Bannon’s WarRoom Battleground EP 913: “Signs of Catholic Revival Amid Massive Widespread Post-Conciliar Implosion”

Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Stephen K. Bannon (WarRoom.org) – Episode helmed by Benjamin Harnwell
Guests: Frank Walker (Canon212.com), Jenny Holland

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the current upheaval and potential revival within the global Catholic Church—especially in the United States and Europe—against the backdrop of what the hosts describe as a “massive, widespread post-conciliar implosion.” Anchored by the controversial appointment of Bishop Ronald Hicks as the new Archbishop of New York by Pope Leo, much of the discussion evaluates what this means for American Catholicism, the so-called “Bernardin/Obama” wing of the Church, the state of Catholic faith retention (with new polling statistics), and the battles facing Christians in a secular and increasingly Islamized Europe. Segments alternate between alarm, satire, and hope, as the hosts and guests critique Catholic hierarchy, analyze the roots of the Church’s collapse, and spotlight small but important signs of spiritual revival.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The New York Archbishop Appointment: Political & Spiritual Implications

[00:54–14:43]

• Bishop Ronald Hicks is named the new Archbishop of New York, replacing Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Hicks is described as a “spiritual son” of the notorious Cardinal Bernardin, implicated by some in the sexual abuse crisis and driving the Church leftward.

  • Frank Walker’s Reaction:
    • “Well, it sounds like terrible news to me. ... This is, I would call this an Obama church takeover of New York City. That’s what this is.” ([06:01])
    • The appointment is seen not as a sign of moderation (as some claim), but a reinforcement of the Church’s liberal, post-Vatican II, globalist, and “lavender mafia” orientation.
    • Concerns Raised:
      • Hicks’ lack of traditional liturgy in his diocese.
      • Geographical and ideological connections to Chicago—described as “the source of everything bad” in American Catholicism.
      • A “liberation theology” and Latin American influence, equated here with leftist/communist subversion.
      • Accusations about “pipeline of gay seminarians” and “effeminate, groveling” Church culture.

• Historical and Political Context:

  • Allegations tie Card. Bernardin to Barack Obama’s ideological education (with Saul Alinsky in LA), framing the appointment as the latest move in a decades-long “revolution” within the American Church.
    • “Cardinal Bernardin did pay personally out of the diocese to ship a young Barack Obama over... for lessons in community organizing by... Saul Alinsky himself. ... The first edition of [Rules for Radicals] was dedicated to Satan himself.” (Harnwell, [09:34])

• Wider Implications:

  • The discussion frames Pope Leo as the “vicar of globalism,” continuing “Bergoglia’s [Francis] revolution,” and deprioritizing spiritual renewal in favor of political maneuvering.
  • The Church is described as in demographic and spiritual decline: “They only have about 18 people trained to be priests for 300 parishes. I mean it’s entire collapse churchwide.” ([08:02])
  • Overarching view: The Catholic hierarchy is actively undermining tradition and driving away faithful believers.

2. The Pope’s Trip to Lebanon & Islam in Europe: “Disingenuous” Coexistence

[18:37–27:01]

• Pope Leo’s Advocacy for Interfaith Harmony:

  • Quoting the Pope:
    • “One of the great lessons Lebanon can teach the world is showing a land where Islam and Christianity are both respected and that there is a possibility to live together, to be friends... the example of Lebanon would be important also to be heard in Europe or North America.” ([20:47], Jenny quoting the papal pronouncement)
  • Panel’s Response:
    • Jenny Holland: “Using Lebanon, holding Lebanon up as an example of sectarian success is genuinely the most insane thing I have ever heard.” ([20:47])
    • Ben Harnwell: Dissects Lebanese demographic collapse—Christianity down from 53% to 15%—“That’s what ‘let’s all be friends’ gets you. No, thanks.” ([24:43])
    • Panel repeatedly describes the Pope's remarks as “disingenuous” and “tone deaf,” especially in the context of terrorist attacks and cultural displacement suffered by European Christians.
    • Memorable Satirical Moment:
      • Harnwell: “Tis the season to be martyred, to adapt a popular hymn to present times.” ([23:05])

• Concerns for Europe:

  • The hosts and guests argue that promoting coexistence without cultural confidence and strength is naïve.
    • Jenny: “Trump is right. It's peace through strength... Peaceful existence between religions can exist if the Christian nations are strong and are confident, but that is not what Europe is right now, folks.” ([26:49])

3. Polling and the Catholic Collapse vs. Revival Narrative

[31:14–42:39]

• Pew Society Poll Breakdown (Frank Walker):

  • “13% of Americans are former Catholics, most falling away because they no longer believe that crap, are tired of the perverts and or their bad politics.” ([31:14], cited from Canon212)
  • Only 57% of Catholics in the US retain their childhood faith—lowest of all major religions (Hindus 82%, Muslims 77%, Jews 76%, Protestants 70%).
  • Very little Protestant-to-Catholic conversion; far more Catholics become Protestants.

• Collapse vs. Revival:

  • While headlines and some articles tout a “huge rebirth” and growth among youth Catholics, the polling evidence (and the hosts’ local observations) show ongoing decline at the institutional level.
  • “Nobody becomes a religion to follow a political stunt, which is what they have.” (Frank Walker, [35:21])
  • Harnwell and Jenny: The “revival” among laity—especially the young—is real but small; simultaneously, the wide base is collapsing as non-practicing or culturally Catholic families drop even nominal identification.
    • “What you have is a movement in opposite directions. ... the falling away of people who were never Catholic in the first place and then a growing intensity... in a smaller minority.” (Harnwell, [38:29])

• Hierarchy vs. Laity Dynamic:

  • Jenny: “The laity is going to revive and rebuild, and they're going to detach from the hierarchy. That's what all of these stories show us.” ([49:45])

4. Signs of Grassroots Revival: France and Confession

[45:49–49:33]

• France Sees Rising Practice Among Faithful:
  • A recent survey found 50% of weekly Mass-going Catholics in France now receive confession, a challenging and deeply countercultural act.
    • Jenny: “A return to tradition is in the air.” ([45:49])
    • The renewal is seen especially in traditional practices, against a backdrop of social and cultural collapse.
  • Harnwell is skeptical about the number but praises any gain in serious practice: “If that is true, the spiritual fruits of Catholics in France right now will be so great we cannot... have an idea of what that will do to transform that country.” ([48:45])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Walker on US Church Direction:
  “This is, I would call this an Obama church takeover of New York City. That’s what this is.” ([06:01])

• Harnwell on Church Rot:
  “Like a fish, it rots from the head down. You get someone in who's bad at the top... then you even have bishops who had been reasonably good... just become immediately useless...” ([06:21])

• Panel on Islam in Europe:
  Jenny: “Using Lebanon as an example of successful interfaith integration is like saying you’re like the tallest dwarf in midgettown.” ([25:06])

• Walker on Catholic Polling:
  “Nobody becomes a religion to follow a political stunt...” ([35:21])

• Jenny on Laity’s Role:
  “The laity is going to revive and rebuild, and they're going to detach from the hierarchy.” ([49:45])

• Harnwell’s Satirical Hymn:
  “Tis the season to be martyred, to adapt a popular hymn to present times.” ([23:05])

Important Timestamps by Segment

• Appointment of Bishop Hicks: [00:54–14:43]
• Pope’s Lebanon Trip / Islam in Europe: [18:37–27:01]
• US Catholic Collapse and Pew Study: [31:14–42:39]
• France’s Confession Revival: [45:49–49:33]

Final Takeaways

• The War Room panel presents a deeply skeptical, at times conspiratorial reading of recent developments in the American and European Catholic Church—identifying a newly emboldened progressive wing, institutional decay, and “globalist” manipulation at the top.
• Despite this dire assessment, they spotlight an energetic, youthful countercurrent of traditionalism and lay revival, insisting that “organic Christianity” is on the rise even as much of the institutional Church collapses.
• The tension between the hierarchy’s priorities and the authentic faith of committed laity is repeatedly emphasized as the axis on which the Church’s future will turn.

For more analysis on Church and culture from this team, listeners are directed to Frank Walker’s Canon 212, Jenny Holland’s Substack, and the WarRoom.org platforms.