Theology for the Unwanted

Between Idol and Icon: College Ministry, Certainty, and the Unwanted

Dan and Jon explore experiences with FOCUS missionaries, the tension between clarity and mystery in Catholic faith, and Jean-Luc Marion’s idol vs. icon distinction. They reflect on college campus ministry practices, pressure-filled recruitment, and how theological frameworks shape belonging for Catholics who feel unwanted.
The hosts share personal stories—from timeshare-style outreach to struggles with identity—and discuss how mercy, encounter, and authentic community can resist contractual approaches to faith.

Why Lent Isn't a Macho Contest. And using Latin to mask modern ideas

Dan and co-host Jon explore how Lent invites Catholics to remove the "masks" we wear—examining vocations, priestly identity, and recent stories of clergy and religious who left public ministry. They reflect on the meaning of "alter Christus," retreat experiences, and the Transfiguration as a call to real work beyond spiritual highs.
The episode urges listeners to support clergy, practice honest discernment, and use Lent to peel back layers and grow in authentic faith and service.

Pope Leo XIV’s Rooftop Move: What His New Housemates Signal

Dan and Jon unpack Pope Leo XIV’s move into the Apostolic Palace and the surprising appointment of Father Marco Billeri, an engineer-turned-canon lawyer, as a clue to the pope’s priorities.
They explore how that staffing choice could shape future language in canon law and the Catechism on topics like infertility, marriage, homosexuality, and liturgy, arguing for a pastoral shift toward unity, clarity, and mercy.

The Scene Of The Crime? Vulnerability in confession & the promise of Christ’s presence

In this episode of Theology for the Unwanted, hosts Dan and Jon record from a new basement setting and discuss difficult truths about abuse and vulnerability in the Church. They examine the CES report, problems around confession and power dynamics, and how theology can offer healing beyond legal and administrative responses.
The episode balances personal stories, conversion experiences, and practical advice—encouraging listeners to trust their instincts, seek accountability, and consider how the sacraments should reveal God’s presence and care for the vulnerable.

Grab bag questions! And why messiness in life is an opportunity to be like Mary.

Dan Tilson and co-host John Byram answer listener questions about annulments, same-sex attraction versus acting on it, family rejection, and how to respond to homophobic comments in church. They reflect on pastoral failures, the complexity of church processes, and practical ways to show care and challenge harmful language—calling the church to be like Mary, who holds things together amid brokenness.

Opening remarks at the book launch party.

Dan Tillson’s opening remarks at the launch party for the newly published book Theology for the Unwanted. Using the image of postwar rubble and the story of Vatican II, they argue that true moral life grows from grief, risk, and rebuilding connection, and invite those who feel excluded—gay, divorced, or worn by rules—to reclaim their place in the church.

A look inside my book. My pain as a closeted Catholic and how theology helped me move forward

Daniel Tillson and co-host Jon discuss Tilson’s new book, Theology for the Unwanted, exploring his journey from a conservative Catholic upbringing to intern work at the Vatican, coming out, and the church’s response to marginalized Catholics.
The episode covers discernment, church teachings versus lived reality, same-sex blessings, and how theology can guide those who feel pushed out of the Church toward dignity and belonging.

New Wineskins: Bishops Rethinking Human Nature and Church Practice

Hosts Dan and Jon explore Luke 5's parable of the new wineskins to ask how the Church can keep its core truths while renewing structures to meet modern human needs. They discuss Vatican trivia, Thomas Aquinas, Monsignor Massimo Lapponi, and a rising number of bishops calling for a fresh look at anthropology, pastoral care, and church discipline.
The episode examines three bishop types—administrators, theologians, and pastors—and considers gradual, compassionate approaches to issues affecting gay and divorced Catholics, mental health, and everyday struggles, while previewing the forthcoming book Theology for the Unwanted.

Respect Life Month. How to think like a Catholic theologian and not get trapped in politics

Hosts Dan and Jon mix light conversation and candid storytelling with deep reflection, from a government shutdown anecdote and two truths and a lie to memories of study abroad and encounters with St. Francis’s spirit in Pope Francis.
They explore the balance between charity and spirituality, discuss Respect Life Month and the March for Life through a theological lens rather than a purely legal one, and tease Dan’s forthcoming book, Theology for the Unwanted.

Clericalism, Politics, and Peace: A Vatican Reporter Keeps Her Faith

Vatican correspondent Colleen Dulle joins hosts Dan and Jon to discuss her book Struck Down, Not Destroyed and her reporting on the Synod, canonization, clericalism, and the ongoing abuse crisis. The conversation weaves personal testimony, practical ministry from Sant’Egidio, and reflections on holiness, evangelization, and how the Church can better listen and heal.
This episode balances reporting from Rome with intimate stories about grief, mental health, and community, offering both critique and hope for renewal within the Catholic Church.