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Mar 2025
54m 27s

The Church Isn’t a Utopia, But It’s Righ...

Chris Stefanick | Real Life Catholic
About this episode

It’s no secret—within the Church we encounter many problems: scandals, division, human failure. If you’ve ever felt frustrated or even disillusioned, you’re not alone. A lot of people look at the mess and think, why stay?

In this episode, I sit down with Monsignor James Shea to break down what so many people get wrong about the Church’s struggles—and why the mess isn’t a reason to leave, but actually a reason to stay. Too often, we expect the Church to be perfect, but from the very beginning, it never was. One of Jesus’ own apostles betrayed Him—and yet, Christ still chose to build His Church on imperfect people, just like us.

We’re diving into some powerful and eye-opening topics, including:

Why people expect the Church to be perfect—and why that expectation will always lead to disappointment.

⚡ The biggest mistakes people make when trying to “fix” the Church—and how misguided solutions can actually make things worse.

The shocking way God heals corruption—through saints as the Church’s immune system—and how He raises up holy men and women to bring renewal in every generation.

Why utopian thinking leads to frustration, disillusionment, and even despair—and how we can shift our mindset to see the Church as Christ intended.

✝️ The powerful reason Jesus chose to build His Church on flawed, broken people—and how that should change the way we approach our faith.

Here’s the truth: The Church has never been perfect, not even in the time of the apostles. But history proves that when things look the darkest, God raises up saints to fight back. The scandals and struggles of today are real—but they’re not the end of the story.

If you’ve ever wrestled with doubt, discouragement, or disappointment in the Church, this episode is for you. Because the answer isn’t to run—the answer is to become part of the renewal. Holiness is the antidote. And maybe, just maybe, God is calling YOU to be one of the saints this generation desperately needs.

Watch now, and let’s talk about why the Church is still worth fighting for.

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