WOF 490: Bishop Barron Responds to His Critics
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
Release Date: 05/19/2025
WOF 516: How to Have a Civil Debate in a Polarized World
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
Charlie Kirk's assassination revealed a disturbing new cultural and political reality for those who share any of Kirk’s views: it is possible, in our day and age, to be shot for speaking your mind. How can we recover from this dark event, whose effects have reverberated across the globe? How can we reclaim the possibility of disagreement with each other without resorting to violence? What conditions must be in place to make civil debate both possible and productive again, especially as our society appears to be growing more polarized? A listener asks for advice on a healthy way to end...
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WOF 515: Developments Contrasted with Corruptions (6 of 12)
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
In this lesson, Bishop Barron explains how Newman distinguishes between doctrinal development and corruption. A thorough explanation of this crucial issue requires a robust presentation of Newman's seven notes. Bishop Barron does just that! Topics Covered: Doctrinal development and corruption The Seven Notes Examples of doctrinal development and corruption Article: Read: Word on Fire Institute: NOTE: Do you like this podcast? ! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So...
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WOF 514: Celebrating St. John Henry Newman Becoming a Doctor of the Church
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
Pope Leo XIV has recently formally declared St. John Henry Newman—who was canonized only in 2019 by Pope Francis—a doctor of the Catholic Church, a recognition given only to 37 other saints in Catholicism’s over 2000 year history. This places Newman among great figures like St. Augustine, St. Gregory the Great, St. Jerome, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Theresa de Avila, St. Catherine of Sienna, and the Little Flower, St. Therese of Lisieux. What is the significance of giving St. John Henry Newman—an Englishman and Anglican convert to Catholicism who was born over 200 years ago—this...
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WOF 513: The Play of Lively Minds (5 of 12)
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
Newman thinks that the fullness of an idea can best be manifested when it enters the play of lively minds. It grows and develops through the Church. Newman's organic imagery opens up an interesting way of thinking about the difference between development and corruption in matters of doctrine. Topics Covered: The unveiling of ideas through the lively play of minds Difference between development and corruption The Prophetic Office The Kingly Office Links: Article: Video: Read: by Stanley L. Jaki NOTE: Do you like this podcast? ! Word on Fire is...
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WOF 512: The Development of Christian Doctrine (4 of 12)
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
Newman's Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine is perhaps his greatest contribution to theology. In this essay, Newman considers why "development" is an important lens through which to understand the Church and her teachings. Topics Covered: How ideas and doctrines tend to evolve over time How Newman avoids historicism The inexhaustible richness of Christ Podcast: Read: Article: Video: Word on Fire Institute: NOTE: Do you like this podcast? ! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that...
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WOF 511: Newman as a Catholic (3 of 12)
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
In this lesson, Bishop Barron explains what led Newman to enter the Roman Catholic Church. Newman's study of Church history was part of it, giving a personal tinge to his famous quote: "To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant." Topics Covered: Newman's study of the Fourth Century theological controversies Newman's suspicion of the Via Media Newman's conversion to Catholicism Attempts at reviving Catholic intellectual life Links: Article: Video: Read: NOTE: Do you like this podcast? ! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . ....
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WOF 510: Newman as an Anglican (2 of 12)
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
In this lesson, Bishop Barron presents Newman's autobiographical Apologia Pro Vita Sua, focusing on Newman's years as an Anglican prior to his conversion to the Catholic Church. Topics Covered: The Oxford Movement Newman's study of the Arian Controversy The Via Media Tract 90 Links: Podcast: Article: Read: Word on Fire Institute: NOTE: Do you like this podcast? ! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission...
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WOF 509: The Importance of St. John Henry Newman (1 of 12)
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
In this lesson, Bishop Barron introduces St. John Henry Newman and explains his theological significance in his own day and ours. He is a pivotal player in Church history, being compared to St. Thomas Aquinas for his brilliance. Topics Covered: Major themes in Newman's writings Biography of St. John Henry Newman Influence on Vatican II Apologia Pro Vita Sua Links: Article: Book: NOTE: Do you like this podcast? ! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission...
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WOF 508: How to Build on Conversion Momentum
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
We recently looked at some of the reasons that may be contributing to the resurgence or interest in Catholicism out in the culture. Today, we look at five suggestions on how we can preserve that momentum and hopefully increase it. 00:00 | Introduction 00:40 | Bishop Barron’s European trip to film new documentary 02:45 | The importance of a thinking Catholicism 06:18 | Recovering Catholic beauty 09:40 | Increasing online Catholic presence 12:51 | Continuing to engage the culture 14:54 | Examining evangelical courage 16:32 | Listener question 18:43 | Join the Word on Fire Institute Links: ...
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WOF 507: 1,700 Years of the Nicene Creed
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
For 1,700 years, the universal church has confessed the Nicene Creed. This anniversary year, Bishop Barron spoke at a Greek Orthodox church in Rochester, Minnesota, to reflect upon the creed’s origins. Enjoy. Link: Word on Fire Institute: NOTE: Do you like this podcast? ! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
info_outlineWe continue celebrating twenty-five years of proclaiming the Gospel; evangelizing the culture; supporting the faithful; and inviting the disaffiliated, the forsaken, and those who have fallen away back to Christ and his church. However, over the years, attacks against Bishop Barron and Word on Fire have come from many sources, including online anti-evangelists who hate religion in general and Christianity in particular and from those who posture themselves as the Church’s greatest defenders. What is the substance of these detractions? What motivates them? Do they pose an actual threat to the ministry? What can they teach us as evangelists about how to respond constructively to public criticism, especially when it’s vicious?
A listener asks how we should understand the meaning and implications of “turning the other cheek.”
00:00 | Introduction
01:32 | Standing for life with the DOWR seminarians
02:27 | Do any of your critics surprise you?
03:40 | Early interaction with YouTube comments
05:28 | Criticism #1: You’re too conservative—or too liberal
06:38 | Your critique of “beige Catholicism” is unfair and trivializing
09:45 | Criticism #2: Prioritizing beauty is a luxury
14:00 | Criticism #3: The thinkers you reference are only appropriate in academic settings
17:18 | Criticism #4:You’ve joined Balthasar in promoting universal salvation
20:01 | Criticism #5: You’re too political—or not political enough
25:46 | Criticism #6: Your critiques of wokeism are one-sided and unfair to social justice
31:57 | Criticism #7: You’re too supportive of Vatican II—or not supportive enough
35:50 | Criticism #8: You don’t discern the platforms on which you appear
41:29 | Advice for responding to public criticism
42:33 | Listener question: How do I “turn the other cheek” without enabling the offender?
44:54 | Join the Word on Fire Institute
Links:
- “Dare We Hope” Resource Page: https://www.wordonfire.org/hope/
- Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.