Holy Smoke

Michael Nazir-Ali: Pakistani Christians fear backlash over Lambeth Palace award

Pakistani Christians could face renewed persecution following the Archbishop of Canterbury’s decision to withdraw an honour to a leading Muslim cleric, Monsignor Michael

Catholic Burnham barred: should the law change?

Andy Burnham has announced his intention to change a law which bars him from advising the King on appointments to the Church of England. The Victorian-era law explicitly

Are you having a 'nun girl summer'?

Why are young women suddenly fascinated by nuns? From ‘nun girl summer’ on TikTok to a wider ‘quiet revival’ of Christianity among Generation Z, the religious life appear

Plastic Parsons: why Quentin Letts fears for the parish church

Is the Church of England slowly abolishing the parish priest? A new model of ‘oversight ministry’ promises team-based leadership and a greater role for lay volunteers – b

Wandering bishops, rival popes & schismatic churches

What happens when a bishop breaks with Rome but still claims apostolic succession? Damian Thompson is joined by historian Magnus Lundberg, Professor of Church and Mission

How Project Spire will hurt England's parishes

In this week’s episode of Holy Smoke, Damian Thompson is joined by Madeline Grant to dive into the contentious topic of Project Spire, the Church of England's ambitious p

Coffee House Shots: Britain's first Catholic PM

Is Andy Burnham the country's first catholic Prime Minister, and how might it influence his leadership? Despite his faith drawing him to Labour, he doesn’t attend mass an

When Mary Calls: why Protestants are praying to the Mother of God

For many Christians, devotion to the Virgin Mary is deeply moving. For others, it raises uncomfortable theological questions. Is the veneration of Mary a vital part of Ch

How religion shapes football

From idolising players to faithfully following a club, football is often described as the world’s secular religion. But religion has long been woven into the fabric of th

Was America meant to be a Christian nation?

It might be 250 years since the Declaration of Independence but the document continues to prove controversial, with political groups arguing over the intention behind the

The Pope & the SSPX: is this a permanent schism?

On Wednesday morning the ultra-traditionalist Society of St Pius X (SSPX) consecrated four bishops in defiance of Pope Leo XIV. Those bishops and the two who consecrated

Pope Leo, Max Weber & the dark side of charisma

Is Pope Leo XIV quietly reversing the mistakes of his predecessor – or is he a Francis II, a ‘Bergoglio in nicer vestments’?  Damian Thompson presents his argument in fa

Are Mormons Christian?

For Christians and non-Christians alike, Mormons remain a bit of an enigma – especially in the UK. In the US however there are almost 7 million and they punch above their

Mexico, the Catholic Church & the rise of the cartel cults

Friend of Holy Smoke Fr. Alexander Lucie-Smith joins Damian Thompson to talk about the complicated relationship between the drug cartels in Mexico and the Catholic Church

Michael Gove on why the Pope's AI intervention shames our politicians

The Spectator's editor Michael Gove ‘was born into a sternly Presbyterian culture’, but – in this week's magazine – is ‘giving thanks to the Pope’ for producing Magnifica

One year of Pope Leo – a promising start?

One year on from when Pope Leo became head of the Catholic church and he remains a bit of an enigma. Is he a Conservative or Liberal? What did we learn from his clash wit

Is Pope Benedict’s Ordinariate for ex-Anglicans finally going to realise its potential? 

In 2009 Pope Benedict XVI upset liberals by creating the Ordinariates, new self-governing structures for ex-Anglicans who wanted to preserve their ‘patrimony’ in their wo

Why has Trump picked a fight with the Pope?

Donald Trump’s latest clash with the Pope has stunned even the more hardened of America-watchers. According to the President of the United States Chicago-born Pope Leo XI

How homosexuality has torn apart the United Methodist Church

The United Methodist Church has experienced a sharp decline over the past century, from an estimated 11 million members in the 1950s to around 4 million now. However, ove

How would you sell Christianity today? with Rory Sutherland

Advertising guru – and the Spectator's Wiki Man – Rory Sutherland joins Damian Thompson to try and tackle the question 'how would you sell Christianity – today?' If relig