Sed Contra: A Podcast of Catholic Theology

About

A podcast featuring some of the founding members of The Sacra Doctrina Project discussing theological questions with other academic theologians and philosophers. The podcast takes place in a quaestiones disputatae style, encouraging lively and charitable debate. Listen to the most recent episode below.

Episodes

• Quodlibet 26: Do All Dogs Go to Heaven? 2026-05-20

  Is it possible for animals to go to heaven? Is chewing gum for pleasure a sin? Do habitual grave sins count as mortal sin? Join us for these questions and more!

• Aquinas, the Bible, and the Fathers 2026-05-05

  Fr. Ambrose Dobrozsi, Dr. Kevin Clarke, and Dr. Jane Peters discuss an overlooked work of St. Thomas Aquinas: His Catena Aurea . This commentary on the Gospels is a "golden chain" of patristic citations worked into a single commentary on t…

• Quodlibet 25: Does God Know the Taste of Orange Chicken? 2026-04-30

  Does God know what Panda Express Orange Chicken tastes like? Does changing a baby's diaper during consecration mean that you have not fulfilled your Sunday obligation? Why have recent popes seemed to condemn war so often? Does Catholicism…

• Quodlibet 24: Is Chewing Gum Contrary to Nature? 2026-04-16

  Podcast on Maritain, De Koninck, and personalism with Drs. O'Neill and Matthew Minerd.

• Divine Mercy and Indulgences 2026-04-11

  Is there a special promise on Divine Mercy Sunday that you can get remission of the temporal punishment due to sin without the typical requirements for an indulgence? Fr. Ambrose Dobrozsi and Fr. Dylan Schrader dig into this question and d…

• Can one be saved apart from or outside the Church? 2026-04-08

  It would be an understatement to say that the teaching of the Church that extra Ecclesia nulla salus is controversial. Especially in the 19th and 20th centuries, whether or not non-Catholics could be saved was hotly debated. To address thi…

• Quodlibet 23: Are There Any Good Arguments for Sedevacantism? 2026-04-02

  Are there any good arguments for sedevacantism? Why is fasting so important, and how does it relate to the gift of final perseverance? How can you encourage your husband to take a more active interest in the Faith? How do we overcome sloth…

• Quodlibet 22: Why Isn't the Washing of Feet a Sacrament? 2026-03-19

  Why isn't the ritual of pedelavium or foot washing considered a sacrament? Could the Church discover a new sacrament? What is the best method for interpreting Scripture today? Does the historical-critical method have a place? Join us for t…

• Quodlibet 21: Are Magnanimity and Humility Opposed? 2026-03-05

  Are magnanimity and humility opposed? Can you be both? How would it be just for a soul that dies only with original sin to be damned? Does St. Thomas make a distinction between intellect and mind? Join us for these questions and more!

• Does Changing Liturgy Change the Faith? 2026-03-05

  When the liturgy changes, does the faith and theology also change? Can one use the texts of the liturgy as an authoritative source for theology? These questions have been points of argument across the entire history of the Church. Fr. Ambr…

• Quodlibet 20: Should the Church Promote Only One Theological School? 2026-02-19

  Why doesn't the Church promote only one theological school as the most accurate? How do we reconcile what we know now about animal intelligence with a Thomistic understanding of the soul? What is your favorite work of non-fiction? Join us…

• Quodlibet 19: Are Arguments from Authority the Strongest? 2026-02-05

  Are arguments from authority the strongest in theology? Is it possible that humans exist without an eternal soul? Join us for these questions and more!

• Quodlibet 18: Are there Male and Female Souls? 2025-12-08

  Are there male and female souls? What is distributism, and does it align with Catholic social teaching? A la Monty Python, which country's historical philosophers would field the best soccer team? All that and more on this episode of The Q…

• Is Ratzinger Right? Theology and History IV 2025-12-01

  This final episode in the Theology and History series dives into the works of Pope Benedict XVI. Dr. Joey Belleza, Fr. Ambrose Dobrozsi, and special guest Fr. Harrison Ayre talk Ratzinger's habilitation, "The Theology of History in St. Bon…

• Quodlibets 17 : How did St. Michael and Lucifer Duke it Out? 2025-11-21

  How exactly did St. Michael and Lucifer duke it out? Does God have emotions? Join us for these questions and more!

• The Dies Irae and Christian Hope 2025-11-03

  In the liturgical reforms following Vatican II, the decision was made to remove the beloved Dies Irae from the requiem Mass. Fr. Ambrose Dobrozsi and Dr. Joey Belleza discuss the rationale behind this decision and evaluate it in light of t…

• Thinking About the Virtue of Faith with St Thomas Part II 2025-10-27

  The first of a two part series on faith, this episode dives into the question: what is faith, in conversation with St. Thomas Aquinas? Part I: https://sed-contra-a-podcast-of-catholic-theology.simplecast.com/episodes/thinking-about-the-vir…

• Theology and History III 2025-10-13

  The third in our series on theology and history, this episode discusses what theology has to say about history. Fr. Ambrose, Dr. Timothy Kearns, and Dr. Kevin Clarke join up to talk about the history of history and what theology can contri…

• Thinking About the Virtue of Faith with St Thomas Part I 2025-09-30

  The first of a two part series on faith, this episode dives into the question: what is faith, in conversation with St. Thomas Aquinas? Part 2: https://sed-contra-a-podcast-of-catholic-theology.simplecast.com/episodes/thinking-about-the-vir…

• Theology and History II 2025-09-01

  The second episode in our series on theology and history, this discussion delves more deeply into the question of what theology and history are. Is there room for the particulars and accidents of history in a rigorously defined theology? F…

• The Theology of Fr. Peter Damian Fehlner 2025-08-04

  This episode gives an introduction to the life and work of Fr. Peter Damian Fehlner. Dr Joey Belleza, Dr Matthew Minerd, and Fr. Charles Robinson of the Sacra Doctrina Project interview Dr. Jared Goff, the publisher of the recent edition o…

• Theology and History I 2025-07-16

  Fr. Ambrose Dobrozsi, Dr. Joey Belleza, and Dr. Timothy Kearns kick off a multi-part series on theology and history. This first episode looks at the ways in which historical study is necessary and useful for theology, while avoiding the pi…

• Corpus Christi 2025-06-02

  Today on Sed Contra , the Sacra Doctrina Project's Joey Belleza is joined by Alexander Masir, for a discussion of the solemnity of Corpus Christi. Be sure to follow the Sacra Doctrina Project on Facebook and Twitter as well. Music attribut…

• What the Meaning of the Word 'Is' Is 2025-05-05

  Today on Sed Contra , the Sacra Doctrina Project's Elliot Polsky and Urban Hannon discuss three medieval theories of the meaning of the word "is," and what difference this makes to contemporary discussions of "esse." Be sure to follow the…

• Why Should I Care About St. Bonaventure 2025-04-07

  Today on Sed Contra , the Sacra Doctrina Project's Joey Belleza is joined by Fr. Clinton Sensat, of the Diocese of Lafayette, for a discussion on St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio. Be sure to follow the Sacra Doctrina Project on Facebook and T…

• The Modern Turn to the Subject 2025-03-10

  Today on Sed Contra , SDP members Fr. Ambrose Dobrozsi, Elliot Polsky, and Pater Edmund Waldstein discuss the modern turn to the subject, as well as its various philosophical, cultural, and religious implications. Be sure to follow the Sac…

• Can Gender Change? 2025-01-20

  Today on Sed Contra , SDP members Fr. Ambrose Dobrozsi, Daniel Drain, and Kara Johnson discuss gender and sex. They consider these in the light of the Catholic theological tradition, with special attention to St. Thomas Aquinas and Pope Fr…

• God's Happiness 2024-11-06

  Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

• Disputed Question on Frozen Embryo Adoption 2024-08-16

  Links: Donum vitae https://www.vatican.va/roman\_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc\_con\_cfaith\_doc\_19870222\_respect-for-human-life\_en.html Dignitas personae https://www.vatican.va/roman\_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc\_…

• Aliens and Soteriology 2024-07-18

  Rev. Dr. Davison's recent book: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/astrobiology-and-christian-doctrine/3F96E8C3EEA3B1C8832155BF261D4D31 Link to Rev. Dr. Davison's chart from his book: https://www.sacradoctrinaproject.org/july-2024-alien-…

• The Most Holy Eucharist and Transubstantiation 2024-05-16

  Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

• Why Should I Care About Balthasar 2024-04-18

  Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

• The Quest for the Historical St. Thomas Aquinas 2024-03-07

  Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

• The Life and Work of Bl. Columba Marmion, OSB 2024-01-11

  Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

• Maximus the Confessor and Why Catholics Should Care about Him 2023-12-14

  Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

• NFP and the Supposed Contraceptive Mentality 2023-11-14

  Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

• Differences in Eucharistic Piety Among Roman and Byzantine Catholics 2023-10-12

  Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

• Artificial Intelligence 2023-09-15

  The Nightmare Videos of Children's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9EKV2nSU8w Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution…

• Laudato si' 2023-08-17

  Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

• Veritatis Splendor at 30 2023-07-20

  Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

• Further Musings on Universalism 2023-07-01

  Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

• The Ascension 2023-05-12

  Thomas Davenport, OP, "Locating Heaven: Modern Science and the Place of Christ's Glorified Body," Nova et Vetera 20, no. 1 (Winter 2023): 93–114: https://stpaulcenter.com/05-nv-21-1-davenport/ Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concert…

• Intrinsic Evils 2023-03-10

  Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

• Gaven Kerr on the Fifth Way 2023-02-10

  Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

• Tribute to Joseph Ratzinger / Benedict XVI 2023-01-04

  Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

• 2022 Movie Draft 2022-12-27

  Taylor Patrick O'Neill: Christmas: Home Alone Family Drama: There Will Be Blood Psychological Thriller: The Conversation Foreign Language: The Seventh Seal Catholic: Children of Men 2022: The Batman Fr. Dylan Schrader: Christmas: Ben Hur (…

• Divine Impassibility 2022-12-10

  Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

• Why Can't Christ Be a Human Person? 2022-11-10

  Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

• Chalcedonian Christology and the Concept of Pure Nature 2022-10-10

  Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

• Grace and the City: Infused Moral Virtues and Common Goods 2022-09-10

  Music attribution: "Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3, 3 allegro" by Advent Chamber Orchestra. Acquired here . Edited for length. Used under Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.