Jesuitical

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

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! Susanna

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

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 colo

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 discon

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 o

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’

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 appointme

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more

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:  Direct: The Rise of the Middleman Economy and the Power of Going to the Source Archbishop Broglio, questioned on abuse, homosexuality and whether he’s a ‘Pope Francis’ bishop in first pres

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” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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,

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” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 bur

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 -