The Catholic in Recovery Podcast

From Sexual Addiction to Lasting Freedom in Christ (Bernard's Story)

Bernard shares how a hidden addiction to lust, pornography, and masturbation shaped his relationships, fueled anxiety, and left him spiritually disconnected despite outward success and respectability. Through the Twelve Steps, surrender to God, and ultimately his encounter with Catholicism and the sacraments, he discovered that true freedom comes not through willpower but through a relationship with God. Bernard’s story is a powerful witness that lasting recovery is possible when we allow God to heal our deepest wounds, restore our dignity, and lead us from isolation and fear into peace, purpose, and love.

The Healing Power of Relational Prayer

In this episode of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley reflect on the parallels between physical rehabilitation and addiction recovery, using Father Sean's experience with physical therapy after a foot injury to explore the importance of humility, honesty, and consistent daily practices. They discuss how objective assessments, accountability, and seemingly small disciplines, whether physical therapy exercises, recovery meetings, or sponsor check-ins—are often the very means by which lasting healing takes place, even when their benefits are not immediately apparent. The conversation concludes by considering how Catholic institutions can better accompany those struggling with addiction and emotional wounds, emphasizing the need for greater formation, compassion, and an integrated approach to healing that addresses the whole person.

Foundations of Recovery: Healing the Whole Person

In this episode of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley discuss the complexities of managing addiction recovery alongside mental illnesses, specifically addressing a listener's experience with sex addiction and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They emphasize that a strong recovery team should include a 12-step sponsor, a therapist, and a spiritual director, and stress the importance of finding specialized help for conditions like OCD or trauma, noting that trauma is often a factor in chronic relapse. The conversation concludes by underscoring the need to prioritize sobriety as the foundation for life, and then systematically address other areas of health—spiritual, physical, financial, and emotional—to achieve a life of purpose, joy, and peace.

First Things First: Keeping Recovery a Priority in a Busy Life

In this episode of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley addresses listener questions, first focusing on a seminarian's struggle to balance a busy formation schedule with the time commitment of 12-step recovery, followed by a definition of the term "dry drunk" as being abstinent but not yet fully converted in heart. They affirm the importance of prioritizing recovery as the foundation for life, and discuss sponsors' primary qualifications being sobriety and the ability to work the program.

Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Family Systems

In this episode of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley return from a hiatus to discuss their recent activities, including Father Sean's travels and Scott's work with Catholic in Recovery amidst a challenging ice storm. The primary topic is Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) or Adult Children of Dysfunctional Family Systems, which they explore by discussing its history, the broadening scope of trauma, and how the resulting traits can be an "unrefined superpower." They examine the 14 "laundry list" traits of adult children and conclude with encouragement to seek help and community through resources like ACA/ACOA groups and Catholic in Recovery meetings.