ames Martin is a Jesuit priest, the author of numerous books, the editor at large at America, the national Catholic review, and a Consultor to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication.

Father Martin graduated from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business in 1982 and worked for six years at General Electric before entering the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). During his training he worked in a hospital, a hospice, an orphanage, a homeless shelter, a school for inner-city boys, an outreach program with street-gang members, a community center with unemployed men and women, in East Africa with refugees. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1999, and in 2009 pronounced his Final Vows. Among Father Martin’s books are the bestsellers The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life and Jesus: A Pilgrimage. His most recent book is Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone. A sought-after commentator on matters of religion and social issues, he has written for major publications and been interviewed by prominent journalists as well as celebrated TV and radio hosts such as Terry Gross and Stephen Colbert. He has also served as a consultant to plays and films, including “Doubt” and “The Irishman.” We spoke about a wide range of topics, including Father Martin’s positions on controversial issues such as the church and the LGBT community as well as the nuances of prayer, the topic of his new book. Learn more about James Martin here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Martin_(priest,_born_1960) and visit his Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/FrJamesMartin/