On today's episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Kyle Kopy and Trey Brock talk about what can and what can't happen with the Vatican's upcoming Synod on Synodality.

Father Eduard Perrone is pastor at Assumption Grotto in Detroit. After a false allegation of sexual abuse, he was removed from active ministry. On Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, Fr. Perrone said a public Mass at Assumption Grotto — his first time offering Sunday Mass there in four years. In this episode of The Download, hosts Simon Rafe, Christine Niles and Kyle Kopy discuss the backstory of what happened to Fr. Perrone.

In a recent article, Church Militant's National Resistance Coordinator Alex Karzon encouraged readers to contact the Church of St. Pius X in Scarsdale, New York to voice concern about Fr. Martin's pro-LGBT messaging. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Kyle Kopy and Trey Brock talk with Alex about the problems with Fr. Martin and the course of action for ordinary Catholics to push back.

In recent in-flight remarks, Pope Francis spoke briefly about Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881–1955), a Jesuit priest and author. Trained as a paleontologist, de Chardin blended spiritual matters with the idea of evolution, often describing creation as evolving toward unity with God. Church officials repeatedly spoke out against his ideas and writings. Many believe he was a racist, owing to a slew of comments he made in his writings over the course of his life. In this episode of The Download, hosts Simon Rafe, Trey Brock and Bradley Eli discuss the troublesome writings and legacy of Fr. de Chardin.

On today's episode of The Download, Simon Rafe, Christine Niles and Bradley Eli discuss how unborn children with Down syndrome are being slaughtered.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Simon Rafe and David Gordon discuss the life of St. John Eudes, laity's role in the Church and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

On today's episode of The Download, Brad Eli, Christine Niles and Trey Brock discuss the death and legacy of retired Albany prelate Bp. Howard Hubbard.

Actress Riley Keough, the granddaughter of Elvis Presley, spoke glowingly of the surrogacy process in a recent interview with Vanity Fair. In this episode of The Download, hosts Simon Rafe, Kyle Kopy and Rodney Pelletier speak about the slew of moral problems with surrogacy, sperm donation and in vitro fertilization.

Classical education is a trendy topic nowadays as classical schools are cropping up around the country. Catholic schools, charter schools, homeschooling programs and more are each offering their own version of this old-fashioned approach to the liberal arts. What is a classical education? Why are Catholics interested in this approach to learning? In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Simon Rafe, Rodney Pelletier and David Gordon lay out the basics of classical learning. They also discuss the importance of studying great books and the usefulness of Latin.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan recently argued in favor of having fewer Catholic seminaries in the United States. His reasoning was, in brief, that consolidating resources would improve the quality of seminary formation. In today's episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Christine Niles and Trey Brock talk with reporter Dr. William Mahoney about Cdl. Dolan's perspective. They also explain the general problems with priestly formation today — including homosexual predation at seminaries — and spitball potential solutions.

Today, Aug. 14, is the Feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe. It is also the eve of the Assumption — a feast celebrating how the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken up, body and soul, into Heaven. In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Kyle Kopy and Trey Brock discuss incredible stories from the life of St. Maximilian Kolbe, as well as some key takeaways from his writings on the Immaculate Conception. They also talk about tomorrow's Feast of the Assumption.

On this episode of The Download Brad Eli, Christine Niles and Kyle Kopy delve into the rift between Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach, prioress of the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington, Texas, and Bp. Michael Olson.

Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, Australia, recently came out in support of allowing married men from Aboriginal communities to become Catholic priests in the Roman rite — making an exception to the long-standing traditional discipline of priestly celibacy. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Simon Rafe and Trey Brock discuss how Abp. Coleridge's comments could be seen as condescending toward people of indigenous descent. They also make some theological and practical arguments in defense of priestly celibacy.

Church Militant and other Catholic groups formed the Deposit of Faith Coalition earlier this summer to highlight the anti-American agenda of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The coalition wants the bishops' conference to be stripped of its taxpayer funding and tax-exempt status. Loss of that status would lead to greater financial transparency. In this episode of The Download, hosts Simon Rafe, Christine Niles and Bradley Eli give a roundup of the media coverage before, during and after the coalition's press conference in the nation's capital. ‘Defund the Bishops’ press conference USCCB prayer rally  Video Interviews Bannon War Room interview Real America’s Voice, The War Room The American Journal interview InfoWars Weekly Briefing With John Hines interview One America News Network Truth Express Radio interview Truth Express Radio (BBS Radio) The Voice of Reason with Andy Hooser interview The Hooser Media Network Liberty RoundTable interview Liberty RoundTable Caravan to Midnight interview Caravan to Midnight Tom Wallace interview Fortress of Faith Bill Martinez interview Bill Martinez Show full interview Bill Martinez Show Articles The Epoch Times – Conservative Christian Coalition The Epoch Times – In-Depth Bishops Article  The Epoch Times PJ Media – Communist or Christian? PJ Media Religion News Service – Right Wing Attack Religion News Service Media Research Center – Bishops Aid Human Smugglers Media Research Center – USCCB and Guns Media Research Center – Bishops and Marxism Media Research Center The Stream – The Bishops and Immigration The Stream

Yesterday, Ohio voters rejected Issue 1 — a measure that would have made it harder to pass constitutional amendments. Many pro-lifers were hoping Issue 1 would pass, as it would make it harder for pro-abortion activists to enshrine abortion as a protected right in the state constitution in November. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier, Trey Brock and Joseph Enders unpack the causes of Americans' support for abortion.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Trey Brock and Bradley Eli talk about how a Catholic church seemingly has been miraculously spared from the fires raging on the Hawaiian island of Maui. They also discuss the life of St. Damien of Molokai.

Church Militant (a 501(c)4 corporation) is responsible for the content of this commentary. The internet has been abuzz for several days now since the release of the mug shot of President Donald Trump. The former president's booking photo was taken at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia, as he and 18 others stand accused of conspiring to undermine the 2020 election in Georgia. In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Trey Brock and Joseph Enders analyze the fallout from the now-famous photo.

In today's episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Christine Niles and Trey Brock discuss the news that laicized ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick has been deemed incompetent to stand trial on criminal charges in Massachusetts.

On today's episode of The Download, Brad Eli, Christine Niles and Trey Brock talk about the martyrdom of the Apostles and how Our Lord expects all of us to take up our crosses and follow Him.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Kyle Kopy and Trey Brock are joined by reporter Dr. William Mahoney to unpack newly revealed details about the notorious FBI memo about Catholics that was leaked earlier this year.

Catholics around the world are devoted to reciting the prayers of the Most Holy Rosary. In this episode of The Download, hosts Simon Rafe, Trey Brock and Bradley Eli discuss how the Rosary is a great way to pray and a powerful spiritual weapon. They also offer responses to common Protestant objections to the devotion.

September 8 is the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady. It's the day when the Church recalls Mary's birthday, fittingly situated nine months after the Feast of her Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8). In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Trey Brock and Alex Karzon consider Our Lady's unique role in salvation history.

In this episode of The Download, reporter Dr. William Mahoney talks with hosts Simon Rafe, Bradley Eli and Christine Niles about a eucharistic adoration chapel in Manhattan. The hosts discuss the origins of perpetual adoration and the importance of worshiping Our Eucharistic Lord in a spirit of reverence.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Christine Niles and Trey Brock discuss practical tips to help Catholics change their habits and grow closer to God. They particularly focus on ways to grow in moral virtue, breaking the bonds of habitual sin.

Today is the feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross, while tomorrow is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. In today's episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Alex Karzon and Bradley Eli discuss the history and spirituality of these two liturgical feasts. Seven Sorrows Chaplet

In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Trey Brock and Bradley Eli react to recent comments on abortion policy by Jen Psaki, former White House press secretary. They discuss the many disappointments for pro-lifers in recent months. They also discuss potential signs for hope and paths to long-term victory over the Culture of Death.

Saint Robert Bellarmine was a Jesuit cardinal who wrote extensively about theology and spirituality. He is considered a key figure in the Counter-Reformation, as he argued at length against Protestant errors and defended Catholic beliefs related to such crucial topics as the priesthood and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Christine Niles and Trey Brock discuss the life and times of Bellarmine, including his connection to Galileo Galilei.

Pope Francis spoke Sept. 18 at the Clinton Global Initiative's 2023 meeting. He discussed the Vatican's children's hospital, as well as climate change, war and migration. He also briefly emphasized "personal conversion" as an important first step before fixing the world's problems. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Trey Brock and Alex Karzon react to the pontiff's comments.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Christine Niles and Trey Brock take a look at the pro-LGBT messaging in Fr. James Martin's latest book, Come Forth: The Promise of Jesus's Greatest Miracle. They also discuss the saint of the day, St. Matthew the Evangelist.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Trey Brock and Bradley Eli discuss the pro-gay messaging coming from Jesuit celebrity priest Fr. James Martin. They also talk with National Resistance Coordinator Alex Karzon about how members of Church Militant Resistance prayed and protested outside a parish that recently hosted a talk by Fr. Martin.

Relics are an important part of Catholic devotional life. In this episode of The Download, hosts Simon Rafe, Christine Niles and Bradley Eli take a look at relics. Reporter Dr. William Mahoney joins them to discuss relics of St. Pio that are being displayed as part of a festival at a shrine in San Francisco. Rafe also highlights a local shrine displaying relics in Michigan.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Simon Rafe, Christine Niles and Bradley Eli talk about the virtue of charity, showing how it involves primarily loving God above all things and also loving one's neighbor as oneself.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli and Trey Brock are joined by special guest Chris Plance to discuss approaches to reading the Bible.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Trey Brock and Bradley Eli talk about a recent analysis of data showing people who are married and have children are statistically more likely to call themselves "very happy."

On today's episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Kyle Kopy and Trey Brock discuss the strength and greatness of the warrior-angel and how devotion to the angels is essential. St. Michael Special Items

Recently, the Maryland Attorney General's Office released an updated version of a report on child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. The new version of the report has fewer redactions, but several names remain hidden — including the names of five officials accused of covering up abuse. What's strange is that the names of those five officials — four monsignors and an auxiliary bishop — have already been exposed by local media. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Trey Brock and Alex Karzon take a look at the Maryland abuse report. They also discuss why bishops should deny Holy Communion to Joe Biden, as well as what members of the laity can do about the lack of reverence for Our Eucharistic Lord.

The pope released a new document today titled Laudate Deum. The apostolic exhortation reiterates Pope Francis' concerns about climate change. In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Trey Brock and Bradley Eli take a look at the document. They voice concerns about Church leaders' support for climate initiatives while also noting the pope's rightful rebuke of population control.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Christine Niles and Trey Brock discuss some of the controversies unfolding in the buildup to synodal proceedings in Rome.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Trey Brock and Bradley Eli discuss the plight of Armenian Christians living in a war-torn region known as Artsakh. Special guest Raymond Ibrahim provides the latest on the suffering of Christians in the region.

Tomorrow — Oct. 7 — is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. It commemorates a military victory in 1571 in which a Christian fleet drove back the Turks. Among the weapons the Christian soldiers and sailors had at their disposal was the spiritual weapon of the Most Holy Rosary. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Christine Niles and Alex Karzon discuss the origin of the feast and the power of the Rosary.

Professor and Baptist pastor Ryan Burge recently analyzed data about sexuality and politics among college students, particularly in connection to students' religious affiliation. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Christine Niles and Trey Brock react to Burge's findings and discuss the tough situation for young Catholics on college campuses.

Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., recently wrote a piece for the Washington Post calling for the pope to stand up against communist China. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Christine Niles and Trey Brock are joined by Dr. William Mahoney to discuss the plight of Catholics living under communist domination. They also talk about how Cdl. Joseph Zen recently voiced concerns about the Synod on Synodality.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Christine Niles and Trey Brock discuss a recent document put out by Bp. Thomas Zinkula of the diocese of Davenport, Iowa. (Later this month, Bp. Zinkula will be installed as archbishop of Dubuque, Iowa.) The document offers five guidelines for welcoming "sexual and gender minorities." The hosts respond to the bishop's document and discuss the dangers of LGBT ideology.

A recent study found 60% of Catholics call themselves "religious and spiritual." This may seem strange, considering other studies have found only about 1 in 5 Catholics bother to go to Mass on Sundays. Why would a large number of Catholics call themselves "religious and spiritual," when so few of them even come close to practicing the Faith? In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Christine Niles and Alex Karzon dive into data about the beliefs and practices of Catholics in the United States — as well as some data from other countries.

Last week — Oct. 1–7 — was Banned Books Week. Left-wing groups used the occasion to complain about parents pushing for the removal of inappropriate books from public schools' libraries. In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Bradley Eli and Dr. William Mahoney discuss the idea of blocking lewd content from getting into the hands of children.

Today is the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun in Fatima, Portugal. In this episode of The Download, hosts Simon Rafe, Christine Niles and Bradley Eli discuss what Our Lady's messages at Fatima have to say about the conflict happening in the Holy Land.

On Sunday, Pope Francis released an apostolic exhortation about St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a Carmelite nun and Doctor of the Church. Catholics around the world love St. Thérèse, cherish her spiritual writings and invoke her intercession. She's known for an approach to spirituality referred to as the little way. In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Alex Karzon and Bradley Eli take a look at the life and writings of St. Thérèse.

Warfare continues between Israeli forces and Hamas. Reporting on conflicts in the Middle East often focuses on tensions between Jews and Muslims. Christian communities in the region are often overlooked and forgotten by the media. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Christine Niles and Alex Karzon discuss the experiences of Christians in the Middle East, particularly in the Holy Land.

Christians, particularly Catholics, often talk about the seven deadly sins, also called the seven capital sins — lust, gluttony, greed (or avarice), sloth (or acedia), wrath (or anger), envy and pride. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Christine Niles and Kyle Kopy take a look at these seven kinds of sin. They also discuss how these sins are contrary to certain virtues and the remedies for those who might struggle with these sins.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Alex Karzon and Bradley Eli discuss economic difficulties and how they're impacting ordinary people around the country.

Father John Jenkins, a priest in the Congregation of Holy Cross, is president of the University of Notre Dame. The university recently announced he is resigning. In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Kyle Kopy and Bradley Eli discuss how his leadership has impacted the university's Catholic identity. They also discuss how the university began drifting away from its Catholicity decades before Fr. Jenkins took the helm.

An artist on the contemporary Christian music scene, Derek Webb, faced pushback from Christian music fans after posting on social media a photo of himself wearing a dress. He also posted a photo of himself posing with a drag queen. That drag queen, Flamy Grant, has likewise put out music considered contemporary Christian. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Trey Brock and Christine Niles discuss Christianity, the music industry, Gregorian chant and Catholic liturgy.

Today, Oct. 24, is the Feast of St. Anthony Mary Claret. In the old calendar, his feast was yesterday, Oct. 23. He did extensive mission work in Spain, the Canary Islands and even Cuba. In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Trey Brock and Bradley Eli take a look at the life and legacy of the day's honored saint.

A bipartisan coalition of attorneys general recently filed a federal lawsuit accusing Meta — the company behind Facebook and Instagram — of taking advantage of children. The suit alleges algorithms and other features on the platforms were designed to get teenagers addicted. It also claims the tech giant illegally gathered data about minors. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Trey Brock and Christine Niles discuss the lawsuit, as well as social media censorship, pornography addiction and online safety.

Amanda Gorman, 25, is a poet and author. She's also Catholic. She famously was the inaugural poet at Joe Biden's Inauguration Day in 2021. On Oct. 19, she posted a video on social media saying she's upset by a recent decision made by Scholastic — a publishing company that often holds book fairs in American schools. In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Alex Karzon and Bradley Eli discuss the controversy about Scholastic giving schools and educators a way to opt out of featuring children's books involving topics like race and sexuality. The company announced the policy in a statement dated Oct. 13. Then, in a reversal dated Oct. 25, Scholastic appeared to say it will look for a different approach to be implemented in January.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Simon Rafe, Christine Niles and Bradley Eli discuss the importance of studying Catholic history. They also talk about the new edition of Triumph: the Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church. Years ago, Michael Voris did a series of video lectures based on the previous edition of the book. Those videos are available on the site for Premium subscribers. Furthermore, DVDs of the talks can be purchased from our store. Show note: one of the hosts mistakenly says the Battle of Lepanto occurred in 1517. He meant to say 1571.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Simon Rafe, Bradley Eli and Christine Niles discuss freedom of speech and censorship. They also talk about how Church Militant's app is a way to get Catholic news and analysis straight from the source.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Kyle Kopy and Alex Karzon discuss sainthood. They take a look at the canonization process and some lesser-known souls whose cause for canonization is being considered by Church officials — including Servant of God Fr. John Hardon.

Is it acceptable for Catholics to take an interest in Halloween and horror stories? Halloween is a day that contemporary culture associates with ghosts, the paranormal and all things horror, but it has Christian roots as the vigil of All Saints' Day. Horror stories, meanwhile, have a long history going back to ancient times. Can spooky stories be used to teach moral lessons? In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Trey Brock and Alex Karzon discuss horror stories, exorcism, the Four Last Things and the dangers of the occult. Click here to buy: The Four Last Things.

Comedian and actor Rob Schneider recently noted he's a recent convert to Catholicism. In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Rodney Pelletier and Alex Karzon discuss the entertainment industry and Catholicism.

Today, Nov. 2, is All Souls' Day. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Kyle Kopy and Christine Niles discuss the importance of praying for the holy souls in Purgatory. They also talk about the importance of being mindful of your own death.

The Baltimore archdiocese announced Saturday that Masses and sacraments at St. Benedict Church will be discontinued on Nov. 15. This comes after Benedictine Fr. Paschal Morlino — who was the church's pastor for years — settled with a man who accused him of abuse. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Alex Karzon and Christine Niles discuss church closures and abuse scandals — as well as how Catholics can respond to these difficulties. They also talk about the Eucharist and church architecture.

On Tuesday, Ohio voters approved a ballot measure to enshrine so-called reproductive rights in the state Constitution. In this episode of The Download, hosts Christine Niles, Trey Brock and Bradley Eli talk about the vote and its consequences. They are joined by special guest Kate Makra, executive director of Cleveland Right to Life.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Joe Enders and Christine Niles look at some recent polls that suggest Donald Trump would stand a pretty good chance against Joe Biden if the two go head to head in 2024. They also consider the implications of some state elections that occurred on Tuesday.

According to a recent report, Anheuser-Busch's head of U.S. marketing is leaving at the end of this year. This comes after many Americans decided to boycott Bud Light, one of the beer giant's products, over a controversy involving "transgender" influencer Dylan Mulvaney. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Trey Brock and Alex Karzon discuss the pros and cons of boycotts.

On Tuesday, Church Militant and the Deposit of Faith Coalition hosted a press conference challenging the mainstream narrative about climate change. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and Trey Brock discuss what the three speakers had to say at Tuesday's event. They also talk about some of the early coverage of the event in secular media.

An Ohio lawmaker recently introduced a measure that would channel some of the tax revenue from marijuana sales into training for law enforcement. Meanwhile, back in September, a different lawmaker introduced a bill to create tax incentives for donations to pro-life pregnancy resource centers. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Trey Brock and Alex Karzon discuss short-term and long-term strategies for Catholics, conservatives and pro-lifers to fight the culture war on the two fronts of abortion and cannabis.

Later this week is Thanksgiving Day for Americans. In this episode of The Download, hosts Simon Rafe, Bradley Eli and Trey Brock discuss the Catholic connections to Thanksgiving Day. They also talk about the theology of gratitude. Download the Thanksgiving Truth Sheet

A few days ago, a letter came to light that was written last month by Cdl. Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state. That letter, addressed to a representative of the German bishops' conference, warned that the Church in Germany must not split from the universal Church on matters of faith and morals — in particular, on the issues of homosexuality and the all-male priesthood. In this episode of The Download, hosts Simon Rafe, Bradley Eli and Alex Karzon discuss papal authority.

Advent is just around the corner. This upcoming Sunday will be the first Sunday of Advent. In this episode of The Download, hosts Simon Rafe, Kyle Kopy and Bradley Eli discuss an assortment of topics — including the readings at Mass this past Sunday, Advent as a preparatory period for Christmas, fasting, penance, death and the end of the world. Prayer books for Advent and Christmas can be found here. To purchase Manual for Conquering Deadly Sin, click here.

Yesterday, Nov. 29, was the 800th anniversary of a papal bull approving the Franciscan Rule. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and Kyle Kopy discuss Franciscan spirituality and the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Click here to buy an Advent and Christmas devotional book. One of the options features wisdom from St. Francis of Assisi.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Trey Brock and Alex Karzon discuss Catholic masculinity. The discussion is prompted in part by two recent articles — one published in The American Conservative and another published by RealClearReligion.

We're in the midst of the holiday season. It's a time of joy and cheer, but it can also be a time of stress — particularly for those whose parents are divorced. In this episode of The Download, hosts Simon Rafe, Rodney Pelletier and Bradley Eli sit down for a discussion with Leila Miller, author of the book Primal Loss: The Now-Adult Children of Divorce Speak.

This week, FBI Director Christopher Wray appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Some of the GOP senators challenged him over an internal memo, leaked earlier this year, discussing so-called radical traditionalist Catholics. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and Kyle Kopy discuss the fallout from the memo.

Video shared online appears to show leftists in Madrid wearing costumes to mock the Blessed Mother, the priesthood and religious life. This is happening as a response to public prayer rallies by faithful Catholics. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Kyle Kopy and Rodney Pelletier discuss Spain's Catholic history and the ongoing situation involving public prayer.

Today, Dec. 8, is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It is a holy day of obligation. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and Kyle Kopy talk about the four Marian dogmas, Mariology and devotion to the Blessed Mother.

Bishop Mario Vaccari, head of a small diocese in Tuscany, has temporarily suspended the practice of picking godparents for baptism and a sponsor for confirmation. He expressed concern that the roles were being used for secular purposes, far removed from their profound spiritual meaning. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and David Nussman discuss what it means to be a godparent at a child's baptism or a sponsor at a child's confirmation.

Today, environmental activists in Germany vandalized Christmas trees on display in seven cities. It's the latest stunt by climate activists meant to highlight their fears that fossil fuels could lead to irreparable harm to the environment in just the next few years. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and David Nussman discuss climate change, Christmas trees, leftist activism and more.

Recently in Nashville, a juvenile was physically assaulted by members of his own family for becoming a Christian. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and Kyle Kopy discuss violence against Christians and how Catholics can respond to various kinds of persecution. 

This Sunday is the third Sunday in Advent — also called Gaudete Sunday. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and Kyle Kopy discuss how Catholics can make these last few days of Advent a spiritually fruitful time of preparation for Christmas.

In Vatican City over the weekend, a panel of judges convicted Cdl. Angelo Becciu of financial crimes. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and Kyle Kopy discuss financial problems at the Vatican.

Tomorrow (Wednesday, Dec. 20) is one of the Ember Days. The Ember Days are days traditionally set aside for prayer and fasting — on a Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. There's one set of Ember Days for each of the four seasons in the northern hemisphere. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and David Nussman discuss this Catholic tradition and the importance of fasting.

New data from the Centers for Disease Control seems to suggest that teenagers are less likely to fornicate if they live in a home where both parents are present. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and Kyle Kopy discuss family life and chastity.

In the old calendar, today (Dec. 21) is the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, often called "doubting Thomas." In the new calendar, it's the feast of St. Peter Canisius, a Doctor of the Church. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and Kyle Kopy discuss the two saints.

The liturgical books for Christmas give us three different Masses — one for Mass offered at or around midnight, one for Mass offered around the time of sunrise and one for Mass offered during the day. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and Kyle Kopy unpack the theological significance of the gospel readings from the three Masses.

In the secular world, the Christmas season begins some time in November and ends some time in late December. But for Catholics, the Christmas season begins on the evening of Dec. 24 and lasts until at least the Epiphany (Jan. 6). In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and Kyle Kopy discuss the various feasts of Christmastide.

Today, Dec. 27, is the Feast of St. John the Evangelist. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and Kyle Kopy discuss the life and writings of this apostle and evangelist.

Scripture tells us that in King Herod's attempt to kill Jesus, he had all babies in and around Bethlehem murdered. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and Kyle Kopy discuss these victims of infanticide, known as the Holy Innocents. They should be invoked as patron saints of the pro-life movement.

January 1 is the Feast of Mary, Mother of God. It is a holy day of obligation — though some bishops' conferences might rescind the obligation when it falls on a Monday. It's also the day when Catholics remember Our Lord's circumcision. Baby Jesus would have been circumcised about a week after His birth. Meanwhile, the Holy Name of Jesus is celebrated at Mass either on Jan. 2 or Jan 3 — depending on whether it's the Traditional Latin Mass or the Novus Ordo. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and Kyle Kopy discuss Our Lord's circumcision, Mariology, martyrdom and various other topics.

Video feeds of the New Year's celebration at Times Square showed a pair of gay men kissing at the stroke of midnight. Also on New Year's Eve, prominent actor Shia LaBeouf received the sacrament of confirmation. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and Kyle Kopy discuss a few news items of interest for the first Saturday in 2024.

Video feeds of the New Year's celebration at Times Square showed a pair of gay men kissing at the stroke of midnight. Also on New Year's Eve, prominent actor Shia LaBeouf received the sacrament of confirmation. In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and Kyle Kopy discuss a few news items of interest for the first Saturday in 2024.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and David Nussman discuss a series of news stories touching on family matters and threats to family life. One of those stories is the tragic death of a Catholic married couple, leaving behind six children under the age of 10.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Kyle Kopy and David Nussman discuss recent news stories involving allegations of sexual abuse. They also talk about recent Vatican documents intended to deter corruption, as well as the death of Catholic reporter George Neumayr and the upcoming feast of St. Francis de Sales.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and Kyle Kopy discuss abortion and so-called transgenderism. They also talk about Septuagesima and Candlemas.

In this episode of The Download, hosts Bradley Eli, Rodney Pelletier and Kyle Kopy discuss how the charge against Michael Cassidy was recently upgraded to a felony. They also discuss the feast of St. Blaise, as well as controversial comments from a prominent archbishop about priestly celibacy.