Topic: Catholic History

A news item about a German Catholic bank divesting from contraception and weapons firms leads to a discussion on the historical banking power of the Catholic Church. Dvorak shares a theory from the History Channel suggesting that the Knights Templar fled to Switzerland and established the foundations of modern Swiss banking after being suppressed by the Pope.

A unique architectural site in Amsterdam's Old Town is a "hidden" Catholic church built into the upper floors of several canal houses. Constructed during a period when Catholicism was illegal in the Netherlands, the site features a full infrastructure including an organ and altar concealed from the street. Now a museum, it serves as a testament to the city's history of religious tolerance and clandestine worship.