The Gloria Purvis Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In our polarized society today, the need for civil dialogue is great. So how do we approach that dialogue as Catholics? And what are some of the tools from our faith tradition that we can use in overcoming polarization?   This episode of “The Gloria Purvis Podcast” features a panel discussion between Cardinal Robert McElroy of San Diego, Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minn., and Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Tex. The conversation includes reflections on their roles as shepherds and leaders in their dioceses and in the U.S. church, and on important topics such as the Synod on Synodality, a spirit of encounter and where to find hope amid polarization.  This conversation originally aired as a virtual event co-sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Charities USA, Glenmary Home Missioners and the Jesuit Conference. It’s part of “Civilize It,” a U.S.C.C.B. initiative in response to Pope Francis’ invitation to a better kind of politics, in which Catholics are called to seek the truth, build bridges and find solutions for the common good together.   Please consider supporting this podcast by getting a digital subscription to America Media at www.americamagazine.com/subscribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, we’re releasing a mini-season that covers the importance of forming our consciences and voting, what to do when you don’t feel you entirely belong to either party, polarization in the church, racial justice and recognition of human dignity in our society.  On this episode of “The Gloria Purvis Podcast,” Gloria speaks with Sam Sawyer, S.J., the editor in chief of America Magazine. In early September 2024, Pope Francis was asked what advice he would give to Catholics in the United States for the upcoming presidential election. Pope Francis responded with an assessment of both candidates, saying: “Both are against life: the one that throws out migrants and the one that kills children. Both are against life.” He added that Catholics have a duty to “vote, and one has to choose the lesser evil.” The pope refused to speculate about which was the lesser evil, saying, “Each person must think and decide according to their own conscience.” Gloria and Sam discuss the Catholic imperative to form and obey one’s conscience, especially around two key voting issues: abortion and racism. Links:  Pope Francis told American Catholics to vote their conscience. What did he mean? Pope Francis: Trump and Harris are ‘both against life’ but Catholics must vote and choose ‘lesser evil’ Please consider supporting this podcast by getting a digital subscription to America Media at www.americamagazine.com/subscribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Super Bowl is one the largest sporting events in the country. Tens of thousands will flock to the stadium and millions will watch from home. However, at events like these, it is essential we not only keep track of the game, but also, the potential victims of human trafficking that are most vulnerable at these large gatherings. In fact, every year 50 million people are trafficked somewhere in the world for either labor or sex. Joining Gloria on “The Gloria Purvis Podcast” is Sr. Anne Victory, a board member at U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking who has led efforts against human trafficking for over a decade. According to the U.S. Sisters Against Human trafficking, this crime, “occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud or coercion to control another person for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or soliciting labor or services against his/her will.” Sr. Anne describes the most common circumstances in which people get trafficked, profiles of traffickers, and what to look out for. If you suspect someone is being trafficked, please call (888) 373-7888. Even if you’re not certain, Sr. Anne encourages you to report what you see and leave the investigation with local law enforcement who are specially trained for these cases: “just know that they'd rather have you report it and save someone's life than be wrong.” While the topic of human trafficking is dark, Sr. Anne continues to find hope in her work to end it. “I think one of the ways that I keep the faith is I've seen the difference since when we started fifteen years ago working on this. And now people are a little more aware,” says Sr. Anne, “Even becoming educated about it is doing something, becoming involved in fair trade and understanding what fair trade is and how our purchases make a difference, or how the stock we hold makes a difference.” Links: U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking www.slaveryfootprint.org America’s interview with Pope Francis Please consider supporting this podcast by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In July 1794, sixteen members of the Carmel of Compiegne, France, were executed under the guillotine in the final days of the French Revolution’s “Reign of Terror.” They are called venerated martyrs in the Catholic Church, who sang “Salve Regina” and other hymns all the way to their deaths. Their story of faith and perseverance has inspired a novella, movies, and now an opera, Francis Poulenc’s “Dialogues des Carmélites,” drawn from John Dexter’s classic 1977 production. Gloria interviews soprano Christine Goerke, who plays the Carmeltine prioress Madame Lidoine. They talk about Christine’s own faith journey and preparation for this powerful role, along with Gloria’s spiritual connection as a third-order Carmelite.  The Metropolitan Opera is showcasing Dialogues des Carmélites through January 28, 2023.  Please consider supporting this podcast by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first March for Life began in the year following the Roe v. Wade Decision (1973). Now that Roe has been overturned by the Supreme Court, what will happen to the March of Life and the pro-life movement more broadly? Today, Gloria speaks with Jeanne Mancini, the President of the national March for Life since the fall of 2012. In this capacity, she proudly directs the small non-profit organization committed to restoring a culture of life in the United States, most notably through the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., held on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Gloria and Jeanne discuss why the march continues to be relevant, misconceptions about the pro-life movement and the co-opting of the movement by extremists. Please consider supporting this podcast by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you squirm every time you listen to a reading from one of St. Paul’s letters calling women to be submissive to their husbands or to remain silent in church? In this episode of the Gloria Purvis Podcast, Gloria digs into the sticky “household codes” that St. Paul outlines in the New Testament with historian Beth Allison Barr, author of the bestselling book, The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth. Gloria and Beth discuss the Christian Evangelical concept of complementarianism, which is distinguished from the Catholic notion of complimentarity found most especially in Pope John Paul II’s writings. While both terms speak to the differences between the sexes and posits these features as complimentary to one another, complementarianism reinforces a hierarchy of male headship and female submission that “ is simply historic patriarchy,” according to Barr.  One of the many dangers of a theology that centers men is evident in the sexual abuse crisis, where, “the emphasis is on protecting the male leaders instead of protecting the people they harm,” says Beth, and that “the sexual abuse coverup, which went on for decades, was concentrated in churches that lean towards more complementarian understandings.” There’s also a connection between patriarchy and racism. Gloria notes Jordan Peterson’s “open hostility toward diversity, equity and inclusion” and Beth adds, “Once you buy into a theory of oppression, it is much easier to buy into other theories of oppression. Once you accept the idea that there is something innate about the way some people are born, that makes them able to hold leadership in a way that other people cannot, it makes it much more easy for you to argue even further that not only does it have to do with sex, but maybe it also has to do with skin color.” Links from show:  Beth’s book: The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth John Piper on the submission of a wife to an abusive husband: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OkUPc2NLrM Ravi Zacharias story at Roys report: https://julieroys.com/investigation-finds-ravi-zacharias-reportedly-raped-a-massage-therapist-sexually-molested-others/ Please consider supporting this podcast by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While claiming a Christian and pro-life worldview, Kanye West–now known as Ye–has steeped himself in scandal over blatant anti-Black and antisemitic remarks. In October, he donned a “White Lives Matter” t-shirt with an image of Pope St. John Paul II on the front. Missing from his highly controversial remarks and actions has been any recognition of the harm done to Jews and Black people. That's an important omission, according to Binta Niambi Brown, a talent manager in the music and entertainment industry. Binta speaks with Gloria about the cognitive dissonance that people can experience when a beloved and influential artist speaks and acts immorally. At times, Christians in the United States can have an anemic understanding of human dignity, they argue, on the one hand praising Ye for promoting the dignity of the unborn, while ignoring his anti-Black and antisemitic rhetoric. They also discuss the importance of holding pop cultural figures with large platforms accountable. Finally, Gloria and Binta discuss why music is a profound form of spiritual expression, and offer a word of encouragement to Black Catholics in the United States who consider leaving the church. Please consider supporting this podcast by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most Catholics only hear the Bible interpreted by men–priests and deacons–in the context of Sunday Mass. Jaime Waters, Associate Professor of Old Testament at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, believes that's a disadvantage for the whole church. For the past three years, she's written "The Word" column at America Media. She joins Gloria Purvis to discuss the importance of Bible scholarship and interpretation from women's perspectives. Looking to Advent, they discuss the "O Antiphons," seven short verses inspired by Scripture and sung in the church during Advent from December 17-23. The antiphons give voice to a people's longing for the coming Jesus into the world in a very special way. Dr. Waters argues that while reading and analyzing a text is important, singing in a prayerful state can be even more impactful on the believer and community. Links: Why we sing the ‘O Antiphons’ in the lead-up to Christmas (and not before) The ‘O Antiphons,’ Reimagined Follow "The Word" column at America Media Exclusive Interview with America Media: Pope Francis discusses Ukraine, U.S. bishops and more Please consider supporting this podcast by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Nov. 22, 2022, five representatives of America Media, including Gloria Purvis, interviewed Pope Francis at his residence at Santa Marta at the Vatican. They discussed a wide range of topics with the pope, including polarization in the U.S. church, the role of bishops, racism, the war in Ukraine, the Vatican’s relations with China and church teaching on the ordination of women. Matt Malone, S.J., who is departing as editor in chief after ten years of leading America Media, was also present in the interview. He joins Gloria to break down what the Holy Father said about and to the church in the U.S., how the pope models servant leadership in the Jesuit spirit. They also discuss Father Malone's tenure at America Media, his vocation story, and how the Jesuit charism is incarnated in America's media ministry. Read America's interview with Pope Francis here: Pope Francis discusses Ukraine, U.S. bishops and more Please consider supporting this podcast by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Exclusive: Pope Francis denounces polarization, talks women’s ordination, the U.S. bishops and more in a new interview with America Media! It’s an exciting time for America Media! We've transformed the organization under the leadership of Matt Malone, S.J. into a modern media entity that leads the conversation on faith and culture. There is no doubt that this transformation will continue at America under the leadership of Traug Keller, president and Father Sam Sawyer, SJ, 15th editor in chief.  We're especially grateful to our digital subscribers, who can access all of our award-winning content. But subscriptions alone do not cover the cost to produce our magazine, videos and podcasts, so we are really dependent on fundraising to bridge that gap. With Giving Tuesday upon us, we hope you will consider a tax-deductible gift of any size to support America Media. Visit our website and click the “Donate Now” button to join our media ministry, which enables us to continue producing The Gloria Purvis Podcast. We truly could not continue to bring you these episodes without your support, so thank you, so much, for your consideration. Please consider supporting this podcast by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices