Jesuitical

You don’t have to have a Ph.D. in theology to write about religion (thank goodness)—but Tara Isabella Burton’s work shows it certainly doesn’t hurt. After getting her doctorate in theology at Oxford University, Tara became the first full-time religion correspondent for Vox (with a V she is quick to clarify). There she translates religious stories to a largely secular audience and brings a theologian’s lens to questions of public policy and values.

Tara also published her first novel this year, Social Creature, a thrilling story about striving and sin in the decadent world of upper-class New York. We ask her about the book, how her own own faith has shaped her writing and why everyone should study theology.

Jesuitical is on vacation until August, so no Signs of the Times this week, but we still want to hear from you! Come share your consolations and desolations or some interesting Catholic news in our Facebook group. You can also find us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow, support us on Patreon and send us an email at [email protected].

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Rachel Held Evans grew up loving the bible. Like, was on her high school’s homecoming court representing the Bible club. She was taught to honor and defend it from all its enemies, science and history included.

But her Biblical worldview started to fall apart in college. Neat, pre-packaged answers that she was taught weren’t satisfying anymore. “I never had permission to challenge the Bible,” Rachel told us on this week’s podcast. “And yet when I began doing that it's like all these new layers of meaning began to unfold and it became a richer experience.”

Rachel talks to us this week about her new book, “Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again.” We talk about why finding enchantment in the Bible is important, how to teach Bible stories to your kids and more.

In this week’s rundown of Catholic news, we discuss what Catholic organizations are doing to help immigrant families separated at the border; Philippine priests seeking gun permits in light of recent murders; and a Kenyan priest who was suspended from ministry for rapping.

Want to discuss this week’s episode with the hosts and other Jesuitical listeners? Check out our Facebook group. You can also find us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow, support us on Patreon and send us an email at [email protected].

Links from the show

Donations surge at Catholic Charities border asylum-seeker center

Hundreds of calls come in at USCCB HQ seeking to foster detained kids

Parkland students kick off anti-gun tour with rally at Catholic church

Philippine bishops hesitant about priests seeking gun permits

Kenya parishioners disappointed after priest suspended for rapping

Swole.Catholic helps people strengthen body and soul

What’s on tap?

New Jersey Beer Co.’s LBIPA, courtesy of Patron and friend of the podcast, John Dougherty.

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Ask most people what they know about black Catholic sisters, and they will probably murmur something about “Sister Act.” Dr. Shannen Dee Williams did, too, until she began digging into communities’ archives and uncovering the previously hidden lives of African-American women religious. Now she’s telling those stories in a forthcoming book (with an amazing title), Subversive Habits. 

Shannen tells us about the incredible resilience and deep faith of black Catholic women in the face of racism, discrimination and exclusion. We ask her how these stories affected her own faith and what racial reconciliation in the church looks like today.

In our news segment this week, we talk fun Catholic World Cup facts, an update on the synod on young adults and Pope Francis’ controversial comments on abortion and Nazis. Finally, we discuss the Trump administration’s policy of separating children from their parents at the border—and what you can do to help. 

Have you checked out our Facebook page yet? Starting today, we’ll be asking for your consolations and desolations there. You can also find us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow, support us on Patreon and send us an email at [email protected].

Links from the show

Faith and the 2018 World Cup: little-known Christian details about soccer (football!) stars

Synod working document: Young Catholics need a church that listens to them

Pope Francis says abortion is ‘same thing’ as Nazi eugenics

Catholic leaders denounce Sessions’s asylum decision: ‘We have truly lost our moral compass.’

Father James Martin: Five things you can do to help immigrants at the border

What’s on tap?

Celebrating our Catholic Press Association awards with Champagne! Well, technically, prosecco.

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This week, we talk with Jeremy McLellan, a comedian from Charleston, S.C. Jeremy was recently named a “New Face of Comedy” at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He was recently baptized at this year’s Easter Vigil. We talk to the comedian about his time living in a L’Arche community, his struggles with depression and making people laugh in 2018.

In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis accepts the resignations of Chilean bishops and meets with energy executives to discuss care for the poor and the environment. In Baltimore, the archdiocese is letting Catholic couples get married outside of the bride or groom’s parish. A new study claims that kids who attend Catholic schools have more self-control than those who do not. The Catholic Memes Facebook group sparks controversy after posting a meme that many are describing as anti-Semitic.

Finally, last month the Catholic Women’s Forum and the Notre Dame Center for Ethics and Culture sponsored a conference on the #MeToo movement. We discuss the conference, the church’s response and the effects of the sexual revolution on the movement.

Make sure to check us out on Twitter @jesuiticalshow, and send us some feedback by emailing [email protected]. You can support the show by joining our Patreon community. And we are also on Facebook. We love hearing from all of our listeners weekly, and we wanted to give you all the opportunity to not just continue talking with us but to get to know each other as well. If you haven’t joined yet, go do that.

Pope Francis appeals to top energy executives to care for the poor and the environment

Pope begins purge in Chile church over sex abuse scandal

Conference asks: Is the Sexual Revolution to blame for #MeToo?

Vanity Fair ad takes ‘#MeToo’ campaign to victims of religious violence

Catholic Memes controversy

Baltimore Catholics can now have that outdoor wedding they’ve dreamed of

Study finds Catholic school correlates with student’s self-control

This week, we’re drinking some fancy Malbec wine, courtesy of my mom, Francisca Segura

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It was a curious Tweet that came across my timeline. Was A.C. Slater really getting baptized in the Jordan River?

Got baptized in the same river Jesus did...#JordanRiver #Jesus #JohnTheBaptist pic.twitter.com/WIuPtqEk9b

And there was another one—this time at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Annunciation:

Angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary she was going to be the mother Christ of here...#AnunciationCathedral #RomanCatholic #AngelGabriel #VirginMary pic.twitter.com/QVMEr9Gyf9

Mario Lopez is a TV host and actor. You might know him as A.C. Slater on “Saved by the Bell” or from “Dancing with the Stars.” He is currently one of the hosts of “Extra”—and a promoter of the Gospel.

It’s one thing for celebrities to be privately religious; using their platforms for evangelization is quite another. This week we talk with Mario about his pilgrimage to the Holy Land, what it’s like to be faithful in Hollywood, and passing down faith to children.

The Signs of the Times segment of the show comes with a cake motif: we discuss the Supreme Court’s recent decision in the Colorado “gay wedding cake” case and its impact on religion and culture; also, there was a life-sized Jesus cake—complete with icing stigmata wounds—that was maybe (or definitely) made in bad-taste. Outside of cake news, we talk about why the Vatican issued a new document on SPORTS!™; why a statue of Jesus was “too-Catholic” for one Baptist church; and how a former slave is going to be the first Catholic entombed in Denver’s Cathedral.

Have you been thinking to yourself, “Friday is such a long time to wait for another episode, I wish I could listen to some of it early”? If so, I have great news for you: we’ve started posting videos of the full, uncut versions of weekly interviews to our Patreon page on Wednesdays. You can help keep us employed and get some bonus content.

We also have our Facebook group—it’s a great way to meet and discuss Catholic things with other Jesuitical listeners. You can also follow us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow and send us feedback and cocktail recipes at [email protected].

1. Pope Francis asks German bishops to set aside plan on Communion for non-Catholic spouses
2. Vatican Sports on Sundays are O.K. (except when used to skip Mass)

Chocolate Cake Martini: vanilla vodka, chocolate liqueur, half-and-half, whipped cream and a cookie wafer to garnish.

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How do you change the mind of someone who thinks you don’t belong in this country because of your faith? Make them laugh, says Negin Farsad, Muslim-American comedian, actress, writer and filmmaker. And she does.

Back in 2014, she took a troupe of Muslim comedians on tour in America’s heartland to talk (and joke) about Islamophobia for the documentary film “The Muslims Are Coming!” Today, she continues to work in what she calls “social justice comedy,” using humor to confront religious hatred and racism. We ask her how she walks the line between laughing with and laughing at the people she would like to convince.

In Signs of the Times, the supporters of Ireland’s Eighth Amendment suffered a resounding defeat in the May 25 referendum, opening the door to abortion on demand. We talk about the future of the church and the pro-life movement in light of this setback. Plus: an archbishop in Australia faces jail time for failing to report sexual abuse; an ecumenical group of faith leaders takes on racism in Minnesota; and a new poll shows only 50 percent of Catholics support welcoming refugees to the United States. What gives?

When you’re done listening, you can hop on over to our Facebook group and let us know what you think! Follow us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow and send us feedback and cocktail recipes at [email protected]. And if you haven’t yet, please consider leaving us a review on Apple podcasts—it’s a great way to help other people find the show.

Links from the show:

Catholics who voted Yes should consider confession, says Bishop

Catholic archbishop convicted in Australia of concealing child sex abuse

New Minnesota faith alliance takes on racism

Only 50% of U.S. Catholics believe the U.S. Should Accept Refugees

What’s on tap?

Brooklyn Brewery Lager hand delivered by Patron Emilee Hunter-Maguire

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Cyrus Habib is the 16th and current Lieutenant Governor of Washington State. Born in Baltimore, Md., Cyrus is a three-time cancer survivor and has been fully blind since he was 8-years-old. His parents immigrated to the United States from Iran before he was born, and he is both the first and only Iranian-American official to hold statewide elected office in the United States.

We ask Cyrus how his Catholic faith shapes his public service and how citizens and politicians alike can work toward the common good in these polarized times.

In Signs of the Times, during the royal wedding, Bishop Michael Curry name-dropped French Jesuit, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Who was this controversial Jesuit philosopher? Next, Pope Francis is creating 14 new cardinals, and a Seattle nun is taking on the gun industry—from the inside. Plus, Irish citizens are voting today on whether or not to repeal the Eighth Amendment, which recognizes that both mothers and unborn children have an equal right to life. We discuss why repealing the Eighth Amendment will be a step back for Ireland.

Finally, following an investigation into the Chilean sexual abuse crisis, 34 bishops in Chile have offered their resignation. Sexual abuse survivor Juan Carlos Cruz said that during his meeting with the pope, Francis stated: “Juan Carlos, that you are gay doesn’t matter. God made you like this and loves you like this and it doesn’t matter to me. The pope loves you like this.” We discuss the impact of the pope’s comments.

Make sure to check us out on Twitter @jesuiticalshow, and send us some feedback by emailing [email protected]. You can support the show by joining our Patreon community. And we are also on Facebook! We love hearing from all of our listeners weekly, and we wanted to give you all the opportunity to not just continue talking with us but to get to know each other as well! If you haven’t joined yet, go do that.

And a special shoutout to our sponsor, “Pope Francis: A Man of His Word,” written and directed by three-time Academy Award nominee Wim Wenders.

Links from the show:

Who was the Jesuit priest mentioned during the Royal Wedding sermon?

Pope Francis announces that he will create 14 new cardinals in June

Abuse victim says Pope Francis told him “being gay doesn't matter”

All of Chile’s bishops offer resignations after meeting pope on abuse

Meet the Seattle nun who infiltrated a gun company

The Irish Exception

What’s on tap?
Substance, a Washington State wine, brought to us by Cyrus

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It’s not an easy position for faithful Catholics to stake out, criticizing a popular pope. But Ross Douthat is worried about where Pope Francis is leading the Catholic Church. In his new book, To Change the Church: Pope Francis and the Future of Catholicism, the New York Times op-ed columnist argues that Francis’ “truces” with the modern world—specifically his more pastoral approach on issues ranging from divorce and same-sex relationships to euthanasia—threaten to not only divide and weaken the church but betray the very words of Jesus.

We ask Ross whether he thinks people in the pews share his concerns, what mercy means for Catholics who feel hurt by Catholic teachings and what gives him hope about the church.

In Signs of the Times: a Catholic school showcases a caged tiger at prom. Bad idea or the worst idea? Plus, new rules for contemplative nuns, the United States’ first African-American priest gets a step closer to sainthood, thoughts on the new Pope Francis biopic and news from the Holy Land.

Finally, it’s Mental Health Awareness Week, so we wanted to discuss what more the church can do to support families struggling with mental illness.

As always, check us out on Twitter @jesuiticalshow, and send us some feedback by emailing [email protected]. You can support the show (and get exclusive swag and bonus content!) by joining our Patreon community.

A Catholic School in Florida Had a Caged Tiger at Its Jungle-Themed Prom and WTF?
Vatican issues new rules for communities of contemplative nuns
Runaway slave-turned-priest moves closer to beatification
California bishops: The mental health care system is broken
Pope gets an unprecedented close-up, courtesy of Wim Wenders
Pope Francis denounces spiral of violence in the Holy Land

Wisconsin white wine from our very first in-studio Patreon V.I.P. visitor, Creede Caldwell!

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What makes a Christian movie? Can you define it based on its themes and subjects? Or is it all in whom it’s marketed at?

Alissa Wilkinson is a film critic at Vox, where she covers film and culture. Before writing at Vox, Alissa was critic-at-large at Christianity Today. We discuss the role of religion in film, whether “Christian” or not, what her favorite films are and more on this week’s show.

During Signs of the Times, our weekly Catholic news update, we discuss whether the Catholic-imagination themed Met Gala was offensive or awesome, what some churches are doing to aid immigrants in the midst of destructive decrees from the Trump administration and whether non-Catholic spouses might be able to receive communion at Mass.

Last week, we launched a Facebook group—you should join! It’s a great way to meet other young-ish, hip-ish and lay-ish Jesuitical listeners. You can also follow us on Twitter and support the show on Patreon.

Links from the show:

Why the Met Gala is a good thing for Catholicism

Sessions: "Zero-tolerance" policy may cause families to be split at border

Catholic groups decry end to Temporary Protected Status for Hondurans

Dallas-area immigrants apply for Catholic church-issued IDs to ease deportation fears

Pope Francis asks German bishops to find agreement on Communion for non-Catholic spouses

Paul Ryan reinstates Jesuit as House Chaplain

Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism

What's on tap? 
Miami Vice, Zac's mom's favorite drink, in honor of her graduation. 

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This week, we talk with Wajahat Ali, a contributing op-ed writer for The New York Times, where he covers religion, family life and U.S. politics. Wajahat is also one of the producers of the Emmy-nominated series, “The Secret Life of Muslims,” which takes a look into the lives of U.S. Muslims. We talk with Wajahat about the perception of Muslim Americans in the age of Trump, and how his Jesuit education has made him a better Muslim.

In Signs of the times, Cardinal Pell stands trial for sex abuse; Katy Perry visits the Vatican; Catholic leaders oppose Bavarian crucifix order; and parishes are closing in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Following the forced resignation of Jesuit House chaplain, Patrick Conroy, we ask: Why did this happen And finally: Prom season in Michigan had one Catholic high-school bringing out “modesty ponchos.” We discuss whether or not this is problematic.

Follow us Twitter @jesuiticalshow, send us an email at [email protected] and support our work by becoming a part of our Patreon community. You subscribe to us wherever you get your favorite podcast and leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

And a special shoutout to our sponsor, the Catholic Travel Centre, who made this episode possible.

P.S. We are now on Facebook! We love hearing from all of our listeners weekly, and we wanted to give you all the opportunity to not just continue talking with us but to get to know each other as well! If you haven’t joined yet, go do that.

Cardinal Pell to stand trial in sex abuse case

Katy Perry Meets Pope Francis, Speaks At Vatican Conference

Dr. Oz leads Vatican panel on faith and medicine

Catholic leaders join criticism of Bavarian crucifix order

Do reactions to the firing of Jesuit House chaplain show anti-Catholic bias?

Michigan Catholic school to use ‘modesty ponchos’ at prom

Bishop Zubik unveils parish reorganization plans for Pittsburgh diocese

Margaritas—or as my co-hosts like to say, “margs”

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