Was the murder of Fr. Jacques Hamel by Islamic State militants an act of “absurd violence,” as Pope Francis suggests, or did it have clear religious motivations and implications? Matthew disagrees with First Things senior fellow Francesca Aran Murphy. Then, what are we to make of the two new vice-presidential nominees, each of whom is Catholic in his own way—Mike Pence the “Evangelical Catholic” and Tim Kaine the “Pope Francis Catholic”? Finally, Julia hosts a session of “Ask a Theologian.” Find out whether all dogs go to heaven, why the Pope Emeritus wears white, which way is liturgical East—and more!

This episode features music by Sergey Cheremisinov, Scott Holmes, and Unthunk.

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