In Podcasts, The Inner Life

Witchcraft and the Occult – The Inner Life – October 23, 2025

Patrick Conleyby Patrick Conley

Fr. Sam Martin joins Patrick to discuss Witchcraft and the Occult

  • (3:02) what does the Church teach about the Occult?
  • (14:10) Dylan – Media and games and how they’re a source of entertainment. Dungeons and Dragons…along the lines of entertainment but banned by the church. Where is the boundary line with entertainment?

(22:32) Break 1

  • How do we test the spirits to know if something is from God or not?
  • (29:34) Rebecca – Could you speak about reiki? It has exploded in our area. What are the dangers of it?
  • Dina – My husband and I are Catholic. Just came from a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Champion. I have OCD. I am very phobic about this topic. I’ve seemed help from priests and am very afraid to get near anything that has to deal with witchcraft. What is the best way to deal with this?

(37:18) Break 2

  • Email – Can witchcraft be caused by a girlfriend?

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Patrick Conley

Patrick Conley

Patrick Conley was born, raised, and baptized in Wisconsin in a Protestant tradition. After meeting his wife, Kendra, through an Evangelical ministry at the University of Minnesota, they entered the Catholic Church in 2010. They listened to Relevant Radio, specifically The Inner Life, while preparing to enter the Church. Conley now holds a degree in theology from Oxford University and has served the Church in both academic theology and grassroots pastoral ministry. Conley teaches religion classes in a Catholic elementary school, serves as his parish Director of Religious Education, and is in formation for the permanent diaconate. He also hosts Practicing Catholic on Relevant Radio, exclusive to the Minneapolis area’s airwaves, and is a traveling presenter for the Catherine of Siena Institute apostolate. He lives in rural Wisconsin with his wife and their bulldogs, Georgie and Bingley.