“Our conversation today has been pushing in the direction of seeing this as a horrific symptom of a much deeper illness. The way in which we talk about sex in the Church, the way we talk about power in the Church and maybe even more than the ways we talk about these things… the way that we live them out.”

J. Patrick Hornbeck II is Professor and Chair of Theology at Fordham Jesuit University in New York. He has a PhD from Oxford looking at heresy in the late medieval English Church. He teaches courses such as ‘Introduction to Theology’, ‘The Protestant Reformation’, ‘Religion and Law’ and also ‘Religion and Sexuality’.

Russell Pollitt SJ talks to Professor Patrick Hornbeck about the sexual abuse crisis, power and sexuality in the Church.

Judy Klipin is a Martha Beck certified Master Life Coach, she offers individual, group and corporate coaching and workshops. She is the author of Recover from Burnout. Burnout wreaks havoc in multiple areas of our lives, as she herself discovered from personal experience.

Russell Pollitt SJ talks to Judy about life coaching, burnout and her new book.

“I want my boys to understand that a real man needs to be first and foremost respectful of every single other human being out there, irrelevant of their point of view, their gender, their sexual orientation. That is something they have to give instantaneously. It’s respect.”

Vaughn Lucas is the father of two boys, a South African voice-over artist and an actor — best known for his roles in 7de Laan and Getroud met Rugby.

Ricardo da Silva SJ talks to Vaughn about his life as father, actor and Christian.

Nicole Dickson is co-creator and leader of the Institute for Creative Conversation (I4CC), an NPO, which explores ways to weave narrative practices and pastoral theology into a meaningful ‘Narrative of Care’.

The Institute attempts to help people grapple with the stories that have shaped their lives and therefore their sense of well-being and identity. Narrative practices help people to clarify for themselves the problems and situations that prevent them from having the kinds of lives and relationships that they might wish for.

Nicky worked at Northfield Methodist Church for 15 years, and has over 20 year’s experience in counselling, workshops and training.

She has a Masters in Pastoral Theology and has presented papers at several conferences. She is currently undertaking a PhD in Pastoral Therapy.

Nicole spoke to Russell Pollitt SJ about her work, the Institute and the research she is undertaking for her doctoral thesis.

“Seeing the state of some of the people in our country and what the Top Billing lifestyle means to them — the inauthenticity of it — and I did play a huge role in it. And I feel badly. I know a lot of people will go, ‘Oh please, it’s not that deep.’ But, they haven’t walked my shoes and seen the results of it.”

Ursula Chikane is a celebrated South African broadcaster and a former enchanting presenter of Top Billing and MTN Gladiators.

Ricardo da Silva SJ talks to Ursula about life beyond Top Billing glitz and glam, the lessons of her globetrotting adventures and her faith as a committed Catholic.

Judy Coyle IHM has had extensive experience of being a pastoral worker in both the USA and South Africa. She holds a doctoral degree in theology and has taught liturgy and spirituality for many years at various academic institutions. She believes that the role of women, especially in ministry, needs to be urgently addressed in the Catholic Church.

Addressing the study on women deacons instituted by Pope Francis, she says that she believes that women should be ordained but that this should be in the Church, by the Church and for the Church.

Judy talks to Russell Pollitt SJ about the diaconate, women in ministry and women’s ordination.

John Clarke is a social worker, social justice activist and Catholic. Over the past 17 years, John has been passionate about protecting and sustaining the people and the ecology of South Africa’s Wild Coast.

Having worked for a variety of eclectic organisations – from the IEC to WHO – he now supports the Amadiba community near Xolobeni. The story so far has been plagued with troubles and setbacks. An Australian company is trying to mine the titanium-rich mineral sands. Bribery, corruption, and even violence, has beset the often-divided community. John talks about his personal journey of growth, and how his work is continually informed by Catholic social teaching.

Michele de Klerk served as a full-time paid lay youth coordinator at her parish in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 2017, she was finally able to recognise, admit and confront the truth that she is gay.

The journey towards accepting her sexuality — as a Catholic, divorcee and mother — has been a struggle. It leaves her wrestling with God and the Church, asking whether God accepts and loves her as divorced, gay and a mother. Among those whom she looks to for comfort are priests with whom she is close, some accept and love her as a gay woman; others only seem to add to the burdens she carries.

Michele talks to Russell Pollitt SJ about being a gay Catholic and her love for Catholicism.

Peter-John Pearson is vicar general of the Archdiocese of Cape Town and director of the Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office of the Southern African bishops. He began his journey to the priesthood after studying law and having experienced profound spiritual conversion linked to his involvement in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement and a passion for social justice in service of the poor.

Ricardo da Silva SJ speaks to him about his vocation to the priesthood as a social activist during apartheid, St Oscar Romero, Pope Francis’ call to becoming a Church of and for the poor and South Africa’s upcoming general election.

Angie suffered the trauma of an abortion at the age of 23. Today, she runs Rachel’s Vineyard in South Africa, a retreat for women and men who have suffered the same trauma.

Ricardo da Silva SJ met with Angie at her home in Cape Town to speak about the trauma of abortion, healing, divorce and being Catholic.