Jesuitical

“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 tapMargaritas 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 showBiden’s meeting with Pope Francis carries resonance as disputes divide U.S. CatholicsVideo: Joe Biden talks his Catholic Faith, Pope Francis and PoliticsA Gay Music Teacher Got Married. The Brooklyn Diocese Fired Him.How a Young Activist Is Helping Pope Francis Battle Climate Learn more about GoodLandsWhat’s on tap?Slightly expired Coors Light and Spencers Trappist beer 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 economyIn the Land of the Godfather Comes a Ban on ThemVatican ObservatorySupport 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 DulleHorrified by images of Border Patrol abusing Haitian migrants? Blame decades of dangerous immigration policy by Kevin ClarkeCatholic women feel called to be deacons. The church should listen to their stories. by Casey StantonWhat’s on tap?Aperol Spritz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices