Conscience and Courage: Can You Disagree and Still Belong?

Can you stay rooted in a faith tradition even when you disagree with some of its teachings? What does it mean to follow your conscience and still be faithful?

In this episode, Brother Jay talks with Salina Bear: a Catholic feminist, lay theologian, and content creator about the complex and often misunderstood role of conscience in the life of faith. Together, they explore what it means to honor tradition without surrendering the call to think, question, and grow.

From Salina’s own journey into Catholicism to her bold engagement with feminist theology and moral discernment, this conversation invites listeners into a deeper reflection on belonging, obedience, and the spiritual life beyond fear.

Whether you're Catholic, curious, conflicted, or somewhere in between, this episode offers space to wrestle with your own questions—and maybe even make peace with them.

About our guest:

Salina Bear is a Catholic feminist, lay theologian, and content creator whose work centers on passionate exploration of Catholic tradition. She writes at the intersection of contemplative faith, feminist theology, and creative living, with a particular commitment to combining love of tradition with critical thinking. With bold honesty and deep inquisitiveness, Salina gently invites fellow believers out of fear and into spiritual formation. When she’s not reading papal documents, she’s probably rearranging her furniture, sipping an iced coffee, playing Baldur’s Gate 3, or getting lost in a very large fantasy novel. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and their cat, Blue. Find her on TikTok @salina.bear and on Substack @salinabear.