Ep. 2. 40: Archbishop Kenrick Begins

This episode explores the extraordinary 51-year tenure of Archbishop Peter Kenrick, one of the longest-serving bishops in American Catholic history. Monsignor and Teresa recount Kenrick’s controversial role at the 1866 Baltimore Council, where his final sermon emphasized the bishops’ collective responsibility to preach the Gospel—sparking tension with Archbishop Spalding and the Vatican over papal authority. The discussion follows Kenrick’s financial struggles, including disputes over the bishop’s bank and his surprising introduction of pew taxes, which drew criticism from Rome. Finally, the episode sets the stage for growing mistrust between Kenrick and the Curia as the Church braces for the First Vatican Council amid global challenges and papal efforts to unify Catholicism.