This is not the usual podcast you might expect from me. The Forge podcast is short, simple, casual and personal. The episodes will be reviews and additional thoughts about recent articles Ive published, sometimes supplements to articles, and sometimes audio read-throughs of articles.
Here are the hits I’m covering int his episode
T.J. Haines
A headline goes viral claiming the Pope approved beatification for a scandalous bishop—but in this piece, I show how the outrage was engineered before readers ever saw the facts. Because the man isn’t beatified at all, and the reporting blurred crucial distinctions to make it look that way.
This article walks through what was left out, how the framing worked, and why learning to spot media manipulation is now a basic survival skill for Catholics who want truth instead of outrage.
T.J. Haines
A viral homily from Ireland is stirring serious debate after a priest claimed Mass isn’t about worship but about sharing a meal. In this piece, I break down why that claim isn’t just sloppy theology—it strikes at the very meaning of the Eucharist itself. Because the Catholic Mass isn’t a dinner gathering that happens to include prayer; it’s the sacrifice of Christ made present, and the meal flows from that sacrifice—not the other way around. If we lose that order, we don’t just misunderstand the Mass… we misunderstand worship.
T.J. Haines
In this piece, I argue that the devil’s most effective tactic isn’t always temptation to sin—it’s distraction. Because if he can’t make you fall, he can keep you busy, agitated, and scattered enough that you never go deep spiritually. Drawing from Scripture, St. Augustine, and Ignatian spirituality, I show how our obsession with headlines, outrage cycles, and constant updates can thin the soul and choke holiness before we even notice it
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