There has been no shortage of commentary on the life of Pope Benedict XVI since his death on Dec. 31. But one aspect of Benedict’s legacy that many Americans miss is his contributions to Catholic social teaching. John Carr would know.

John is the founder of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University and for 20 years served as director of the Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. John has more than five decades of experience working in the Catholic Church to help promote its public witness to justice. We talk to John about Pope Benedict, the perception of the church and politics as well as his personal and professional experience with the sexual abuse crisis.

As you can probably tell from Ashley’s voice in the interview, we decided to give her vocal cords a rest. So you’ll hear an abbreviated version of the rest of the show. 

What’s on tap

Orange Fanta

Links from the show: 

Pope Benedict’s greatest disconnect from U.S. elites wasn’t about sex. It was over economic justice.

I helped write the bishops’ first document on Catholics and voting. Here’s why I’m voting Biden, not Trump.

Eight lessons to help us move forward from the sex abuse crisis.

Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life

A timeline of Pope Benedict XVI’s life and papacy: From humble beginnings to historic resignation

Pope Benedict XVI, defender of orthodoxy defined by historic resignation, dies at 95

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