Canonisation has long been a way for the Catholic church to shape its image. The Vatican is preparing to anoint its first millennial saint, but how does it decide who is worthy? By Linda Kinstler. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
Yesterday
‘It could knock a whole street down’: the art of defusing a second world war bomb
On 14 January this year, army and navy squads faced an unprecedented challenge: one bomb on a Plymouth building site, another floating on a dredger in Exmouth. That afternoon, the clock started ticking By Samira Shackle. Read by Dinita Gohil. Help support our independent journali ... Show More
44m 20s
Oct 28
From the archive: The disabled villain: why sensitivity reading can’t kill off this ugly trope
We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors This week, from 2023: For centuries, fictional narratives have used outer difference to telegraph inner monstrosity. As someone who uses a whee ... Show More
33m 15s
Jan 2017
What Constitutes a Practicing Catholic?
It may be difficult to tell a non-practicing Catholic that he or she can’t receive Communion, but—as Fr. Mike Schmitz proves in this episode—in the big picture, you would actually be helping the person. While telling an awe-inspiring story about a seminarian, Fr. Mike lays o ... Show More
7m 6s
Aug 2018
Repentance and Church Reform
Anyone can and should condemn the sins of the priests and cardinals that have been all over the news. The real challenge is to ask God what he is expecting us to do within this time, our time, in history. If he has created us to live in these difficult times for Catholics, he mus ... Show More
10m 22s