Fr. Sirico on Why Catholic Teaching Rejects Socialism, Marxism and Antisemitism | Robert Sirico

Fr. Sirico on Why Catholic Teaching Rejects Socialism, Marxism and Antisemitism | Robert Sirico

March 17, 2026 · 1h 21m

About this episode

Fr. Robert Sirico discusses his journey from left-wing activism to defending free markets and virtue, addressing the rejection of socialism, Marxism, and antisemitism in Catholic teaching.

Fr. Robert Sirico joins PragerU CEO Marissa Streit to discuss his journey from left-wing activism in Hollywood to becoming a leading defender of free markets and of virtue. They examine why socialism confuses coercion with compassion, why families and faith—not government—form moral citizens, and why the Right is not immune from chaos, conspiracy, and spiritual confusion. Fr. Robert Sirico reminds viewers Catholics must reject antisemitism and resist using the Church for political or financial power. Chapters: 00:00 Fr. Robert Sirico’s unlikely journey from socialist activist to Catholic priest 12:53 His gangster brother, The Sopranos, and a family unlike any other 18:02 The Holocaust, compassion, and what forms moral conscience 23:44 Chaos on the Left—and now on the Right 27:39 Catholicism, anti-Semitism, and the Jewish roots of Christianity 33:34 Loyalty, truth, and what to do when friends go wrong 38:13 Why economics matters more than politics 40:30 What the parables reveal about socialism, markets, and envy 56:23 Is it wrong to like nice things? Beauty, capitalism, and the good life 01:00:24 Should religious leaders stay out of politics? 01:07:04 The Acton Institute and the…

People in this episode

Host: Marissa Streit

Guest: Fr. Robert Sirico

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: PragerU, The Acton Institute

Books & works: The Sopranos

Places: Hollywood, Catholicism, Christianity

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