Featured on SmartCatholics
Twice a month, Dominic de Souza hosts a half-hour conversation with Fr Matthew Bartow and Karen Dear, to catch up on Pope Leo XIV's latest news.
Dominic de Souza
Founder
The busiest group in SmartCatholics, Where Peter Is shares daily feed of news and updates on what's happening in the Catholic Church.
Mike Lewis
Host, Editor
Twice a month, Dominic de Souza hosts a half-hour conversation with Fr Matthew Bartow and Karen Dear, to catch up on Pope Leo XIV's latest news.
Sr. Gabriela of the Incarnation, OCD
Host
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About SmartCatholics
In 2020, millions of Catholics round the world found their faith challenged by a global pandemic and rage-baiting on social media.
SmartCatholics formed around our first summit, A Renewed Hope. Then in 2021, we launched our online community, because we saw a deeper problem: few know what the Holy Father actually teaches.
Many platforms sideline the living magisterium of the popes, failing to take seriously the renewal happening in our faith. This causes concern and misunderstanding of the Gospel.
SmartCatholics decided that we're not waiting for academics and ‘professional Catholics’ to fix these problems. It's our call too.
For the first time ever, grassroots firstresponders like us have the tech, time, and tools to do something. Because a smarter faith leads to a smarter life.
Founder
Dominic de Souza
A convert from a radical Catholic traditionalist doomsday cult, Dominic was challenged by the words and witness of Pope Francis. His journey into communion with the Catholic Church caused a decade of deconstruction and rebuilding.
Dominic is passionate about radical hospitality, and all are welcome to join and share and ask questions. But with his team of moderators, he is also clear about radical boundaries, since trolls and narcissists have no respect for persons.
SmartCatholics is a haven for Catholics who believe that open minds and kind conversation comes before everything. We may not all agree, but we can still be friends.
And we don't park our brains at the door. We bring our smarts into the streets, the schools, the socials, and the sanctuary.
The SmartCatholics Code of Conduct
1. Commit to respect and kindness
I understand that respect and kindness build trust. Trust is needed so that everyone can thrive and discover their personal best.
2. Protect my community
I will build the community I want to be a part of, one conversation at a time. I will champion the needs of others, while striving to keep my activities welcoming to everyone.
3. Be my own last line of defense
I will help SmartCatholics keep me safe. I will be responsible with my activities, personal information, and conduct.
Why members love SmartCatholics
It’s not just faithfulness to Pope Francis that makes SmartCatholics special. It’s a willingness to see beyond the very rigid/conservative Catholic opinion of EWTN, the Bioethics Center, First Things, Catholic Answers.
They have defined RealCatholicism(tm) for way too long. And Francis is calling us to see beyond that. The conversation we had today would never happen at any of those other sources, Yet it’s fully orthodox, valid, and a positive contribution to the ongoing issue.
That’s what SC brings to the table.
Paul Fahey
Host of Pope Francis Generation
Thank you so much for what you do with this platform. It may not say much, but for what it’s worth, your work has saved my life and continues to feed my soul and bring me closer to God. I’m only one soul, but I’m sure I’m not the only one for whom the Holy Spirit worked through you to bring us back home. Thank you!
Hector R.
SmartCatholic family only consists of friends.
John W.
I’ve been doing a ton of poking around on SmartCatholics today and this is what I see. We are all united in Christ with many different abilities that make this platform beautiful. We have the recruiters, prayer warriors, counselors, technicians, comforters, teachers, and students. Many different branches coming and going back to the main source just like the Celtic symbol… Dominic, you have created something beautiful.
Melinda K
Shout out to everyone. I just love to be at SmartCatholics. Thank you all. So inspired of you.
Hermelyn C.
Praise God! A superb effort and results Dominic and team! Well done! God bless you all abundantly and this ministry!
Pravina S.
“I love our Smart Catholics Family! Thanks for creating an environment of kindness, respect, learning and support!”
Ruth A.
God bless the team for establishing this refuge from the storm and also for keeping it peaceful. Since I joined a year or so ago, there have been a couple of new members who have tried to disrupt our discussions and turn them into arguments. Both Dominic and Mike Lewis have very kindly and firmly ushered them out, to the great relief of the rest of us.
Sr Gabriela
I loved your comment that it’s the Facebook for Catholics, but no ads! :)
Yvette L.
The reason why I joined was just so I can scroll a newsfeed and it being beautiful and Catholic rather than Facebook which can be negative or secular. I want to be looking and scrolling something when I’m free that will uplift me. I have now talked with a couple people and it’s super cool being able to network with others.
Cassie S.
Smart Catholics are faithful Catholics. It’s important to me to be faithful to the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church founded by Jesus Christ… He taught us how to be smart Catholics in the first place! If it was important to Him, it should be important to us.
Tiffany B.
“Being a part of SmartCatholics is my very FAVORITE social media hangout, and I… thank all those who are helping in so many ways! I love that SmartCatholics is global so that I can make friends with other Catholics around the world.”
Beth S.
I am impressed by the quality and range of discussion and the app is quite versatile and user-friendly. Keep going; this is a contemporary way to engage Catholics to come forward! Awesome work!”
Adam P.
In my quest to grow in my faith and practice I have found one particular phrase tumbles off my lips over and over again. “Wait! How did I not know that???!!” But that is part of the beauty and joy of being a smart Catholic. No matter our age, stage of life, or closeness to sainthood we will always have questions… Being a smart Catholic means engaging our Catholic communities, the Church’s teachings, the help of the saints and our Holy Mother, and the gifts of the Holy Trinity to become even smarter Catholics.
Nicole S.
Awesomeness abounds at SC thank you all for your inspiring ways. It is such joy to be among such vibrant believers seeking to encourage each other and bring joy to encounter.
Gordana M
I wanted to see what SmartCatholics was about, as I love being Catholic and all about Catholicism. I was actually surprised at the warmth and spirituality of the messages and people on it. It’s keeping me closer to God. I used to always go on Facebook, but now it’s very shallow compared to SC. So I think it’s providence me being on SC! It’s what I’ve been searching for, and has brought me home!
Paola E.
“The spirit of the world does not want a community: it wants a mob, thoughtless, without freedom…
“It treats us as though we lack the ability to think for ourselves; it treats us like people who are not free. We must ask the Lord for the grace of intelligence, to avoid weak and restricted thought, thoughts beyond personal preference. The Holy Spirit gives us this gift: the intelligence to understand.”
Pope Francis, CNA
Disclaimer: The contributors to this website hold and express a diversity of views. Each contributor’s views are his or her own, and do not necessarily represent the views of the other contributors or of SmartCatholics. In essentials, we stand with the Catechism, and are faithful to the magisterium of Pope Francis. In all things, we search for unity, good will, and charity.