In Podcasts, The Inner Life

Overcoming Sin – The Inner Life – June 23, 2026

Patrick Conleyby Patrick Conley

Father Matthew Widder joins Deacon Patrick Conley to discuss Overcoming Sin

  • Resolving to sin no more in confession?
  • (4:43) What is sin really?
  • (11:34) The saints were very aware of their sins. Why was this?
  • (17:50) Mary Jane – When I go to confession, I am confessing that I am wishing that I am not taking care of my parents and wishing that I’m not here. I really miss my grandchildren, being free from working but can’t visit my family. Is that a sin?

(23:21) Break 1

  • (26:21) Enrique – Maybe I am being overly guilty and overly scrupulous according to my confessor. Perhaps some of the Saints were guilty of scrupulosity even with minor sins?
  • (30:23) Mary – When unwanted thoughts enter my mind, what should I do with those? Sometimes they come from nothing, or they come from past anger.

(38:35) Break 2

  • The importance of replacing sin in out lives with something else.
  • How to battle against the sin of gossip?
  • (43:25) Katie – My current husband is seeking an annulment. I go to confession regularly, as of a month ago, all my confessions have been invalid said a priest so I’ve stopped. They say it was because I’m living with my husband while he is going through annulment. Is this true?
  • Jean – Wondering about a sinful pattern of watching movies, staying up late, and eating too much all at once. How to overcome that?

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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.