Jesuitical

We all need a laugh. 2020 has been an absolutely awful year (no citation needed). But is it O.K. for us to take a step back and laugh at it all? We bring on professional funny man and former professional Catholic, Greg Iwinksi, to discuss. Greg is an Emmy-nominated comedy writer and performer, and he currently writes for “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.” He’s previously written for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and worked with The Second City and iO theaters.We talk to Greg about the pandemic, the difference between “church” funny and “actual” funny and Trump Jokes. Greg also reminds us that comedy is serious business, and above all about telling the truth. In Signs of the Times, we discuss the Vatican’s controversial Nativity and deliver a Jesuitical SOT-P.S.A. about the newly F.D.A.-approved Covid-19 vaccines.This is our last regular episode of 2020, but there is still time for you to help with our special Christmas edition of Jesuitical. Email a 60-second-or-less voice memo to jesuitical@americamedia.org describing a consolation from 2020. Get your consolation in by Monday, Dec. 21! What’s on tap? Hot ToddyLinks from the show: Greg’s Twitter FeedGreg’s new Star Wars podcastWhy is Darth Vader in the Vatican’s Nativity scene?U.S. Catholic bishops: Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is an ‘act of charity’Waiting for a Covid test is more than just standing in line. It’s an act of mercy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“We’re all monks now” was an early refrain about life in coronavirus lockdown. Time slowed down as we kept to our houses and limited contact with family and friends. Of course, unlike monks, we also had Zoom calls and Netflix. Lots and lots of Netflix. So we wanted to talk to a monk and find out just how much our Covid quarantines resemble life in a monastery.Dom Benedict Nivakoff, O.S.B., is the prior of the Monastery of San Benedetto in Monte in Norcia, Italy, the birthplace of St. Benedict, considered the father of Western monasticism. We ask Father Prior about living under St. Benedict’s Rule and what advice he has for those us struggling to accept the limitations of pandemic life.And during Signs of the Times, Pope Francis has dedicated the next year to St. Joseph. Zac and Ashley share their takeaways from “Patris Corde,” the pope reflection on the foster father of Jesus. Next, the pope plans to visit Iraq in March, but can he do so without putting his and others’ health at risk? And you’ve heard of “Elf on the Shelf,” but what about “Mary on the Mantel”? The hosts debate the merits of a new Advent tradition.Finally, we need your help! 2020 has been a year like no other. It has been filled with suffering and longing, for sure, but also moments of grace. And we want to hear about yours. Send a short voice memo to jesuitical@americamedia.org describing a specific time in the last year when you found God working in your life. We hope to share your consolations in a special Christmas episode.Links from the show:Pope Francis proclaims a year dedicated to St. JosephPatris CordePope Francis plans to visit Iraq in March after getting a Covid vaccine‘Mary on the Mantel’? Think ‘Elf on the Shelf,’ but CatholicWhat’s on tap?Birra Nursia Blonde Ale (You can order it here. A great Christmas gift for the beer lovers in your life!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This was bound to be an odd Advent. But as a lot of Catholics discovered during the odd Lent, Easter and Ordinary Time we experienced this year, there is also an invitation to develop new traditions and prayer practices. Our guest this week, Tsh Oxenreider, has been helping people connect in new ways and live more simply for a long time through her writing and podcasting. We talk to Tsh about her latest project, Shadow & Light: A Journey Into Advent, and her journey to make Advent meaningful for her family. During Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac discuss the 13 new cardinals that Pope Francis recently elevated, and what they want to see out of the pope’s closest advisers. They also look at misinformation around Covid vaccines.  What’s on tap? Advent calendar wine, from Zac’s mom.Links from the show: Shadow & Light: A Journey Into Adventtshoxenreider.comPope Francis has made Wilton Gregory the first African-American cardinalU.S. bishops’ internal memo: Catholics can take Covid-19 vaccines Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are good writers, there are Catholic writers and then there are the Catholic literary greats like Flannery O’Connor, Cormac McCarthy, and to the surprise of some, Toni Morison. But what exactly makes their stories distinctly Catholic? And how do themes of incarnation, death and resurrection show up even while the artist has lapsed in their religious practice?Ashley and Zac settle in with the writer Nick Ripatrazone to talk about these literary giants and where the Catholic imagination comes alive in works of fiction. They also talk about Nick’s recently published book “Longing for an Absent God: Faith and Doubt in Great American Fiction.” Links from the show:Longing for an Absent GodNick Ripatrazone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The release of the McCarrick report has once again brought the church’s sex abuse crisis back to the headlines—and once again Catholics are asking: What is the root cause? Clericalism, writes Sam Sawyer, S.J., a Jesuit priest and our colleague at America Media. While we may not know what drive any individual person to abuse, he believes the McCarrick report confirms that clericalism explains how Theodore McCarrick was able to rise through the ranks of the hierarchy despite persistent rumors of sexual misconduct. We ask Sam how clericalism plays both at the Vatican and in our own parishes, and what priests and laypeople alike can do to root it out. In Signs of the Times, we discuss the U.S. bishops’ general assembly and the creation of a new working group to address what Archbishop José Gomez called the “difficult and complex situation” they see in Joe Biden—the second Catholic president in U.S. history. How should the bishops engage the Biden administration on issues like abortion and religious liberty?Links from the show:U.S. bishops express concern over a having a Catholic president who is pro-choiceThe McCarrick Report confirms it: Clericalism powered the sex abuse crisis.What’s on tap?Boulevardiers: 1 ½ ounces bourbon, ¾ ounce sweet vermouth, ¾ ounce Campari. Twist of orange peel, for garnish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Choosing your health insurance, going to the doctor, paying unexpected medical bills: these are facts of life that no one would describe as fun. But on his podcast “An Arm and a Leg,” Dan Weissmann explores the U.S. health care system and its costs for consumers in an entertaining—and empowering—way. This week, we talk to Dan about how to hold your own when you are slapped with an exorbitant medical bill, and ask: Why is the health care system so confusing? In Signs of the Times, we briefly mark the occasion of the election of the second Catholic president in U.S. history (and celebrate the controversial song he quoted in his acceptance speech). Next, the Vatican published its much-anticipated report on the investigation into former cardinal Theodore McCarrick. We bring on Colleen Dulle of America’s “Inside the Vatican” podcast to breakdown the top takeaways from the report. Who knew what about McCarrick’s abuse—and should we trust an internal investigation, conducted by those with the most at stake?Links from the show:Joe Biden will be the second Catholic president. Here’s what you need to know about his faith.“On Eagle’s Wings”: The simple origin of the song that makes the world cryTop 5 Takeaways from the McCarrick ReportAn Arm and a Leg podcastWhat’s on tap?Trappist-made wine from New Clairvaux Vineyard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By the time you listen to this episode, we may already know who the 46th president of the United States will be. But whoever wins, there is one thing we can say with certainty now: We remain a divided country. So this week, we wanted to talk to someone who has been working across divisions for over a decade: Dr. Eboo Patel. In 2002, Eboo founded the Interfaith Youth Core, an organization that works with colleges, governments and social service agencies to increase interfaith cooperation. He also served on President Barack Obama’s inaugural Advisory Council on Faith-Based Neighborhood Partnerships.Eboo believes that it is impossible to understand what is happening in our world—and in the 2020 election—without paying attention to and engaging with people’s diverse religious commitments. We ask Eboo what lessons he has learned from his interfaith work that might help us to heal the fractures of our body politic.With the election results very much still up in the air at recording time, we decided it didn’t make a lot of sense to try to read the signs of the times this week. But stick around after the interview for our (non-election related) Consolations and Desolations.A reminder that we are discussing Pope Francis’ latest encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti,” in reading groups (over drinks) with all members of our Patreon community throughout the month of November. Even if you missed the first meeting, there’s still time to sign up to support the show and guarantee a spot in the reading group.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Movies about demons and exorcisms are popular at this time of year, and are—let’s be honest—pretty scary. Well, real life demonic possession is even scarier—and nothing to mess around with. This week, we talk with someone who would know. Dr. Richard Gallagher is a board-certified psychiatrist, a leading expert in the field of exorcism and the author of Demonic Foes: My Twenty-Five Years as a Psychiatrist Investigating Possessions, Diabolic Attacks, and the Paranormal. Dr. Gallagher recounts hard-won lessons about the spiritual life as well as some of his most harrowing experiences with literal demons.  In “Signs of the Times,” we look at the 13 new cardinals that Pope Francis named over the weekend, including Washington’s Archbishop Wilton Gregory, who is set to become the first Black Cardinal in the United States.  A reminder that we’ll be discussing Pope Francis’ latest encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti” in reading groups (over drinks) with all members of our Patreon community throughout the month of November. It starts next week, but there’s still time to sign up to support the show and guarantee a spot in the reading group.  Links from the show:  Demonic Foes Dr. Richard Gallagher, Demonic Possession Expert, Isn't Trying to Convince You Pope Francis names 13 new cardinals, including Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington D.C. How long will the Latino community have to wait for a cardinal in the United States? What’s on tap:Witches’ Brew, also known as a gin and tonic made with Empress Gin for spooky coloring.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're dropping an episode from the Voting Catholic podcast in the Jesuitical feed! Voting Catholic is an original podcast series from America Media that explores the top voting issues in the United States, from abortion to immigration to racial justice, by sharing the voices of experts and activists on the front lines. Each episode tackles one issue through personal storytelling and socio-political analysis from a Catholic perspective. This episode is called "Abortion: It's more complicated than you think." The Catholic Bishops teach that abortion is a preeminent voting issue for Catholics, because it directly attacks life itself. Do Catholics agree? And should it take precedence over other life and death issues?  Aimee Murphy is the Executive Director of Rehumanize International. Visit her white paper and presentation here.  Learn more about Tricia Bruce’ study: “What Americans Really Think About Abortion” US Bishops teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics: "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship" Stay up-to-date with America Media's coverage of the 2020 election: www.americamagazine.org/newsletters You can support this media ministry at www.americamagazine.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do “real Catholics” have to vote for Donald J. Trump? That’s what Jeannie Gaffigan was hearing from Twitter trolls and loved ones alike following her husband Jim Gaffigan’s uncharacteristically profanity-laced tirade against the president and his supporters during the Republican National Convention.  This week, Jeannie, one half of the Gaffigan comedy duo and author of the book When Life Gives You Pears: The Healing Power of Family, Faith, and Funny People, takes us back to that night and the examination of conscience it inspired. What was it like as a Mass-going mother of five to have her commitment to life challenged? What’s the best way to engage with friends and family across political divides?  In “Signs of the Times,” we discuss two pieces of news that came out of a newly released documentary about Pope Francis: an endorsement of same-sex civil unions and a sharp critique of the Trump administration’s family-separation border policy from Francis. (We recorded the conversation on Wednesday afternoon. The story behind Pope Francis’ comments about civil unions has developed since then, and more coverage can be found at americamagazine.org.) A reminder that we’ll be discussing Pope Francis’ latest encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti” in reading groups (over drinks) with all members of our Patreon community throughout the month of November. There’s still time to sign up to support the show and guarantee a spot in the reading group.  Links from the show:  Jeannie Gaffigan: My loved ones told me ‘real’ Catholics vote for Trump. Here’s my response. Pope Francis declares support for same-sex civil unions for the first time as pope Pope Francis calls Trump’s family separation border policy ‘cruelty of the highest form’ Plot thickens over origins of Pope Francis’ civil union endorsement Check out The Imagine Society What’s on tap:“Irish Coffee,” which means very different things to both Zac and Ashley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices