Why does an all loving God allow evil and suffering in the world? The theodicy isn’t just a problem for popes and theologians—at some point in any believers life it’s a question that seizes and stops a prayer in the throat.
Yet we try to offer inadequate answers all the time: God only gives us what we can handle. This is a test. Everything happens for a reason. Push any of these responses a bit, and the unraveling begins.
Perhaps the only real answer is in asking the questions. In poetry. In prayer. Joe Hoover, S.J., America’s poetry editor, is out with a new book O Death, Where is Thy Sting?, which is a meditation on all of this and more. In this week’s show, Zac and Ashley sit down with Joe to talk about suffering—fitting for Good Friday. 

Links from the show: 
Joe’s book: O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?
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Why does God allow suffering? And why are our attempts to figure it out inadequate?

Welcome to Jesuitical, a podcast for young Catholics hosted by two young, lay editors at America—Zac Davis and Ashley McKinless. Each episode features a guest who offers a unique perspective on faith, culture or current events. We also bring you some of the top (and maybe more obscure) Catholic news of the week. And we'll ask: Where do we find God in all this?

Religion & Spirituality

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Spirituality

Christianity

Buddhism

Hinduism

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Islam

News

News Commentary

This week on “Jesuitical,” we’re breaking from our usual format to discuss news out of the Vatican that Pope Francis used a homophobic slur while discussing church policy on admitting gay men to the priesthood. To discuss this incident and the apology that followed, Ashley is joined by “Jesuitical” producer Sebastian Gomes; Mike O’Loughlin, executive director of Outreach, a resource for L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics; and Ricardo da Silva, S.J., producer of the “Inside the Vatican” podcast, host of the “Preach” podcast and an associate editor at America.
They discuss: 
The context of the incident, the Vatican’s response, and the implications for L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics
Vatican policy about gay men in seminaries and the history of Francis’ outreach to L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics
Advice for those affected by the pope’s comments
Links from the show: 
I am a gay priest. We need more than an apology for Pope Francis’ homophobic slur.
Pope Francis used an anti-gay slur. What now for L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics?
Pope Francis says Italian seminaries should reject gay applicants
Vatican issues apology after Pope Francis’ use of an anti-gay slur
Pope Francis’ remarks about gay seminarians ‘taken out of context and used to divide,’ Italian bishop says

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Pope Francis used a homophobic slur. How should Catholics respond?

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are live at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a conversation with Eric Sundrup, S.J., who provides spiritual direction (or spiritual violence, depending on who you ask) for the podcast. The hosts and Eric share their own experiences discerning their paths as young adults and offer insights from Jesuit spirituality to young people navigating big life questions.
They discuss:
The need for community and friends you can be vulnerable with while discerning
How consolation and desolation can guide discernment
Advice for young people discerning their path
During Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley are joined by Stuart Wilson-Smith, C.S.P., the Catholic chaplain at the University of California, Los Angeles, to discuss the recent student protests taking place on campus. Father Stu describes the scene on U.C.L.A.’s campus, how the Catholic center offered support and spaces for interfaith dialogue to students, and where he saw God amid the protests.
Links from the show: 
UCLA’s Catholic chaplain: The world saw scenes of violence at campus protests. Here’s what they didn’t see.
Learn more about the Paulists
What’s on tap?
Kentucky Bourbon from the Neeley Family Distillery 


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Discerning the spirits with Eric Sundrup, S.J.

Ryan Burge set out to learn how many Catholics agree with church teachings on three key pro-life issues: abortion, euthanasia and the death penalty. The answer? Fewer than 1 percent. This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are joined by Ryan, an associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University and the author of the “Graphs about Religion” Substack, to discuss his findings on the beliefs of American Catholics today.
They discuss:
Trends in Catholic opinion on pro-life issues.
How faith-based beliefs and secular politics interact in our polarized society.
The role of data in understanding religious trends and effectively communicating church teaching.
In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the eucharistic pilgrimages taking place ahead of July’s National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. They also cover the controversial commencement speech given by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker at Benedictine College.
Links from the show:
Cafeteria Catholicism?
Planning to join up with the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage? Here’s what you need to know.
Harrison Butker’s commencement speech and the danger of a Catholic ‘dead traditionalism’
Young U.S. Catholics want more orthodoxy. That doesn’t mean they reject Vatican II.
Podcast: When Catholic doctrine can change—and when it can’t
What’s on tap?
Carajillos (2 parts cold brew, 2 parts Licor 43)


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We’re all Cafeteria Catholics

This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley are joined by Andrea Von Kampen, a singer-songwriter and friend of the show. Hailing from Lincoln, Neb., Andrea discusses her new album, “Sister Moon.” (For those keeping track at home, yes, that is a St. Francis of Assisi reference.) Recorded at Union Pool in Brooklyn, N.Y., they share a wide-ranging conversation touching on spirituality, live music, the environment and more.
They discuss:
The spiritual and environmental influences on “Sister Moon”
How Andrea writes about important issues without being preachy
The joys and challenges of touring as a singer-songwriter, especially post-Covid
In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley cover the ins and outs of the recent synod meeting of parish priests at the Vatican. They also discuss a “home blessing challenge” in Cincinnati, then close out by talking about the Catholics who recently received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from a fellow Catholic, President Joe Biden.
Links from the Show
Sister Moon
Andrea Von Kampen's website
Parish priests had a synod meeting with the Vatican. But will they be included in October’s assembly?
Cincinnati priests compete to meet parishioners in home blessing challenge
Jesuit Father Gregory Boyle and Nancy Pelosi to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Francesco: A Pope Francis Documentary
What’s on tap?
Nine Pin Hard Cider
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A singer-songwriter inspired by Saint (and Pope) Francis

This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley share their conversation with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on the role of a church in a polarized society. As the Archbishop of Washington, D.C., “the epicenter of division,” Cardinal Gregory has devoted himself to bringing people together across vast political and faith-based differences, lending profound insight (and humor!) to this live conversation, which was hosted by Georgetown University’s Catholic Social Thought and Public Life and Leadership Roundtable.

They discuss:

Cardinal Gregory’s conversion as a boy and life as a priest

Watching people come together through the synod, from diocesan meetings to the universal session in Rome

The cardinal’s advice for young people who feel disengaged from politics


During Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley are joined by one of Jesuitical’s assistant producers, Delaney Coyne, to break down a recent debacle surrounding an A.I. priest. They cover the laicization of Catholic Answers’ “Father Justin” and discuss the kind of insights this technology can—and can’t—provide.

Want to advertise your school, ministry program, book or anything else on Jesuitical? Send us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org 

Links from the show
The real lesson behind the ‘Father Justin’ AI priest debacle.
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Why does God allow suffering? And why are our attempts to figure it out inadequate?

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