Jesuitical

Stephen P. Millies is the author of Good Intentions: A History of Catholic Voters’ Road from Roe to Trump. In his book, Stephen analyzes the history of the Catholic vote, from the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade to the presidential elections of 2016.   We talk to Stephen about the role of Catholics in U.S. politics and why so many Catholics feel politically homeless and the 2018 midterm elections. (Full disclosure: Our interview with Stephen happened a week before the elections.)   In Signs of the Times, first up, November just started, but Christmas is already making headlines: Bishop Edward Braxton of Belleville, Ill., tells kids at Our Lady of Peace that Santa Claus isn’t real. Next, The Boston Globe and the Philadelphia Inquirer co-published an article on Nov. 4 analyzing the second wave of the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church.   And finally, we discuss the decision by the Supreme Court to overturn the death sentence of Asia Bibi, a 47-year-old Pakistani Catholic who has been in prison since 2009 and was sentenced to death in November 2010 on charges of blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed. Following the court’s decision, Bibi remained in prison due to safety concerns; however, since Tuesday’s recording, Bibi has been freed.   Links from the show: Parents angry after Illinois bishop tells Catholic school kids that Santa isn’t real Pakistani Christians fear violence after Asia Bibi’s blasphemy death sentence is overturned Newspapers examine U.S. bishops’ responses to abuse allegations   What’s on tap? Yuengling Lager Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Family separations, the caravan, birthright citizenship—immigration stories have dominated the headlines in the lead-up to the 2018 midterms. But for Sister Norma Pimentel, who has worked on the U.S.-Mexico border for decades, migration is not a political issue; it is a human issue. As the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, Sister Norma accompanies migrants who cross the border seeking asylum and a better life for their families.   We ask Sister Norma how her work has changed under the Trump administration, who is really traveling with the migrant caravan and why, and what we can do to help our immigrant brothers and sisters at the border and in our communities.   [Explore America’s in-depth coverage of immigration]   In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis denounced as “inhuman” the anti-Semitic attack on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburg that left 11 dead and six injured and prayed that we may overcome “hotbeds of hate.” And in Kentucky, a white man shot and killed two African-Americans at a grocery store after failing to gain access to a predominantly black church.   Next, the synod on young people came to a close on Oct. 28; we bring you the top takeaways from the synod’s final document. Finally, a new app is being described as Pokémon Go for Catholics. Is this what synod participants had in mind when they said the church needs to reach young people online?   Let us know what you think about our conversation with Sister Norma or any of these stories on our Facebook page or Twitter. And please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a member of our Patreon community.   Links from the show Pope Francis denounces attack on Pittsburgh synagogue, expresses closeness to Jewish community On Squirrel Hill by The Unorthodox podcast Kroger Shooting Suspect Tried to Enter Black Church Before Killing 2, Police Say Closing the synod, Pope Francis highlights “the three fundamental steps on the journey of faith”   New app blends Pokemon Go with catechesis for young users Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley What’s on tap? Birthday Girl’s Choice: Luna Nuda Pinot Grigio   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The nuns are back (on the bus). Headed by Sister Simone Campbell, the executive director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, the almost-annual campaign (they’ve traveled six of the last seven years), is traveling across the country to raise awareness about the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act and its impact on social services and local communities.   The nuns stopped at the Church of the Redeemer in Morristown, N.J., where we caught up with Sister Simone, S.S.S. and Sister Richelle Friedman, P.B.V.M., about what’s wrong with the new tax bill, what’s at stake in the upcoming midterm elections and why good Catholics should “meddle” in politics.   This episode of Jesuitical is proudly sponsored by Catholic Women Preach, celebrating two years sharing the wisdom and witness of women breaking open the Word. Visit catholicwomenpreach.org for video, text and podcasts of weekly preaching on the Sunday Scriptures.   Links from the show: Nuns on the Bus Faith in Focus with Fr. James Martin Inside the Vatican Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin Clarke is the chief correspondent at America. Recently, he traveled to Iraq for 12 days where he met with Iraqi Christians and other religious minorities. We talk to Kevin about why he decided to take this trip and the future of Christianity in that region. (You can check out Kevin’s reporting here.) In Signs of the Times, we discuss the canonization of Saint Óscar Romero, the resignation of Cardinal Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington, D.C., and why women aren’t allowed to vote at this year’s Synod on Young People. As always, you can email us at jesuitical@americamedia.org or tweet us on Twitter. You can also join our Facebook group and consider supporting us on Patreon!   P.S. This episode is brought to you by Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago. For 23 years, Cristo Rey has educated Latino students with limited means, preparing the leaders of tomorrow today. Learn about their mission at cristorey.net.   Links from the show: Pope Francis declares Pope Paul VI, Óscar Romero saints Pope Francis accepts the resignation of Cardinal Wuerl Jesuit, Dominican, Franciscan leaders see no reason why women shouldn’t vote at synod   What’s on tap? This week, we are drinking a gift from listener Bridget: a special blend, Cafe St. Joe, from Furnace Hills Coffee, a fair- and direct-trade coffee roaster who employs adults with disabilities. You can buy your own here!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m sure I am not the only city dweller who sometimes fantasizes about putting in my two-weeks notice and escaping to a dude ranch in Wyoming or an organic pumpkin farm in Nebraska (or wherever they grow pumpkins). The ever-increasing rent, the dirty, dysfunctional subway, the nonstop noise and pressure to not just keep up but get ahead—it all makes me question why I moved to New York. Well this week’s guest Haley Stewart and her husband did drop out of the rat race and move to a farm (without flush toilets! with three young kids!)—but she thinks you can build a simpler and more intentional life in the city or the suburbs, out in the country or right on campus. We ask Haley about her escape from the “throwaway culture,” how to pray through drastic life changes and why she loves Molly Weasley (yes, that Molly Weasley). In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis gets invited to North Korea, but his favorability is dropping in the United States. The synod on young people is underway at the Vatican, the Nuns on the Bus are back on tour and Lady Liberty may get a West Coast (Catholic) counterpart. As always, you can keep in touch via our Facebook group and Twitter @jesuiticalshow or emailing us at jesuitical@americamedia.org. Please consider helping Jesuitical keep the mics on by supporting the show on Patreon—every little bit helps! Links from the show Kim Jong Un invites Pope Francis to North Korea Pew Poll: Pope Francis’ favorability numbers drop, and worse for handling of abuse Synod 2018 Day 1: Migrants, sex abuse and church credibility ‘Nuns On The Bus’ For ‘Tax Justice Truth Tour’ En Route To Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Diocese of San Diego launching statue of Mary Inspired by Lady Liberty for San Ysidro   What’s on tap? Maple whiskey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“My hope is that we can learn that we can be indigenous and all these other things: Catholic, worldly, a diplomat, a scientist, etc. My hope is that being indigenous is not limited,” said Maka Clifford in the pages of America last year. Maka is the director of curriculum and assessment at the Red Cloud Indian School, a Catholic school led by the Jesuits and the Lakota people. Maka was born on the Pine Ridge Reservation and graduated from Red Cloud in 2005. After studying in California, New York and Japan, Maka realized his calling to be involved in indigenous studies and human rights. He returned to Red Cloud in 2013. We talk to Maka about what it means to be a Lakota Catholic, the controversial history of Jesuit-run and boarding schools, Lakota spirituality and teaching indigenous students in 2018.   Last week, the editors of America stated that the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court should be withdrawn. We discuss the magazine’s previous support of the nomination and why the editors decided to withdraw it.   In sexual abuse news, Pope Francis laicizes Chile’s Fernando Karadima. “The Better Church Governance Group” is a new organization founded by wealthy Catholics to investigate the College of Cardinals. And for the feast of St. Francis, we have a story about a dog that completes the Camino de Santiago.   As always, you can email us at jesuitical@americamedia.org or tweet us on Twitter. You can also join our Facebook group and consider supporting us on Patreon!   This episode is brought to you by Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago. For 23 years, Cristo Rey has educated Latino students with limited means, preparing the leaders of tomorrow today. Learn about their mission at cristorey.net.   Looking for an event in your neighborhood? Check out when the Ignatian Solidarity Network is hosting a “Solidarity On Tap” near you!   Links from the show: The Editors: It is time for the Kavanaugh nomination to be withdrawn Pope Francis defrocks Chilean priest at center of sexual abuse scandal Wealthy Catholics to target Cardinals with ‘Red Hat Report’ A dog that has completed the Camino de Santiago comes to Rome Jewish husband and wife to be first married couple knighted by the Vatican   What’s on tap? Mulled cider (on the rocks), Jack’s Winter Cider whiskey, one cinnamon stick, one star anise, ice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“[The sex abuse crisis is] not something that I think can be fixed by our priests alone,” Amanda Zamora told us this week. “The pain and the harm has been caused by the church and the solution will need to come from the church—and that includes all of us.” Amanda is the chief audience officer at the Texas Tribune, which she joined in 2016. Previously, she spent 13 years on the East Coast working for organizations like The Huffington Post Investigative Fund, The Washington Post and ProPublica. She recently wrote an article co-published in the Texas Tribune and the Washington Post called “I’m a Catholic survivor of abuse. I still want to hear the church say it’s sorry.” Amanda shared her own experience of surviving abuse within her family and how that has influenced her perspective on the church’s crisis.   In Signs of the Times we give an update on a couple of international stories we’ve been following and discuss a story from Chicago involving a priest burning a flag bearing a rainbow and a cross. We also look at a new policy for reporting sex abuse outlined by the U.S. bishops, and how some churches are using coffeehouse culture to evangelize and work for justice. Have you checked out our Facebook group yet? It’s a great way to talk about the episode and other Catholic news with other Jesuitical listeners. And as always, you can stay in touch via email, Twitter and Patreon.    Links from the show: I'm a Catholic survivor of abuse. I still want to hear the church say it's sorry. Pope Francis recognizes Chinese bishops ordained without papal approval Indian bishop accused of raping nun is arrested U.S. Catholic Church creates new process for reporting misconduct by its bishops Flag-burning priest removed from Avondale parish by Cardinal Cupich These Catholic coffee shops take evangelization to new grounds Facebook Group Twitter Patreon   What’s on Tap? Angry Orchard’s Rosé Cider, because 👏Fall 👏 Is 👏 Here!👏   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He was a French novice living in a desert monastery in Syria. She was a journalist from Texas who wanted to become a nun. Then, they fell in love. I know, it sounds like a rom-com. But that is, in fact, how this week’s guest, Stephanie Saldaña, met her husband—and it’s not even the most fascinating part of her story. Today, Stephanie lives with her family in Jerusalem where she writes and teaches. In 2016, she started Mosaic Stories, a project that seeks to preserve the cultural heritage of the war-torn Middle East. We ask Stephanie what lessons the monastery has for family life, what she has learned raising children in a conflict zone and what her unique path to marriage taught her about discerning between two loves. In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis announces a summit of sex abuse and sources say the Vatican and China are close to a deal over the status of bishops; Catholics and Buddhists team up to provide green housing for seniors; a bishop skydives for donations; a new institute prepares Catholic women for leadership; and thousands of Latino Catholics gather in Texas for V Encuentro. Have you checked out our Facebook group yet? It’s a great place to keep up with Catholic news between shows and share your own consolations and desolations. You can also find us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow, support us on Patreon and send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org. Also, Jesuit swag. Get some. Links from the show: An Impossible Hope: Three men in Syria showed me what Jesus looks like. Resignations, Rome meetings and investigations: A week of major developments in the sexual abuse crisis Developing Story | Pope Francis meets with bishops about the sexual abuse crisis China and Vatican to Sign Landmark Deal Over Bishops DiMarzio says ‘Laudato si’ to flower in Brooklyn with green housing Bishop takes a (sky) dive to get pilgrims to Lourdes Women’s Catholic leadership program, GIVEN Institute, officially launches More than 3,000 Latino Catholics expected at Encuentro gathering What’s on tap? Everything but the kitchen sink. Cleaning out the fridge/liquor cabinet to make room for PSL cocktails. Miller Lite for Zac, a lager for Olga and tequila for me. Cheers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next month, the Vatican will hold the Synod of bishops on young people. Earlier this year, in preparation for the October gathering, the Vatican hosted 300 delegates from around the world. These delegates met in Rome and produced an 11-page document, titled “Young People, The Faith and Vocational Discernment.” One of the delegates selected by the U.S.C.C.B. was Katie Prejean McGrady. She is a writer, podcaster, Catholic speaker and author of Follow: Your Lifelong Adventure with Jesus. We talk to Katie about her work at the pre-synod gathering, how the sexual abuse crisis shows we need the synod now more than ever and what the church can do to keep young Catholics in the faith. In Signs of the Times, thousands in India joined nuns of the Missionaries of Jesus congregation last week to call for the arrest of Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who has been accused of rape. We also discuss the latest updates to the U.S. sexual abuse crisis, including the launching of investigations into clerical sexual abuse in dioceses across the country. Finally, some Catholic school news: the first Catholic school to open up in Baltimore in decades will be named after Mary Lange, who opened the first school in the United States for black children; and Kolbe Academy in Pennsylvania will be the first Catholic high school for students battling addiction. As always, you can email us at jesuitical@americamedia.org or tweet us on Twitter. You can also join our Facebook group and consider supporting us on Patreon! Links from the show: Indian nuns demand arrest of bishop accused of rape Vatican officials knew of McCarrick allegations in 2000, letter confirms States Round up of newly announced investigations into clerical sexual abuse 1st Catholic high school for students battling addiction opening in Bethlehem area Baltimore’s new Catholic school to be named after African American nun What’s on tap? St. Germain spritzer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Arceneaux has stopped going to church. After growing up as a gay black Catholic in the South, he eventually decided that he could not find a way to integrate his identities into the Catholicism he grew up with. In his new memoir: I Can’t Date Jesus: Love, Sex, Family, Race, and Other Reasons I’ve Put My Faith in Beoncé, Michael describes how coming out as gay led to tension and conflict with people like his mother, still a devout Catholic. But Michael hasn’t given up on God just yet. In fact, in I Can’t Date Jesus he describes taking a friend up on an invitation to go to a church service. There he met a pastor and theologian who “really understands the Bible wasn’t just repeating verses kind of like the equivalent (as I put in the book) like a talking head on cable news… He was far more informed than me so I actually learned something from the conversation. I found it elevating.”    Michael told us how he wished he had been able to have conversations like that earlier in his life. “I think if you caught me much earlier around the time when I was generally trying to still be in church…you would have probably been able to keep me there.” This week in Signs of the Times we break down the explosive letter that was released over the weekend by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò accusing many church leaders—including Pope Francis—of covering up the misconduct and crimes of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Thank you all so much for sharing your thoughts and struggles and joys with us in in our Facebook group, Twitter and with your emails. A special shout out to our supporters on Patreon: Your financial support makes this show possible. Thank you. If you’ve been on the fence about visiting our Patreon page—there’s no time like right now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices