Jesuitical

The Indigenous sister risking her life to protect the Amazon Nov 15, 2024

On this week’s episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac are joined by Sister Laura Vicuña Pereira Manso, an Indigenous activist fighting to protect the Amazon rainforest and serve its people. As the current vice president of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon region (known as CEAMA) and a 2019 auditor of the Synod for the Pan-Amazon Region, Sister Laura has met with Pope Francis to make the case for women’s ministries, including restoring women deacons.

They discuss:

- Sister Laura’s experience at Amazon Synod, and whether synodality “works”

- What a typical day looks like when you are ministering to Indigenous communities in the Amazon and struggling against powerful (and violent) corporations.

- What she would say to those who criticize women deacons as a “Western obsession”

Links for further reading:

A Franciscan sister joins the fight for Indigenous rights in Brazil

A nun makes the case for women deacons to Pope Francis

What you need to know about the 2019 Synod on the Amazon

Brazilian Cardinal talks restoring women deacons, ordaining married men at synod press briefing

Synod Diary: Women deacons are not a ‘Western’ obsession

We’d like to give a special thanks to our translators, America O’Hare fellow Leilani Fuentes and Ellie Hidalgo of Discerning Deacons, who helped with the translations for this episode.

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Donald Trump won—again. Unpacking the Catholic vote and what comes next Nov 07, 2024

On this week’s episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac are joined by America magazine’s editor in chief, Sam Sawyer, S.J., to discuss the results of the 2024 presidential election, in which Donald Trump defeated the sitting vice president, Kamala Harris.

They discuss:

The Catholic vote in the election and how it differed from previous elections
How Catholic leaders might respond to a second Trump presidency
The role of faith and trust in God in the face of political turmoil

Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media at americamagazine.org/subscribe

Links for further reading:

The day after Trump’s victory: searching for mercy, justice and God’s providence

Five political takeaways from the 2024 election

Voters in 3 states reject abortion ballot measures, defying trend around country

Trump courted white Catholics—and they helped him win the White House again

Donald Trump won: 5 Catholic takeaways

Donald Trump defeats Kamala Harris to become the 47th president of the United States

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Cardinal Tobin on the synod and the future of women deacons Oct 28, 2024

At the end of the second session of the Synod on Synodality, Jesuitical’s co-host Zac Davis and producer Sebastian Gomes spoke with Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, about the synod’s final document, which kept open the question of women’s access to the diaconate. The cardinal also spoke to the urgent need for initiating processes of communal decision-taking in parishes and for greater accountability to synodality among U.S. bishops.

Thank you for following Jesuitical’s coverage of the Synod on Synodality. It was sponsored in part by the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University.

Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America Magazine and stay up to date on Catholic news and analysis.

Links:

Synodality—and ‘controversial’ issues—are here to stay: Takeaways from the Synod’s final document

Pope Francis says he will not write his own exhortation on synod, publishes members’ final document

Women Deacons and the Catholic Church: A Video Explainer

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Father James Martin on making history at the Synod on Synodality Oct 25, 2024

On the eve of the highly anticipated publication of the final report for the Synod on Synodality, Jesuitical host Zac Davis and Inside the Vatican host Colleen Dulle speak with their colleague and synod delegate James Martin, S.J., about his experience this month inside the second assembly.

Zac and Colleen discuss:

- The atmosphere at this year’s synod assembly compared to last year’s

- How controversial topics like L.G.B.T. issues and women’s ordination have been tackled

- The deep conversion that took place among the members and the long-term impact of this gathering on the global church

Jesuitical’s synod coverage is sponsored in part by the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University.

Links from the show:

The Jesuit roots of the synod’s ‘conversations in the spirit’

‘Palpable outrage’: Synod delegates react to women deacons study group meeting

Synod Diary: The Vatican Curia is still learning synodality

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How synodal is the U.S. church? Oct 24, 2024

It is no secret that the reception of the synod in the United States has been uneven. Whether you participated in a synod listening session, or even heard about the Synod on Synodality when it was launched by Pope Francis three years ago, likely depends on whether your pastor or bishop made it a priority. To get a sense of the ways the synod is (and isn’t) taking root in the U.S. church, we spoke with Michael Sean Winters, a columnist covering the Catholic Church for National Catholic Reporter and a fellow at the Center for Catholic Studies at Sacred Heart University.

Zac, Ashley and Sebastian ask Michael Sean:

- Whether the Vatican gave bishops the time and resources needed to make the synod a success

- About the common claim that the U.S. church, where lay men and women already hold positions of authority in dioceses and chanceries, is already “synodal”

- If the synod process can help to reduce the polarization among U.S. Catholics

Links from the show:

Michael’s column at NCR

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Jesuitical’s synod coverage is sponsored in part by the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University.

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A synod insider on making your parish synodal Oct 23, 2024

We are in the final stretch of the Synod on Synodality, and the question that looms large in and outside the synod hall is: Will this process give us concrete results? But some Catholics aren’t waiting for the synod’s final document or Pope Francis’ post-synod apostolic exhortation to start bringing synodality down to earth in practical ways. Avril Baigent, a facilitator at this year’s synod assembly, is a co-founder of the School for Synodality, a project that supports the synodal conversion of the Church in England and Wales.

Zac and Ashley ask Avril:

- What does synodal discernment look like in families, parishes and dioceses?

- Does every decision in the church need to be made “synodaly”?

- Is the “conversations in the spirit” method capable of producing concrete proposals?

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Sebastian discuss the lack of transparency around the synod’s Study Group 5, tasked with looking at the possibility of the female diaconate, which has led to “palpable outrage” among delegates and damage control on the part of the Vatican. Plus, the Vatican announced on Monday that Pope Francis will release the fourth encyclical of his pontificate, “Dilexit Nos” (“He Loved Us”), on the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Links from the show:

‘Palpable outrage’: Synod delegates react to women deacons study group meeting

‘Dilexit nos’: Pope to publish encyclical on Sacred Heart of Jesus

Learn more about the School for Synodality

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Listening to the critics of the synod Oct 18, 2024

From the beginning of his papacy, Pope Francis has encouraged Catholics to speak boldly and to air their criticisms openly. Since, the pope initiated the three-year Synod on Synodality, critics of the process have done just that. One such critic is George Weigel, a distinguished senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and the author of numerous books including his latest, To Sanctify the World: The Vital Legacy of Vatican II.

To better understand the concerns of those who are skeptical of the synod, Zac and Ashley spoke with George, who is in Rome contributing to First Thing’s “Letters from the Synod” series. They discuss:

- The confusion around what synodality really means and whether the synod is a good use of the church’s “evangelical energy”

- Whether George sees the synodal process as inherently problematic or if he’s more concerned about who is, and isn’t, in the synod hall

- Whether the synod is in accordance with the vision of church articulated at the Second Vatican Council

In Signs of the Times, Zac discusses where we are in the synod process and looks ahead to the drafting of the assembly’s final document.

Links from the show:

The Synod on Synodality at the halfway point

Letters from the Synod

Jesuitical’s synod coverage is sponsored in part by the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University.

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A Catholic Arab born in Israel still has hope for the synod—and peace in the Holy Land Oct 16, 2024

Margaret Karram, was in Rome as a member of the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 7, 2023 when she learned her homeland, Israel, was under attack. Margaret, a Catholic Arab born in Israel, is also the president of the Focolare Movement, a lay Catholic organization that promotes unity and fraternity in countries around the world. Though part of her felt she should leave Rome, she ultimately decided that the experience of synodality could help Catholics to become “bridges of peace” in places, like the Holy Land, where hope for a just end to the conflict is all but lost. Ashley and producer Sebastian Gomes speak with Margaret about her upbringing, the Focolare Movement and her experience inside the synod hall.

They ask:

- What it was like to learn about Hamas’ attack on her homeland on Oct. 7 while in the synod hall

- About the difficulties and blessings she experienced growing up as a Catholic Arab in a majority Jewish neighborhood in Haifa, Israel

- How the Focolare charism of dialogue and unity can keep Catholics from despairing when we face situations like the war in the Holy Land, where peace seems impossible

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the ecumenical prayer service held for synod delegates on the 62nd anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. The vigil was held at the site of St. Peter’s crucifixion and included readings from Vatican II documents by fraternal delegates. Plus, in the synod hall, delegates have begun their discussion on Part III of the instrumentum laboris on “Places,” that is, how the church lives and proclaims the Gospel in particular contexts and cultures.

Links from the show:

Synod Diary: At the synod’s ecumenical prayer service, a cry for unity in a world at war

Cardinal Hollerich: Church is rooted in places and cultures

Learn more about the Focolare Movement

Jesuitical’s synod coverage is sponsored in part by the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University.

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What is (and isn’t) the role of bishops in a synodal church? Oct 11, 2024

While it might not generate as many headlines as women deacons or L.G.B.T. Catholics, the role of the bishops has emerged as one of the most prominent—and controversial—topics of the Synod on Synodality. Two of the 10 study groups established by Pope Francis are dedicated to bishops, and the pope used his opening address at the final session of the synod in Rome to defend his decision to include lay people as voting members in a Synod of Bishops.

Few people are better equipped to dig into questions around the role, qualifications and selection of bishops than Tom Reese, S.J., a senior analyst at Religion News Service and former editor in chief of America magazine. Tom has written several books about the history and structure of the episcopacy and has covered synods since the 1980s. Zac, Ashley and Sebastian talk to Tom about:

- How the process of choosing bishops has changed from the apostolic age to today

- The qualities we should look for in a bishop—holiness, theological smarts or administrative skill?

- How the role of bishops is being discussed and discerned at the synod

Zac and Ashley also share the tragic news that after a yearlong battle with cancer, friend and three-time guest Greg Hillis has passed away. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis defends giving women and lay men voting rights at synod
Read Tom Reese’s column
17 Schoolgirls Die In Rwanda Attack
Nukes, contemplation and vocation: An introduction to Thomas Merton for young Catholics, interview with Greg Hillis
Living like monks in quarantine, interview with Greg Hillis
Greg Hillis & Family Cancer Journey

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Women doing deacon-like ministry meet with Pope Francis Oct 09, 2024

On the eve of the final session of the Synod on Synodality, a diverse group of women working in ministry at the margins of the church had the opportunity of a lifetime: a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican. They brought their stories of serving Indigenous communities, working to protect the planet and bringing the Gospel to the peripheries. Among this global delegation was Rosella Kinoshameg, who is from the Odawa/Ojibway people and lives in the Wikwemikong Unceded Reserve in Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada.

Zac and Ashley talk with Rosella about:

- Her experience in Canada’s residential schools, state- and church-sponsored institutions that sought to strip Indigenous children of the language, traditions and heritage

- Her work in the “Diocesan Order of Service,” a unique ministry that empowers mostly Indigenous women to serve their own communities through communion services, praying at funerals and wakes and ministering to the sick and dying

- What she makes of the conversation about women’s ministry at the synod

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley recap the latest news from Rome, including Pope Francis’ announcement that he will create 21 new cardinals; the pope’s letter to Catholics in the Middle East on the anniversary of Oct. 7; and what the synod delegates are discussing in the Paul VI Hall this week.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis names 21 new cardinals, including Timothy Radcliffe, O.P.

Pope Francis to Catholics in the Middle East: Thank you for being able to pray and love despite everything

Jesuitical’s synod coverage is sponsored in part by the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University.

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Our top 3 questions about the final session of the Synod on Synodality Oct 04, 2024

Zac, Ashley and Sebastian are back in Rome to cover the second and final session of the Synod on Synodality, and who better to talk to about what to expect this month than Gerard O’Connell? America’s Vatican correspondent and co-host of the “Inside the Vatican” podcast, Gerry has covered every synod since 1985. Last year, the Jesuitical team spoke to Gerry about his career and why he considers this synod to be the most significant event in the life of the church since Vatican II. (Listen here!)

This year, Zac, Ashley and Sebastian bring their burning questions (and maybe a little synod skepticism) to Gerry for answers and analysis. They ask:

- Was it a mistake to relegate some of the “hot button” issues from last year’s synod to outside study groups?

- If most of the “hot button” issues are off the table, what are synod delegates going to discuss this year?

- What does it mean for the synod to “work”?

The team also gives a rundown of what’s happened at the synod so far: a two-day retreat for delegates, an unusual penitential service and the opening Mass, celebrated by Pope Francis.

Our Synod content is brought to you in part by the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University.

Links from the show:

From 2023: Everything you need to know about the Synod on Synodality

Women deacons, LGBT issues not on the agenda for October’s synod meeting

Vatican releases working document to guide October synod meeting

Father Radcliffe tells synod members: Don’t be driven by fear of the church changing—or staying the same

Interview: Timothy Radcliffe on how he prepares to give homilies—and preach to synod delegates

Synod opens with unusual penitential service: 7 cardinals ask for forgiveness for church’s sins

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Disagreements, friendships and learning to listen–young synod delegates share their experience Oct 02, 2024

On this first episode from the second phase of the synod on synodality in Rome, Zac and Ashley introduce the highly anticipated gathering at the Vatican and introduce two of the youngest synod delegates who reflect on their life-changing experience.

Our Synod content this year is brought to you in part by the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University. Learn more at: https://www.scu.edu/jst/becoming/

Follow America's coverage of the synod, including daily synod diaries delivered right to your inbox by becoming a subscriber. Visit: americamagazine.org/subscribe

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Why the Synod on Synodality is working, with lay delegate Linda Staudt Sep 27, 2024

On this week’s episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac share a “conversation in the Spirit” with Linda Staudt, a lay delegate from Canada who was selected to participate in the 2023 and 2024 Synod of Bishops for her extensive work in Catholic education and her involvement at the local, provincial, and national levels of the Canadian church. With her wealth of knowledge and experience, Linda has become a tireless evangelist for synodal listening at the grassroots level.

They discuss:

- Linda’s experience of being selected as one of seven lay delegates to the Synod on Synodality from North America, and her initial reaction to being chosen.

- The synodal process of listening, reflection, and discernment, and how it differs from traditional parliamentary-style meetings for its ability to reach and include the voices of those on the margins of the church.

- Linda’s advice for parishioners and clergy who are frustrated by a lack of synodal engagement in their diocese or parish.

Ashley, Zac, and the “Jesuitical” team join America’s “Inside the Vatican” team on their way to Rome to cover the 2024 Synod on Synodality. Great news: you can follow along from home! VisitAmericaMagazine.org/subscribeand you’ll get access to daily synod diaries along with our full coverage. If you have questions about the synod or topics about the Vatican you’d like us to cover during the synod, let us know! Send an email to jesuitical@americamedia.org

Links from the show:

Five things to watch for in the upcoming October synod

I listened to Synod delegates opposed to LGBTQ issues. Here are my responses.

Women deacons, LGBT issues not on the agenda for October’s synod meeting

Vatican II—and its media coverage—has a lesson for today’s synod: Don’t expect immediate results

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Vocations, voting and building virtuous community with Bishop Kevin Sweeney Sep 20, 2024

This week on a live recording of “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley chat with Bishop Kevin Sweeney, the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. (and a “Jesuitical” superfan!), about his spiritual journey as a young priest on Sept. 11, 2001, and his transition to becoming a bishop during the Covid-19 pandemic. Bishop Sweeney cites his knowledge gained in hard times as the catalyst for his pastoral approach to fostering community in an evolving church.

They discuss:

- Bishop Sweeney’s own vocational journey, from considering professional baseball to embracing the priesthood and, later, the episcopacy.

- How modern vocations of both men and women emphasize the radical Gospel call to co-responsibility among the laity in the life of the church.

- Tangible ways that the church can help navigate the upcoming U.S. presidential election with a spirit of unity and respect.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss Pope Francis’ recent advice to Catholics voting in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, where he called both major candidates “against life” and framed the election as a vote for the “lesser evil”; and curious stories about incorruptibility—the divine intervention that allows the bodies of certain saints to completely or partially avoid decomposition after death as a sign of their holiness.

Links from the show:

I was a young New York priest on 9/11. The lessons of that day stay with me as a bishop.

Beyond The Beacon Podcast

Pope Francis: Trump and Harris are ‘both against life’ but Catholics must vote and choose ‘lesser evil’

Nun’s incorruptible remains highlight rich heritage of Black Catholics in U.S., say experts

Carmelites find St. Teresa of Ávila’s body still incorrupt over 400 years after her death

Become a Jesuitical Patron and get access to the recording of an exclusive synod Zoom event with James Martin, S.J., held on Thursday, Sept. 19

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Olympic gold medalist Nick Mead on rowing, religion and relationships Sep 13, 2024

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley chat with gold medal-winning Olympic rower Nick Mead, who shares insights about being an Olympic athlete and praying with his team in Paris. Nick had the honor of being one of the two flag bearers at the 2024 closing ceremony (along with Catholic Olympic champion Katie Ledecky), and this fall, he’s preparing for his next win: a marriage in the Catholic Church.

They discuss:

How it felt to experience the excitement, camaraderie and faith sharing at the highest stage of athletic accomplishment
The training and sacrifices involved in being an Olympic athlete, including the intense conditioning schedule, the toll on relationships and the pressure to perform.
Nick’s religious background and experience with pre-marital counseling in the Catholic Church

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss Pope Francis’ recent trip to Asia and Oceania, including his stops in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Singapore; and a new short documentary produced by their colleague and producer Sebastian Gomes on the state of the question of women deacons in the Catholic Church, which is now published on YouTube. Watch here!

What’s on tap?

Gatorade

Links from the show:

Women Deacons and the Catholic Church | An Explainer
Pope Francis visits ‘the periphery of the peripheries’ in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea
Pope Francis celebrates Mass for nearly half the population of Timor Leste
Pope Francis in Singapore: visiting a small but influential Catholic Church
What does Pope Francis’ ‘no’ mean for the Catholic debate over women deacons?
Beyond The Beacon Podcast
Become a Jesuitical Patron and get access to an exclusive synod Zoom event with James Martin, S.J., on Thursday, Sept. 19, from 6-7 p.m. ET.

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In defense of young diocesan priests Sep 06, 2024

In the first episode of season eight of “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley critique a general perception that younger priests are more conservative and rigid in their pastoral ministry. Joining them to discuss the countercultural decision to join the diocesan priesthood is the Rev. Wade Bass, a young priest who serves as pastoral administrator at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Allen, Tex., a suburb of Dallas.

They discuss:

- Father Wade’s call to the priesthood, experience in seminary and love of the liturgy

- The daily life and duties of young diocesan priests today, the joy and positive energy among younger priests, and the risks of loneliness and burnout

- The extent to which the ministry of these priests is—or is not—impacted by theological and ideological debates within the church

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss Pope Francis’ apostolic journey to Asia; a lawsuit from the Diocese of Paterson, N.J., over a new procedural change by the United States government regarding the processing of green cards for foreign-born priests; and the tragic execution by Hamas of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose mother, Rachel, appeared on Jesuitical in November 2023.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis begins the longest trip of his papacy yet despite age and mobility issues

Mother of a Gaza hostage on keeping faith after Oct. 7: ‘It doesn’t make sense. And I still believe.’

Diocese sues immigration agencies over rule change that could force thousands of foreign-born priests to leave

U.S. Catholics are more liberal. Young priests are more conservative. Can the synod help us overcome our divisions?

Why Pope Francis is worried about seminaries and young priests with ‘authoritarian attitudes’

Join Jesuitical for a live recording on Wednesday, Sept. 11 in Madison, New Jersey!

Become a Jesuitical Patron and get access to an exclusive synod Zoom event with James Martin, S.J., on Thursday, Sept. 19, from 6-7 p.m. ET.

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How the Enneagram can make you more merciful (and tolerable) Jun 28, 2024

[CLICK HERE to complete the 2024 Jesuitical listener survey]

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley struggle to resist the temptation to “type” each other as they learn about the Enneagram from Liz Orr, a college chaplain who created the popular “Rude Ass Enneagram” Instagram account and authored the new book, “The Unfiltered Enneagram: A Witty and Wise Guide to Self-Compassion.”

They discuss:

Various personality types and how they relate to each other (including Zac and Ashley)

How we create defensive structures to protect our egos and what to do about it

What the Catholic Church as a community and institution can learn from the Enneagram about humble self-assessment

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the developing news around Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganó, former nuncio to the United States, who has been formally charged with schism by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. They also preview the upcoming Jubilee year of hope and chart the pilgrimages and charitable works that will grant you an indulgence!

What’s on tap?

Spicy Margarita

Links:

Archbishop Viganó charged with schism by the Vatican, will face trial

Archbishop Viganò says he will not participate in Vatican schism trial

Rude Ass Enneagram Instagram account

The Unfiltered Enneagram: A Witty and Wise Guide to Self-Compassion

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The Jesuits sold 272 enslaved people. How can the church make amends with their descendents? Jun 21, 2024

[CLICK HERE to complete the 2024 Jesuitical listener survey]

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are joined by journalist Rachel Swarns to discuss her latest book, The 272: The Families Who Were Enslaved and Sold to Build the American Catholic Church. Rachel shares her wisdom about this important issue for U.S. Catholics and her experience as a Black Catholic, opening up a wide-ranging conversation about the work being done to repair such a grave injustice and promote racial justice in the church.

They discuss:

The history of Catholic slaveholding and the Jesuits’ involvement in the slave trade

The sale of enslaved people by the Jesuits in 1838, its impact on families and the reunion of the descendants

The efforts of Georgetown University and the church to repair this injustice

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley cover Pope Francis’ recent meeting with comedians from around the world (and America’s editor at large, James Martin, S.J.). They then discuss the pope’s trip to the G7 in Italy and the concerns he raised in his speech about artificial intelligence. Lastly, they talk about recent polling from the Vinia Research Group that found that Catholics’ belief in the real presence in the Eucharist is higher than a 2019 report from the Pew Research Group would suggest.

What’s on tap?

Prosecco

Links from the show:

Pope Francis jokes with Colbert, Fallon, Conan, Whoopi, Chris Rock, Gaffigan and others at the Vatican

Pope Francis has private meeting with Joe Biden at G7 summit

New Study Suggests More Than Two-Thirds of Catholics Believe the Eucharist is Truly Jesus

Do most Catholics think the Eucharist is ‘just a symbol’? It’s complicated.

The 272: The Families Who Were Enslaved and Sold to Build the American Catholic Church by Rachel L. Swarns

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Meet Steve Javie: Legendary NBA ref and Catholic deacon Jun 14, 2024

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Basketball fans know Steve Javie as a longtime N.B.A. referee and a frequent commentator on ESPN and ABC. But for the parishioners at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Newtown, Pa., he’s Deacon Steve.

In the midst of the N.B.A. finals tournament, Deacon Steve took some time out of his busy schedule to chat with Zac and Ashley about life on the court and in the pulpit.

They discuss:

His journey from zealous rookie ref to humble officiator in the N.B.A.

The dangers of turning sports into your religion.

How his career in refereeing has informed his ministry as a permanent deacon.

In Signs of the Times, a second miracle has been attributed to Blessed Carlo Acutis. Zac and Ashley discuss the life and legacy of the Italian teenager on track to be the first millennial saint. Plus, Pope Francis has again used a homophobic slur in a discussion about admitting gay men to seminary. How are Catholics supposed to understand these comments from a pope who famously said about gay priests, “Who am I to judge?”

Links from the show:

Pope Francis recognizes miracle needed for the first ‘millennial’ saint: Blessed Carlos Acutis

Pope Francis uses gay slur for second time in closed-door meeting, Italian reports allege

Jesuitical: Pope Francis used a homophobic slur. How should Catholics respond?

What’s on tap?

Miller Lite—on ice

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Ethan Hawke on Faith, Imagination, and Flannery O’Connor Jun 07, 2024

It’s a very special week on “Jesuitical”—Ethan Hawke joins us to discuss his new film, “Wildcat,” about the Catholic writer Flannery O’Connor, who is portrayed in the film by Ethan’s daughter, Maya. Zac, Ashley and Ethan share a wide-ranging and profound conversation about this great American writer and the work of bringing her to life in “Wildcat.”

They discuss:

Ethan’s introduction to Flannery through Maya and the inspiration behind “Wildcat”
Portraying Flannery’s complicated views on race
Exploring religious questions through art

Links from the show:

Ethan Hawke’s new biopic ‘Wildcat’ gracefully captures Flannery O’Connor’s complex attitudes on race, writing and faith
What can we learn from our confirmation names?
Share your confirmation saint name in our Facebook group

What’s on tap?

Flannery’s favorite concoction: Coca-Cola and coffee (plus a shot of bourbon, per Ethan’s recommendation)

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Pope Francis used a homophobic slur. How should Catholics respond? May 31, 2024

This week on “Jesuitical,” we’re breaking from our usual format to discuss news out of the Vatican that Pope Francis used a homophobic slur while discussing church policy on admitting gay men to the priesthood. To discuss this incident and the apology that followed, Ashley is joined by “Jesuitical” producer Sebastian Gomes; Mike O’Loughlin, executive director of Outreach, a resource for L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics; and Ricardo da Silva, S.J., producer of the “Inside the Vatican” podcast, host of the “Preach” podcast and an associate editor at America.

They discuss:

The context of the incident, the Vatican’s response, and the implications for L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics

Vatican policy about gay men in seminaries and the history of Francis’ outreach to L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics

Advice for those affected by the pope’s comments

Links from the show:

I am a gay priest. We need more than an apology for Pope Francis’ homophobic slur.

Pope Francis used an anti-gay slur. What now for L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics?

Pope Francis says Italian seminaries should reject gay applicants

Vatican issues apology after Pope Francis’ use of an anti-gay slur

Pope Francis’ remarks about gay seminarians ‘taken out of context and used to divide,’ Italian bishop says

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Discerning the spirits with Eric Sundrup, S.J. May 24, 2024

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are live at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a conversation with Eric Sundrup, S.J., who provides spiritual direction (or spiritual violence, depending on who you ask) for the podcast. The hosts and Eric share their own experiences discerning their paths as young adults and offer insights from Jesuit spirituality to young people navigating big life questions.

They discuss:

The need for community and friends you can be vulnerable with while discerning

How consolation and desolation can guide discernment

Advice for young people discerning their path

During Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley are joined by Stuart Wilson-Smith, C.S.P., the Catholic chaplain at the University of California, Los Angeles, to discuss the recent student protests taking place on campus. Father Stu describes the scene on U.C.L.A.’s campus, how the Catholic center offered support and spaces for interfaith dialogue to students, and where he saw God amid the protests.

Links from the show:

UCLA’s Catholic chaplain: The world saw scenes of violence at campus protests. Here’s what they didn’t see.

Learn more about the Paulists

What’s on tap?

Kentucky Bourbon from the Neeley Family Distillery

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We’re all Cafeteria Catholics May 17, 2024

Ryan Burge set out to learn how many Catholics agree with church teachings on three key pro-life issues: abortion, euthanasia and the death penalty. The answer? Fewer than 1 percent. This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are joined by Ryan, an associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University and the author of the “Graphs about Religion” Substack, to discuss his findings on the beliefs of American Catholics today.

They discuss:

Trends in Catholic opinion on pro-life issues.

How faith-based beliefs and secular politics interact in our polarized society.

The role of data in understanding religious trends and effectively communicating church teaching.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the eucharistic pilgrimages taking place ahead of July’s National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. They also cover the controversial commencement speech given by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker at Benedictine College.

Links from the show:

Cafeteria Catholicism?

Planning to join up with the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage? Here’s what you need to know.

Harrison Butker’s commencement speech and the danger of a Catholic ‘dead traditionalism’

Young U.S. Catholics want more orthodoxy. That doesn’t mean they reject Vatican II.

Podcast: When Catholic doctrine can change—and when it can’t

What’s on tap?

Carajillos (2 parts cold brew, 2 parts Licor 43)

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A singer-songwriter inspired by Saint (and Pope) Francis May 10, 2024

This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley are joined by Andrea Von Kampen, a singer-songwriter and friend of the show. Hailing from Lincoln, Neb., Andrea discusses her new album, “Sister Moon.” (For those keeping track at home, yes, that is a St. Francis of Assisi reference.) Recorded at Union Pool in Brooklyn, N.Y., they share a wide-ranging conversation touching on spirituality, live music, the environment and more.

They discuss:

The spiritual and environmental influences on “Sister Moon”

How Andrea writes about important issues without being preachy

The joys and challenges of touring as a singer-songwriter, especially post-Covid

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley cover the ins and outs of the recent synod meeting of parish priests at the Vatican. They also discuss a “home blessing challenge” in Cincinnati, then close out by talking about the Catholics who recently received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from a fellow Catholic, President Joe Biden.

Links from the Show

Sister Moon

Andrea Von Kampen's website

Parish priests had a synod meeting with the Vatican. But will they be included in October’s assembly?

Cincinnati priests compete to meet parishioners in home blessing challenge

Jesuit Father Gregory Boyle and Nancy Pelosi to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Francesco: A Pope Francis Documentary

What’s on tap?

Nine Pin Hard Cider

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D.C.’s Cardinal Gregory on the Synod, Pope Francis and our political climate May 03, 2024

This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley share their conversation with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on the role of a church in a polarized society. As the Archbishop of Washington, D.C., “the epicenter of division,” Cardinal Gregory has devoted himself to bringing people together across vast political and faith-based differences, lending profound insight (and humor!) to this live conversation, which was hosted by Georgetown University’s Catholic Social Thought and Public Life and Leadership Roundtable.

They discuss:

Cardinal Gregory’s conversion as a boy and life as a priest
Watching people come together through the synod, from diocesan meetings to the universal session in Rome
The cardinal’s advice for young people who feel disengaged from politics

During Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley are joined by one of Jesuitical’s assistant producers, Delaney Coyne, to break down a recent debacle surrounding an A.I. priest. They cover the laicization of Catholic Answers’ “Father Justin” and discuss the kind of insights this technology can—and can’t—provide.

Want to advertise your school, ministry program, book or anything else on Jesuitical? Send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org

Links from the show

The real lesson behind the ‘Father Justin’ AI priest debacle.

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The quirky history (and future) of papal conclaves Apr 26, 2024

Few events inspire a media spectacle quite like the election of a pope. The white smoke, cardinals locked in the Sistine Chapel, secret ballots and ancient rules—it’s catnip for secular and Catholic journalists alike. But how did these customs evolve—and how might they change in the future?

To find out, Zac and Ashley talk with Miles Pattenden, a historian, expert in the history of papal conclaves and the author of Electing the Pope in Early Modern Italy, 1450-1700.

They discuss:

How the election of popes evolved from St. Peter to today

The role of the Holy Spirit—and politicking—inside conclaves

And whether the secrecy of conclaves can survive in a modern world that prizes transparency

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss a new Justice Department investigation into last year’s leaked F.B.I. memo about the potential domestic threat posed by “traditional Catholics.” Plus, in a talk about forgiveness, a Michigan bishop called on Catholics not to “hate” politicians like Joe Biden—and then called the president stupid.

Want to advertise your school, ministry program, book or anything else on Jesuitical? Send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org

Links from the show:

No Bias Found in F.B.I. Report on Catholic Extremists

Biden ‘doesn't understand the Catholic faith,’ bishop says: ‘I’m not angry at him, he’s just stupid’

Electing the Pope in Early Modern Italy, 1450-1700, by Miles Pattenden

MilesPattenden.com

What’s on tap?

Amaro Spritz

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A mother’s mission to change how we talk about pregnancy and disease Apr 19, 2024

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are joined by Megan Nix, the author of Remedies for Sorrow: An Extraordinary Child, a Secret Kept from Pregnant Women, and a Mother's Pursuit of the Truth. The memoir details Megan’s journey after her daughter, Anna, contracted a little-known but relatively common congenital disease, cytomegalovirus, or CMV, during Megan’s pregnancy.

They discuss:

Megan’s experience of her daughter’s diagnosis and the lack of awareness and support surrounding CMV

The tension of loving Anna as she is and wanting to improve her quality of life

How St. Thomas Aquinas’s five remedies for sorrow helped Megan understand the joys and sorrows of raising a child with disabilities

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley talk about a recent proposal out of Baltimore that would cut the number of parishes from 61 to 21. They also cover an imposter priest wreaking havoc throughout the New York area and Pope Francis’ plans to reinstate Pope Benedict XVI’s former secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, as an apostolic nuncio.

What’s on tap?

A mojito (with fresh mint!)

Links from the show:

Baltimore archdiocese proposes cutting 61 parishes to 21 in the city

Imposter Priest Who Robbed Catholic Churches Nationwide Arrested in California

After public rift, Francis restores Benedict XVI’s former secretary to Vatican service

Remedies for Sorrow: An Extraordinary Child, a Secret Kept from Pregnant Women, and a Mother's Pursuit of the Truth

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A Muslim theologian on teaching at a Jesuit university Apr 12, 2024

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are joined by Amir Hussain, a theology professor at Loyola Marymount University. Amir shares his insights about navigating life as a Muslim teaching theology at a Catholic university, prompting a conversation ranging from the imperative and blessings of interfaith dialogue to life without a cell phone.

They also cover:

Amir’s experience completing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius

The history and diversity of Muslims in the United States

Finding common ground and sharing experiences with people of different faiths

In Signs of the Times, Jesuitical’s producer, Sebastian Gomes, and “Inside the Vatican” host Colleen Dulle join Ashley to break down “Dignitas Infinita,” the recent declaration from the Vatican covering issues surrounding human dignity like gender theory, human trafficking, surrogacy and more.

What’s on tap?

Boulevardier

Links from the show:

New Vatican doc ‘Dignitas Infinita’: What it says on gender theory, surrogacy, poverty and more

Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell discuss Dignitas Infinita on “Inside the Vatican”

What meeting John Wooden taught a Muslim theologian about Jesuit education

Muslims and the Making of America

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Her son was beheaded by ISIS. Here’s what she’s learned about mercy Apr 05, 2024

On Aug. 19, 2014, the world watched in horror as the American journalist James Foley read a script prepared for him by ISIS terrorists, who filmed him from an unknown location in the Syrian desert. Mr. Foley, who had been in ISIS captivity for almost two years, was then beheaded by his captors. That is how Diane Foley learned that her son, who had been kidnapped in Libya on a previous reporting trip, would not be coming home this time.

In the new book, American Mother, Diane teams up with Colum McCann, an award-winning and international best-selling author, to tell her and her son’s story. Both authors join Zac and Ashley this week for a powerful conversation about grief, forgiveness and perseverance.

They discuss:

How Diane’s son James discovered his vocation as a journalist

Why Diane decided to meet with one of her son’s killers

How her Catholic faith sustained her through James’s years of captivity and after his death

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss a new book of interviews with Pope Francis, in which he discusses his relationship with Pope Benedict XVI and the conclave that elected him and his predecessor. Plus, Cardinal Wilton Gregory calls President Biden a “cafeteria Catholic” during an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Easter Sunday, and the Society of Jesus releases a strongly worded statement on the war in Gaza.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis opens up about Benedict XVI, past conclaves and more in new book

Important U.S. cardinal says Biden is a ‘cafeteria Catholic’

‘We cannot be silent’: A statement from the Jesuits on Gaza

American Mother, by Colum McCann with Diane Foley

Bonus episodes available now through Patreon:

The quirky history of papal conclaves

Cardinal Gregory on young people, politics and becoming a listening church

Live show!

If you live in the Cincinnati area, you’re invited to join Zac, Ashley and Father Eric Sundrup (Jesuitical’s spiritual director) for a live show at Xavier University, on Tuesday, April 9, 6:30-7:30 pm. The event will be held in the Conatan Board Room in Schmidt Hall and will be followed by Mass.

What’s on tap?

Cielo prosecco, a.k.a, Easter Bubbly

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A Catholic bartender’s conversion to ‘mindful drinking’ Mar 22, 2024

Although “Jesuitical” is often recorded over drinks, longtime listeners know that the hosts abstain from alcohol during Lent, which means there’s no better time to welcome Derek Brown to the show. He’s an award-winning mixologist, the founder of Positive Damage Inc., and an expert on no- and low-alcohol cocktails and mindful drinking. Derek joins Zac and Ashley for an enlightening conversation about drinking, its place in our culture and evaluating its place in our lives.

They discuss:

Derek’s journey from award-winning bartender to mindful drinking advocate—and how his faith informed that decision

Why it seems like so many people today are re-evaluating their relationship with alcohol

Tips for taking a more mindful approach to drinking

Links from the Show

Confessions of a Catholic Bartender

Derek’s Positive Damage substack

What’s on tap?

Pinch hitters (0% ABV—it’s still Lent!)

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A Catholic reporter’s take on the 2024 election Mar 15, 2024

It’s an election year, and like it or not, the race is heating up, so “Jesuitical” went to Washington, D.C., to hear from an expert about the state of play. A long-time friend of the show, N.P.R.’s Scott Detrow, is the weekend host of “All Things Considered” and a co-host of the podcasts “Consider This” and “Trump’s Trials,” N.P.R.’s weekly recap of the former president’s multiple court cases. He joins Zac and Ashley for a refreshing conversation about politics and faith as we gear up for November’s election.

They discuss:

Joe Biden and Donald Trump, who both recently clinched their respective parties’ nominations

The ethics of covering politics in today’s polarized climate

The role of religion in U.S. politics

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley cover the diplomatic dust-up caused by the pope’s recent comments about the war in Ukraine before moving into a conversation about Francis’ 11th anniversary of his election, which was on March 13. The hosts talk about continued criticism of Pope Francis, as well as their own opinions about Francis’ papacy.

Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. And if you’d like Zac and Ashley to come to your city, send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org.

March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with the award-winning TV newscaster Carol Costello. 7:30 p.m. PST in LMU’s Life Science Auditorium. All are welcome!

Links from the show:

After backlash, Vatican clarifies Pope Francis’ call for Ukraine to have ‘courage of the white flag’

Spanish bishop rebukes priests who joked about wishing pope goes to heaven soon

Attacking Pope Francis, anonymous cardinal seeks to curb the influence of his papacy

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Is ‘Barbie’ a Jesuit allegory? And other questions ahead of the 2024 Oscars Mar 08, 2024

The Oscars are this Sunday, so Zac and Ashley welcome John Dougherty, the moderator of America’s Catholic Movie Club, to unpack the state of play—and the Catholic themes—in some of this year’s Best Picture nominees. John, who is also the director of campus ministry at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia, is an expert in finding God in all films. He guides the hosts through a fun-filled conversation on the best stories and performances of 2023.

John, Zac and Ashley discuss:

- How movies can help us to better understand ourselves and our culture

- Thoughts on Best Picture nominees like “Barbie,” “Oppenheimer,” “The Holdovers,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and more (plus, Zac gives his pick for St. Ignatius Film of the Year)

- Predictions and hopes for this year’s Oscar winners

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s recent lawsuits against Catholic migrant shelters, Church Militant’s announcement that they will cease operations in April after losing a defamation lawsuit and Pope Francis’ announcement that he will wash the feet of inmates at a women’s prison on Holy Thursday.

Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. And if you’d like Zac and Ashley to come to your city, send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org.

March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with the award-winning TV newscaster Carol Costello. 7:30 p.m. PST in LMU’s Life Science Auditorium. All are welcome!

Links from the show:

John Dougherty’s writing

The return of the Catholic Movie Club: Why going to the movies is a sacred act

Hard truths, Catholics and women in Hollywood: takeaways from this year’s Oscar noms

Catholic charities and religious freedom are under fire at the border

Church Militant will cease publication in April after losing defamation suit

Pope Francis to do Holy Thursday feet washing at women’s prison

Support Jesuitical on Patreon

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A Jesuit guide to major life choices Mar 01, 2024

It’s the question every college senior dreads when they’re back home for Christmas break: What are you going to do after graduation? At a live recording of Jesuitical at Loyola University Chicago, Zac and Ashley talk with Paddy Gilger, S.J., about how students (and the rest of us) can use the tools of Ignatian discernment when making more life decisions.

They discuss:

Whether college is a bubble—and if that is a good or bad thing
How they saw God working in their lives as they made the leap from college to careers
The importance of doing discernment in community

Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. And if you’d like Zac and Ashley to come to your city, send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org.

March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.

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Mental health and the Catholic Church: Can we have better conversations? Feb 23, 2024

This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley welcome Meg Kissinger, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of While You Were Out: An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental Illness in an Era of Silence. Meg’s memoir employs her journalistic skills to tell a tale of a Catholic family navigating mental illness. It serves as a great foundation for a profound, personal conversation about faith, tragedy, and trusting in an institution even when people in it have failed you.

They discuss:

Meg’s family’s experience with mental illness and suicide
The evolution of the church’s pastoral care for those impacted by suicide
How community life can help us to have better conversations about mental health

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the recent news that the prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Archives, Archbishop Sergio Pagano, is retiring—and dishing Vatican secrets on the way out. They then cover the recent controversy over the funeral of activist Cecilia Gentili, which was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York last week.

If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.

What’s on tap?

Coffee—it’s still Lent!

Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. And if you’d like Zac and Ashley to come to your city, send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org

Feb. 28: Crystal City Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA Live interview with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on “A Listening Church in a Divided Nation” from 7-8 p.m. Reception to follow from 8-9 p.m. Please RSVP here.

March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.

Links from the show:

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Prayer, fasting and...working out? What is Exodus90? Feb 16, 2024

To ring in the Lenten season, “Jesuitical” is talking Exodus 90, a 90-day ascetic spiritual practice for men centered around three pillars: prayer, fasting and fraternity. Terence Sweeney, an assistant teaching professor in the Honors Program and Humanities Department at Villanova University, joins Zac and Ashley to chat about the hugely popular program—why people love it, what it leaves out and what Catholics who don’t participate can learn from it.

They discuss:

- The absence of communal Lenten practices in today’s church and how Exodus 90 tries to fill that void

- Exodus 90’s shortcomings and the dangers of spiritual meritocracy in ascetic practice

- What all Catholics can take from Exodus 90 this Lent

In this week’s Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley are joined by Christine Lenahan, one of America’s O’Hare Fellows. They discuss controversial depictions of Christ, from the “He Gets Us” Super Bowl ads and a new painting of Jesus that caused quite an uproar in Seville, Spain.

What’s on tap?

Water. Happy Lent.

Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. And if you’d like Zac and Ashley to come to your city, send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org

Feb. 28: Crystal City Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA Live interview with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on “A Listening Church in a Divided Nation” from 7-8 p.m. Reception to follow from 8-9 p.m. Please RSVP here.

March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.

Links from the show:

- Fasting, praying and working out: What ‘Exodus 90’ gets right—and wrong—about asceticism for men

- Controversial artistic depictions of Jesus are nothing new

- In defense of the ‘He Gets Us’ Super Bowl ads

- 101 Things To Give Up For Lent

- Terence Sweeney's podcast episode, "A Medieval Anti-racist"

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Why we love the church, with Bishop Donald Hying Feb 09, 2024

If you’re still Catholic, there are presumably things you love about the church. But it can be tempting to focus on the negatives: the scandals, the boring homilies, the lackluster music. This week, Zac and Ashley are doing something a little different: talking about why they love the church with Bishop Donald Hying of Madison, Wis. at a special live recording at St. Thomas Aquinas parish, they discuss:

- How Bishop Hying’s love for the church changed when he became a bishop

- The saints, the sacraments and the Catholic imagination

- How to balance love and hard truths in pastoral work

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss a street artist known for his paintings of Pope Francis (and who now has the Vatican’s official stamp of approval) and a new document from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith that reminds priests that when it comes to administering the sacraments, they need to stick to the script.

Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. And if you’d like Zac and Ashley to come to your city, send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org

Feb. 28: Crystal City Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA Live interview with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on “A Listening Church in a Divided Nation” from 7-8 p.m. Reception to follow from 8-9 p.m. Please RSVP here.

March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.

Links from the show:

- Street artist of ‘Super Pope’ fame gets official Vatican stamp of approval

- Vatican to priests: Stick to the script for Sacraments

- Bishop Hying: Why I Love the Church

What’s on tap?

Fernet Branca on ice

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What it means to be a “good” or “bad” Catholic in the fight against racism Feb 02, 2024

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are joined by Matthew Cressler, a scholar of Catholicism and race. Matthew created “Bad Catholics, Good Trouble,” a webcomic series about anti-racism and struggles for justice across American Catholic history, which frames an enlightening discussion about racial justice in the Catholic Church.

They discuss:

- Institutional and individual Catholic responses to the civil rights movement

- The history of white supremacy in American Catholicism

- What it means to be a “good” or “bad” Catholic in the face of injustice

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss allegations of sexual misconduct against Quebec’s Cardinal Archbishop Gérald Lacroix; a summit in Rome that brought together pairs of Catholic and Anglican bishops from 27 countries; and Martin Scorsese’s latest meeting with Pope Francis.

Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. And if you’d like Zac and Ashley to come to your parish, diocese, center or school, send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org

Feb. 28: Crystal City Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA Live interview with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on “A Listening Church in a Divided Nation” from 7-8 p.m. Reception to follow from 8-9 p.m. Please RSVP here.

March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.

Drink:

Old Fashioneds

Links from the show:

- Bad Catholics, Good Trouble

- Anglican, Catholic bishops travel, pray, work together

- Québec’s Cardinal Lacroix, named in sex abuse lawsuit, will temporarily step aside from duties

- Martin Scorsese Meets Pope Francis, Announces Film About Jesus

- The Joan and Bill Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage at Loyola University Chicago

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Understanding the Jewish Jesus Jan 26, 2024

Amy-Jill “AJ” Levine, a Jewish scholar of the New Testament and author of The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus, sits down with Zac and Ashley at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, an Anglican Cathedral in New York City. It’s a dynamic interfaith conversation in an ecumenical setting, and AJ helps break open Jesus’ Jewish identity and context for the hosts.

They discuss:

AJ’s Jewish upbringing in Massachusetts and how she became interested in studying the New Testament
Common anti-Jewish tropes and misconceptions in New Testament interpretation
How interfaith dialogue can help Catholics and Jews better understand each other and ourselves

And a final reminder that the deadline to apply to the O’Hare Fellowship is fast approaching. O’Hare Fellows spend a year living in New York City and working at America’s offices in midtown, where they will generate content for America’s multiple platforms: print, web, digital, social media and events. If you or someone you know might be interested in the O’Hare Fellowship, the final deadline to apply is February 1, 2024. Apply here!

Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. Please email us if you plan to attend any of the events below at, jesuitical@americamedia.org

Feb. 28: Crystal City Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA Live interview with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on “A Listening Church in a Divided Nation” from 7-8 p.m. Reception to follow from 8-9 p.m. Please RSVP here.

March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.

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A parish priest’s approach to blessings for same-sex couples Jan 19, 2024

On December 18, the Vatican’s doctrinal office released “Fiducia Supplicans,” a declaration that allowed priests to give simple or pastoral blessings to couples in irregular situations, including those in same-sex relationships. This week on “Jesuitical,” Father Alex Santora, pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph parish in Hoboken, N.J., joins Zac and Ashley to explain how “Fiducia Supplicans” is being received in his parish.

They discuss:

- Father Santora’s reaction to “Fiducia Supplicans” and how he plans to discuss the declaration and enflesh it in his parish

- Taking a pastoral approach to complicated situations and accompanying people even when you have to tell them “no”

- The importance of listening in pastoral ministry

In an infernal Signs of the Times segment, Zac and Ashley cover Pope Francis’ recent comments that he hopes hell is empty, the subsequent criticisms from some Catholics, and why an empty hell might not be such a crazy idea, even if it’s not a dogma of faith. They also dive into a recent poll from Gallup on Pope Francis’ approval ratings in the U.S. (it is an election year, after all) and explore how our country’s ideological divides might impact our view of the pontiff.

After the interview, Ashley and Zac welcome another one of Jesuitical’s assistant producers, Delaney Coyne, to share about her experience as an O’Hare Fellow at America. She talks about how her love for social justice led her to apply to the fellowship, the work she does at America and finding God in disagreement. If you or someone you know might be interested in the O’Hare Fellowship the final deadline to apply is February 1, 2024. Apply here!

Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. Please email us if you plan to attend any of the events below at, jesuitical@americamedia.org

Jan 22: Vintage Brewing Company (Madison West) from 7-9 pm. Meet and greet with Zac and Ashley, over drinks! Location: 674 South Whitney Way, Madison, WI 53711

Jan. 23: St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madison, Wisconsin. Mass at 5:30 pm followed by a live interview with Bishop Donald Hying on “Why we love the church” from 6:30-8:30pm.

Jan. 25: Loyola University Chicago (Ignatius House) in Chicago, IL. Live discussion with Patrick Gilger, S.J. on, “What the hell should I do with my life?: God, discernment and vocation outside the college bubble” from 7-9 p.m. Student Mass to follow at 9pm (Note: This event has limited capacity. Please RSVP to jesuitical@americamedia.org)

Feb. 28: Crystal City Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA Live interview with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on “A Listening Church in a Divided Nation” from 7-8 p.m. Reception to follow from 8-9 p.m. Please RSVP here.

March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.

Links from the show:

- The Editors: Vatican document on same-sex blessings does not confuse church teaching—it deepens it

- Pope Francis says he hopes hell is ‘empty’

- 58% of Americans, 77% of U.S. Catholics View Pope Favorably

What’s on tap?

White Claws

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The Bible passages that formed Pope Francis Jan 12, 2024

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley welcome John Martens, a professor of theology and director of the Centre for Christian Engagement at St. Mark’s College at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver to shine a light on the Bible passages that have shaped Pope Francis’ papacy.

They discuss:

- How the Call of Matthew and the Parable of the Good Samaritan shape the pope’s view of a church that is a “field hospital” for sinners

- Debates over the connection between justice, truth and mercy

- Criticisms of Pope Francis’ approach, especially in the U.S. Church

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley cover a Vatican official’s recent call to reconsider mandatory priestly celibacy in the church. They also discuss Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, the head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, who has come under fire for a book he wrote 25 years ago on spirituality and sensuality. And after the interview they welcome another friend to share about his faith: Michael O’Brien, one of America’s O’Hare Fellows who helps produce “Jesuitical.” He shares what drew him to the fellowship and how his post-grad year at America has enriched his faith. If you or someone you know might be interested in the O’Hare Fellowship the final deadline to apply is February 1, 2024. Apply here!

Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. Please email us if you plan to attend any of the events below at, jesuitical@americamedia.org

Jan 22: Vintage Brewing Company (Madison West) from 7-9 pm. Meet and greet with Zac and Ashley, over drinks! Location: 674 South Whitney Way, Madison, WI 53711

Jan. 23: St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madison, Wisconsin. Mass at 5:30 pm followed by a live interview with Bishop Donald Hying on “Why we love the church” from 6:30-8:30pm.

Jan. 25: Loyola University Chicago (Ignatius House) in Chicago, IL. Live discussion with Patrick Gilger, S.J. on, “What the heck should I do with my life?: God, discernment and vocation outside the college bubble” from 7-9 p.m. Student Mass to follow at 9pm (Note: This event has limited capacity. Please RSVP to jesuitical@americamedia.org)

Feb. 28: Crystal City Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA Live interview with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on “A Listening Church in a Divided Nation” from 7-8 p.m. Reception to follow from 8-9 p.m. Please RSVP here.

March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.

Links from the Show

Pope Francis’ focus on the Bible and mercy—and why so many Catholics are uncomfortable with it

Apply to the O’Hare Fellowship

RSVP to our event in Arlington, Virginia!

What’s on Tap?

New Fangled

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A Very Traditional, Jesuitical Christmas Dec 22, 2023

Christmas is a time for traditions. From the quirky to the classic, every family has a favorite holiday movie, dish or custom. This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley talk to four of their colleagues about their Advent and Christmas traditions—some old, some aspirational, some completely made up but all filled with the joy and anticipation of the season.

This is Jesuitical’s last episode of 2023—unless you become a member of the Patreon community. Next week, members will get a bonus mail-bag episode in their feeds. Zac and Ashley answer listener questions about the synod, the future of the parish and more. Sign up today!

Links from the show:

The perfect imperfections of the Nativity pageant, by Heather Trotta, vice president for advancement

What my mother’s Advent gift tradition taught me about the true meaning of giving, by Molly Cahill, associate editor

A (Midwestern) discussion about Advent traditions, by Joe Hoover, S.J., poetry editor

I love my Advent wreath. I just keep forgetting to light it, by Kerry Weber, executive editor

What’s on tap?

Prosecco with pomegranate seeds…and eggnog with orange Fanta

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Christmas in Bethlehem During a War Dec 15, 2023

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley interview Stephanie Saldaña, the author of What We Remember Will Be Saved: A Story of Refugees and The Things They Carry. Stephanie lives with her family in Bethlehem, where the economy has long relied on tourism around Christmas time as Christian pilgrims flock to the site of Jesus’ birth. But as one might imagine with the war raging in Gaza, Advent in Bethlehem looks different this year. Stephanie helps the “Jesuitical” team to enter into that reality.

They discuss:

Stephanie’s experience on and after Oct. 7 as a Christian living in the West Bank
The challenges Bethlehem residents are facing during the war and how that’s impacted Advent celebrations
Stephanie’s spirituality and the importance of closeness amid these difficult times

In a funeral-focused Signs of the Times segment, Ashley and Zac get into Pope Francis’ recent announcement that he won’t be buried at the Vatican as well as recent Vatican guidelines about scattering ashes. They also talk about the recent lawsuit brought by a group of nuns against gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson. Plus, Zac shares his quibbles with this year’s liturgical calendar.

Links

What’s on tap?

Arak

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The mother of an Israeli hostage shares her son’s story with Pope Francis Dec 08, 2023

On this week’s “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are honored to welcome Rachel Goldberg, the mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, one of the hostages taken into Gaza following Hamas’s massacre at the Nova music festival in Southern Israel on Oct. 7. In the weeks since Hersh and 240 other hostages were brutally kidnapped, Rachel has met with a host of people, including the pope and the president, to share her son’s story. She was gracious enough to bring that story to “Jesuitical,” and she and the hosts shared a moving conversation.

They discuss:

Rachel’s family life and Hersh’s passion for reading and adventure
The last time Rachel saw Hersh on Oct. 6 and her experience learning about the massacre on Oct. 7
Rachel’s meeting with Pope Francis and the power of dialogue in sustaining hope
How Rachel’s Jewish faith has been challenged and served as a source of strength in the wake of unthinkable tragedy

Support Jesuitical on Patreon or become a digital subscriber to America Media.

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The Catholics fighting for climate justice Dec 01, 2023

Even though Pope Francis recently canceled his trip to Dubai for COP28 on doctor’s orders, the meeting still represents a huge initiative in Francis’ papacy; in “Laudate Deum,” Francis writes that the meeting has the potential to be “a historic event that honors and ennobles us as human beings” (“Laudate Deum,” No. 59). So Ashley and Zac welcomed Jose Aguto, the executive director of Catholic Climate Covenant, on this week’s episode of “Jesuitical” to discuss Catholic climate advocacy at this pivotal moment.

They discuss:

Pope Francis’ commitment to climate justice throughout his papacy
How Catholics should understand climate change as both a systemic and spiritual issue, and where we can find hope
The history and current state of climate action in the U.S. church

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley check in with Maggi Van Dorn, host of the “Hark!” podcast, which explores the meaning and making of our favorite Christmas carols. The first episode of season three, which came out on Sunday, dives into “O Holy Night” and features Greg Boyle, S.J. Maggi takes the “Jesuitical” team behind the scenes of “Hark!” production and helps to usher in the Advent season.

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

(knock-off) Chartreuse

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How Pope Francis laid the groundwork for his papacy Nov 24, 2023

Ten years ago, Pope Francis released his first papal document, “Evangelii Gaudium,” which lays out his vision for the church in the 21st century. To help break down this inaugural document of Francis’ papacy, Zac and Ashley welcome Rafael Luciani, an associate professor of practice at the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College.

They discuss:

Pope Francis’ call to “pastoral conversion” and “missionary discipleship”
How Pope Francis’ Latin American roots guide his vision for the church
The foundation for a synodal church put forth in “Evangelii Gaudium”

Links from the show:

Evangelii Gaudium

What’s on tap?

Wine from Mendoza, Argentina

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How a Southern Protestant learned to love Catholic social teaching Nov 17, 2023

This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley welcome Lee C. Camp, a professor of theology and ethics at Lipscomb University, the author of Scandalous Witness: A Little Political Manifesto for Christians and the host of “No Small Endeavor,” a podcast that explores what it means to live a good life.

They discuss:

Lee’s upbringing as a Protestant Christian in Alabama, and how his studies at the University of Notre Dame changed his views on the Catholic world
Moral theology and the value of asking, “What does it mean to live a good life?”
The importance of good, wholesome arguments in religious tradition

In Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac talk about Pope Francis’ controversial decision to remove Bishop Joseph Strickland from his duties overseeing the diocese of Tyler, Tex. They then discuss the U.S. bishops more broadly, focusing on this week’s U.S.C.C.B. meeting in Baltimore and the conflicting assessments of the U.S. church put forth by various leaders.

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

Chimay Trappist ale

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The movement of lay people behind Pope Francis’ peace missions Nov 10, 2023

How does a 25-year-old woman from Salt Lake City end up facilitating peace negotiations during a civil war in South Sudan? This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are joined by Elizabeth Boyle, an International Relations Officer in the Community of Sant’Egidio, a lay social movement of the Catholic Church whose mission focuses on three “P”s: “prayer, peace, and the poor.”

Zac and Ashley talk to Elizabeth about:

The journey that brought Elizabeth to peacebuilding and the work she’s doing with the Community of Sant’Egidio in Rome
What her work in South Sudan reveals about the challenges and possibilities of peacemaking
How Catholics (and the church) can integrate peace into their spirituality

In Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac discuss Pope Francis’ recent announcement that he would travel to Dubai to attend COP28. Then, they get into a most pressing issue facing the church: Sabrina Carpenter’s “Feather” music video, which caused an uproar after being filmed in the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Brooklyn.

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

Lambrusco

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Synod on Synodality Debrief with Father James Martin Oct 30, 2023

On this special crossover episode of Jesuitical and Inside the Vatican, Zac Davis speaks with his colleagues Gerard O’Connell, Sam Sawyer, S.J., and synod member James Martin, S.J., about the concluding document of the recent synod on synodality in Rome. They discuss:

The open debate about women’s ordination to the diaconate
Why reference to L.G.B.T. Catholics was not included in the synthesis document
What the synthesis document is and how it can be read and used widely
Was this really a synod of bishops?
Plus, new paths for appointing bishops and performance reviews

Links:

Support Jesuitical and Inside the Vatican by becoming a digital subscriber to America!

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When Catholic doctrine can change–and when it can’t Oct 25, 2023

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley discuss a, if not the, big question hanging over the synod: Can it change church teaching? They unpack the place of authority, doctrinal development and the synod with Richard Gaillardetz, the Joseph Professor of Catholic Systematic Theology at Boston College and the author of a foundational text on the levels of church teaching: By What Authority?: A Primer on Scripture, the Magisterium, and the Sense of the Faithful.

They ask Dr. Gaillardetz:

What’s the difference between a dogma, doctrine and teaching?
What do I need to believe to be Catholic? Is it O.K. to disagree with church teaching?
How has church teaching developed throughout history?

In Signs of the Times, the synod enters its final week with discussion on the synthesis report, and an Australian theologian addresses concerns some synod delegates have about tradition and the development of doctrine.

Links from the show:

Purchase By What Authority? Foundations for Understanding Authority in the Church, by Richard Gaillardetz
Synod: Fr Ormond Rush's theological reflection on Synthesis Report

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Catholic influencers or digital missionaries? Bringing the synod to the internet Oct 20, 2023

As a young adult, José Manuel de Urquidi had a lot of questions about faith but couldn’t find satisfying answers. He went to law school, opened a craft brewery and started a family, but it wasn’t until he started podcasting that he found his purpose as a digital missionary.

José is a voting member in the synod on synodality at the Vatican this month and his advocacy for evangelizing–or rather listening–in digital spaces is turning heads. Leading up to the synod, he worked closely with the synod secretariat to get the word out on dozens of digital platforms. The result is the digital synod “continental” document, which centers previously unheard voices of those who are or feel excluded from the traditional structures of the Church.

In Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac break open the final thematic module of the synod that’s currently being discussed: Participation, governance and authority.

Links

Synod Diary: Will the synod change its members?

Synod cardinal from Brazil: In the Amazon ‘everyone votes, except the bishop’

The digital synod continental document

What’s on Tap?

Lokita Mezcal

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The French Dominican bringing Middle East Catholics’ concerns to Rome Oct 18, 2023

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley turn their attention to the Middle East. Their guest is Olivier Poquillon, O.P., a French Dominican priest who, until recently, served as the pastor of a Catholic Church in Mosul, Iraq. That church was almost completely destroyed by ISIS in 2014 when the terrorist group took over one of the few remaining religiously diverse communities in the country. After ISIS was driven from the city, Father Poquillon returned to oversee the reconstruction of the church. He was recently named the director of the École Biblique in Jerusalem—the oldest biblical and archaeological research center in the Holy Land—and is on the commission for methodology for the Synod on Synodality here in Rome.

Zac and Ashley talk to Father Poquillon about:

The history of religious diversity and violence in Mesopotamia, the birthplace of the Abrahamic faiths
What Pope Francis’ 2021 visit to Iraq meant to the people of Mosul
What he heard from the Catholics living in the Middle East during their local synodal sessions

In Signs of the Times, the hosts discuss the latest Catholic developments related to the war between Israel and Hamas, including the news that Pope Francis might know one of the Argentine victims of the Oct. 7 massacre. Next, they talk about the pope’s new apostolic exhortation on St. Thérèse of Lisieux, “the Little Flower.”

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

Chianti Classico

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The risks of the Vatican's synod media strategy Oct 16, 2023

Listen to this full bonus episode on Patreon!

Ashley and Zac are joined by their colleagues, Sebastian Gomes and Colleen Dulle to break down the curious media strategy around the Vatican's synod on synodality. Synod members are "fasting" from public speaking after Pope Francis decried what he perceived to be distorted media narratives around previous synods. But this media blackout strategy brings very real risks.

Support Jesuitical and access bonus content–including this full episode–on Patreon.

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The lay woman bringing Catholic social teaching to the heart of Vatican Oct 13, 2023

Ashley and Zac get schooled in social justice from a Latin American perspective. Emilce Cuda, the Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and the highest ranking lay woman working in the Vatican, joins the podcast to explain how “el pueblo”—ordinary, working class people—are at the forefront of a burgeoning synodal church. They also discuss:

Populism in Latin America versus North America
Pope Francis’ vision for a church that does social justice
What it’s like working as a lay woman in the Vatican

In Signs of the Times, the hosts share updates about the synod on synodality, including some of the hot topics emerging from inside the hall: concern for the poor, the environment, welcoming marginalized groups including women and LGBT Catholics, formation and a lot more. They also discuss Pope Francis’ remarks concerning the terrorist attack on Israel last Saturday.

What’s on tap:

Malbec (from Argentina!)

Links:

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What it’s like giving a speech inside a synod of bishops Oct 11, 2023

The synod on synodality learned a lot from the young people who attended the youth synod in 2018, says Julian Paparella, who was 25 years old when he addressed hundreds of bishops in that assembly. Now studying in Rome, he joins Zac and Ashley to shed light on the dynamic at work inside synods and how the process has evolved over the past five years to truly listen to lay—and especially younger—people. They also discuss:

The young people’s call in 2018 for greater inclusion of women in the church
The balance between learning synodality and tackling the hot-button issues that matter to many people who feel excluded from the church
How conversion happens inside a synod among the participants

In Signs of the Times, the part of the show where the hosts sift through Catholic news of the week, the hosts discuss the complicated process of the discussions in the synod on synodality.

Links

Julian Paparella’s Synodal Intervention

America’s synod coverage

What’s on Tap?

Birra Moretti

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Everything you need to know about the Synod on Synodality Oct 06, 2023

Hello from Rome! Ashley and Zac are joined by their colleague Gerard O’Connell, a journalist who has covered the Vatican since 1985. They bring questions from listeners about the Synod on Synodality, which began this week: How will the discussions inside the synod hall work? How will the synod deal with internal polarization? What will determine the success of this synod? They also discuss:

The changes that Pope Francis has brought to the synod, making it more open and inclusive.
How to listen and remain open to the Holy Spirit.
Lay involvement in the synod, especially of women and young people.

Links from the Show

What’s on Tap?

Falanghina (Italian white wine)

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The Holy Spirit: The most misunderstood person of the trinity? Sep 29, 2023

This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley are joined by Chris Hadley, S.J., to talk about the oft-overshadowed third person of the Trinity: the Holy Spirit. Father Hadley, an associate professor of systematic theology at Santa Clara University, uses his expertise in pneumatology to guide us through a great discussion about:

How Catholics understand the Spirit, from biblical times to today
Signs of the Holy Spirit at work in the world
How Catholics can open themselves to the Holy Spirit—at the Synod and beyond

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley announce that they will travel to Rome to cover the Synod on Synodality, which is shaping up to be the biggest church event since Vatican II. Jesuitical will cover the broader themes at the synod and welcome guests from around the world to share their insight and experience. They will be recording twice a week, with some episodes exclusive to Patreon, so subscribe for all of our coverage.

Links from the Show

Christopher M. Hadley, S.J.

America’s synod coverage plans

What’s on Tap?

Old-Fashioneds

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The Catholics responding to New York’s migrant crisis Sep 22, 2023

This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley are talking about the migrant crisis in New York City and the work Catholics are doing to respond. They are joined by Richard Slizeski, the senior vice president for mission at Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens. They talk to him about:

Migrants’ often harrowing experiences coming to the United States
What’s missing in the political debates around the migrant crisis in New York
How Catholic Charities’ mission and Catholic identity informs their work on the ground

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss recent revelations about what World War II-era Pope Pius XII knew about the Holocaust as it was occuring, as well as Pope Francis’ recent conversation with Bill Clinton.

Links from the Show

What’s on Tap?

Dark beer—Guinness stout, specifically

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Catholic seminarians need therapy (like the rest of us) Sep 15, 2023

This week, Zac and Ashley are talking about the psychological care that seminarians (i.e., priests-in-training) receive as part of their formation. They are joined by Maribel Laguna, the founder and owner of Cor Sacrum Counseling and Consulting. They talk to Maribel about:

The Catholic Church’s relationship with psychology and counseling, historically and today
The unique challenges seminarians are facing
The type of psychological screening that goes into the decision to accept someone into a seminary program

In Signs of the Times, they discuss Pope Francis’ new pick to lead the Vatican’s doctrinal office and the best thing to go on tour in the United States this year: the relic of St. Jude’s arm.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis appoints Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernandez as the new head of Vatican office for doctrine

St. Jude’s arm is on tour in the US; tour schedule

Become a member of Jesuitical’s Patreon community

Invite Jesuitical to your college, parish or community! Send us an email: jesuitical@americamedia.org

What’s on tap?

Grapefruit Margarita

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Father James Martin on Jesus’s Greatest Miracle Sep 08, 2023

On the season premier of Jesuitical’s seventh season, Zac and Ashley talk with their friend and colleague James Martin, S.J., who is out with a brand new book,Come Forth: The Promise of Jesus's Greatest Miracle. They ask Father Martin:

If Jesus actually raised Lazarus from the dead (and do Catholic have to believe it)
What Mary, Martha and Lazarus can teach us about friendship
And how we can all come forth into new life in our daily lives

In Signs of the Times, we discuss the “DJ Priest” who made headlines at World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, and ask: Were Pope Francis’ criticisms of “reactionary” Catholics in the United States fair (or helpful)?

Links from the show:

The (not so) curious case of priests who DJ in the history of electronic music

Pope Francis speaks out against his critics in the U.S. Catholic Church

Pope Francis’ criticisms of ‘reactionary’ U.S. Catholics are counterproductive

Come Forth: The Promise of Jesus's Greatest Miracle

Exclusive Excerpt: What can the story of Lazarus teach us about new life?

Become a member of Jesuitical’s Patreon community

What’s on tap?

Corpse Reviver No. 2

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What the Catholic Church can learn about change from baseball’s pitch-clock innovation Aug 19, 2023

We have a great summer bonus episode, all about baseball! To listen to the full episode, become a patron of Jesuitical!

This is the first season with a pitch clock in Major League Baseball, which was implemented to try to speed up the game and appeal to younger viewers. But to some longtime baseball fans the rule change feels gimmicky and disrespectful to the grand tradition of America's pastime.

If the debate sounds familiar, that's because the Catholic Church is at a similar pivotal moment in its history. Younger people are not filling the pews as previous generations have, and Catholics are grappling with how to reform itself without compromising its authentic tradition.

On today's episode, two past guests and baseball fanatics return to debate the pitch clock and draw analogies between the game and the church they love. J.D. Long-Garcia is a senior editor at America and Greg Hillis runs the Aquinas Center of Theology at Emory University. You can read their takes on the pitch clock here:

J.D. Long-Garcia, "The pitch clock is a travesty. The Catholic Church must learn from baseball’s mistake."

Greg Hillis, "Quit Trying to ‘Fix’ Baseball" and "In Praise of the Pitch Clock"

Help support the production of Jesuitical by becoming a patron! It's simple, easy, and you can listen to bonus episodes on your podcast app!

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Cardinal Czerny on Pope Francis, Catholic social teaching and the legacy of Vatican II Jun 30, 2023

On the season finale of “Jesuitical,” Zac and producer Sebastian Gomes talk with Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., who leads the Vatican’s department for social justice and human development. (Ashley was out of the country at the time of the interview). Cardinal Czerny is also the co-author of the new book Siblings All, Sign of the Times: The Social Teaching of Pope Francis. We talk to him about:

The disputed legacy of Vatican II
How Pope Francis has developed the church’s social teaching
How the church should relate to the outside world

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley point ahead to some stories to look out for this summer. And in As One Friend Speaks to Another, they look back at the season and the many graces it held.

Links from the show:

Jesuitical listener survey

Learn more about the O’Hare fellowship

Vatican confirms Pope Francis will enjoy a ‘staycation’ in July

Pope Francis’ prep advice for World Youth Day: talk to your grandparents first

Siblings All, Sign of the Times: The Social Teaching of Pope Francis by Cardinal Michael Czerny and Father Christian Barone

Ignatian Wisdom Fellowship from Loyola University Chicago

Sacred Heart Major Seminary’s online course "An Introduction to Spirituality”

What’s on tap?

Rum sunset, prepared by outgoing O’Hare fellow, Chris Parker

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A Religious Trip: Finding God on Psychedelic Drugs Jun 23, 2023

This week on Jesuitical, Ashley and Zac chat with Bryan McCarthy, who teaches philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg, and is the author of a new paper, “Christianity and Psychedelic Medicine: A Pastoral Approach.” They discuss:

What the church teaches about drugs and intoxication
How psychedelic drugs are being used in therapeutic settings, and how Christians should respond
Bryan’s own religious experiences while using psychedelic drugs

During Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac give initial reactions to the new working document for the Synod on Synodality and discuss a curious story involving a fake priest and serious labor violations out of California.

Links from the show:

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Pope Francis called homilies “a disaster.” Here’s what we can do about it. Jun 16, 2023

Earlier this year, Pope Francis called most Catholic homilies “a disaster.” Well, we’re doing something about it. This week, Ashley and Zac welcome Ricardo da Silva, S.J., their colleague and the host of the brand new podcast from America Media, “Preach: The Catholic Homilies Podcast.”

“Preach” releases weekly and features a diverse cast of the finest Catholic preachers. On each episode, preachers open up their hearts and minds, sharing their spiritual lives, approaches to interpreting Scripture and techniques for preparing the best homilies.

Whether you’re curious about preaching methods, or you’re a preacher looking for inspiration and best practices, “Preach” is here to accompany you through the liturgical year with great homilies and conversations about them.

Follow “Preach: The Catholic Homilies Podcast” on your podcast app! Or at AmericaMagazine.org

If you know a priest, deacon or lay preacher who would benefit from “Preach,” please share it with them! And, if you want to recommend a great preacher for “Preach,” let us know here.

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Does prayer belong in a public school? Jun 09, 2023

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley chat with Linda K. Wertheimer, a journalist and the author of the book Faith Ed: Teaching about Religion in an Age of Intolerance. In a recent article in The New Republic, Linda explores renewed efforts in some parts of the country to get prayer back into public schools. They discuss:

Linda’s experience of being the only Jewish student in a public school with weekly Christian Bible classes
The history of school prayer at the Supreme Court
How to balance religious freedom and inclusion in an increasingly diverse country

In Signs of the Times, the hosts give an update on Pope Francis’ recovery after his three-hour abdominal surgery and discuss the approval of what would be the first publicly funded religious charter school in the nation.

Finally, Ashley reflects on her vision of heaven.

Links from the show:

Surgeon: Pope Francis is ‘alert’ and cracking jokes after hernia operation

Catholic virtual school approved by Oklahoma board would be first religious charter in the U.S.

Inside the Christian Legal Crusade to Revive School Prayer

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How one bishop’s experience of suicide loss led him to start a mental health ministry Jun 02, 2023

This week, Ashley and Zac are joined by Bishop John Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix to talk about losing several members of his family to suicide, a groundbreaking new mental health ministry in his diocese and how the church can better support those struggling with mental health issues.

They are also joined by America colleague James Martin, S.J., who serves as a consultor for the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. They discuss the dicastery’s new document “Towards Full Presence: A Pastoral Reflection on Engagement with Social Media.”

Finally, Zac brings a question to discuss: Does God take bribes?

Links from the show:

Bishop Dolan: How losing family to suicide led me to start a mental health ministry

Office of Mental Health Ministry of the Diocese of Phoenix

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Towards Full Presence: A Pastoral Reflection on Engagement with Social Media

Vatican tells the bishops of Catholic Twitter: be reflective, not reactive

God doesn’t accept bribes in prayer. Or does he?

What’s on tap?

Maker’s Mark

Support Jesuitical by becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/americamedia

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How a religious congregation decides it’s time to close up shop May 26, 2023

This week, Jesuitical is joined by Sister Donna Dodge, the president of the Sisters of Charity of New York, which recently decided to embark on a “path to completion,” meaning the over 200-year-old congregation will no longer accept new vocations (though their ministry continues). We discuss:

How religious life has changed since Sister Donna joined in 1966
How the sisters discerned that it was time to let go—and how their charism of charity will live on in the work of lay collaborators
Why the church needs to change the way it talks about “vocation” with young people

And in Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley chat with America’s national correspondent, Michael O’Loughlin, about the controversy sparked by the Los Angeles Dodgers’ decision to include a group of “drag queen nuns” in their Pride Night this June.

Links from the show:

Drag queen ‘nuns’ will be included in LA Dodgers Pride Night. I have complicated feelings about it.

The end of an era for the Sisters of Charity of New York

Nerves, tears and chanting: What I saw during the New York Sisters of Charity vote to stop accepting members

What’s on tap?

Scotch on the rocks

Support Jesuitical by becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/americamedia

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Faith, culture and ritual in Toni Morrison's life and writings May 19, 2023

“Can we consider Toni Morrison a Catholic novelist,” Nadra Nittle asked in an article for America in 2017. Since Morrison’s passing in 2019, Nadra has been exploring that question in more depth, and the result is her new book: Toni Morrison's Spiritual Vision: Faith, Folktales, and Feminism in Her Life and Literature, out this month from Fortress Press.

This week, Zac reintroduces this popular interview with Nadra Nittle from 2021 which explores the Catholic sensibilities and love for aesthetics of the acclaimed writer Toni Morrison.

Support Jesuitical by becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/americamedia

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Joining a parish (or club) could save your life. May 12, 2023

This week, Jesuitical is joined by Pete Davis to talk about his new documentary “Join or Die,” “a film about why you should join a club — and why the fate of America depends on it.” They discuss:

Why Americans join fewer clubs and associations than they used to
Why churches are suffering the same fate
The work of Robert Putnam in his groundbreaking book, Bowling Alone

During Signs of the Times, Zac highlights a new transcript of Pope Francis in conversation with Jesuits in Hungary.

Links from the show:

“Join or Die”

‘This is God’s Style’: Pope Francis’ conversation with Hungarian Jesuits

How could a country that was 90 percent Catholic “disappear” Catholic priests and seminarians?

Who is the real Bergoglio?

What’s on tap?

Tank 7 American Saison Ale from Boulevard Brewing Company

Support Jesuitical by becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/americamedia

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Luke Russert on losing his father, quitting journalism and traveling the world May 05, 2023

This week on Jesuitical, we’re joined by Luke Russert, the author of the new memoir Look for Me There: Grieving My Father, Finding Myself. Luke is the son of Tim Russert, the legendary host of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” and served as an NBC News correspondent from 2008 to 2016. We talk to Luke about:

What it was like to lose his father and hero Tim Russert the year he graduated from college
Why he decided to leave a successful career in journalism to travel the world
The limits of travel when it comes to processing grief and finding yourself

And during Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac discuss the following news stories:

The historic participation of Catholic cardinals and bishops at the coronation of King Charles III this weekend
The Sisters of Charity of New York’s decision to no longer accept new members and to embark on a “path of completion”
The maiden voyage of a Staten Island Ferry named for Dorothy Day

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

Guinness

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Why Hulu's "The Pope: Answers" is the most thrilling movie out right now May 02, 2023

Everything is on the table: immigration and racism, women's ordination, abortion, sexual abuse, pornography, gender identity and dating apps. We’ve never seen a conversation with the pope like this. In Hulu’s “The Pope: Answers,” Francis sits with a group of 20 to 25-year-olds to discuss their most profound questions and struggles with faith and the church’s teachings. The young people also get practical, asking if the pope gets a salary.

Ashley and Zac are joined by two Jesuit colleagues, Ricardo da Silva, S.J., and Jim McDermott, S.J., to discuss the new documentary and how Catholics can process this profoundly honest conversation that seemingly raised more questions than answers.

Hulu’s ‘The Pope: Answers’ is the most thrilling movie out right now by Jim McDermott, S.J.

Listen to the full conversationhere.

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Will ChatGPT change the Catholic Church? Should it? Apr 28, 2023

This week, Jesuitical is joined by Sam Sawyer, S.J., the new editor in chief of America Media to talk about:

How Sam went from working as a software developer to joining the Jesuits
The Catholic Church’s approach to technology, and what A.I. and ChatGPT have in store for it
His latest essay in America: “Catholicism, authentic communion and the way out of our polarization trap”

And during Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac discuss the following news stories:

Pope Francis has given women the right to vote at the synod for the first time in history
Pope Francis losing his blue verification checkmark on Twitter
Two events in Catholic-Anglican relations: A gift from Pope Francis to King Charles III and a “breakdown in communication” between a visiting Anglican group in Rome and the Basilica of St. John Lateran

Links from the show

Support America’s Anniversary!

“Catholicism, authentic communion and the way out of our polarization trap”

Does ChatGPT have a soul? A conversation on Catholic ethics and A.I.

Pope Francis gives relics of the True Cross to King Charles III for his coronation

Over 50 Anglicans celebrate liturgy at Pope Francis’ cathedral after “breakdown in communication”

What’s on tap?

Negronis and Aeropress Coffee

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Should Catholics have kids during a climate crisis? Apr 21, 2023

Let’s face it: talking about climate change can feel depressing and futile. It seems like every few years there’s a new dire report, another agreement signed, and little progress is made. This week’s guest, Dorothy Fortenberry, is a writer and executive producer of “Extrapolations,” a new show from Apple TV+ that aims to shake us from our complacency by showing us what the world might look like in 10, 20, 30 years if we stay on our current trajectory. We talk to her about getting people to care about climate change, her love of Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical “Laudato Si’” and the ethics of having kids in a climate crisis.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss a controversy between a group of Franciscans and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and talk about how Catholics should react to SatanCon, a gathering of members of the Satanic Temple in Boston next week.

Links from the show:

Military archdiocese: The end of Walter Reed’s pastoral care contract is ‘incomprehensible’

Boston 'SatanCon' prompts Catholics to respond with prayer and the Gospel

Watch “Extrapolations” on Apple TV+

I was at the first Earth Day. And I carry what I learned about care for creation to this day by James Martin, S.J.

This Earth Day, meet the artist making beautiful icons of God’s endangered creatures by Jim McDermott, S.J.

What’s on tap?

Micheladas

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Fr. Ron Rolheiser on sex, spiritual energy and what isolation does to our souls Apr 14, 2023

This week, Jesuitical chats with Ronald Rolheiser, O.M.I., spiritual master and the author of many books, including “The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality.” Ashley and Zac talk to Father Rolheiser about the importance and universality of spiritual energy, sex, isolation and the differences between therapy and spirituality.

During “Signs of the Times,” the team is joined by Michael O’Louglin to unpack an FBI memo that seems to be targeting “traditionalist Catholics.” Later they discuss Hulu’s new documentary, “The Pope: Answers.”

Links from the show:

RonRolheiser.Com

House committee alleges FBI used undercover agent to produce analysis on ‘radical traditionalist’ Catholics

In Hulu’s ‘The Pope: Answers,’ Pope Francis talks abortion, gender identity, dating apps and more with 10 young adults

What’s on Tap?

Sparkling wine, with bubbles that are rising (like Jesus)

Support Jesuitical! Become a digital subscriber to America Media!

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Praying on the Way of the Cross Apr 07, 2023

For this special triduum edition of Jesuitical, we’re doing something a little different. Instead of a regular interview, we’re sharing an episode from the America Media podcast “Imagine: A Guide to Jesuit Prayer,” by our friend and colleague Tucker Redding, S.J. In this episode, Tucker guides us through an imaginative prayer focusing on the Way of the Cross, the time between Jesus’ trial under Pontius Pilate and his crucifixion.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley give an update on Pope Francis’ health and time in the hospital, and then they share their favorite parts of the Easter Triduum.

Happy Easter everyone!

Links from the show:

The best way to support Jesuitical is to become a digital subscriber to America Media and access all of our digital content!

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What Sister Jean learned in her first 100 years about God, Life and Basketball Mar 31, 2023

Before Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, B.V.M., captured the heart of America during Loyola Chicago’s Cinderella run to the Final Four in 2018, she was Zac’s hero and mentor while he was attending Loyola. To be fair, she had been many things to many people in 100 years of life. Sister Jean is out with a new book (written with help from ace basketball writer Seth Davis) titled Wake Up With Purpose!: What I’ve Learned in My First Hundred Years. She joins the podcast to discuss that magical Final Four run, why she loves being around young people and where she believes the Catholic Church is headed.

During Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley give an update on Pope Francis’ health and discuss why an A.I.-generated image of him in a puffer jacket went viral. Finally, Zac explains where he found God during jury duty.

Links from the show:

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Going on ‘Digital Pilgrimage’ and praying with a smartphone Mar 24, 2023

What if you could pray with the Black Madonna of Montserrat, on the banks of the River Cardoner or the cave in Manresa where St. Ignatius developed the Spiritual Exercises—from the comfort of your couch? Today’s guest, Vivian Richards, S.J., wants to help Catholics do just that. Father Vivian is a Jesuit priest of India’s Karnataka province and part of the team of Jesuits who developed the JesuitPilgrimage app. The app provides photos, prayer and audio guides and interactive maps to bring users to the significant spots in the life of St. Ignatius and the Society of Jesus. We talk with Father Richards about how smartphones can help (and hurt) our prayer life, what it’s like to work at the Jesuit curia (a.k.a the home office) and what it means to take a “digital pilgrimage.”

And in Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac discuss President Joe Biden’s asylum policy being at odds with Catholic teaching, the five lucky cousins who will receive an inheritance from the late Pope Benedict XVI and Georgetown University poaching the star coach of Providence College’s men’s basketball team.

Links from the show:

Bishop Seitz on Biden’s new asylum policy: Death cannot be the cost of our immigration laws

Five cousins of late Pope Benedict XVI may receive small inheritance

Georgetown hires Ed Cooley to revive Hoyas men's basketball

JesuitPilgrimage App

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Brooklyn’s Bishop Brennan on parish diversity, church closings and his move from Ohio to New York Mar 17, 2023

Bishop Robert Brennan leads the most diverse diocese in the country: Brooklyn-Queens. Every Sunday, you are able to find Mass in over 25 languages throughout the diocese. Before coming to Brooklyn, Bishop Brennan was bishop of Columbus, Ohio (Zac’s hometown). This week, we talk to Bishop Brennan about the differences between Ohio and Brooklyn, what it’s like to switch dioceses as a bishop and the future of parish life in an era of church closings and reorganization.

In Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac look at St. Patrick’s Day dispensations around the country and a new “cannabis studies” certificate offered by St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

Links from the show:

Bishop Brennan Podcast: Big City Catholics

St. Joseph’s University has a cannabis certificate program, and some Catholics aren’t pleased

When St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday in Lent, should we eat the corned beef?

Jesuitical March Madness: Facebook

What’s on tap?

Scotch! (We have a St. Patrick’s Day dispensation ourselves)

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You've never heard Jesus' Passion like this Mar 10, 2023

Each year, during Holy Week, Catholics hear the story of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, the Last Supper and the washing of the apostles’ feet, and finally, the betrayal, trial and crucifixion of Jesus. These events at the heart of our faith can become familiar, even sanitized after a while. But this year, we can hear them all anew thanks to “The Passion,” a new musical production from the Notre Dame Folk Choir.

Zac and Ashley talk with J.J. Wright, the director of the University of Notre Dame Folk Choir, and Tristan Cooley, the creative director and librettist for “The Passion,” about the origins of the album, how spending so many hours with these Gospel passages affected their faith and how current realities—clergy sex abuse, police brutality and ongoing discussions about the place of women in the church—shaped the production.

In Signs of the Times, we mark International Women’s Day by discussing the record number of female employees at the Vatican—as well the hope expressed during synod consultations for greater inclusion and leadership for women in the church. Next, newly discovered asteroids were named for three Jesuits and a pope. Why are there so many monuments to Catholics in space? And finally, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis and share what we remember most from his historic papacy.

Make sure to check our Facebook page to vote in the Jesuitical Saint Sixteen (and shout out to our organizers Chris Kinkor and Jeff Johnson!)

Links from the show:

10 years of Pope Francis: Significantly more women working at the Vatican

Synod working document for the continental phase

New asteroids named for 3 Jesuits and pope of ‘Gregorian calendar’ fame

Everyone has an opinion about the pope. But how does Pope Francis understand his past 10 years?

A Big Heart Open to God: An interview with Pope Francis

Tour dates for “The Passion”

Stream “The Passion” on Spotify

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Inside the Vatican: How saints are made in the Catholic Church Mar 03, 2023

Catholics love their saints. But it's not easy to become one. On this special Deep Dive episode of “Inside the Vatican,” we take you inside the grueling process of saint-making, which starts at a local diocese and involves dozens of people, a long paper trail with the Vatican, travel for miracle verification and a lot of money.

We’ll hear from Vatican historians and journalists about how the process evolved from folks being devoted to holy people in their cities to a codified Vatican process. We’ll talk with individuals who are working on Dorothy Day's canonization cause in New York about how the significant cost and local politics can lead to causes being delayed indefinitely. And finally, we’ll look into how miracles are verified—and why some people think that ought to change.

Support Inside the Vatican! Become a digital subscriber to America Media.

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3 Jews and 2 Catholics walk into a podcast studio to talk about Lent Feb 24, 2023

This week, Zac and Ashley join forces with the hosts of the universe’s leading Jewish podcast, “Unorthodox,” for our annual Lenten conversation. As is custom, Mark Oppenheimer, Stephanie Butnick and Liel Leibovitz offer the hosts of “Jesuitical” their annual Lenten practices.

Links from the show:

Unorthodox

Tablet Magazine

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Finding God in hip-hop and liberation theology Feb 17, 2023

Catholics probably won’t hear hip-hop at Mass anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean the genre doesn’t have a lot to say about God and the plight of God’s people. Much like liberation theology starts from the experience of the poor when talking about God, hip-hop, which originated in the South Bronx in the 1970s, expresses the struggles for justice and freedom of people living on the margins of America. That’s the case this week’s guest, Alex Nava, makes in his new book, Street Scriptures: Between God and Hip-Hop. Zac and Ashley ask Alex about the history of liberation theology and about the liberating potential of hip-hop.

In Signs of the Times, we give an update on the crackdown Catholics and other opponents of the Ortega regime in Nicaragua and discuss the slick “He Gets Us” ads for Jesus at the Super Bowl. Were they an effective way to evangelize—or a massive waste of money?

Links from the show:

Pope Francis denounces imprisonment of Nicaragua’s Bishop Rolando Álvarez

What the Jesus Super Bowl ads get right (and wrong) about evangelization

Street Scriptures: Between God and Hip-Hop

What’s on tap?

French 75

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How Jean Vanier went from a ‘living saint’ to a sexual abuser Feb 10, 2023

Jean Vanier was the founder of L’Arche, a network of intentional communities where people with and without disabilities live alongside one another in mutual friendship. While he was considered a “living saint” up until his death in 2019, allegations that he had sexually abused six adult, nondisabled women sent shockwaves throughout the L’Arche Community. And more recently, a nearly 900-page report was released last Monday shed more light on the scope of the abuse.

Jenna Barnett has been following this story since it broke. She is the host of the new podcast “Lead Us Not” from Sojourners. We talk to Jenna about Vanier and how L’Arche is responding, as well as larger questions about how we hold in tension the good works created by deeply flawed, charismatic founders.

During Signs of the Times, we talk about the developing situation between the church and the government in Nicaragua, where four priests were sentenced to 10 years in prison, as well as Notre Dame’s new food delivery robots. (After we recorded, news broke that the four priests were part of a group of 222 political prisoners who were deported from Nicaragua and will take refuge in the United States.)

Links from the show:

Listen to “Lead Us Not”

New report finds evidence Jean Vanier founded L’Arche to reunite a religious sect with ‘mystical-sexual’ practices

Explainer: The Catholic Church’s fraught relationship with the Nicaraguan government

Robot food delivery launches at the University of Notre Dame

Remembering Rachel Held Evans

What’s on tap?

Champagne for Zac’s 30th

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Cardinal McElroy: Sex and sin need a new framework in the church Feb 03, 2023

What would it take to build a radically inclusive church? That is the question Cardinal Robert McElroy took up in a recent article published by America. In it, he called on the church to dismantle the “structures and cultures of exclusion” that alienate some Catholics, including women, the poor, divorced-and-remarried couples and L.G.B.T. Catholics. Most controversially, he argued that people who do not conform to the church’s teaching on sex and marriage should not be excluded from receiving Communion.

The article sparked a wide range of reactions online, and this week on “Jesuitical,” Zac Davis and Ashley McKinless bring on Cardinal McElroy on to the podcast to continue the conversation. They ask the cardinal whether he is in favor of open Communion, if the inclusion he’s advocating for requires a change in church teaching and if he’s worried that disagreements over the place of women and L.G.B.T. Catholics in the church could lead to schism.

Cardinal McElroy shares his view that “judgmentalism is the worst sin in the Christian life,” and says his “pastoral vision here in San Diego is to make—and it’s hard to accomplish this—to make L.G.B.T. people feel equally welcome in the life of the church as everyone else.”

Read, "Cardinal McElroy on ‘radical inclusion’ for L.G.B.T. people, women and others in the Catholic Church"

Read the full transcript of Jesuitical's interview with Cardinal McElroy here.

Watch: Why Pope Francis is going to South Sudan

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Are Catholicism and Liberal Democracy Compatible? Jan 27, 2023

The human person is an autonomous, self-governing and self-actualizing being. It has individual rights that no government or obligation should infringe upon. At least, that is the traditionally American, classically liberal way of viewing a human being. But does this view match up with a Christian anthropology? And what does that mean for how Christians should engage in the public sphere?

This week, Ashley and Zac are joined by Susannah Black Roberts to discuss all of this and more. Susannah is a senior editor at Plough Quarterly and Mere Orthodoxy and the co-host of “The Ploughcast” podcast.

During Signs of the Times, the hosts give an overview of a new interview with Pope Francis and talk about his disdain for “long homilies.”

Links from the Show:

Pope Francis gives major interview on his critics, sex abuse, decriminalizing homosexuality and more

Pope Francis: Long homilies are ‘a disaster’—keep it under 10 minutes

Our post-liberal moment: What do we want? The common good! When do we want it? Now!

Susannah Black Roberts and Christian Post-Liberalism

Is Christianity Opposed to Liberalism?

Plough Quarterly

The Anchored Argosy: Alastair & Susannah Roberts' freight of wonders

What’s on tap?

Cosmopolitan

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Faith and wonder in Shakespeare Jan 24, 2023

We’re changing things up a bit today and bringing you a preview of a new podcast we’re enjoying and think you will, too. Where There’s a Will searches for the surprising places Shakespeare shows up outside the theater.

Host Barry Edelstein, artistic director at one of the country’s leading Shakespeare theaters, and co-host, writer and director Em Weinstein, ask what is it about Shakespeare that’s given him a continuous afterlife in all sorts of unexpected ways? You’ll hear Shakespeare doing rehabilitative work in a maximum security prison, helping autistic kids to communicate, shaping religious observances, in the mouths of U.S. presidents, and even at the center of a deadly riot in New York City.

Join Barry and Em as they uncover the ways Shakespeare endures in our modern society, and what that says about us. In this preview, Barry and Em take a deep dive into how Shakespeare informs contemporary religious practices and faith traditions, and explore one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays—The Winter's Tale. Hear more from Where There’s a Will: Finding Shakespeare here.

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Catholics and the crisis of white Christian nationalism Jan 20, 2023

For many Christians, the prevalence of the religious imagery at the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol—crosses, rosary, a flag proclaiming “Trump Is My President—Jesus Is My Savior”—came as a shock. But not for this week’s guest, Brad Onishi, who joined (and eventually left) an evangelical church that combined the conservative politics and “God and country” faith embraced by many who sought to overturn the 2020 election that day. Brad is a co-host of the “Straight White American Jesus” podcast and the author of the new book, Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism – And What Comes Next. We discuss the history of white Christian nationalism, how Catholics and evangelicals became allies in our political and culture wars, and if there’s a non-toxic way to mix faith and politics.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley mark the passing of Sister André, a French nun and oldest known person in the world, who died this week at the age of 118; the late Pope Benedict XVI’s custom-made cologne; and the future of the March for Life on its 50th anniversary.

Links from the show:

Sister André, a French nun and oldest known person in world, dies at age 118

Pope Benedict Has Custom-Designed Cologne

The March for Life has always had one message: End Roe v. Wade. What is its mission now?

Podcast: The future of the March for Life now that Roe v. Wade is gone

Straight White American Jesus podcast

Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism--and What Comes, by Brad Onishi

What’s on tap?

Aperol Spritz

Music: City Girl by Flux Vortex

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Pope Benedict XVI: Social justice warrior? Jan 13, 2023

There has been no shortage of commentary on the life of Pope Benedict XVI since his death on Dec. 31. But one aspect of Benedict’s legacy that many Americans miss is his contributions to Catholic social teaching. John Carr would know.

John is the founder of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University and for 20 years served as director of the Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. John has more than five decades of experience working in the Catholic Church to help promote its public witness to justice. We talk to John about Pope Benedict, the perception of the church and politics as well as his personal and professional experience with the sexual abuse crisis.

As you can probably tell from Ashley’s voice in the interview, we decided to give her vocal cords a rest. So you’ll hear an abbreviated version of the rest of the show.

What’s on tap

Orange Fanta

Links from the show:

Pope Benedict’s greatest disconnect from U.S. elites wasn’t about sex. It was over economic justice.

I helped write the bishops’ first document on Catholics and voting. Here’s why I’m voting Biden, not Trump.

Eight lessons to help us move forward from the sex abuse crisis.

Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life

A timeline of Pope Benedict XVI’s life and papacy: From humble beginnings to historic resignation

Pope Benedict XVI, defender of orthodoxy defined by historic resignation, dies at 95

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Mailbag! Going to Mass in a foreign language, difficult theological mysteries, and more Jan 06, 2023

This week, Ashley and Zac turn over the keys to their listeners. In their first ever mailbag episode, they answer listener-submitted questions on a range of topics, from what it's like being a professional Catholic in a parish, to what theological mystery they struggle with the most and who they cheered for in the World Cup.

What's on tap?

Rosso di Montalcino, combined with a great story!

Note: This episode was recorded on Dec. 20, 2022. Early access to this episode was available to Patreon supporters. Join the community at: www.patreon.com/americamedia

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What's your (least) favorite Christmas carol? Dec 23, 2022

Christmas drinks, Christmas carols, Christmas movies–it's the Jesuitical Christmas special! On today's festive episode, Ashley McKinless and Zac Davis are joined by two colleagues, Maggi Van Dorn, the host of America Media's podcast "Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols" and associate editor Jim McDermott, S.J., to discuss the making of "Hark!", the incredible history of the Ukrainian classic, "Carol of the Bells", and why carols are so meaningful year, after year, after year. They also channel Mr. Grinch and discuss their least favorite carols. Merry Christmas to all!

The story of ‘Carol of the Bells,’ a Christmas classic born in Ukraine

Don't forget to follow Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols on your podcast app!

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Everything you want to know about Catholic Mass—but were too afraid to ask Dec 16, 2022

Is there a question you have about the Catholic Mass that you’ve always been too embarrassed to ask? Like: When we say, “Only say the word and my soul shall be healed,”...what’s “the word”? You’re in luck. This week, we’re talking to Father Dave Dwyer, the executive director of Busted Halo, a media outreach of the Paulist Fathers, and the author of the new book Mass Class: Your Questions Answered. Zac and Ashley ask Father Dave their own burning questions about the liturgy, what he would say to Catholics who lost their “Mass habit” during the pandemic and how to make sure Mass etiquette does not get in the way of true reverence.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley talk with Carol Zimmerman, who has worked for Catholic News Service for 30 years reporting on education, health care and the Supreme Court. What will the church in the United States lose when the domestic operations of CNS close on Dec. 30?

Finally, it’s your last chance to submit questions for Zac and Ashley mailbag episode! Post your questions on Twitter, Facebook, Patreon or to jesuitical@americamedia.org by Monday, Dec. 19.

Links from the show:

U.S. bishops announce Catholic News Service to cease domestic operations at year’s end

Catholic News Service provides vital context that secular media misses. Shutting it down is a mistake.

Mass Class: Your Questions Answered, by Father Dave Dwyer

What’s on tap?

Pick your poison: Paloma or Negroni

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Matt Maher on ‘The Chosen,’ anxiety, racial justice and his new album Dec 09, 2022

This week, Ashley and Zac are joined by Matt Maher. Matt is a nine-time-GRAMMY nominee and three-time-GMA Dove Award winning musician. His latest album is “The Stories I Tell Myself.” They talk to Matt about his connection with the hit TV show “The Chosen” and how the events of the past couple of years influenced his new album. They discuss how the pandemic affected his art, why he decided to write songs about racial justice and polarization and they get Matt’s take on the liturgy wars.

During Signs of the Times, the hosts discuss new allegations of sexual abuse against a prominent Jesuit artist. Plus, how should we think about lifting Covid-19 protocols at Mass around the Communion cup and sign of peace?

Links from the show:

Prominent Jesuit artist restricted from ministry after allegations of sexually abusing women religious

U.S. dioceses begin to bring back Communion Cup

Italy's Catholic Church reintroduces handshakes during Mass

Matt Maher's tour dates and the new album, "The Stories I Tell Myself"

What’s on tap?

Thoroughbred Mule

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America Media asked Pope Francis about women’s ordination. Here’s what he said. Dec 02, 2022

It’s not every day your colleague gets to interview—and share a laugh with—Pope Francis. So this week we’re talking to Kerry Weber, an executive editor at America, who was one of five America editors who spent two hours speaking with the pope on Nov. 22. We ask Kerry what surprised her most about the Holy Father and what it was like to be a woman asking Francis about women’s ordination, a question considered by many to be off the table, within the walls of the Vatican.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the appointment of a Chinese bishop to a diocese not recognized by the Holy See—and the Vatican’s unusually harsh response.

And finally, stick around after the credits for a preview of America Media’s new season of its Advent podcast “Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols.”

Links from the show:

Exclusive: Pope Francis discusses Ukraine, U.S. bishops and more

Behind the scenes: What it’s like to interview Pope Francis

Vatican statement suggests China violated agreement over appointment of bishops

China vows more ‘friendly consensus’ after unusually harsh Vatican statement

The Catholic Church in China | A Short Documentary

The story of ‘Carol of the Bells,’ a Christmas classic born in Ukraine

What’s on tap?

Champagne

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Why every day should be Thanksgiving! Nov 25, 2022

Hey everyone! Jesuitical is taking a break for Thanksgiving, but if you’re looking for something new to try, we’d love to suggest “How God Works”, a podcast from PRX. "How God Works” is a rare combination of cutting edge science and ancient wisdom as psychology professor Dave DeSteno helps us grapple with some of life’s biggest questions.

We're delighted to share with you this great episode about gratitude—and why every day should feel like Thanksgiving! If you like it, make sure to follow our friends at “How God Works” on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts!

Follow "How God Works", wherever you listen to podcasts!

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It's time to ask: What’s the point of a Catholic parish? Nov 22, 2022

Have you ever wondered why most Catholics practice their faith in a local parish church? Is it simply to attend Mass and participate in the sacraments? Is it to find a meaningful community? Is it just because their family has always attended there? With the church facing serious demographic challenges across the United States, and amid a rapidly shifting religious culture, the established parish model can no longer be taken for granted.

In this fourth and final discussion on America Media’s new, groundbreaking documentary, “People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States,” Ashley and Zac, together with Jim McDermott, S.J., and Sebastian Gomes, try to answer the overarching and critical question in the face of the uncertain future of parish life: What’s the point?

Watch “People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States”

Follow on your podcast app: Hark! The Stories Behind Our Favorite Christmas Carols, an all-new season releasing Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022

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The Catholic case for ditching Amazon and Walmart for Christmas shopping Nov 18, 2022

We’ve all been there. You need to buy something random and a bit urgently. You hop in the car and drive to a nearby Walmart, or open your Amazon app and get a next-day delivery through Prime. No doubt that these regular fixtures of our modern economy have brought convenience and expedience to our lives, but what are the tradeoffs that we aren’t considering? Kathryn Judge is the author of Direct: The Rise of the Middleman Economy and the Power of Going to the Source. We talk about how “middlemen” became part of our everyday consumer lives and whether or not the way we shop necessarily lines up with our Catholic values.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley talk with Kevin Clarke, America’s chief correspondent, about what happened at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ annual meeting in Baltimore.

Links from the Show:

What’s on tap?

Fancy Free (Luxardo liqueur Old Fashioned)

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Can you attend a parish virtually full time? The rise of the remote parishioner Nov 15, 2022

When the Covid-19 pandemic closed churches, many parishes began streaming Mass for their communities. That opened up a whole new digital world for Catholics near and far searching for great preaching and a meaningful sense of community. Today, as people return to their parish churches, some Catholics want to stay connected to the digital communities they discovered during the pandemic. What does the rise of these remote parishioners mean for a church that is sacramental to its core?

Today, Ashley and Zac welcome Jim McDermott, S.J., and Sebastian Gomes to discuss Part Three of America Media’s new, groundbreaking documentary, “People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States.”

Watch “People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States”

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The church needs younger deacons—and older priests Nov 11, 2022

It’s no secret that the priesthood in the United States is aging, quickly. But what if part of the solution to the priest shortage is actually ordaining more older priests? Deacon Steve Kramer thinks the church should get serious about late-in-life vocations—recruiting men in the 40s, 50s or even 60s who have had another career, who maybe have been married and lost their spouse, for the priesthood. On the other hand, he thinks we should be encouraging men in their 30s and 40s to consider becoming a deacon—a vocation usually associated with more “mature” gentlemen.

During National Vocation Awareness week, we ask Deacon Steve about the growing role of deacons in the U.S. church, his experience joining the diaconate in his 30s (and with four young kids!) and what questions someone discerning a call to the priesthood or diaconate should ask themselves.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley talk with Colleen Dulle, the host of America Media’s “Inside the Vatican” podcast, about French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, the former head of the French bishops’ conference who admitted to abusing a 14-year-old girl 35 years ago. They ask: Have reforms aimed at combatting clerical sexual abuse really brought accountability to the highest levels of the church?

Links from the show:

French cardinal admits to abusing teen girl 35 years ago

Report: 330,000 child victims of sex abuse in France’s Catholic Church

Pope Francis issues new rules for accountability and response to allegations of sexual abuse

Pennsylvania report documents over 1,000 victims of priest abuse

Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick laicized by Pope Francis

Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology

People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States

What’s on tap?

Barolo

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We need to talk about closing parishes. Nov 08, 2022

In many parishes across the United States, churches are closing, there’s a shortage of priests and many younger Catholics are leaving the faith. That has forced some dioceses to "cluster" parishes, a process that asks communities to tighten budgets, share resources and, in many cases, share priests. One such parish cluster sits in the small city of Antigo, Wis., where the local pastor, the Rev. Joel Sember, is about to incorporate a fourth church into his three-parish cluster.

Today, Ashley and Zac welcome Jim McDermott, S.J., and Sebastian Gomes to discuss Part Two of America Media’s new, groundbreaking documentary, “People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States.” Is parish clustering a longterm solution or a bandaid fix to a much deeper crisis in the U.S. church?

Watch “People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States”

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How to become a mystic (and keep your day job) Nov 04, 2022

What does it mean to be a mystic in the modern age? Many of us think of mysticism as something for spiritual masters who lock themselves away from the world in monasteries and convents and dedicate their lives to constant prayer. But we are all called to a close and yes mystical relationship with God and to lead lives of contemplation. And today's guest, Kelly Deutsch, wants to help people do just that.

After entering a convent, Kelly came down with an illness that left her bedridden for 18 months—and spurred great spiritual desolation and growth. She went on to found Wanderlust, a center for contemplative formation, which provides podcasts, courses and other spiritual resources to those hunger for a closer union with the divine.

And in Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss a new report on clergy burnout and the at-times deceptive ways Catholic political groups try to sway voters.

Links from the show

New study of priests shows a distrust of bishops, fears of false sex abuse allegations and widespread burnout

‘The Catholic Church is always politically nonpartisan’: Arizona bishops warn voters of groups claiming to represent the church

Spiritual Wanderlust

People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States

What’s on tap?

Seltzer Water with Lime

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Catholic parishes are booming in the Southwest–what does that mean for the U.S. church? Nov 01, 2022

Catholic parishes are growing quickly in the Southwest, and that’s raising important questions for the U.S. church: How are Anglo and Latino communities integrating on the ground? Why aren’t Latinos adequately represented in parish, diocesan and national church structures? Ashley and Zac welcome Jim McDermott, S.J., and Sebastian Gomes to discuss Part One of America Media’s new, groundbreaking documentary, “People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States.” The film begins in the suburbs of Phoenix, Ariz., where one parish built a second church to accommodate the new families joining the parish on an almost daily basis.

Watch "People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States"

Stay tuned to the Jesuitical feed for more bonus episodes on the film!

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Hell, dead bodies and burial practices: What does the church say? Oct 28, 2022

To get in the sPoOkY spirit, this week’s episode of Jesuitical is getting a little macabre. Zac and Ashley are joined by Candida Moss, a columnist for the Daily Beast and the Edward Cadbury Professor of Theology at University of Birmingham. We talk to Professor Moss about how the church and the culture’s understanding of hell has changed over the centuries, what some sure signs of demonic possession are, and why the church teaches what it does about cremation and burial practices.

After the conversation with Candida Moss, stick around for a special new episode of “Voting Catholic,” which is out with a brand new season ahead of the midterm elections.

Links from the show:

The church forbids ‘human composting’ at death. But what about ‘green’ burials?

When Did Satan Go From Inmate to Warden?

Why Did the Catholic Church Ban the Spreading of Ashes?

Listen to the Voting Catholic podcast from America

What’s on tap?

Moscow Mule

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How Father Mike Schmitz balances a popular media ministry with being a college campus priest Oct 21, 2022

Podcast episodes and YouTube videos featuring Father Michael Schmitz rack up thousands, even millions, of views. His latest project, “The Bible in a Year,” has even made it to the top of the Apple Podcast charts since it debuted in 2021. But for students at the University of Minnesota Duluth, Father Mike isn’t just another celebrity priest. He’s their chaplain.

This week, we talk to Father Mike about the big questions Catholics (and non-Catholics) on campus are asking today, the challenges and opportunities of ministering at a big state school and how he balances life in the public eye and being present to his students.

And in Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley chat with Colleen Dulle about Inside the Vatican’s latest deep dive into the synod on synodality. The global church has just finished up the listening phase of the synod and reports from at least 112 of the 114 bishops’ conferences around the world are in. What have we learned so far from this yearlong consultation? And what comes next?

Topics:

04:10 - Colleen Dulle of "Inside the Vatican" breaks down the Synod on Synodality at the end of phase one

14:55 - A day in the life of Fr. Mike Schmitz

20:55 - The joys and challenges of doing campus ministry on a secular university campus

32:53 - How 'The Bible in a Year' project changed Fr. Mike's engagement with Scripture

42:07 - How Fr. Mike balances being a celebrity priest and a chaplain to his students

Links from the show:

Podcast: Synod reports from all over the world are in. What happens next?

The Bible in a Year podcast

Watch America’s new documentary, People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States

What’s on tap?

An IPA that was not made in Father Mike’s brother’s brewery

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Does God evolve? How evolution and A.I. are pushing the horizons of theology Oct 14, 2022

Most Catholics these days don’t think there is a conflict between the theory of evolution and their faith. But it’s harder to wrap our heads around the idea that we’re still evolving—and that God might be, too. This week, we talk with Sister Ilia Delio, a theologian who thinks we can’t separate the evolving nature of our universe and consciousness from our faith. We ask Sister Delio what it’s like to work at the cutting edge of theology, where rapidly changing technology and artificial intelligence might be taking us as a species, and what that means for the church.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the still-open questions about the legacy and implementation of the Second Vatican Council, which opened 60 years ago this week. Did the council fail? What would success look like, and what would the church look like today if Vatican II hadn’t happened?

Links from the show:

Did Vatican II fail? Are we allowed to ask the question?

Pope Francis marks 60th anniversary of Vatican II by warning against worldly ‘progressivism’ and backward-looking ‘traditionalism’

The Emergent Christ, Ilia Delio

People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States

What’s on tap?

Pinot Noir

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The Hillbilly Thomists on Bluegrass, Catholic Culture and liturgical music Oct 07, 2022

This week, Ashley and Zac are joined by Father Thomas Joseph White, O.P., of the all-Dominican bluegrass group, The Hillbilly Thomists. They discuss what the Order of Preachers could teach the wider church about preaching, liturgically appropriate music as well as The Hillbilly Thomists new album, Holy Ghost Power.

During Signs of the Times, America’s national correspondent, Michael O’Loughlin, discusses a shakeup at the Newman Center at The Ohio State University.

Links from the Show:

Holy Ghost Power (Spotify)

Who owns the Newman Center? Shake-up at Ohio State highlights the tension between students and older parishioners

Pope Francis: The devil knows the passwords to our heart. We must know them too.

What’s on tap?

High Screamer: 2 oz. bourbon, 1 oz. Cointreau, 0.5 oz simple syrup, 1/2 of a lime, juiced. Best served on ice.

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What it's like to lead the world's largest religious order–the Jesuits Sep 30, 2022

Zac and Ashley are unpacking from their recent pilgrimage to Italy. So, they're bringing back an interview from 2021 with the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Arturo Sosa, S.J. Behind the mic, Ashley is joined by Colleen Dulle, host of America Media's "Inside the Vatican" podcast to discuss with Fr. Sosa his relationship with Pope Francis (another Jesuit!) and how he interprets the pope's reforming agenda. They also discuss how the Jesuits are increasing their collaboration with women around the world.

Links:

Read the transcript of this interview here

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Debt, inflation, the soaring cost of living–why Pope Francis wants young Catholics to transform the economy Sep 23, 2022

Does it seem like the economic deck is stacked against young people today? Inflation, debt, the cost of living and an overvalued housing market can be soul-crushing to younger generations trying to get on their feet and start their lives. The feelings of helplessness and isolation are not lost on Pope Francis, who is calling young Catholics working to transform economic systems to Assisi, Italy, this week. It’s the first ever in-person meeting of The Economy of Francesco!

Elizabeth Garlow, an American economist and new mom, will be there, and she joins Zac and Ashley on the podcast to discuss why the current system is failing young people. She’s convinced that it is not enough to tweak the current system; a bold reimagining is necessary. And with the help of Pope Francis, these young Catholics are moving to the frontlines of the movement.

Links from the show:

Wondrium

The Economy of Francesco

Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future, by Pope Francis and Austen Ivereigh

Anna Rowlands on Catholic Social Teaching

Humanizing the Economy: Co-operatives in the Age of Capital, by John Restakis

Francesco Collaborative

What’s on tap?

Oberon Ale from Bell’s Brewery

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So, why is Rome so important to the Catholic Church? Sep 16, 2022

This week, Zac and Ashley are putting the Rome in Roman Catholic. Why did Peter go to Rome? Is he actually buried under St. Peter’s Basilica? And why has Rome remained the center of the Roman Catholic Church for 2,000 years?

To help answer these questions, they are joined by Professor Kenneth Bartlett. Professor Bartlett is a Renaissance historian, author and professor at the University of Toronto. He is also the guide of “Smithsonian’s: The Guide to Essential Italy,” which is available for streaming on Wondrium, our partners who provided support for this episode.

Links from the show:

Wondrium

What Catholics need to know about Kazakhstan before Pope Francis’ visit

Diocese of Phoenix creates Office of Mental Health Ministry

What’s on tap?

Brunello di Montalcino

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The Problem with Celebrity Christians (and Christian Celebrities) Sep 09, 2022

What do Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Britney Spears and Shia LaBeouf have in common (besides being famous)? All four of these celebrities made waves by announcing they had become Christian in recent years. Rightly or wrongly, we ordinary Christians often celebrate when a high-profile figure joins our “team.” But what should we think when our church leaders become celebrities?

It’s a question Katelyn Beaty explores in her new book Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church. Katelyn looks at the phenomenon of “celebrity Christians” in the evangelical church, but the trend of priests and pastors gaining massive followings—online and IRL—exists across many denominations and in the Catholic Church. (After all, who’s a bigger celebrity than the pope?) We ask her the dangers of having a faith that is centered on charismatic individuals, how social media is changing the ways we relate to church leaders and how people in the pews can build real community in our celebrity-obsessed era.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley break down some of the top Catholic news stories you might have missed while on summer vacation.

Links from the show:

Support Jesuitical by subscribing to AmericaMagazine.org!

Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church

Pope Francis releases new letter on liturgy: Catholics need a better understanding of Vatican II’s reforms

Full text: Pope Francis’ apology to Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Pope Francis names 21 new cardinals, including Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego

Lessons for evangelization from Britney Spears’ journey with the Catholic Church

The missing piece of Shia LaBeouf’s conversation with Bishop Barron: the stories of abuse victims

What’s on tap?

Dirty gin martinis

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How Catholicism became a meme and an online aesthetic Jun 24, 2022

This week, Ashley and Zac chat with Rebecca Jennings, a senior correspondent at The Goods by Vox, who is the author of a new article, “How Catholicism became a meme: One of the world’s most powerful religions is now an alt status symbol.” Rebecca explains why Catholicism’s aesthetic is popping up across the internet, and what that says about the church’s place in wider culture.

During Signs of the Times, the hosts discuss the murder of two Jesuit priests in Mexico and the launch of a three year Eucharistic revival in the United States.

This is Jesuitical’s last episode of the season—we’ll be back in your feeds this fall! In the meantime, follow Jesuitical on Facebook and Twitter, and you can support the show on Patreon.

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

The Jennings: Vodka soda with a splash of St. Germain and a lime.

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Catholics and abortion in a world after Roe v. Wade Jun 17, 2022

Jesuitical 2022 Reader Survey

That the Catholic Church is firmly opposed to abortion is not news to anyone. However, what Catholics in the pews think and feel about the issue is not as clear—and we don’t ever talk about it.

In this special episode of Jesuitical, we try to change that. In this show, you’ll hear from three guests on a few topics related to abortion. First, Tricia Bruce, a sociologist affiliated with Notre Dame who authored a landmark study about how Americans (including Catholics) understand the abortion issue. Next, Rachel Lu, a moral philosopher and contributing writer for America, who believes that the next focus point after Roe v. Wade will be about motherhood and honor. Finally, you’ll hear an excerpt from a conversation we had last year with Caitlin Flanagan, who considers herself a pro-choice Catholic but still grapples with both sides of the issue.

Links from the Show:

How Americans Understand Abortion a comprehensive interview study of abortion attitudes in the U.S.

The next issue in the abortion debate after Roe v. Wade: Do we really honor motherhood?

The Dishonesty of the Abortion Debate: Why we need to face the best arguments from the other side

Jesuitical 2022 Reader Survey

Join Jesuitical in Italy

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Our conversations about the Latin Mass don’t have to be so toxic Jun 10, 2022

Last July, Pope Francis issued a document restricting the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass, setting off a heated and at times toxic debate between more traditionalist Catholics and those who want to see the reforms of the Second Vatican Council more fully implemented. Is there a way for us to talk about the liturgy without it turning into a war?

To find out, we brought on the Rev. Pierre Amar, a priest in the Diocese of Versailles in France. Father Amar grew up attending the Latin Mass and was ordained into the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, an order dedicated to the celebration of the pre-Vatican II Mass rite. But he also loves and celebrates the novus ordo or ordinary form, and does not think the two forms of the liturgy need to be in conflict. We ask Father Amar why people today are still attracted to the Traditional Latin Mass over 50 years after the council and what he thinks about Pope Francis’ move to restrict the celebration of the older rite.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley are joined by Colleen Dulle, host of the “Inside the Vatican” podcast, to discuss speculation that Pope Francis is preparing to resign.

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

Pre-Vatican II Dewars scotch

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Should Catholics be vegetarians? (Also, should Nancy Pelosi have been denied Communion?) Jun 03, 2022

If we are what we eat, how could our consumption habits not be morally fraught? This week’s guest, Robert Cruz, believes they are, and he wants Catholics to be more intentional about what goes on their dinner plates. Working in the meat department of his local grocery store opened Robert’s eyes to the way meat is processed, marketed and sold—and inspired him to start a small regenerative farm on his own property. We ask Robert what Catholic social teaching says about ethical eating, how eating chickens he raised himself changed his relationship to food and animals, and why fake meat is not the morally superior option many vegetarians assume it to be.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley weigh in on Archbishop Salvator Cordileone’s decision to bar Speaker Nancy Pelosi from Communion because of her “aggressive” support for abortion rights. Plus, Pope Francis has named a new U.S. cardinal: Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego.

Links from the show:

Archbishop Cordileone on barring Nancy Pelosi from Communion: ‘I cannot in my conscience allow the situation to continue.’

Pope Francis names 21 new cardinals, including Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego

Dear Catholic vegetarians: Eating fake meat isn’t going to save the planet.

Regenerative Farmers of America

Join Jesuitical in Italy!

What’s on tap?

Old Fashioned

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Sad, tired and angry: America’s endless gun debate May 27, 2022

This week, an 18-year-old in Uvalde, Tex., killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School. The massacre came less than two weeks after a white supremacist killed 10 people at a supermarket in a majority-Black neighborhood of Buffalo, N.Y.

We’ve been here before. This happens all the time in America. And it feels like we have the same reactions, the same conversations, read the same tweets.

Which is why instead of a normal show this week, we’re revisiting a conversation from 2018 about gun control. In the aftermath of a shooting that killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., we brought on Patrick Blanchfield, who writes about gun violence in the United States. We discussed what gets missed in our gun control conversations, the familiar debate over “thoughts and prayers” and how violence in American schools and on our streets is connected to American violence abroad.

Links from the show:

Catholic leaders react to Texas school massacre: ‘Don’t tell me that guns aren’t the problem.’

Cardinal Cupich: The Second Amendment did not come down from Sinai

How the Catholic Church in Uvalde is helping a devastated community grieve and heal

Sad, tired and angry: A prayer in the face of gun violence

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What young people need from the Catholic Church May 20, 2022

The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted nearly every aspect of our lives, and our religious practices were no exception. How this period of uncertainty affected the spiritual lives of young people is the subject Springtide Research Institute’s latest report, “The State of Religion & Young People 2021.” We talk with Springtide’s executive director, Dr. Josh Packard, about why young people have lost faith in the church and its leaders—and what older Catholics need to do to meet Gen-Z where they’re at.

In Signs of the Times, producer Sebastian Gomes joins Ashley as a guest host this week to discuss the U.S. bishops’ decision to cease the domestic operations of Catholic News Service. What does this closure mean for Catholic journalism and the people in the pews?

Links from the show:

Pope Francis’ recipe to heal his painful knee? A shot of tequila

Catholic News Service closure opens the door to partisan and ideological church coverage, Catholic journalists warn

The State of Religion & Young People 2021 – Catholic Edition

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What’s on tap?

Tequila!

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Catholic wisdom from Jane Austen, a cardinal arrested in Hong Kong, and altar serving as an adult May 13, 2022

On the surface, Jane Austen’s classic novels like Pride and Prejudice and Emma might seem to be about courtship and marriage, manners and the social hierarchies of Regency England. But while weddings and ballrooms abound in her books, so do lessons about how to live a virtuous life.

This week on Jesuitical, we speak with Haley Stewart, a self-described Jane Austen evangelist and the author of the new book,Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life: On Love, Friendship, and Becoming the Person God. We ask Haley how virtues like humility and patience are cultivated in Austen’s fiction; what Jane would say about modern dating and romance; why Catholics (and men) should take her novels seriously.

In Signs of the Times, Cardinal Joseph Zen, the 90-year-old former bishop of Hong Kong, was arrested and briefly detained for his involvement in pro-democracy protests. Zac breaks down what this arrest means for the (very complicated) situation of the Catholic Church in Hong Kong and mainland China.

Links from the show:

Join Jesuitical in Italy

Cardinal Joseph Zen, 90, arrested in Hong Kong

Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life: On Love, Friendship, and Becoming the Person God Created You to Be

What’s on tap?

Balcones bourbon, distilled by our guests’s husband!

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If the Catholic Church is pro-life, why is its maternity leave so bad? May 06, 2022

Last month, FemCatholic published an investigation on the maternity leave policies at diocesan offices around the United States. What they found wasn’t flattering. Two of the report’s authors, Kelly Sankowski and Renée Roden, join the show this week to talk about their findings.

During Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac are joined by Gloria Purvis to give their off-the-cuff reactions to the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that appears to signal the court’s readiness to overturn Roe v. Wade this summer.

Links from the show:

Podcast: Is a better abortion debate possible?

What's the State of Maternity Leave in the US Catholic Church? FemCatholic Investigates

FemCatholic Mother’s Day petition to U.S. bishops

U.S. bishops respond to Supreme Court abortion opinion leak: We ‘stand ready to help all pregnant women’

Have Catholics been praying the Our Father all wrong?

What’s on tap?

Margaritas, sans lime, simple syrup and contrieua

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The church exists to evangelize. So why are most Catholics bad at it? Apr 29, 2022

At a time when young people are leaving the Catholic Church, and those who remain are less likely to attend Mass, evangelizing may not seem like a top priority. It can be tempting for Catholic leaders to think: We need to stop the internal bleeding first, then we can worry about the rest of the world.

Bishop William Wack disagrees: In every age and place, Catholics are called to “make disciples of all nations,” and our time is no different. Named the head of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee in Florida in 2017, Bishop Wack recently authored a pastoral letter on evangelization, titled “Sharing the Gift.” Ashley and Zac talk to Bishop Wack about praying in public, talking to friends (and strangers) about Jesus and what makes evangelization different from proselytizing.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley talk with their colleague Jim McDermott, S.J., about how Catholics should think about wearing masks—even when they are not required. What Catholic principles can help us discern our way through what is hopefully the final stages of the Covid-19 pandemic?

Links from the show:

Catholics: Please keep wearing your masks. Listen to the whole conversation here.

Bishop Wack: We need more evangelical Catholics

Pastoral Letter, Sharing the Gift

Join Jesuitical in Italy

What’s on tap?

Threes Brewing Logical Conclusion IPA

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These young Catholics told Pope Francis how they feel about climate change–and he listened. Apr 22, 2022

If you had a chance to ask Pope Francis one question, what would it be? That was not a hypothetical question for this week’s guests. Emily Burke and Henry Glynn are two of the students who were selected to take part in “Building Bridges North-South: A Synodal Encounter Between Pope Francis and University Students,” hosted by Loyola University Chicago. The conversation centered on migration, and Emily and Henry used their time with Francis to talk about climate change refugees.

We ask these young climate activists what it was likely to speak with the pope, how they hope to get more members of the U.S. church, including priests and bishops, to make the climate a priority and how they stay hopeful in their fight for the planet.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the German Synodal Path—and the bishops who are concerned it could lead to schism.

Links from the show:

The German Synodal Way, Explained

74 bishops sign open letter warning of German Synodal Path’s ‘potential for schism’

Join Jesuitical in Italy

Join Jesuitical's Patreon community!

Learn more about Catholic Climate Covenant

What’s on tap?

Champagne—Christ is risen and so are our glasses!

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Life as a married Catholic priest and why most preaching is terrible Apr 08, 2022

Father Joshua Whitfield is a priest of the Diocese of Dallas and the author of The Crisis of Bad Preaching. He’s also a married man and a father of six. This week, Father Joshua joins Ashley and Zac to talk about his vocation as a husband, father and father, why most Catholic homilies are just plain awful and why he still has hope for the upcoming synod on synodality. Ashley and Zac also discuss a recent semi-secret gathering of bishops, theologians and journalists and whether or not God still speaks to us in our dreams.

Links from the Show:

Register to join Ashley, Zac and Father Eric in Italy this September

Not many Catholics care about the synod. But I’m not ready to give up on it yet.

Father Josh: A married Catholic priest in a celibate world

Bishops have frank conversations with lay theologians about Pope Francis, U.S. Church and Vatican II in semi-off-the-record meeting

The Crisis of Bad Preaching

Join Jesuitical in Italy!

Wondrium special offer

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We need to talk about sex Apr 01, 2022

The sexual revolution and second-wave feminism were supposed to empower women in society—and in the bedroom. So why are so many millennial women miserable when it comes to their dating and sex lives? Even after the #MeToo movement enshrined “enthusiastic consent” as the baseline requirement for sexual encounters, women (and men) continue to have sex they don’t really want and don’t enjoy.

This week, we talk to Christine Emba, herself a millennial woman, who has surveyed this bleak landscape and think we need to build a new sexual ethic based on empathy and “seeking the good of the other.” Christine is a columnist for The Washington Post and the author of Rethinking Sex: A Provocation. We ask her why consent is not enough to guarantee ethical sex, how young Catholics can have conversations around these fraught issues and what values a healthier sexual culture would uphold.

No Signs of the Times or faith-sharing this week—but that doesn’t mean there was not a lot of Catholic news! Check out some of the great work being done by our America colleagues in the links below.

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

Coffee

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Nukes, contemplation and vocation: An introduction to Thomas Merton for young Catholics Mar 25, 2022

During his historic address to a joint session of Congress in 2015, Pope Francis raised up four virtuous Americans as models of citizenship: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton. That last name was certainly familiar to Catholics who came of age after Vatican II, but do young Catholics know much about this mid-century Trappist monk and author?

Thomas Merton is best known for his spiritual autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain. But he was also a prolific letter writer and, though living in a monastery, engaged with the most pressing social and political issues of the 1950s and ’60s: the civil rights movement, nuclear proliferation and the Vietnam War. In his new book, Man of Dialogue: Thomas Merton's Catholic Vision, Greg Hillis introduces Merton to the next generation of Catholics. We ask Greg why some question Merton’s Catholicity, what we should make of the monk’s brief affair with a nurse and why his writing is still relevant today.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss Pope Francis’ major overhaul of the Roman Curia and what it means for the mission of the church.

Links from the show:

Join Jesuitical in Italy!

Pope Francis is drawing on Vatican II to radically change how the Catholic Church is governed

Man of Dialogue: Thomas Merton's Catholic Vision

Wondrium special offer

What’s on tap?

Something. Anything!—feel free to pour yourself a glass if you’re listening on Friday since it’s the Feast of the Annunciation. Fasting dispensed!

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How the Jesuits are reinventing college education (again) Mar 18, 2022

The Jesuits, from their founding, have always been heavily involved in education. And in the last 50 years, they’ve made it their mission to expand access to their world-class schools to the poor who have traditionally been excluded and left behind. This week, Ashley and Zac talk with Steve Katsouros, S.J., founder of the Come to Believe network, “a results-oriented, affordable 2-year commuter program offering associate degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, designed to ensure that students complete their degrees with little to no debt and are prepared for either a 4-year higher educational institution or the workforce.”

During Signs of the Times, Matt Malone, S.J. comes on the show to talk about America Media’s new marketing campaign, #OwnYourFaith. And then they get into the question: Where does accountability end and cancel culture begin?

What’s on tap:

Manhattan (dispensed for St. Patrick’s Day)

Links from the show:

Join us in NYC: Film screening, “POPE FRANCIS IN IRAQ”

Come to Believe: How the Jesuits Are Reinventing Education (Again)

Come to Believe Network

The Catholic Church belongs to all of us. It’s time to #OwnYourFaith.

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What it's like to give up English for Lent Mar 11, 2022

If you think meatless Fridays or forgoing sweets for the duration of Lent is hard, imagine giving up English—or whatever your primary language is. This week’s guest, Jimin Kang, did just that last year. Jimin speaks five languages but is most comfortable in English. We ask her how giving up English affected her relationship with her family and with God, and how people who only speak one language can adapt this Lenten practice to open themselves up to new people and cultures.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley talk with their colleague Jim McDermott, S.J., about the Arizona priest who performed thousands of baptisms that have been declared invalid because he used one wrong word. How should the church respond when priests make mistakes like this?

I Gave Up English for Lent

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Jesuitical Lent 2.0 Mar 06, 2022

As is our custom, Jesuitical asked our friends from the Unorthodox podcast to suggest some additional Lenten penances. Stephanie, Liel and Mark did not hold back this year, so Zac and Ashley get creative about how to incorporate these new sacrifices into their Lenten journey.

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Anti-racism spirituality, Ukraine and Pope Francis, and praying when it feels useless Mar 04, 2022

This week, Ashley and Zac talk to Patrick Saint-Jean, S.J., a Jesuit in formation, an assistant professor of psychology and a student therapist at Creighton University. Patrick is the author of a new book, The Crucible of Racism, as well as The Spiritual Work of Racial Justice: A Month of Meditations with Ignatius of Loyola. We talk with Patrick about why anti-racism isn’t optional for the spiritual life, his experience with racism in the Jesuits and what young people should be looking for this Lent.

During Signs of the Times, we look at how Pope Francis is responding to the war in Ukraine, and what it means to pray for peace, even if it feels useless sometimes.

Links from the show:

The Crucible of Racism

The Spiritual Work of Racial Justice

Podcast: Can Pope Francis negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine?

Praying for peace in Ukraine—even when it feels useless

What’s on tap?

Nothing for Lent.

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Remembering Dr. Paul Farmer, a Catholic who wanted to cure the world Feb 25, 2022

The global health community and countless others who were healed, taught or simply inspired by Dr. Paul Farmer were shocked and saddened to learn of his death on Feb. 21. Dr. Farmer was a medical anthropologist, physician and co-founder of Partners In Health, a nonprofit that revolutionized global health care. He believed the poorest of the poor in places like Haiti and Rwanda deserve high-quality medical care—then dedicated his life to delivering it.

Dr. Farmer was also deeply Catholic and a man with a gift for friendship, including with Jennie Weiss Block, who we speak with this week in Signs of the Times. Jennie, a Dominican laywoman and practical theologian, served both as Paul’s chief adviser starting in 2009 and his spiritual director. We talk to Jennie about the sides of Paul the world never saw and what she thinks Paul would want his many admirers to do now to carry on his legacy.

We also had the great blessing of speaking with Paul back in June 2021, and in honor and celebration of his life, we are sharing that conversation again this week.

Dr. Paul Farmer, pray for us.

Links from the show:

Paul Farmer was my friend. He should be made a saint—and a doctor of the church.

Dr. Paul Farmer: Medicine and liberation theology

Paul Farmer: Servant to the Poor

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Painting modern saints, nuns under fire at the border, and asking what God’s will *actually* is Feb 18, 2022

Picture a painting or icon of your favorite Catholic saint. He or she probably has a pretty serious expression, is most likely white and is on the older side. Those images have been wonderful objects of prayer and devotion for Catholics down through the centuries. But do they speak to young people of faith today? To you?

The icons created by today’s guest, Gracie Morbitzer, seek to do just that. Gracie has created over 100 icons of saints that reflect the modern church: They are young, diverse, sometimes tattooed—and no less holy because of it. We ask what inspired this artistic endeavor and how creating icons has changed her relationship to the saints.

And in Signs of the Times, we speak with our colleague Kevin Clarke about CatholicVote’s lawsuit against Catholic Charities over their humanitarian work at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Links from the show

What’s on tap?

The Archangel: 2 1/4oz gin, 3/4 Aperol, 2 cucumber slices and a lemon twist.

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Catholic marriage prep doesn’t have to be terrible Feb 11, 2022

A wedding is a day, a marriage is a lifetime. That’s what Paul and Maureen Moses like to tell couples (including Zac and his wife) that they prepare for matrimony. Paul and Maureen are coordinators of Catholic Engaged Encounter in Brooklyn and Queens, and have been married for 45 years. They run a weekend retreat that fulfills the infamous “marriage prep” part of getting married in the Catholic Church (though they’ve found that many non-Catholics get a lot out of it, too). Zac and Ashley talk to them about what they’ve learned about marriage in their vocation and how the church can better accompany couples.

The hosts are also joined by James Martin, S.J., to talk about how to discern whether the voice you heard during prayer was God or just your ego talking.

Links from the show:

Come to Italy with us!

5 signs you are hearing God’s voice (and not your ego) in prayer by James Martin, S.J.

Catholic Engaged Encounter

Catholic Engaged Encounter Brooklyn-Queens

Learning to Pray

What’s on tap:

Rock Red blend from the Waltz family vineyard

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Tattoos are deeply meaningful—and religious—for many young people Feb 04, 2022

Behind (almost) every tattoo is a story, and this week’s guest thinks the church should start listening to those stories. Gustavo Morello, S.J., an associate professor of sociology at Boston College, has studied the religious significance of tattoos and found that even tattoos that don’t seem particularly religious can have a deep spiritual meaning for those who have them. We ask Gustavo about religious hang-ups around tattoos, their rising popularity and what they can teach us about the faith lives of young people.

In Signs of the Times, we’re talking about the pope’s monthly prayer intention encouraging nuns to fight back when they’re treated unfairly by men of the church and we remember a Catholic music icon.

Links from the show:

LIMITED TIME ONLY: $350 our pilgrimage to Italy

Pope Francis tells nuns: Fight back when you are treated unfairly ‘by men of the church.’

Catholic sister whose rock version of Our Father topped charts dies at 84

For many, a tattoo isn’t just ink. It’s a religious experience.

What’s on tap?

Malbec from Argentina

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Teaser: You will never regret going to the funeral Feb 01, 2022

We're having a conversation with Kerry Weber, author of a new essay in America titled "You will never regret going to the funeral."

Read the article here and listen to the full conversation at: https://www.patreon.com/americamedia

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St. Irenaeus fought heresy in the 2nd century. What can we learn from him today? Jan 28, 2022

And just like that, with a papal decree last week, St. Irenaeus of Lyon became the 37th “doctor of the church.” Who was Irenaeus? What was the church like when he lived, sometime during the second century? And how did interpret and defend Scripture and Christian theology in a time before the Bible as we know it and the Creed even existed? To find out, we brought on Scott Moringiello, an associate professor in the Catholic studies department at DePaul University and an expert on Irenaeus and the history of biblical exegesis. We also get into what it’s like to teach undergraduates theology, often against their will.

During Signs of the Times, we discuss the report on sex abuse in the Archdiocese of Munich, where Pope Emeritus Benedict served as bishop for four years, and Gonzaga University’s decision to revoke alumnus John Stockton’s basketball seasons tickets. Finally, we discuss the role of literature in our faith lives.

Links from the show:

Register to come with Jesuitical to Italy in September!

Pope Francis declares St. Irenaeus a doctor of the church

Explainer: Pope Francis is naming St. Irenaeus a ‘Doctor of the Church.’ What does that mean?

“The Rhetoric of Faith: Irenaeus and the Structure of the Adversus Haereses”

Podcast: What you need to know about Pope Benedict’s record on sexual abuse

Gonzaga revokes John Stockton’s season tickets over his refusal to wear masks.

What’s on Tap:

Bourbon (for some French influence to honor Irenaeus)

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How does the Catholic Church decide what counts as a miracle? Jan 21, 2022

You have probably heard that in order for someone to be declared a saint they (usually) need to have two miracles attributed to their intercession. But how does the Catholic Church decide what’s a miracle and what is just a rare healing—or a hoax?

To find out, we spoke with Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Seattle who has served as the “devil’s advocate” in the canonization process. The devil’s advocate (today formally known as the “promoter of the faith”) is appointed by the church to make the case against a candidate’s sainthood. We ask Bishop Elizondo what kinds of questions the devil’s advocate asks, how modern science has changed the church’s understanding of miracles and why most miracles today involve healing—as opposed to, say, water and wine or loaves and fishes.

In Signs of the Times, we preview the Jan. 22 beatification of Rutilio Grande, a Jesuit priest and martyr from El Salvador, and discuss an advice column about Catholic weddings that raises interesting questions about the role of parents in the sacrament.

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

Last night’s leftover wine

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What’s it like being Catholic in Hollywood? Jan 14, 2022

For every A-list celebrity, there are thousands of people working behind the scenes and in supporting roles. They hustle from gig to gig, stitching jobs and roles together to make a living. They’re people like Marianne Muellerleile. Marianne is a distinguished actor who has appeared in hundreds of films, TV series and commercials. We talk to Marianne about what it’s like being Catholic in Hollywood, and what makes for a funny commercial (she’s been in quite a few, including Geico’s “Aunt Infestation”).

On Signs of the Times, we talk about the ethics of a Catholic school running up the score in a basketball game and discuss some new research about the true identity of Mary Magdalene.

Links from the show:

Come to Italy with Jesuitical!

A School Won 92-4 in Basketball. Then the Coach Was Suspended.

Was Mary Magdalene really from Magdala? Two scholars examine the evidence

Join our Patreon community!

What’s on tap?

Tea and decaf instant coffee, for a “Dry Second Wednesday in January”

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Fr. Charles Coughlin: America’s first mass-media demagogue priest Jan 07, 2022

A charismatic demagogue with millions of devoted followers. A novel means of communication with little government regulation and few guardrails. The threat of violence in the streets and a country in crisis.

No, we’re not talking about the 45th president but America’s first radio priest, Father Charles Coughlin. On “Radioactive,” a new podcast series from Tablet Studios, Andrew Lapin takes listeners through the history of Father Coughlin, who through a mixture of Catholic piety, anti-Semitism and raw political ambition became the most popular voice on the U.S. airwaves during the Great Depression and the lead up to World War II.

We ask Andrew what Father Coughlin’s story can tell us about the connection between religious demagoguery and authoritarianism; the Wild West of new media platforms; and the failure of the church to reign in Catholics who exploit these toxic forces.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley share some Pope Francis-inspired New Year’s resolutions and give their predictions for Catholic stories coming in 2022.

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

Bringing in the New Year with some Bubbly

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Teaser: Pope Francis, pets and kids Jan 06, 2022

We're unpacking the pope's controversial comments about having children or pets.

To listen to the full conversation, go to https://www.patreon.com/americamedia

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Lidia Bastianich on why Jesus was always eating and drinking Dec 17, 2021

Why was Jesus always feasting, eating and drinking? What makes the table a place of sacred encounter? And how are you supposed to learn how to cook on a budget?

Lidia Bastianich is a best-selling cookbook author, an Emmy award-winning public television host, restaurateur and the owner of a flourishing food and entertainment business. She’s also someone who has overcome extraordinary odds in her life. Born in the Istrian peninsula, her family fell behind the Iron Curtain when it became Yugoslavia. Her family crossed the border into Italy, living in a refugee camp in Trieste before being relocated permanently in the United States by Catholic Charities.

In her new PBS special, “Lidia Celebrates America: Overcoming the Odds,”she tells the stories—and shares the table with—other resilient Americans with inspiring stories.

Links from the show:

“Lidia Celebrates America: Overcoming The Odds.”

Come to Italy with Jesuitical!

Italian Bishop Gives Children Harsh News: There Is No Santa Claus

Wine at Communion, the sign of peace, holy water fonts: Will these parts of the Mass ever come back?

What’s on Tap?

2016 Bastianich Plus White Wine

Tequila for Kevin, our studio manager’s, birthday

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Homelessness isn’t inevitable—and this Catholic woman is proving it. Dec 10, 2021

Jesus said the poor will always be with us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t end homelessness. And this week’s guest, Rosanne Haggerty, is dedicated to doing just that. Rosanne is the president and C.E.O. of Community Solutions, which develops innovative, data-driven strategies to end homelessness and strengthen communities. We ask Rosanne how Catholic social teaching informs her work and to break down some common misconceptions about homelessness in the United States.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone’s vaccination status and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s bold parish restructuring plan.

Finally, Friday morning is your last chance to enter your name in a drawing for a signed copy of Michael O’Loughlin’s new book, Hidden Mercy, by becoming a member of our Patreon community.

Links from the show:

Join the Jesuitical Podcast on Pilgrimage in Italy!

San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone reveals he is not vaccinated against Covid-19

Archdiocese of Cincinnati to reduce 208 parishes to 57 ‘families of parishes’

Learn more about Community Solutions

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The Catholics that ministered to those dying of AIDS in the face of fear Dec 03, 2021

In public, the Catholic Church and L.G.B.T. activists were constantly clashing in the 1980s and ’90s over the treatment of gay and lesbians in the church and the institution’s role in responding to the H.I.V./AIDS epidemic. But behind the headlines, there were stories of Catholics responding with compassion and heroism in the face of fear and stigma. Michael J. O’Loughlin, national correspondent for America, joins Zac and Ashley to discuss his new book, Hidden Mercy: AIDS, Catholics, and the Untold Stories of Compassion in the Face of Fear.

Links from the show:

Hidden Mercy

How the Catholic Worker Movement inspired one couple to open their doors to people with AIDS

Hark! The Stories Behind Our Favorite Christmas Carols

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Teaser: Why this 25 year old Catholic ran for public office Dec 01, 2021

Robert McCarthy is a 25 year old Catholic law student who ran for public office in a local election in Nassau County on Long Island, N.Y. He lost, but learned a lot about local politics, vocation, and himself along the way.

To listen to the full conversation, go to patreon.com/americamedia

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Cynical about Christian mission trips? Monsignor Ramkissoon will change your mind. Nov 26, 2021

“No child is going to be abandoned twice.” That is the mission of Mustard Seed Communities, a nonprofit founded by Monsignor Gregory Ramkissoon to serve some of the most vulnerable people on earth: children and adults in low-income countries with severe mental or physical disabilities. What began as a small home for a handful of children who were left to fend for themselves on the streets of Kingston, Jamaica, is now a network of communities providing 600 children and adults with shelter, education, health care and training in Jamaica, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

We ask Monsignor Gregory what inspired his ministry, about the ethics of “mission trips” and how working with people the world has discarded has shaped his understanding of God.

You can find out more about Mustard Seed Communities—and support their incredible work this Giving Tuesday—here.

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How to talk with people that drive you mad (with a little help from grace) Nov 19, 2021

Unless you are a saint (and maybe even if you are one), there is probably someone in your life, whether a relative on Facebook or a person you’ve never actually met on Twitter, who makes you think...less than charitable thoughts. While self-righteous take-downs of your political opponents can feel good in the moment, they are unlikely to change anyone’s mind—and probably aren’t great for your own emotional well-being either.

Our guest this week, Kirsten Powers, shows another way forward. A political commentator for places like Fox News and CNN, Kirsten has been at the center of our toxic national discourse for years, and in her new book, Saving Grace, she provides hard-earned wisdom for dealing with people across political and cultural divides.

In Signs of the Times, the debate over the bishops’ document on the Eucharist ends in a whimper, our friend and colleague Michael O’Loughlin gets a letter from Pope Francis and Zac and Ashley discuss an increasingly popular practice in Italy: “de-baptism.”

Thanks to everyone who is supporting Jesuitical on Patreon. We have a new bonus episode dropping for you soon! If you’re not yet a member of our Patreon community, sign up here today.

Links from the show:

What’s on tap

Margaritas on the rocks

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Bishop Frank Caggiano agrees with Pope Francis: We need a listening church Nov 12, 2021

It’s bishops week on Jesuitical! Ashley and Zac unpack several stories surrounding U.S. bishops in the news: Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, Ky., Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, and Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago.

That all leads into a conversation with Bishop Frank Caggiano of Bridgeport Connecticut, who unpacks his understanding of what Pope Francis is after in calling for a “synod on synods,” and more broadly, what it means to have a church that listens.

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

Southern Comfort Manhattans

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Teaser: ‘Midnight Mass’ is Catholic horror at its finest Nov 09, 2021

Ashley and Zac chat with Father Jim McDermott about Netflix’s ‘Midnight Mass.’ To listen to the full conversation, sign up to support Jesuitical on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/americamedia

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What chronic pain taught Ross Douthat about God and suffering Nov 05, 2021

You might know Ross Douthat as the token conservative at The New York Times, or the Catholic critic of Pope Francis. But in his new book, The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery, you’ll see a different side of Ross: a father and husband suffering with an incredibly painful chronic disease, looking for relief—and answers. We talk to Ross about how his experience of chronic Lyme disease affected his faith, what it taught him about the suffering in our society that is often out of sight and how friends and you can best accompany a loved one who is sick or in pain.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss President Joe Biden’s meeting with Pope Francis, and share the pope’s prayer intention for the month of November.

Want more Jesuitical? Join our Patreon community to get bonus episodes!

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

Pumpkinhead Ale from Shipyard Brewing Company

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Meet the Catholic map lady who wants to help Pope Francis fight climate change—if the Vatican will let her. Oct 29, 2021

The Catholic Church owns a lot of land: churches, monasteries, schools, hospitals, cemeteries and more. What it’s missing are maps. That’s where Molly Burhans comes in. Molly is on a mission to not only make a digital record of Catholic landholdings but to help the church use that land for good. We ask Molly how Catholic organizations can make their land environmentally sustainable and socially useful, how frustrating it can be to work with the Vatican at times and how she remains hopeful in the face of climate change.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the history of pope and president meetings ahead of Joe Biden’s trip to the Vatican. Plus, a gay teacher and music director in the Diocese of Brooklyn is fired after he married his partner. We ask: What’s the true cause of scandal in stories like this?

Finally, we have a bonus episode for the members of our Patreon community. We sit down with our colleague Jim McDemott, S.J., a.k.a. The Pop Culture Priest, to talk about why we love the extremely Catholic Netflix show “Midnight Mass.” Become a Patreon member today to get this and future bonus episodes!

Links from the show

Biden’s meeting with Pope Francis carries resonance as disputes divide U.S. Catholics

Video: Joe Biden talks his Catholic Faith, Pope Francis and Politics

A Gay Music Teacher Got Married. The Brooklyn Diocese Fired Him.

How a Young Activist Is Helping Pope Francis Battle Climate

Learn more about GoodLands

What’s on tap?

Slightly expired Coors Light and Spencers Trappist beer

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Skeptics, zealots and authority: Science and religion have more in common than you might think. Oct 22, 2021

Welcome to the age of “doing your own research.” Given the increased attention we’ve all been paying to science this past year, we thought it important to bring on Brother Guy the Catholic Science Guy, a.k.a. Guy Consolmagno, S.J. Nicknamed “the pope’s astronomer,” Brother Guy is the director of the Vatican Observatory, president of the Vatican Observatory Foundation and he’s here to give science a much needed “shot in the arm.”

During Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac unpack the pope’s call for universal basic income and a shorter work day (among other things) and discuss whether or not we still need godparents.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis’ 9 commandments for a just economy

In the Land of the Godfather Comes a Ban on Them

Vatican Observatory

Support the show by subscribing to America!

What’s on tap?

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

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Life after the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history Oct 15, 2021

On Oct. 27, 2018, 11 people attending Shabbat services at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburg were killed in the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history. In the weeks and months that followed, when the public’s attention moved on, journalist Mark Oppenhiemer didn’t look away. He made over 30 reporting trips to the Squirrel Hill neighborhood to understand how the oldest Jewish community in America was seeking to heal after the massacre. He shares the lessons he learned in the new book Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood.

We talk to Mark about how this horrific attack affected the Jewish community throughout the country and why the media often fails to cover anti-Semitism in America.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s recent meeting with Pope Francis. Plus, Pope Francis has cleared the beatification of Pope John Paul I, who, if canonized, would become the fifth 20th-century pope to be named a saint. We ask: Should we be canonizing so many pontiffs?

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

Cajun Bloody Mary’s, recipe courtesy of Kevin Acord

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Toni Morrison’s Black Catholic Novels Oct 08, 2021

“Can we consider Toni Morrison a Catholic novelist,” Nadra Nittle asked in an article for America in 2017. Since Morrison’s passing in 2019, Nadra has been exploring that question in more depth, and the result is her new book: Toni Morrison's Spiritual Vision: Faith, Folktales, and Feminism in Her Life and Literature, out this month from Fortress Press.

Zac and Ashley talk about why Morrison isn’t typically thought of alongside the usual lineup of Catholic novelists, how her experiences as a Black Catholic infused her novels and where someone who hasn’t read any Toni Morrision should start.

During Signs of the Times, the hosts unpack the release of a new report on sexual abuse in the French Catholic Church as well as an unprecedented meeting of religious leaders at the Vatican to issue a statement about climate change.

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

Strawberry Margaritas

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Pope Francis said women need more authority in the church. He still has work to do. Oct 01, 2021

In the first major interview of his papacy, Pope Francis said, “The challenge today is this: to think about the specific place of women also in those places where the authority of the church is exercised for various areas of the church.” Eight years later, has the place of women in the church changed—and is it enough?

This week, we talk to Colleen Dulle about the rise of women leaders at the Vatican. Are their voices being heard at the highest levels of the church? Do they feel empowered—or limited by the “stain-glassed ceiling”?

And in Signs of the Times, we speak with America’s chief correspondent Kevin Clarke about the latest crisis at the border and why Catholics should care.

Links from the show:

Women are rising to new heights at the Vatican. Could they change the church forever? by Colleen Dulle

Horrified by images of Border Patrol abusing Haitian migrants? Blame decades of dangerous immigration policy by Kevin Clarke

Catholic women feel called to be deacons. The church should listen to their stories. by Casey Stanton

What’s on tap?

Aperol Spritz

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Meet a Catholic woman who feels called to be a deacon Sep 24, 2021

The debate about whether the Catholic Church should ordain women to the diaconate often focuses on theological and historical arguments. Rarely, though, do we hear from women who themselves feel called to this ministry. Meet Casey Stanton, co-director of Discerning Deacons, a project to engage Catholics in the active discernment of the church about women and the diaconate. We talk to Casey about how and why she feels like she’s called, and how she tempers feelings of frustration with a commitment to staying in the church.

Links from the Show:

America’s special women in the church issue

Avery Dulles on women and the priesthood (from 1996)

Learn more about Discerning Deacons. And read their new study: Called to Contribute: Findings from an In-depth Interview Study of US Catholic Women and the Diaconate

What’s on tap?

Hope Punch:

The church is a pomegranate–service to the many in the one
Rum for fortification
Champagne for joy in the midst
Lemon with sugar to balance the pastoral with the prophetic
Garnished with thyme and the patience to wait and to push...to insist on justice now knowing you will stay....to the eschaton

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Why Catholics should study the Classics Sep 17, 2021

"The classics" have been in the news recently—and not always in a good way. From colleges shutting down classics departments as students flock to more “practical” majors to criticisms that books written by “dead white men” cannot be separated from the legacies of slavery and colonialism, works that have stood the test of time are being tested anew.

This week’s guest, Jeremy Tate, argues that not only are the classics worth studying for their own sake but that abandoning the Western canon will have disastrous effects for our (already toxic) public discourse. And he has some advice for continuing your classical education—even if you’re out of school.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley give their first reactions to Pope Francis’ recent comments on the debate over the Eucharist and pro-choice politicians.

What’s on tap?

Kim’s Grapefruit: 1.5 ounces Empress Gin, .5 ounces St. Germain elderflower, juice of half a grapefruit, sugar-rimmed glass. (Modification: Don’t like—or can’t find—grapefruit? Use an orange instead!)

Links:

Pope Francis: ‘I have never denied Communion to anyone.’

Jeremy Tate's article in America Magazine: In defense of a classical education

Ashley's reported story from Wyoming Catholic College: A visit to the rural Catholic college that has 171 students, 12 horses and zero textbooks

Learn more about The Classic Learning Test

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Father Greg Boyle is becoming a mystic with the help of former gang members Sep 10, 2021

If you attended a Jesuit university or high school in the last decade, you were most likely at some point assigned Father Greg Boyle’s first book (and a New York Times best-seller—so, you didn’t need to have attended a Jesuit school to encounter it) Tattoos on the Heart. Father Boyle is a Jesuit priest, the founder of Homeboy Industries and the author of the a new book, The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness, which is scheduled to be released this fall.

Ashley and Zac talk to Father Boyle about how Covid and the pandemic restrictions affected his sense of identity and Homeboy Industries’ work, what he’s learned looking back on his years in ministry, and why he is becoming more mystical as he gets older.

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How Dr. Paul Farmer put Catholic social teaching into medical practice Jun 25, 2021

On our season finale, Zac and Ashley talk to Dr. Paul Farmer, the co-founder and chief strategist of Partners in Health (PIH). Founded in 1987, PIH has pioneered an approach to medicine that actually resembles Catholic social teaching’s preferential option for the poor. They talk about the challenges of bringing the Covid-19 vaccine to the poorest and sickest countries and how to salvage hope in desperate times.

In Signs of the Times, we break down exactly what is happening with the U.S. Bishops and the debates around whether or not President Biden should receive Communion.

What’s on tap: Duckhorn Chardonnay

Links from the show:

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Partners in Health
Dr. Farmer’s latest book: Fevers, Feuds, and Diamonds: Ebola and the Ravages of History

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Bonus: What's going on with the Bishops and Joe Biden? Jun 25, 2021

Zac and Ashley break down a story that’s been dominating headlines inside and outside of the Catholic Church this week: The U.S. bishops overwhelming vote to draft a document on “eucharistic coherence,” and what it does and does not mean for President Joe Biden and other politicians.

This is an excerpt from this week’s full episode.

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Her mom went to prison. Now she fights to free others from life sentences. Jun 18, 2021

This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley talk with Brittany Barnett about unjust sentencing laws, the experience of visiting her own mother in prison and her work fighting to get clemency for men and women sentenced to life without parole for drug offenses. Brittany is an attorney and the author of the Christopher Award-winning book A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom.

Links from the show:

A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom

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Gloria Purvis on why the pro-life movement has been silent on racial justice Jun 11, 2021

This week, Ashley and Zac are joined by Gloria Purvis, the host of America Media’s latest podcast “The Gloria Purvis Podcast.” They discuss conversations about racism in Catholic spaces, the consistent life ethic, her hopes for the podcast, and more. During Signs of the Times, they examine the discovery of 215 bodies buried on the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School run by the Catholic Church and unpack why Cardinal Marx of Germany asked Pope Francis to accept his resignation (since the time of recording, Pope Francis has declined Cardinal Marx’s request).

Links from the show:

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The Devastating Effects of Conversion Therapy on LGBT Catholics Jun 04, 2021

This week, Zac and Ashley talk with Eve Tushnet about her recent feature article for America magazine, “Conversion therapy is still happening in Catholic spaces—and its effects on L.G.B.T. people can be devastating”. During Signs of the Times, they unpack a major overhaul to the church’s legal code and wonder: is basketball the holiest sport?

What’s on tap?

White Claw

Links from the show:

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What Catholics can do to fight Islamophobia May 28, 2021

This week, Zac and Ashley discuss how Christians have fueled Islamophobia and what we can do to combat anti-Muslim bias in ourselves and in our communities with Jordan Denari Duffner. Jordan, a scholar of Muslim-Christian relations, has faced pushback for her work from fellow Catholics—but says her study of Islam and friendships with Muslims have strengthened her own faith.

Our Guest: Jordan Denari Duffner, author of Islamophobia: What Christians Should Know (and Do) about Anti-Muslim Discrimination

Related Links:

What’s on tap: Water and lime for Zac; Lemon ginger tea for Ashley

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Gloria Purvis on the murder of George Floyd one year later May 25, 2021

Today we're dropping the first episode of "The Gloria Purvis Podcast" from America Media! Gloria's show centers the voices of people who have been marginalized in the Catholic Church and in society. On this first episode, Gloria reflects on the murder of George Floyd one year later and speaks to a priest ministering in a historic Black Catholic community in Minnesota about the traumatic experience and how Catholics responded across the country.

Search and subscribe to "The Gloria Purvis Podcast" wherever you listen to Jesuitical!

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Catholics: You need to pay attention to what’s happening in Israel-Palestine May 21, 2021

What’s going on in the Holy Land—and what’s at the root of the problem? Why should Catholics care? This week, Zac and Ashley have an urgent conversation with Father David Neuhaus—an Israeli Jesuit who brings a unique, on-the-ground perspective to the situation.

Our Guest: Father David Neuhaus, superior of the Jesuit community in Jerusalem

Related Links:

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts / Spotify

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He’s the top Jesuit in the world. Does that make him the pope’s boss? (Or ours?!) May 14, 2021

This week, Ashley and Inside the Vatican’s Colleen Dulle chat with Arturo Sosa, S.J., the 31st Superior General of the Society of Jesus. In other words, he’s got St. Ignatius Loyola’s old job. In other words, he leads the world’s Jesuits.

Our Guest: Father Arturo Sosa, superior general of the Society of Jesus

Related Links:

What’s on tap: The Cannonball (the official cocktail of the Ignatian Year)

Ingredients:

Mezcal, 2oz

Lime juice, 3/4oz

Blackberries, 6 (reserve one for garnish (this is the ‘cannonball’))

Jalapeno slices, 4

Agave nectar, 1/2oz

Soda water (optional)

In the bottom of a cocktail shaker, muddle together blackberries, jalapeno slices and lime juice. Add ice, mezcal, and agave nectar. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Strain into an old fashioned glass with ice. Drop one blackberry in from a height of 6 inches. Observe impact. Clean up. If desired, top with soda water or seltzer. Finally, await convalescence and conversion.

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What a Jewish editor brings to a Catholic podcast May 07, 2021

This week, Zac and Ashley take you behind the scenes of Jesuitical in an exit interview with our amazing outgoing editor, Noah Levinson. Noah has been with the podcast since day one, and we could not be more grateful for everything he’s done for the show.

Our Guest: Noah Levinson, the outgoing audio editor extraordinaire of Jesuitical

Related Links:

Learn more about the Camphill Movement (Noah’s new gig!)

What’s on tap: Cherry kijafa of unknown provenance

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Dear Millennials: We have to talk about our commitment issues Apr 30, 2021

This week, Zac and Ashley talk with Pete Davis about the case for putting down roots and committing—to a relationship, a job, a social cause—in a world that tells us to always keep our options open.

Our Guest: Pete Davis, author of Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an age of Infinite Browsing (out May 4) and co-founder of the Democracy Policy Network.

Sings of the Times:

Related Links:

DedicatedBook.org

What’s on tap: Advent Calendar Wine (long story)

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When protesting is a spiritual practice Apr 23, 2021

This week, Zac and Ashley discuss the spiritual and liturgical elements of protest movements with Nathan Schneider. Nathan wrote a feature article for America marking the 10-year anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street and Arab Spring protests, entitled, “Our world is ripe for revolution. 10 years after Occupy and the Arab Spring, what have we learned?”

Our Guest: Nathan Schneider, a reporter and professor of media studies at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Sings of the Times:

Related Links:

What’s on tap: Absinthe

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Christian purity culture and racism left 8 people dead in Atlanta. How should the church respond? Apr 16, 2021

This week, Ashley and Zac discuss the intersection of Christian purity culture and racism with Flora X. Tang. Flora wrote a piece for America in the aftermath of the Atlanta killings of eight people, including six women of asian descent, entitled “Purity culture, racism and the violence against Asian women in Atlanta”.

Our Guest: Flora X. Tang, doctoral student in Theology and Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, where she studies post-traumatic sacramental theology.

Sings of the Times:

Related Links:

Purity culture, racism and the violence against Asian women in Atlanta

What’s on tap: Live Free or Die, from Death & Co

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Two Christians get married—what happens when one spouse leaves the church? Apr 09, 2021

Stina Kielsmeier-Cook had a plan. Or more accurately, she thought God had a plan: She would marry her college sweetheart, and their shared love for Jesus and radical Christian commitment to serving the poor would anchor their marriage in something real and eternal.

But a couple of years into their marriage, her husband, Josh, lost his faith, and now Stina is navigating an increasingly common reality: mixed-faith marriage.

We talk to Stina about her new book, Blessed Are the Nones: Mixed-Faith Marriage and My Search for Spiritual Community, in which she grapples with the challenges (and opportunities) of sustaining a marriage, raising kids and nourishing her own faith life in a new state of “spiritual singleness.” Along the way, she meets women saints, Catholic nuns and religious “nones” who point the way to a reimagined Christian community for an increasingly secular world.

In Signs of the Times, the influential (and controversial) Vatican II theologian Hans Küng has died at 93 and a look back at the Vatican’s Easter Triduum.

Links from the show:

Hans Küng, influential Vatican II theologian censured by John Paul II, dies at 93

Cardinal: Too many Catholics don’t understand that some church teachings can actually change

Don’t call Dorothy Day a saint. But a ferry? Sure.

Stina’s book: Blessed Are the Nones: Mixed-Faith Marriage and My Search for Spiritual Community

The Great Courses Plus (Get a month of unlimited access for free!)

Subscribe to America

Join our Patreon community.

What’s on tap?

Ginger Shrub cocktail

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Why does God allow suffering? And why are our attempts to figure it out inadequate? Apr 02, 2021

Why does an all loving God allow evil and suffering in the world? The theodicy isn’t just a problem for popes and theologians—at some point in any believers life it’s a question that seizes and stops a prayer in the throat.

Yet we try to offer inadequate answers all the time: God only gives us what we can handle. This is a test. Everything happens for a reason. Push any of these responses a bit, and the unraveling begins.

Perhaps the only real answer is in asking the questions. In poetry. In prayer. Joe Hoover, S.J., America’s poetry editor, is out with a new book O Death, Where is Thy Sting?, which is a meditation on all of this and more. In this week’s show, Zac and Ashley sit down with Joe to talk about suffering—fitting for Good Friday.

Links from the show:

Joe’s book: O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?

The Great Courses Plus (Get a month of unlimited access for free!)

Subscribe to America

Join our Patreon community.

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If St. Francis had a YouTube channel, it might look like this. Mar 26, 2021

Father Casey Cole, a Franciscan priest and popular YouTuber, has pulled off what few before him have: garnered a massive Catholic following while remaining faithful, truthful and, above all, charitable on social media. We talk to Father Casey about how he deals with internet toxicity, generational differences among Catholics and whether St. Francis would be on Twitter if he were alive today.

In Signs of the Times, the Loyola Ramblers (and their 101-year-old chaplain Sister Jean) are back in the NCAA tournament and heading to the Sweet 16. Plus, Pope Francis has appointed Juan Carlos Cruz—a sex abuse survivor, advocate and gay man—to the Pontifical Council for the Protection of Minors.

This episode of Jesuitical is brought to you by The Great Courses Plus. Sign up for The Great Courses Plus and get an entire month of unlimited access to thousands of video and audio courses from the world’s best professors by visiting http://thegreatcoursesplus.com/jesuitical.

As always, thanks for listening. You can support the media ministry of America and unlock unlimited access to all our articles with a digital subscription for less than $1 per week. Subscribe here. And to get all that plus bonus content from Jesuitical, become a member of our Patreon community.

Links from the show:

Sister Jean, Loyola Chicago’s #1 fan, returns to March Madness fully vaccinated

Pope Francis names Juan Carlos Cruz, prominent abuse survivor and whistleblower, to Vatican panel

Juan Carlos Cruz: the survivor who changed the pope’s mind on sex abuse

Breaking in the Habit YouTube Channel

Breaking In The Habit | Reflections of a Friar in Training

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Will Arbery’s hit play nearly predicted the Capitol Riot. Mar 19, 2021

Will Arbery’s 2019 play “Heroes of the Fourth Turning” was praised by viewers from across the political spectrum for its nuanced depiction of Catholic conservatives in the Trump era. While Donald Trump is no longer in the White House (or on Twitter), 74 million Americans voted to give him a second term, and debates about how his supporters will affect the Republican Party and the country have only intensified since the attack on the Capitol. We talk to Will about his play, the Jan. 6 insurrection and learning to listen across our cultural divides.

In Signs of the Times, we bring our colleague Michael J. O’Loughlin to discuss the Vatican’s controversial statement banning blessings for same-sex couples. Plus: the Jesuits pledged to raise $100 million to benefit the descendents of enslaved persons owned and sold by the Society of Jesus, and March Madness returns.

This episode of Jesuitical is brought to you by The Great Courses Plus. Sign up for The Great Courses Plus and get an entire month of unlimited access to thousands of video and audio courses from the world’s best professors by visiting http://thegreatcoursesplus.com/jesuitical.

As always, thanks for listening. You can support the media ministry of America and unlock unlimited access to all our articles with a digital subscription for less than $1 per week. Subscribe here. And to get all that plus bonus content from Jesuitical, become a member of our Patreon community.

Links from the show:

Vatican, with Pope Francis’ approval, says priests cannot bless same-sex couples

‘It just hurts’: Catholics react to Vatican ban on blessings for same-sex couples

How ESPN’s Joe Lunardi invented bracketology

Interview: Did playwright Will Arbery predict the storming of the Capitol in ‘Heroes of the Fourth Turning’?

A visit to the rural Catholic college that has 171 students, 12 horses and zero textbooks

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People think they know how young people feel about religion. This group actually asks them. Mar 12, 2021

The numbers don’t lie: Young people are less religious than previous generations—at least in the ways we have traditionally understood that dynamic. But behind the numbers lies a fascinating web of stories about how young people find and discover meaning. One of the most important factors: relationships.

We discuss a groundbreaking report, “The State of Religion & Young People 2020: Relational Authority,” published by Springtide Research Institute, with Springtide’s executive director, Josh Packard. The report’s insight is essential for anyone who works with young people in any capacity.

In Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac discuss Pope Francis’ trip to Iraq. It was moving and historic, but will it cause an uptick in cases of Covid-19? We also look at the fascinating story of Servant of God Father Emil Kapaun, who is already a Medal of Honor recipient. Is sainthood next?

This episode of Jesuitical is brought to you by The Great Courses Plus. Sign up for The Great Courses Plus and get an entire month of unlimited access to thousands of video and audio courses from the world’s best professors by visiting http://thegreatcoursesplus.com/jesuitical.

As always, thanks for listening. You can support the media ministry of America and unlock unlimited access to all our articles with a digital subscription for less than $1 per week. Subscribe here. And to get all that plus bonus content from Jesuitical, become a member of our Patreon community.

Links from the show:

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Self-care is an art. Tracy G can teach you how to master it. Mar 05, 2021

One year into a global pandemic that has taken hundreds of thousands of lives and disrupted the routines and relationships of millions more, we would all do well to take a moment to take stock of where we are—mentally, physically, spiritually. Tracy G is here to help you do just that. A self-described “wellness artist” and host of the podcast “She’s Beauty & The Beast,” Tracy is overflowing with wisdom and advice for staying not just sane but grateful when it seems like so much is beyond our control.

We ask Tracy about adapting to pandemic life, how to keep “self-care” from becoming self-indulgent and how plants can serve as a really useful metaphor for friendships (really).

In Signs of the Times, several U.S. bishops have released statements that could lead to confusion among Catholics about whether it is morally permissible to take the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine. Zac and Ashley discuss: Can too much nuance get in the way of effective communication? Plus, Pope Francis is making a historic visit to Iraq, March 5 to March 8. We share a clip from Inside the Vatican’s deep dive into the trip which answers the question: Why is the pope so set on going to warzone amid a global pandemic?

This episode of Jesuitical is brought to you by The Great Courses Plus. Sign up for The Great Courses Plus and get an entire month of unlimited access to thousands of video and audio courses from the world’s best professors by visiting http://thegreatcoursesplus.com/jesuitical.

As always, thanks for listening. You can support the media ministry of America and unlock unlimited access to all our articles with a digital subscription for less than $1 per week. Subscribe here. And to get all that plus bonus content from Jesuitical, become a member of our Patreon community.

Links from the show:

‘Pastorally dangerous’: U.S. bishops risk causing confusion about vaccines, ethicists say

Inside the Vatican: Nobody at the Vatican wants Pope Francis to go to Iraq right now. Why is he so set on going?

Pope Francis in Iraq: Everything you need to know about the historic trip

We remember them: Covid-19 prayer service from America Media

Tracy G’s Website

Tracy G’s Audio Vision Board: Forced to Flow

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Comedian Pete Holmes on the spiritual maturity of Richard Rohr Feb 26, 2021

Pete Holmes refers to Father Richard Rohr affectionately as “Richie.” Pete is a talented comedian, podcaster and television writer, and he’s also a deep admirer of the work of last week’s guest. We talked to Pete last summer about his memoir Comedy Sex God, and after our conversation with Father Richard last week, we were able to appreciate Pete’s story on a much deeper level. Thus, we’re bringing it to you today.

We have an all new Signs of the Times and Consolations and Desolations, where we look at the curious case of Venerable Mother Cornelia Connelly’s body and who gets to claim her remains, as well as mark the grim milestone of 500,000 coronavirus deaths in the United States.

Links from the show:

The life of Catholic foundress Cornelia Connelly was ruled by men. Was her obedience to them holy?

Plan to move Sussex nun’s bones to US faces local opposition

Cardinal Gregory prays on CNN for 500,000 Americans killed by Covid-19

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Spiritual Wisdom from Father Richard Rohr Feb 19, 2021

This week’s guest hardly needs an introduction. Father Richard Rohr is a Franciscan priest, the author of several well-known books on spirituality, including his latest The Universal Christ, and the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation in New Mexico. In this wide-ranging interview, we talk to Father Richard about the difference between “Jesus” and “Christ,” the dangers of tribal religion and how we should approach this most unusual Lenten season.

We wanted to give this conversation plenty of space (you’ll understand why when you listen), so no Signs of the Times this week.

Links from the show:

Center for Action and Contemplation

The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe

Lent reflections, podcasts and more from America's staff

What’s on tap?

Nothing! Our 40 days of abstinence from alcohol begins.

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Is a better abortion debate possible? Feb 12, 2021

Abortion “is not an argument anyone is going to win,” Caitlin Flanagan wrote in a December 2019 essay for The Atlantic. “The loudest advocates on both sides are terrible representatives for their cause.”

Caitlin is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where she writes on politics and culture. She identifies as pro-choice. The hosts of this show identify as pro-life. But all of us yearn for a debate and conversation about hard issues like aboriton that isn’t dominated by the vitriol often demonstrated by the “loudest advocates” that Caitlin refers to. We model that and more in this week’s show.

During Signs of the Times, we discuss the first woman to be nominated with the right to vote as undersecretary of the synod of bishops; we also get into the controversy over Abby Johnson, a popular pro-life speaker and supporter of President Trump, delivering a speech at the Catholic University of America.

This episode of Jesuitical is brought to you by The Great Courses Plus. Sign up for The Great Courses Plus and get an entire month of unlimited access to thousands of video and audio courses from the world’s best professors by visiting http://thegreatcoursesplus.com/jesuitical.

As always, thanks for listening. You can support the media ministry of America and unlock unlimited access to all our articles with a digital subscription for less than $1 per week. Subscribe here. And to get all that plus bonus content from Jesuitical, become a member of our Patreon community.

Links from the Show:

One woman can vote in next year’s synod. Others are ‘under consideration.’

Catholic University students object to pro-life speaker Abby Johnson, citing past comments on race

The Dishonesty of the Abortion Debate

What’s on tap?

Michelob Ultra Seltzers

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Father James Martin’s prayer guide (for everyone) Feb 05, 2021

Whether you are an agnostic seeker who’s curious about the whole “prayer” thing or a seasoned Catholic looking to deepen your relationship with God, James Martin, S.J., has a book for you—and everyone else. In his new book, Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone, Father Martin not only answers the question “Why pray?” and introduces readers to different types of prayer; he tackles what he considers “one of the most confusing parts about the spiritual life”: What happens when you pray? That is, what are you supposed to hear or feel when you close your eyes?

We talk to Father Martin about the most common barriers to prayer, how you can tell what’s coming from God in prayer and whether we’re thinking about “consolations and desolations” in the right way. Plus, we bring him the questions you, dear listeners, posted to the Jesuitical Facebook group.

In Signs of the Times, we’ve got to stories from Pope Francis. First, in a meeting with Italian catechists, the pope made clear that the Second Vatican Council is part of church teaching, saying, “If you do not follow the council or you interpret it in your own way, as you wish, you are not with the church.” Over 50 years after Vatican II, why is its legacy still up for debate? Next, Pope Francis has declared the fourth Sunday of July (the feasts of Sts. Joachim and Anne) the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. We discuss what the coronavirus pandemic has revealed about the treatment of the elderly in our society—and what lessons the pope wants us to take forward.

This episode of Jesuitical is brought to you by The Great Courses Plus. Sign up for The Great Courses Plus and get an entire month of unlimited access to thousands of video and audio courses from the world’s best professors by visiting http://thegreatcoursesplus.com/jesuitical.

As always, thanks for listening. You can support the media ministry of America and unlock unlimited access to all our articles with a digital subscription for less than $1 per week. Subscribe here. And to get all that plus bonus content from Jesuitical, become a member of our Patreon community.

Links from the show

Pope Francis: Vatican II must be taught as part of church teaching, or ‘you are not with the church’

Pope Francis establishes World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly

God’s voice or mine? 7 tips on what to listen to in prayer

Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone, by James Martin, S.J.

What’s on tap?

Sweatpants Sazerac (from The New Yorker’s “Seasonal Cocktails for Your Seasonal Depression”)

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The future of the pro-life movement is already here Jan 29, 2021

Every year, tens of thousands of students, priests, sisters and pro-life activists gather in Washington, D.C., around the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade to witness against abortion. This year, the march looks different because of Covid-19. But it is also noteworthy for another reason: It is the first march of the “post-Trump era.”

Though he is no longer president, for many Americans, Donald Trump will remain the face of the pro-life movement for years to come. So where do we go from here? What can those of us who oppose abortion and the death penalty—who want Roe overturned and for our country to welcome refugees—do to change the conversation around life issues?

Thankfully, we got one answer to that question back in 2019, when we talked with Destiny Herndon-De La Rosa, the founder of New Wave Feminists. Destiny became a mother at a young age, and her experience inspired her to to form the pro-life, feminist organization that gives women the support and resources needed to make motherhood a feasible option.

We wanted to share this conversation with you (again) because it’s people like Destiny who give us hope for the future of the pro-life movement.

This episode of Jesuitical was brought to you by The Great Courses (Plus). Sign up for The Great Courses (Plus) and get an entire month of unlimited access to thousands of video and audio lectures from the world’s best professors by visiting http://thegreatcoursesplus.com/jesuitical.

As always, thanks for listening. You can support the media ministry of America and unlock unlimited access to all our articles with a digital subscription for less than $1 per week. Subscribe here. And to receive bonus content and swag from Jesuitical, check out our Patreon community.

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President Biden’s Very Catholic Inauguration Jan 22, 2021

On Wednesday, Jan. 20, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States, only the second Catholic ever to hold the office.

Zac and Ashley are joined by Matt Malone, S.J., to discuss their reactions to President Biden’s inauguration—including the prayers offered by other Jesuits throughout the day. Father Malone is the editor in chief of America, worked in politics before joining the Jesuits and brings a historical and personal eye to the events of the week.

We’re happy to report that Pope Francis, Pope Emeritus Benedict and guests at the Vatican’s homeless shelter all received a vaccine for Covid-19, even as the Catholic Church, like the rest of the world, continues to lose leaders to the virus.

Please consider supporting the show by subscribing to America, or by pledging on our Patreon page.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis sends greeting to President Biden, contrasting with sharper message from head of U.S. bishops

Joe Biden begins Inauguration Day with Mass

Read: The Invocation at the Inauguration of President Joe Biden

Joe Biden knows the grief of losing family—and how our pain can have a purpose.

Watch: Matt Malone, SJ interviews Joe Biden

What’s on tap?

Cape Codder: Vodka and cranberry juice.

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The Capitol Hill rioters co-opted Jesus. How should Catholics respond? Jan 15, 2021

One of the most alarming aspects of the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Trump was the prevalence of Christian symbols and language. That the cross and the name of Jesus were used to justify a violent attack on our nation’s democratic institutions shows just how far the Christian community has fallen short, according to this week’s guest, the Rev. Bryan Massingale: “We’ve allowed Christianity, Christian symbols, Christian faith, Christian language to be hijacked in the cause of a human ideology of exclusion and division and division.”

Father Massingale teaches theological and social ethics at Fordham University in New York and is the author of Racial Justice and the Catholic Church. We talk with him about the toxic mix of racism, idolatry and spiritual emptiness on display on Capitol Hill and how Christians should respond.

In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis changed canon law this week to allow women to be officially installed as lectors and acolytes (i.e., those who do the readings, serve the altar and distribute Communion at Mass). Zac and Ashley discuss what this means for parishes and the place of women in the church.

This episode of Jesuitical was brought to you by The Great Courses (Plus). Sign up for The Great Courses (Plus) and get an entire month of unlimited access to thousands of video and audio lectures from the world’s best professors by visiting http://thegreatcoursesplus.com/jesuitical.

As always, thanks for listening. You can support the media ministry of America and unluck unlimited access to all our articles with a digital subscription for less than $1 per week. Subscribe here. And to receive bonus content and swag from Jesuitical, check out our Patreon community.

Links from the show:

Impeach. Convict. Now.

How Catholic Leaders Helped Give Rise to Violence at the U.S. Capitol

Pope Francis changes canon law: ministries of acolyte and lector open to women

Explainer: The history of women lectors and altar servers—and what Pope Francis has changed

The Racist Attack on Our Nation’s Capitol

What’s on tap?

Johnny Walker Black Label, with a twist

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A Very Jesuitical Christmas Special Dec 24, 2020

We don’t have to tell you that 2020 has been a really tough year. And yet we know that God is still with us, and we are still celebrating the birth of our savior on Christmas morning. To mark the coming of our Lord, we wanted to do something a little different on Jesuitical.

So, instead of covering the Catholic news of the week, we asked you, our listeners, to tell us where you found God in your life amid the loneliness, uncertainty and loss of the coronavirus pandemic. And Zac and Ashley share personal reflections about what Christmas means to them this year.

As always, we are grateful to everyone who listens to and supports the show. Have a blessed Christmas season—and we’ll see you next year.

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What comedians and Catholics have in common: They need to tell the truth. Ep 162 Dec 18, 2020

We all need a laugh. 2020 has been an absolutely awful year (no citation needed). But is it O.K. for us to take a step back and laugh at it all? We bring on professional funny man and former professional Catholic, Greg Iwinksi, to discuss. Greg is an Emmy-nominated comedy writer and performer, and he currently writes for “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.” He’s previously written for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and worked with The Second City and iO theaters.

We talk to Greg about the pandemic, the difference between “church” funny and “actual” funny and Trump Jokes. Greg also reminds us that comedy is serious business, and above all about telling the truth.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss the Vatican’s controversial Nativity and deliver a Jesuitical SOT-P.S.A. about the newly F.D.A.-approved Covid-19 vaccines.

This is our last regular episode of 2020, but there is still time for you to help with our special Christmas edition of Jesuitical. Email a 60-second-or-less voice memo to jesuitical@americamedia.org describing a consolation from 2020. Get your consolation in by Monday, Dec. 21!

What’s on tap?

Hot Toddy

Links from the show:

Greg’s Twitter Feed

Greg’s new Star Wars podcast

Why is Darth Vader in the Vatican’s Nativity scene?

U.S. Catholic bishops: Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is an ‘act of charity’

Waiting for a Covid test is more than just standing in line. It’s an act of mercy.

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Eat (a little), pray (a lot), love (God): Meet the beer-brewing Monks of Norcia Ep. 161 Dec 11, 2020

“We’re all monks now” was an early refrain about life in coronavirus lockdown. Time slowed down as we kept to our houses and limited contact with family and friends. Of course, unlike monks, we also had Zoom calls and Netflix. Lots and lots of Netflix. So we wanted to talk to a monk and find out just how much our Covid quarantines resemble life in a monastery.

Dom Benedict Nivakoff, O.S.B., is the prior of the Monastery of San Benedetto in Monte in Norcia, Italy, the birthplace of St. Benedict, considered the father of Western monasticism. We ask Father Prior about living under St. Benedict’s Rule and what advice he has for those us struggling to accept the limitations of pandemic life.

And during Signs of the Times, Pope Francis has dedicated the next year to St. Joseph. Zac and Ashley share their takeaways from “Patris Corde,” the pope reflection on the foster father of Jesus. Next, the pope plans to visit Iraq in March, but can he do so without putting his and others’ health at risk? And you’ve heard of “Elf on the Shelf,” but what about “Mary on the Mantel”? The hosts debate the merits of a new Advent tradition.

Finally, we need your help! 2020 has been a year like no other. It has been filled with suffering and longing, for sure, but also moments of grace. And we want to hear about yours. Send a short voice memo to jesuitical@americamedia.org describing a specific time in the last year when you found God working in your life. We hope to share your consolations in a special Christmas episode.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis proclaims a year dedicated to St. Joseph

Patris Corde

Pope Francis plans to visit Iraq in March after getting a Covid vaccine

‘Mary on the Mantel’? Think ‘Elf on the Shelf,’ but Catholic

What’s on tap?

Birra Nursia Blonde Ale (You can order it here. A great Christmas gift for the beer lovers in your life!)

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Why we need Advent now more than ever. Ep. 160 Dec 04, 2020

This was bound to be an odd Advent. But as a lot of Catholics discovered during the odd Lent, Easter and Ordinary Time we experienced this year, there is also an invitation to develop new traditions and prayer practices. Our guest this week, Tsh Oxenreider, has been helping people connect in new ways and live more simply for a long time through her writing and podcasting. We talk to Tsh about her latest project, Shadow & Light: A Journey Into Advent, and her journey to make Advent meaningful for her family.

During Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac discuss the 13 new cardinals that Pope Francis recently elevated, and what they want to see out of the pope’s closest advisers. They also look at misinformation around Covid vaccines.

What’s on tap?

Advent calendar wine, from Zac’s mom.

Links from the show:

Shadow & Light: A Journey Into Advent

tshoxenreider.com

Pope Francis has made Wilton Gregory the first African-American cardinal

U.S. bishops’ internal memo: Catholics can take Covid-19 vaccines

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What makes a great Catholic writer? Nov 27, 2020

There are good writers, there are Catholic writers and then there are the Catholic literary greats like Flannery O’Connor, Cormac McCarthy, and to the surprise of some, Toni Morison. But what exactly makes their stories distinctly Catholic? And how do themes of incarnation, death and resurrection show up even while the artist has lapsed in their religious practice?

Ashley and Zac settle in with the writer Nick Ripatrazone to talk about these literary giants and where the Catholic imagination comes alive in works of fiction. They also talk about Nick’s recently published book “Longing for an Absent God: Faith and Doubt in Great American Fiction.”

Links from the show:

Longing for an Absent God

Nick Ripatrazone

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We need to talk about Clericalism Nov 20, 2020

The release of the McCarrick report has once again brought the church’s sex abuse crisis back to the headlines—and once again Catholics are asking: What is the root cause? Clericalism, writes Sam Sawyer, S.J., a Jesuit priest and our colleague at America Media. While we may not know what drive any individual person to abuse, he believes the McCarrick report confirms that clericalism explains how Theodore McCarrick was able to rise through the ranks of the hierarchy despite persistent rumors of sexual misconduct.

We ask Sam how clericalism plays both at the Vatican and in our own parishes, and what priests and laypeople alike can do to root it out.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss the U.S. bishops’ general assembly and the creation of a new working group to address what Archbishop José Gomez called the “difficult and complex situation” they see in Joe Biden—the second Catholic president in U.S. history. How should the bishops engage the Biden administration on issues like abortion and religious liberty?

Links from the show:

U.S. bishops express concern over a having a Catholic president who is pro-choice

The McCarrick Report confirms it: Clericalism powered the sex abuse crisis.

What’s on tap?

Boulevardiers: 1 ½ ounces bourbon, ¾ ounce sweet vermouth, ¾ ounce Campari. Twist of orange peel, for garnish

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Helping regular people navigate the health care industry is a ministry (and a podcast) Nov 13, 2020

Choosing your health insurance, going to the doctor, paying unexpected medical bills: these are facts of life that no one would describe as fun. But on his podcast “An Arm and a Leg,” Dan Weissmann explores the U.S. health care system and its costs for consumers in an entertaining—and empowering—way. This week, we talk to Dan about how to hold your own when you are slapped with an exorbitant medical bill, and ask: Why is the health care system so confusing?

In Signs of the Times, we briefly mark the occasion of the election of the second Catholic president in U.S. history (and celebrate the controversial song he quoted in his acceptance speech). Next, the Vatican published its much-anticipated report on the investigation into former cardinal Theodore McCarrick. We bring on Colleen Dulle of America’s “Inside the Vatican” podcast to breakdown the top takeaways from the report. Who knew what about McCarrick’s abuse—and should we trust an internal investigation, conducted by those with the most at stake?

Links from the show:

Joe Biden will be the second Catholic president. Here’s what you need to know about his faith.

“On Eagle’s Wings”: The simple origin of the song that makes the world cry

Top 5 Takeaways from the McCarrick Report

An Arm and a Leg podcast

What’s on tap?

Trappist-made wine from New Clairvaux Vineyard

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Interfaith work is crucial to overcoming our country’s divisions. Ep. 156 Nov 06, 2020

By the time you listen to this episode, we may already know who the 46th president of the United States will be. But whoever wins, there is one thing we can say with certainty now: We remain a divided country. So this week, we wanted to talk to someone who has been working across divisions for over a decade: Dr. Eboo Patel. In 2002, Eboo founded the Interfaith Youth Core, an organization that works with colleges, governments and social service agencies to increase interfaith cooperation. He also served on President Barack Obama’s inaugural Advisory Council on Faith-Based Neighborhood Partnerships.

Eboo believes that it is impossible to understand what is happening in our world—and in the 2020 election—without paying attention to and engaging with people’s diverse religious commitments. We ask Eboo what lessons he has learned from his interfaith work that might help us to heal the fractures of our body politic.

With the election results very much still up in the air at recording time, we decided it didn’t make a lot of sense to try to read the signs of the times this week. But stick around after the interview for our (non-election related) Consolations and Desolations.

A reminder that we are discussing Pope Francis’ latest encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti,” in reading groups (over drinks) with all members of our Patreon community throughout the month of November. Even if you missed the first meeting, there’s still time to sign up to support the show and guarantee a spot in the reading group.

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Stories from a real-life exorcist consultant Ep. 155 Oct 30, 2020

Movies about demons and exorcisms are popular at this time of year, and are—let’s be honest—pretty scary. Well, real life demonic possession is even scarier—and nothing to mess around with.

This week, we talk with someone who would know. Dr. Richard Gallagher is a board-certified psychiatrist, a leading expert in the field of exorcism and the author of Demonic Foes: My Twenty-Five Years as a Psychiatrist Investigating Possessions, Diabolic Attacks, and the Paranormal.

Dr. Gallagher recounts hard-won lessons about the spiritual life as well as some of his most harrowing experiences with literal demons.

In “Signs of the Times,” we look at the 13 new cardinals that Pope Francis named over the weekend, including Washington’s Archbishop Wilton Gregory, who is set to become the first Black Cardinal in the United States.

A reminder that we’ll be discussing Pope Francis’ latest encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti” in reading groups (over drinks) with all members of our Patreon community throughout the month of November. It starts next week, but there’s still time to sign up to support the show and guarantee a spot in the reading group.

Links from the show:

Demonic Foes

Dr. Richard Gallagher, Demonic Possession Expert, Isn't Trying to Convince You

Pope Francis names 13 new cardinals, including Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington D.C.

How long will the Latino community have to wait for a cardinal in the United States?

What’s on tap:
Witches’ Brew, also known as a gin and tonic made with Empress Gin for spooky coloring.

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Voting Catholic: A queer, pro-life feminist on abortion Oct 26, 2020

We're dropping an episode from the Voting Catholic podcast in the Jesuitical feed!

Voting Catholic is an original podcast series from America Media that explores the top voting issues in the United States, from abortion to immigration to racial justice, by sharing the voices of experts and activists on the front lines. Each episode tackles one issue through personal storytelling and socio-political analysis from a Catholic perspective. This episode is called "Abortion: It's more complicated than you think."

The Catholic Bishops teach that abortion is a preeminent voting issue for Catholics, because it directly attacks life itself. Do Catholics agree? And should it take precedence over other life and death issues?

Aimee Murphy is the Executive Director of Rehumanize International. Visit her white paper and presentation here.

Learn more about Tricia Bruce’ study: “What Americans Really Think About Abortion”

US Bishops teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics: "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship"

Stay up-to-date with America Media's coverage of the 2020 election: www.americamagazine.org/newsletters

You can support this media ministry at www.americamagazine.org/donate

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Jeannie Gaffigan was told “Real Catholics vote for Trump.” Here’s how she responded. Ep. 154 Oct 23, 2020

Do “real Catholics” have to vote for Donald J. Trump? That’s what Jeannie Gaffigan was hearing from Twitter trolls and loved ones alike following her husband Jim Gaffigan’s uncharacteristically profanity-laced tirade against the president and his supporters during the Republican National Convention.

This week, Jeannie, one half of the Gaffigan comedy duo and author of the book When Life Gives You Pears: The Healing Power of Family, Faith, and Funny People, takes us back to that night and the examination of conscience it inspired. What was it like as a Mass-going mother of five to have her commitment to life challenged? What’s the best way to engage with friends and family across political divides?

In “Signs of the Times,” we discuss two pieces of news that came out of a newly released documentary about Pope Francis: an endorsement of same-sex civil unions and a sharp critique of the Trump administration’s family-separation border policy from Francis. (We recorded the conversation on Wednesday afternoon. The story behind Pope Francis’ comments about civil unions has developed since then, and more coverage can be found at americamagazine.org.)

A reminder that we’ll be discussing Pope Francis’ latest encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti” in reading groups (over drinks) with all members of our Patreon community throughout the month of November. There’s still time to sign up to support the show and guarantee a spot in the reading group.

Links from the show:

Jeannie Gaffigan: My loved ones told me ‘real’ Catholics vote for Trump. Here’s my response.

Pope Francis declares support for same-sex civil unions for the first time as pope

Pope Francis calls Trump’s family separation border policy ‘cruelty of the highest form’

Plot thickens over origins of Pope Francis’ civil union endorsement

Check out The Imagine Society

What’s on tap:
“Irish Coffee,” which means very different things to both Zac and Ashley.

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How to pray for your (political) enemies: Advice from the Chaplain to the U.S. House. Ep. 153 Oct 16, 2020

Father Pat Conroy has served as the 60th chaplain to the U.S. House of Representatives since 2011 (with a brief interruption thanks to former Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan). He’s a Jesuit priest, but that doesn’t mean he’s the Catholic chaplain—he’s chaplain to all 435 members.

We talk to Father Conroy about his role, what Americans don’t understand about their representatives and what his prayer for our country is as we head into a heated presidential election.

During Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss Carlo Acutis, who is on the way to becoming the first millennial saint, and ask why Pope Francis won’t wear a mask, even with rising Covid-19 cases at the Vatican.

If you haven’t had the time to read all of Pope Francis’ new encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti,” we have some good news. Jesuitical is sponsoring a virtual reading group happy hour (yes, that means over drinks) throughout the month of November for Patreon supporters. For more details about that and how to support the show, visit our Patreon page.

Links from the show:

Jesuit House chaplain prays to expel ‘darker spirits’ from the U.S. Capitol

Report: House chaplain, a Jesuit priest, was forced out by Speaker Paul Ryan

Teen was ‘influencer for God,’ mother says on eve of son’s beatification

Podcast: Covid cases are rising in Vatican City. Is Pope Francis at risk?

What’s on tap?

Champagne + Prosecco, to celebrate some good news.

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Pádraig Ó Tuama: How language can be a sacrament. Ep. 152 Oct 09, 2020

Our lives are shaped by language, even if most of us are not poets. But it helps to talk to one if you want to reflect deeply on how language, in the words of this week’s guest, can make or break a world, can fail us or save us. Pádraig Ó Tuama is an Irish poet and theologian and host of the podcast “Poetry Unbound” with On Being Studios. We speak with Pádraig about his love for words, the politics of poetry and the need for creativity in the work of peace and reconciliation.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss Pope Francis’ new encyclical of human fraternity, “Fratelli Tutti.” The hosts give their top three takeaways and share what part of this (very long) document spoke to them personally.

We cannot do this work without your support, whether that’s becoming a member of our Patreon community, leaving a review on Apple podcasts or telling your friends and family about the show.

Links from the show

Fratelli Tutti

Pope Francis closes the door on the death penalty in ‘Fratelli Tutti’

America’s comprehensive coverage of “Fratelli Tutti”

Poetry Unbound

Voting Catholic

What’s on tap?

Tea

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The crisis that the church still needs to stay on top of. Ep. 151 Oct 02, 2020

In the midst of a global pandemic, an economic recession and renewed unrest around racial injustice, it can feel overwhelming to highlight yet another crisis. But the Catholic Church is only two years removed from the summer of 2018, when the sexual abuse crisis came roaring back after the release of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report and the crimes of former Cardinal Theodore McCarick had come to light.

“Crisis,” a new podcast from The Catholic Project at The Catholic University of America, is trying to keep this issue on the minds and hearts of Catholics. This week, we talk to the show’s host, Karna Lozoya, about what has happened since 2018 and what the church still needs to do.

In Signs of the Times, we take a deeper look at the controversy around Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett’s religious affiliations, and ask whether or not the media and politicians need to learn to ask better questions about religion.

If you’re enjoying the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. If you’re feeling called to support the show financially, please check out our Patreon page.

Links from the show:

Crisis

Explainer: Amy Coney Barrett’s relationship with People of Praise

Shakeup at St. Louis archdiocese over handling of immigration webinar

What’s on Tap?

Pedialyte

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Anthea Butler: Religion won’t save us from the sin of racism. Ep. 150 Sep 25, 2020

For many, the killing of George Floyd was a turning point. People of every age and race poured into streets across the country, demanding justice for not only Mr. Floyd but Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake, Ahmaud Arbery and countless other Black men and women victimized by racist structures. But for this week’s guest, Anthea Butler, this moment feels more like a precipice than a turning point. Dr. Butler is an associate professor of religion and Africana studies at the University of Pennsylvania, who has been seeking to raise awareness about systemic racism in her students and the wider culture for years.

We talk to Dr. Butler about how she sees these protests in the context of U.S. history, racism among Catholics and evangelicals, and the role of academics in the fight for racial justice.

In Signs of the Times, the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg has created an opening on the Supreme Court, and the two most likely judges to fill her seat are both Catholic women. Zac and Ashley discuss the history of Catholics on the court and why they have come to dominate the bench in the 21st century. Plus, we talk about the case of an Irish priest suspended from ministry in 2012 because of his support for women’s ordination and same-sex marriage and ask: What has and has not changed about how the Vatican disciplines dissenting priests under Pope Francis?

This was our 150th episode! Thanks to everyone who has stuck with us over the past two-and-a-half years. Making this podcast is the best part of our jobs, and we couldn’t do it without this amazing community of listeners. And a special thanks to members of our Patreon group. If Jesuitical is an important part of your life as a Catholic, please consider supporting the show.

Links from the show

Why do Catholics make up a majority of the Supreme Court?

Suspended Irish priest Tony Flannery calls Vatican inquiry ‘unjust’

Dr. Anthea Butler’s website and Twitter

What’s on tap?

Birthday girl’s choice: Shots of Bulleit Bourbon

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NPR’s Scott Detrow on Trump, Biden and the Catholic vote. Ep. 149 Sep 18, 2020

Yes, we know that you’re (probably) already sick of the presidential campaign. The next six weeks are going to be filled with television ads, yard signs, push notifications and Facebook flame wars among friends and family. Yet we know that Catholics have a duty to be in political conversations, so the solution at America is not to tune out but to be more discerning about what to tune in to.

That’s why this week we’re talking with one of the best political reporters in the business: Scott Detrow. Scott covers the presidential campaigns for NPR and co-hosts the NPR politics podcast. We talk to him about how he approaches covering both the Biden and Trump campaigns, how Catholics are influencing this election and what role Joe Biden’s Catholic faith plays in his campaign.

In Signs of the Times, a new poll found that 36 percent of young Catholics say they will attend Mass less often after the pandemic. Zac and Ashley discuss what churches can do to keep young people in the pews. Plus, we bring on America’s editor in chief, Matt Malone, S.J., to talk about the magazine’s unprecedented editorial on President Trump and the 2020 election.

We cannot do this work without your support, whether that’s becoming a member of our Patreon community, leaving a review on Apple podcasts or telling your friends and family about the show.

Links from the show

Cardinal Sarah to bishops: Facilitate Mass in person as soon as conditions permit

New poll: 36 percent of young Catholics say they will attend Mass less often after pandemic

America magazine: Donald Trump is a unique threat to the Constitution

Scott’s first appearance on Jesuitical from 2017

What’s on tap?

Margaritas, recommended by Scott Detrow: The true drink of 2020 is coffee. But my favorite drink this year—the go-to drink sitting in the backyard processing everything and relaxing—has been a stripped down margarita recipe. 2 oz white tequila, an ounce of simple syrup, and one squeezed lime all shaken up with salt on the rim.

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Pope Francis’ critics are dividing the church. Ep. 148 Sep 11, 2020

Anyone who is familiar with “Catholic Twitter” or dives into the comments section of Catholic publications knows there are some ugly fights happening between Catholics on the internet—especially about Pope Francis. But is this just a social media phenomenon? This week’s guest doesn’t think so. Mike Lewis believes the pope’s most strident, reactionary critics are not just a fringe to be ignored or dismissed but an influential faction that is dividing the church and families.

We talk to Mike about witnessing his own mother become convinced that Pope Francis was a heretic and how that affected his family and his faith. We ask why this pope has inspired such fierce opposition and what can bishops and the people in the pews do to promote unity within the church.

In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis will sign a new encyclical on human fraternity, titled “Fratelli tutti,” on Oct. 3 at the tomb of St. Francis Assisi. Zac and Ashley discuss what solidarity means during (and after) the pandemic and what the document might say to young Catholics. Next, should your priest tell you how to vote? With the 2020 presidential race kicking into high gear, some Catholic leaders are publicly endorsing the candidates. We discuss what U.S. law and church teaching say about political advocacy from the pulpit.

We are so excited to be back in your feeds and are ready to dive into the big stories in the church and the world that are coming this fall. We cannot do this work without your support, whether that’s becoming a member of our Patreon community, leaving a review on Apple podcasts or telling your friends and family about the show.

Links from the show

Pope Francis’ critics are dividing the church and families—including mine

Where Peter Is

Pope Francis will sign new encyclical on human fraternity at the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi

Explainer: Can a priest or a member of a religious order publicly endorse a political candidate?

What’s on tap?

Stiegl Radler

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Bishop Robert Barron on Internet ministry, Black Lives Matter, and the art of dialogue. Ep. 147 Jun 26, 2020

Please tell us what you think about Jesuitical by filling out our listener survey! It takes about 10 minutes to fill out and can be found here.

If you’ve spent any time looking for Catholic resources online, you have certainly come across the work of Bishop Robert Barron. The auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is the founder of Word on Fire Ministries and has been called a “Fulton Sheen for the 21st century.” He reaches millions of people over social media and has spoken about God in the expected (seminaries, Cathedrals) and unexpected (Google headquarters, Reddit AMAs) places alike.

We caught up with him to talk about his ministry during coronavirus, attracting controversy (yes, we talk about that Jordan Peterson interview), West Coast Catholicism and the recent Black Lives Matter protests.

This is our final show before our summer break. We’ll be popping in the feed periodically to share some thoughts and conversations with you, but otherwise we will be hard at work improving Jesuitical so we can come back better than ever in the fall. But to do that, we need your help.

Please tell us what you think about Jesuitical by filling out our listener survey. It will help us make the show better and tell our sponsors more about who you are. It takes about 10 minutes to fill out and can be found here.

Until then, please keep us in your prayers. We’ll be praying for you.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the production of Jesuitical has been made possible, in part, by the generous support from American Bible Society. To learn more about American Bible Society and their amazing work visit www.americanbible.org.

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Systemic Racism, Covid-19 and the U.S. health care system. Ep. 146 Jun 19, 2020

If you are paying attention to the news these days, you have probably heard the term “systemic racism” used to describe the conditions in this country that made something as horrific as the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in broad daylight possible. The disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on people of color has also been talked about as an issue of “systemic racism.” But what exactly does that mean? How does it play out in different parts of American society and in individual lives? How do history, individual prejudices, government policy and social arrangement conspire to devalue the lives of some Americans?

This week, we explore those questions through a specific lens: health care. Sarah Kureshi is a doctor of family medicine who teaches a course at Georgetown University on racial bias in the health care system. We ask Dr. Kureshi about the root causes of health inequalities, what the medical community is doing to root out racism and what the coronavirus pandemic has revealed about what and who this country considers essential.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss the Supreme Court’s decision to extend discrimination protections to L.G.B.T. workers and how the Catholic media should cover Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò’s conspiratorial letter to Donald J. Trump.

Tell us what you thought about today’s show on Jesuitical’s Facebook page. And if Jesuitical has been an important source of information or nourishment for you during these trying times, please consider becoming a member of our Patreon community. We can’t make the show without your support. Thank you.

Links from the show

Supreme Court says federal law protects L.G.B.T. workers from discrimination

President Trump tweeted about Archbishop Viganò. So, who is he?

Archbishop Viganò is aligning with Trump to stay in the spotlight. Pay him no attention.

Inside the Vatican Podcast: Why is the Vatican silent on Archbishop Viganò?

What’s on tap?

Aperol Spritz

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Olga Segura on having frank conversations about race. Ep. 145 Jun 12, 2020

In cities across the country, Americans are taking to the streets and plazas to express their outrage over the killing of yet another black man at the hands of a white police officer and to demand radical changes in how law enforcement is carried out in the United States. And at dinner tables and on social media platforms, many families and friends are haltingly, belatedly, beginning to have conversations about what the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and the countless victims of police brutality who preceded them say about the soul of this country—and our own role in the longstanding injustices now captured so vividly on cell phone cameras and streamed on screens around the world.

These conversations are not easy to have, and we shouldn’t expect them to be. But it helps when you have someone as knowledgeable, passionate and patient as our friend and former co-host Olga Segura to help you work through the issues. This week, we ask Olga how she approaches conversations about racism with her only family, the role of the Catholic Church in the fight for racial justice and what white Catholics can do to become allies in that fight.

We had a lot of ground to cover with Olga, so no Signs of the Times or Consolations and Desolations this week.

If you found this conversation helpful, please share it with a friend or family member, and keep the conversation going on our Facebook page. If you’d like to support Jesuitical, consider becoming a member of our Patreon community.

Links from the show

How can Catholics help lead the fight against racism?

Remembering the NYPD Shooting of Dominican Immigrant Kiko García and What It Means During Today’s #BlackLivesMatter Movement

Fordham’s Bryan Massingale: White Catholics need to sit with the discomfort of systemic racism

Follow Olga on Twitter!

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Pete Holmes needed his life to fall apart to lose God (and find him again). Ep. 144 Jun 05, 2020

Pete Holmes played the game. He followed the rules. He went to church, attended a Christian college and saved himself for marriage. He was ready for God to hold up his end of the deal and deliver happiness and success.

Then his wife (the one he saved himself for) had an affair. Pete’s life started to spiral, sending him on a spiritual journey through atheism, agnosticism, drugs, to what he now calls “Christ-leaning spiritual seeker.” Pete is also the host of the podcast, “You Made It Weird,” where he talks to celebrities and spiritual masters about life’s big questions, and recently wrote a two-part episode of “The Simpsons,” “Warrin’ Priests.”

We talk to Pete about his journey, detailed in his memoir Comedy Sex God, his interest in Father Richard Rohr and make a not-so-subtle case for the Jesuits to him.

(The conversation went long, so no Signs of the Times or Consolations or Desolations this week.)

Links from the show:

Comedy Sex God

Warrin’ Priests

You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes

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The impact of Covid-19 on immigrant workers Jun 02, 2020

“This is a group of people who are figuring out how to pay their bills every month. And now they’re going to be faced with a more difficult challenge, and the government isn’t coming in to help them.”

J.D. Long-Garcia is a senior editor at America working out of Phoenix, Az. He covers the south west, where the Catholic Church is growing. During the Covid-19 pandemic, his writing has focused on immigrant workers, an especially vulnerable group to the current economic disruption.

“In some sense today, social distancing is a privilege. It’s for the privileged class. And that’s not this group of people. If they social distance, they aren’t going to have any money.”

J.D. also discusses his journalistic approach to covering communities that are a part of his own life and heritage, and explains how undocumented immigrants bring much more to America than they take away.

Don’t forget to join Jesuitical’s Facebook group! We cannot make this show or grow this community without your support. Please consider giving through Patreon. And, thank you.

Links from the show:

Follow J.D. on Twitter
Articles by J.D.:
Immigrant workers face economic uncertainty during Covid-19 shutdown

Stimulus does little to stifle Covid-19 fears in the undocumented community
U.S.-Mexico border humanitarians scramble to curb coronavirus

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What happens when your faith and health come into conflict? Ep. 143 May 29, 2020

What do you do if God has commanded you to do something that could put your health and even life at risk? This is the wrenching question faced by thousands of Jewish women who visit mikvah’s, small, public pools, which women immerse themselves in as part of the purity ritual after having their period. Unlike the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday, this religious requirement cannot be dispensed or suspended. Emma Green, a staff writer at The Atlantic, spoke with some of these women about their struggle to reconcile their fidelity to God-given laws for sexual purity and their desire to keep their families and communities safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

We ask Emma about this story as well as her insights into the reopening of houses of worship, how the pandemic will permanently change religious practice in the United States and the role of churches, synagogues and mosques in helping the nation to mourn.

In Signs of the Times, on the fifth anniversary of the promulgation of “Laudato Si’,” Pope Francis called on Catholics and all people of goodwill to join him in a yearlong period of prayer and action for the protection of the environment. Next, in an interview with America’s national correspondent, Michael O’Loughlin, Dr. Anthony Fauci says even as churches reopen, Catholics should not receive Communion in either form for the time being. Finally, we talk with Angelo Jesus Canta (former Jesuitical engineer and graphic designer) about what he has learned from participating in lay-led, at-home liturgies during the coronavirus pandemic.

Have you taken up new spiritual practices during this time of quarantine? Tell us about it on Jesuitical’s Facebook page. And if Jesuitical has been an important source of information or nourishment for you during these trying times, please consider becoming a member of our Patreon community. We can’t make the show without your support. Thank you.

Links from the show

Orthodox Jewish Women Are Facing an Impossible Choice Right Now

Nuns vs. the Coronavirus

Pope Francis announces year of reflection on “Laudato Si’” and prays for Catholics in China

Dr. Anthony Fauci: To keep churches safe, use masks, limit singing and wait to resume Communion

Learning to love lay-led liturgies in quarantine (while missing the Mass)

What’s on tap?

Pineapple Gin & Tonics

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Harry Potter, Soul Cycle and the Internet: say hello to America’s new religions. Ep. 142 May 22, 2020

You’ve heard of the “nones.” It seems like every week there is a new book, article or survey trying to explain the increasingly large segment of millennials and Gen-Zers who check “none” when asked about their religious affiliation. Tara Isabella Burton, a theologian, author and journalist, is less interested in what these young people are leaving behind (institutional religion) than in how they are finding or making their own meaning. From Harry Potter fan forums to SoulCycle, Crossfit and witchcraft, Americans are forming niche communities that play the role traditionally filled by churches.

We ask Tara about the origins of the trend, the dangers of picking and choosing our own beliefs and rituals and whether institutional religion has a chance of reaching what she calls religion “Remixers.”

In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis celebrates a Mass with 100 worshippers for the centenary of St. John Paul II’s birth—the first large gathering at St. Peter’s Basilica since the coronavirus shut down churches in Italy. Next, we bring on America’s national correspondent, Michael O’Loughlin, to talk about the reopening of churches in the United States. Finally, we ask: Should Michael Jordan be a (secular) saint? Zac makes the case for hagiography in the church and the world of sports.

Tell us what you think about the episode on our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and help other listeners find Jesuitical by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts. Please consider supporting the show by becoming a member of our Patreon community. Patrons get access to an exclusive newsletter written by one of your hosts each week!

Links from the show:

Pope Francis celebrates St. John Paul II centenary: ‘God sent his people a prophet.’

U.S. Catholic dioceses release plans for reopening churches

Michael Jordan and the problem (and necessity) of hagiography

Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World

Why you (yes you) should care about theology

What’s on tap?
Old Fashioned’s

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What Pope Francis wants the world to look like post Covid-19 May 19, 2020

Countries around the world are fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and Vatican City State is no exception. But since the coronavirus shut down Italy in early March, Pope Francis has pointed toward the world to come...on earth.

The host of America’s “Inside the Vatican” podcast, Colleen Dulle, joins Ashley, Zac and Vivian to explain what Pope Francis has done to respond to the pandemic at the Vatican while calling on humanity to collaborate in building a new world that is more equitable and sustainable.

Colleen also discusses the visionary life of Madeleine Delbrêl, “the French Dorothy Day,” as she is sometimes described. Colleen is currently working on a biography of the 20th century French activist, poet, mystic and visionary of lay leadership in the Catholic Church whom she describes as “the saint for Jesuitical listeners.”

We treasure the community you all have helped to build on Jesuitical’s Facebook page. Don’t hesitate to share your experience during this difficult moment in the life of our church and the world. We cannot make this show or grow this community without your support. Please consider giving through Patreon. And thank you.

Links from the show:
Subscribe to “Inside the Vatican” on Spotify, Apple, Google

Articles by Colleen Dulle:
Who is Madeleine Delbrêl—the “French Dorothy Day” Pope Francis made venerable this weekend?
Subway mysticism: How Madeleine Delbrêl transformed my commute

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The first Catholic high school for teens struggling with substance abuse. Ep. 141 May 15, 2020

For teens struggling with substance abuse and addiction, the typical pressures of high school can spill over into the realm of disastrous. Recovery high schools—with smaller class sizes, counseling and sober social activities—are designed to support students in recovery. The first recovery high school opened in 1979; today there are over 40 nationwide. But before Kolbe Academy, which opened last year in Bethlehem, Pa., none of the recovery schools were Catholic.

This week we chat with the school’s (Jesuit-educated) founding principal, John Petruzzelli, about what makes Kolbe Academy unique and why he thinks it’s important for the church to be involved in supporting students in recovery.

In Signs of the Times, we talk about Ashley’s feature article on Wyoming Catholic College and look at how Covid-19 has affected men and women religious and other vulnerable elderly populations.

As always, thanks for listening and supporting our show. We’ll see you soon.

Links from the show:

Kolbe Academy
A visit to the rural Catholic college that has 171 students, 12 horses and zero textbooks
Supreme Court tackles clash of Catholic schools, ex-teachers
SOAR!

What’s on tap?
Water, carbonated (Ashley) and not (Zac).

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Living like monks in quarantine May 12, 2020

In every age there are a small number of Catholics who intentionally isolate themselves from society to serve God and the church through lives of “prayer and labor.”. They’re called monks.

Gregory Hillis, an associate professor of theology at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky., knows one community of monks particularly well: the Cistercian monks at the Abbey of Gethsemani. In a recent essay for America, he shares some wisdom from the monks for living in solitude during a time of pandemic.

Greg joins Ashley, Zac and Vivian in this bonus episode to explore the rigorous yet transforming practices of monastic life, the power of silence and letting go of a false sense of control over our lives. They also discuss the most famous monk of Gethsemani Abbey, the writer and mystic Thomas Merton.

We treasure the community you all have helped to build on Jesuitical’s Facebook page. Don’t hesitate to share your experience during this difficult moment in the life of our church and the world. We cannot make this show or grow this community without your support. Please consider giving through Patreon. And thank you.

Links from the show:

“We’re all monks now,” by Gregory Hillis

Books by Thomas Merton referenced by Greg Hillis:

"The Intimate Merton: His Life from His Journals"
"New Seeds of Contemplation"

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How will the Catholic Church change after the coronavirus pandemic? Ep. 140 May 08, 2020

A 25-minute conversation between President Trump and hundreds of bishops and other Catholic leaders sparked an intense debate about the right way for Catholic leaders to engage in politics. While the conference call got a lot of attention, it is just one story among many affecting the church in the United States, and as the national correspondent for Crux, Chris White has to try to cover them all.

We talk to Chris about how he broke the story of the conference call, what the church might look like after the coronavirus pandemic and how he understands the relationship between his identities as a “Catholic” and a “journalist.”

In our weekly survey of Catholic news, we highlight the Franciscan spiritual master Richard Rohr’s cameo on “The Simpsons” and a study examining the efficacy of prayer on patients recovering from Covid-19. We also discuss the disproportionate effect that the coronavirus pandemic is having on black Americans.

Links from the show:
Richard Rohr on The Simpsons
Clinical Study Considers The Power Of Prayer To Combat COVID-19
U.S. Bishop Chairmen Issue Statement Urging State and National Leaders to Examine African American Communities by COVID-19
Trump says he’s ‘best president in history of the Church’ in call with Catholic leaders
Chris White on Twitter

What’s on tap?
Margaritas (kind of)

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Father James Martin on praying in quarantine May 05, 2020

When the Covid-19 pandemic quarantined America’s editor at large, James Martin, S.J., he felt he had to offer some spiritual solace to people struggling with fear, isolation and uncertainty. So, he logged onto Facebook from his room in the America House Jesuit community and went live.

Father Martin’s daily “faith sharings,” as he calls them, reach tens of thousands of people around the world who are cooped up at home because of the pandemic. They include Scripture readings and his personal reflections, scholarly commentary and live Q&A, including prayer requests.

“Most of it is fun and upbeat. But in the comments from time to time you’ll see, ‘My father just died of coronavirus,’” Father Martin says. “It’s a sad time for so many people, but they’re desiring a sense of community, and that’s why so many people have tuned in.”

Ashley, Zac and Vivian discuss with Father Martin how to pray in quarantine and what life is like in a small Jesuit community in Midtown Manhattan.

We treasure the community you all have helped to build on Jesuitical’s Facebook page. Don’t hesitate to share your experience during this difficult moment in the life of our church and the world. We cannot make this show or grow this community without your support. Please consider giving through Patreon. And thank you.

Links from the show:

Daily faith sharing with James Martin, S.J.
James Martin's weekly newsletter
“The Examen”, a podcast for daily prayer hosted by James Martin, S.J.
“Jesus, A Pilgrimage” by James Martin, S.J.

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Meet the 30-year-old priest anointing coronavirus patients. Ep. 139 May 01, 2020

Father Michael Trail had administered the anointing of the sick many times in his first three years as a priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Usually, he would sit at the bedside and hold the hand of a person nearing death while family and other loved ones gathered around to pray and say goodbye. In the time of the coronavirus pandemic, the essentials of the sacrament are the same but it looks very different. As part of the archdiocese’s task force of “priest-anointers” ministering to Covid-19 patients, Father Michael must now wear a gown, mask and gloves while administering the sacrament. There is no hand-holding, and no family members are allowed in the room.

We ask Father Michael about the spiritual and emotional toll of ministering to patients and families in these difficult circumstances and how he thinks about the growing calls to reopen society given the suffering he has seen up close.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss the meeting between President Trump and Catholic bishops and education leaders. Plus, a look at the annual survey of the priestly class of 2020 and how the coronavirus is affecting those without stable housing.

We treasure the community you all have helped to build on Jesuitical’s Facebook page. Don’t hesitate to share your experience during this difficult moment in the life of our church and the world. We cannot make this show or grow this community without your support. Please consider giving through Patreon. And thank you.

Links from the show

Stories
Trump says he’s ‘best president in history of the Church’ in call with Catholic leaders
CARA study on new ordinands spots trends worth watching
Seminaries must hire, involve more women, Cardinal Ouellet says
What will happen to people who are homeless as Covid-19 crisis continues?

How you can help
Catholic Charities USA
National Alliance to End Homelessness

What’s on tap?
Miscellaneous brews from our understocked bars

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What it’s like to be pregnant during Covid-19 Apr 28, 2020

When the staff at America realized that Covid-19 could overrun the United States, the idea of drafting an original prayer was put on the table.

The responsibility fell to executive editor Kerry Weber, who was experiencing more anxiety than most about the virus, especially on the train commuting into Manhattan from New Jersey. She is pregnant with her third child.

“I got to take something that was, frankly, genuine fear and channel that into...a conversation that was between me and God.”

That prayer has since been translated into multiple languages and made its way into the homes and hearts of hundreds of thousands of people.

Today on the show, Kerry reveals the inspiration for the prayer and discusses the joys and anxieties of journeying through pregnancy during a global pandemic (something else she’s written about).

We treasure the community you all have helped to build on Jesuitical’s Facebook page. Don’t hesitate to share your experience during this difficult moment in the life of our church and the world. We cannot make this show or grow this community without your support. Please consider giving through Patreon. And thank you.

Links from the show:

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/03/02/coronavirus-prayer

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/04/09/hope-and-uncertainty-being-pregnant-during-coronavirus-pandemic

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Lessons from West Africa’s Ebola response for Covid-19. Ep. 138 Apr 24, 2020

In late February, when the coronavirus still seemed like a far-off threat to many Americans, officials in West African nations began to prepare their public health response: They brought out thermometers, protective equipment and handwashing stations. When the first cases arrived in large cities, schools and airports were quickly closed. These nations did not have a large number of cases (and still don’t). What they do have is the fresh memory of the Ebola crisis that hit the region in 2014-16, taking over 11,000 lives and crippling already impoverished countries.

This week, we talk with Jennifer Overton, the regional director for West Africa for Catholic Relief Services, which has decades of experience providing emergency health services in the region. We ask Jennifer what the United States can learn from the West African response, how the experience of Ebola changed the people of the most affected nations and what the role of the church is during the current pandemic.

And in Signs of the Times: Ever wonder what a day in the life of the pope would be like? We discuss “Pope Simulator,” a computer game in development that lets you influence the course of world events soft papal power and “Bless units.” Next, a Catholic school uniform company is donating face masks made with that iconic Catholic plaid to health care workers. Finally, we introduce a new recurring segment, in which we take a deep dive into the different ways vulnerable populations are experiencing the coronavirus pandemic—and what we can do to help. This week, we cover the unique hardships faced by migrants in detention centers and abroad.

Let us know what you thought about the show and where you found God this week on our Facebook page. We are committed to accompanying you all during these challenging times both through this podcast and the larger Jesuitical community. If you can support our work by becoming a member of our Patreon community, we would be most grateful.

Links from the show

Stories

Pope Simulator promises a 'realistic' depiction of life as the Supreme Pontiff
Catholic school uniform company now making, donating face masks
As coronavirus spreads amid deportations, bishops call for protection of migrants
Trump to Temporarily Halt Immigration Into the U.S. Amid Coronavirus Crisis
Congolese archbishop highlights double challenge of Ebola and coronavirus

Learn more and give

Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.
Kino Border Initiative
Hope Border Institute
Catholic Charities USA Covid-19 Resource Center

What’s on tap?

“The real holy water” (a.k.a., Scotch)

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A Jesuit reflects on coronavirus quarantine in Milan Apr 21, 2020

In early March, Patrick Gilger, S.J., boarded a plane in New York en route to Milan. He was on a research trip and going to study Italian in the historic cosmopolitan city located in Italy’s northern Lombardy region. The cross-Atlantic flight had only 12 passengers on it.

When he arrived, the city had just been shuttered. Italy was on the verge of a brutal month of suffering and death at the hands of Covid-19. Outside of his window, in the otherwise empty piazza below, a group of teenagers sat casually, drinking and singing.

“It feels different here,” he wrote in America, “It is as if Milan, under quarantine, has asked me to renounce the particular version of our American response to fear that I have made my own: the unceasing effort to control, to master, to define and thereby dictate what is really real and truly true. And thereby be secure.”

In this bonus episode, “Father Paddy” as he’s known on the popular YouTube series “Jesuit Autocomplete,” reflects on his experience living in an epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, the humiliations (and humility!) that come with learning a new language and how his isolation has connected him to God and others.

We treasure the community you all have helped to build on Jesuitical’s Facebook page. Don’t hesitate to share both the joys and challenges you experience during this difficult moment in the life of our church and the world. We cannot make this show or grow this community without your support. Please consider giving through Patreon. And thank you.

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The Friar who won “The Great American Baking Show”. Ep. 137 Apr 17, 2020

Amateur chefs and wanna-be bakers have a lot more time to spend in the kitchen thanks to stay-at-home measures meant to slow the spread to the coronavirus. And this week’s guest has some great tips for upping your recipe game.

Brother Andrew Corriente is a Franciscan Capuchin friar and the winner of the latest season of “The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition.” Brother Andrew gives a behind-the-scenes look at the beloved reality show, tells us about the spiritual benefits of baking and shares what he’s been making for his Franciscan community under quarantine.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss Pope Francis’ Easter call for a “universal basic wage” and his decision to form a new commission to study women deacons. Plus, stories about how priests are ministering in hospitals and prisons during the coronavirus pandemic.

Today, April 17, is America magazine’s 111th anniversary! If “Jesuitical” has been a source of community or spiritual accompaniment for you, please consider supporting us on our giving day. You can become a part of our Patreon community to help with the cost of producing Jesuitical or make a donation to America Media here.

We are committed to bringing you the Catholic news of the week, informative and meaningful interviews and even bonus episodes during these uncertain times. We cannot do the work we love without your support. Thank you.

Links from the show

In Easter message, Pope Francis proposes universal basic wage

Pope Francis has set up a new commission to study women deacons

Cadre of Chicago-area priests trained to minister to dying coronavirus patients

U.S. bishop says cellphones cannot be used to administer sacraments

Canadian priest volunteers to be incarcerated rather than leave inmates

What’s on tap?
Prosecco. Christ is risen, and so are our glasses!

What’s for dessert?

Strawberry Chantilly!

“I got the idea for a freeze-dried fruit Chantilly from Stella Parks of Serious Eats. I loved the idea and decided to play with the ratios and ended up with this recipe. Bright, sweet, and with a TON of strawberry flavor.” – Brother Andrew Corriente, O.F.M.Cap.

70 grams Freeze-dried Strawberries (Trader Joe’s brand)

100 grams Sugar

1/8 tsp Kosher Salt

675 grams Heavy Cream

1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

Combine strawberries, sugar, and salt in a food processor and blend for about one minute.
Pour in heavy cream and extract and scrape the bottom of the processor with a rubber spatula to properly mix in everything.
Process until it becomes very thick and creamy. Scrape and process again to get any stray pieces. Ensure everything is homogeneous.
Serve.

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Walking with Mary Magdalene to the tomb on Easter Sunday Apr 14, 2020

It’s early in the morning. Mary Magdalene is going to visit the tomb of Jesus. What does she look like? How does she feel right now? You decide to go with her.

Last week we spoke to Tucker Redding, S.J., a Jesuit in formation and a producer of “Jesuitical.” He just wrapped up a 10-episode podcast series called “Imagine: A Guide to Jesuit Prayer,” in which he guides the listener through a pivotal story in the life of Jesus as described in the four Gospels.

Today, we bring you the final episode in the series, in which you, the listener, accompany Mary Magdalene as she makes her way to the tomb on Easter morning and unexpectedly encounters the risen Jesus. “Imagine” is an emotionally charged experience grounded in a tried method of prayer handed down by the Jesuits.

Happy Easter from Ashley, Zac and Vivian!

We treasure the community you all have helped to build on Jesuitical’s Facebook page. Don’t hesitate to share both the joys and challenges you experience during this difficult moment in the life of our church and the world. We cannot make this show or grow this community without your support. Please consider giving through Patreon. And thank you.

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The coronavirus poem that went viral. Ep. 136 Apr 10, 2020

Laura Fanucci was up in the middle of the night with her 5-week-old newborn when the words came to her: “When this is all over....” She wrote the poem on her phone and when she posted it on Instagram the next morning it caught fire. Politicians, celebrities, corporate brands and influencers shared her words with millions of people hungry to imagine what life will look like on the other side of the coronavirus pandemic.

When she is not going viral, Laura is an author and mother of five who writes about parenting, grief and the sacramentality of everyday life. We ask her why she thinks her poem resonated with so many people, what her experience losing twin girls in a miscarriage taught her about processing and sharing our grief and how she is celebrating Holy Week in her very full house.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss the acquittal of Cardinal George Pell on charges of sexual abuse. What are the implications of the high-profile case in Australia for the wider church? Next, we talk about Holy Week at home: what we are (and aren’t) doing to mark the death and resurrection of our Lord in a time of closed churches and social distancing.

We want to see your modified Easter celebrations, too. Show and tell us what you’re doing this week over on our Facebook page. During these strange and difficult times, we are committed to accompanying you all through this podcast and the larger Jesuitical community. If you can support our work by becoming a member of our Patreon community, we would be most grateful. Thank you, and Happy Easter!

Links from the show

Australia’s high court overturns guilty verdict against Cardinal George Pell on final appeal

Vatican responds with measure to Cardinal Pell’s acquittal and release from prison

Easter Sunday Mass with America Media

Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America Good Friday livestream

“When This Is Over,” by Laura Fanucci

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Picture this: What it’s like to walk with Jesus and the disciples Apr 07, 2020

What is it like to walk with the disciples through a vivid scene from the Gospels? It is possible through a spiritual practice called Ignatian contemplation that the Jesuits have been doing for centuries. That’s why our guest for this week’s bonus episode is Tucker Redding, S.J. He is the creator and writer of a new podcast retreat from America Media called, “Imagine: A Guide to Jesuit Prayer.” There is no better time than Holy Week to try this enriching spiritual practice! You can find it in “The Word” podcast feed wherever you listen to podcasts.

Plus, Assistant Editor Vivian Cabrera is back to co-host this bonus episode! It’s the “everything you wanted to know about Vivian” edition, including what she is reading and baking (sourdough bread) while living in self-quarantine.

Now more than ever, we treasure the community you all have helped to build on Jesuitical’s Facebook page. Don’t hesitate to share both the joys and challenges you experience during this difficult moment in the life of our church. We cannot make this show or grow this community without your support. Please consider giving through Patreon. And thank you.

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How the Catholic Church adapted during the Black Plague. Ep. 135 Apr 03, 2020

It’s not really fair or responsible to draw comparisons between the Black Plague and our current coronavirus pandemic. Our situation pales in comparison to 50 million deaths, or roughly 50% of Europe’s population alone in the mid-14th century. But what was true then is true now: The Catholic Church needed to change the way that it normally operated. And, as usual, history can be an illuminating teacher.

Winston Black is a professor and medieval historian who focuses on the intersection of medicine and religion in the Middle Ages. We ask him to describe just how severe the Black Plague was, the church’s pastoral response and lessons the church can learn today.

As we mentioned on the show, Jesuitical is going to try to increase our production during this time. That means you can expect more than one episode a week in your podcast feeds. You can listen to our first bonus conversation, featuring Matt Malone, S.J., president and editor in chief of America (a.k.a. our boss), now. We talk about developing a new appreciation for the Eucharist and what real political leadership looks like in this crisis.

You can also connect with the show in our Facebook group, where members of the community are planning a Zoom meetup for other Jesuitical listeners.

Please pray for us, and know that we are praying for you.

Links from the show:

Signs of the Times:

Read: Pope Francis’ Urbi et Orbi address on coronavirus and Jesus calming the storm
Podcast: Inside Pope Francis’ unprecedented Urbi et Orbi blessing for the end of coronavirus
Site crashes as half million-plus watch England’s rededication to Mary
Coronavirus forces Jerusalem's Holy Sepulchre to close its doors for first time since 1349: 'Very sad'
For Shut-In Pilgrims, the World’s Holiest Sites Are a Click Away
Catholic leaders praise Colorado's repeal of death penalty

Books by Dr. Black:

Medicine and Healing in the Premodern West: A History in Documents
The Middle Ages: Facts and Fictions

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Bonus Episode: Jesuit leadership lessons during a pandemic Mar 31, 2020

Running a Catholic media organization during a pandemic.
Developing a new appreciation for the Eucharist from quarantine.
What real political leadership should look like in a time of crisis.

Matt Malone, S.J., the editor in chief of America Media (a.k.a. our boss), is the guest for this first bonus episode of Jesuitical during the coronavirus pandemic. We talk with him about running a media ministry in these unsettling times and how his role as a priest has changed since the suspension of public Masses. We also ask Father Malone what it’s like to live in quarantine with 13 other Jesuits and discuss the Jesuit roots of Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Lucky for us, Father Malone brings a special dispensation from our Lenten fast from alcohol! Cheers from away!

Plus, Assistant Editor Vivian Cabrera (who sits between Zac and Ashley in the office keeping the peace) helps cohost the conversation. Welcome Vivian!

Now more than ever, we treasure the community you all have helped to build on Jesuitical’s Facebook page. Don’t hesitate to share both the joys and challenges you experience during this difficult moment in the life of our church. We cannot make this show or grow this community without your support. Please consider giving through Patreon. And thank you.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One bishop’s response to the coronavirus. Ep. 134 Mar 27, 2020

No priest becomes a bishop imagining he will one day tell his people not to come to Mass. But across the United States and much of the world, bishops have had to make the heartrending decision to shutter their churches and cancel the public celebration of the Mass and other sacraments.

This week, we speak with Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, Ky., about how his ministry has changed amid the coronavirus pandemic. We ask how people in his diocese responded to his decision to suspend public Masses, the creative ways his priests are ministering to their parish communities and what he would want to say to Catholics who are struggling with their faith in this time of sorrow, fear and uncertainty.

On Signs of the Times, Kathleen McChesney, advocate for victims of clergy sex abuse, receives one of the U.S. church’s most prestigious awards. Plus we discuss the closure of a historic Catholic newspaper and the devastating effect of the coronavirus pandemic on parishes’ finance as well as the people who work for and are served by the local church. Finally, the creative ways priests are bringing the sacraments to their flock—and how the rest of us are keeping the faith alive at home.

Now more than ever, we treasure the community you all have helped to build on Jesuitical’s Facebook page. Don’t hesitate to share both the joys and challenges you experience during this difficult moment in the life of our church. We cannot make this show or grow this community without your support. Please consider giving through Patreon. And thank you.

Links from the show

Kathleen McChesney, advocate for abuse victims, to receive Laetare Medal

Pittsburgh Catholic newspaper terminates all employees, comes as 'a shock' to staff

With Masses suspended, parishes face collection shortfalls and perilous finances

Indianapolis Archdiocese shuts down drive-thru confessions

What’s on tap?
Hand sanitizer. Lots of hand sanitizer.

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Catholic health care during the coronavirus pandemic. Ep. 133 Mar 20, 2020

Dr. Amy Compton-Phillips treated the United States’s first coronavirus patient. She is the chief clinical officer and executive vice president at Providence St. Joseph Health, a Catholic hospital located outside Seattle. We asked her about where we are as a country in addressing this pandemic. Her answers were pretty clear: We aren’t even close to overreacting; we need to support our medical professionals; it’s normal to be afraid, but we don’t need to be conquered by our fear.

Dr. Compton-Phillips also gives insight into the unique role that Catholic health care is and should be playing during this pandemic, and what it’s done in previous public health emergencies.

On Signs of the Times, we discuss what trying to practice our faith looks like from home and how the pandemic is affecting the church around the world. We also share a bit of good news: Washington State’s lieutenant governor (and former Jesuitical guest) Cyrus Habib announced that he's not running for re-election—he’s joining the Jesuits instead.

Links from the show:

Coronavirus: News, Reflections, Analysis. What you need to know.

Jesuitical’s Facebook group—Join the discussion

Podcast: Pope Francis makes pilgrimage through the deserted streets of Rome

Washington Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib will not seek re-election in order to join the Jesuits

Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib: Why I am giving up elected office and joining the Jesuits

What’s on tap?
Nothing still, but we are starting to re-think our penances….

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Is diet culture obscuring Lent? Ep. 132 Mar 13, 2020

With Lent in full-swing and warmer weather around the corner, many Catholics are probably thinking about food and their bodies more than normally. But what if the way that we’re approaching fasting and dieting is harmful—especially to our neighbors who inhabit larger bodies? This week, we speak with fat activist and host of the Fat & Faithful podcast, Amanda Martinez Beck. “It took me a long time to believe that God was not disappointed with my body,” Amanda wrote in a piece for America titled “Why Lent can be a dangerous time when you’re recovering from an eating disorder.” We talk with Amanda about how her relationship to her body and health has changed over time, and how Catholics can be more welcoming to people with larger bodies.

In Signs of the Times, we take on what is on everyone’s mind: coronavirus. We look at how Catholics around the world are responding practically, and ask if there are some spiritual lessons to be learned from the pandemic. We also discuss the recently announced 2022 synod of bishops on—wait for it—synodality, and check in on how our Lenten practices are going.

Let us know what you think about the episode on our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and help other listeners find Jesuitical by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts. Please consider supporting the show by becoming a member of our Patreon community. Patrons get access to an exclusive newsletter written by one of your hosts each week.

Links from the show:

Fat & Faithful podcast
Amanda’s Twitter
Coronavirus: News, Reflections, Analysis. What you need to know.
Pope Francis chooses ‘synodality’ as theme for 2022 synod
Can Catholics eat the Impossible Burger during Lent? Sure — but it’s kind of missing the point, experts say.

What’s on tap?

It’s Lent: Nothing.

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What’s it like to say Mass on death row? Ep.131 Mar 06, 2020

For the past 10 years, George Williams, S.J., has passed through metal doors plastered with the word “CONDEMNED” to minister to the men on death row at San Quentin State Prison, located on the north side of the San Francisco Bay. As the Jesuit chaplain for the California prison, he provides spiritual counseling, teaches theology and says Mass in what many would consider the most hopeless of circumstances. Yet amid the sin and injustice that he sees each day, Father Williams also encounters conversion, forgiveness and grace.

We ask Father Williams how he spiritually prepares men for the death penalty or life without parole, how Jesuit spirituality resonates with inmates and what he would say to Catholics who disagree with Pope Francis’ pronouncement that capital punishment is “inadmissible.”

Zac is on pilgrimage in the Holy Land, so no Signs of the Times this week. However, he sends a special message to the Jesuitical podcast community!

You can tell us what you think about the interview on our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and help other listeners find Jesuitical by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts. Please consider supporting the show by becoming a member of our Patreon community. Patrons get access to an exclusive newsletter written by one of your hosts each week!

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Meet the Louisiana priest behind a 100-gallon town blessing. Ep.130 Feb 28, 2020

It is a beautiful thing when the sacred and the quirky come together in such a way that only Catholicism can arrange. Filling a crop duster plane with holy water and blessing an entire small town definitely qualifies as sacred and quirky in the best way. This week we chat with Father Matthew Barzare, the pastor of St. Anne Church in Cow Island, La., who gave the blessing.

We get the full story from Father Matt: Where did the idea come from? Were there logistical issues? Canonical issues? What buildings got blessed? (Sneak peak: The town bar is among them.)

In Signs of the Times, we unpack Pope Francis’ Lenten message and get a special Lenten penance from our friends Stephanie Butnick and Liel Leibovitz from Unorthodox, the world’s leading Jewish podcast. We also discuss the devastating revelations of the sexual misconduct by the late founder of L’Arche, Jean Vanier.

Tell us what you think about the episode on our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and help other listeners find Jesuitical by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts. Please consider supporting the show by becoming a member of our Patreon community. Patrons get access to an exclusive newsletter written by one of your hosts each week!

Links from the show
Internal report finds that L’Arche founder Jean Vanier engaged in decades of sexual misconduct
Pope Francis delivers annual message for Lent
Pope Francis recognizes the martyrdom of Jesuit Rutilio Grande and two lay companions in El Salvador
Why does it take so long for the Catholic Church to recognize martyrs of justice?
Louisiana parish uses plane to bless town with 100 gallons of holy water

What’s on tap?
Everything but the liquor cabinet (before we start our dry Lent)

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The untold history of black nuns in the United States Feb 21, 2020

Ask most people what they know about black Catholic sisters, and they will probably murmur something about “Sister Act.” Dr. Shannen Dee Williams did, too, until she began digging into communities’ archives and uncovering the previously hidden lives of African-American women religious. Now she’s telling those stories in a forthcoming book (with an amazing title), Subversive Habits.

Shannen tells us about the incredible resilience and deep faith of black Catholic women in the face of racism, discrimination and exclusion. We ask her how these stories affected her own faith and what racial reconciliation in the church looks like today.

Have you checked out our Facebook page yet? Starting today, we’ll be asking for your consolations and desolations there. You can also find us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow, support us on Patreon and send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org.

(Originally released June 22, 2018)

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Can Jesuit spirituality save our politics? Feb 14, 2020

Cyrus Habib is perhaps most interesting (and inspiring) politician you haven’t heard of—yet—unless, of course, you listened to our interview with him back in May 2018. Amid a chaotic primary season and after a polarizing impeachment trial, we thought it was a good time to bring back this hopeful conversation about faith and politics.

Cyrus is the 16th and current Lieutenant Governor of Washington State. Born in Baltimore, Md., Cyrus is a three-time cancer survivor and has been fully blind since he was 8-years-old. His parents immigrated to the United States from Iran before he was born, and he is both the first and only Iranian-American official to hold statewide elected office in the United States.

We ask Cyrus how his Catholic faith shapes his public service and how citizens and politicians alike can work toward the common good in these polarized times.

(Originally released on May 25, 2018)

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Your Catholic guide to the Oscars 2020. Ep. 129 Feb 07, 2020

With two dramatized popes up for Best Actor (Jonathan Pryce) and Best Supporting Actor (Anthony Hopkins), are this year’s Oscars the most Catholic yet? To find out, we spoke with America’s film critic, John Anderson, about the nominees for the 2020 Academy Awards, airing Sunday, Feb. 9.

We talk with John about the films with the most obviously Catholic themes in 2019 (“The Two Popes,” “The Irishman,” “A Hidden Life”). Then we make the case for our own favorites for Best Picture—with Zac and Ashley reaching rare consensus over their love for “Little Women.” Plus, we dig into the state of filmmaking and watching in the Age of Netflix and ask: Why should we pay attention to the Oscars?

Zac was out sick this week, so no Signs of the Times or Consolations & Desolations. But if you enjoy the show and want more, make sure to go back and listen to our conversation with Jonathan Pryce about what it’s like to play Pope Francis (and the High Sparrow).

Then, tell us about your favorite films of the year on our Facebook group. If you’d like to support the show, check out our Patreon page or rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts.

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What it’s like to get to know your bishop on pilgrimage. Ep. 128 Jan 31, 2020

It’s not surprising that most Catholics—especially young Catholics—don’t personally know their bishops. Sure, they might have put some oil on your forehead at confirmation and made you worry about what it would do to your acne problem (this is 100 percent hypothetical), but otherwise, you’re busy, and bishops are in charge of a zillion things and a zillion people. And even if you get to sit down with them, it’s probably in a formal setting where everyone is doing their best to look buttoned up.

Our guest this week is Mychael Schilmoeller. She works in pastoral care at St. Michael’s Church in Prior Lake, Minn., in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. She also was part of a delegation of young adults who accompanied their bishops on their “ad limina” visit to Rome to meet with Pope Francis. That means she got to spend a lot of time with her bishops. Like, jet-lagged, layover-in-the-airport kind of down time. Long Italian dinners kind of time. We talk to her about what it was like to get to accompany her bishops on this trip and how this influenced her perspective on the church. Oh, and we ask her what it was like to get her and her unborn child blessed by Pope Francis and have the scene posted on His Holiness’s Instagram.

On Signs of the Times, we look at the shifting political home of abortion in American politics and where that might leave Catholics. We also talk about how Pope Francis celebrated the first official Sunday of the Word of God and discuss the tragic death of Kobe Bryant.

This week, we also hit 3,000 members in our Facebook group for listeners! It’s a place where you can interact with hosts and the rest of the Jesuitical team, as well as other listeners. You should check it out if you haven’t yet.

Links from the Show:

Will pro-life democratic voters be courted in the 2020 primary? So far, it’s not likely.

Trump: a ‘profound honor’ to be the first president to attend March for Life

Pope Francis’ Homily for 1st Sunday of the Word of God (Full Text)

A (Complicated) Prayer for Kobe

Young adults make ‘deep dive’ into faith during ‘ad limina’ visit

Mychael’s Instagram with Pope Francis (second photo)

Inside the Vatican

What’s on Tap?

Hot Toddies, to cure the common cold

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A Catholic veteran on faith in war. Ep. 127 Jan 24, 2020

When Pete Lucier deployed to Afghanistan in 2011 he believed in the war and the Marine Corps and violence. It was only after returning to civilian life that he began to question not only the reasons for the United States’ Middle East wars but his identity as a soldier who is loved “for my sins,” as he wrote in America.

Following the U.S. drone strike on an Iranian general and ominous talk of “World War III,” we wanted to talk to Pete about the ways Americans think and talk about war. We ask about how his experience in Afghanistan has changed his relationship to violence—and God—and about the responsibility of Catholic citizens in times of ongoing conflict and new military tensions.

In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis condemns anti-Semitism once again ahead of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz; President Trump offers new guidelines for praying in public schools; and the consecration of a female Espicopalian bishop at a Catholic Church in Virginia gets called off in the face of internet outrage.

Tell us what you think about the episode on our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and help other listeners find Jesuitical by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts. Please consider supporting the show by becoming a member of our Patreon community. Patrons get access to an exclusive newsletter written by one of your hosts each week!

Links from the show:

Pope Francis: “I will never grow tired of condemning every form of anti-Semitism”

President Trump issues new guidance on prayer in public schools

‘An act of charity’: Virginia bishop defends parish hosting Episcopalian consecration

As a soldier I was loved for my sins. Now I must repent for them.

What’s on tap?

St. Louis’ finest: Budweiser

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Learning the stories of the enslaved people owned by the Jesuits. Ep. 126 Jan 17, 2020

Awareness of the Catholic Church’s—and the Jesuits’— role in slavery in the United States has grown in recent years thanks to reporting and research from journalists, univerisities and descendents. But there is still much that remains unknown about the enslaved people owned, rented and borrowed by the Catholic Church: How many of them were there? Who are their descendents? What were their day-to-day lives like?

The Slavery, History, Memory, and Reconciliation Project, a collaboration between the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States and St. Louis University, is working to uncover the untold stories of enslaved peoples. We talk with Jonathan Smith and Laura Weiss from the project about what they’ve learned so far and what they hope to achieve.

In Signs of the Times, we break down the controversy surrounding Cardinal Robert Sarah’s new book on celibacy and what Pope Benedict’s role is in it. We also look at how Catholic bishops are advocating for refugee resettlement on the state level and a new marriage prep program in Spain.

Thoughts on the show? Join the discussion with other Jesuitical listeners in our Facebook group. Also, thank you to everyone who has responded so far for our call for new Patreon supporters. We can’t do it without your support.

Links from the Show:

Slavery, History, Memory and Reconciliation

Benedict XVI has asked Cardinal Sarah to have his name removed from the book on priestly celibacy

Texas Catholics decry Governor’s decision to spurn refugees

Minn. Catholic, Lutheran bishops' open letter backs refugee admission

Catholic church in Spain launches years-long marriage training for couples

What’s on tap?

The Chilton, as recommended by listener Isaiah Lucio Lopez.

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Dorothy Day’s granddaughter on prayer, prison and peace. Ep. 125 Jan 10, 2020

In April of last year, seven Catholic activists broke into the naval submarine base in Kings Bay, Ga., home to several nuclear-armed submarines. Inside, they carried out nonviolent actions to protest the U.S. nuclear weapon’s program: They spilled their blood on the property, beat weapons with hammers and put crime-scene tape around the base. All seven were arrested, convicted and await sentencing. One of those Catholics was Martha Hennessy.

Martha is the granddaughter of another Catholic peace activist: Dorothy Day. We ask her how she prepared spiritually for the protest, how her grandmother has shaped her faith and what she thinks about the state of Catholic activism.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss the U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian military leader and how Catholic leaders are (and aren’t) responding. Plus: a 100-gallon blessing of holy water on farmland in Louisiana and Pope Francis’ eventful New Year’s Eve.

Tell us what you think about the episode on our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and help other listeners find Jesuitical by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts. Please consider supporting the show by becoming a member of our Patreon community. Patrons get access to an exclusive newsletter written by one of your hosts each week!

Finally, are you a college senior at a Jesuit college or university interested in writing, journalism or production? Or do you know someone who is? America Media’s Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J., Fellowship is an incredible opportunity to live in New York City while working with the smartest, kindest Catholic media professionals out there. The deadline for applications is Jan. 15 so don’t wait. Learn how to apply here: oharefellows.org

Links from the show:

Pope Francis prays for dialogue as tensions mount between the U.S. and Iran

The U.S. killing of Soleimani could have devastating consequences for Iraq’s Christians

Louisiana parish uses plane to bless town with 100 gallons of holy water

Pope shows up unannounced at funeral Mass of Italian lay woman and friend

Pope Francis SlapGate

What’s on tap?

Father Andy’s Manhattan: Four(!) parts bourbon, one part sweet vermouth, splash of bitters and a maraschino cherry

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A workout program for you, from the formerly incarcerated Jan 03, 2020

Are you working out for the body of a god? What about the body of a convict?

Meet Coss Marte, our guest this week. After being arrested at 19 for running a multimillion dollar drug trade in New York City, Coss was sent to prison. There, doctors told him that his health problems and weight could kill him within a few years.

After dropping 70 pounds in six months, and helping train other convicts to make dramatic changes, Coss also experienced a religious revival in a moment of desperation.

Now Coss is the head of ConBody: a gym that offers prison-style bootcamp classes taught by formerly incarcerated trainers.

We’ll be talking with Coss about how ConBody was developed, how his faith helped him while incarcerated and his prison reform activism. After, we’ve got consolations and desolations, where we tell you where we did or didn’t find God this week.

(Originally released on July 28, 2017)

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The one where Olga says goodbye. Ep. 124 Dec 27, 2019

It’s the end of an era. As you heard on last week’s episode, our cohost Olga Segura is leaving America Media, and therefore Jesuitical, to freelance full-time and work on a book on race, the Black Lives Matter movement and the Catholic Church, which will be published in 2021.

To quote from Olga’s farewell newsletter for Patreon supporters:

James Baldwin—my answer to “Who would you canonize” during our first live show and my favorite writer—once wrote, “Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.” You—Ashley, Zac, my producer Eloise Blondiau and our listeners—helped me to remove the cover I often hid behind. I stopped code-switching and I stopped being afraid of who I was: an Afro-Latina writer in the Catholic world.

Olga offered sharp and thoughtful commentary on ecclesial and secular affairs, advocated for justice and vulnerably shared her true self with us and our listeners.

Change is hard, and this will not be easy for any of us. Olga provided a unique and necessary voice in the Catholic media, and especially so on Jesuitical. Moreover, will anyone keep the peace between Ashley and Zac?

In this special episode, we skip the Signs of the Times and Consolations and Desolations to devote an entire conversation to Olga and her work at America.

We’ll miss you Olga. Come back and visit us soon.

Love,

Zac and Ashley

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Meet the star of “The Two Popes”. Ep. 123 Dec 20, 2019

If you are a fan of HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” you probably remember thinking when you first saw the High Sparrow: Wow, that guy looks exactly like Pope Francis. That guy was Jonathan Pryce, a distinguished Welsh actor on the stage and screen. And it was a likeness that proved irresistible for the director of “The Two Popes,” now streaming on Netflix. In the film, Pryce plays Jorge Bergoglio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, who has been called to Rome by Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins), to discuss the latter’s decision to renounce the papacy.

We ask Pryce how he prepared to play the pope, whether the film changed his perception of the Catholic Church, and about his own spirituality.

In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis abolished the “pontifical secret” for cases of sexual abuse; how are advocates and victims reacting? Also at the Vatican, the Peter’s Pence collection comes under scrutiny for potentially misleading donors. And in U.S. church news, Gwen Stefani needs an annulment, a survey of how the length of homilies compare to sermons in other denominations and a bishop opens up about mental illness.

Tell us what you think about the episode on our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and help other listeners find Jesuitical by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts. Please consider supporting the show by becoming a member of our Patreon community. Patrons get access to an exclusive newsletter written by one of your hosts each week!

Links from the show
Pope Francis abolishes the pontifical secret for sexual misconduct cases involving clerics
Is the Vatican misleading donors? Peter’s Pence, explained.
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani Are Ready to Get Married But It "Isn't Possible Currently" Because of Her Faith
An Analysis of Online Sermons in U.S. Churches
Bishop Conley announces medical leave of absence from Lincoln diocese
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/12/09/us-catholic-priests-beset-overwork-isolation-and-scandals

What’s on tap?
Fanta

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Spiritual direction for Nones. Ep. 122 Dec 13, 2019

This week, we talk to Kaya Oakes, a contributing writer for America and a teacher at the University of California, Berkeley. Kaya is the author of The Nones Are Alright: A New Generation of Believers, Seekers, and Those in Between on the religiously unaffiliated or religious “nones.”

Most recently, she wrote an article on spiritual direction and why so many non-Christians are seeking the practice. We talk to Kaya about Ignatian spiritual direction, her training to become a spiritual director and more.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss the appointment of Cardinal Luis Tagle, a.k.a. “Chito,” as the prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; Nancy Pelosi’s viral “As a Catholic” moment; the Nativity scene depicting Mary, Jesus and Joseph in cages; new research on how the gap between church attendance among the poorest and richest in America has grown since the 1970s; and how Blue Christmas services can help people struggling during the holidays.

Feel free to send us your questions, concerns, cocktail recipes or join us for discussion on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. You can help other listeners find the show by leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

If you’re not doing so already, please consider supporting us on Patreon, where we have started a newsletter exclusively for Patrons! Thank you to those already supporting us. We would not be able to do this without you.

Links for the show
Pope Francis appoints Cardinal Tagle to head Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
Why Nancy Pelosi doesn’t hate President Trump and prays for him instead
A church nativity scene depicts Jesus, Mary and Joseph as refugees separated in cages
Jesus Came to Proclaim Good News to the Poor. But Now They’re Leaving Church.
‘Blue Christmas’ services help Christians in down times in holiday season

What’s on tap?
Chamomile Tea

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The complicated history of AIDS and the Catholic Church. Ep. 121 Dec 06, 2019

The story of Catholics and the AIDS epidemic in the United States is often told as one of “gays versus the church.” But the reality was much more complicated than that. So complicated that our colleague, Michael O’Loughlin, has spent years talking to people who lived through that harrowing period to paint a fuller picture of how Catholic patients and activists, religious sisters and bishops, hospital administrators and volunteers responded to the crisis. And now you can hear their stories in a new podcast from America Media, “Plague: Untold Stories of AIDS and the Catholic Church.”

We ask Michael how the church was a source of both healing and hurt, whether the relationship between the church and the L.G.B.T. community has changed since the height of the epidemic and what the deep faith of gay Catholics who lived through this period can teach us today.

In Signs of the Times, a Jesuit priest wants to create a less toxic gaming environment and Pope Francis wants you to set up a nativity scene. Plus, a groundbreaking new survey of Catholic employees and a Catholic school faces a lawsuit over what critics consider a racially discriminatory hair policy.

Tell us what you think about the episode on our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and help other listeners find Jesuitical by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts. Please consider supporting the show by becoming a member of our Patreon community. Patrons get access to an exclusive newsletter written by one of your hosts each week!

Links from the show
A Catholic Priest is Creating a Non-Toxic Minecraft Server Questions Of Faith: Exclusive Survey of Catholic Church Employees
NYC Catholic schools hold fast on boys’ braid bans despite laws banning hair discrimination
Pope Francis, at site of first nativity scene, issues letter on the importance of the crèche

What’s on tap?
St. Germain hot toddy

Nursing students treat a patient in the AIDS ward of Saint Vincent's Hospital in the 1980s. (Courtesy: Archives, Sisters of Charity of New York)

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Introducing PLAGUE: Untold Stories of AIDS and the Catholic Church Dec 01, 2019

This week the Jesuitical team are bringing you a new podcast from America Media. In “Plague,” America’s Michael O'Loughlin investigates stories of AIDS and the Catholic Church. The release of the first episode coincides with World AIDS Day.

In this first episode, Mike tells the story of David Pais, whose journey exemplifies the experience of many gay Catholics who were personally affected by the AIDS epidemic in the early days. He describes the role his faith played helping him cope with his own diagnosis—and his struggle as he walked away from the church in anger.

You can learn more about "Plague" at americamag.org/plague.

You can find Mike on Twitter @mikeoloughlin.

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Gentiles and Jews interrupt each other over booze. Ep. 120 Nov 22, 2019

This week, we welcome, for the second time, Stephanie Butnick and Liel Leibovitz, two-thirds of the Jewish podcast, “Unorthodox.” They just published an amazing new book, The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia: From Abraham to Zabar’s and Everything in Between.

We talk to them about Jewdar, Chinese food and Christmas, Drake, Thanksgivuhkuh and other fascinating entries in the book!

In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis urges us to ask: “Do I, a Christian, have at least one poor person as a friend?” And he considers updating the Catechism to include “ecological sins.” In our third and last story, we discuss a new study from the Pew Research Center that analyzes how American adults feel about the relationship between religion and politics.

Feel free to send us your questions, concerns, cocktail recipes or join us for discussion on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. You can help other listeners find the show by leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

If you’re not doing so already, please consider supporting us on Patreon, where we have started a newsletter exclusively for Patrons! Stay tuned for things like .gifs from Ashley, advice requests from Zac or book recommendations from Olga.

Thank you to those already supporting us. We would not be able to do this without you.

P.S. America Media will be launching a new podcast next month called “Plague: Untold Stories of AIDS and the Catholic Church,” hosted by our national correspondent, Michael O’Loughlin. The first episode premieres on Dec. 1, World AIDS Day. Please visit the show’s page or wherever you listen to podcasts and listen to the trailer and subscribe.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis calls on Christians to remember the poor, ‘the treasure of the church’
Pope Francis: Catechism will be updated to define ecological sins
Americans Have Positive Views About Religion’s Role in Society, but Want It Out of Politics

What’s on tap?

Stephanie and Liel brought us Arak, “a delightfully alcoholic beverage made of grapes and aniseed.”

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Pope Francis’ struggle to reform the Catholic Church. Ep. 119 Nov 15, 2019

Pope Francis’ reforms of the Catholic Church are, depending on whom you ask, a long-awaited breath of fresh air or a slippery slope toward surrender to the modern world. Austen Ivereigh, who has already written one biography of Pope Francis and closely documented the historic events of his papacy, is out with a new book, Wounded Shepherd: Pope Francis and His Struggle to Convert the Catholic Church. We ask Austen about why exactly some in the church are resistant to or skeptical of the pope, what Francis’ biggest reforms have been and what complaint Pope Francis had with his first book.

In Signs of the Times, we look at an exciting new initiative in San Diego, where Bishop Robert McElroy proposed that by the end of 2022, 25 percent of parish leadership positions should be filled by young adults. We also talk about the U.S. bishops’ meeting in Baltimore, where they elected their first Latino president, and what it could mean for the present and future of the church. Plus: a look at the falling number of Latino Catholics in the United States and Georgetown University’s plans to make reparations to the descendants of slaves sold by the Jesuits in 1838.

Tell us what you think about the episode on our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and help other listeners find Jesuitical by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts. Please consider supporting the show by becoming a member of our Patreon community. Patrons get access to an exclusive newsletter written by one of your hosts each week!

Links from the show
Archbishop Jose Gomez elected first Latino president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Study finds US Latinos are no longer majority-Catholic. Here are some reasons why.
San Diego’s Catholic Church works to recruit more millennials
Georgetown reparations plan for slaves sold by university draws criticism from students
Pope Francis on prison systems: ‘We will be judged on this’
USCCB Statement on Wounded Shepherd

What’s on Tap?
Iranian Earl Grey Tea

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What the Left (and everyone else) can learn from conservatives. Ep. 118 Nov 08, 2019

We’ve all heard Jesus’ command to “love your enemy.” But can you love your enemies if you don’t know who they are? On the podcast “Know Your Enemy,” hosts Matthew Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell—self-described Bernie Bros—try to understand their political rivals on the right’s own terms, providing “a leftist’s guide to the conservative movement.”

We sat down with Matt, an associate editor at the Catholic magazine Commonweal, to talk about his own political conversion (he was a conservative well into his 20s), what the left can learn from the conservative movement and how the Trump era is reshaping Catholic politics.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss the decision of a South Carolina priest to deny Communion to former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Marco Rubio’s challenge to Republicans to take up the cause of working people and to build a “common good capitalism.” Plus, seven anti-nuclear activists are convicted for their acts of civil disobedience and a church in Arizona has its first sensory-friendly Mass for people with disabilities.

Tell us what you think about the episode on our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and help other listeners find Jesuitical by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts. Please consider supporting the show by becoming a member of our Patreon community. Patrons get access to an exclusive newsletter written by one of your hosts each week!

Links from the show

Cardinal Dolan: I would not have denied Joe Biden Communion
Explainer: When can someone be denied the Eucharist?
Marco Rubio calls for an ‘economics of the common good’
Catholic peace activists Kings Bay Plowshares 7 convicted
Chandler Catholic church to host first sensory-friendly Mass

What’s on tap?

Bulliet Bourbon

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Where is former Cardinal McCarrick now? Ep. 117 Oct 25, 2019

This week Ashley and Olga interview Ruth Graham, a staff writer at Slate who consistently reports on religion with sensitivity and nuance. Ruth isn't afraid of tackling the most difficult topics—she recently got an interview with former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick by traveling all the way to Victoria, Kansas. She talks about what she learned about the small town where the former cardinal now lives, why the former cardinal still won't confess and more.

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The Amazon synod should matter to you. Here’s why. Ep. 116 Oct 18, 2019

The Synod of Bishops for the Amazon is underway in Rome. This week, we welcome Luke Hansen, S.J., a former associate editor at America and special correspondent for the synod, to discuss why the synod is so significant. Since the start of the synod on Oct. 6, Luke has been reporting on the ground. He has written on indigenous leaders sharing their experiences with bishops in Rome, ministries for women in the Amazon and the possibility of ordaining married men.

We talk to Luke about why Catholics all around the world should care about the synod, Pope Francis’ involvement at the gathering, the influence of laypeople and more. (You can find all of Luke’s reporting and all of our coverage on the synod here.)

In Signs of the Times, we talk about Pope Francis going viral on Twitter, and how he is asking us to stop being hypocrites; New York’s Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio squaring off in the latest edition of Cabrini-Gate; the $3,000 “Jesus Shoes” that sold out in 24 hours; a church bingo scandal in New Jersey; and, finally, how Democratic presidential candidates discussed faith at a CNN town hall.

Feel free to send us your questions, concerns, cocktail recipes or join us for discussion on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. You can help other listeners find the show by leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

If you’re not doing so already, please consider supporting us on Patreon, where we have started a newsletter exclusively for Patrons! Stay tuned for things like gifs from Ashley, advice requests from Zac or book recommendations from me.

Thank you to those already supporting us. We would not be able to do this without you.

— Olga

Links from the show:

Pope gives New Orleans Saints unexpected boost on Twitter

Pope at Mass: Learn to point the finger at yourself, to be freed of hypocrisy

Cuomo Swoops In On Columbus Day, Says State Will Help Build Mother Cabrini Statue

$3,000 Nike sneakers that are filled with HOLY WATER and blessed by a priest sell out just minutes after the ‘Jesus shoes’ were released

Church bingo players charged with cheating

Democratic presidential candidates talk faith at CNN Equality Town Hall

What you need to know about the 2019 Synod on the Amazon

What’s on tap?

Post-wedding detox: Pedialyte from Zac’s wedding gift bag

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Loneliness isn’t something you can “fix” (or need to). Ep. 115 Oct 11, 2019

Loneliness: When you’re experiencing it, it can seem like you are the only person in the world who feels this way. But when you say it out loud, you find out almost everyone, at some point, has had the feeling that they are missing out or that they don’t belong.

That is why I am so grateful that this week’s guest, Gabriella Jeakle, was willing to write so openly about being lonely in college in an article for America magazine. She writes not from the perspective of having graduated and knowing “things will get better” but as someone in the thick of it—a freshman at a Jesuit college, determined to get her degree but unsure if she will ever really feel like she belongs.

We ask Gabriella how she is learning to live with loneliness and how her faith has helped her in this time of transition.

In Signs of the Times, the Synod of the Bishop on the Amazon opens in Rome and Pope Francis creates 13 new cardinals. Stateside, the Supreme Court opens its new term and a big abortion case is on the docket. Next, was Mother Frances Cabrini snubbed in New York City’s She Built NYC initiative, which is meant to bring gender balance to the city’s public monuments? Finally, Molly Burhans (a former guest!) was recognized by the United Nations for her work mapping the Catholic Church worldwide.

You can tell us what you think about the episode on our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and help other listeners find Jesuitical by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts. Please consider supporting the show by becoming a member of our Patreon community.

— Ashley

Links from the show

Pope Francis opens Amazon synod, says to ‘light the fire of the Gospel’ in the region

Here’s what happened on the first day of the Amazon Synod

Pope Francis creates 13 new cardinals, emphasizes the need for ‘compassion’ and ‘loyalty’

New Supreme Court agenda features abortion, immigrants and L.G.B.T. rights

Chirlane McCray accused of ‘anti-Catholic bias’ over Mother Cabrini statue snub

U.N. honors Catholic activist using data to fight climate change

What’s on tap?

Boozy Fall Tea: Trader Joe’s Harvest Blend Herbal Tea + a shot of Jim Beam (I swear it’s better than it sounds)

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Is Augustine the most relatable saint? Ep. 114 Oct 04, 2019

Forget what you think you know about Saint Augustine. Maybe you only know the cities that take his name, or you had a tough experience in your introduction to philosophy class and found him medieval (in the pejorative sense) and scrupulous.

But what if Augustine was actually the first to hone in on and clearly express our human desire for authenticity, that restlessness that all of us have felt at one point in our lives? What if, “Augustine might make Christianity believable for you even if you’ve heard it all, been there, done that, and left the stupid Christian t-shirt at home.”

James K.A. Smith is not the first to write a book explaining Augustine’s relatability, but he is perhaps the best at communicating it. This week we talk to Smith about his new book On the Road with St. Augustine: A Real World Spirituality for Restless Hearts.

In Signs of the Times we preview the upcoming Synod for the Amazon region and talk about how the Vatican marked the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. We also look at one of Philadelphia’s newest permanent deacons: longtime NBA referee Steve Javie. Oh, and it’s not every day that a friend and coworker sits down with Pope Francis for 30 minutes. James Martin, S.J., did just that this week.

Links from the show:

On the Road with Saint Augustine

Refugee advocates decry Trump administration’s plan to cut refugee cap

Pope Francis reminds Christians that migrants and refugees should be welcomed around the world

Synod for the Amazon

Pope Francis meets with Father James Martin in private audience

He Was the NBA’s Best Ref. Then He Went to a Catholic Seminary.

Image Journal

What’s on tap?

To quote our guest this week: “Negroni in the summer, Manhattan in the winter. Does that mean a Boulevardier for the fall?!”

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Faith and politics in Silicon Valley Ep.113 Sep 27, 2019

Faith is probably not the first thing you think of when you hear “Silicon Valley.” But Rep. Ro Khanna, who represents the capital of the tech world in Congress, says many people in his diverse district can be found in the pews on Sunday. The Democratic congressman is one of the four Hindus currently serving in Congress and the son of Indian immigrants. We ask him how his faith shapes his politics, his interfaith outreach and his efforts to build bridges between India and Pakistan—and within the Democratic Party.

In Signs of the Times, we’ve got an update on the situation at Brebeuf, the Jesuit high school that was told it could no longer call itself Catholic after administrators refused to fire a male teacher who is married to another man. Plus: the financial effects of the sex abuse crisis, mobs at Mass, all-natural burials and the pope’s message to the press.

Let us know your thoughts about the show on Facebook or Twitter, and please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a member of our Patreon community! Patrons have access to an exclusive new newsletter written each week by one of the hosts, sweet Jesuit swag and a subscription to America magazine.

Links from the show

Sanctions against Brebueuf Jesuit suspended as appeal process continues at Vatican

A New York diocese filed for bankruptcy. Will others follow?

When a Mob Descended on Mass

Dutch nuns open new cemetery for ‘natural burials’

What’s on tap?

Rum and coke

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What makes Catholic School Movies so great? Ep. 112 Sep 20, 2019

As someone who never attended Catholic grammar or high school, I am not exactly the most qualified to break down what makes a Catholic school movie great. Then again, I rarely let qualifications get in the way of my opinions.

A few weeks ago, Ciaran Freeman, a former O’Hare fellow at America and member of the Jesuitical team wrote the definitive ranking of the 10 greatest Catholic school movies of all time. As you might expect, people had a lot of strong feelings about the ranking, good and bad. One person who is much, much more qualified to discuss the rankings is Hunter Harris. Hunter is a staff writer at Vulture, an alumna of Catholic education and a Catholic school movie savant. We talk about the quirks of “Superstar,” the staying power of “Doubt” and why “Lady Bird” is the greatest Catholic school film of all time.

In Signs of the Times, we preview the upcoming German “synodal journey” and the Vatican’s ongoing dialogue with German bishops. We also look at what one bishop is doing with church resources to help fight climate change and heed Pope Francis’ advice to pray for politicians in our “Being Frank” segment.

Links from the show

The 10 Greatest Catholic School Movies of All Time

Reader Rebuttal: The 10 Greatest Catholic School Movies of All Time

Greta Gerwig’s ‘Lady Bird’ is a rallying cry for Catholic schoolgirls everywhere

Hunter Harris at Vulture

Remember your politicians in prayer, pope says

Vatican officials offer guidance for German church ‘synodal journey’

UK Catholic bishop converts Church’s own medieval estate to wildlife sanctuary

What’s on tap?

Pinot Grigio

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Why you (yes, you) should go on a retreat Ep. 111 Sep 13, 2019

If you’ve never been on a retreat—or if you have—this week’s guest is perfect for you. Father Joe Laramie is a Jesuit and campus minister. For years, Father Joe has been giving retreats, and this year, he published Abide in the Heart of Christ: A 10-day personal retreat with St. Ignatius Loyola. The book uses the Spiritual Exercises to “help in the formation of your heart according to Christ.”

We talk with Father Joe about the Spiritual Exercises, Ignatian retreats versus other retreats and what this ministry has taught him.

In Signs of the Times, we recap Pope Francis’ recent trip to sub-Saharan Africa, including comments he made during his papal flights; Cardinal Joseph Tobin and Catholics protesting immigration in New Jersey; the new archbishop of Seattle; Pope Francis getting stuck in an elevator—for 25 minutes; and finally, our thoughts on the new trailer for “The Two Popes,” a film starring Anthony Hopkins as Pope Benedict and Jonathan Pryce as Pope Francis.

Feel free to send us your questions, concerns, cocktail recipes or join us for discussion on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a member of our Patreon community.

If you’re not doing so already, please consider supporting us on Patreon, where we have started a newsletter exclusively for Patrons! Stay tuned for things like gifs from Ashley, advice requests from Zac or book recommendations from me.

Thank you to those already supporting us. We would not be able to do this without you.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis visits Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius

Change the world, don’t just gripe about it, pope tells young people

Pope Francis to journalist: ‘I am honored that the Americans attack me.’

Cardinal Tobin joins hundreds of Catholics protesting immigration detention

‘I am a pastor, not a prince.’ New Seattle archbishop will not live in mansion

What’s on tap?

Budlight

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Why Malcolm Gladwell wants to think like a Jesuit. Ep. 110 Sep 06, 2019

This summer, the hosts of this podcast learned they have something in common with Malcolm Gladwell: We all think being called “jesuitical” should be considered a compliment. Malcolm, a staff writer at the New Yorker and the author of several best-selling books, recently became obsessed with “thinking like a Jesuit” as a way to tackle new and complicated problems. In a three-part series on his podcast, “Revisionist History,” he takes a deep dive into St. Ignatius’ philosophical tradition and the unexpected ways it can be applied today.

We ask him how he first encountered the Jesuits, if there are any dangers to this way of thinking and why he calls himself a “wannabe Catholic.”

In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis creates news cardinals (no Americans, but three Jesuits!) and calls for swift action on climate change. Nuns in New Orleans donate land to help protect the city from flooding and a Catholic school in Tennessee donates all their Harry Potter books to the garbage bin. Finally, we discuss two tough stories: a sex abuse settlement that raises questions about the role of race and poverty in the church’s treatment of survivors and the controversy surrounding a man who sought out a priest’s blessing before choosing to die by assisted suicide.

We are so happy to be back in your podcast feeds after our summer break. You can tell us what you think about the new episode on our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and help other listeners find Jesuitical by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts.

And last but not least, some exciting news for our Patreon supporters: We are starting a new newsletter exclusively for patrons! Please consider becoming a member to learn important things like: What book is Zac reading these days? What music can Olga not stop listening to? What animal video is Ashley watching on repeat? And much more. You can check out the benefits of becoming a patron here. And a big thank you to everyone who supports Jesuitical. We couldn’t do it without you!

Links from the show

Pope to create 13 new cardinals in October, including three Jesuits
Pope Francis issues new call for world leaders to act on the climate emergency
New Orleans’ women religious donate 25 acres for flood control project
Priest removes Harry Potter books from Tennessee Catholic school, citing ‘actual curses and spells’
Mississippi Catholic sex abuse survivors underpaid in settlement cases
Seattle bishops affirm sanctity of life in wake of assisted suicide

What’s on tap?

Wild Basin Boozy Sparkling Water

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When Millennials move in with Nuns Ep. 109 Jun 28, 2019

When Millennials move in with Nuns

Every year, more people—particularly those who skew younger—opt out of identifying with a religious tradition. In many ways, the spiritual lives of the next generation will look drastically different than their predecessors.

At the same time, nearly 90 percent of all women religious (these are the much talked about “nuns”) are over the age of 60. Given these shifting demographics, the future of religious life will look wildly different too.

Could the future of these two groups be tied up somehow? This was the question first posed by Nunes and Nones, an organization that brings these two groups—both spiritually seeking, both distinctly committed to justice—together for conversation, relationship and even shared housing.

This week we talk to Katie Gordon, a national organizer of Nuns and Nones, about the impetus behind starting the organization, the benefits and challenges of intergenerational and interreligious dialogue, and why aging women religious and millennials are well-suited (or not) for community.

During Signs of the Times we talk about the Archdiocese of Indianapolis’s decision to no longer allow a Jesuit high school to call itself Catholic after the school declined to not renew a contract for a teacher in a same-sex marriage. Plus, we look at what Baltimore Catholics are doing to support and protect immigrants.

This is our final show for the summer—while we’re away, be sure to join in conversation and faith sharing with other Jesuitical listeners on our Facebook group, and be sure to write us at jesuitical@americamedia.org. We’ll be back in your feeds in September.

What’s on Tap?
Ciaran Jason Freeman Jam Jar Gin & Tonic

Links from the Show:

Archdiocese pulls ‘Catholic’ label from Jesuit school for refusing to fire teacher in same-sex marriage

History of slaves sold for Georgetown detailed in new genealogical website

Baltimore Catholics Stand With Undocumented Families As ICE Raid Threats Loom

Amazon Trolls Netflix Over Catholic Group’s Call To Cancel ‘Good Omens’

Nunes and Nones

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Painting black saints. Ep 108. Jun 21, 2019

Chloe Becker was upset when she realized she could not name a single African or African-American saint. A junior at Magnificat High School in Rocky River, Ohio, Chloe was inspired to learn more about racial justice after attending a school-sponsored conference on racism. It led to the creation of a semester-long project: a mural depicting African-American saints and holy people in contemporary clothing, holding up the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Chloe took a break from her summer vacation to talk to us about using the saints to fight racism, how her community has responded and why she chose to depict the saints in contemporary dress.

In this week’s Signs of the Times, we look at two new Catholic initiatives: a Vatican podcast in Latin and a new Catholic cryptocurrency backed by former Senator Rick Santorum. We also break down the U.S. bishops’ latest protocols for holding themselves accoutnable for sexual abuse and its cover up. Finally, we look at a Belgian group of monks who are changing the way they sell their award-winning beer.

That’s it for us this week. Only one more show until Jesuitical goes on summer break.

Links from the show:

What’s on tap:

“The Crisp” pilsner from Six Point Brewery

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Being Gay and Catholic. Ep. 107 Jun 14, 2019

Pat Gothman is committed to creating welcoming spaces for L.G.B.T. Catholics. Pat, who is gay and Catholic, is a writer and editor of Reaching Out, an online publication that highlights the stories of L.G.B.T. people of faith. In December, Pat co-launched Vine & Fig, an online community where the lives and experiences of queer Catholics are “affirmed as true, holy, and beautiful.” Vine & Fig provides community members with books, videos and other resources and gives them a digital space—via Slack—where “queer Catholics can safely get to know one another and grow together.”

We talk to Pat about Vine & Fig, his experience as a gay Catholic man and why he stays in the church.

In Signs of the Times, David Haas, a composer of Catholic hymns, releases a new refrain for Pride Month; 90 Catholic airport chaplains meet in Rome; Joe Biden retracts his support for the Hyde Amendment; and the Toronto Raptors forward who almost became a priest.

Finally, we discuss the Vatican’s most comprehensive statement yet on gender theory.

Feel free to send us your questions, concerns, cocktail recipes or join us for discussion on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a member of our Patreon community.

This week’s episode was sponsored by the Catholic Travel Centre.

Links from the show:

Catholic Composer Pens Song For Pride Month Because ‘We Are Called To Love’

Vatican issues new document criticizing ‘gender theory’

Over 90 Catholic airport chaplains gathered at the Vatican this week. Airport chaplains have special ministry, pope says

W.Va. bishop gave powerful cardinals and other priests $350,000 in cash gifts before his ouster, church records show

Joe Biden says he no longer supports the Hyde Amendment

Pascal Siakam: How a Toronto Raptors star got his start in seminary

What’s on tap?

Ginger beer

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How a punk rock journalist found healing in the Catholic Church Ep. 106 Jun 07, 2019

Dawn Eden Goldstein was born into a Jewish family, but in her teens and 20s—dealing with cycles suicidal depression—charted her own path as a journalist and devotee of the religion of punk rock. In the early 2000s, as the first round of the sexual abuse crisis was unfolding in the Catholic Church, Dawn, herself a survivor, began making her way to that very church. Since converting, she has written several books, including My Peace I Give You: Healing Sexual Wounds with the Help of the Saints and her new memoir, Sunday Will Never Be the Same.

We ask Dawn about her spiritual journey, how the latest abuse revelations have tested her faith and what lessons the church can learn from the arduous healing process of survivors.

In Signs of the Times, the U.S. church is reporting a rise in new sex abuse allegations. What’s being the recent spike? Next, the bishop in Rhode Island warns Catholics not to take part in Pride marches and an Irish archbishop tells parents not to give their kids smartphones for Holy Communion. Finally, relics are stolen from a church in Italy and the French senate votes to restore Notre Dame to its former glory.

Tell us what you think about the show on our Facebook page! You can follow us on Twitter, support us on Patreon and help other listeners find Jesuitical by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening!

Links from the show

US Catholic Church reports big rise in sex-abuse allegations
Rhode Island bishop faces backlash after tweet about Pride Month
Don’t give kids smartphones as communion gifts, says Archbishop
Relics of Fatima child saints stolen from Italian church
French senate passes bill for preservation of Notre Dame’s original state

What’s on tap?

Not-fancy-enough-for-Zac office coffee

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Georgetown Jesuits enslaved her ancestors. Now she's working for justice. May 31, 2019

Onita Estes-Hicks has been Catholic her entire life. Men in her family were named “Nace” after St. Ignatius, a testament to the influence of the Jesuits in her family’s life. But her relationship with her faith was forever changed in 2004, when her family discovered that they were the descendents of one of the 272 enslaved persons sold by the Jesuits who ran Georgetown University in 1838.

We talk to Onita about what it was like to find out about her family’s history, what Georgetown has done to ask for forgiveness and what it’s been like to form a community of other descendants.

In Signs of the Times we unpack the latest developments from the case of former cardinal Theodore McCarrick (for a fuller discussion, listen to this week’s episode of Inside the Vatican) and discuss the new Archbishop of Washington, D.C. In our new segment, “Being Frank,” we talk about the pope’s advice to young travelers to focus on encounter, not consumerism (or Instagram likes).

Links from the show:

GU272 Descendants Association

New correspondence obtained by Crux confirms that the Vatican placed restrictions on former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick

In new interview that appears to have been conducted before this report was released, Pope Francis said he ‘knew nothing’ about McCarrick

Washington’s black Catholic community looks to Archbishop Gregory for new leadership

Pope praises Catholic tourism group dedicated to young people

What’s on tap?

Goodbye whiskey from Father Eric Sundrup 😔

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A beginner’s guide to spiritual direction Ep. 104 May 24, 2019

For over two years, Father Eric Sundrup has provided the hosts of Jesuitical with spiritual formation. Every week, we sit and talk to him about where we found God—and where it was a little harder. Sadly, it’s Eric’s last week as an associate editor at America (though he’s sticking around as Jesuitical’s faith formator), so we decided to interview him and give listeners a behind-the-scenes look.

We talk to Eric about spiritual direction and what makes it different from counseling, the role of spiritual direction for the Jesuits and the best—and most awkward—parts of talking to the hosts about their consolations and desolations.

In Signs of the Times, we share some Catholic school news: a new policy from the Archdiocese of Detroit is asking Catholic parishes and schools to stop scheduling athletic games and practices on Sundays; and Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego has banned skirts. In our Being Frank section, where Pope Francis teaches us to be better Christians, the pope reminds us: “to throw food away means to throw people away.”

And finally, we discuss why the latest article in The Atlantic on abolishing the priesthood isn’t helping us make the church better.

Feel free to send us your questions, concerns, cocktail recipes or join us for discussion on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a member of our Patreon community.

This week’s episode was sponsored by Sunday to Sunday with Father Mike Russo.

Links from the show:

No more Sunday games for Detroit Catholic parish, school sports teams

Skirts Banned From Dress Code at San Diego Private Catholic High School

Throwing away food is like throwing away people, pope says

The Case Against Abolishing the Priesthood

What’s on tap?

Just coffee because we had an earlier recording this week.

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How this Jesuit leads the Vatican’s fight against sex abuse without losing faith Ep. 103 May 17, 2019

Hans Zollner, S.J., has dedicated his life to protecting children from the horrific crime of sexual abuse. A psychologist and Jesuit priest, he has guided the church’s efforts to bring healing to survivors and to prevent such abuse from happening again. Father Zollner meets regularly with survivors and as one of the organizers of the Vatican summit on sexual abuse in February helped to lift up their voices.

We spoke to Father Zollner back in March and asked him what concrete steps need to be taken after the summit, how hearing from survivors has shaped his perspective and how he maintains his own spiritual and mental health.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss the new rules for reporting sexual abuse issued by Pope Francis as well as the pope’s remarks on the possibility of women deacons. Plus: the cardinal who went down a manhole to restore power to a homeless shelter, Asia Bibi finally joins her family in Canada and Louis Farrakhan makes anti-Semitic remarks in a Catholic Church.

You can share your thoughts about the show in our Facebook group, and if you want to support the work we’re doing, please consider becoming a member of Jesuitical’s Patreon community.

Links from the show

Pope Francis issues new rules for accountability and response to allegations of sexual abuse

Pope Francis tells women religious church cannot alter revelation on women’s diaconate

Hundreds in occupied building had no power for days. A Pope Francis aide climbed down a manhole to restore it

Asia Bibi happy to be in Canada but ‘very tired’ after blasphemy ordeal, says friend

Farrakhan refers to ‘Satanic Jews’ in speech at Chicago Catholic Church

Cardinal Cupich apologizes for Farrakhan visit to Chicago Catholic Church

What’s on tap?

Dark and Stormies

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Remembering Rachel Held Evans. Ep. 102 May 10, 2019

Like so many, we were devastated by the news of Rachel Held Evans’s death last weekend. Rachel’s willingness to write candidly and prophetically about her faith inspired countless believers and doubters.

The importance of Rachel’s life and work is clear from the outpouring of grief and love that’s emerged from her death. To honor her life and legacy, we wanted to re-air our interview with Rachel from last year. We spoke to Rachel about her book, Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again. Rest in peace, Rachel.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss whether or not we like when priests improvise at Mass, the legacy of L’Arche founder, Jean Vanier and the new editorial director of the Vatican women’s magazine.

Thoughts on this week’s show? Join the discussions happening with other Jesuitical listeners (and hosts and producers!) on our Facebook group.

This week’s episode was sponsored by Sunday to Sunday with Fr. Mike Russo, a new online video series that explores the art, craft and spirituality of preaching.

Links from the show:

Rachel Held Evans, Christian writer of honesty and humor, dies at age 37

Dear priests who improvise at Mass: Please don’t.

Jean Vanier, ‘living saint’ who ministered to people with disabilities, dies at 90

How the University of San Francisco became the first Jesuit university to go carbon neutral

Catholic officials pleased with new conscience protection rule

Pope to Hairdressers: Cut Gossip, Work in ‘Christian Style’

Vatican newspaper appoints new editorial board for women’s magazine

Sunday to Sunday

What’s on tap?

Leftover party beer.

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Kate Bowler on faith, cancer and the prosperity gospel. Ep. 101 May 03, 2019

On this week’s episode, we talk with Kate Bowler, the author of the New York Times bestseller Everything Happens For A Reason (And other lies I’ve Loved). She just won a Christopher Award for the book. (The Christopher Awards were created in 1949 to celebrate authors, illustrators, writers, producers and directors whose work “affirms the highest values of the human spirit.”)

Kate is a professor of Christian history at Duke Divinity School. For years, she has taught and written about the prosperity gospel, and, in Everything Happens For A Reason, she gives readers a personal perspective into what this theology represents.

We talk to Kate about her memoir, what her stage-IV cancer diagnosis taught her about American Christianity, her upcoming book on evangelical Christian women leaders and more.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss the terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka; changes to the Roman Curia at the Vatican; Peter’s Pence and how Pope Francis donates; affordable housing in New York City; and finally, we ask: Should you vote for presidential candidate because of his or her religion?

Feel free to send us your questions, concerns or cocktail recipes at jesuitical@americamedia.org, or join us for discussion on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a member of our Patreon community.

This week’s episode was sponsored by the award-winning documentary, “Hesburgh.” The film is out in select theaters nationwide today. Visit www.hesburghfilm.com/ to learn more.

Links from the show:

Churches padlocked, schools closed week after Sri Lanka attacks

Catholic bishops condemn Poway synagogue shooting

Big changes to the Vatican’s Roman Curia are coming

Pope Francis donates $500,000 to help migrants in Mexico

New York archdiocese opens new affordable housing

List: Catholic presidential candidates since J.F.K.

What’s on tap?

Lent is over—Prosecco.

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Jesuitical’s 100th episode: This time, Ashley, Olga and Zac answer the questions Apr 26, 2019

Zac, Olga and I have had the chance to interview some pretty incredible people over the course of 99 episodes—from Father James Martin and Sister Helen Prejean to Sarah Silverman, Audrey Assad and so many more. But this week, we’re turning the tables: To celebrate our 100th episode, former guest and CNN analyst Kirsten Powers interviews your hosts to give you a behind the scenes look at how we got here.

At a live recording at the America Media headquarters in New York City, Kirsten asks us: Who’s idea was Jesuitical? What do the hosts fight about? Do we feel “censored” because we work for the Catholic Church? And what’s next for Jesuitical?

A huge thank you to everyone who came out for the live show and to the Catholic Travel Centre for sponsoring the event. And thank you to everyone who listens to and supports Jesuitical. We are so grateful that we get to make this podcast, and we literally could not do it without the wonderful community that has grown up around the show over the past two years (nor would we want to). Here’s to 100 more!

No Signs of the Times this week, but we’ll be back next week to sift through the Catholic news of the week so you don’t have to.

Links:

This episode was made possible by Catholic Travel Centre, the most trusted name in religious group travel. Visit gocatholictravel.com to learn more.

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Should Catholics care about what happens at the Vatican? Ep. 99 Apr 05, 2019

Should you care about what’s going on at the Vatican? It seems clear that you should pray for the pope and for the people making important decisions about the church’s governance, but should you follow the updates about hirings and firings, exhortations and motu proprios?

Colleen Dulle, host of America’s podcast “Inside the Vatican,” will tell you why paying attention to the Vatican regularly could become a spiritual practice and put the headlines you see about the church in context.

In Signs of the Times, we look back at Pope Francis’ trip to Morocco (his third visit to a Muslim-majority nation), ask why were there Catholic priests burning Harry Potter books in Poland and give our initial thoughts and reflections on Pope Francis’ new apostolic exhortation on young people and the church, “Christ Lives.” Oh, and we wade into the Legging Wars underway at the University of Notre Dame.

You may have heard, we’re celebrating our 100th episode this month with a live event featuring James Martin, S.J., and Kirsten Powers. You can buy tickets here. If cost is a prohibitive factor, we have complimentary tickets available thanks to a generous sponsorship from the Catholic Travel Centre. Just send me an email if you’d like one.

Links from the show:

Solidarity on Tap

Our Live Show!
Pope Francis celebrates largest Mass in the history of Morocco

Catholic priests burn Harry Potter books in Poland

Northern Ireland soccer fans face ban after filmed singing anti-Catholic song

Woman Begs World to Shield Her 4 Catholic Sons From Legging-Clad Butts

Pope signs Apostolic Exhortation to young people

What’s on Tap?

Not much. Lent is feeling extra long.

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Meet the two teens who started a feminist club at their all-boys Catholic school. Ep. 98 Mar 29, 2019

Matias Benitez and Matt Chen are students at Regis High School in New York City, and in February of 2018, the teenagers started HeForShe, the school’s first feminist club. Every week, a dozen or so students gather after school to discuss the treatment of women and topical, sometimes difficult topics, like the Kavanaugh hearing. We talk to Matt and Matias about HeForShe, how they define feminism and what they hope fellow students learn from their club.

In Signs of the Times, following the massacre at Christchurch in New Zealand, Bishop Kevin Doran criticizes “faith-filled” Catholics who demonize Muslims. We discuss the upcoming book by our Vatican correspondent, Gerry O’Connell, on the election of Pope Francis. The founder of Women Church World, Lucetta Scaraffia, resigns as editor in chief of the all women’s magazine. And an archbishop in New Mexico reminds Catholics that “Santa Muerte” goes against church teaching.

Feel free to send us your questions, concerns or cocktail recipes at jesuitical@americamedia.org, or join us for discussion on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a member of our Patreon community, where you can enter to win a free ticket to our live show in April. The live show, celebrating our 100th episode, will feature an introduction by James Martin, S.J., and a panel with the hosts and Kirsten Powers, a CNN political analyst and former guest on Jesuitical.

The event will be on April 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at America Media’s headquarters. You can find ticket information and more here.

Links from the show:

Bishop criticizes 'faith-filled' Catholics who spread fear of Muslims

Exclusive: Inside the election of Pope Francis

Founder, board of Vatican women’s magazine quit

New Mexico archbishop again denounces ‘Santa Muerte’

What’s on tap?

Just water. Lent.

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Meet the evangelical pastor who spoke with Pope Francis (twice). Ep 97 Mar 22, 2019

“Walk together, work together, love each other.” That is how Pope Francis described the journey of building Christian unity in the 21st century. Michael Rudzena is walking that path as part of the John 17 Movement, an ecumenical group dedicated to responding to the prayer of Jesus that “all who believe in me be one.” Michael was born into a Catholic family that eventually found a new spiritual home in the Baptist church. Today, he is the founding pastor of Trinity Grace Church, a non-denominational church in New York City, and is part of a group of evangelical and Pentecostal faith leaders that has met with Pope Francis to advance “a communion of friendship and love.”

We asked Michael about his encounter with the pope, the internal diversity of the evangelical Christian community and the misconceptions Catholics have about evangelicals (and vice versa).

In Signs of the Times, we say a prayer for Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, who recently suffered a stroke, and discuss the cases of two bishops removed from ministry over the handling of or involvement in sexual misconduct. Next, we explore what the Catholic Church says about vaccinating your children, break down which Catholic and Jesuit schools will compete in this year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament and talk about the ways sacred spaces can be opened up to the wider community.

As always, we want to hear from you! Joining our Facebook group is a great way to connect with other listeners, discuss the Catholic news of the day and share your own consolations and desolations.

Also: If you can make it to New York City on April 24, we are going to be celebrating our 100th episode with a fantastic live event featuring Kirsten Powers and James Martin, S.J. More details here.

Links from the show

Cardinal DiNardo, USCCB president, ‘resting comfortably’ after suffering mild stroke
Two bishops removed from ministry over allegations of sexual harassment
Unvaccinated Student in Kentucky Sues After Being Barred From Playing Basketball
Acoustics make Utah Catholic churches top venues for community concerts
March Madness 2019: Catholic Schools Look To Maintain Winning Tradition

What’s on tap?

Lenten sacrifice.

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Marquette’s Markus Howard is changing the way athletes talk about mental health. Ep. 96 Mar 15, 2019

Marquette University men’s basketball standout Markus Howard is having a banner year. He’s earned the Big East Conference Player of the Year award on his way to leading Marquette toward a (hopefully) deep run in the N.C.A.A. tournament.

He’s also become a leading advocate for mental health care.

We talk to Markus about why he decided to start going to therapy and why he started talking about it publically. Are we closer to ending the stigma surrounding mental health care?

In Signs of the Times, we lament the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed 157 people, many who worked for humanitarian agencies. We ask: was Pete Davidson’s joke comparing support for R. Kelly to support for the Catholic Church offensive? Why did an elementary school teacher tell her student to wash off his ashes on Ash Wednesday? Why was a child of a same-sex couple denied admittance to a Catholic school? Finally, what’s the future of religious life going to look like when fewer people are entering orders?

This week I talked about how inspired I was by the community found on our Facebook group. It’s a great reminder that this podcast is a ministry and a community. Thank you.
PS: If you haven’t joined our Facebook community, you can find it here.

Feel free to send us your questions, concerns, cocktail recipes or let us know what you gave up for Lent at jesuitical@americamedia.org, or join us for discussion on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a member of our Patreon community.

Links from the show:

Catholic Relief Services Mourns The Loss Of Four Staff Killed In Ethiopian Airlines Crash

Pete Davidson Compares R. Kelly to Catholic Church on Saturday Night Live

Utah teacher facing discipline for making Catholic student remove Ash Wednesday mark

Catholic School in Kansas Faces a Revolt for Rejecting a Same-Sex Couple’s Child

2 out of 3 religious orders had no entrants in 2018

Markus Howard brings awareness to his own mental health

What’s on tap?

Water, Seltzer, Tea.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meet Mireille Twayigira: Rwandan Refugee, Doctor, Education Advocate. Ep. 95 Mar 08, 2019

When Mireille Twayigira was two, she fled Rwanda with her family after her father was killed in the country’s genocide. At the age of eight, she entered a Jesuit Refugee Service school in Malawi. After she graduated from secondary school as one of the best students in the country, she traveled to China, where she learned Chinese and, in 2016, graduated as a doctor.

We talk to Mireille about the role of education in her life, how her faith has kept her strong and what it means to be a symbol of hope in your 20s.

In Signs of the Times, during the 2016 presidential campaign, Michael Cohen threatened to sue Fordham University if they released Donald Trump’s grades or SAT scores. Pope Francis will open the secret archives of Pope Pius XII. Why is this significant? The Leadership Roundtable, a church reform group, has released a 40-page report that lists recommendations for dealing with the sexual abuse crisis. We discuss some of the takeaways.

And finally, we tell you what we’re giving up for Lent.

Feel free to send us your questions, concerns, cocktail recipes or let us know what you gave up for Lent at jesuitical@americamedia.org, or join us for discussion on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a member of our Patreon community.

Links from the show:

Fordham confirms Cohen threatened legal action if Trump’s grades became public

Pope Francis will open the secret archives on Pope Pius XII

Archdiocese to organize parish network of mental health resources

Catholic leadership group offers plan to fight abuse and cover-up

Pope Francis: Give up gossiping for Lent

What’s on tap?

Coffee, because Lent.

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The Catholic nun stories that haven’t gone viral (yet). Ep. 94 Mar 01, 2019

Catholics love a good nun story. A chainsaw-wielding sister cleans up after Hurricane Irma? Social media gold. Nuns playing soccer? Yes please. And who can forget Sister Jean? (Not Zac). But every day and on every continent women religious are doing life-saving, cutting-edge work in hospitals, research laboratories, refugee camps and prisons. And those are the stories Dawn Araujo-Hawkins tells as a writer for National Catholic Reporter’s Global Sisters Report.

We ask Dawn what she wished more people knew about the work of women religious, especially black sisters, and about her own experience working as a person of color in the mostly white Catholic media world.

In Signs of the Times, we bring you the top takeaways from the Vatican’s historic summit on child sexual abuse and discuss the case of Cardinal George Pell, the highest-level church official ever to be convicted of abusing a minor. Next, Pope Francis plans to write an apostolic exhortation on last year’s youth synod. What is an apostolic exhortation and why should we care? And finally, a new poll shows growing support for pro-life positions.

You can let us know what you think about our conversation with Dawn or any of our stories in our Facebook group. And thanks as always to our supporters on Patreon!

Signs of the Times

Vatican sex abuse summit: what you need to know

Cardinal Pell, most senior Catholic charged with child sex abuse, convicted, Vatican

Cardinal Pell news is ‘painful’ and he has right to defend himself to the end

Pope to issue post-synod document on young people in March

New poll: Big majorities of Democrats and young people reject late-term abortion

What’s on tap?

Sevenhill Cellars Inigo (Jesuit-made!) Riesling

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What in the hell? How Vinson Cunningham imagines the afterlife. Ep. 93 Feb 22, 2019

Vinson Cunningham doesn’t meet many people who believe in hell—but he still does. We sit down with Vinson, who is staff writer at the New Yorker, to discuss his recent essay “How the Idea of Hell Has Shaped the Way We Think.”

We talk about our first memories of hell, how it still impacts our lives and our culture, and why it might be easier to describe hell than heaven.

In Signs of the Times, we look at the laicization of former cardinal Theodore McCarrick and preview the Vatican’s summit on sexual abuse. Sister Norma Pimentel, a former guest on Jesuitical, runs into conflict with the city commissioners of McAllen, Tex. And could contactless payment be on the way for church donations? One cluster of parishes in Dublin, Ireland, is trialing it, and we are here for it.

We want to hear from you! One great place to do that—and chat with other Jesuitical listeners—is our Facebook group. We’re sharing news and consolations and desolations throughout the week.

Links from the show:

“How the Idea of Hell Has Shaped the Way We Think.”

Vatican sex abuse summit: what you need to know

Vatican emphasizes transparency and accountability at upcoming sex abuse summit

Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick laicized by Pope Francis

New York gives sex abuse victims more time to sue, press charges

Border city to close Catholic Charities center run by Sister Norma Pimentel

Catholic Church To Trial Contactless Payment For Donations

More of Vinson Cunningham’s writing

What’s on tap?

Wild Turkey Bourbon

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Will the sex abuse crisis ever end? Ep. 92 Feb 15, 2019

This week, America and Spoke Studios published “Deliver Us,” a new podcast about the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church.

Maggi van Dorn is the host and executive producer of “Deliver Us.” Following the release of the Pennslyvania grand jury report last summer, Maggi, like so many Catholics in the United States, found herself asking: How did could happen? And what, if anything, could Catholics do to help? She put her resources and audio skills together and decided to create “Deliver Us,” which features survivors, experts and advocates discussing ways in which the church and Catholics can move forward.

We talk to Maggi about how the podcast centers the stories of survivors and what it means to be hopeful as a Catholic during this crisis.

In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis has, for the first time, acknowledged the abuse of Catholic sisters. We discuss why this matters and what it shows us about the sex abuse crisis. Last month, Nicolás Maduro was sworn in as Venezuela’s president, which has led to protests across the country. Political leaders, including President Trump, state that the rightful president is Juan Guaidó, head of Venezuela’s National Assembly. Pope Francis has stated that he is “always available” to assist diplomatically but that these negotiations can only occur if both sides ask for help. Pope Francis has a history of getting involved in Latin America. Why does this matter?

On Feb. 7, the Supreme Court allowed the execution of Domineque Ray, a Muslim death-row inmate in Alabama, to proceed without an imam; and a young Catholic asks the pope to go vegan for Lent. Finally, we ask: Do you have an obligation to attend your local parish?

Feel free to send us your questions, concerns or cocktail recipes to jesuitical@americamedia.org, or join us for discussion on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a member of our Patreon community.

Links from the show:

Women religious organization issues statement on abuse of sisters

Nun’s Rape Case Against Bishop Shakes a Catholic Bastion in India

U.S. bishops condemn court's denial of imam's presence at execution

Francis expresses openness to Vatican mediation in Venezuela

Venezuela opposition envoys visit Vatican, Rome officials to press Juan Guaido's cause

Open letter asks Pope Francis to adopt vegan diet during Lent

What’s on tap?

Coffee

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How do we talk about consent on Catholic campuses? Ep. 91 Feb 08, 2019

In recent years, there has been a lot of debate around the word “consent” when it comes to preventing sexual assault on campus. What can Catholic colleges and universities bring to these discussions? To find out, we talk with Brianna Maturi, who leads Loyola Marymount University's consent program, called LMU Cares.

We ask Brianna about the hook-up and dating scene on campuses today, what a culture of consent looks like after college and what bystanders can do prevent sexual assault and harassment.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss Pope Francis’ historic trip to the Arabian Peninsula and Cuba’s newest Catholic Church. Next, how should bishops respond when Catholic politicians support abortions. And in Midwest news: The bishops in Illinois come out against the legalization of recreational marijuana, and the University of Notre Dame covers up murals of Christopher Columbus.

Let us know what you think about our conversation with Brianna or any of these stories on our Facebook page or Twitter. And please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a member of our Patreon community.

Also: If you want to learn more about Pope Francis’ trip to the U.A.E., check out the latest episode of Inside the Vatican, from our colleague and friend of the podcast, Colleen Dulle.

Links from the show

Pope Francis to world’s religious leaders: We build the future together or there will be no future

Cuba’s first church inauguration since the revolution

Canon law examined in wake of push for excommunication over abortion

Illinois Bishops Advise Against Legalization of Marijuana

University of Notre Dame to Cover Up Prominent Columbus Murals

How one Catholic university is trying to create a culture of consent

What’s on tap

Margaret River Distilling Co.’s Giniversity, provided by our friends at Adelaide’s Catholic Office for Youth and Young Adults and Pub Theology Adelaide

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Live from Australia: How young Catholics are changing the church (also kangaroos). Ep. 90 Feb 01, 2019

This week, Jesuitical is coming to you live from Australia. We’ve mastered driving on the left side of the road (sort of); we got up close and personal with a kangaroo; and even though Ashley tried to leave me to drown in the Great Barrier Reef, we managed to record this week’s episode.

On our first international trip, we headlined the Archdiocese of Adelaide’s World Youth Day celebrations. In addition to leading workshops and giving a few talks, we recorded this live show. In Signs of the Times, we talk about Pope Francis’ visit to Panama for World Youth Day, review the pope’s new prayer app, “Click to Pray,” look at a few stories from the Australian church, and break down the Covington Catholic controversy.

In our interview, we chat with Sebastian Duhau, Australia’s representative at the Synod on Young People. We look at the Synod’s final document and talk about what still needs to be done to have young people lead in the Catholic Church.

P.S. A HUGE thank you to the Catholic Office for Youth & Young Adults at the Archdiocese of Adelaide for inviting us to the other side of the planet and for being amazing hosts.

What’s on Tap?

Adelaide’s own Coopers Birell low-alcohol beer.

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How the New Wave Feminists are changing the conversation around abortion Jan 18, 2019

In 2004, Destiny Herndon-De La Rosa founded New Wave Feminists, a pro-life feminist organization dedicated to changing the divisive language surrounding the abortion debate. New Wave works to give women the support and resources needed to make motherhood a feasible option. Destiny was inspired to form the pro-life feminist organization by her own experience as a young mother.

Destiny is one of the few people who has attended the Women’s March and the March for Life in the same weekend in good faith. (Two years ago, Destiny and New Wave made headlines after they were removed as sponsors of the Women’s March because they were pro-life, but Destiny and her colleagues marched there anyway.) This week, Destiny will be at the Women’s March and the March for Life yet again.

We talk to Destiny about her advocacy and how to create dialogue within and outside the pro-life feminist movement.

In Signs of the Times, the president and the Catholic Church battle over La Lomita Chapel on the U.S.-Mexico border. In sex abuse news, the Northeast Province of the Jesuits release the names of all clergy accused of sexual abuse since 1950. A new Gallup survey says the crisis has led Catholics to lose faith in church leaders.

We remember the life of Bishop Joseph Howze, the first black bishop to lead a U.S. diocese, who died at the age of 95 on Jan. 9. In international news, a new art exhibit featuring a crucified Ronald McDonald angers Christians in Israel. Finally, the Vatican officially launches a new track team, which includes nuns, priests and migrants.

Feel free to send us your questions, concerns or cocktail recipes to jesuitical@americamedia.rog, or join us for discussion on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a member of our Patreon community. Next week, we will be in Australia and you can follow along on Patreon and social media!

A special thanks this week to “Catholic Health USA,” the podcast of the Catholic Health Association. Make sure to listen and download!

Links from the show:

Trump, Catholic Church Battle Over Chapel in Way of Border Wall

USA Northeast Province releases names of Jesuits credibly accused of sexual abuse

Catholics are losing faith in clergy and church after sexual abuse scandal, Gallup survey says

Bishop Howze, founding bishop of Diocese of Biloxi, Miss., dies at 95

Haifa Catholic Church Leader Blasts 'McJesus' Sculpture: 'What's Suitable for Europe Isn't Suitable for Us'

The Vatican’s New Track Team Includes Priests, Nuns and a Scholar

What’s on tap?

Lemon ginger tea

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The Catholic Church has a leadership problem. Lay people can help. Jan 11, 2019

The Catholic Church, according to this week’s guest, is facing not one but two crises. The first is the sexual abuse of children and its cover-up; the second is a complete break down of trust in church leadership. Kerry Alys Robinson has been working to confront both over a decade as the founding executive director of Leadership Roundtable, a group that brings together clergy, religious and laypeople to promote the best practices in the areas of finance, human resources and management.

We ask Kerry about the biggest obstacles to greater lay involvement in church governance, what concrete steps the bishops and laypeople can take to restore trust and protect children, and how women and mothers, in particular, can lead the way.

In Signs of the Times this week, we take a look at the religious make-up of the new Congress and discuss an update to the church’s teaching on hysterectomies. Plus: The U.S. bishops are on retreat to pray about the sex abuse crisis. Should they be doing something instead? And finally, a laywoman is picked to head a parish in New Haven—and the layman who has pretended to be a priest for 18 years is finally caught.

You can let us know what you think about our conversation with Kerry or any of our stories in our Facebook group. And thanks as always to our supporters on Patreon!

Links from the show

How many members of the new Congress are Catholic?

Jesuit priest remains House Chaplain in new Congress

Hysterectomy can be morally licit in limited situations, Vatican says

Why are the bishops praying about the abuse crisis instead of doing something about it?

Sex Abuse Crisis: What dioceses have released names (so far)?

Bishop Announces New Leadership Model At St. Anthony

Shocking: Man Caught Pretending to be a Catholic Priest After 18 Years, Here’s the Details

What’s on tap?

The alcoholic drink that’s even better for you than wine

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sister Helen Prejean fought the death penalty—and won. Ep. 87 Dec 14, 2018

Sister Helen Prejean has been the face of the anti-death penalty movement for decades. A member of the Congregation of St. Joseph, Sister Helen has been accompanying inmates on death row and lobbying against capital punishment in the United States (and in the church) for decades.

She blew up on the national scene for her book Dead Man Walking, which was adapted into an Oscar-winning film, and she was crucial to the Vatican’s eventual decision to ban the death penalty in the Catechism.

We talk to Sister Helen about how she became an anti-death penalty activist and how the fight against the death penalty has changed throughout the years—and how “sneaky Jesus” changed her life forever.

In Signs of the Times, we talk about two Jesuit provinces releasing the names of more than 150 priests and other ministry leaders who were found to have “credible allegations” of sexual abuse. We break down a few “nun” stories and ask an important question before we go on break for Christmas: How can parishes welcome newcomers at Christmas Masses?

On that note, we just wanted to thank everyone in the Jesuitical community: Whether you are a Patreon supporter, Facebook group poster (or lurker), or a casual listener—the whole Jesuitical team wishes you the peace and joy of the baby Jesus this Christmas. We’ll see you in the New Year.

Links from the show:

Two Jesuit provinces release 153 names of accused abusers

Dear @POTUS: The Nun Who Tweets a Daily Prayer to President Trump

2 Nuns Accused Of Embezzling $500,000 From Catholic School

Pope Francis will visit Abu Dhabi

‘Of Gods and Men’ monks beatified

Detroit’s Back to Christmas Campaign

What’s on tap?

Bob Dylan’s Double Barrel Rye Whiskey, courtesy of our colleague Ed Schmidt, S.J.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thinking about your death will make you a better Catholic Ep. 86 Dec 07, 2018

“Reflecting on death is not a morbid affair,” believes Sister Theresa Aletheia, “it is a healthy and often healing practice that helps us accept the inevitable with hope.” Sister Theresa is a self-proclaimed #MediaNun with the Daughters of Saint Paul and the founder of the Memento Mori Project, an online revival in which she offers daily reflections about death.

This week, we talk to Sister Theresa about her faith journey and why Catholics should imagine their deaths, especially during Advent. Inspired by Blessed James Alberione, the founder of her order, Sister Theresa placed a ceramic skull on her desk and began tweeting about memento mori, Latin for “remember you will die,” in 2017. She says it’s impossible to value life without paying proper attention to what it means to die, and that the practice has enabled her to be more present in her daily life.

In Signs of the Times, investigators in Texas executed a search warrant at the offices of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, headed by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, following complaints from survivors on how DiNardo and his staff handled their abuse allegations. In a soon to be published book, Pope Francis is quoted as saying that he is worried about homosexuality in the priesthood. Catholic priests in England and Wales received new identification cards.

Finally, we discuss Pope Francis’ thoughts on consumerism: “Consumerism is a great disease today. I am not saying that we all do this, no. But consumerism, spending more than we need, is a lack of austerity in life; this is an enemy of generosity.” How should we reflect on these words during the Christmas season?

Feel free to send us your questions, concerns or cocktail recipes to jesuitical@americamedia.rog, or join us for discussion on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a member of our Patreon community. And, if you’re looking for some last minute Christmas gift ideas, check out some Jesuit Swag.

Links from the show:

As investigation hits home diocese, can Cardinal DiNardo continue to lead on the abuse crisis?

In new book, Pope Francis says he is worried about homosexuality in the priesthood

Catholic priests issued with photo cards to confirm their identities

Consumerism is the enemy of generosity, pope says

What’s on tap?

Bon Appetit Best Masala Chai made by America’s own, Vivian Cabrera

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Juan Carlos Cruz: the survivor who changed the pope’s mind on sex abuse. Ep. 85 Nov 30, 2018

Juan Carlos Cruz was abused by the notorious predator Fernando Karadima, a Chilean Catholic priest. For years, the Catholic Church in Chile disregarded the abuse allegations against the powerful cleric. One cardinal even told Juan Carlos it was hard to believe he was a victim because he is gay and “might have liked it.” When Pope Francis visited Chile earlier this year, he initially dismissed as “slander” allegations from Juan Carlos and other victims that a bishop had covered up Karadima’s abuse. Yet Juan Carlos persisted and, by sharing his story, has changed the church in Chile and given hope to many other survivors.

We ask Juan Carlos: What it’s like to feel betrayed by the pope—and to have the pope ask for your forgiveness? What concrete steps do Pope Francis and the church need to take to protect and bring healing to survivors of sexual abuse?

In Signs of the Times, the International Union of Superiors General is urging sisters who have been abused to report the crimes to police and their superiors, more details emerge about February’s global summit on sex abuse at the Vatican and Catholics respond to the migrant crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. Plus, we discuss the U.S. bishops’ new pastoral letter on racism. It’s been 40 years since the bishops have spoken together on racial justice. Does this statement go far enough?

Let us know what you think about our conversation with Juan Carlos or any of these stories on our Facebook page or Twitter. And please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a member of our Patreon community.

Also: If you want to learn more about the Vatican’s meeting on sex abuse, check out the latest episode of Inside the Vatican, a new podcast from our colleague and friend of the podcast, Colleen Dulle.

Links from the show:

Catholic Nuns Urge Sisters Around the World to Report Sexual Abuse to Police

Exclusive: Archbishop Scicluna says February meeting start of ‘global approach’ to fighting sex abuse

Caravan migrants join long queue of asylum seekers in Tijuana

U.S. bishops adopt new anti-racism letter, first in almost 40 years

What’s on tap?

Holy Water, courtesy of Zac’s mom and future in-laws: Peach schnapps, vodka, blue curaçao, Crystal Lite lemonade.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Catholic women are leaving the church. This group wants them to lead it. Ep. 84 Nov 16, 2018

The Catholic Church is failing to engage Catholic women. A groundbreaking survey of Catholic women published by America earlier this year found that 26 percent rarely or never attend Mass; 27 percent only attend a few times a year; and 67 percent of Catholic women have never served in a parish in any ministry.

The GIVEN Institute is trying to fix that. This week we chat with Elise Italiano, the group’s executive director, about what they’re doing to help Catholic women lead inside and outside the church.

On Signs of the Times, our weekly Catholic news roundup, we scratch our heads at the U.S. bishops’ inaction on sexual abuse at the annual meeting in Baltimore, look at the next U.S.-born #Blessed, see how an N.B.A. rookie is helping out his Catholic high school, and more.

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

Trappist Ale from Spencer Brewery, courtesy of listeners (and Patreon supporters!) Stephen and Dina Grant.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Catholics influence U.S. politics Ep. 83 Nov 09, 2018

Stephen P. Millies is the author of Good Intentions: A History of Catholic Voters’ Road from Roe to Trump. In his book, Stephen analyzes the history of the Catholic vote, from the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade to the presidential elections of 2016.

We talk to Stephen about the role of Catholics in U.S. politics and why so many Catholics feel politically homeless and the 2018 midterm elections. (Full disclosure: Our interview with Stephen happened a week before the elections.)

In Signs of the Times, first up, November just started, but Christmas is already making headlines: Bishop Edward Braxton of Belleville, Ill., tells kids at Our Lady of Peace that Santa Claus isn’t real. Next, The Boston Globe and the Philadelphia Inquirer co-published an article on Nov. 4 analyzing the second wave of the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church.

And finally, we discuss the decision by the Supreme Court to overturn the death sentence of Asia Bibi, a 47-year-old Pakistani Catholic who has been in prison since 2009 and was sentenced to death in November 2010 on charges of blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed. Following the court’s decision, Bibi remained in prison due to safety concerns; however, since Tuesday’s recording, Bibi has been freed.

Links from the show:

Parents angry after Illinois bishop tells Catholic school kids that Santa isn’t real

Pakistani Christians fear violence after Asia Bibi’s blasphemy death sentence is overturned

Newspapers examine U.S. bishops’ responses to abuse allegations

What’s on tap?

Yuengling Lager

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You have to visit the border to understand the migrant caravan. Ep. 82 Nov 02, 2018

Family separations, the caravan, birthright citizenship—immigration stories have dominated the headlines in the lead-up to the 2018 midterms. But for Sister Norma Pimentel, who has worked on the U.S.-Mexico border for decades, migration is not a political issue; it is a human issue. As the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, Sister Norma accompanies migrants who cross the border seeking asylum and a better life for their families.

We ask Sister Norma how her work has changed under the Trump administration, who is really traveling with the migrant caravan and why, and what we can do to help our immigrant brothers and sisters at the border and in our communities.

[Explore America’s in-depth coverage of immigration]

In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis denounced as “inhuman” the anti-Semitic attack on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburg that left 11 dead and six injured and prayed that we may overcome “hotbeds of hate.” And in Kentucky, a white man shot and killed two African-Americans at a grocery store after failing to gain access to a predominantly black church.

Next, the synod on young people came to a close on Oct. 28; we bring you the top takeaways from the synod’s final document. Finally, a new app is being described as Pokémon Go for Catholics. Is this what synod participants had in mind when they said the church needs to reach young people online?

Let us know what you think about our conversation with Sister Norma or any of these stories on our Facebook page or Twitter. And please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a member of our Patreon community.

Links from the show

Pope Francis denounces attack on Pittsburgh synagogue, expresses closeness to Jewish community

On Squirrel Hill by The Unorthodox podcast

Kroger Shooting Suspect Tried to Enter Black Church Before Killing 2, Police Say

Closing the synod, Pope Francis highlights “the three fundamental steps on the journey of faith”

New app blends Pokemon Go with catechesis for young users

Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley

What’s on tap?

Birthday Girl’s Choice: Luna Nuda Pinot Grigio

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A good Catholic meddles in politics (and votes in the Midterms) Ep. 81 Oct 26, 2018

The nuns are back (on the bus). Headed by Sister Simone Campbell, the executive director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, the almost-annual campaign (they’ve traveled six of the last seven years), is traveling across the country to raise awareness about the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act and its impact on social services and local communities.

The nuns stopped at the Church of the Redeemer in Morristown, N.J., where we caught up with Sister Simone, S.S.S. and Sister Richelle Friedman, P.B.V.M., about what’s wrong with the new tax bill, what’s at stake in the upcoming midterm elections and why good Catholics should “meddle” in politics.

This episode of Jesuitical is proudly sponsored by Catholic Women Preach, celebrating two years sharing the wisdom and witness of women breaking open the Word. Visit catholicwomenpreach.org for video, text and podcasts of weekly preaching on the Sunday Scriptures.

Links from the show:

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Christians have been in Iraq for thousands of years. They might all be gone soon. Oct 19, 2018

Kevin Clarke is the chief correspondent at America. Recently, he traveled to Iraq for 12 days where he met with Iraqi Christians and other religious minorities. We talk to Kevin about why he decided to take this trip and the future of Christianity in that region. (You can check out Kevin’s reporting here.)

In Signs of the Times, we discuss the canonization of Saint Óscar Romero, the resignation of Cardinal Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington, D.C., and why women aren’t allowed to vote at this year’s Synod on Young People.

As always, you can email us at jesuitical@americamedia.org or tweet us on Twitter. You can also join our Facebook group and consider supporting us on Patreon!

P.S.

This episode is brought to you by Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago. For 23 years, Cristo Rey has educated Latino students with limited means, preparing the leaders of tomorrow today. Learn about their mission at cristorey.net.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis declares Pope Paul VI, Óscar Romero saints

Pope Francis accepts the resignation of Cardinal Wuerl

Jesuit, Dominican, Franciscan leaders see no reason why women shouldn’t vote at synod

What’s on tap?

This week, we are drinking a gift from listener Bridget: a special blend, Cafe St. Joe, from Furnace Hills Coffee, a fair- and direct-trade coffee roaster who employs adults with disabilities. You can buy your own here!

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Haley Stewart’s Catholic guide to living simply. Ep. 79 Oct 12, 2018

I’m sure I am not the only city dweller who sometimes fantasizes about putting in my two-weeks notice and escaping to a dude ranch in Wyoming or an organic pumpkin farm in Nebraska (or wherever they grow pumpkins). The ever-increasing rent, the dirty, dysfunctional subway, the nonstop noise and pressure to not just keep up but get ahead—it all makes me question why I moved to New York. Well this week’s guest Haley Stewart and her husband did drop out of the rat race and move to a farm (without flush toilets! with three young kids!)—but she thinks you can build a simpler and more intentional life in the city or the suburbs, out in the country or right on campus.

We ask Haley about her escape from the “throwaway culture,” how to pray through drastic life changes and why she loves Molly Weasley (yes, that Molly Weasley).

In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis gets invited to North Korea, but his favorability is dropping in the United States. The synod on young people is underway at the Vatican, the Nuns on the Bus are back on tour and Lady Liberty may get a West Coast (Catholic) counterpart.

As always, you can keep in touch via our Facebook group and Twitter @jesuiticalshow or emailing us at jesuitical@americamedia.org. Please consider helping Jesuitical keep the mics on by supporting the show on Patreon—every little bit helps!

Links from the show

Kim Jong Un invites Pope Francis to North Korea

Pew Poll: Pope Francis’ favorability numbers drop, and worse for handling of abuse

Synod 2018 Day 1: Migrants, sex abuse and church credibility

‘Nuns On The Bus’ For ‘Tax Justice Truth Tour’ En Route To Trump’s Mar-a-Lago

Diocese of San Diego launching statue of Mary Inspired by Lady Liberty for San Ysidro

What’s on tap?

Maple whiskey

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Lakota and Catholic: Jesuit education on the Pine Ridge Reservation Oct 05, 2018

“My hope is that we can learn that we can be indigenous and all these other things: Catholic, worldly, a diplomat, a scientist, etc. My hope is that being indigenous is not limited,” said Maka Clifford in the pages of America last year. Maka is the director of curriculum and assessment at the Red Cloud Indian School, a Catholic school led by the Jesuits and the Lakota people. Maka was born on the Pine Ridge Reservation and graduated from Red Cloud in 2005. After studying in California, New York and Japan, Maka realized his calling to be involved in indigenous studies and human rights. He returned to Red Cloud in 2013.

We talk to Maka about what it means to be a Lakota Catholic, the controversial history of Jesuit-run and boarding schools, Lakota spirituality and teaching indigenous students in 2018.

Last week, the editors of America stated that the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court should be withdrawn. We discuss the magazine’s previous support of the nomination and why the editors decided to withdraw it.

In sexual abuse news, Pope Francis laicizes Chile’s Fernando Karadima. “The Better Church Governance Group” is a new organization founded by wealthy Catholics to investigate the College of Cardinals. And for the feast of St. Francis, we have a story about a dog that completes the Camino de Santiago.

As always, you can email us at jesuitical@americamedia.org or tweet us on Twitter. You can also join our Facebook group and consider supporting us on Patreon!

This episode is brought to you by Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago. For 23 years, Cristo Rey has educated Latino students with limited means, preparing the leaders of tomorrow today. Learn about their mission at cristorey.net.

Looking for an event in your neighborhood? Check out when the Ignatian Solidarity Network is hosting a “Solidarity On Tap” near you!

Links from the show:

The Editors: It is time for the Kavanaugh nomination to be withdrawn

Pope Francis defrocks Chilean priest at center of sexual abuse scandal

Wealthy Catholics to target Cardinals with ‘Red Hat Report’

A dog that has completed the Camino de Santiago comes to Rome

Jewish husband and wife to be first married couple knighted by the Vatican

What’s on tap?

Mulled cider (on the rocks), Jack’s Winter Cider whiskey, one cinnamon stick, one star anise, ice

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A survivor of sex abuse on how the church can help victims. Ep.77 Sep 28, 2018

“[The sex abuse crisis is] not something that I think can be fixed by our priests alone,” Amanda Zamora told us this week. “The pain and the harm has been caused by the church and the solution will need to come from the church—and that includes all of us.”

Amanda is the chief audience officer at the Texas Tribune, which she joined in 2016. Previously, she spent 13 years on the East Coast working for organizations like The Huffington Post Investigative Fund, The Washington Post and ProPublica.

She recently wrote an article co-published in the Texas Tribune and the Washington Post called “I’m a Catholic survivor of abuse. I still want to hear the church say it’s sorry.” Amanda shared her own experience of surviving abuse within her family and how that has influenced her perspective on the church’s crisis.

In Signs of the Times we give an update on a couple of international stories we’ve been following and discuss a story from Chicago involving a priest burning a flag bearing a rainbow and a cross. We also look at a new policy for reporting sex abuse outlined by the U.S. bishops, and how some churches are using coffeehouse culture to evangelize and work for justice.

Have you checked out our Facebook group yet? It’s a great way to talk about the episode and other Catholic news with other Jesuitical listeners. And as always, you can stay in touch via email, Twitter and Patreon.

Links from the show:

What’s on Tap?

Angry Orchard’s Rosé Cider, because 👏Fall 👏 Is 👏 Here!👏

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Stephanie Saldaña on love, loss and memory in the Middle East Sep 21, 2018

He was a French novice living in a desert monastery in Syria. She was a journalist from Texas who wanted to become a nun. Then, they fell in love.

I know, it sounds like a rom-com. But that is, in fact, how this week’s guest, Stephanie Saldaña, met her husband—and it’s not even the most fascinating part of her story. Today, Stephanie lives with her family in Jerusalem where she writes and teaches. In 2016, she started Mosaic Stories, a project that seeks to preserve the cultural heritage of the war-torn Middle East.

We ask Stephanie what lessons the monastery has for family life, what she has learned raising children in a conflict zone and what her unique path to marriage taught her about discerning between two loves.

In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis announces a summit of sex abuse and sources say the Vatican and China are close to a deal over the status of bishops; Catholics and Buddhists team up to provide green housing for seniors; a bishop skydives for donations; a new institute prepares Catholic women for leadership; and thousands of Latino Catholics gather in Texas for V Encuentro.

Have you checked out our Facebook group yet? It’s a great place to keep up with Catholic news between shows and share your own consolations and desolations. You can also find us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow, support us on Patreon and send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org. Also, Jesuit swag. Get some.

Links from the show:

An Impossible Hope: Three men in Syria showed me what Jesus looks like.
Resignations, Rome meetings and investigations: A week of major developments in the sexual abuse crisis
Developing Story | Pope Francis meets with bishops about the sexual abuse crisis
China and Vatican to Sign Landmark Deal Over Bishops
DiMarzio says ‘Laudato si’ to flower in Brooklyn with green housing
Bishop takes a (sky) dive to get pilgrims to Lourdes
Women’s Catholic leadership program, GIVEN Institute, officially launches
More than 3,000 Latino Catholics expected at Encuentro gathering

What’s on tap?

Everything but the kitchen sink. Cleaning out the fridge/liquor cabinet to make room for PSL cocktails. Miller Lite for Zac, a lager for Olga and tequila for me. Cheers!

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Synod on Youth preview: How will we keep young people in the church? Sep 14, 2018

Next month, the Vatican will hold the Synod of bishops on young people. Earlier this year, in preparation for the October gathering, the Vatican hosted 300 delegates from around the world. These delegates met in Rome and produced an 11-page document, titled “Young People, The Faith and Vocational Discernment.” One of the delegates selected by the U.S.C.C.B. was Katie Prejean McGrady. She is a writer, podcaster, Catholic speaker and author of Follow: Your Lifelong Adventure with Jesus.

We talk to Katie about her work at the pre-synod gathering, how the sexual abuse crisis shows we need the synod now more than ever and what the church can do to keep young Catholics in the faith.

In Signs of the Times, thousands in India joined nuns of the Missionaries of Jesus congregation last week to call for the arrest of Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who has been accused of rape. We also discuss the latest updates to the U.S. sexual abuse crisis, including the launching of investigations into clerical sexual abuse in dioceses across the country.

Finally, some Catholic school news: the first Catholic school to open up in Baltimore in decades will be named after Mary Lange, who opened the first school in the United States for black children; and Kolbe Academy in Pennsylvania will be the first Catholic high school for students battling addiction.

As always, you can email us at jesuitical@americamedia.org or tweet us on Twitter. You can also join our Facebook group and consider supporting us on Patreon!

Links from the show:

Indian nuns demand arrest of bishop accused of rape

Vatican officials knew of McCarrick allegations in 2000, letter confirms

States Round up of newly announced investigations into clerical sexual abuse

1st Catholic high school for students battling addiction opening in Bethlehem area

Baltimore’s new Catholic school to be named after African American nun

What’s on tap?

St. Germain spritzer

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I can't date Jesus": A conversation with Michael Arceneaux Aug 31, 2018

Michael Arceneaux has stopped going to church. After growing up as a gay black Catholic in the South, he eventually decided that he could not find a way to integrate his identities into the Catholicism he grew up with. In his new memoir: I Can’t Date Jesus: Love, Sex, Family, Race, and Other Reasons I’ve Put My Faith in Beoncé, Michael describes how coming out as gay led to tension and conflict with people like his mother, still a devout Catholic.

But Michael hasn’t given up on God just yet. In fact, in I Can’t Date Jesus he describes taking a friend up on an invitation to go to a church service. There he met a pastor and theologian who “really understands the Bible wasn’t just repeating verses kind of like the equivalent (as I put in the book) like a talking head on cable news… He was far more informed than me so I actually learned something from the conversation. I found it elevating.”

Michael told us how he wished he had been able to have conversations like that earlier in his life. “I think if you caught me much earlier around the time when I was generally trying to still be in church…you would have probably been able to keep me there.”

This week in Signs of the Times we break down the explosive letter that was released over the weekend by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò accusing many church leaders—including Pope Francis—of covering up the misconduct and crimes of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.

Thank you all so much for sharing your thoughts and struggles and joys with us in in our Facebook group, Twitter and with your emails. A special shout out to our supporters on Patreon: Your financial support makes this show possible. Thank you. If you’ve been on the fence about visiting our Patreon page—there’s no time like right now!

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We don’t use religious words anymore. That’s a problem. Aug 24, 2018

When was the last time you talked about faith with a friend? If you’re listening to this podcast, maybe you don’t mind dropping words like “sin,” “grace” and “confession” in casual conversations. But most Americans, according to Jonathan Merritt, have forgotten or never learned how to “speak God”—and that’s bad news for people who care about the future of the church.

We ask Jonathan, an award-winning religion writer, podcast host and author of the new book Learning to Speak God from Scratch, why spiritual conversations matter, how we can save endangered sacred words and what distinguishes Catholic and Protestant approaches to language.

This week in Signs of the Times we focus on one story that’s been on all of our minds: the unfolding sex ual abuse crisis in the U.S. Catholic Church. We bring you up to speed on developments since the release of the Pennsylvania grand jury report on Aug. 14, ask how the church got here and discuss possible ways forward as the church seeks to bring healing to victims and accountability to priests and bishops who for decades committed and covered up horrific crimes against children.

Let us know how you are processing the news and let know when you are (or aren’t) finding God in all this by reaching out in our Facebook group and Twitter @jesuiticalshow or emailing us at jesuitical@americamedia.org. Please consider helping Jesuitical keep the mics on by supporting the show on Patreon—every little bit helps!

Links from the show

Pennsylvania report documents over 1,000 victims of priest abuse
Vatican: Pope Francis is on the side of the victims of Pennsylvania abuse
Bishops around U.S. respond with ‘sorrow’ to abuse report, vow to act
Pennsylvania prelate says bishops who hid abuse should resign
Pope Francis issues new letter on sex abuse: ‘We showed no care for the little ones’
Don’t blame the sex abuse crisis on queer Catholics

What’s on tap?

Brooklyn Brewery East IPA

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Julio Ricardo Varela on being the only Latino (rebel) in a room. Ep. 72 Aug 17, 2018

“Being the only Latino means that while the white men get to disagree with each other and develop idiosyncratic or counterintuitive arguments, you can never just say how you feel or what you think about a story,” wrote Julio Ricardo Varela in America. “Instead, you always have to frame your comments in a way that responds to the needs of the 56.5 million people who share some part of your identity.”

Julio is a Puerto Rican journalist. Along with writing for Latino Rebels, a website he founded in 2011 that provides news, analysis and commentary about U.S. Latino culture, he is the co-host of the Webby-nominated “In The Thick” podcast with Maria Hinojosa and a contributor to Latino USA on NPR. On this week’s episode, we talk to Julio about working in media as a Latino, Hurricane Maria, the sexual abuse crisis and more.

In Signs of the Times, a giant Pope Francis scarecrow wins a competition in Ireland; and a 27-year-old pastor starts GodSquad Church to bring God to the gamer community. In Argentina, where abortion is illegal in most cases, the Senate voted down a bill that would have legalized abortion through 14 weeks of pregnancy. What made the difference between Argentina and the referendum in Ireland earlier this year that legalized abortion? In Peru, Jesuit priest Carlos Riudavets Montes was found murdered on Aug. 10.

Finally, we bring you the latest developments on the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church, including the grand jury report from Pennsylvania and reports on two Benedictine abbey schools in England.

We know it has been a difficult week trying to process what it means to be Catholic during this crisis. Part of the reason we do this is to help all our listeners process moments such as these. You can email us at jesuitical@americamedia.org or tweet us on Twitter. Please feel free to also join our Facebook group, where members this week followed a live panel featuring Ashley and Zac on an intergenerational discussion on how Catholics are responding to the sexual abuse crisis and shared their own questions and comments about the crisis.

Links from the show:

Giant straw Pope Francis wins annual scarecrow festival in Ireland

An online church for gamers: Va. pastor draws thousands to worship on Twitch

Details of second letter priest sent to Cardinal O’Malley describing McCarrick abuse

Pennsylvania report documents over 1,000 victims of priest abuse

New reports of sexual abuse rock Benedictine abbey schools in England

The abortion debate in Argentina vs. Ireland: what made the difference?

Jesuit priest murdered in Peru

What’s on tap?

Luna Vida pinot grigio

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The one where two of the Jesuitical hosts get engaged. Ep. 71 Aug 10, 2018

Did you miss us? Jesuitical is BACK from its summer break and we are sunsprayed, rested and ready to hit the studio for a new season. We also have some pretty big personal news to share, so tune in for some life updates.

We also loved getting to spend some more time talking with listeners during the break, both on- and offline. Our online communities like Patreon, Twitter and our Facebook groupcontinue to grow, and we’ve been blessed with some visits to America’s offices over the past month.

We asked the members of our Facebook group for guest suggestions for the upcoming season, and one name that came up more than once was Sister Simone Campbell. Sister Simone is the leader of Nuns on the Bus and executive director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice—and also a former Jesuitical guest! While the Signs of the Times and Consolations and Desolations segments of the show are new this week, we’re re-airing an incredibly insightful interview with Sister Simone from last year.

It was a busy July for Catholic news too—during Signs of the Times we discuss the sexual abuse stories that have been coming from several parts of the Catholic world, and get into Pope Francis’ revision of the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s teaching on the death penalty.

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What does Catholic architecture look like in the 21st century? Ep. 70 Jul 20, 2018

This week, we talk with Gilbert Sunghera, S.J. He is an architectural consultant and associate professor of architecture at the University of Detroit Mercy. Gilbert has worked on projects such as the Jesuit community at Fairfield, the parish of St. Joseph the Worker in Wyoming and the Jesuit high school chapel in Sacramento. We talk with Gilbert about architecture, how he balances his dual passions and what it means to design a sacred space.

Speaking of architecture, America’s new office space—including the studio where Jesuitical is recorded—was profiled in the New York Times this week. You have a look at where we work and read the profile here.

We are on vacation until next month, so no Signs of the Times or Consolations and Desolations this week. However, we still want to hear from you! Come share your consolations and desolations or some interesting Catholics news in our Facebook group. You can also find us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow, support us on Patreon and send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org.

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Why you (yes you) should care about theology. Ep. 69 Jul 13, 2018

You don’t have to have a Ph.D. in theology to write about religion (thank goodness)—but Tara Isabella Burton’s work shows it certainly doesn’t hurt. After getting her doctorate in theology at Oxford University, Tara became the first full-time religion correspondent for Vox (with a V she is quick to clarify). There she translates religious stories to a largely secular audience and brings a theologian’s lens to questions of public policy and values.

Tara also published her first novel this year, Social Creature, a thrilling story about striving and sin in the decadent world of upper-class New York. We ask her about the book, how her own own faith has shaped her writing and why everyone should study theology.

Jesuitical is on vacation until August, so no Signs of the Times this week, but we still want to hear from you! Come share your consolations and desolations or some interesting Catholic news in our Facebook group. You can also find us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow, support us on Patreon and send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org.

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Questioning the Bible just might help you fall in love with it. Ep. 68 Jun 29, 2018

Rachel Held Evans grew up loving the bible. Like, was on her high school’s homecoming court representing the Bible club. She was taught to honor and defend it from all its enemies, science and history included.

But her Biblical worldview started to fall apart in college. Neat, pre-packaged answers that she was taught weren’t satisfying anymore. “I never had permission to challenge the Bible,” Rachel told us on this week’s podcast. “And yet when I began doing that it's like all these new layers of meaning began to unfold and it became a richer experience.”

Rachel talks to us this week about her new book, “Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again.” We talk about why finding enchantment in the Bible is important, how to teach Bible stories to your kids and more.

In this week’s rundown of Catholic news, we discuss what Catholic organizations are doing to help immigrant families separated at the border; Philippine priests seeking gun permits in light of recent murders; and a Kenyan priest who was suspended from ministry for rapping.

Want to discuss this week’s episode with the hosts and other Jesuitical listeners? Check out our Facebook group. You can also find us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow, support us on Patreon and send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org.

Links from the show

Donations surge at Catholic Charities border asylum-seeker center

Hundreds of calls come in at USCCB HQ seeking to foster detained kids

Parkland students kick off anti-gun tour with rally at Catholic church

Philippine bishops hesitant about priests seeking gun permits

Kenya parishioners disappointed after priest suspended for rapping

Swole.Catholic helps people strengthen body and soul

What’s on tap?

New Jersey Beer Co.’s LBIPA, courtesy of Patron and friend of the podcast, John Dougherty.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The untold history of black nuns in the United States Ep. 67 Jun 22, 2018

Ask most people what they know about black Catholic sisters, and they will probably murmur something about “Sister Act.” Dr. Shannen Dee Williams did, too, until she began digging into communities’ archives and uncovering the previously hidden lives of African-American women religious. Now she’s telling those stories in a forthcoming book (with an amazing title), Subversive Habits.

Shannen tells us about the incredible resilience and deep faith of black Catholic women in the face of racism, discrimination and exclusion. We ask her how these stories affected her own faith and what racial reconciliation in the church looks like today.

In our news segment this week, we talk fun Catholic World Cup facts, an update on the synod on young adults and Pope Francis’ controversial comments on abortion and Nazis. Finally, we discuss the Trump administration’s policy of separating children from their parents at the border—and what you can do to help.

Have you checked out our Facebook page yet? Starting today, we’ll be asking for your consolations and desolations there. You can also find us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow, support us on Patreon and send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org.

Links from the show

Faith and the 2018 World Cup: little-known Christian details about soccer (football!) stars

Synod working document: Young Catholics need a church that listens to them

Pope Francis says abortion is ‘same thing’ as Nazi eugenics

Catholic leaders denounce Sessions’s asylum decision: ‘We have truly lost our moral compass.’

Father James Martin: Five things you can do to help immigrants at the border

What’s on tap?

Celebrating our Catholic Press Association awards with Champagne! Well, technically, prosecco.

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How living in L’Arche made Jeremy McLellan a better person (and funnier comedian). Ep. 66 Jun 15, 2018

This week, we talk with Jeremy McLellan, a comedian from Charleston, S.C. Jeremy was recently named a “New Face of Comedy” at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He was recently baptized at this year’s Easter Vigil. We talk to the comedian about his time living in a L’Arche community, his struggles with depression and making people laugh in 2018.

In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis accepts the resignations of Chilean bishops and meets with energy executives to discuss care for the poor and the environment. In Baltimore, the archdiocese is letting Catholic couples get married outside of the bride or groom’s parish. A new study claims that kids who attend Catholic schools have more self-control than those who do not. The Catholic Memes Facebook group sparks controversy after posting a meme that many are describing as anti-Semitic.

Finally, last month the Catholic Women’s Forum and the Notre Dame Center for Ethics and Culture sponsored a conference on the #MeToo movement. We discuss the conference, the church’s response and the effects of the sexual revolution on the movement.

Make sure to check us out on Twitter @jesuiticalshow, and send us some feedback by emailing jesuitical@americamedia.org. You can support the show by joining our Patreon community. And we are also on Facebook. We love hearing from all of our listeners weekly, and we wanted to give you all the opportunity to not just continue talking with us but to get to know each other as well. If you haven’t joined yet, go do that.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis appeals to top energy executives to care for the poor and the environment

Pope begins purge in Chile church over sex abuse scandal

Conference asks: Is the Sexual Revolution to blame for #MeToo?

Vanity Fair ad takes ‘#MeToo’ campaign to victims of religious violence

Catholic Memes controversy

Baltimore Catholics can now have that outdoor wedding they’ve dreamed of

Study finds Catholic school correlates with student’s self-control

What’s on tap?

This week, we’re drinking some fancy Malbec wine, courtesy of my mom, Francisca Segura

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What Mario Lopez learned about his Catholic faith in the Holy Land. Ep. 65 Jun 08, 2018

It was a curious Tweet that came across my timeline. Was A.C. Slater really getting baptized in the Jordan River?

Got baptized in the same river Jesus did...#JordanRiver #Jesus #JohnTheBaptist pic.twitter.com/WIuPtqEk9b

— Mario Lopez (@MarioLopezExtra) March 22, 2018

And there was another one—this time at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Annunciation:

Angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary she was going to be the mother Christ of here...#AnunciationCathedral #RomanCatholic #AngelGabriel #VirginMary pic.twitter.com/QVMEr9Gyf9

— Mario Lopez (@MarioLopezExtra) March 21, 2018

Mario Lopez is a TV host and actor. You might know him as A.C. Slater on “Saved by the Bell” or from “Dancing with the Stars.” He is currently one of the hosts of “Extra”—and a promoter of the Gospel.

It’s one thing for celebrities to be privately religious; using their platforms for evangelization is quite another. This week we talk with Mario about his pilgrimage to the Holy Land, what it’s like to be faithful in Hollywood, and passing down faith to children.

The Signs of the Times segment of the show comes with a cake motif: we discuss the Supreme Court’s recent decision in the Colorado “gay wedding cake” case and its impact on religion and culture; also, there was a life-sized Jesus cake—complete with icing stigmata wounds—that was maybe (or definitely) made in bad-taste. Outside of cake news, we talk about why the Vatican issued a new document on SPORTS!™; why a statue of Jesus was “too-Catholic” for one Baptist church; and how a former slave is going to be the first Catholic entombed in Denver’s Cathedral.

Have you been thinking to yourself, “Friday is such a long time to wait for another episode, I wish I could listen to some of it early”? If so, I have great news for you: we’ve started posting videos of the full, uncut versions of weekly interviews to our Patreon page on Wednesdays. You can help keep us employed and get some bonus content.

We also have our Facebook group—it’s a great way to meet and discuss Catholic things with other Jesuitical listeners. You can also follow us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow and send us feedback and cocktail recipes at jesuitical@americamedia.org.

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

Chocolate Cake Martini: vanilla vodka, chocolate liqueur, half-and-half, whipped cream and a cookie wafer to garnish.

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Fighting Islamophobia with social justice comedy. Ep. 64 Jun 01, 2018

How do you change the mind of someone who thinks you don’t belong in this country because of your faith? Make them laugh, says Negin Farsad, Muslim-American comedian, actress, writer and filmmaker. And she does.

Back in 2014, she took a troupe of Muslim comedians on tour in America’s heartland to talk (and joke) about Islamophobia for the documentary film “The Muslims Are Coming!” Today, she continues to work in what she calls “social justice comedy,” using humor to confront religious hatred and racism. We ask her how she walks the line between laughing with and laughing at the people she would like to convince.

In Signs of the Times, the supporters of Ireland’s Eighth Amendment suffered a resounding defeat in the May 25 referendum, opening the door to abortion on demand. We talk about the future of the church and the pro-life movement in light of this setback. Plus: an archbishop in Australia faces jail time for failing to report sexual abuse; an ecumenical group of faith leaders takes on racism in Minnesota; and a new poll shows only 50 percent of Catholics support welcoming refugees to the United States. What gives?

When you’re done listening, you can hop on over to our Facebook group and let us know what you think! Follow us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow and send us feedback and cocktail recipes at jesuitical@americamedia.org. And if you haven’t yet, please consider leaving us a review on Apple podcasts—it’s a great way to help other people find the show.

Links from the show:

Catholics who voted Yes should consider confession, says Bishop

Catholic archbishop convicted in Australia of concealing child sex abuse

New Minnesota faith alliance takes on racism

Only 50% of U.S. Catholics believe the U.S. Should Accept Refugees

What’s on tap?

Brooklyn Brewery Lager hand delivered by Patron Emilee Hunter-Maguire

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meet Cyrus Habib: the most interesting Catholic politician in Washington (State) Ep. 63 May 25, 2018

Cyrus Habib is the 16th and current Lieutenant Governor of Washington State. Born in Baltimore, Md., Cyrus is a three-time cancer survivor and has been fully blind since he was 8-years-old. His parents immigrated to the United States from Iran before he was born, and he is both the first and only Iranian-American official to hold statewide elected office in the United States.

We ask Cyrus how his Catholic faith shapes his public service and how citizens and politicians alike can work toward the common good in these polarized times.

In Signs of the Times, during the royal wedding, Bishop Michael Curry name-dropped French Jesuit, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Who was this controversial Jesuit philosopher? Next, Pope Francis is creating 14 new cardinals, and a Seattle nun is taking on the gun industry—from the inside. Plus, Irish citizens are voting today on whether or not to repeal the Eighth Amendment, which recognizes that both mothers and unborn children have an equal right to life. We discuss why repealing the Eighth Amendment will be a step back for Ireland.

Finally, following an investigation into the Chilean sexual abuse crisis, 34 bishops in Chile have offered their resignation. Sexual abuse survivor Juan Carlos Cruz said that during his meeting with the pope, Francis stated: “Juan Carlos, that you are gay doesn’t matter. God made you like this and loves you like this and it doesn’t matter to me. The pope loves you like this.” We discuss the impact of the pope’s comments.

Make sure to check us out on Twitter @jesuiticalshow, and send us some feedback by emailing jesuitical@americamedia.org. You can support the show by joining our Patreon community. And we are also on Facebook! We love hearing from all of our listeners weekly, and we wanted to give you all the opportunity to not just continue talking with us but to get to know each other as well! If you haven’t joined yet, go do that.

And a special shoutout to our sponsor, “Pope Francis: A Man of His Word,” written and directed by three-time Academy Award nominee Wim Wenders.

Links from the show:

Who was the Jesuit priest mentioned during the Royal Wedding sermon?

Pope Francis announces that he will create 14 new cardinals in June

Abuse victim says Pope Francis told him “being gay doesn't matter”

All of Chile’s bishops offer resignations after meeting pope on abuse

Meet the Seattle nun who infiltrated a gun company

The Irish Exception

What’s on tap?
Substance, a Washington State wine, brought to us by Cyrus

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ross Douthat is worried about Pope Francis’ leadership. Should we be, too? May 18, 2018

It’s not an easy position for faithful Catholics to stake out, criticizing a popular pope. But Ross Douthat is worried about where Pope Francis is leading the Catholic Church. In his new book, To Change the Church: Pope Francis and the Future of Catholicism, the New York Times op-ed columnist argues that Francis’ “truces” with the modern world—specifically his more pastoral approach on issues ranging from divorce and same-sex relationships to euthanasia—threaten to not only divide and weaken the church but betray the very words of Jesus.

We ask Ross whether he thinks people in the pews share his concerns, what mercy means for Catholics who feel hurt by Catholic teachings and what gives him hope about the church.

In Signs of the Times: a Catholic school showcases a caged tiger at prom. Bad idea or the worst idea? Plus, new rules for contemplative nuns, the United States’ first African-American priest gets a step closer to sainthood, thoughts on the new Pope Francis biopic and news from the Holy Land.

Finally, it’s Mental Health Awareness Week, so we wanted to discuss what more the church can do to support families struggling with mental illness.

As always, check us out on Twitter @jesuiticalshow, and send us some feedback by emailing jesuitical@americamedia.org. You can support the show (and get exclusive swag and bonus content!) by joining our Patreon community.

Links from the show

A Catholic School in Florida Had a Caged Tiger at Its Jungle-Themed Prom and WTF?
Vatican issues new rules for communities of contemplative nuns
Runaway slave-turned-priest moves closer to beatification
California bishops: The mental health care system is broken
Pope gets an unprecedented close-up, courtesy of Wim Wenders
Pope Francis denounces spiral of violence in the Holy Land

What’s on tap?

Wisconsin white wine from our very first in-studio Patreon V.I.P. visitor, Creede Caldwell!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes a good "Christian" movie? Ep. 61 May 11, 2018

What makes a Christian movie? Can you define it based on its themes and subjects? Or is it all in whom it’s marketed at?

Alissa Wilkinson is a film critic at Vox, where she covers film and culture. Before writing at Vox, Alissa was critic-at-large at Christianity Today. We discuss the role of religion in film, whether “Christian” or not, what her favorite films are and more on this week’s show.

During Signs of the Times, our weekly Catholic news update, we discuss whether the Catholic-imagination themed Met Gala was offensive or awesome, what some churches are doing to aid immigrants in the midst of destructive decrees from the Trump administration and whether non-Catholic spouses might be able to receive communion at Mass.

Last week, we launched a Facebook group—you should join! It’s a great way to meet other young-ish, hip-ish and lay-ish Jesuitical listeners. You can also follow us on Twitter and support the show on Patreon.

Links from the show:

Why the Met Gala is a good thing for Catholicism

Sessions: "Zero-tolerance" policy may cause families to be split at border

Catholic groups decry end to Temporary Protected Status for Hondurans

Dallas-area immigrants apply for Catholic church-issued IDs to ease deportation fears

Pope Francis asks German bishops to find agreement on Communion for non-Catholic spouses

Paul Ryan reinstates Jesuit as House Chaplain

Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism

What's on tap?
Miami Vice, Zac's mom's favorite drink, in honor of her graduation.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wajahat Ali reminds U.S. Catholics of their own history of discrimination. Ep. 60 May 04, 2018

This week, we talk with Wajahat Ali, a contributing op-ed writer for The New York Times, where he covers religion, family life and U.S. politics. Wajahat is also one of the producers of the Emmy-nominated series, “The Secret Life of Muslims,” which takes a look into the lives of U.S. Muslims. We talk with Wajahat about the perception of Muslim Americans in the age of Trump, and how his Jesuit education has made him a better Muslim.

In Signs of the times, Cardinal Pell stands trial for sex abuse; Katy Perry visits the Vatican; Catholic leaders oppose Bavarian crucifix order; and parishes are closing in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Following the forced resignation of Jesuit House chaplain, Patrick Conroy, we ask: Why did this happen And finally: Prom season in Michigan had one Catholic high-school bringing out “modesty ponchos.” We discuss whether or not this is problematic.

Follow us Twitter @jesuiticalshow, send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org and support our work by becoming a part of our Patreon community. You subscribe to us wherever you get your favorite podcast and leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

And a special shoutout to our sponsor, the Catholic Travel Centre, who made this episode possible.

P.S. We are now on Facebook! We love hearing from all of our listeners weekly, and we wanted to give you all the opportunity to not just continue talking with us but to get to know each other as well! If you haven’t joined yet, go do that.

Links from the show:

Cardinal Pell to stand trial in sex abuse case

Katy Perry Meets Pope Francis, Speaks At Vatican Conference

Dr. Oz leads Vatican panel on faith and medicine

Catholic leaders join criticism of Bavarian crucifix order

Do reactions to the firing of Jesuit House chaplain show anti-Catholic bias?

Michigan Catholic school to use ‘modesty ponchos’ at prom

Bishop Zubik unveils parish reorganization plans for Pittsburgh diocese

What’s on tap?

Margaritas—or as my co-hosts like to say, “margs”

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From alcoholism and agnosticism to converting to Catholicism: a conversation on faith with Mary Karr Ep. 59 Apr 27, 2018

“Any way I tell this story is a lie.” Mary Karr opens her memoir “Lit” with a warning about the inevitable unreliability of memory. But don’t be fooled. Mary Karr delivers many truths that you need to hear.

Mary Karr is an award-winning poet and New York Times best-selling author. Her poems have been published in the New Yorker, the Atlantic and the Paris Review. Her trilogy of memoirs, The Liars Club, Cherry and Lit, chronicle her traumatic childhood in southeast Texas, her turbulent coming of age as a woman and poet, her marriage and motherhood, alcoholism and recovery and conversion to the Catholic faith.

We were grateful to chat with Mary about all of this and more during our live event at America’s headquarters in New York City, sponsored by the Catholic Travel Centre.

Before we delve into the live recording, we’re reunited with Olga (who missed the live event, succumbing to a nasty fever) to discuss the week’s top Catholic news: A surprise parish visit from a Catholic NBA all-star; Pope Francis gives out free gelato on his name day to Rome’s needy and appoints three women to consult the Vatican’s oldest congregation; a nun is being deported for living out the Gospel in the Philippines; and we discuss an alarming trend of the killing of priests in Mexico.

As always, check us out on Twitter @jesuiticalshow, and send us some feedback (or just say hi! We love that too.) by emailing jesuitical@americamedia.org. You can support the show (and get exclusive swag and bonus content!) by joining our Patreon community.

Links from the show

Trust the prayers: Embiid surprises churchgoers near Philly
Pope Francis offers free gelato to Rome’s poor and homeless to mark his feast day
Be fruitful and multiply: Threatened trees planted in Vatican Gardens
Pope Francis appoints three women as consultants to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Philippines to deport 71-year old Australian nun who advocates for farmers
Lay down your weapons, say Mexican bishops after second priest murdered

What’s on tap?

Sugar Hill Golden Ale, courtesy of Harlem Brewing Company

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have we reached a turning point in the gun control debate? Apr 20, 2018

As I write this, thousands of students across the country are walking out of their high schools to protest gun violence. April 20 marks the 19th anniversary of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in Littleton, Colo., which left 13 dead. At the time, it was the deadliest school shooting in modern U.S. history. Tragically, that grisly record had been overtaken several times in the last two decades, most recently at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

After the Parkland shooting on Feb. 14, which left 17 students and employees dead, listeners asked that we dive deeper into the topic of gun violence. So this week, we are talking with Patrick Blanchfield, a writer who has covered the topic for n + 1 among other publications. We ask him why advocacy for gun control has been so ineffective; why religion and theology play such an important role in these debates; and whether the student activism following the Parkland shooting represents a new and promising front for those seeking to pass more restrictive gun laws.

In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis admits that he has made serious mistakes in his handling of the sex abuse crisis in Chile; Blessed Oscar Romero finally has an official canonization date; and Catholic agencies are alarmed by the severe drop in the number of Syrian refugees admitted to the United States.

Next, we discuss the state of Catholic activism: Is it a problem that the most visible Catholic protesters in peace and justice movements are often baby boomers? Where are all the millennial Catholics?

Finally, need a good pump up video? Check out these boxing nuns in Poland. Need a good cry? Watch this video of Pope Francis responding to a young boy who asks: is my atheist father in heaven?

Follow us Twitter @jesuiticalshow, send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org and support our work by becoming a part of our Patreon community. You subscribe to us wherever you get your favorite podcast and leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

Links from the show

Pope Francis admits ‘serious errors’ in handling of Chilean sex abuse cases
Oscar Romero canonization probably in Rome in October
Catholic agencies concerned by drastic drop in Syrian refugees admitted to US
Bond Denied for 7 Catholic Protesters Who Prayed on Nuclear Submarine Base in Georgia
VIDEO: Boxing nuns take Poland by storm
‘Is my dad in heaven,’ little boy asks pope

What’s on tap?

Keller Dry-Hopped Lager from Zero Gravity Craft Brewing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The (Catholic) Science Guy Ep. 57 Apr 13, 2018

Whoever says you have to choose between science and faith has not met Guy Consolmagno, S.J.—a Jesuit brother and director of the Vatican Observatory. We ask what projects the pope’s astronomers are working on now, if he believes in aliens and why people in every time and place look to the stars with big questions.

And in Signs of the Times, Pope Francis denounces a chemical attack in Syria that killed dozens of innocent civilians. How should the United States respond? And U.S. and Mexican bishops push back on President Trump’s plan to send the National Guard to secure the border as a group of Central American migrants travels north seeking sanctuary.

Next, the pope has released a new apostolic exhortation on holiness. Zac, Olga and I discuss our favorite parts of the document. Plus, updates on Catholics in France, Sweden and Brazil—where one church decided to incorporate a drone into the liturgy.

As always, we want to hear from you. You can tweet us @jesuiticalshow or send us an email jesuitical@americamedia.org. Please leave us a review on Apple podcasts, tell your friends about the show and check out our Patreon page to support Jesuitical.

P.S., if you’re in the New York area next week, come see us talk to New York Times-bestselling author, Mary Karr, for a live recording of Jesuitical! You can buy your tickets here—drinks are on us.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis denounces chemical weapons attack in Syria

Top Five Takeaways from ‘Gaudete et Exsultate’

Bishops on both sides of Mexico border criticize troop deployment

France's Macron sparks uproar by reaching out to Catholic Church

Sweden's Lutherans to let Catholic parish hold Masses in Lund cathedral

Video: Jesus Saves, but Drone Delivers This Catholic Church from Boredom

What’s on tap?

Need. Coffee.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Silverman on whether hell exists and why she loves the Jesuits Ep. 56 Apr 06, 2018

“You know, I don’t know about Jesuits except what I am learning,” Sarah Silverman tells us on this week’s episode of Jesuitical. “Every Jesuit I meet, I find that I adore and just love the bringing emotion and feelings and intellect together.”

Every week, during the interview portion of the podcast, we feature a guest, Catholic and sometimes non-Catholic, that offers an interesting perspective on faith, culture or the news. This week, we welcome Sarah, a comedian, actress and host of “I Love You America with Sarah Silverman.” We discuss why she loves Jesuit priests even as a non-believer, whether or not hell exists and why the world desperately needs Mr. Rogers.

Before our conversation with Sarah (which starts at 12:15), we discuss and analyze this week’s top Catholic news:this year’s NCAA tournament champions, Villanova and Notre Dame; and Joan Roanhauer, the first woman to lead Jesuit Refugee Services.

We also discuss Pope Francis’ latest Easter message, in which he calls for an end to conflicts in the Holy Land and Syria. April 4 also marked 50 years since the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis. We talk about Dr. King’s legacy, his influence on people like Pope Francis and the whitewashing of his beliefs. We also discuss the killing of 22-year-old Stephon Clark in Sacramento.

Please tweet us @jesuiticalshow or send us an email jesuitical@americamedia.org and let us know your reactions to our conversation with Sarah. And please leave us a review on Apple podcasts and tell your friends about the show.

Links from the show:

I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman

Pope Francis in Easter message calls for end to conflicts in Syria and the Holy Land

How Pope Francis carries on Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of Christian nonviolence

First woman to head Jesuit agency takes on refugee crisis

Nuns in Poland show ‘fighting spirit’ in boxing video to raise funds for orphanage

Ogunbowale encore! Final Four hero lifts Notre Dame to title

What’s on tap?

Lent is over! Easter is here! So we celebrate with prosecco.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Live from Loyola University Chicago Ep. 55 Mar 30, 2018

For this week’s episode, we’re bringing you our live recording from last Friday, March 23 at Loyola University Chicago. We’re talking with a frequent guest of the show, James Martin, S.J., about his new podcast “The Examen with Father James Martin.”

Now, I will admit—I have always wanted to be good at praying the Examen (like a good Jesuit-educated Catholic), but for various reasons (sloth and original sin) have not been able to. Father Martin told us all why he has never missed a daily Examen since he entered the Jesuits, and why it’s been so essential to his ministry.

For Signs of the Times, we mark the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ pontificate by discussing our favorite moments from his papacy, and where he has fallen short.

We know many of you might be listening in the heart of Triduum and could be looking for a show on that topic. If so, we’ve got you covered. You can check out our interview with Father Martin from last year, where we talked all things Holy Week. Once again, want to give a huge thank you to our Patreon supporters. You can check out the page here.

As always, you can tweet us @jesuiticalshow or send us an email jestuical@americamedia.org. And please leave us a review on Apple podcasts and tell your friends about show.

An extra special thank you this week to Loyola University Chicago and the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage for hosting us. It was a great consolation for me to be back on the campus of my alma mater, and especially during the middle of our Cinderella run in N.C.A.A. tournament.

Have a blessed Easter, and Go Ramblers.

Links from the show

The Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage

Five years into Pope Francis’ papacy, there is much more noise to be made.

The Examen with Fr. James Martin

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The making of a Papal Ninja Warrior Ep. 54 Mar 23, 2018

What is a papal ninja and how do you become one? This week, we went straight to the source to find out. Sean Bryan competes on the hit NBC show “American Ninja Warrior,” where he takes on insanely difficult obstacle courses—for the greater glory of God.

And that’s just his side gig. Sean also helps lead the Lay Mission Project, which forms lay people to live out their faith and transform whatever corner of the secular world they work in. We ask Sean how to pray while doing pull-ups and which church leaders would make good ninjas.

And in Signs of the Times: It snowed. Again. The 427th Nor’easter to hit New York this March kept us out of the studio on Wednesday so just a couple of headlines delivered by yours truly: a Catholic school in Australia is in trouble for letting girls wear shorts; Pope Francis gives his imprimatur to tattoos; and World Downs Syndrome Day gives us time to reflect on the human dignity of people with disabilities—in and outside the womb.

Once again, want to give a huge thank you to our Patreon supporters. You can check out the page here. Sign up ASAP if you want to take part in our first Jesuitical video chat at the end of the month!

As always, you can tweet us @jesuiticalshow or send us an email jestuical@americamedia.org. And please leave us a review on Apple podcasts and tell your friends about show.

Links from the show

Allowing shorts at a Catholic girls' school is sensible and without hidden intent
Pope Francis talks tech, sex and tattoos with young adults
‘Elimination’ of Down syndrome is a ‘great hate crime,’ says Holy See conference at the U.N.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So we interviewed our boss Ep. 53 Mar 16, 2018

It’s taken over a year for us to get our boss, Matt Malone, S.J., on Jesuitical—and we promise it was worth the wait. Matt is president and editor in chief of America, and the reason why Jesuitical exists in the first place.

This week we talk to him about Pope Francis’ election five years ago, for which he was present, the spiritual side of St. Patrick’s day and his journey to working at America.

In Signs of the Times we chat about our favorite topic of all time: Catholic sisters, since it’s National Catholic Sisters Week, and we also discuss how Catholics should be responding to the Parkland students’ call for gun reform.

Thank you to all of our new patrons this week! To see the full unedited interview, visit patreon.com/americamedia to donate. Shout out to our VIPs: Kody Teaford and Vivian Veloso Macaspac; and our Super Fans, Jim Eraci and Ben Bartosik.

As always, we want to hear from you. Write us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org and follow us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow.

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How ESPN’s Joe Lunardi invented bracketology Ep. 52 Mar 09, 2018

This week, due to inclement weather, we were unable to record on our usual Wednesday. This week’s episode is an abbreviated one, sans consolations and desolations, but have no fear: It’s a good one. Since Selection Sunday—the official start of the NCAA tournament and office bracket pools across the nation—is this weekend, we decided to bring in Joe Lunardi, the ESPN bracketologist and administrator at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. We talk to Joe about the art of bracketology, how his Jesuit education has influenced his career and more.

Finally, in Signs of the Times, we talk “Lady Bird” getting snubbed at the Oscars, Francis’ five years and a new feast day for Mary.

We want to give a huge thank you to listeners who have pledged to support Jesuitical through our new Patreon page. Shout out to Super Fans Jessica, Caroline Marcotte and Sarah Neville Jimenez and Ambassador Emilee Hunter Macguire. We are grateful for your investment in our little (but growing!) podcast community.

As always, we want to hear from you. Write us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org and follow us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow.

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Think you’re not a poetry person? Let Elizabeth Acevedo change your mind. Ep. 51 Mar 02, 2018

I feel the same way about poetry that I do about prayer: I know it’s good for the soul; I really respect those who have mastered the art—and I have a very hard time getting into it.

To which Elizabeth Acevedo, this week’s guest, (wisely) responds: “Maybe you just haven’t found the right poet.” Liz is a slam poet and author of the upcoming novel, The Poet X, set for release on March 6. In the book and in her spoken-word poetry, Liz explores her identity as a Dominican woman and wrestles with the Catholic faith of her upbringing. We ask her what it means for Latinos and people of color to see themselves reflected in literature.

In Signs on the Times, Catholic activists, including priests and sisters, were arrested on Capitol Hill this week as they voiced their support for Dreamers. Plus, why has the Catholic Church fought against attempts to extend the statute of limitations in sexual abuse cases? And why are the bishops in Texas cutting ties with the state’s largest pro-life group?

Finally, some lighter stories (and great photos) coming out of Rome: Versace and Vogue go to the Vatican, and a rare snowstorm blankets the Eternal City.

We want to give a huge thank you to listeners who have pledged to support Jesuitical through our new Patreon page. Shout out to Supers Fans Allison Colson, Catherine Addington, Jeff Trussel, Keith Bourgoin, Matthew Kyrish and Nicholas Frega; Ambassadors Carlos Mesquita, Claudia Macaluso and Michael Kelly; and V.I.P. Andy Stulc. We are eternally grateful for your investment in our little (but growing!) podcast community.

As always, we want to hear from you. Write us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org and follow us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow.

Link’s from the show:

Dozens of Catholics arrested as they call on Congress to help 'Dreamers'

Bill spurred by Nassar case concerns Catholic Church

Catholic bishops cut ties with Texas anti-abortion group

Vatican, Versace and Vogue team up to show Catholic influences in fashion

First snow in six years: Priests have a snowball fight at the Vatican

What’s on tap?

Seltzer for Zac, Diet Coke for me.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do we let ‘good manners’ get in the way of prayer? Ep 50 Feb 23, 2018

How’s your Lent going? Did you make it at least a few days (unlike me) before breaking your Lenten practice?

If you’re trying to up your prayer game this Lent and haven’t quite figured out how to do it yet, you won’t want to miss this week’s guest. Luigi Gioia, a professor at the Pontifical University of Sant’Anselmo in Rome, is the author of Say It To God: In Search of Prayer, which the Archbishop of Canterbury has chosen for his official Lent book of 2018.

“Far too spiritual, our prayer is asphyxiated by good manners,” Luigi writes in his new book. We ask Luigi about why almost everyone has a difficult time with prayer and what it means to truly find God everywhere in our lives.

In Signs of the Times, we give an update on Pope Francis’ handling of the sexual abuse crisis in Chile, the U.S. bishops’ national call-in to Congress day for Dreamers, discuss the Secret Service’s new chaplain and more.

In other news, we’re starting a Patreon page! We’ve been blessed to do the show for a full (liturgical) year, and we love the community that we’ve created so far. But if we want to keep it going, we’re going to need some help from our listeners.

We’d also like to make this a mutually beneficial relationship. If you pledge to support the show, you can get access to full-length interviews that don’t make it into the final podcast, Jesuitical shirts and swag, and monthly video chats with Ashley, Olga and me. Check out the Patreon page for full details.

Thank you so much to everyone who writes to give us adverbs and share your reactions from the show. It means a lot to us, and we want to keep hearing from you. Send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org and tweet at us @jesuiticalshow.

Links from the show:

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An Unorthodox celebration of our one year (liturgical) anniversary E. 49 Feb 16, 2018

This week, to celebrate our one year (liturgical) anniversary we are talking with Liel Leibovitz and Stephanie Butnick. They are two-thirds of Unorthodox, a Jewish podcast from The Tablet. Here at Jesuitical, we hold a special place in our hearts for these hosts—they are a part of our origin story. We talk to Liel and Stephanie about how we basically stole their podcast format, the differences between Jewish and Catholic fasting and more. And, because this week is also the start of Lent, we asked our guests what we should all give up for Lent.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss the latest firing of L.G.B.T. Catholic church workers, focusing on why these firings have gotten so much media attention and what it means for the church as a whole. The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops supports a new resolution that could label pornography a “public health risk.” In light of the #MeToo movement, we talk about why conversations about sex must include a focus on the effects of pornography, what the church can do and more.

Finally, a Catholic school robotics team ranks 15th in the world.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow. Send us any questions, cocktail recipes or consolations and desolations at jesuitical@americamedia.org. And if you haven’t already, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, and tell your friends, parents or children about the show.

P.S. Hope you enjoy our amazing redesign, courtesy of Angelo Jesus Canta. And, along with Jesuitical, you can check out additional America podcasts, including “The Examen with Father James Martin, S.J.” and “The Word: Scripture Reflections from America Media.”

Links from the show:

Firing of L.G.B.T. Catholic church workers raises hard (and new) questions

Florida resolution could label pornography a ‘public health risk'

Carmel Catholic robotics team, ranked number 15 in the world, qualifies for state tournament

What’s on tap?

Nothing. Because Lent.

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The case against hot takes Ep. 48 Feb 09, 2018

We live in an age of opinion writers telling us that we live in an age of [insert sweeping generalization here]. The hotter the take, the more attention it gets not only from readers who already agree but pundits eager to tear it down with their own scorching rebuttal.

Enter Christine Emba, an op-ed writer for The Washington Post, who traffics in nuance and explores the deeper questions beneath the latest outrage de jour. On topics from #MeToo movement and s***hole countries to Harry Potter and burritos, Christine has opinions worth reading. This week, we ask her about her vocation as an op-ed writer and what a successful column looks like. (Homilists would be wise to take notes.)

And in Signs of the Times, did you know the Winter Olympics were underway? Yeah, neither did we. Next: A German cardinal seems to (maybe) open the door to pastors blessing same-sex unions, fall out from Pope Francis’ handling of clerical sex abuse continues and we dive into a potential breakthrough for the Catholic Church in China. Finally, Lent begins next week on Valentine’s Day/Ash Wednesday—and PETA wants you to go vegan.

Tell us what you’re giving up (or #TakingUp) this Lent! Tweet us @jesuiticalshow or send us an email jestuical@americamedia.org. And please leave us a review on Apple podcasts and tell your friends, parents or children about the show.

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A conversation on why Catholics need to dialogue with Muslims Ep. 47 Feb 02, 2018

“It is not possible to build bridges between people while forgetting God,” Pope Francis said early in his pontificate. “But the converse is also true: it is not possible to establish true links with God, while ignoring other people.”

Many U.S. Catholics have not only ignored their Muslim brothers and sisters but harbor discriminatory views about Muslims at alarming rates.

Georgetown University’s Bridge Initiative, “a multi-year research project that connects the academic study of Islamophobia with the public square,” released a report in 2016 that documented how U.S. Catholics view Muslims. America’s national correspondent, Michael O’Loughlin, reported then:

When asked, “What is your overall impression of Muslims?” 30 percent of those Catholics polled said they held unfavorable views, 14 percent said favorable and 45 percent said they held neither favorable nor unfavorable views... Forty-five percent of Catholics said that Islam encourages violence more than other religions while 24 percent said it encourages violence as much as other religions.

Jordan Denari Duffner, an associate at the Bridge Initiative and author of the new book, Finding Jesus Among Muslims: How Loving Islam Makes Me a Better Catholic, joins us on this week’s episode of Jesuitical. Jordan discusses why she felt called to work in Catholic-Islamic dialogue, and why it’s an essential part of the Christian vocation.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss President Trump’s invocation of dreamers in his State of the Union address, and a Chicago priest who is on hunger strike in support of DACA recipients. We also provide an update on Pope Francis’ handling of allegations of sexual abuse in Chile, a rise in demonic activity and a limb of St. Francis Xavier making a road trip across Canada.

Links from the show:

Undocumented Loyola Medical Student to Join Durbin at State of the Union
Chicago priest pledges hunger strike to support ‘Dreamers’
Pope Francis sends special prosecutor to Chile to investigate charges against Bishop Barros
Couple, married 70 years, renew vows—this time in church
St. Francis Xavier’s severed arm to visit Calgary in relic pilgrimage
Irish priest asks for back-up as demand for exorcisms rises ‘exponentially’

What’s on tap?

Hot Toddy
1 cup of tea
Whiskey (feel free to eyeball the amount)

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Is it possible to blend yoga and Catholicism? Ep. 46 Jan 26, 2018

Is yoga cultural appropriation? Is it just stretching? Is it possible to blend yoga and the Catholic faith? This week we get into these questions and more with Bobby Karle, S.J., the founder of Ignatian Yoga, a practice that draws on Ignatian spirituality and yoga. Through Ignatian Yoga, Bobby offers classes, retreats and workshops centered around the core principles of Ignatian spirituality, like finding God in all things and living a life of self-awareness and discernment, and yoga practices like breathing meditations and vinyasa flow.

In Signs of the Times, we talk Catholic dioceses suspending the sign of the peace due to flu outbreaks; priests in cassocks competing for the John Paul II Cup; and Pope Francis celebrating the marriage of two flight attendants during a papal flight.

“Going, Going, Gone: The Dynamics of Disaffiliation in Young Catholics” is a new study that seeks to understand why so many young Catholics leave the faith they were born into. We get into the study, our own experiences growing up in the church and some of the study’s most interesting findings. Should older married men become priests in order to serve isolated Catholic communities? Cardinal Beniamino Stella, of the Congregation for Clergy, says yes. Finally, we get into Pope Francis’ latest handling of sexual abuse allegations against clergy.

Make sure to leave us a review on Apple podcasts. If you already have, thank you! And don’t forget write us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org, where you can share your own consolations and desolations or drink recipes, and follow us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow.

Links from the show:

Catholic diocese suspends ‘sign of peace’ due to flu

VIDEO: Priests in cassocks take part in annual skiing competition

Serving isolated parishes may mean ordaining married men, cardinal says

Study asks: Why are young Catholics going, going, gone?

Pope Francis explains why he celebrated the airborne marriage of two flight attendants

Pope Francis asks forgiveness from sexual abuse victims but reaffirms support for Bishop Barros

What’s on tap?

Negronis

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What do (Catholic) women want? Ep. 45 Jan 19, 2018

You have heard it said, “Who run the world? Girls” (Bey 4:12). But we ask: Who runs the church? Popes, of course. But across the country there are dedicated women of faith taking the lead in parishes, schools, social ministries—and magazines. Our guest this week is one of them.

Kerry Weber is an executive editor at America and the driving force behind a groundbreaking new survey of U.S. Catholic women. We ask her why Catholic women are so often reluctant to claim the label of role model and what the church can do to lift up the important work women are already doing in the church.

Make sure to check out the new special issue on women in the church, which features Kerry’s piece, “The humble, indispensable women leading the Catholic Church you’ve (probably) never heard of,” plus tons of other great articles diving into the survey data.

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And in Signs of the Times, Pope Francis says he is “truly afraid” of nuclear war—and how Catholics in Hawaii reacted when they thought that such a war was coming. Next, we discuss what America’s findings about the politics of U.S. Catholic women might mean for the 2018 midterm elections. Finally, we tackle the history of football’s “Hail Mary pass” and the question: Should church doors ever be locked?

Have you left us a review on Apple podcasts yet? We’d be eternally grateful if you did. Please. Not that we’re desperate. If you already have, thank you! Do keep in touch: Write us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org and follow us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow so you can take part in our unscientifically significant polls!

Links from the show

U.S. Catholic Women: What a New Survey Reveals

Pope Francis: “I am truly afraid” of nuclear war.

How our Confirmation students kept us calm during a false missile threat in Hawaii

Overall, the survey found that 59 percent of Catholic women are Democrats or lean Democratic, whereas 38 percent are Republican or lean Republican.

Roger Staubach, Drew Pearson hope Vikings’ miracle play makes up for 1975 Hail Mary

Catholic bishop says churches should stay open like the Church of England

What’s on tap?

(Modified) Elderflower Thistle

2 ounces of Jameson, an ounce of St. Germain and a dash of Angostura bitters, over ice. (The original recipe calls for Scotch. Apparently, Irish whiskey is not, in fact, the same thing as Scotch. You live and you learn.)

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One thing you can do to support migrants and refugees. Ep. 44 Jan 12, 2018

It is not the first time and it is unlikely to be the last time, but President Trump’s latest racist remarks about “shithole” countries has many of asking: Who are we? What do we stand for? Who do we welcome and why?

We recorded this episode on Wednesday before the news about the president’s comments broke, but nonetheless we think a lot of what we talk about with this week’s guest will help you channel the anger you might feel toward practical steps to help migrants and refugees.

This Sunday the Catholic Church marks the 2018 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, and Jesuitical is marking that by talking with Giulia McPherson. Giulia is the director of advocacy and operations at Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, where she works [...]

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What’s it like being Catholic at The New York Times? Ep. 43 Dec 22, 2017

In our final Jesuitical episode of 2017, we talk with my fellow Bronxite and award-winning journalist at The New York Times, David Gonzalez. Born and raised in the South Bronx to Puerto Rican immigrants, David was raised Catholic and attended Cardinal Hayes High School. Since the 1970s, he has been snapping pictures of people and places all around New York City.

Currently, he co-edits the Times’ photography and video blog, Lens, and writes the Side Street column. In Side Street, he offers his “native New Yorker take on life off the beaten path in the five boroughs” in stories such as the

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Kirsten Powers worked for Bill Clinton and Fox News. She has some thoughts on sexual harassment. Ep 42 Dec 15, 2017

How does an appointee in the Bill Clinton administration end up as a regular face of Fox News? It’s complicated. And what does a woman who has worked for decades in both politics and the media have to say about today’s sexual assault and harassment reckoning? A lot.

This week we talk with Kirsten Powers, who you may recognize as a frequent on-air political analyst for CNN and an opinion writer for USA Today. We ask Kirsten whether she thinks we’ve reached a turning point in how we handle sexual misconduct in the workplace and beyond.

Kirsten has also had a fascinating spiritual journey—from growing up in an Episcopal church in Alaska to straddling atheism and agnosticism in New York to becoming an evangelical Christian and, finally, entering the Catholic Church. We ask her how her faith has changed her approach to politics [...]

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When your favorite Jesuit moonlights as a model. Ep. 41 Dec 08, 2017

Have you ever gotten to know a priest only to discover that your conception of who he was was misguided? Too often priests have either the best or the worst assumed of them, and the result is that we, the laity, fail to see them as they are: human.

Our guest this week is Chris Yates, a graduate of Loyola Marymount University who has created a fine-art coffee table book that seeks to show the Jesuits he had grown close to as they truly were. Emmaus: The Nature of the Way profiles several Jesuit priests with two portraits. One is a traditional headshot, the other is an informal composition of each Jesuit doing one of his hobbies: gardening, cooking, stand-up. It’s a beautiful book filled with over 100 portraits, some of which can be found on Yates’s site.

Some housekeeping notes: you’ll notice that this week’s episode is a bit shorter than normal. A [...]

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Black catholics are the past and future of the U.S. church Ep. 40 Dec 01, 2017

When you think about the history of American Catholicism, images of Irish, Italian, German and Polish immigrant parishes probably come to mind. Think about the future of the U.S. church, and you’ve probably been told it’s Latino. But the story of the church, in the United States—past, present and future—is the story of black Catholics.

On this week’s show we talk with Mary C. Curtis, an award-winning journalist and columnist at Roll Call, who recently wrote about the African-American Catholic experience for America. We ask her how the church can address the sin of racism, about the gifts black Catholics bring to the church and what she thinks about Pope Francis five years in.

In Signs of the Times: An entrepreneurial cannabis company in Canada is selling a unique Advent calendar—and the Archdiocese of Washington holds its ground in the W [...]

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Thanksgiving special: A look at Jesuit basketball Ep. 39 Nov 24, 2017

This week, we talk with Brian Larkin of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Larkin is part of the Jesuit Basketball Spotlight. Founded in 2018, the J.B.S. is “a nationwide effort to capitalize on basketball games between Jesuit schools and, through those games, bring greater positive awareness and exposure to Jesuit education and its shared mission.”

We talk about its creation, the Jesuit Player of the Week, greatest moments in Jesuit ball history and why he thinks Patrick Ewing should be canonized.

No Signs of the Time this week because it’s Thanksgiving. We are super thankful for all of our listeners. As always, we appreciate your feedback, so email us at jesuitical@americamedia.org or follow us on Twitter at @jesuiticalshow. While you’re home eating turkey, tell your family about us an [...]

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What is Hipster Catholicism? Ep. 38 Nov 17, 2017

In an article that appeared in America over the summer, David Michael wrote:

Hipsters are drawn to craft beer, obscure cheeses, organic farms, taxidermy and homemade preserves. They favor hand-dipped candles, old-fashioned stationery, Indian headdresses and the lamentable industrial-chic decor and exposed bricks that mark so many new restaurants and bars.

Hipsters love the authentic, the craft and the obscure—which is exactly why Catholicism, in its practices and its aesthetic, is perfectly suited for them.

Don’t believe me? Well, let Tommy Tighe, this week’s guest on Jesuitical, have his say. Tighe is the author of The Catholic Hipster Handbook: Rediscovering Cool Saints, Forgotten Prayers, and Other Weird bu [...]

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Live, from D.C., it’s Jesuitical! Ep. 37 Nov 10, 2017

Last weekend Jesuitical took the show on the road for our first live recording at the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in my hometown, Arlington, Va. The Teach-In is the country’s largest Catholic social justice gathering, which brings together students from Jesuit high schools and colleges and other members of the Ignatian family for three days of learning, prayer and advocacy.

For this week’s interview, the tables were turned and your hosts were in the hot seat. Our audience had some extremely thoughtful questions for us: How has our faith changed since graduating from college? How do you convince teens who say they like God but not religion that the church has something to offer them? And, of course, if we could canonize one person, living or dead, Catholic or not, who would it be?

And in Signs of the Times, Pope Francis makes an extra-long distance call to the International Space Station. Next, the “chainsaw nun” now has an IPA named in her honor [...]

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Sister Simone Campbell on Paul Ryan, religious life, and the political issues driving her crazy right now Ep. 36 Oct 27, 2017

This week, we talk with celebrity nun, Sister Simone Campbell. Sister Simone is the leader of the Nuns on the Bus and executive director of the NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice. We talk balancing spirituality with fame, women religious, Catholic feminism, Paul Ryan and more.

In Signs of the Times, next week is Halloween, and some women religious warn: sexy nun costumes aren’t funny. Half of U.S. citizens don’t think you need to believe in God to be a good person—what exactly does it mean to be good? Have you heard of the Palmarian Catholic Church? Well, Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code and infamous for getting Catholicism wrong, has a new book out focusing on the creepy, Catholic sect (as a bonus, you guys get to hear about Zac’s schismatic church rabbit hole). Earlier this year, the Vatican released a survey in anticipation of next year’s Synod 2018 on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment. The three of us took the survey ba [...]

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Do you know why you’re Catholic? Ep. 35 Oct 20, 2017

“What does religion have to offer me?” It’s a question more people are asking as affiliation with organized religion continues to fall. Brandon Vogt thinks that Catholics should be ready with answers.

“Today, as the world becomes more and more disinterested and disenchanted with religion, we need this positive approach [to being Catholic more] than a negative defense,” he says.

Vogt, the guest on this week’s episode of Jesuitical, is the author of Why I am Catholic (And You Should Be Too). In it, Vogt recounts his conversion to Catholicism and the arguments that convinced him to enter the church. He also outlines arguments he thinks will convince those skeptical of what the Catholic Church teaches.

Before the interview with Vogt, we summarize and discuss the top [...]

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Catholic feminism is not an oxymoron Ep 34 Oct 13, 2017

What does it mean to be a feminist? I wasn’t raised one—I barely even understood what the word meant growing up. It wasn’t until my 20s that I began to fully engage with feminist ideas and literature, from Betty Friedan to bell hooks to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. For me, feminism is intersectional, incorporating various aspects of my identity: being a woman of color, an immigrant, a writer, and a person of faith.

This week, in a women’s only episode—Zac is on a much deserved vacation—Ashley and I discuss our personal relationships with the feminist label, Catholicism and more with this week’s guest, Claire Swinarski. A former FOCUS missionary, Claire is the host of “The Catholic Feminist Podcast.”

And, in Signs of the Times, Pope Francis reaches [...]

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Matt Maher: Jesuit spirituality could save the world Ep. 33 Oct 06, 2017

Even super fans (your hosts included) of Grammy-nominated Christian artist Matt Maher may not know this fun fact: The Canadian musician went to a Jesuit high school in Newfoundland! On this week’s episode, we ask Matt if Ignatian spirituality has influenced his music, how the music industry has changed since he released his first album in 2001 and about the place of protest and suffering in his latest album, “Echoes,” which dropped on Sept. 29.

In Signs of the Times, we talk about how we, as individuals and a country, responded to the horrific mass shooting in Las Vegas. Are thoughts and prayers enough? Is this the right time to talk about gun control?

Next, a former ESPN employee fired for writing a racist headline and about to become a Catholic priest show the power of second chances. And in other sports news, a Catholic diocese decrees that student athletes and spectators cannot take a knee during the national anthem. Also, they might have found Santa’s gra [...]

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How one Jesuit grad is building Tiny Homes to end chronic homelessness Ep 32 Sep 29, 2017

Tiny homes—you’ve probably heard of them. They’re littered all over Instagram and Pinterest, and HGTV has dedicated a show to hunting them.

But what you probably haven’t heard about is how they could be a solution to end chronic homelessness.

This week we talk to Andrew Lunetta, a graduate of LeMoyne University, who is the executive director of A Tiny Home for Good. Only 27, Andrew “builds and manages safe, affordable and dignified housing for individuals facing homelessness in Syracuse, New York.” How does he do it?

In Signs of the Times, we discuss the first U.S.-born priest to be beatified, funeral Mass-crashing and the controversy around N.F.L. players taking a knee.

This week we’re giving away print copies of the latest issue of America if you leave us an iTunes review! To have one personally mailed to you, leave us a review on iTunes and send us [...]

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Audrey Assad on doubt, social justice and mysticism—plus an exclusive album sneak peek Ep 31 Sep 22, 2017

Last week, we talked about how to pray—this week, we bring you the music for those prayers as we talk with Catholic rockstar Audrey Assad. She is the daughter of a Syrian refugee, an author, speaker and producer who uses her music and her various social media platforms to talk about her Syrian identity and movements like Black Lives Matter.

We talk to Audrey about her latest album, “Inheritance,” her conversion to Catholicism and more. We’ve also got an exclusive preview (!) of her next album, “Evergreen,” which debuts next year.

Next in Signs of the Times, we pray for Mexico and the lives lost in the latest earthquake to hit the country. In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we talk about “Siervas,” a rock band from Peru made up of 11 nuns. And an 11- [...]

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Father James Martin: The right way to pray is whatever works best for you. Ep. 30 Sep 15, 2017

Chances are if you’re Catholic you’ve said it, or at least thought it: I am terrible at praying. I know I have (and am). You’ve tried the rosary. You’ve given the Examen a shot. You even dragged yourself to adoration. Why isn’t God answering?! Especially in this long slog between Pentecost and Advent, it’s easy to get discouraged.

Fear not, dear listener. This week, we bring back Father James Martin, who has written a new book on prayer, In All Seasons, For All Reasons: Praying Throughout the Year. We ask him: How to (pumpkin?) spice up your prayer life during plain ol’ Ordinary Time? What’s your favorite way to pray? And what’s the worst prayer advice you’ve ever heard?

(You can enter to win a free copy of Father Martin’s book if you leave us a review on iTunes, screenshot the review and then send it to jesuitical@americamedia.org!)

We also asked listen [...]

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You need to pay attention to hip-hop if you’re religious. Here’s why. Ep. 29 Sep 08, 2017

Rap got religious last year. At least that’s what Zac wrote earlier this year for America. The truth is, while it may have gotten more explicit about religion in 2016, hip-hop has always had a deep religious undercurrent to its bars and beats.

This week we’re chatting with Alex Nava, the author of In Search of Soul: Hip-Hop, Literature, and Religion. We talk to Alex about religion’s influence on hip-hop and why people are surprised to find out about it. If you need any convincing before or after listening to us—go listen to Kendrick Lamar’s “How Much a Dollar Cost.”

In Signs of the Times, we talk Pope Francis in Colombia, rapping nuns, beer-brewing monks and proposing in front of Pope Francis.

Links from the show:

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Maps, they don’t love you like I love you. Ep. 28 Sep 01, 2017

Whether you connect our episode title to Beyoncé, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs or even Vampire Weekend, maps matter. This week we are talking with Molly Burhans, the founder and executive director of GoodLands, a startup that is mapping the global Catholic Church. Information can change lives and Molly helped us wrap our heads around the amazing work she and h [...]

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What makes a Catholic guy, The Catholic Guy? Ep. 27 Aug 25, 2017

This week, we talk with Lino Rulli, host of “The Catholic Guy” on Sirius XM’s The Catholic Channel. We talk balancing his Catholicism and comedy, being vulnerable on air, relationships, late-night television and more. Is there anything he hasn’t (or wouldn’t) share with listeners after 10 years on the radio?

In Signs of the Times, the “Mother Teresa of Pakistan” gets a state funeral. Iceland claims that it is on its way to eliminating people with Down Syndrome. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan gets grilled by a Dominican nun from Wisconsin on how he reconciles his politics and Catholic beliefs. St. Junipero Serra’s statue gets defaced in California amid national dialogue surrounding Confederate statues. Do statues with offensive history belong in public spaces?

And finally, William Aitcheson, a Catholic priest in Virginia, has stepped down after revealing that he was a member of the Ku Klux Klan 40 years ago. Is he irredeemable?

This week we also [...]

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Is there a right (or wrong) time for millennials to have kids? Ep. 26 Aug 18, 2017

How could I possibly have kids if I can barely do my taxes without calling my mom in a panic on April 14? It’s a question I must admit that has crossed my mind more than once. I’ve never even owned a dog. Isn’t that a prereq for parenting these days?

Our guest this week, Liz Bruenig, wears many hats: Washington Post editor, socialist, Catholic convert, Twitter enthusiast—and “young” mother. She pushes back against the idea that young people need to have their lives figured out before starting a family.

In Signs of the Times, with a fun art project to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Our Lady of Czestochowa, the church is trying to reach out to the so-called selfie generation. So why are they asking people to snail mail their selfies? Next, just how far will some parents go to get their kids on the basketball team or honor roll? Two Catholic school parents in New Jersey took their case all the way up to the cardinal and the courts.

Finally, we talk [...]

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Remembering Michael Brown and Ferguson with Rev. Broderick Greer. Ep. 25 Aug 11, 2017

Three years ago this week, on Aug. 9, 2014, police officer Darren Wilson shot and killed Michael Brown, an African-American teen in Ferguson, Mo. Within 24 hours of the shooting the Ferguson uprising began. On this episode, we talk with the Rev. Broderick Greer, an Episcopalian priest in Memphis, Tenn., who boarded a bus and headed to Ferguson following Mr. Brown’s death. He wrote about this experience in an article for America, “How Ferguson helped me understand my baptismal identity.”

We ask Rev. Greer about his experience in Ferguson, black Christianity and why he doesn’t call himself an activist.

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Why can’t there be a magazine out there that doesn’t make women feel terrible? Ep. 24 Aug 04, 2017

For millions of women around the world, women’s magazines—from Teen Vogue and Seventeen to Cosmopolitan and Glamour—have played a pivotal role in the way we are taught to view ourselves. These publications condition the way we view our hair, bodies, sexuality and relationships.

But what are the damaging effects these publications can have on women? This week, we talk with Kara Eschbach, founder, CEO and editor in chief of Verily Magazine, “a photoshop-free magazine empowering women to be their best selves.” We talk with Kara about Verily’s mission statement, the differences between Catholic and secular media, accepting our flaws and more.

And in Signs of the Times, Pope Francis celebrates the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. Sean Spicer and Anthony Scaramucci, both Catholics, are out of the Trump administration. How long will the new chief of staff, Joh [...]

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Working out for the body of a god? What about the body of a convict? Ep. 23 Jul 28, 2017

Are you working out for the body of a god? What about the body of a convict?

Meet Coss Marte, our guest this week. After being arrested at 19 for running a multimillion dollar drug trade in New York City, Coss was sent to prison. There, doctors told him that his health problems and weight could kill him within a few years.

After dropping 70 pounds in six months, and helping train other convicts to make dramatic changes, Coss also experienced a religious revival in a moment of desperation.

Now Coss is the head of ConBody: a gym that offers prison-style bootcamp classes taught by formerly incarcerated trainers.

We’ll be talking with Coss about how ConBody was developed, how his faith helped him while incarcerated and his prison reform activism. After, we’ve got consolations and desolations, where we tell you where we did or didn’t find God this week.

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‘The Keepers’ isn’t easy to watch. Here’s why you should anyway. Ep. 22 Jul 21, 2017

What is it about habits and cassocks that capture the imagination of even secular audiences? Mix those priests and nuns with a murder mystery and you’ve got a ready-made hit. Netflix’s Emmy-nominated documentary series “The Keepers,” begins with the story of Sister Cathy Cesnik, a beloved Catholic high school teacher, who was murdered in 1969 and whose case remains unsolved. But it quickly evolves into something much larger: an excruciating investigation into clerical sex abuse at the school.

This week, we talk to Nick Ripatrazone about the series—and ask why it is important for Catholics to watch shows and films that expose the church’s sins.

And in Signs of the Times, a message from the Holy Father: Stop complaining! At least to the pope. Save it for the Lord; he’s much more patient. Next, a Catholic priest in [...]

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Who goes on dates anymore? Ep. 21 Jul 14, 2017

This week we’re going back to college. That means Natty Light, hook-ups and figuring out “gluten” is.

This week our guest is Kerry Cronin, professor of philosophy at Boston College. She teaches her students, among other things, about the pitfalls of hookup culture and the dos and don’ts of Catholic dating. She frequently makes headlines (like this one: Ask Someone on a Date—or Kerry Cronin Will Fail You) because of an unorthodox assignment she includes in her classes: asking someone on a date. Like, a real date. So we discuss with Kerry what it’s like to date in college and beyond; we also break open the perennial debate of Tinder vs. Catholic Match. (Swipe right for Jesus!)

In Signs of the Times, we break down the Vatican’s (not-so-new) rules on gluten-free Communion; pasta made to strangle priests; God propping up Stephen Colbert’s ratings; and the Cathol [...]

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Independence Day: Sharing in sin, success and beer. Ep. 20 Jul 07, 2017

This week the United States celebrated the Fourth of July: a day where people gather with friends and families, drinking Budweisers and eating hot dogs. This week’s episode reflects on the state of the country. Our own Zac Davis wrote “Donald Trump’s sins are our sins, too, and impeachment won’t absolve them,” which we discuss in conversation about American exceptionalism and more.

This week we chat about the new survey released by the Vatican in anticipation of next year’s Synod 2018 on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment. What does it mean to be a “young person” in the church? And how do you minister to the different age ranges within this demographic? We discuss this and more with Danny Gustafson. And finally, in a special consolations-only segment, we tell you where we find hope in the [...]

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Making it in the (secular) (white) media as a Catholic Latina. Ep. 19 Jun 30, 2017

This week, we talk Latina identity, journalism and more with Juleyka Lantigua-Williams. She is the former senior supervising producer and editor of NPR’s Code Switch and a former staff writer at The Atlantic. She has covered issues ranging from women’s rights at home and abroad, environmental justice, U.S. immigration policy, poverty, maternal health, early childhood development and demographic changes. Lantigua-Williams is also the founder of Lantigua Williams & Co., a production company that seeks to amplify the “voices of organizations, people and projects that have a real sense of social justice.”

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If you’re so depressed you can’t get off the floor, how can you get into the confessional? Ep 18 Jun 23, 2017

Talking about mental health isn’t easy. And when you throw faith into the mix it often becomes even harder. Many Catholics mistakenly think that needing mental health treatment amounts to a kind of spiritual failure. This week, we talk with writer Simcha Fisher, author of The Sinner’s Guide to Natural Family Planning, about how she learned to balance her Catholic faith and therapy.

And in Signs of the Times, for our listeners who have been anxiously awaiting an update, the stolen relic of St. John Bosco has been found—inside a teapot! In papal news, Pope Francis urges parents to “stop pretending to be adolescents”; and he meets with NFL legends. We also talk about Britanny Hamama, a University of Michigan ju [...]

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Fr. James Martin: L.G.B.T Catholics have been treated like dirt. We can do better. Ep. 17 Jun 16, 2017

This week, Father James Martin tells us why he was disappointed with how many church leaders spoke about the Orlando attack (very few uttered the word “gay”)—and what he’s doing to change the conversation within the church between the hierarchy and L.G.B.T. Catholics. (This being the prolific Jim Martin, there is a new book involved.)

Zac Davis is in China. Sad! But we have found a Jesuit Zach to take his seat. Zach with an H works in prisons and with the formally incarcerated in New York City and we so enjoyed his company that we invited him to come back next week.

In Signs of the Times: Who wore it better, Francis or JPII? According to the tailors and cobblers of Rome, papal fashion is changing under ou [...]

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News Cycle Survival 101 with an NPR reporter. Ep. 16 Jun 09, 2017

How do you keep your sanity while covering the news in the Trump era? This week we’re talking with NPR congressional correspondent, host of the NPR Politics Podcast and proud Fordham alum Scott Detrow. Scott has some great tips for keeping up with the news without drowning in it.

Pro-tip: Listen to jesuitical while bike riding. Church can help, too.

In this week’s Signs of the Times, our self-described “tone deaf” pope belts out some hymns while at Mass with Charismatic Catholics, and our self-described “evangelical Catholic” vice president says, “American Catholics have an ally in President Trump.” Next, it has been said, “You can take away a relic of Don Bosco, but you can’t take away Don Bosco from the church or the world.” Wel [...]

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God and War Stories. Ep. 15 Jun 02, 2017

“I had at least thought there would be nobility in war. I know it exists. There are so many stories, and some of them have to be true. But I see mostly normal men, trying to do good, beaten down by horror, by their inability to quell their own rages, by their masculine posturing and their so-called hardness, their desire to be tougher, and therefore crueler, than their circumstance. And yet, I have this sense that this place is holier than back home. Gluttonous, fat, oversexed, overconsuming, materialist home, where we’re too lazy to see our own faults.”

That’s just a sample of the stinging and raw prose found in Phil Klay’s collection of short stories, Redeployment. Klay, a veteran of the Iraq war and recipient of the National Book Award, sat down with us to talk about Memorial Day, why we find it diffi [...]

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Some Catholics and a Rabbi Walk into a Podcast Studio Ep. 14 May 26, 2017

What does the word “rabbi” stand for? Is a priest just the Catholic version of one? If you’ve ever had these questions, this week’s episode is just for you. We talk Judaism 101, “radical hospitality” and more with Rabbi Avram Mlotek. In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis selects five new Cardinals; Haitians in the United States get temporary protected status extensions; and Vice President Mike Pence and Greg Boyle speak at the Notre Dame Commencement. And, in what is slowly becoming the “Zac Davis Wonders Why This Is Interesting” section, we discuss “The Bachelorette.”

Finally, the meeting everyone has been excitedly and anxiously awaiting: President Donald J. Trump and Pope Francis meet at the Vatican, or as we like to call it, PRUMP 2017.

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Stop, cooperate and listen: Ep 13 May 19, 2017

Does capitalism not do it for you? Communism a bit much? There’s another way.

This week we’re talking with Nathan Schneider (and his adorable baby, Daniel) about co-ops. Now, that word might bring to mind hippies living together and making vegan meals from the community garden (which Nathan did)—but there are hidden cooperative businesses all around you: REI, Dairy Queen, Southwest Airlines. We ask him about the Catholic roots of the co-op movement and why he thinks it’s making a comeback.

In Signs of the Times, President Trump is heading to the Vatican. Will Francis be “pope-like” enough for him? And, Simone Biles: great Catholic gymnast or the greatest Catholic gymnast? Next, it’s commencement speech controversy season. Do speakers at Catholic colleges need to agree with church teaching? Does anyone even remember commencement speeches? We discuss.

Finally [...]

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From Elvis to Queen Bey, Finding God in All Tunes. Ep. 12 May 12, 2017

Aside from being fodder for tattoos and Twitter bios, “Finding God in all things,” is a powerful idea that can spark an exploration into realms of pop culture that often are considered… surprising. This week we chat with Professor Tom Beaudoin from Fordham University about his course: “Faith in Music: Sound Theology From the Blues to Beyoncé.” In Signs of the Times, we’ll catch up on the recently unemployed James Comey and the flood of news surrounding President Trump and his visit to Rome. All that and more on this week’s epsiode of Jesuitical.

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My Big Fat Very Catholic Dream Wedding. Ep. 11 May 05, 2017

Are you a Sorta Catholic? Symptoms include: residual guilt, love for Pope Francis, alternating between church and SoulCycle Sundays.

This week’s guest is a Sorta Catholic who wound up having a Very Catholic Wedding. Tracey Wigfield won an Emmy as a writer for “30 Rock” and is a graduate of Boston College (you can decide which is more impressive). In Signs of the Times, we check in on the bros of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Much to our dismay, the Ringling Bros are not a traveling fraternity. May Day, Catholic scientists, Pope Francis in Egypt and a new study on college education and religion, all that and more this week on Jesuitical.

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We choose life: Arkansas, Nebraska and the death penalty. Ep 10 Apr 28, 2017

This week we’re talking with Brother Joseph Hoover, S.J., about the Catholic Church’s fight against the death penalty. Signs of the Times includes a band formed by four Dominican sisters. On the Pope Francis news front, we’ve got his latest donations to an Italian non-profit, his comparison of refugee camps to concentration camps and his surprise TED Talk calling for a “revolution of tenderness.” And finally, we wade into the debate around being a Catholic and a member of the Democratic Party.

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Jesus is risen. And so are our glasses. Ep. 9 Apr 21, 2017

He is risen! And so are our pint glasses, now that Lent is over. This week, we chat with Andy Otto, author of the new book God Moments: Unexpected Encounters in the Ordinary and author of the blog godinallthings.com. Who gets to be an expert on Ignatian spirituality? What are “God moments?” And how can Ignatian discernment help you with making the big and small choices in life?

In Signs of the Times, we open up Pope Francis’ annual Easter message, “Urbi et Orbi,” Bill O’Reilly’s up-and-down Wednesday, anti-Catholic Irish slurs, what schism really means and whether you should put down your yoga mat and pick up your cross.

Finally, in consolations and desolations, which is quickly devolving to the “we go to church with our significant others” part of the show, we look at where we found God in our [...]

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It’s all Good… Friday. Ep. 8 Apr 14, 2017

Why is the Easter Vigil so long and why should you definitely attend it? We sat down with Fr. James Martin, S.J. (again) to talk about all things Holy Week. This week we also explain where we got the phrase “Signs of the Times,” no we didn’t make it up. All that and more for this, the holiest week of the year, and perhaps the holiest of all Jesuitical episodes.

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Disney Kids 4eva - Bonus Episode (Featuring our moms) Apr 06, 2017

We had so much fun talking Beauty and the Beast last week, that we decided to take a deeper dive into how Disney influenced our upbringings. So we decided to ring up the people best able to assess that: our mothers.

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Be our guest! Ep: 6 Mar 31, 2017

This week we are talking all things “Beauty and the Beast.” Alfonso Pizano, S.J., who spent 14 years working at Disneyland, “where he piloted the monorail, sailed submarines, hawked souvenirs and danced in the Christmas Fantasy Parade,” joins to offer his expertise. He is currently a Jesuit scholastic studying philosophy at Fordham University in New York. This week on jesuitical, we talk with Alfie about some of his favorite Disney moments and what makes the 2017 version of “Beauty” different than its Oscar-nominated original.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss Pope Francis landing the third spot on Fortune’s world leaders list, why the pope wants you to stop bullying, zombie Catholics and President Trump’s latest executive order.

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Busted Brackets and the Jesuit Elite Eight - Bonus Extra Mar 25, 2017

Our brackets are busted! Back in Episode 4, we talked March Madness with Paddy Gilger, SJ. We decided to give Paddy a call and rub in the fact that Zac predicted the Jesuit Elite Eight matchup between Xavier and Gonzaga. Who are the Jesuits rooting for this round, Xavier or Gonzaga?

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Is Pope Francis subtweeting Donald Trump? Ep. 5 Mar 24, 2017

Four years ago this month, the Argentine cardinal (and Jesuit) Jorge Bergoglio became Pope Francis. Michael O’Loughlin, America’s national correspondent and author of The Tweetable Pope: A Spiritual Revolution in 140 Characters,has been covering this historic papacy ever since. This week on jesuitical, we ask Mike who has a better Twitter game: Pope Francis or President Trump?

And in Signs of the Times, we discuss the wrong ways to use the rosary, the right ways to use technology and a meeting of prominent Catholics at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.

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The Jesuit Guide to March Madness. Ep: 4 Mar 17, 2017

Is your bracket busted? Did you pick an upset, just the wrong one? Take a break from the madness of March and listen in as we talk with Paddy Gilger, S.J., about the top Jesuit moments in the NCAA tournament’s history, the good things sports can do for us and when they become a religion of their own.

In our review of this week’s Catholic news, we look at where you can eat corned beef this St. Patrick’s Day Friday, mark Pope Francis’ four years as pope and return to last week’s debate about ouija boards (I get some vindication, here, I’m not proud to admit).

And finally, in Consolations and Desolations we fess up to not being experts in Ignatian spirituality. But we believe that God loves us when we try, as do our Jesuit colleagues.

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A woman’s place is in the…Vatican? Ep: 3 Mar 10, 2017

One year ago, on International Women’s Day, Nicole Perone had the opportunity to speak at the Vatican before hundreds of activists and Catholic leaders about the importance of giving young Catholics and women real leadership in the church. This year, she had the opportunity to tell jesuitical all about it…. Upgrade?

And in Signs of the Times, we discuss the Catholic high school that made millions off of Snapchat, Pope Francis says, “Get off Snapchat!” and we return to the age old question: Should you give a beggar money, even if “he just spends it on a glass of wine”?

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Being undocumented in Donald Trump’s America. Ep: 2 Mar 03, 2017

So since we weren’t canceled after one episode, we’re happy to present Episode 2! We speak with Jorgé Corona, a producer at Gizmodo Media Company, about a viral video he made about what it’s like to be an undocumented immigrant in the United States.

And in Signs of the Times, we shine some more light on the chaplain to Loyola University Chicago’s basketball team: 97-year-old Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt. And Pope Francis settles the eternal question: Should you give money to homeless people who ask you?

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Father James Martin on what makes a good Lent. Also, our pilot. Mar 01, 2017

What does James Martin, S.J., give up for Lent? And does he cheat on Sundays? On our debut episode of (jesuit)ical, we sit down with America’s editor at large to talk about how he approaches Lent, what living saint he would canonize today and why you might not want to but nevertheless should go to confession.

And in this week’s Signs of the Times, we’ve got stories on how people of faith view Donald Trump’s refugee ban and some bad news for purveyors of Pope Francis swag and memes.

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