Podcast appearances and mentions of rebecca bratten weiss

Nearly a century ago, a Spanish priest named Josemaría Escrivá founded a religious movement intended to summon Christians of all races, ages, and social classes to renew the world, not by separating themselves from it, but by making their everyday lives holy.  Today, the group Escriva founded, known as Opus Dei (“Work of God”) is a highly respected group with approximately 90,000 members, active in 70 countries. St. Pope John Paul II was an admirer of Escrivá and officially canonized him in 2002. Opus Dei members include priests and religious but also laypeople who work ordinary jobs, have families, and are involved in the life of their parishes.  Many of these Opus Dei members are unaware that the organization has been accused of human trafficking and labor exploitation and is the subject of a criminal investigation in Argentina. According to the report that concluded the investigation, people holding different positions within Opus Dei recruited women and girls from low-income families in several South American countries, promised them job training, and placed them in grueling work situations without pay. Opus Dei has also been accused of financial crimes such as fraud and money laundering.  Opus Dei leadership denies these allegations, claiming their critics have concocted false charges by taking details out of context. So how do we balance these allegations with the experience of thousands of ordinary Catholics and with Escrivá's vision of an inclusive church? What exactly is Opus Dei and how does it relate to the rest of the church?  On this episode of Glad You Asked, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss talk to journalist Gareth Gore about what Opus Dei is, how it functions, and the details of the allegations against the group. Gore is the author of Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church (Simon & Schuster). Based in London, Gore has reported from over 25 countries and covered some of the biggest financial stories in recent years.  For more information about this topic, and to read about Gore's book, check out these links.  Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church, by Gareth Gore Opus | Book by Gareth Gore | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster “Argentine prosecutors accuse Opus Dei leaders in South America of trafficking and labor exploitation,” by Debora Rey Argentine prosecutors accuse Opus Dei leaders in South America of trafficking and labor exploitation | AP News “Women in Argentina claim labor exploitation by Opus Dei,” by Debora Rey Women in Argentina claim labor exploitation by Opus Dei | AP News “How Opus Dei manipulated its way into power,” by John Farrell How Opus Dei manipulated its way into power - U.S. Catholic “In Argentina, Opus Dei 'categorically' denies allegations it's involved in human trafficking,” by Junno Arocho Esteves In Argentina, Opus Dei 'categorically' denies allegations it's involved in human trafficking | National Catholic Reporter “Peruvian Opus Dei cardinal denies allegations of sexual abuse of minor,” by Elise Ann Allen Peruvian Opus Dei cardinal denies allegations of sexual abuse of minor - Catholic Herald “Opus Dei Contests Charges of Malfeasance in Author's New Book,” by Ken Oliver-Méndez Opus Dei Contests Charges of Malfeasance in Author's New Book| National Catholic Register “Miracle attributed to Blessed Josemaria is approved”  Miracle attributed to Blessed Josemaria is approved - Opus Dei “Split in Vatican on Opus Dei's miracle,” by Giles Tremlett Split in Vatican on Opus Dei's miracle | World news | The Guardian Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries.

As of March 2025, Elon Musk, the richest person in the world according to Bloomberg, was valued to be worth 311 billion dollars. To help put this quantity in perspective: In order for the average middle-class person earning around $45,000 a year to earn even $1 billion, they would have to devote all their time to work, while spending nothing, for over 21,000 years—that is, longer than human history.  Given the extent of dire need across the world, it seems grossly unethical for anyone to have that kind of money. From a Catholic perspective, we need to take seriously not only concerns rooted in natural law ethics, regarding the flourishing of the person and the common good, but also traditional teachings about the moral obligations around money. Scripture is filled with warnings about the serious, possibly eternal punishments in store for those who hoard wealth at the expense of the poor. Does that mean billionaires are going to hell? On this episode of Glad You Asked, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss talk to moral theologian Nicholas Hayes-Mota about the Catholic Church's teaching on wealth and whether amassing vast amounts of money is a sin.  Hayes-Mota is a social ethicist and public theologian whose research interests include the theology of community organizing, Catholic social thought, contemporary virtue ethics, democratic theory, and AI ethics.    Read more about the ethics of wealth inequality: “Pope Francis: Powerful and Rich Risk Going to Hell If They Ignore the Poor,” by David Gibson “Why the wealth gap is bad for everyone.” A U.S. Catholic interview “Why wealth inequality matters,” by Kevin Clarke “The Universal Destination of Goods in St. John Chrysostom,” by Antônio Lemos Rerum Novarum (Rights and Duties of Capital and Labor), encyclical of Pope Leo XIII Populorum Progressio (On the Development of Peoples), encyclical of Paul VI Fratelli Tutti (On Fraternity and Social Friendship), encyclical of Pope Francis   Read more by Nicholas Hayes-Mota: “We need to reclaim the legacy of Christian nonviolence,” U.S. Catholic “Principle in Practice: A MacIntyrean Analysis of Community Organizing and the Catholic Social Tradition.” Journal of Catholic Social Thought “Partners in Forming the People: Jacques Maritain, Saul Alinsky, and the Project of Personalist Democracy.” Journal of Moral Theology “An Accountable Church? Broad-Based Community Organizing and Ecclesial Ethics,” Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics  

Religious nationalism is on the rise, both in the United States and globally. While this poses multiple challenges to justice work, it also raises theoretical questions for Christians, including the question of how Catholics should understand the relationship between church and political powers. For centuries, when monarchy was the default, Catholics argued about this. Should the pope control the king, or vice versa? Can kings appoint religious institutional leaders? What if a pope excommunicates a monarch? Somewhere along the line, a political idea called integralism developed. Integralism proposes a much closer relationship between political and religious authorities than most Americans are comfortable with. But despite our longstanding embrace of the separation of church and state, this seemingly obscure idea has entered our public discourse, associated with some right-wing influencers and political figures—including Vice President-Elect JD Vance.  So what is integralism? Is it the same as nationalism, and does it threaten our constitutional ideas about religious liberty? On this episode of the podcast, scholar Nicholas Hayes-Mota talks to the hosts about what integralism is and how it relates to the current political climate.  Hayes-Mota is a social ethicist and public theologian whose research interests include the theology of community organizing, Catholic social thought, contemporary virtue ethics, democratic theory, and AI ethics. He is a professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Santa Clara University's College of Arts and Sciences. You can learn more about this topic and read some of Hayes-Mota's work in these links. “What is Catholic integralism?” By Steven P. Millies https://uscatholic.org/articles/201910/what-is-catholic-integralism/  “The Integralist Argument Is Wrong, Even If You're Catholic”  By Kevin Augustyn https://www.discoursemagazine.com/p/the-integralist-argument-is-wrong-even-if-youre-catholic  “The strange world of Catholic 'integralism'—and Christian nationalism”  By Jack Jenkins https://www.ncronline.org/news/strange-world-catholic-integralism-and-christian-nationalism  “The not-so-Catholic candidacy of J. D. Vance”  By Jason L. Miller and Rebecca Bratten Weiss https://uscatholic.org/articles/202407/the-not-so-catholic-candidacy-of-j-d-vance/  “Faith at the expense of freedom”  By Rebecca Bratten Weiss https://www.christiancentury.org/features/faith-expense-freedom  “We need to reclaim the legacy of Christian nonviolence”  By Nicholas Hayes-Mota https://uscatholic.org/articles/202405/we-need-to-reclaim-the-legacy-of-christian-nonviolence/  Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries USA, an order of Catholic priests and brothers who live and work with the most vulnerable among us. To learn more, visit claretians.org.  

To many practicing Catholics, terms like queer theology might seem overly academic or unhelpful. Does queer theology refer to theology done by and for people who are LGBTQ+? Is it focused primarily on arguing for inclusion of queer people and perspectives in the church? Or is it something arcane and academic, along the lines of queer theory? And why should people who don't identify as queer care what it means at all? Some might also be uncomfortable with the idea of breaking theology up into specific groups. If we're all human relating to God, shouldn't plain old theology be good enough for everyone? Why worry about feminist theology, ecotheology, and liberation theology, when one could just talk about God?  On the opening episode of the fifth season of Glad You Asked, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss discuss the topic of queer theology with guest Shannon Kearns. Kearns is an ordained priest in the Old Catholic Church and the author of In the Margins: A Transgender Man's Journey With Scripture (Eerdmans). He also has three more books forthcoming, including No One Taught Me How To Be A Man: What A Trans Man's Experience Reveals About Masculinity (Broadleaf Books).  Kearns has also written multiple plays, and been awarded for his playwriting and screenwriting, including first place in the ScreenCraft Pitch competition and in the New Hope Film Festival. You can read more of Shannon's writing and check out his podcasts on his website (https://www.shannontlkearns.com/) and learn more about queer theology in the links below: “Is queer theology compatible with Catholicism?” By Caleb Murray https://uscatholic.org/articles/202312/is-queer-theology-compatible-with-catholicism/  “Toward a theology of a queer God,” By Ellyn Sanna https://uscatholic.org/articles/202312/is-queer-theology-compatible-with-catholicism/  “We were never meant to survive,” By Shannon Kearns https://www.queertheology.com/we-were-never-meant-to-survive/  “Way of the cross is way of embodiment, something queer Catholics know well,” By Maxwell Kuzma https://www.ncronline.org/spirituality/way-cross-way-embodiment-something-queer-catholics-know-well  Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries USA, an order of Catholic priests and brothers who live and work with the most vulnerable among us. To learn more, visit https://claretians.org and https://myclaret.org. 

Over the past two years, the Glad You Asked podcast has answered more than 50 of your top questions about Catholic history, scripture, and theology. Things like: Do dogs go to heaven? Do angels really have wings? And did Jesus have to die on the cross? Hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss have spoken with dozens of teachers, theologians, activists, and other experts on these and others of the most-searched for queries about Catholicism. Glad You Asked returns for its fifth season on October 4 with even more answers to your burning questions: What is Catholic nationalism? Should Catholics use AI? What is queer theology? And who can baptize a baby? Tune in this season to hear experts answer these questions and more. Sign up for updates here, or subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries USA, an order of Catholic priests and brothers who live and work with the most vulnerable among us. To learn more, visit claretians.org.  

From Hebrew scriptures to contemporary television, from Medieval manuscripts to Victorian greeting cards, angels loom large in the collective imagination of Western culture, and not only for Christians. But the word angel seems to cover a multitude of possible beings. To judge from their many and varied representations, a vision of an angel might involve a giant three-headed winged monster, a chubby winged baby, or maybe an elegant androgynous figure. Given the diverse ways angels have been represented across different eras and traditions, it is difficult to get a sense of what Christians actually believe about angels. Where did the idea of angels originate? Are there really different ranks of angels? What about guardian angels? Or fallen angels? And why are they so frequently depicted with wings? On this episode of the Glad You Asked podcast, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss speak with guest Matthew Arnold about angels in the Bible and why our ideas about them are so varied.  Arnold has written extensively on the paranormal in the Bible and spent over 10 years investigating the paranormal from a Christian perspective, drawing on his background in both theology and science. He is author of The Invisible Dimension: Spirit-Beings, Ghosts, and the Afterlife (Anamchara Books), and the editor of The Christian Parapsychologist, a publication of The Churches' Fellowship for Psychical and Spiritual Studies. Learn more about angels and read some of Arnold's writings in the links below. “Messengers of comfort and courage: The truth about angels,” By Lisa Raatikainen. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202006/messengers-of-comfort-and-courage-the-truth-about-angels/  “Fallen Angels and Satan,” By Matt Arnold. https://ghostsghoulsandgod.co.uk/2020/06/fallen-angels/  “Did Angels Marry Human Women?” By Matt Arnold. https://ghostsghoulsandgod.co.uk/2020/09/did-angels-marry-human-women/  “Guardian angels are life's traveling companions, pope says,” By Junno Arocho Esteves. https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/francis-comic-strip/francis-chronicles/guardian-angels-are-lifes-traveling-companions-pope  “The Angels,” From The Catechism of the Catholic Church. https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/86/  The Invisible Dimension: Spirit-Beings, the Afterlife, and Ghosts, By Matt Arnold. https://a.co/d/70V0iOi  Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://claretiansusa.org https://myclaret.org   

Most Christians are aware of the basic theology about the first two persons of the Trinity: the Father and the Son. Both the Father and the Son are widely represented in scripture and alluded to in tradition and liturgy. Although we know, according to strict theology, that the Father is not an embodied person, let alone an enfleshed male, we have grown comfortable with thinking of the first person of the Trinity in human terms, often as an older man––maybe a kindly father figure, maybe a stern and just judge. And we have created thousands of artistic representations of Jesus, the Son of God, seeking to understand the second person of the Trinity via a broad variety of artistic and cultural traditions. But the Holy Spirit remains elusive and difficult to pin down. Catholics and other Christians are not always entirely certain who the Spirit is, or the Spirit's role in the life of faith. And unlike the Father and the Son, the third person of the Trinity is frequently represented, both in scripture and in other sacred texts and art, not as a human figure, but as a bird.  On this episode of the podcast, guest Grace Ji-Sun Kim talks to hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss about why the Holy Spirit appears as a dove, and what this means for the church and for our life of faith. Kim is professor of theology at Earlham School of Religion and the author and editor of 21 books, most recently Invisible (Fortress Press) and Reimagining Spirit (Wipf and Stock). She is the host of the Madang podcast which is sponsored by the Christian Century. She has written for U.S. Catholic as well as the Huffington Post, The Nation, Sojourners, and TIME. You can learn more about this topic and read some of Kim's writing in these links. “Let the Holy Spirit guide how we talk about race,” by Grace Ji-Sun Kim  https://uscatholic.org/articles/201709/let-the-holy-spirit-guide-how-we-talk-about-race/ “They'll Know We Are Christians by Our ‘Jeong,'” by Grace Ji-Sun Kim https://sojo.net/magazine/february-2019/they-ll-know-we-are-christians-our-jeong “For a more inclusive vision of the church, look to Pentecost,” by Grace Ji-Sun Kim https://uscatholic.org/articles/202305/for-a-more-inclusive-vision-of-the-church-look-to-pentecost/ “Grace Ji-Sun Kim: It's time to recover the Spirit.” A Faith and Leadership interview https://faithandleadership.com/grace-ji-sun-kim-its-time-recover-the-spirit “What are the symbols of the Holy Spirit?” by Father Michael A. Van Sloun https://www.archspm.org/faith-and-discipleship/catholic-faith/what-are-the-symbols-of-the-holy-spirit/ Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/

Can women preach in churches? People may answer this question in different ways, depending on their denomination or faith tradition. Some Christian churches allow for women to be ordained. In others, women are barred from any kind of teaching or leadership position at all. Many women working in faith-based ministries have likely heard such statements as “it's unBiblical for women to preach,” “women should be silent in the churches,” or “women are to be subservient to men, as the church is to Christ.” But what should Catholics make of the different, sometimes seemingly contradictory scripture passages about women preaching? What is the actual history of women preaching, from the early church on? And is there an official Catholic teaching on whether women can preach in churches or not? On this episode of the podcast, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss talk to Rhonda Miska about the scriptures, history, and teachings associated with women preaching.  Miska is a preacher, lay ecclesial minister, writer, and spiritual director based in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. She holds a master's degree from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry and spent several years discerning vowed life with the Dominicans, the Order of Preachers. She is the founder and co-convener of the Catholic Women's Preaching Circle. You can learn more about this topic, read some of Rhonda's writing, and hear her preach in these links.  “Should women preach at Mass?” by Jessie Bazan https://uscatholic.org/articles/202002/should-women-preach-at-mass/ “How can preachers break through the noise of today's world?” by Rhonda Miska https://uscatholic.org/articles/202204/what-makes-a-good-homily/ “Two historians track down Jesus' women disciples,” A U.S. Catholic interview https://uscatholic.org/articles/202209/two-historians-track-down-jesus-women-disciples/ “We need more women in the lectionary,” by Jean P. Kelly https://uscatholic.org/articles/201903/we-need-more-women-in-the-lectionary/ “A reflection for the second Sunday of Easter,” by Rhonda Miska https://uscatholic.org/articles/202204/a-reflection-for-the-second-sunday-of-easter-2/ Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/

Whenever Christians discuss questions about human sexuality and sexual orientation, it is only a matter of time before someone references the Bible to defend an anti-LGBTQ ideology. Whole faith communities may even be divided over the question of whether the Bible contains prescriptions against LGBTQ people. For many Catholics and Christians of other denominations, this question is not merely theoretical or academic. It has to do with their own acceptance and belonging, with their core identity and most deeply personal relationships.  What some participants in these debates seem to forget, or be unaware of, is that the Bible isn't one monolithic text. It's a collection of texts from different eras, in different languages and genres, written for different purposes for diverse audiences. So asking “what does the Bible say?” about any topic requires more than a surface reading. It may also mean leaving one's prejudices at the door and taking time to learn more about different cultures and social customs.  On this episode of the podcast, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss talk to Yunuen Trujillo about what the Bible says—or doesn't say—about LGBTQ people. Trujillo is the author of LGBTQ Catholics: A Guide for Inclusive Ministry (Paulist Press). She is also an immigration attorney, a faith-based community organizer, and a lay minister.  You can learn more about this topic and read some of Trujillo's writing in these links.  “Catholic social teaching calls for collaboration with Biden administration on LGBTQ policies,” by Yunuen Trujillo https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/catholic-social-teaching-calls-collaboration-biden-administration-lgbtq “We Are Called to Joyfully—And Inclusively—Perfect the Law,” by Yunuen Trujillo https://www.newwaysministry.org/2023/02/12/with-pope-francis-we-are-called-to-joyfully-and-inclusively-perfect-the-law/ “How Are LGBTQ+ Catholics to Understand Jesus' Call to ‘Carry Your Cross'?” by Yunuen Trujillo https://www.newwaysministry.org/2022/09/04/how-are-lgbtq-catholics-to-understand-jesus-call-to-carry-your-cross/ “When your faith is all about exclusion, it's not of God,” by Yunuen Trujillo https://uscatholic.org/articles/202303/when-your-faith-is-all-about-exclusion-its-not-of-god/ “LGBTQ rights and Catholic social teaching go hand in hand,” by Father Bryan Massingale https://uscatholic.org/authors/father-bryan-massingale/ “Language about LGBTQ people has moral consequences,” by Alex Gruber https://uscatholic.org/articles/202212/language-about-lgbtq-people-has-moral-consequences/ Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/

Radical equality, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or social class, was at the heart of the faith and practice of the early church. And throughout history the institutional church, as well as individual Catholics, sometimes defended and advanced women's rights. However, from the very beginning, the church has also been dominated by male voices. And institutional Catholicism has a rigidly patriarchal structure today, with women barred from positions of influence and leadership. Some contemporary Catholic thinkers, including recent popes, claim to promote the dignity of women, but have frequently spoken about women in a reductionist and dehumanizing way.  While some Catholics are quick to assert that the Catholic church has been one of the most staunch defenders of women over the ages, others would argue that Catholicism has repeatedly stood in the way of progress toward gender equality. Those who view the church as misogynistic don't have to look very far to find sexist quotations and even whole sermons from influential saints and theologians throughout church history. But what does the Catholic church really teach about whether men and women are equal? On this episode of the podcast, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss talk to scholar Phyllis Zagano about the church's teaching on women's equality. Zagano has published extensively on women in church history, especially women deacons. Her most recent book is Just Church: Catholic Social Teaching, Women, and Synodality, from Paulist Press. She is one of the most influential and respected scholars on the role of women in the church.  You can learn more about this topic, and read some of Zagano's writing, in these links. “Does the Catholic Church really believe women are people?” an excerpt from Phyllis Zagano's new book Just Church: Catholic Social Teaching, Synodality, and Women https://uscatholic.org/articles/202303/does-the-catholic-church-really-believe-women-are-people/ https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/8-814-7/just-church.aspx “What's the problem with women deacons?” by Phyllis Zagano https://uscatholic.org/articles/201802/whats-the-problem-with-women-deacons/ “Women and authority in the church,” by Phyllis Zagano https://uscatholic.org/articles/201210/women-and-authority-in-the-church/ “New Vatican constitution will create more space at the table.” A U.S. Catholic Interview https://uscatholic.org/articles/202205/new-vatican-constitution-will-create-more-space-at-the-table/ “In synod discussion of women's ordination, the diaconate is neglected,” by Phyllis Zagano https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/synod-discussion-womens-ordination-diaconate-neglected “Is the Catholic Church ready for women cardinals?” by Phyllis Zagano https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2022/04/21/lay-female-cardinals-242874 Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/  

Human beings have grappled with the question of why God allows suffering since before the origins of Christianity. It is a perennial conundrum for anyone who believes in a deity or deities. In many ancient cultures, including those of the Greeks and the Egyptians, belief in a multitude of gods may have made it a little easier for humans to find an answer to this question. But passages from these cultures' sacred and mythological texts suggest that people still were not satisfied—and still cried out for the gods to explain.  For Christians, and others who believe in one all-good and all-powerful deity, the problem feels almost insoluble. If God is truly good and truly omnipotent, shouldn't God be able to prevent war, genocide, murder, rape, abuse, and natural disasters? And why would this God let terrible things happen to good people? This is the question that Job asks in the Hebrew scriptures. God responds, but for many readers, the answers provoke more questions.  Today, when we ask this question, we don't expect to find an easy answer. Nor do we want to. Facile attempts to explain away or justify pain and suffering are often not only weak and insufficient––they are also profoundly annoying. On this episode of the Glad You Asked podcast, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss talk to Father Robin Ryan, C.P. about why God allows suffering. Ryan is a professor of systematic theology and the director of the master of arts in theology program at Catholic Theological Union. He is the author of God and the Mystery of Human Suffering (Paulist Press) and has written extensively on the theology of redemption. You can learn more about the Catholic approach to this topic in these links. “Where there is pain, there is God.” A U.S. Catholic interview https://uscatholic.org/articles/201602/where-there-is-pain-there-is-god/  “What the agony in the garden says about human suffering”  By Annemarie Scobey-Polacheck https://uscatholic.org/articles/201905/what-the-agony-in-the-garden-says-about-human-suffering/  “Being a companion through the mystery of suffering”  By Julia Walsh https://uscatholic.org/articles/201610/being-a-companion-through-the-mystery-of-suffering/  “Suffering is a reality to explore, not ignore, pope says”  By Cindy Wooden https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/suffering-reality-explore-not-ignore-pope-says  Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/ 

Many Catholics, as well as Christians from other denominations, have a habit of talking about God as though God were masculine or even male. Some Catholics will even affirm that they believe God is masculine, and that referring to God as anything other than masculine is theologically questionable or even sinful. After all, two of the three divine persons of the Trinity are specifically designated with male names: the Father and the Son. Jesus called God “Father” and taught his disciples to pray accordingly. And in a faith tradition with all-male leadership, people may be accustomed to thinking that the masculine is essentially superior.  But does this mean God is male or masculine? Or that Catholics are obliged to think of the divine exclusively in masculine terms? On this episode of the podcast, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss talk to Dominican Sister Barbara Reid about whether God has a gender and how considerations about gender identity are connected with our talk about God. Reid is the president of Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. She has written numerous books, including feminist interpretations of scripture, and has been honored for her pioneering work in feminist Biblical studies.  You can read more about this topic in these links: “Does God have a gender?” by Sister Barbara E. Reid, O.P. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202303/does-god-have-a-gender/ “How we read Scripture can help or hinder efforts toward gender equality” by Sister Barbara E. Reid, O.P. https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2015/11/16/how-we-read-scripture-can-help-or-hinder-efforts-toward-gender-equality “Reimaging God: An interview with author Jessica Pegis” A U.S. Catholic interview https://uscatholic.org/articles/202301/reimaging-god-an-interview-with-author-jessica-pegis/ “Stop (only) calling God ‘he'” by Meghan Murphy-Gill https://uscatholic.org/articles/201812/stop-only-calling-god-he/ “Can we call God ‘Mother'?” by Katherine Attanasi https://uscatholic.org/articles/201406/can-we-call-god-mother/ “Consider a different meaning of ‘God the father'” by Emily Sanna https://uscatholic.org/articles/202206/consider-a-different-meaning-of-god-the-father/ Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/

While the phrase “biblical morality” is popular among many Christians, it is not especially meaningful, since Jesus is ambiguous on a lot of topics, in his teachings, and other topics he doesn't address at all. But there's one theme on which the teachings in the gospels, as well as the rest of the Christian and Hebrew scriptures, are straightforward: Those who have wealth are obliged to help the poor, and woe to them if they do not.  Some scriptures even indicate that being wealthy at all is morally problematic: “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24). The internet is filled with articles attempting to explain that such passages should not distress the well-off, or why in these particular cases Jesus didn't really mean what he said. But given how extensive and unambiguous biblical mandates about wealth are, Christians should take them seriously. We need to consider whether being rich is sinful, and if so, how sinful. But this means assessing what is meant by wealth or riches. How rich is too rich? What about different standards of living, from one culture to the next? And what about rich people who give a lot to the poor?   On this episode of the podcast, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss talk to guest David Cloutier about the church's moral teachings on wealth. Cloutier is a professor of theology at the Catholic University of America. His recent books are Walking God's Earth: The Environment and Catholic Faith (Liturgical Press) and The Vice of Luxury: Economic Excess in a Consumer Age (Georgetown University Press). Cloutier is a regular contributor to U.S. Catholic's “Salt & Light” column.  You can read more about this topic in these links: “True charity calls for more than a parish toy drive,” by David Cloutier https://uscatholic.org/articles/202011/true-charity-calls-for-more-than-a-parish-toy-drive/ Roundtable with David Cloutier: Three ways to combat economic inequality https://catholicmoraltheology.com/three-ways-to-combat-economic-inequality/ “Billionaires and justice cannot coexist,” by Kevin Clarke https://uscatholic.org/articles/202105/billionaires-and-justice-cannot-coexist/ “Tax evasion is sinful, says Pope Francis,” by Kevin Clarke https://uscatholic.org/articles/202101/tax-evasion-is-sinful-says-pope-francis/ “Why wealth inequality matters,” by Kevin Clarke https://uscatholic.org/articles/201501/why-wealth-inequality-matters/ Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/

Today, many Catholics as well as Christians of other denominations admire and enjoy Jewish traditions and rituals. But it hasn't always been that way. For centuries, Christians in different times, places, and cultures persecuted Jewish people, even to the point of forbidding the practice of Judaism.  In the Middle Ages, hateful rhetoric about Jewish people and the Jewish faith sometimes prompted pogroms––organized mob attacks––especially during the Christian Holy Week. In Catholic Spain, in the 15th century, Jews were forced to convert to Christianity, and those who refused to do so were expelled from their homes. In Europe in the 19th century, as the Jewish people gained greater freedom and political emancipation, new prejudices arose, including conspiracy theories about international Jewish cabals threatening Christian nations. While Christians were not the only groups who persecuted Jews, modern antisemitism has its seeds in the early church. And Christian acts of violence and injustice against Jewish people are especially shameful, given that Jesus, himself a Jew, taught nonviolence and radical inclusion. In light of this history, Catholics who are attracted to Jewish rituals such as the Passover Seder need to know not only what the church teaches about these practices, but also how Jewish people regard Christian celebrations of traditional Jewish feasts. On this episode of the podcast, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss talk to philosopher and interfaith scholar Joshua Stein about the history and significance of the Passover feast and whether Christians should host or celebrate their own Seder meals.  You can learn more about this topic and read some of Stein's work in the links below. “Should Catholics celebrate Passover?” by Joshua Stein https://uscatholic.org/articles/202304/should-catholics-celebrate-passover/ “What's a Jew to Do? Jewish-Christian dialogue today,” by Joshua Stein https://medium.com/@thephilosotroll/whats-a-jew-to-do-jewish-christian-dialogue-today-eada02c0d526 “Anti-Jewish readings of Scripture are not just a Holy Week problem,” by Philip A. Cunningham https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/anti-jewish-readings-scripture-are-not-just-holy-week-problem “What can we do about antisemitism and the Catholic literary canon?” by Rebecca Bratten Weiss https://uscatholic.org/articles/202101/what-can-we-do-about-antisemitism-and-the-catholic-literary-canon/ Questions about Jews and Judaism during the Easter Triduum https://www.usccb.org/prayer-worship/liturgical-year/triduum/questions-jews-judaism-triduum Nostra Aetate, Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, Promulgated by Pope Paul VI https://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_ec21na.htm Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/  

In the early days of the church, death by crucifixion was still seen as something scandalous and shameful. It is generally believed that the cross was not widely used as an image of the Christian faith until the fourth century. Today, however, we have grown quite comfortable with using different representations of this torture device as a sign of our religious identity. We have grown comfortable, too, with the idea that Jesus' death on the cross was good, necessary, and willed by God. But what if it wasn't?  Did Jesus really have to die on the cross? Was it absolutely necessary for someone to die, in order to atone for humanity's sins? Was this the only way God could work out the salvation of God's creation? Or might there be other ways of thinking about Jesus' death on the cross, without imagining it as an unavoidable sacrifice, the only chance to appease an angry God? On this episode of the podcast, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss discuss this question with theologian Elizabeth Johnson. Johnson is a Distinguished Professor Emerita at Fordham University and the author of numerous books, including She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse, and Creation and the Cross: The Mercy of God for a Planet in Peril, which explores the idea of cosmic redemption in light of ecological crisis. Johnson has served as president of the Catholic Theological Society of America and has been called one of the most “prominent and respected” living Catholic theologians. She is a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood. You can find out more about this topic and read some of Johnson's work in these links. “For God so loved the cosmos” by Elizabeth Johnson https://uscatholic.org/articles/201603/for-god-so-loved-the-cosmos/ “No one had to die for our sins.” A U.S. Catholic interview https://uscatholic.org/articles/201811/no-one-had-to-die-for-our-sins/ “What is atonement?” By Kevin P. Considine https://uscatholic.org/articles/201801/what-is-atonement/ “Review: Elizabeth Johnson on how to atone for Anselm” by Colleen Mary Carpenter https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2018/07/03/review-elizabeth-johnson-how-atone-anselm “Circle of friends: A closer look at the communion of saints” by Elizabeth Johnson https://uscatholic.org/articles/201101/circle-of-friends-a-closer-look-at-the-communion-of-saints/ Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/

What is the point of Lenten fasting for Catholics? The practice has come to be so intertwined with wellness culture that if you do an internet search for “fasting,” you're likely to get a lot of advice associated with dieting and weight loss. While there are legitimate fasting practices that can help people become more physically healthy, much of the discourse around wellness and weight is potentially harmful, associated with eating disorders and a fatphobic approach to the person.  And losing weight or getting physically fit is not exactly what Lenten fasting is supposed to be about.  Even within the religious and spiritual realm, there's a lot of confusion on this topic. Some people talk about sacrifice, others about mortifying the flesh. Some of these conversations veer dangerously close to certain theological ideas about human nature as fundamentally depraved, or the body as essentially shameful. These ideas are neither Catholic nor psychologically healthy.  So what is Lenten fasting supposed to be about? Theologian LaRyssa Herrington joins hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss on this episode of the podcast to help clarify the meaning and tradition of fasting in Catholic culture. Herrington is a doctoral student in systematic theology and liturgical studies at the University of Notre Dame. Her current areas of research include the role of Mary in devotional and popular piety, womanist theology, ritual studies, and sacramental theology.  You can learn more about this topic in the links below.  “What do Catholics mean when they say they are fasting?” by Jessica Coblentz https://uscatholic.org/articles/202202/what-do-catholics-mean-when-they-say-they-are-fasting/ “Diet culture complicates Lenten fasting.” A U.S. Catholic interview https://uscatholic.org/articles/202102/diet-cultures-complicates-lenten-fasting/ “Rehabbing Lent—with lessons from Ramadan,” by Father Bryan Massingale https://uscatholic.org/articles/202002/rehabbing-lent-with-lessons-from-ramadan/ “Toward a theology of the fat body,” by Don Clemmer https://uscatholic.org/articles/202206/toward-a-theology-of-the-fat-body/ “Giving up diet culture for Lent,” by Kira Austin-Young https://www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/9515/giving-up-diet-culture-for-lent “Catholics Fast for Lent in Support of Pope Francis' Call for Climate Action,” by EcoWatch https://www.ecowatch.com/catholics-fast-for-lent-in-support-of-pope-francis-call-for-climate-ac-1882012614.html “With Lent almost over, here's why most religions fast,” by Drew Kann https://www.cnn.com/2017/04/07/world/religious-fasting-traditions-finding-jesus/index.html Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries.https://www.claretiansusa.org/

The Catholic Church has a vast panoply of canonized saints, some obscure, others well-known, others so popular they have claimed a space in non-Catholic or secular traditions as well. Perhaps the most familiar of these in the United States, is St. Patrick, the primary patron saint of Ireland. Celebrations associated with St. Patrick's feast day, in this country, include parades, wearing green, eating corned beef, drinking green beer, and sometimes even dyeing whole rivers green. Plenty of people who may know little about the saint's biography or the history of Catholicism in Ireland still enjoy commemorating his feast day. But who was St. Patrick, really? What was his impact on Irish culture, and why is he so important to Irish Americans today? Which of the myths and legends associated with his story are historically accurate? And how do we balance an appreciation of St. Patrick's cultural and religious legacy with concerns about colonization and the loss of indigenous traditions?  On this episode of the podcast, hosts Cassidy Klein and Rebecca Bratten Weiss talk to scholar and writer Damian Costello about the true story of St. Patrick and why his feast has become so popular. Costello specializes in the intersection of Catholic theology, indigenous spiritual traditions, and colonial history. He has written extensively about St. Patrick, in U.S. Catholic and elsewhere. You can read more about the history of St. Patrick in these links.  “There's more to St. Patrick than shamrocks and beer”  By Damian Costello https://uscatholic.org/articles/202103/theres-more-to-st-patrick-than-shamrocks-and-beer/  “How St. Patrick changed Ireland—and the church”  By Damian Costello https://uscatholic.org/articles/202103/how-st-patrick-changed-ireland-and-the-church/  “An Easter slave raid inspired this saint to pursue justice” By Damian Costello https://uscatholic.org/articles/202103/an-easter-slave-raid-inspired-this-saint-to-pursue-justice/  “What St. Patrick's prayer song teaches us about connecting with the land” By Damian Costello https://www.ncronline.org/news/earthbeat/what-st-patricks-prayer-song-teaches-us-about-connecting-land  “St. Patrick and the Buddha: More alike than different?” By Damian Costello  https://www.ncronline.org/spirituality/st-patrick-and-buddha-more-alike-different  Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/ 

Eating fish on Fridays, especially during Lent, is a well-known Catholic tradition that has been practiced for centuries. The custom takes different forms from one culture to the next and has generated fascinating conversations about what counts as fish and whether religiously oriented eating customs need to take into account such issues as food accessibility and geographic or economic privilege. And because how people eat is connected with their work, their economic transactions, and their family life, any tradition connected with food has to do with more than just sitting down at a table for a meal.  This tradition has influenced eating habits in non-Catholic circles as well. In many communities, the local fish fry is a popular event, regardless of religious affiliation. Plenty of fast food franchises make fish sandwiches available especially during the season of Lent.  But where did this tradition originate? Why do Catholics eat fish on Fridays? Does the institutional church have an official teaching about this practice? And does the custom vary according to the particular rite to which one belongs, within the big Catholic tent? On this episode of the podcast, guest Kathleen Manning talks to the hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss about the origin and development of this seemingly simple Catholic practice.  Manning teaches history at Loyola University Chicago and has contributed to the Glad You Asked column at U.S. Catholic for more than a decade. You can find more of her writing and learn more about this tradition in the links below. “Why do Catholics eat fish on Friday?” By David Philippart https://uscatholic.org/articles/202004/why-do-catholics-eat-fish-on-friday/  “Lust, lies and empire: The fishy tale behind eating fish on Friday,” By Maria Godoy https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/04/05/150061991/lust-lies-and-empire-the-fishy-tale-behind-eating-fish-on-friday  “A short history of the Roman calendar” By Kathleen Manning https://uscatholic.org/articles/201901/a-short-history-of-the-roman-calendar/  “Why do Catholics and Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on different days?” By Kathleen Manning https://uscatholic.org/articles/201504/why-do-catholics-and-orthodox-christians-celebrate-easter-on-different-days/  “Can women participate in Holy Thursday foot washing?” By Kathleen Manning https://uscatholic.org/articles/201404/can-women-participate-in-the-holy-thursday-washing-of-the-feet/  Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/   

The idea of life–especially intelligent life–on other planets has long captured the contemporary imagination. Despite the fact that there is no solid scientific evidence suggesting the existence of alien life forms, speculation about extraterrestrial activity inspires movies, television, novels, and popular music. But is there a particular Catholic view on aliens? Does the church have an official teaching about extraterrestrial beings? And, if alien life is out there, what does this mean for Catholic theology about life on Earth, original sin, and salvation?  In this episode of Glad You Asked, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten-Weiss speak with Brother Guy Consolmagno, director of the Vatican Observatory and president of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, about the scientific and theological issues surrounding the question of intelligent life on other planets and the likelihood of ever making contact with alien beings. Brother Guy has written extensively on science and religion for both peer-reviewed publications and for popular audiences, including his 2014 book, Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial? ...and Other Questions from the Astronomers' In-box at the Vatican Observatory (Image). You can find out more about the church's views on extraterrestrials and read more of Brother Guy's writing on the topic in these links: “Get lost in space”  By Brother Guy Consolmagno https://uscatholic.org/articles/201402/get-lost-in-space/  “Can you find God in a black hole?” By Brother Guy Consolmagno https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2019/04/10/can-you-find-god-black-hole  “The godless delusion” By Brother Guy Consolmagno https://uscatholic.org/articles/200810/the-godless-delusion/  “Meet the pope's astronomer, who says he'd baptize an alien if given the chance” By David Gibson https://religionnews.com/2014/12/03/meet-popes-astronomer-says-hed-baptize-alien-given-chance/  “Putting faith in the universe”  A U.S. Catholic interview with Brother Guy Consolmagno https://uscatholic.org/articles/200807/putting-faith-in-the-universe-the-editors-interview-brother-guy-consolmagno-s-j/  “Guy Consolmangno, the Vatican's Chief Astronomer, on Balancing Church With the Cosmos” By Summer Ash https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/guy-consolmangno-vaticans-chief-astronomer-balancing-church-cosmos-180959242/  Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/   

Catholics often have to explain to their Protestant friends that no, we don't worship Mary. We do venerate her, though, because she freely chose to say “yes” when God asked her to bring Jesus into the world. And we ask her to intercede for us because of her closeness to Jesus.  Catholics have a set of doctrines about Mary, and a whole branch of theology called Mariology. This doesn't mean every question about who she was and her role in salvation history is set in stone, however. For centuries, theologians–most of them men–have debated topics such as whether or not Mary was perpetually a virgin, how much she knew about her son's mission, and whether she could have, theoretically, said “no” instead of “yes.” But why Mary in the first place? Why did Jesus, whom Catholics worship as the second person of the Trinity, come into the world through the body of a young woman from a poor family in Roman-occupied Palestine? Was this necessary in some way, or just chance? What is the theological significance of God's choice of Mary to bear God to the world? Why, in short, did God choose Mary?  To answer these questions, guest LaRyssa Herrington joins hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss on the final episode of the season. Herrington is a doctoral student in systematic theology at the University of Notre Dame researching womanist theology, Mariology, eschatology, ritual studies, and sacramental theology.  You can learn more about Mariology and read some of Herrington's writing in the links below. “Mary, Mary, quite contrary” By Elizabeth Johnson https://uscatholic.org/articles/201101/mary-mary-quite-contrary/  “Could Mary have said ‘No'?” By Kevin Considine https://uscatholic.org/articles/202003/could-mary-have-said-no/  “How Catholics' love for Mary shaped church teaching” By Alice Camille https://uscatholic.org/articles/202108/how-catholics-love-for-mary-shaped-church-teaching/  “A new illustrated book celebrates Madonnas of color” By LaRyssa Herrington https://uscatholic.org/articles/202208/a-new-illustrated-book-celebrates-madonnas-of-color/  “'Sisters in the Wilderness' after 30 years: Resiliency and survival as the legacy of womanist theology” By LaRyssa Herrington https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/book-reviews/sisters-wilderness-after-30-years-resiliency-and-survival-legacy-womanist  “A sacrament of love: Black Catholic reflections on the life and legacy of bell hooks” By LaRyssa Herrington https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/sacrament-love-black-catholic-reflections-life-and-legacy-bell-hooks  Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/ 

Most people in the United States probably remember learning the story of the first Thanksgiving back in elementary school. The pilgrims, as the story goes, made the arduous journey to the Americas on a quest for religious liberty. There they encountered Indigenous people who kindly helped them settle in and get through the first harsh winter. The next year, following a successful first harvest, the pilgrims and their Indigenous friends got together and had a celebratory feast.  However, as many now recognize, this story leaves out most of the ugly realities of colonization. Perhaps it is comforting and heart-warming for white Americans of European descent to imagine their ancestors sitting down with their Indigenous friends for a shared banquet. The first Thanksgiving seems like a convenient symbol for an imaginary past in which European colonizers and Indigenous groups worked out their differences in a spirit of collaboration and mutual tolerance––a symbol intended to disguise the real history of colonization, and all the deceit, violence, oppression, and even genocide it entails. With this in mind, Catholics might wonder whether celebrating Thanksgiving is in keeping with gospel values or whether it is morally problematic.  On today's episode of Glad You Asked, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss talk to guest Damian Costello about the real history of the first Thanksgiving and whether Catholics should celebrate this holiday. Costello is the author of Black Elk: Colonialism and Lakota Catholicism (Orbis Books). He is also the director of post-graduate studies at NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community, and the American cochair of the Indigenous Catholic Research Fellowship. He has studied and written extensively about the intersection of Catholic theology, Indigenous traditions, and colonial history. Learn more about Indigenous and Catholic relations, and about Costello's work, in the following links. “Was the first Thanksgiving Catholic?” By Damian Costello https://uscatholic.org/articles/202111/was-the-first-thanksgiving-catholic/  “The Catholic faith of Squanto” By Damian Costello https://uscatholic.org/articles/202011/the-catholic-faith-of-squanto/  “Nicholas Black Elk: Fully Lakota, completely Catholic” By Damian Costello https://uscatholic.org/articles/202105/nicholas-black-elk-fully-lakota-completely-catholic/  “Lakota Catholic tradition gives new meaning to the rosary” By Damian Costello https://uscatholic.org/articles/202104/lakota-catholic-tradition-gives-new-meaning-to-the-rosary/  “This New Testament translation honors the traditions of Native peoples” A U.S. Catholic interview https://uscatholic.org/articles/202108/new-testament-translation-honors-traditions-of-native-peoples/  “The Myths of the Thanksgiving Story and the Lasting Damage They Imbue” By Claire Bugos https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/thanksgiving-myth-and-what-we-should-be-teaching-kids-180973655/  Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/ 

For the first few centuries of the church, Christians were pacifists. Jesus' teachings about turning the other cheek, forgiving your enemies, and being peacemakers were taken seriously and literally. But over time, as Christianity became the official religion of the empire rather than a marginal and persecuted sect, the church began to edge out of pacifism and into what is today called “just war theory.”  Today, advanced military technologies and weapons of mass destruction pose new challenges for ethicists, theologians, and church leaders. Do the principles of just war theory still stand in a world where whole cities can be incinerated with a single bomb, or where people can be targeted and killed from afar, via drone warfare?  On this episode of Glad You Asked, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss talk to political philosopher and activist Stephen Schneck about the ethics of serving in the military and how the church's perspective has changed and developed over centuries.  Schneck has served on the board of directors for Catholic Mobilizing Network and for Catholic Climate Covenant, Sojourners, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, and for Democrats for Life of America. He served as national co-chair of Catholics for Obama in 2012 and of Catholics for Biden in 2020. Schneck has also been the executive director of the Franciscan Action Network. In June 2022, the White House appointed Schneck to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.  You can find out more about this topic in these links: “Should Catholics serve in the military?” By Stephen Schneck https://uscatholic.org/articles/202006/should-catholics-serve-in-the-military/  “Is this just war?: Two Catholic perspectives on the war in Afghanistan” A U.S. Catholic interview https://uscatholic.org/articles/201109/is-this-just-war-two-catholic-perspectives-on-the-war-in-afghanistan-2/  “Drone wars: Shedding light on our country's secret program” A U.S. Catholic interview https://uscatholic.org/articles/201309/drone-wars-shedding-light-on-our-countrys-secret-program/  “Theological and Moral Perspectives on Today's Challenge of Peace” https://www.usccb.org/resources/theological-and-moral-perspectives-todays-challenge-peace  “Pope urged to end Catholic Church's ‘just war' teachings”  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36050229  “‘Just war' theory often misused for unjust motives, cardinal says” By Junno Arocho Estevez https://www.ncronline.org/spirituality/just-war-theory-often-misused-unjust-motives-cardinal-says  About Stephen Schneck https://www.uscirf.gov/about-uscirf/commissioners/stephen-schneck  Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/ 

Some Catholic saints, like Mary Magdalene or Francis of Assisi, are widely known even in secular culture. Other saints, like Anthony of Padua or Thérèse of Lisieux, may not be as familiar to non-Catholics but have devoted followers within the church and are associated with particular prayers or devotions. Then there are many more saints who most people, even practicing Catholics, have probably never heard of. How many people are familiar with St. Drogo, patron saint of bodily ailments, coffee houses, and hernias? Or St. Giles, who––according to popular legend––lived entirely on the milk of a female deer? And these are just the saints who have been formally canonized––that is, declared to be saints by the church authorities. The Catholic Church also uses the term “saint” in a more broad manner, sometimes to indicate anyone who is in heaven, or as “communion of saints,” to indicate anyone who is united in the holy sacraments of the church. But who decides which individuals in the communion of “small s” saints end up becoming “big S” saints––the formal saints, the ones we venerate and associate with certain areas of patronage? What is the process like, and what are the requirements for being inaugurated into official sainthood?  On this episode of Glad You Asked, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss talk to guest Kevin Considine about saints, sainthood, and the process of canonization. Considine is director of the Robert J. Schreiter Institute for Precious Blood Spirituality at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. As well as contributing to U.S. Catholic's monthly Glad You Asked column, he has also written extensively about ecology, anti-racism, and popular culture.  You can learn more about saints, sainthood, and canonization in these links: “Who decides if someone becomes a saint?” By Kevin Considine https://uscatholic.org/articles/202012/who-decides-if-someone-becomes-a-saint/  “U.S. sainthood causes reveal a longing for church renewal” By Peter Feuerherd https://uscatholic.org/articles/202210/u-s-sainthood-causes-reveal-a-longing-for-church-renewal/  “Learning to love the saints? Don't forget the blesseds” By Damian Costello  https://uscatholic.org/articles/202201/learning-to-love-the-saints-dont-forget-the-blesseds/  Beatification and Canonization https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02364b.htm  Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/   

The question of whether a priest should ever withhold communion from a Catholic has become the subject of heated debate in recent years. Some believe that priests should deny communion to prominent politicians due to their stance on certain issues, especially the legality of abortion. Others argue that no one who is baptized into the faith should ever be denied communion, since the sacraments should not be weaponized, and humans should not attempt to control divine grace.  Catholics believe that one a priest consecrates the bread and wine it becomes the body and blood of Jesus Christ. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “By eating the Body and drinking the Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, we become united to the person of Christ through his humanity.” In the Bible, Jesus tells his disciples, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them” (John 6:56).  The Catholic church teaches that those who are in a state of grave sin should not receive communion until they have gone to confession and received absolution. But, the church, to be cut off from communion is to be cut off from divine grace. This is why denying a Catholic communion is a serious matter. It is not merely a gesture of disapproval. It has profound theological and spiritual significance.  On today's episode of Glad You Asked, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss talk to Claretian Father Paul Keller about whether a priest should ever refuse to give communion to a Catholic. Keller is a frequent contributor to U.S. Catholic on issues relating to pastoral ministry, public policy, theology, and ethics.  You can learn more about this topic in these links. “Can a priest withhold communion from a Catholic?” By Father Paul Keller, C.M.F.  https://uscatholic.org/articles/202109/can-a-priest-withhold-communion-from-a-catholic/  “A case study in communion for the divorced/remarried” By Father Paul Keller, C.M.F. https://cruxnow.com/commentary/2017/01/06/case-study-communion-divorcedremarried  “The Reception of Holy Communion at Mass” By the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/order-of-mass/liturgy-of-the-eucharist/the-reception-of-holy-communion-at-mass  “Vatican Warns U.S. Bishops About Denying Communion To Supporters Of Abortion Rights” By Sylvia Poggioli https://www.npr.org/2021/05/11/995796836/vatican-warns-u-s-bishops-about-denying-communion-to-supporters-of-abortion-righ  “San Francisco archbishop denying Pelosi Communion over abortion rights” By Felicia Sonmez and Mike DeBonis https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/05/20/pelosi-abortion-archbishop-communion/  “Pastor's denial of Eucharist to Biden stirs up recurring debate” By Peter Feuerherd https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/pastors-denial-eucharist-biden-stirs-recurring-debate  Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/ 

Different Christian denominations have different ways of interpreting and honoring Jesus' actions and words at the Last Supper. The Last Supper itself, according to the synoptic gospels, was a Passover meal and would have been celebrated according to specific rubrics within the Jewish tradition. Today, denominational groups have developed their own rubrics, some more specific than others. Some churches celebrate communion casually and infrequently, whereas for others this ritual is at the heart of their religious celebration.  In the Roman Catholic tradition, communion is central to churchgoing. Since the first or second centuries, Catholics have referred to the entire communion service itself—not just the bread and wine—as eucharist, which derives from the Greek eucharistēsas, meaning “giving thanks.” The Roman Catholic church has developed specific guidelines about how the communion bread, typically referred to as a host, is made. These small round paper-like wafers don't look a lot like bread as we ordinarily experience it and are clearly not made in the manner we might bake a loaf of French bread or challah. So who makes them? What kind of rules do they have to follow? Why don't Catholics use regular bread they could bake themselves? And what about people who can't eat wheat—are they unable to partake of communion in a Catholic church or are gluten-free options available? On today's episode of Glad You Asked, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss talk to Sister Mary Catherine of the cloistered community of Passionist Nuns in Kentucky, whose community makes wafers for communion. Sister Mary Catherine explains the church's traditions and guidelines for making communion hosts as well as the logistics and mechanics involved in the process.  You can learn more about this traditions and regulations regarding communion hosts in these links: “Where do hosts come from?” By Victoria M. Tufano https://uscatholic.org/articles/201706/where-do-hosts-come-from/  “The story behind a communion host” By Catholic Digest  https://www.catholicdigest.com/faith/201001-26the-story-behind-a-communion-host/  “Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America” https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/norms-for-holy-communion-under-both-kinds  Monastery of the Sacred Passion, Erlanger, KY http://www.erlangerpassionists.org/  The Making of the Communion Bread for Holy Communion  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryL3xLPAPqk  Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/ 

In 2016, NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick ignited controversy when he knelt during the National Anthem to protest police brutality and racism. In 2015, Joseph Kennedy, an assistant football coach in Washington, was fired for kneeling after games in prayer (and encouraging others to join him). In both cases, kneeling is a way of demonstrating these men's heartfelt beliefs and of literally embodying their moral and spiritual commitments. As Catholics, we are very familiar with the act of kneeling in prayer—it's something we do every time we go to Mass. But what exactly is the significance of kneeling? Does it matter what you do with your body while you pray? And why kneeling, specifically? This week in Glad You Asked, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss talk to Kevin Considine about how kneeling helps us focus on God's presence among us. Considine is the director of the Robert J. Schreiter Institute for Precious Blood Spirituality at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. As well as contributing regularly to U.S. Catholic's monthly print Glad You Asked column, he is a frequent contributor on topics of ecology, anti-racism, and popular culture. You can find out more about the topic and what the church teaches about embodied prayer in the links below: Desiderio Desideravi (On the Liturgical Formation of the People of God): https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/20220629-lettera-ap-desiderio-desideravi.html “Why do we kneel in church?” by Kevin P. Considine https://uscatholic.org/articles/202112/why-do-we-kneel-in-church/ “Virtual liturgy is still embodied, says this Yale liturgist,” a U.S. Catholic interview  https://uscatholic.org/articles/202012/virtual-worship-is-still-embodied-liturgy-says-this-yale-liturgist/

Unions were once an essential component of the U.S. economy. For generations, unions safeguarded the rights of workers and ensured a better way of life for working-class families. Although not everyone regarded unions with uncritical approval, many families were proud of their union affiliation. But in recent decades, things have changed. Unions have less influence than they once did, fewer workers are union members, and even working-class citizens often eye unions with distrust. Many Catholics, especially those who are politically conservative, are likely to be wary of unions. But should they be?  In this, the pilot episode of the Glad You Asked podcast, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss ask Stephen Schneck how Catholics ought to regard labor unions.  Schneck formerly taught politics at the Catholic University of America, where he was also the Director of CUA's Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies. He has served on the Board of Directors for Catholic Mobilizing Network and for Catholic Climate Covenant, Sojourners, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, and for Democrats for Life of America. He served as national co-chair of Catholics for Obama in 2012 and Catholics for Biden in 2020. He has also been executive director of the Franciscan Action Network. And in June 2022, the White House announced Schneck's appointment to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.  Schneck has also written extensively for U.S. Catholic on topics relating to politics, church teaching, economics, and labor.  You can find out more about this topic, find out what the church officially says about labor, and read some of Stephen Schneck's articles in the links below: “Does the church support unions?” By Kevin Considine https://uscatholic.org/articles/201602/does-the-church-support-unions/  “Catholic priests and the labor movement” A U.S. Catholic interview https://uscatholic.org/articles/201509/priests-and-the-labor-movement/  “Labor Day reflection: Ora et labora” By Stephen Schneck https://uscatholic.org/articles/201509/labor-day-reflection-ora-et-labora/  “Fair wages are more than a living wage, Pope Francis says” By Stephen Schneck https://uscatholic.org/articles/202005/fair-wages-are-more-than-a-living-wage-pope-francis-says/  “How Catholics should think about politics and government” By Stephen Schneck https://uscatholic.org/articles/201711/how-catholics-should-think-about-politics-and-government/  Rerum Novarum (On Capital and Labor), Leo XIII, 1891 https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html  Laborem Exercens (On Human Work), John Paul II, 1981 https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_14091981_laborem-exercens.html  Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth), Benedict XVI, 2009 https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate.html Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries.https://claretiansusa.org https://myclaret.org 

Have you ever had a question about Catholicism that you couldn't find an easy answer to? Or a question about a teaching or tradition that seemed to have five different answers, none of them satisfactory? Or maybe you even had a question you felt you weren't allowed to ask. The new podcast from U.S. Catholic, Glad You Asked, may be just what you are looking for. Join U.S. Catholic editors Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss as they explore the questions about Catholicism that don't have easy answers. Credits: Production: Emily Sanna, Rebecca Bratten Weiss, Nathaniel Hunter Music: Musictown Graphic Design: Megan Avery Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/ 

Subscribe via RSS, Google Podcasts, Android, Stitcher, or on iTunes! Hi everyone, I'm Catherine Rockwood, and today on the Reckoning Magazine Podcast I'm going to be reading "The Watcher on the Wall" by Rebecca Bratten Weiss. And this poem is featured in Reckoning 6, which we are very proud of and which hope you will pick up or survey. So the way we'd like to order the podcast is, first I'm going to tell you a little bit about Rebecca, and then I'm going to say a few words about what we really loved about this poem when it came through in the submissions, and then I'm going to read you the poem. Okay, so here goes. (Rebecca's bio appears below.) So on to some thoughts about the poem itself. Here I would just say that what we loved about Rebecca's poem was its clarity and anger, its willingness to fully engage with difficult human relationships with which and by means of which we try to understand the enormous danger and uncertain outcomes of environmental destruction. When climate communicators talk about the need to face difficult things, well, you'll see what this poem does with that. It embodies the process of facing difficult things in a way we found both grave and uncanny, disturbing and galvanizing. And we hope you agree. "The Watcher on the Wall" by Rebecca Bratten Weiss

This week's episode marks the one-year anniversary of Encountering Silence! Our pilot episode was released a year ago today. It seems appropriate, therefore, that on this first-year anniversary, we release an episode that marks a new "first" for us. Not only is it the first time we've interviewed Catholic author, philosopher and feminist Rebecca Bratten Weiss, but also the first time we've recorded an episode in front of a live audience. This was recorded on Sunday, November 11, 2018 at Terra Incognita, a literary conference and workshop sponsored by the Convivium Journal, which Rebecca Bratten Weiss edits. Kevin and Cassidy both attended the conference and took the opportunity to interview Rebecca — and perform what we hope will the first of many, many Encountering Silence live events. We decided, as part of our one-year observance, to release this episode with only very light editing — for two reasons. First, we felt that the first twelve minutes, where Cassidy and Kevin talk about the podcast and introduce themselves and the podcast to the audience, was worth keeping for the sake of new (newer) listeners who might enjoy hearing how we introduce ourselves. But our other reason for leaving this episode (mostly) unedited was simply that we felt it would be a fun way to share with our listening circle, just what it feels like to be with us as we record. We did edit out a few obvious bloopers. But for the most part, you get the feel of one of our recording sessions, from getting interrupted by a cellphone, to our moment of silence before we "officially" begin recording. We hope you enjoy it! If you set forth on a voyage across the ocean, silence is a little bit like that, in that you will meet many many things, as Odysseus did on his voyages: strange monsters, dragons, friends, seducers... As a writer, one has to go into that realm because so much that we have experienced in our lives is stored there in our memory and we then find that the things that we remember are still alive there, very very alive, moving around like little strange sea creatures, connecting with each other, perhaps breeding and producing new creatures that now reside in your imagination. — Rebecca Bratten Weiss But of course, the real treat in this episode is our chance to chat with Rebecca Bratten Weiss. Novelist, poet, editor, professor of English and philosophy, co-founder of the New Pro-Life Movement, and self described "Christian rebel," she is the manager of the Catholic Channel on Patheos, where she also maintains her blog, Suspended in Her Jar.  In her blog bio she says "I'm interested in eco-growing and sustainable economies, a theology of the real female body, social justice, and poking at the patriarchy. I write poems about insects and other things that some find disgusting, and novels that are likely to be banned in certain quarters." I'm a Catholic woman — I've been silenced my entire life. I lived in religious semi-community situations, so it was constant silencing, and it's knowing what you can't say, and a long list of things you can't say, and the words you can't use, especially as a woman; and I've taught in Catholic academia, and that meant knowing what you can't say — but then I said some things anyway! — Rebecca Bratten Weiss Her books include Catholic Philosopher Chick Makes Her Debut and Catholic Philosopher Chick Comes on Strong (both co-authored with Regina Doman), as well as a chapbook of poems, Palaces of Dust. Another chapbook, Mudwoman, co-authored by Joanna Penn Cooper, has recently been released. Rebecca Bratten Weiss muses on how silence is a "strange land," a place where writers access the wonders and terrors of their imagination; she reflects on how silence has been a gift for her in relation to interacting with her horse, the relationship between silence, intimacy, writing,

This week's episode marks the one-year anniversary of Encountering Silence! Our pilot episode was released a year ago today. It seems appropriate, therefore, that on this first-year anniversary, we release an episode that marks a new "first" for us. Not only is it the first time we've interviewed Catholic author, philosopher and feminist Rebecca Bratten Weiss, but also the first time we've recorded an episode in front of a live audience. This was recorded on Sunday, November 11, 2018 at Terra Incognita, a literary conference and workshop sponsored by the Convivium Journal, which Rebecca Bratten Weiss edits. Kevin and Cassidy both attended the conference and took the opportunity to interview Rebecca — and perform what we hope will the first of many, many Encountering Silence live events. We decided, as part of our one-year observance, to release this episode with only very light editing — for two reasons. First, we felt that the first twelve minutes, where Cassidy and Kevin talk about the podcast and introduce themselves and the podcast to the audience, was worth keeping for the sake of new (newer) listeners who might enjoy hearing how we introduce ourselves. But our other reason for leaving this episode (mostly) unedited was simply that we felt it would be a fun way to share with our listening circle, just what it feels like to be with us as we record. We did edit out a few obvious bloopers. But for the most part, you get the feel of one of our recording sessions, from getting interrupted by a cellphone, to our moment of silence before we "officially" begin recording. We hope you enjoy it! If you set forth on a voyage across the ocean, silence is a little bit like that, in that you will meet many many things, as Odysseus did on his voyages: strange monsters, dragons, friends, seducers... As a writer, one has to go into that realm because so much that we have experienced in our lives is stored there in our memory and we then find that the things that we remember are still alive there, very very alive, moving around like little strange sea creatures, connecting with each other, perhaps breeding and producing new creatures that now reside in your imagination. — Rebecca Bratten Weiss But of course, the real treat in this episode is our chance to chat with Rebecca Bratten Weiss. Novelist, poet, editor, professor of English and philosophy, co-founder of the New Pro-Life Movement, and self described "Christian rebel," she is the manager of the Catholic Channel on Patheos, where she also maintains her blog, Suspended in Her Jar.  In her blog bio she says "I'm interested in eco-growing and sustainable economies, a theology of the real female body, social justice, and poking at the patriarchy. I write poems about insects and other things that some find disgusting, and novels that are likely to be banned in certain quarters." I'm a Catholic woman — I've been silenced my entire life. I lived in religious semi-community situations, so it was constant silencing, and it's knowing what you can't say, and a long list of things you can't say, and the words you can't use, especially as a woman; and I've taught in Catholic academia, and that meant knowing what you can't say — but then I said some things anyway! — Rebecca Bratten Weiss Her books include Catholic Philosopher Chick Makes Her Debut and Catholic Philosopher Chick Comes on Strong (both co-authored with Regina Doman), as well as a chapbook of poems, Palaces of Dust. Another chapbook, Mudwoman, co-authored by Joanna Penn Cooper, has recently been released. Rebecca Bratten Weiss muses on how silence is a "strange land," a place where writers access the wonders and terrors of their imagination; she reflects on how silence has been a gift for her in relation to interacting with her horse, the relationship between silence, intimacy, writing, and anxiety; and the story of how she experienced toxic silence, particularly in Catholic settings.

Jack Quirk speaks with Rebecca Bratten Weiss, co-founder of the New Pro-Life Movement and head of Patheos Catholic.

We talk with writer and professor Rebecca Bratten Weiss about the oft-misunderstood virtue of modesty and what it means for us today.

Rebecca Bratten Weiss and Matthew Tyson, co-founders of the New Pro-Life Movement, talk about the need for a new approach to the Pro-Life Movement. Follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and Medium.com.

Last week, Rebecca Bratten Weiss wrote a fascinating piece called The Politics of Not Unfriending. I need to know what you are thinking, o sharer of offensive material; I want to understand what motivates you, which preconceptions you’re clutching. I may be tempted to reduce you to a stereotype, but when I consider how humans interact I remember: you can’t work for social justice by fighting caricature