Jesuitical

When Millennials move in with Nuns

Every year, more people—particularly those who skew younger—opt out of identifying with a religious tradition. In many ways, the spiritual lives of the next generation will look drastically different than their predecessors. 

At the same time, nearly 90 percent of all women religious (these are the much talked about “nuns”) are over the age of 60. Given these shifting demographics, the future of religious life will look wildly different too. 

Could the future of these two groups be tied up somehow? This was the question first posed by Nunes and Nones, an organization that brings these two groups—both spiritually seeking, both distinctly committed to justice—together for conversation, relationship and even shared housing. 

This week we talk to Katie Gordon, a national organizer of Nuns and Nones, about the impetus behind starting the organization, the benefits and challenges of intergenerational and interreligious dialogue, and why aging women religious and millennials are well-suited (or not) for community. 

During Signs of the Times we talk about the Archdiocese of Indianapolis’s decision to no longer allow a Jesuit high school to call itself Catholic after the school declined to not renew a contract for a teacher in a same-sex marriage. Plus, we look at what Baltimore Catholics are doing to support and protect immigrants.

This is our final show for the summer—while we’re away, be sure to join in conversation and faith sharing with other Jesuitical listeners on our Facebook group, and be sure to write us at [email protected]. We’ll be back in your feeds in September. 

What’s on Tap?
Ciaran Jason Freeman Jam Jar Gin & Tonic

Links from the Show: 

Archdiocese pulls ‘Catholic’ label from Jesuit school for refusing to fire teacher in same-sex marriage

History of slaves sold for Georgetown detailed in new genealogical website

Baltimore Catholics Stand With Undocumented Families As ICE Raid Threats Loom

Amazon Trolls Netflix Over Catholic Group’s Call To Cancel ‘Good Omens’

Nunes and Nones

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Chloe Becker was upset when she realized she could not name a single African or African-American saint. A junior at Magnificat High School in Rocky River, Ohio, Chloe was inspired to learn more about racial justice after attending a school-sponsored conference on racism. It led to the creation of a semester-long project: a mural depicting African-American saints and holy people in contemporary clothing, holding up the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Chloe took a break from her summer vacation to talk to us about using the saints to fight racism, how her community has responded and why she chose to depict the saints in contemporary dress.

In this week’s Signs of the Times, we look at two new Catholic initiatives: a Vatican podcast in Latin and a new Catholic cryptocurrency backed by former Senator Rick Santorum. We also break down the U.S. bishops’ latest protocols for holding themselves accoutnable for sexual abuse and its cover up. Finally, we look at a Belgian group of monks who are changing the way they sell their award-winning beer.

That’s it for us this week. Only one more show until Jesuitical goes on summer break.

Links from the show:

1. Looking for new religious art? Check your local high school.
2. Augustine Tolton, Ex-Slave and First Black Catholic Priest in U.S., Takes Step to Sainthood
3. Paris archbishop celebrates first Mass in Notre Dame since fire
4. U.S. bishops adopt new protocols for holding themselves accountable for sex abuse
5. Vatican will discuss ordaining married men as priests in Amazon region
6. Vatican News to launch news program, podcast in Latin
7. The Rick Santorum-backed coin for Catholics

What’s on tap:

“The Crisp” pilsner from Six Point Brewery

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Pat Gothman is committed to creating welcoming spaces for L.G.B.T. Catholics. Pat, who is gay and Catholic, is a writer and editor of Reaching Out, an online publication that highlights the stories of L.G.B.T. people of faith. In December, Pat co-launched Vine & Fig, an online community where the lives and experiences of queer Catholics are “affirmed as true, holy, and beautiful.” Vine & Fig provides community members with books, videos and other resources and gives them a digital space—via Slack—where “queer Catholics can safely get to know one another and grow together.”

We talk to Pat about Vine & Fig, his experience as a gay Catholic man and why he stays in the church.

In Signs of the Times, David Haas, a composer of Catholic hymns, releases a new refrain for Pride Month; 90 Catholic airport chaplains meet in Rome; Joe Biden retracts his support for the Hyde Amendment; and the Toronto Raptors forward who almost became a priest.

Finally, we discuss the Vatican’s most comprehensive statement yet on gender theory.

Feel free to send us your questions, concerns, cocktail recipes or join us for discussion on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a member of our Patreon community.

This week’s episode was sponsored by the Catholic Travel Centre.

Links from the show:

Catholic Composer Pens Song For Pride Month Because ‘We Are Called To Love’

Vatican issues new document criticizing ‘gender theory’

Over 90 Catholic airport chaplains gathered at the Vatican this week. Airport chaplains have special ministry, pope says

W.Va. bishop gave powerful cardinals and other priests $350,000 in cash gifts before his ouster, church records show

Joe Biden says he no longer supports the Hyde Amendment

Pascal Siakam: How a Toronto Raptors star got his start in seminary

What’s on tap?

Ginger beer

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Dawn Eden Goldstein was born into a Jewish family, but in her teens and 20s—dealing with cycles suicidal depression—charted her own path as a journalist and devotee of the religion of punk rock. In the early 2000s, as the first round of the sexual abuse crisis was unfolding in the Catholic Church, Dawn, herself a survivor, began making her way to that very church. Since converting, she has written several books, including My Peace I Give You: Healing Sexual Wounds with the Help of the Saints and her new memoir, Sunday Will Never Be the Same.

We ask Dawn about her spiritual journey, how the latest abuse revelations have tested her faith and what lessons the church can learn from the arduous healing process of survivors.

In Signs of the Times, the U.S. church is reporting a rise in new sex abuse allegations. What’s being the recent spike? Next, the bishop in Rhode Island warns Catholics not to take part in Pride marches and an Irish archbishop tells parents not to give their kids smartphones for Holy Communion. Finally, relics are stolen from a church in Italy and the French senate votes to restore Notre Dame to its former glory.

Tell us what you think about the show on our Facebook page! You can follow us on Twitter, support us on Patreon and help other listeners find Jesuitical by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening!

US Catholic Church reports big rise in sex-abuse allegations
Rhode Island bishop faces backlash after tweet about Pride Month
Don’t give kids smartphones as communion gifts, says Archbishop
Relics of Fatima child saints stolen from Italian church
French senate passes bill for preservation of Notre Dame’s original state

Not-fancy-enough-for-Zac office coffee

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Onita Estes-Hicks has been Catholic her entire life. Men in her family were named “Nace” after St. Ignatius, a testament to the influence of the Jesuits in her family’s life. But her relationship with her faith was forever changed in 2004, when her family discovered that they were the descendents of one of the 272 enslaved persons sold by the Jesuits who ran Georgetown University in 1838.

We talk to Onita about what it was like to find out about her family’s history, what Georgetown has done to ask for forgiveness and what it’s been like to form a community of other descendants.

In Signs of the Times we unpack the latest developments from the case of former cardinal Theodore McCarrick (for a fuller discussion, listen to this week’s episode of Inside the Vatican) and discuss the new Archbishop of Washington, D.C. In our new segment, “Being Frank,” we talk about the pope’s advice to young travelers to focus on encounter, not consumerism (or Instagram likes).

Links from the show:

GU272 Descendants Association

New correspondence obtained by Crux confirms that the Vatican placed restrictions on former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick

In new interview that appears to have been conducted before this report was released, Pope Francis said he ‘knew nothing’ about McCarrick

Washington’s black Catholic community looks to Archbishop Gregory for new leadership

Pope praises Catholic tourism group dedicated to young people

What’s on tap?

Goodbye whiskey from Father Eric Sundrup 😔

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For over two years, Father Eric Sundrup has provided the hosts of Jesuitical with spiritual formation. Every week, we sit and talk to him about where we found God—and where it was a little harder. Sadly, it’s Eric’s last week as an associate editor at America (though he’s sticking around as Jesuitical’s faith formator), so we decided to interview him and give listeners a behind-the-scenes look.

We talk to Eric about spiritual direction and what makes it different from counseling, the role of spiritual direction for the Jesuits and the best—and most awkward—parts of talking to the hosts about their consolations and desolations.

In Signs of the Times, we share some Catholic school news: a new policy from the Archdiocese of Detroit is asking Catholic parishes and schools to stop scheduling athletic games and practices on Sundays; and Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego has banned skirts. In our Being Frank section, where Pope Francis teaches us to be better Christians, the pope reminds us: “to throw food away means to throw people away.”

And finally, we discuss why the latest article in The Atlantic on abolishing the priesthood isn’t helping us make the church better.

Feel free to send us your questions, concerns, cocktail recipes or join us for discussion on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a member of our Patreon community.

This week’s episode was sponsored by Sunday to Sunday with Father Mike Russo.

No more Sunday games for Detroit Catholic parish, school sports teams

Skirts Banned From Dress Code at San Diego Private Catholic High School

Throwing away food is like throwing away people, pope says

The Case Against Abolishing the Priesthood

Just coffee because we had an earlier recording this week.

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Hans Zollner, S.J., has dedicated his life to protecting children from the horrific crime of sexual abuse. A psychologist and Jesuit priest, he has guided the church’s efforts to bring healing to survivors and to prevent such abuse from happening again. Father Zollner meets regularly with survivors and as one of the organizers of the Vatican summit on sexual abuse in February helped to lift up their voices.

We spoke to Father Zollner back in March and asked him what concrete steps need to be taken after the summit, how hearing from survivors has shaped his perspective and how he maintains his own spiritual and mental health.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss the new rules for reporting sexual abuse issued by Pope Francis as well as the pope’s remarks on the possibility of women deacons. Plus: the cardinal who went down a manhole to restore power to a homeless shelter, Asia Bibi finally joins her family in Canada and Louis Farrakhan makes anti-Semitic remarks in a Catholic Church.

You can share your thoughts about the show in our Facebook group, and if you want to support the work we’re doing, please consider becoming a member of Jesuitical’s Patreon community.

Links from the show

Pope Francis issues new rules for accountability and response to allegations of sexual abuse

Pope Francis tells women religious church cannot alter revelation on women’s diaconate

Hundreds in occupied building had no power for days. A Pope Francis aide climbed down a manhole to restore it

Asia Bibi happy to be in Canada but ‘very tired’ after blasphemy ordeal, says friend

Farrakhan refers to ‘Satanic Jews’ in speech at Chicago Catholic Church

Cardinal Cupich apologizes for Farrakhan visit to Chicago Catholic Church

What’s on tap?

Dark and Stormies

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Like so many, we were devastated by the news of Rachel Held Evans’s death last weekend. Rachel’s willingness to write candidly and prophetically about her faith inspired countless believers and doubters.

The importance of Rachel’s life and work is clear from the outpouring of grief and love that’s emerged from her death. To honor her life and legacy, we wanted to re-air our interview with Rachel from last year. We spoke to Rachel about her book, Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again. Rest in peace, Rachel.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss whether or not we like when priests improvise at Mass, the legacy of L’Arche founder, Jean Vanier and the new editorial director of the Vatican women’s magazine.

Thoughts on this week’s show? Join the discussions happening with other Jesuitical listeners (and hosts and producers!) on our Facebook group.

This week’s episode was sponsored by Sunday to Sunday with Fr. Mike Russo, a new online video series that explores the art, craft and spirituality of preaching.

Links from the show:

Rachel Held Evans, Christian writer of honesty and humor, dies at age 37

Dear priests who improvise at Mass: Please don’t.

Jean Vanier, ‘living saint’ who ministered to people with disabilities, dies at 90

How the University of San Francisco became the first Jesuit university to go carbon neutral

Catholic officials pleased with new conscience protection rule

Pope to Hairdressers: Cut Gossip, Work in ‘Christian Style’

Vatican newspaper appoints new editorial board for women’s magazine

Sunday to Sunday

What’s on tap?

Leftover party beer.

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On this week’s episode, we talk with Kate Bowler, the author of the New York Times bestseller Everything Happens For A Reason (And other lies I’ve Loved). She just won a Christopher Award for the book. (The Christopher Awards were created in 1949 to celebrate authors, illustrators, writers, producers and directors whose work “affirms the highest values of the human spirit.”)

Kate is a professor of Christian history at Duke Divinity School. For years, she has taught and written about the prosperity gospel, and, in Everything Happens For A Reason, she gives readers a personal perspective into what this theology represents.

We talk to Kate about her memoir, what her stage-IV cancer diagnosis taught her about American Christianity, her upcoming book on evangelical Christian women leaders and more.

In Signs of the Times, we discuss the terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka; changes to the Roman Curia at the Vatican; Peter’s Pence and how Pope Francis donates; affordable housing in New York City; and finally, we ask: Should you vote for presidential candidate because of his or her religion?

Feel free to send us your questions, concerns or cocktail recipes at [email protected], or join us for discussion on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a member of our Patreon community.

This week’s episode was sponsored by the award-winning documentary, “Hesburgh.” The film is out in select theaters nationwide today. Visit www.hesburghfilm.com/ to learn more.

Links from the show:

Churches padlocked, schools closed week after Sri Lanka attacks

Catholic bishops condemn Poway synagogue shooting

Big changes to the Vatican’s Roman Curia are coming

Pope Francis donates $500,000 to help migrants in Mexico

New York archdiocese opens new affordable housing

List: Catholic presidential candidates since J.F.K.

What’s on tap?

Lent is over—Prosecco.

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Zac, Olga and I have had the chance to interview some pretty incredible people over the course of 99 episodes—from Father James Martin and Sister Helen Prejean to Sarah Silverman, Audrey Assad and so many more. But this week, we’re turning the tables: To celebrate our 100th episode, former guest and CNN analyst Kirsten Powers interviews your hosts to give you a behind the scenes look at how we got here.

At a live recording at the America Media headquarters in New York City, Kirsten asks us: Who’s idea was Jesuitical? What do the hosts fight about? Do we feel “censored” because we work for the Catholic Church? And what’s next for Jesuitical?

A huge thank you to everyone who came out for the live show and to the Catholic Travel Centre for sponsoring the event. And thank you to everyone who listens to and supports Jesuitical. We are so grateful that we get to make this podcast, and we literally could not do it without the wonderful community that has grown up around the show over the past two years (nor would we want to). Here’s to 100 more!

No Signs of the Times this week, but we’ll be back next week to sift through the Catholic news of the week so you don’t have to.

Links:

This episode was made possible by Catholic Travel Centre, the most trusted name in religious group travel. Visit gocatholictravel.com to learn more.

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