Welcome, New Subscribers!
If you’ve just joined us after reading our essay on St. Marys—thank you, and welcome. Here’s a quick roadmap of what to expect here on Maxwell Kuzma as we roll out the High Control Catholicism series.
Every Monday, we release a new podcast episode, usually featuring a guest who shares their lived experiences within Catholicism. Today’s episode kicks off the audio portions of our High Control Catholicism series: we explain what we mean by “high control,” share some of the stories and feedback we’ve already received, and explore some of the distinctive devotional practices (like the Marian consecration chain bracelet by St. Louis de Montfort) that show up in these spaces. This episode is just the beginning—future episodes will dive deeper into specific communities, practices, and patterns of authoritarianism in Catholic contexts.
Every Wednesday, you’ll find a companion essay unpacking the podcast topic even further. These essays include extended reflections, analysis, and a full bibliography of resources and links we mention on the show—think of them as expanded, annotated show notes.
And on Fridays, we publish the next installment of the High Control Catholicism essay series. This week, we’ll turn our focus to Church Militant, with more essays on other groups and dynamics in the weeks to come.
We’re so glad you’re here, and we hope these conversations help you name and navigate what you may have encountered in your own church community.
Now—back to today’s episode.
What is high control Catholicism? It’s a term we use to describe a pattern of narrow, rigid, and often authoritarian religious practice within the Catholic Church—visible in places like Franciscan University of Steubenville, Opus Dei, the Society of St. Pius X, and St. Marys, Kansas. These groups vary in style, charism, and beliefs, but they share an emphasis on conformity, fear of difference, and fundamentalist interpretations of faith that leave little room for those who don’t fit the mold.
This series isn’t meant to be the definitive word on these groups—but we hope it offers language, insight, and a touchpoint for recognizing unhealthy patterns when they appear in your own parish or community.
Today’s episode touches on all of this and more—including some of the ritual and devotional practices that reinforce high-control dynamics.
You can listen to the podcast here on Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. And as always, we invite you to share your own lived experiences—whether with high-control Catholicism or any of the topics we explore. Your stories help keep this conversation alive.
In solidarity and love,
Max & Emma
And finally, a special thanks to our premium subscribers who make this work possible.
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