On this week’s “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are honored to welcome Rachel Goldberg, the mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, one of the hostages taken into Gaza following Hamas’s massacre at the Nova music festival in Southern Israel on Oct. 7. In the weeks since Hersh and 240 other hostages were brutally kidnapped, Rachel has met with a host of people, including the pope and the president, to share her son’s story. She was gracious enough to bring that story to “Jesuitical,” and she and the hosts shared a moving conversation. They discuss:


Rachel’s family life and Hersh’s passion for reading and adventure


The last time Rachel saw Hersh on Oct. 6 and her experience learning about the massacre on Oct. 7


Rachel’s meeting with Pope Francis and the power of dialogue in sustaining hope


How Rachel’s Jewish faith has been challenged and served as a source of strength in the wake of unthinkable tragedy



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The mother of an Israeli hostage shares her son’s story with Pope Francis

Welcome to Jesuitical, a podcast for young Catholics hosted by two young, lay editors at America—Zac Davis and Ashley McKinless. Each episode features a guest who offers a unique perspective on faith, culture or current events. We also bring you some of the top (and maybe more obscure) Catholic news of the week. And we'll ask: Where do we find God in all this?

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It’s a very special week on “Jesuitical”—Ethan Hawke joins us to discuss his new film, “Wildcat,” about the Catholic writer Flannery O’Connor, who is portrayed in the film by Ethan’s daughter, Maya. Zac, Ashley and Ethan share a wide-ranging and profound conversation about this great American writer and the work of bringing her to life in “Wildcat.” They discuss:
Ethan’s introduction to Flannery through Maya and the inspiration behind “Wildcat”
Portraying Flannery’s complicated views on race
Exploring religious questions through art

 Links from the show:
Ethan Hawke’s new biopic ‘Wildcat’ gracefully captures Flannery O’Connor’s complex attitudes on race, writing and faith
What can we learn from our confirmation names?
Share your confirmation saint name in our Facebook group

﻿ What’s on tap? Flannery’s favorite concoction: Coca-Cola and coffee (plus a shot of bourbon, per Ethan’s recommendation)   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ethan Hawke on Faith, Imagination, and Flannery O’Connor

This week on “Jesuitical,” we’re breaking from our usual format to discuss news out of the Vatican that Pope Francis used a homophobic slur while discussing church policy on admitting gay men to the priesthood. To discuss this incident and the apology that followed, Ashley is joined by “Jesuitical” producer Sebastian Gomes; Mike O’Loughlin, executive director of Outreach, a resource for L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics; and Ricardo da Silva, S.J., producer of the “Inside the Vatican” podcast, host of the “Preach” podcast and an associate editor at America. They discuss:  The context of the incident, the Vatican’s response, and the implications for L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics Vatican policy about gay men in seminaries and the history of Francis’ outreach to L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics Advice for those affected by the pope’s comments Links from the show:  I am a gay priest. We need more than an apology for Pope Francis’ homophobic slur. Pope Francis used an anti-gay slur. What now for L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics? Pope Francis says Italian seminaries should reject gay applicants Vatican issues apology after Pope Francis’ use of an anti-gay slur Pope Francis’ remarks about gay seminarians ‘taken out of context and used to divide,’ Italian bishop says 
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Pope Francis used a homophobic slur. How should Catholics respond?

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are live at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a conversation with Eric Sundrup, S.J., who provides spiritual direction (or spiritual violence, depending on who you ask) for the podcast. The hosts and Eric share their own experiences discerning their paths as young adults and offer insights from Jesuit spirituality to young people navigating big life questions. They discuss: The need for community and friends you can be vulnerable with while discerning How consolation and desolation can guide discernment Advice for young people discerning their path During Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley are joined by Stuart Wilson-Smith, C.S.P., the Catholic chaplain at the University of California, Los Angeles, to discuss the recent student protests taking place on campus. Father Stu describes the scene on U.C.L.A.’s campus, how the Catholic center offered support and spaces for interfaith dialogue to students, and where he saw God amid the protests. Links from the show:  UCLA’s Catholic chaplain: The world saw scenes of violence at campus protests. Here’s what they didn’t see. Learn more about the Paulists What’s on tap? Kentucky Bourbon from the Neeley Family Distillery  
 
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Discerning the spirits with Eric Sundrup, S.J.

Ryan Burge set out to learn how many Catholics agree with church teachings on three key pro-life issues: abortion, euthanasia and the death penalty. The answer? Fewer than 1 percent. This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are joined by Ryan, an associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University and the author of the “Graphs about Religion” Substack, to discuss his findings on the beliefs of American Catholics today. They discuss: Trends in Catholic opinion on pro-life issues. How faith-based beliefs and secular politics interact in our polarized society. The role of data in understanding religious trends and effectively communicating church teaching. In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the eucharistic pilgrimages taking place ahead of July’s National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. They also cover the controversial commencement speech given by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker at Benedictine College. Links from the show: Cafeteria Catholicism? Planning to join up with the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage? Here’s what you need to know. Harrison Butker’s commencement speech and the danger of a Catholic ‘dead traditionalism’ Young U.S. Catholics want more orthodoxy. That doesn’t mean they reject Vatican II. Podcast: When Catholic doctrine can change—and when it can’t What’s on tap? Carajillos (2 parts cold brew, 2 parts Licor 43) 
 
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We’re all Cafeteria Catholics

This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley are joined by Andrea Von Kampen, a singer-songwriter and friend of the show. Hailing from Lincoln, Neb., Andrea discusses her new album, “Sister Moon.” (For those keeping track at home, yes, that is a St. Francis of Assisi reference.) Recorded at Union Pool in Brooklyn, N.Y., they share a wide-ranging conversation touching on spirituality, live music, the environment and more. They discuss: The spiritual and environmental influences on “Sister Moon” How Andrea writes about important issues without being preachy The joys and challenges of touring as a singer-songwriter, especially post-Covid In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley cover the ins and outs of the recent synod meeting of parish priests at the Vatican. They also discuss a “home blessing challenge” in Cincinnati, then close out by talking about the Catholics who recently received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from a fellow Catholic, President Joe Biden. Links from the Show Sister Moon Andrea Von Kampen's website Parish priests had a synod meeting with the Vatican. But will they be included in October’s assembly? Cincinnati priests compete to meet parishioners in home blessing challenge Jesuit Father Gregory Boyle and Nancy Pelosi to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom Francesco: A Pope Francis Documentary What’s on tap? Nine Pin Hard Cider   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The mother of an Israeli hostage shares her son’s story with Pope Francis

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