Jesuitical

It’s taken over a year for us to get our boss, Matt Malone, S.J., on Jesuitical—and we promise it was worth the wait. Matt is president and editor in chief of America, and the reason why Jesuitical exists in the first place. This week we talk to him about Pope Francis’ election five years ago, for which he was present, the spiritual side of St. Patrick’s day and his journey to working at America. In Signs of the Times we chat about  our favorite topic of all time: Catholic sisters, since it’s National Catholic Sisters Week, and we also discuss how Catholics should be responding to the Parkland students’ call for gun reform. Thank you to all of our new patrons this week! To see the full unedited interview, visit patreon.com/americamedia to donate. Shout out to our VIPs: Kody Teaford and Vivian Veloso Macaspac; and our Super Fans, Jim Eraci and Ben Bartosik. As always, we want to hear from you. Write us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org and follow us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, due to inclement weather, we were unable to record on our usual Wednesday. This week’s episode is an abbreviated one, sans consolations and desolations, but have no fear: It’s a good one. Since Selection Sunday—the official start of the NCAA tournament and office bracket pools across the nation—is this weekend, we decided to bring in Joe Lunardi, the ESPN bracketologist and administrator at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. We talk to Joe about the art of bracketology, how his Jesuit education has influenced his career and more. Finally, in Signs of the Times, we talk “Lady Bird” getting snubbed at the Oscars, Francis’ five years and a new feast day for Mary. We want to give a huge thank you to listeners who have pledged to support Jesuitical through our new Patreon page. Shout out to Super Fans Jessica, Caroline Marcotte and Sarah Neville Jimenez and Ambassador Emilee Hunter Macguire. We are grateful for your investment in our little (but growing!) podcast community. As always, we want to hear from you. Write us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org and follow us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I feel the same way about poetry that I do about prayer: I know it’s good for the soul; I really respect those who have mastered the art—and I have a very hard time getting into it. To which Elizabeth Acevedo, this week’s guest, (wisely) responds: “Maybe you just haven’t found the right poet.” Liz is a slam poet and author of the upcoming novel, The Poet X, set for release on March 6. In the book and in her spoken-word poetry, Liz explores her identity as a Dominican woman and wrestles with the Catholic faith of her upbringing. We ask her what it means for Latinos and people of color to see themselves reflected in literature. In Signs on the Times, Catholic activists, including priests and sisters, were arrested on Capitol Hill this week as they voiced their support for Dreamers. Plus, why has the Catholic Church fought against attempts to extend the statute of limitations in sexual abuse cases? And why are the bishops in Texas cutting ties with the state’s largest pro-life group? Finally, some lighter stories (and great photos) coming out of Rome: Versace and Vogue go to the Vatican, and a rare snowstorm blankets the Eternal City. We want to give a huge thank you to listeners who have pledged to support Jesuitical through our new Patreon page. Shout out to Supers Fans Allison Colson, Catherine Addington, Jeff Trussel, Keith Bourgoin, Matthew Kyrish and Nicholas Frega; Ambassadors Carlos Mesquita, Claudia Macaluso and Michael Kelly; and V.I.P. Andy Stulc. We are eternally grateful for your investment in our little (but growing!) podcast community. As always, we want to hear from you. Write us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org and follow us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow. Link’s from the show: Dozens of Catholics arrested as they call on Congress to help 'Dreamers' Bill spurred by Nassar case concerns Catholic Church Catholic bishops cut ties with Texas anti-abortion group Vatican, Versace and Vogue team up to show Catholic influences in fashion First snow in six years: Priests have a snowball fight at the Vatican What’s on tap? Seltzer for Zac, Diet Coke for me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How’s your Lent going? Did you make it at least a few days (unlike me) before breaking your Lenten practice? If you’re trying to up your prayer game this Lent and haven’t quite figured out how to do it yet, you won’t want to miss this week’s guest. Luigi Gioia, a professor at the Pontifical University of Sant’Anselmo in Rome, is the author of Say It To God: In Search of Prayer, which the Archbishop of Canterbury has chosen for his official Lent book of 2018. “Far too spiritual, our prayer is asphyxiated by good manners,” Luigi writes in his new book. We ask Luigi about why almost everyone has a difficult time with prayer and what it means to truly find God everywhere in our lives. In Signs of the Times, we give an update on Pope Francis’ handling of the sexual abuse crisis in Chile, the U.S. bishops’ national call-in to Congress day for Dreamers, discuss the Secret Service’s new chaplain and more. In other news, we’re starting a Patreon page! We’ve been blessed to do the show for a full (liturgical) year, and we love the community that we’ve created so far. But if we want to keep it going, we’re going to need some help from our listeners. We’d also like to make this a mutually beneficial relationship. If you pledge to support the show, you can get access to full-length interviews that don’t make it into the final podcast, Jesuitical shirts and swag, and monthly video chats with Ashley, Olga and me. Check out the Patreon page for full details. Thank you so much to everyone who writes to give us adverbs and share your reactions from the show. It means a lot to us, and we want to keep hearing from you. Send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org and tweet at us @jesuiticalshow. Links from the show: Chile abuse victim: story is finally heard Pope Francis revives lapsed commission on sex abuse Vatican wants to hear from young about hopes, concerns Secret Service chaplain called to the diaconate USCCB calls on Catholics to take action for Dreamers A Catholic parish in Parkland preaches love the first Sunday after the massacre Say it to God: In Search of Prayer Our Patreon page! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, to celebrate our one year (liturgical) anniversary we are talking with Liel Leibovitz and Stephanie Butnick. They are two-thirds of Unorthodox, a Jewish podcast from The Tablet. Here at Jesuitical, we hold a special place in our hearts for these hosts—they are a part of our origin story. We talk to Liel and Stephanie about how we basically stole their podcast format, the differences between Jewish and Catholic fasting and more. And, because this week is also the start of Lent, we asked our guests what we should all give up for Lent. In Signs of the Times, we discuss the latest firing of L.G.B.T. Catholic church workers, focusing on why these firings have gotten so much media attention and what it means for the church as a whole. The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops supports a new resolution that could label pornography a “public health risk.” In light of the #MeToo movement, we talk about why conversations about sex must include a focus on the effects of pornography, what the church can do and more. Finally, a Catholic school robotics team ranks 15th in the world. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow. Send us any questions, cocktail recipes or consolations and desolations at jesuitical@americamedia.org. And if you haven’t already, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, and tell your friends, parents or children about the show. P.S. Hope you enjoy our amazing redesign, courtesy of Angelo Jesus Canta. And, along with Jesuitical, you can check out additional America podcasts, including “The Examen with Father James Martin, S.J.” and “The Word: Scripture Reflections from America Media.” Links from the show: Firing of L.G.B.T. Catholic church workers raises hard (and new) questions Florida resolution could label pornography a ‘public health risk' Carmel Catholic robotics team, ranked number 15 in the world, qualifies for state tournament What’s on tap? Nothing. Because Lent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We live in an age of opinion writers telling us that we live in an age of [insert sweeping generalization here]. The hotter the take, the more attention it gets not only from readers who already agree but pundits eager to tear it down with their own scorching rebuttal. Enter Christine Emba, an op-ed writer for The Washington Post, who traffics in nuance and explores the deeper questions beneath the latest outrage de jour. On topics from #MeToo movement and s***hole countries to Harry Potter and burritos, Christine has opinions worth reading. This week, we ask her about her vocation as an op-ed writer and what a successful column looks like. (Homilists would be wise to take notes.) And in Signs of the Times, did you know the Winter Olympics were underway? Yeah, neither did we. Next: A German cardinal seems to (maybe) open the door to pastors blessing same-sex unions, fall out from Pope Francis’ handling of clerical sex abuse continues and we dive into a potential breakthrough for the Catholic Church in China. Finally, Lent begins next week on Valentine’s Day/Ash Wednesday—and PETA wants you to go vegan. Tell us what you’re giving up (or #TakingUp) this Lent! Tweet us @jesuiticalshow or send us an email jestuical@americamedia.org. And please leave us a review on Apple podcasts and tell your friends, parents or children about the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“It is not possible to build bridges between people while forgetting God,” Pope Francis said early in his pontificate. “But the converse is also true: it is not possible to establish true links with God, while ignoring other people.” Many U.S. Catholics have not only ignored their Muslim brothers and sisters but harbor discriminatory views about Muslims at alarming rates. Georgetown University’s Bridge Initiative, “a multi-year research project that connects the academic study of Islamophobia with the public square,” released a report in 2016 that documented how U.S. Catholics view Muslims. America’s national correspondent, Michael O’Loughlin, reported then: When asked, “What is your overall impression of Muslims?” 30 percent of those Catholics polled said they held unfavorable views, 14 percent said favorable and 45 percent said they held neither favorable nor unfavorable views... Forty-five percent of Catholics said that Islam encourages violence more than other religions while 24 percent said it encourages violence as much as other religions. Jordan Denari Duffner, an associate at the Bridge Initiative and author of the new book, Finding Jesus Among Muslims: How Loving Islam Makes Me a Better Catholic, joins us on this week’s episode of Jesuitical. Jordan discusses why she felt called to work in Catholic-Islamic dialogue, and why it’s an essential part of the Christian vocation. In Signs of the Times, we discuss President Trump’s invocation of dreamers in his State of the Union address, and a Chicago priest who is on hunger strike in support of DACA recipients. We also provide an update on Pope Francis’ handling of allegations of sexual abuse in Chile, a rise in demonic activity and a limb of St. Francis Xavier making a road trip across Canada. Links from the show: Undocumented Loyola Medical Student to Join Durbin at State of the Union Chicago priest pledges hunger strike to support ‘Dreamers’ Pope Francis sends special prosecutor to Chile to investigate charges against Bishop Barros Couple, married 70 years, renew vows—this time in church St. Francis Xavier’s severed arm to visit Calgary in relic pilgrimage Irish priest asks for back-up as demand for exorcisms rises ‘exponentially’ What’s on tap? Hot Toddy 1 cup of tea Whiskey (feel free to eyeball the amount) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is yoga cultural appropriation? Is it just stretching? Is it possible to blend yoga and the Catholic faith? This week we get into these questions and more with Bobby Karle, S.J., the founder of Ignatian Yoga, a practice that draws on Ignatian spirituality and yoga. Through Ignatian Yoga, Bobby offers classes, retreats and workshops centered around the core principles of Ignatian spirituality, like finding God in all things and living a life of self-awareness and discernment, and yoga practices like breathing meditations and vinyasa flow. In Signs of the Times, we talk Catholic dioceses suspending the sign of the peace due to flu outbreaks; priests in cassocks competing for the John Paul II Cup; and Pope Francis celebrating the marriage of two flight attendants during a papal flight. “Going, Going, Gone: The Dynamics of Disaffiliation in Young Catholics” is a new study that seeks to understand why so many young Catholics leave the faith they were born into. We get into the study, our own experiences growing up in the church and some of the study’s most interesting findings. Should older married men become priests in order to serve isolated Catholic communities? Cardinal Beniamino Stella, of the Congregation for Clergy, says yes. Finally, we get into Pope Francis’ latest handling of sexual abuse allegations against clergy. Make sure to leave us a review on Apple podcasts. If you already have, thank you! And don’t forget write us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org, where you can share your own consolations and desolations or drink recipes, and follow us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow. Links from the show: Catholic diocese suspends ‘sign of peace’ due to flu VIDEO: Priests in cassocks take part in annual skiing competition Serving isolated parishes may mean ordaining married men, cardinal says Study asks: Why are young Catholics going, going, gone? Pope Francis explains why he celebrated the airborne marriage of two flight attendants Pope Francis asks forgiveness from sexual abuse victims but reaffirms support for Bishop Barros What’s on tap? Negronis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You have heard it said, “Who run the world? Girls” (Bey 4:12). But we ask: Who runs the church? Popes, of course. But across the country there are dedicated women of faith taking the lead in parishes, schools, social ministries—and magazines. Our guest this week is one of them. Kerry Weber is an executive editor at America and the driving force behind a groundbreaking new survey of U.S. Catholic women. We ask her why Catholic women are so often reluctant to claim the label of role model and what the church can do to lift up the important work women are already doing in the church. Make sure to check out the new special issue on women in the church, which features Kerry’s piece, “The humble, indispensable women leading the Catholic Church you’ve (probably) never heard of,” plus tons of other great articles diving into the survey data. [view:related_content] And in Signs of the Times, Pope Francis says he is “truly afraid” of nuclear war—and how Catholics in Hawaii reacted when they thought that such a war was coming. Next, we discuss what America’s findings about the politics of U.S. Catholic women might mean for the 2018 midterm elections. Finally, we tackle the history of football’s “Hail Mary pass” and the question: Should church doors ever be locked? Have you left us a review on Apple podcasts yet? We’d be eternally grateful if you did. Please. Not that we’re desperate. If you already have, thank you! Do keep in touch: Write us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org and follow us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow so you can take part in our unscientifically significant polls! Links from the show U.S. Catholic Women: What a New Survey Reveals Pope Francis: “I am truly afraid” of nuclear war. How our Confirmation students kept us calm during a false missile threat in Hawaii Overall, the survey found that 59 percent of Catholic women are Democrats or lean Democratic, whereas 38 percent are Republican or lean Republican. Roger Staubach, Drew Pearson hope Vikings’ miracle play makes up for 1975 Hail Mary Catholic bishop says churches should stay open like the Church of England What’s on tap? (Modified) Elderflower Thistle 2 ounces of Jameson, an ounce of St. Germain and a dash of Angostura bitters, over ice. (The original recipe calls for Scotch. Apparently, Irish whiskey is not, in fact, the same thing as Scotch. You live and you learn.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is not the first time and it is unlikely to be the last time, but President Trump’s latest racist remarks about “shithole” countries has many of asking: Who are we? What do we stand for? Who do we welcome and why? We recorded this episode on Wednesday before the news about the president’s comments broke, but nonetheless we think a lot of what we talk about with this week’s guest will help you channel the anger you might feel toward practical steps to help migrants and refugees. This Sunday the Catholic Church marks the 2018 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, and Jesuitical is marking that by talking with Giulia McPherson. Giulia is the director of advocacy and operations at Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, where she works [...] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices