support Creedal by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/creedalcatholic