How did Pope Leo XIV approach communication during his recent health crisis, and what do recent death penalty cases reveal about political divisions among American Catholics? On Driving Home the Faith, host Dr. Ken Craycraft welcomes back Christopher Altieri, Managing Editor at Crux, contributing editor for Catholic World Report, and author of Leo XIV: The New Pope and Catholic Reform.

Altieri evaluates the unprecedented openness surrounding Pope Leo XIV's personal announcement and transparent hospital recovery, contrasting it with past Vatican communications challenges. He also examines incoming communications leadership under Montse Alvarado. Turning to domestic issues, Altieri and Dr. Craycraft discuss the Catholic press coverage of high-profile death penalty cases—including the botched execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee—and reflect on how Catholic voters remain divided along broader political lines rather than a unified voting bloc. Stream now to listen!

How did Pope Leo XIV approach communication during his recent health crisis, and what do recent death penalty cases reveal about political divisions among American Catholics? On Driving Home the Faith, host Dr. Ken Craycraft welcomes back Christopher Altieri, Managing Editor at Crux, contributing editor for Catholic World Report, and author of Leo XIV: The New Pope and Catholic Reform.
Altieri evaluates the unprecedented openness surrounding Pope Leo XIV's personal announcement and transparent hospital recovery, contrasting it with past Vatican communications challenges. He also examines incoming communications leadership under Montse Alvarado. Turning to domestic issues, Altieri and Dr. Craycraft discuss the Catholic press coverage of high-profile death penalty cases&mdash;including the botched execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee&mdash;and reflect on how Catholic voters remain divided along broader political lines rather than a unified voting bloc. Stream now to listen!

Dr. Ken Craycraft hosts Driving Home the Faith, catching you up on what’s going on in the world, across the country and in our local Catholic community. 

Dr. Ken Craycraft hosts Driving Home the Faith, catching you up on what&rsquo;s going on in the world, across the country and in our local Catholic community.&nbsp;

Driving Home the Faith

Featured Interviews

Vatican Transparency and Capital Punishment: Christopher Altieri on Papal Governance and Catholic Political Divisions

Michael Pakaluk

Fr Nathan Cromly

Dr Joe Zalot

Matt Daniels

Fr Fred Jenga

Alan Migliorato

Ken Craycraft

Today Ken talks with Michael Pakaluk about the refounding of a storied Catholic publication, Alan Migliorato about whether Catholic families should celebrate Halloween, and much more — plus traffic and weather! Listen in at sacredheartradio.com/listen

The American Catholic Quarterly Review is at americancatholicquarterly.com

Find the Nov. 7th Cincinnati Woman’s Conference, and scores more Catholic events, at sacredheartradio.com/events

Read “Is Embryo Adoption Consistent with Catholic Teaching?” at churchlifejournal.nd.edu

The National Catholic Bioethics Center is at ncbcenter.org

The Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is at catholicaoc.org

Holy Cross Family Ministries is at hcfm.org

Stream the Global Rosary for Peace at 10 AM on Oct. 22nd  at https://hcfm.org/pray-for-peace/

Adventure Catholic Leadership Training is at adventurcatholic.com

Get “Failing Forward” at sophiainstitute.com

Today Ken talks with Michael Pakaluk about the refounding of a storied Catholic publication, Alan Migliorato about whether Catholic families should celebrate Halloween,&nbsp;and much more &mdash; plus traffic and weather! Listen in at&nbsp;<a href="http://sacredheartradio.com/listen">sacredheartradio.com/listen</a>
The American Catholic Quarterly Review is at <a href="https://www.americancatholicquarterly.com/">americancatholicquarterly.com</a>
Find the Nov. 7th Cincinnati Woman&rsquo;s Conference, and scores more Catholic events, at <a href="https://www.sacredheartradio.com/events/">sacredheartradio.com/events</a>
Read &ldquo;Is Embryo Adoption Consistent with Catholic Teaching?&rdquo; at <a href="https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/is-embryo-adoption-consistent-with-catholic-teaching/">churchlifejournal.nd.edu</a>
The National Catholic Bioethics Center is at <a href="https://www.ncbcenter.org/">ncbcenter.org</a>
The Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is at <a href="https://catholicaoc.org/offices/catholic-schools-office/">catholicaoc.org</a>
Holy Cross Family Ministries is at <a href="https://hcfm.org/">hcfm.org</a>
Stream the Global Rosary for Peace at 10 AM on Oct. 22nd&nbsp; at <a href="https://hcfm.org/pray-for-peace/">https://hcfm.org/pray-for-peace/</a>
Adventure Catholic Leadership Training is at&nbsp;<a href="http://adventurecatholic.com/">adventurcatholic.com</a>
Get &ldquo;Failing Forward&rdquo; at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sojolk8trk.com/9FFC47/FJBH6L/">sophiainstitute.com</a>

Driving Home the Faith 2026.10.20

Why is sacred architecture essential for Catholic worship, and how does the physical design of a church communicate theology and direct the soul toward the transcendent? On Driving Home the Faith, host Dr. Ken Craycraft welcomes back classical architect Eric Bootsma (Eric Bootsma Architect LLC) to discuss the profound symbolism inherent in church design.

Bootsma argues that architecture "cannot not symbolize," explaining how physical form always reveals what a community believes about God and the liturgy. Drawing on biblical typology—from the Old Testament Tabernacle and Temple to the cubic structure of the New Jerusalem in the Book of Revelation—he demonstrates how the traditional sanctuary and central placement of the tabernacle orient the faithful toward the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Bootsma and Dr. Craycraft also critique modern trends in "theater-in-the-round" church design, showing how subjective or horizontal layouts distract from transcendent worship and obscure Catholic doctrine. Stream now to listen!

Why is sacred architecture essential for Catholic worship, and how does the physical design of a church communicate theology and direct the soul toward the transcendent? On Driving Home the Faith, host Dr. Ken Craycraft welcomes back classical architect Eric Bootsma (Eric Bootsma Architect LLC) to discuss the profound symbolism inherent in church design.
Bootsma argues that architecture "cannot not symbolize," explaining how physical form always reveals what a community believes about God and the liturgy. Drawing on biblical typology&mdash;from the Old Testament Tabernacle and Temple to the cubic structure of the New Jerusalem in the Book of Revelation&mdash;he demonstrates how the traditional sanctuary and central placement of the tabernacle orient the faithful toward the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Bootsma and Dr. Craycraft also critique modern trends in "theater-in-the-round" church design, showing how subjective or horizontal layouts distract from transcendent worship and obscure Catholic doctrine. Stream now to listen!

Architecture as Symbol: Eric Bootsma on Sacramental Space and Sacred Form in Church Design Part 2

Is beauty objective, and how does classical architecture foster human flourishing while modern brutalism risks creating oppressive, inhumane spaces? On Driving Home the Faith, host Dr. Ken Craycraft welcomes award-winning classical architect and urban planner Eric Bootsma, principal of Eric Bootsma Architect in Richmond, Virginia, and former juror for the Catholic Art Institute's Bernini Awards.

Bootsma defines classical architecture as the discovery—rather than invention—of objective principles of beauty, order, and proportion rooted in Western tradition and the canon of classical design. He discusses exemplary works like Christ Chapel at Hillsdale College (designed by Duncan Stroik) and explains how architectural forms imitate nature and human bodily order. Bootsma and Dr. Craycraft also analyze "inhumane architecture," contrasting natural materials like stone and wood with the heavy, oppressive nature of excessive concrete and brutalist structures. Stream now to listen!

Is beauty objective, and how does classical architecture foster human flourishing while modern brutalism risks creating oppressive, inhumane spaces? On Driving Home the Faith, host Dr. Ken Craycraft welcomes award-winning classical architect and urban planner Eric Bootsma, principal of Eric Bootsma Architect in Richmond, Virginia, and former juror for the Catholic Art Institute's Bernini Awards.
Bootsma defines classical architecture as the discovery&mdash;rather than invention&mdash;of objective principles of beauty, order, and proportion rooted in Western tradition and the canon of classical design. He discusses exemplary works like Christ Chapel at Hillsdale College (designed by Duncan Stroik) and explains how architectural forms imitate nature and human bodily order. Bootsma and Dr. Craycraft also analyze "inhumane architecture," contrasting natural materials like stone and wood with the heavy, oppressive nature of excessive concrete and brutalist structures. Stream now to listen!

Vatican Transparency and Capital Punishment: Christopher Altieri on Papal Governance and Catholic Political Divisions

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