Schism & Culture War: Understanding the SSPX Split

Schism & Culture War: Understanding the SSPX Split

The Vatican's declaration that the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) is in schism immediately ignited debate across Catholic social media. Why was the SSPX declared schismatic? Why not other controversial Catholics? In this episode, we move beyond the memes and culture-war talking points to explain what schism actually means in Catholic theology, the history of the SSPX, and why this moment has become such a flashpoint in online Catholic discourse. Together, we explore how questions of authority, history, and politics shape the stories Catholics tell about who's "faithful," who's "rebellious," and what the Church is actually responding to. If you'd like to dive deeper into the SSPX and the separatist Catholic community in St. Marys, Kansas, check out Max and Emma’s long-form essay, "Out of Time: Catholic Separatism in St. Marys, Kansas," originally published as part of the “High Control Catholicism” series: https://maxwellkuzma.substack.com/p/out-of-time-catholic-separatism-in The article provides additional historical background on the SSPX, its culture, and the broader phenomenon of Catholic separatism that complements this week's conversation.

Why We Need to Learn Black Catholic History with Alessandra Harris

For many Catholics, the story of racism and justice is often taught in fragments — as individual moments of prejudice rather than as part of a larger arc of history that continues to shape people’s lives today. Issues like policing, incarceration, housing, employment, and the criminalization of drug use are deeply connected to histories of racial inequality that have shaped the experiences of Black communities, including Black Catholics seeking to live out their faith in a society and Church that have not always fully recognized their dignity. In this conversation, I’m joined by Alessandra Harris to explore the importance of learning Black Catholic history as an essential part of understanding the Church itself. We talk about what it has meant for Black Catholics to navigate racism in society while also confronting the ways the Catholic Church has often been slow to respond to these realities, and why listening to these stories is necessary for anyone seeking a fuller understanding of the Catholic tradition. Learn more about Alessandra’s work: https://alessandraharris.net/ [https://alessandraharris.net/]

Growing Up White and Catholic: What I Didn’t Learn

What is missing from my understanding of the Black Catholic experience? In this episode, I reflect on what I’ve been learning about the history of Catholic involvement in slavery, the development of Black Catholic thought, and the ways Black Catholics have challenged the Church to more fully live into its teachings on justice and human dignity. This conversation draws from the work of Black Catholic journalists, including reporting from the Black Catholic Messenger, as well as historians and theologians such as Alessandra Harris, Fr. Bryan Massingale, and James H. Cone. This episode is not meant to speak for Black Catholics or provide a definitive account of Black Catholic history. Instead, it is a reflection on my own learning process as a white Catholic: the questions I’ve been asking, the gaps I’ve discovered in my own formation, and the history I’m continuing to learn. My next episode features a Black Catholic guest, Alessandra Harris, as we continue this conversation through her work and scholarship.

Fr. Mike Schmitz Encourages Scrupulosity in Gay Catholics

What kind of God is being presented to LGBTQ Catholics? In this episode, Max and Emma respond to Fr. Mike Schmitz and Kim Zember's recent EWTN video "Can You Be Gay and Catholic?" and argue that beneath the conversation lies a troubling image of God—one that encourages self-doubt, scrupulosity, and fear rather than dignity, relationship, and freedom. From purity culture and evangelical testimony narratives to same-sex weddings and Catholic teaching, they explore how theology shapes people's lives and ask a simple question: if the Gospel is good news, why does this message feel so bad?

A New Thing: Pride, Transness, and Liberation

This Pride Month, Max explores what Pride means through the lens of transgender identity, liberation, and faith. Beginning with the history of Stonewall and the central role that transgender and gender-nonconforming people played in the Gay Liberation movement, this episode examines why Pride remains both a celebration and a protest. Drawing on scripture, queer history, and contemporary reflections on trans life, Max argues that trans people are not merely part of the story of Pride—they help reveal a deeper truth about human freedom, transformation, and possibility. In a world that often fears change, transness offers a powerful reminder that, as the prophet Isaiah writes, God is always "doing a new thing." Sign up for Max's newsletter: https://maxwellkuzma.substack.com/