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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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: Rethinking Sex: A Provocation  Bishops have frank conversations with lay theologians about Pope Francis, U.S. Church and Vatican II in semi-off-the-record meeting What it means to be a woman — from a Catholic perspective Roundtable: Indigenous abuse survivors on truth, reconciliation and the need for a papal apology Former Jesuit superior of Ukraine: ‘Putin is destroying the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine.’ Join Jesuitical in Italy! Wondrium special offer What’s on tap? Coffee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Join our pilgrimage to Italy! Two nuns have a message for Catholics angry about their ministry to immigrants: ‘We don’t have any intention of stopping.’ 5 years ago we started a podcast for young Catholics. What we learned about politics, prayer and the church surprised us. The Modern Saints Icon: Hildegard of Bingen Icon: Ignatius of Loyola What’s on tap? The Archangel: 2 1/4oz gin, 3/4 Aperol, 2 cucumber slices and a lemon twist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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: Come to Italy with Jesuitical! 4 lessons from Rutilio Grande, priest, prophet and martyr Ask Amy: Upset mother objects to paying for Catholic wedding Boy’s recovery a Kateri miracle What’s on tap? Last night’s leftover wine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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: Volunteer, stop judging and get off Twitter: 8 New Year’s Resolutions Inspired by Pope Francis Pope Francis’ action-packed agenda for 2022 Potentially explosive report will document handling of sex abuse in Pope Benedict’s former diocese Who will be the first Black Catholic saint from the United States? Join our Patreon community Come to Italy with Jesuitical! What’s on tap? Bringing in the New Year with some Bubbly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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: Debate over the Eucharist and pro-choice politicians ends in a whimper at bishops’ meeting Pope Francis thanks America’s Michael J. O’Loughlin for reporting on Catholic responses to H.I.V./AIDS In Catholic Italy, ‘de-baptism’ is gaining popularity Saving Grace: Speak your truth, stay centered and learn to coexist with people who drive you nuts What’s on tap Margaritas on the rocks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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:  Archbishop Gomez: The church must confront ‘woke’ social justice movements that aim to ‘cancel’ Christian beliefs Interview: Archbishop Cordileone on Biden, Pelosi, abortion and Pope Francis ‘The Church Must Be Political’ Cardinal Cupich: Pope Francis’ Latin Mass reforms are necessary to secure Vatican II’s legacy What’s on tap?  Southern Comfort Manhattans   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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: Biden says Pope Francis told him to ‘keep receiving Communion’ Leaked draft of bishops’ document on Communion lacks explicit reference to pro-choice politicians Burned out, overworked or depressed? Pope Francis is praying for you. The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery What’s on tap? Pumpkinhead Ale from Shipyard Brewing Company Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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: Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood Pope Francis receives Speaker Nancy Pelosi in private audience Pope Francis clears the way for the beatification of Pope John Paul I Papal Saints What’s on tap? Cajun Bloody Mary’s, recipe courtesy of Kevin Acord Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“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:  Toni Morrison's Spiritual Vision: Faith, Folktales, and Feminism in Her Life and Literature The Ghosts of Toni Morrison: A Catholic writer confronts the legacy of slavery ‘This is a moment of shame’: Pope Francis says the church has failed to center abuse victims for too long Pope Francis and 40 faith leaders call for urgent action to combat climate change: ‘Future generations will never forgive us’ Zac’s attempt at TikTok (be nice) What’s on tap? Strawberry Margaritas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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. To support Jesuitical and access all of America's content, get a digital subscription today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: Take the Jesuitical Listener Survey! Partners in Health Dr. Farmer’s latest book: Fevers, Feuds, and Diamonds: Ebola and the Ravages of History Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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 Sign up for your free trial of Wondrium! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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: The Gloria Purvis Podcast Pope Francis calls for abandonment of colonial mentality after discovery of buried Indigenous children in Canada Pope Francis rejects Cardinal Marx’s offer of resignation, calls on all bishops to take responsibility for the abuse crisis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: Conversion therapy is still happening in Catholic spaces—and its effects on L.G.B.T. people can be devastating Pope Francis overhauls church’s criminal code to punish the sexual abuse of adults by priests Pope: Basketball helps young people to ‘look up’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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:  Father James Altman, who said Catholic Democrats would ‘face the fires of hell,’ asked to resign by his bishop Pope Francis asks the Vatican’s media department, its most expensive office: Who actually reads your news? Buy Jordan’s book! What’s on tap: Water and lime for Zac; Lemon ginger tea for Ashley Subscribe: Apple Podcasts / Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices