Catholic women are leaving the church. This group wants them to lead it. Ep. 84

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:

• Given Institute
• Vatican tells U.S. bishops to delay votes on new sex abuse protocols
• Pope Francis appoints Archbishop Scicluna to top role in addressing abuse crisis
• Jesuits to release names of accused priests in the west
• Pope recognizes martyrdom of U.S. Christian Brother
• Kevin Knox’s deal with Puma also benefits Tampa Catholic’s basketball program

What’s on tap?

Trappist Ale from Spencer Brewery, courtesy of listeners (and Patreon supporters!) Stephen and Dina Grant.

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