Even though Pope Francis recently canceled his trip to Dubai for COP28 on doctor’s orders, the meeting still represents a huge initiative in Francis’ papacy; in “Laudate Deum,” Francis writes that the meeting has the potential to be “a historic event that honors and ennobles us as human beings” (“Laudate Deum,” No. 59). So Ashley and Zac welcomed Jose Aguto, ... Show More
Mar 12
U.S. culture has a contempt problem
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with Timothy Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics and founder of the nonprofit UNITE, which incubated the Dignity Index, a language evaluation tool that aims to bring greater dignity to our public discourse. 0:00 Welcome back Zac D ... Show More
1h 6m
Mar 6
Just or unjust? Catholics respond to the Iran war
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley sits down with America’s chief correspondent, Kevin Clarke, to discuss the widening conflict with Iran and whether the U.S. intervention in the conflict can be justified under just war theory. Then, we re-share one of our favorite interviews from ... Show More
1h 15m
Oct 2023
The Catholic Church and how it got to where it is today
<p>In <em>Losing a Kingdom, Gaining the World, </em>Dr. Ambrogio A. Caiani tells the story of the Catholic Church in the modern age. Beginning with the aftermath of the French Revolution and the democratic rebellions of 1848, Caiani follows the Church's evolution that sees th ... Show More
51m 13s
Jan 2023
WOF 369: Was Vatican II a Failure?
<p>Friends, we just marked the 60th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II, the Second Vatican Council. Six decades later, can we say the Council was a success? A failure? Something in between?</p> <p>On today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt discuss a provoca ... Show More
31m 1s
Sep 2023
Preaching lessons from Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman
“I had the great privilege of never having a man formally teach me preaching,” boasts Manuel Williams about his training for the priesthood. One of his teachers was Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, F.S.P.A.; the other was Joan Delaplane, an Adrian Dominican sister and the first ... Show More
34m 44s
Jan 2023
What if You're Gay? Starting Conversations with and about LGBT Catholics
Since 2016, and with the blessing of Pope Francis, Father Jim Martin has been talking with LGBT Catholics about their relationship with their church. That’s the subject of his book, Building a Bridge, and also a documentary film by the same title; we talk about what the bridge is ... Show More
54m 45s