In Podcasts, The Inner Life

Conscience and Catholic Guilt – The Inner Life – April 23, 2026

Patrick Conleyby Patrick Conley

Father Eric Nielsen joins Patrick to discuss Conscience and Catholic Guilt

  • (2:47) What is the Conscience?
  • Comparison Game
  • (14:32) Nick -In my own life before conversion, so many thing innate about me. Compared myself to others. Not seeing the plank in my eye and trying to remove the splinter in theirs. What got me away from the evil Father Talked about. Go before the tabernacle. Keeps me grounded and what the Lord wants me to know is the truth and follow.
  • (16:41) Mark – Everything is normalized in our society. Adultery, abortion, trans. etc. One big denial of sin. Having a conscience, you’re lucky to have some Catholic guilt. You gotta have some discipline and a strong will.

(19:24) Break 1

  • Email about the role of guilt in our life.
  • (22:48) how to form our Conscience?
  • (25:28) Lorraine – Once a catholic always a catholic. Have a best friend who hasn’t been a catholic for years. We use each other for reality checks to see if we did something right or wrong.
  • (31:21) Lewis – Is there such a thing as spiritual adultery?
  • Conrad – Guilt…and sins in my lifetime. I had a bad life growing up and I’ve repented and changed. Say the rosary everyday for 20 years or more. I was the black sheep. I was born a catholic and went off track.

(39:19) Break 2

  • (43:09) Bernice – Even when you believe you’re right, the holy spirit always helps you to reflect. My brother was getting on my patience, and I did not speak as a true Catholic who receives the body and blood of Christ. Started praying and found how my Catholic conscience helped.
  • (45:54) Josephine – I get a lot of thoughts of fear and shame and guilt and it takes away my peace. How do I deal with this?

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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.