The Catholic Canuck Podcast

16/06/2025

COMMENTARY: As devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus reaches a major milestone, Christ’s words remain a challenge: to return love for love and console his heart in the Holy Eucharist.

15/06/2025

13/06/2025

Amazing!
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11/06/2025

Fun story.

Sometimes, you just have to support your team while you're at work. So, it's a good thing that a baseball hat works with pretty much any work attire, even a papal cassock.

10/06/2025

1. Divorce itself is a sin.

That’s right: Divorce is a sin all on its own, whether or not an illicit “remarriage” follows. There has never been a time in Church history when divorce—defined as an attempt to break the marital contract—has been morally permissible.

Jesus himself forbids divorce in Matthew 19:4-6, as does St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11.

And we have solid confirmation from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states, “Divorce is a grave offense against the natural law” (2384).

It goes on to say that “divorce is immoral also because it introduces disorder into the family and society” and “brings grave harm to the deserted spouse [and] to children traumatized by the separation of their parents and often torn between them” (2385).

2. Remarriage after divorce adds to the sin.

“Remarriage” after divorce (without annulment) is where most Catholics generally believe that the sin comes in. But, in fact, the civil remarriage after the sin of divorce is an additional sin: the deadly sin of adultery.

Jesus is crystal clear in Luke 16:18, and Paul backs him up in Romans 7:2-3.

The Catechism again confirms it for us:

"Contracting a new union, even if it is recognized by civil law, adds to the gravity of the rupture: the remarried spouse is then in a situation of public and permanent adultery" (2384).

So divorce is the first sin, and “remarriage” (that is, adultery) is the second, exacerbating sin.

But wait—doesn’t the Church allow some divorce?

3. Civil divorce may be “tolerated” by the Church in rare cases, but never for the intent to end the marriage.

The Church allows civil divorce only if an innocent spouse needs legal protections that quite literally cannot be obtained by any other means. The Catechism puts it this way:

"If civil divorce remains the only possible way of ensuring certain legal rights, the care of the children, or the protection of inheritance, it can be tolerated and does not constitute a moral offense" (2383).

Why is it not a sin? Because in accessing the legal help according to the strict limits above, the spouse is not intending to end the actual marriage (as opposed to the state-recognized union).

4. Physical separation is allowed for certain grave reasons, but in all cases, the hopeful expectation is for reconciliation.

The Church teaches that in cases of unrepentant adultery or “grave mental or physical danger,” physical separation of spouses is allowed with the bishop’s permission, but always with the hope of reconciliation.

In fact, here is canon law, which is binding on the faithful: “In all cases, when the cause for the separation ceases, conjugal living must be restored” (1153, §§1-2).

This is not new, but universal, reaching back centuries.

Continue reading below...👇

03/06/2025

Fantastic message from the Cardinal.

Cardinal Francis Leo called on the faithful to honor the most Sacred Heart of Jesus throughout June rather than “using symbols that are contrary to God’s divine revelation.”

25/05/2025

Check out our latest episode with producer Emily Mentock as she shares her experience in the making of “The Boy From Milan”, a fantastic documentary on the life of soon to be Saint Carlo Acutis!
https://promocards.byspotify.com/api/share/882a9d64-4f8f-4b66-b071-5d90199bbe7

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21/05/2025

“I kind of thought: New Pope, new me,” Burger said. "He’s a Midwestern guy like me. I was proud."

20/05/2025

This is awesome.

The Archdiocese of Chicago will host a celebration at Rate Field, the home of the Chicago White Sox, on June 14 to honor Pope Leo XIV, according to a statement released by the archdiocese.

The public is invited to attend the upcoming “once-in-a-lifetime celebration of the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first pope born and raised in the Chicago area.” https://bit.ly/43CmqOS

03/05/2025

Episode 135 now available! Dr. Francis Beckwith drops by to talk about his latest project called A Catholic Engagement with Latter-day Saints. Great insights on evangelization and coming to a better understanding on what Mormons believe and how we can charitably refute their claims as Catholics.

Podcast Episode · The Catholic Canuck Podcast · 2025-04-29 · 55m

24/04/2025

Episode 134 now available! 2025 Election Season in Canada is here and it was an honour to have Rod Taylor, Leader of The Christian Heritage Party of Canada, join us to talk about the party’s platform leading up to April 28 decision day.
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-catholic-canuck-podcast/id1532333568?i=10007046287

Podcast Episode · The Catholic Canuck Podcast · 2025-04-23 · 51m

23/04/2025

ICYMI Episode 133 with Robert LeBlanc on the fascinating topic of angels available now on Spotify or wherever you listen to your pods!

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