So, this lady named Linda from Kentucky called in with a problem that might sound familiar: her 36-year-old son, who left the Church, is super skeptical about things like the Crusades.

Patrick jumps in with the truth; most people really have no idea what the Crusades were actually about. Here’s his explanation which you’ll find helpful:

The Crusades weren’t some greedy Catholic land grab to crush Muslims and force conversions. Nope! It all started because Islam was spreading aggressively out of the Arabian Peninsula. They weren’t exactly sending missionaries and care packages; they were using military force. When they reached the Holy Land (yes, our Holy Land), things got ugly. Christian holy sites were taken over, knocked down, and replaced with mosques. Christians were being persecuted, forced to convert or live as “dhimmis” (third-class citizens). Many faced brutal consequences like their homes being taken, their stuff confiscated, and even women being forced into slavery.

The Catholic response? In 1095, Pope Urban II said, “This will NOT stand.” He called for a Crusade to liberate the Christians who were suffering. The goal wasn’t to conquer or convert Muslims. It was to help fellow Christians. Sure, there were bad actors (like some Crusaders who caused chaos in Constantinople), but those were outliers. The main purpose was defending Christian lands and people.

If Linda’s son wants to know the real truth, Patrick suggests she steer him toward some solid resources, like his book Pope Fiction or historical accounts by experts like Regine Pernoud.

💡 So, bottom line: The Crusades were far from the black-and-white narrative that gets tossed around today. There’s way more to the story!

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