The Catholic Herald Podcast: Merely Catholic with Gavin Ashenden

Merely Catholic
  • 4.8 (49)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

On the Catholic Herald's weekly podcast, Gavin Ashenden and guests will reflect on what's happening in the Christian world; and shed some light on the most important cultural, spiritual and moral issues of the day.

  1. 09/02/2025

    Inside the Vatican, with Diane Montagna

    Now on her third pope, Diane Montagna is one of the most respected Vaticanologists of our time. Known for her contributions to periodicals such as the National Catholic Register and Humanitas: Christian Anthropological Review, as well as the Catholic Herald, she has also worked as Rome correspondent for LifeSiteNews and the English edition of Aleteia. In this episode of Merely Catholic, she discusses her varied career and the challenges facing the new pontificate. She also gives an in-depth account of her groundbreaking research, which suggested a false narrative behind the motivations of Traditionis custodes. This episode was recorded on 21.08.2025.

    1h 12m

  2. 07/24/2025

    Sacred Voices, with Alessandro Biciocci and Justin Kurian

    Sacred Voices is a choir made up of members who were originally part of the Sistine Chapel Choir and now constitute a touring ambassadorial choir, dedicated in part to sustaining the vision of Domenico Bartolucci, who was for decades the Sistine Chapel Choir’s conductor and director. Alessandro Biciocci is the Secretary General of the Bartolucci Foundation. Originally a boy treble in the Sistine Chapel Choir, he is now the Secretary General of the foundation that plans and oversees the work of Sacred Voices. This other face – or other voice – of the Sistine Chapel Choir has become famous for its interpretations of Gregorian chant, Palestrina, and the Catholic liturgical repertoire. They perform not only in Rome but across the world, and are singing in New York this August. The New York tour has been organised by Justin Kurian, founder of Reclaiming Christendom, a lawyer and popular novelist. Reclaiming Christendom works for the renewal of Catholic faith and culture. In this episode, they join Gavin Ashenden to reflect on the work of the Sistine Chapel Choir, Sacred Voices, and their upcoming tour. https://sacredvoicesnytour.com/ Ask ChatGPT

    37 min

  3. 06/26/2025

    Forging an alliance for life, with Lord Alton of Liverpool

    David Alton, the Catholic crossbench peer and former MP, joins Dr Gavin Ashenden to discuss the recent vote for abortion up to and during birth. They reflect on the hijacking by MPs of the Crime and Policing Bill to decriminalise abortion for any reason and at any stage in pregnancy, and also the passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) through the House of Commons. In this 103rd episode of Merely Catholic, the podcast series for The Catholic Herald, they talk about what might be done to counter the “culture of death” both in the Houses of Parliament and in society generally. https://thomasmorecollege.edu/

    47 min

  4. 06/20/2025

    When police appease the mob, with Lois McLatchie Miller

    Lois McLatchie Miller, a Christian activist, was arrested in Brussel for wearing a billboard which read: “Children are never born in the wrong body.” She was detained alongside Canadian child protection advocate Chris Elston, known as “Billboard Chris” (@BillboardChris), after they were surrounded by an angry mob. In spite of the pair’s peaceful conduct, police arrested Ms McLatchie Miller and Billboard Chris rather than address the aggression of the crowd. Lois talks about her ordeal to Dr Gavin Ashenden in this 102nd episode of Merely Catholic, the podcast for the Catholic Herald.

    45 min

  5. 05/30/2025

    Into the reign of Pope Leo, with Edward Pentin

    Edward Pentin, the distinguished English Catholic journalist and veteran Rome correspondent, returns to Merely Catholic to discuss the conclusion of the pontificate of Pope Francis and the new reign of Pope Leo XIV. An acknowledged media expert on the workings of the papacy and of the Vatican in general, in 2015 he authored The Rigging of a Vatican Synod? An Investigation into Alleged Manipulation at the Extraordinary Synod on the Family, which was published by Ignatius Press, and five years later brought out The Next Pope — The Leading Cardinal Candidates, thanks to Sophia Institute Press. Mr Pentin serves today as a senior correspondent for the National Catholic Register and is also a regular contributor to EWTN, the Catholic television network. https://thomasmorecollege.edu/

    35 min

  6. 05/05/2025

    Podcast 100: Choosing the next Pope, with William Cash

    The award winning former Catholic Herald editor William Cash joins Dr Gavin Ashenden from Rome to discuss the forthcoming conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis in this 100th Merely Catholic podcast. They discuss how Francis came to be elected, reflect on the invisible machinations already under way to choose the next pope, and they consider several of those members of the College of Cardinals who are drawing attention from the world’s media because they are “papabile”, or worthy to hold the papal office. Our sponsor: https://thomasmorecollege.edu/

    40 min

  7. 04/24/2025

    Lady Mabel’s Gold, with SP Caldwell

    Journalist and author Simon Caldwell returns to Merely Catholic to discuss his new thriller, Lady Mabel’s Gold, with Dr Gavin Ashenden in this 99th episode. A standalone sequel to The Beast of Bethulia Park, the author’s 2022 debut, Lady Mabel’s Gold has been praised by former Catholic Herald editor William Cash as a “truly original novel with excellent writing, clever plot twists and a cast of memorable characters which put Caldwell at the front rank of Catholic novelists today”. Dr Ashenden talks to Caldwell about his characters, themes and inspirations and both read from the book for the first time publicly. https://www.gracewing.co.uk/page416.html

    48 min

  8. 04/11/2025

    The challenge of Islam, with Tim Dieppe

    Tim Dieppe, the head of public policy at Christian Concern, joins Dr Gavin Ashenden for this 97th episode of Merely Catholic, the podcast series for the Catholic Herald, to discuss his new book, The Challenge of Islam. This book discusses the increasing influence of Islam in the UK and how non-Muslims might respond. Chapters include: “Is Islam a Religion of Peace?”, “Is Islam Antisemitic?”, “What's wrong with Multiculturalism?”, and “What’s wrong with Islamic Finance?” The book concludes with some policy proposals that would make a difference. In their conversation, Mr Dieppe and Dr Ashenden also confront the theological question of whether Allah is the same as the God of the Bible.

    1h 2m
See All (106)

Trailer

4.8
out of 5
49 Ratings

About

On the Catholic Herald's weekly podcast, Gavin Ashenden and guests will reflect on what's happening in the Christian world; and shed some light on the most important cultural, spiritual and moral issues of the day.

Information

You Might Also Like