Should CATHOLICS associate with RUSSELL BRAND? Gavin Ashenden examines. Monday 8th July Member news 

I watch Russel Brand's podcasts on Rumble most nights and find him an intelligent and thoughtful commentator. He freely admits he is a recovering drug addict and alcoholic and he seems to be genuine. I hope he manages to continue on that path.

Have people forgotten the disgraced Shia Lebeuef? His interview with Bishop Barron brought my 40 year old son back to his faith and he’s now attending the FSSP TLM (same with my youngest son)

I've got mixed feelings about Bishop Barron, but him talking to a sinner is not something I have a problem with. We're all pretty rotten, after all.

I am a 73-year-old disabled American expat living in Peru and cradle Lutheran who is studying in preparation for converting to Catholicism. I have found your podcast of inestimable value on my journey.Thank you for your thoughtful and informative commentary on Catholic topics. I am a regular viewer up here in the High Andes.

Russels very public journey from hedonism to Christianity must be thought provoking for many people. power to him. God is using him. I'm a catholic and wish my family were do as good.

Thank you Katherine Bennett for such excellent coverage on the subject of human value. I’m sure the smile on Gavin’s face is saying just how much he appreciates your contribution to the subject. Catholic Unscripted is now my number one daily pint!

I’m a new member I love your humour as much as your wisdom and knowledge on the Catholic faith.

Heaven rejoices when one sinner repents. Isn’t that what Russell is doing?

This is a moment for Christians to show our Father’s love ❤

This segment is why I love Catholic Unscripted.

I feel rather not so much at home anymore in the Catholic Church than I used to, but You guys give me back that good old familiar feeling the home is still there and kicking. Thank You. God bless.

Thank you once again, stellar discussion on issues which should interest all Catholics.

Like Gavin I detested Russell Brand but I've been following his journey for sone time and I'm delighted he has turned to Christ. Let's pray that he stays the course.

Great discussion as always! Katherine’s points in this discussion specifically were beautifully and powerfully made-had me on the verge of tears to be honest. Thank you.

You ought to make this episode available to the general public.

After all the stress of work today, sitting down with the back door open & listening to these guys is a pure joy. Thank you for bringing peace to my heart

Mary,Seat of Wisdom continue to guide Russell and others to your son our Savior Jesus Christ

@25:55 Calls to mind the bar scene in My Left Foot, right after Christy Brown was born severely handicapped, his dad ends up punching out the lights of a rude man who suggested he was at the end of his breeding days and should "tie a knot in it" after fathering a defective child. It's a fine film!🤗 Much love to cousin Lynne, she's in my prayers tonight.

The theologian should read about Rudolf Hoess - commandant of Auschwitz, who reverted prior to his execution. None of us are worthy, we are all sinners, yet Christ loves us. Sadly, this is the result of the rot of feminism that distorts everything.

The kind of absolute anti-utilitarian reflex of Katherine and the immediate selfcorrection of Gavin that followed it, is proof of the wonderfull team you are, with Marc. Thank you for your carefulness and utter sincerity.

I absolutely love Russell Brand. I've been praying for him for a very long time.

Beautiful! Happy Birthday to your Dad on his 90th birthday! 🙏✝️✝️✝️

How dare someone interview someone whose views don't align with mine! 🤦🏼‍♀️ That person taking offense in Bishop Barron interviewing Russel Brand is seriously lacking in intellectual honesty.

The conversion of Russell Brand is a miracle we should all rejoice in! I am sure Heaven is rejoicing and it was wonderful to see him humbly and quite unself-consciously saying the rosary online recently. Apparently, his wife is a Catholic and we need to pray that he becomes one too.

Longford, showed admirable Christian gifts by his prison visits and help of prisoners, but a word of caution, an infamous prisoner humiliated, used and abused his trust whilst, (in my opinion), feigning conversion. Personally, I never liked Brand, for similar reasons to Gavin, if Brand has genuinely found Christ, great and yes, it's the duty of Christians to talk to and engage with anyone, no matter what they've done.

Great to hear a bit of good news and excellent commentary on the life issues.

Russell Brand seems sincere. I didn't know all of his background but if he is sincere, it is fabulous arc. We all have done things, that by the Grace of God, we are doing our best to leave behind. Katherine is right, Russell was surrounded by a society that rewarded bad behavior.

"There is no offence, however serious, that the Church cannot forgive" (CCC 982). We also mustn't forget that Russell Brand's wife is a Catholic. I'm sure it is she who has quietly influenced her husband behind the scenes. They now have 3 lovely children together and have weathered the storm of lurid accusations about Russel's past. Honestly, when you see these two together, they are an enchanting couple and now apparently, love to pray the Rosary - so God Bless them both.

The atonement, in operation for the redemption of fallen Mankind........Let the devils win nothing!!!

Thank you so much, Katherine for uour discission about the value of all human souls with reagrd to the tragedy of abortion. It actually was a good discussion to follow that of russell brand and his ragged soul. All catholics regardless of past sin or infirmity have a place in Our Lord's church and in heaven. Who are we to say otherwise?

Very well said, excellent discussion.

Bishop Barron followed the example of Jesus. It is his duty to engage with sinners. I can't understand why any Christian would have a problem with that?

Thank you

I'm guessing that you guys are not in jobs and localities where you daily meet poor people with criminal records, mental health issues and alcohol and drug addictions. Having known many such individuals, I can say nearly half believe in God, but for the most part don't attend any church. Some attend various churches now and again and have in some cases engaged with Christianity chaplaincy services whilst in prison. The point I'm making, I suppose is, that thank God they never had the unfortunate luxury of protecting themselves from everything that they simply don't like.

Love love love this - just stumbled upon - podcast!

This channel should have way more subs. It offers a balanced and intelligent view on matters of the faith. You are right, it's not up to Bishop Barron to judge Brand for his past actions. He seems to be on the path of redemption as far as I can tell from his recent content. In the end God knows what's in his heart and if he's truly sorry for his past.

This was a very good video you hit right on the heart of Christ as far as I can tell on these issues. You guys are certainly getting better at communicating that heart as well.

yes Russell is an interesting man , confessed, forgiven, redeemed. Likely evangelical church.

Considering who Jesus spoke to Bishop Barron and for that matter The Pooe talks to everyone,pope francis has been on his lnees washing and kissing the feet of war lords prisoners drag trans etc.

Should Catholics be treated like adults with GOD GIVEN powers of reason and discernment? Or should we be treated like sheep? If he's high on conversion or not acting in good faith, it'll show. And open discussion is always good.

Gavin may be using neurodiverse in an unconventional manner. It isn't generally applied to people with physical disabilities, but to people who interact with the world in unconventional ways. This definition has been broadened from those with challenging conditions like autism, to what we used to call eccentrics and people who choose to present as socially testing. Neurodiversity is rooted in physicalist readings of brain function, and a determinist biological paradigm.

Well said. The Church cannot have a cancel culture against repentant sinners.

Others have pointed out that Russell was rewarded when he was engaging in terrible behaviour, but now that he has turned away he is being punished by the very same who enabled him. Makes you think.

If Russell Brand is to 'shunned' then I advise that you should cancel my membership to Catholic Unscripted and I should probably be denied communion! Turning 70, I have many years to look back upon and I can say, I made an absolute cock-up of my entire life! WHat I have done and what I have failed to do which means necessarily, that my poor decisions affected many as well; but I do know that Our Lord's love and mercy are unfailing and so I rejoice that Russell Brand is coming to know the depth of that love and mercy. There are many, perhaps most who have not the need for mercy as I have yet is there any among us whose life has not been redeemed by Our Lord? I know the mercy I have been shown and want everyone to encounter Jesus and His Mercy as well! Welcome Russell! Rejoice- you are loved! As for the 'theologian': so you would cast the first stone?

Islam's unforgiveable sin is apostasy.

May I ask: what was Katherine’s article that Stephen reacted against?

As a feminist who is also a Catholic, I would have some questions in my mind about how Gavin in this piece understands feminism. Feminists differ among themselves on many things; it's not one big monolith. It's somewhat intellectually lazy to present it as such. And as a feminist (i.e. a person who believes in the equal dignity of women), I would feel that the Church might wish to consider the feelings of the many women out there who have been sexually assaulted in their lives, and what it says to them that this individual is being given a platform so soon in his journey. Time will tell if his conversion is genuine, and I think it would be more appropriate if he had extensive spiritual counsel prior to using his conversion to gain public traction. By the way, Bishop Barron is entitled to speak to whoever he wants. However, many people within the Catholic Church might wonder a little about this, and with some justification, in the context of what the Church has itself dealt with in the last few years. It all just seems a bit premature to me, feminism or no feminism.

More importantly, should Catholics associate with Baron!

No

Who are they talking about?

Like all human love, it can at times be deformed; love for our children can be a projected form of self love, that is why a person can pour himself out for his family members, but not give anyone else the time of day. Not sure where i am going with this ! Oh yes. CS Lewis book The Four Loves is a great mirror to reflect our own motives, when we say we LOVE.

I have no opportunity or particular desire to associate with Russell Brand. Got nothing against him either. I don't know him. I see nothing wrong with talking to him. I have problems with a lot of things that a lot of people have done, in and out of the Church. Doesn't mean I wouldn't talk to them. None of us is perfect.

Pride!

I feel that Brand should step away from the limelight and public eye as this was used by him in the past as a vehicle to facilitate his sinful actions.

There is nothing more dislikable to me than a wokist or a stalinist but there is also nothing more to rejoice at than their coming to Christ and their efforts to understand themselves, have done with their former pride recognizing it gladly and maybe also with some pain for the damage done. Nice wickedly sceptic smile of Katherine when Gavin was doing his bit on each man having his meal cooked for him. I bet she tought it better for Brand if he now at least started cooking his own.

Who is Russel Brandt?

Excellent discussion as usual - Catherine speaking particularly movingly. However I felt there was a bit of feminism-bashing today that could be not quite warranted (I'm all for warranted feminism-bashing!). Firstly regarding Russel Brand: I don't know who this theologian is or why exactly he objected to Bishop Barron talking to RB - but it may not be due to Brand's former ill-treatment if women so much as his outspoken and very brave critique of globalism, the official COVID narrative, climate change hysteria and so forth. He's denounced by many establishment sources as a "conspiracy theorist" simply because he questions and challenges mainstream assumptions that have become de facto articles of faith in the secular religion. Unfortunately the Vatican also seems to endorse these assumptions, so perhaps if this theologian concurs with the Vatican he feels Bishop Barron shouldn't associate with a "heretic" like Brand? He may feel he's just too controversial. I may be wrong about that if course. The second point is about late-term abortions: I don't think the majority of late-term abortions take place for feminist reasons, but because scared and vulnerable women are pressured by the increasingly eugenicist medical profession into ending these babies' lives. They are given no support, and are even made to feel selfish and irresponsible should they opt to give birth to a disabled child. I work as a counsellor, and two of my female clients came to me severely traumatised having been put under enormous pressure to have their disabled babies aborted - and having done so, the guilt, shame and grief was so intense - yet medical staff and family, partners, friends etc all failed to acknowledge their agony, only trying to reassure them that they "did the right thing" and it was "all for the best" - when the women themselves knew that was a lie. It's the same anti-life ethos behind this as the push for euthanasia: a dark and ruthless eugenics agenda that uses "feminism" as a handy excuse. Of course women have been brainwashed over many decades to buy into this anti-life agenda, which actually harms them.

Jesus sat down with sinners...

One cheer for us Anglicans!

Instead of a pharisee it sounds more like the prodigals brother?

This discussion is predicated on Brand being genuine. He might not be.

At last someone else who doesn't really know what Russel Brand has / supposed to have done. All I've ever known is he always looked a but unwashed.

Height of privilege laughs at thalidomide victim

White afrikaans ? Come on!!!

I don’t trust Brand at all.

Galloway and now Brand, who next?

I did find this all rather boring and predictable…..I wonder if the guy who has withdrawn from Barrons Fire stuff has had enough of Barron’s theology and his decision to leave has nothing to do with Brand’s wonderful conversion ?

Glad to be Russian Orthodox and safe in Holy Russia.Few Catholics here, thankfully.

One has to of course acknowledge that the main reason for Russell being attacked was his political/social views. His supposed sexual misdemeanours were merely the pretext for trying to shut him up.