Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
What can Protestants learn from the Catholic tradition?
Host Curtis Chang and The Atlantic writer and former White House staffer Pete Wehner explore how Catholic social teaching—from subsidiarity and solidarity to the preferential option for the poor—offers a rich framework for Christian public life. They consider the limits of sola scriptura, unpack the importance of intellectual rigor, and define Christian humanism. Curtis and Pete also contrast the public faith of Pope Leo XIV and Vice President JD Vance, asking why faithful Christian witness should shape how believers respond to artificial intelligence and other challenges of our time.
02:31 - Does Catholic Theology Meet a Protestant Need?
04:41 - Tradition Is Powerful
08:43 - Does Sola Scriptura Have Limits?
10:19 - Protestant Traditions and Discernment
13:54 - Catholicism's Robust Frameworks
17:08 - Reclaiming Tradition for Protestants
21:36 - Embracing the Life of the Mind
27:22 - Christian Humanism fand 21st Century Questions
30:08 - A Protestant-Catholic Convergence
37:42 - Comparing Visions: JD Vance and Pope Leo
41:16 - The Power of a Faithful Witness
Sign up for The After Party: after-party.org
Sign up for The Good List: goodfaith.org/thegoodlist
Referenced in the Episode:
Pete Wehner’s article American Christians Face a Choice: theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/06/christian-humanism-trump-choice/687475
Learn about the seven themes of Catholic social teaching: usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/seven-themes-of-catholic-social-teaching
Carl F. H. Henry’s The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism: amazon.com/dp/080282661X?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
Alan Jacobs’s The Year of Our Lord 1943: Christian Humanism in an Age of Crisis: amazon.com/dp/0190864656?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
Christian Wiman’s My Bright Abyss: amazon.com/dp/0374534373?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
John F. Kennedy’s 1960 address to Protestant ministers in Houston (video): jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/historic-speeches/address-to-the-greater-houston-ministerial-association
Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical on artificial intelligence, Magnifica Humanitas: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html
Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical on capital and labor, Rerum Novarum: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html
Daniel K. Williams on J.D. Vances’ Communion What Type of Christian is J. D. Vance? mereorthodoxy.com/what-type-of-christian-is-j-d-vance
Miroslav Volf on Forgiveness, Justice, and Reconciliation (video): youtube.com/watch?v=U6YiosVIDzs
Miroslav Volf & Christian Wiman’s Glimmerings: amazon.com/dp/0063458292?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 127:3–5 (ESV): esv.org/verses/Psalm+127:3%E2%80%935
Acts 2:42–47 (ESV): esv.org/Acts+2:41;Acts+2:42%E2%80%9347
Luke 4:1–13 (ESV): esv.org/verses/Luke+4:1%E2%80%9313;Luke+22:3;Luke+24:1%E2%80%9312
More from Pete Wehner:
Pete Wehner’s articles at The Atlantic: theatlantic.com/author/peter-wehner
Pete Wehner’s opinion pieces at The New York Times: nytimes.com/column/peter-wehner
Follow Us:
Good Faith on Instagram: instagram.com/goodfaithnetwork
Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/_good_faith
Good Faith on Facebook: facebook.com/goodfaithpod
The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.
What can Protestants learn from the Catholic tradition?
Host Curtis Chang and The Atlantic writer and former White House staffer Pete Wehner explore how Catholic social teaching—from subsidiarity and solidarity to the preferential option for the poor—offers a rich framework for Christian public life. They consider the limits of sola scriptura, unpack the importance of intellectual rigor, and define Christian humanism. Curtis and Pete also contrast the public faith of Pope Leo XIV and Vice President JD Vance, asking why faithful Christian witness should shape how believers respond to artificial intelligence and other challenges of our time.
02:31 - Does Catholic Theology Meet a Protestant Need?
04:41 - Tradition Is Powerful
08:43 - Does Sola Scriptura Have Limits?
10:19 - Protestant Traditions and Discernment
13:54 - Catholicism's Robust Frameworks
17:08 - Reclaiming Tradition for Protestants
21:36 - Embracing the Life of the Mind
27:22 - Christian Humanism fand 21st Century Questions
30:08 - A Protestant-Catholic Convergence
37:42 - Comparing Visions: JD Vance and Pope Leo
41:16 - The Power of a Faithful Witness
Sign up for The After Party: after-party.org
Sign up for The Good List: goodfaith.org/thegoodlist
Referenced in the Episode:
Pete Wehner’s article American Christians Face a Choice: theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/06/christian-humanism-trump-choice/687475
Learn about the seven themes of Catholic social teaching: usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/seven-themes-of-catholic-social-teaching
Carl F. H. Henry’s The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism: amazon.com/dp/080282661X?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
Alan Jacobs’s The Year of Our Lord 1943: Christian Humanism in an Age of Crisis: amazon.com/dp/0190864656?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
Christian Wiman’s My Bright Abyss: amazon.com/dp/0374534373?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
John F. Kennedy’s 1960 address to Protestant ministers in Houston (video): jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/historic-speeches/address-to-the-greater-houston-ministerial-association
Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical on artificial intelligence, Magnifica Humanitas: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html
Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical on capital and labor, Rerum Novarum: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html
Daniel K. Williams on J.D. Vances’ Communion What Type of Christian is J. D. Vance? mereorthodoxy.com/what-type-of-christian-is-j-d-vance
Miroslav Volf on Forgiveness, Justice, and Reconciliation (video): youtube.com/watch?v=U6YiosVIDzs
Miroslav Volf & Christian Wiman’s Glimmerings: amazon.com/dp/0063458292?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 127:3–5 (ESV): esv.org/verses/Psalm+127:3%E2%80%935
Acts 2:42–47 (ESV): esv.org/Acts+2:41;Acts+2:42%E2%80%9347
Luke 4:1–13 (ESV): esv.org/verses/Luke+4:1%E2%80%9313;Luke+22:3;Luke+24:1%E2%80%9312
More from Pete Wehner:
Pete Wehner’s articles at The Atlantic: theatlantic.com/author/peter-wehner
Pete Wehner’s opinion pieces at The New York Times: nytimes.com/column/peter-wehner
Follow Us:
Good Faith on Instagram: instagram.com/goodfaithnetwork
Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/_good_faith
Good Faith on Facebook: facebook.com/goodfaithpod
The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.
