Church Meets World: The America Magazine Podcast
79 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 months ago - ★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis is where the Catholic Church meets the most interesting and consequential issues of our time. Each episode explores a different topic through immersive stories told by America’s editors. “Church Meets World” is the best of our award-winning magazine content reimagined in podcast form. It’s not only what you read in our pages but how you hear it. Presented by Maggi Van Dorn and Sebastian Gomes.
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Episodes
Introducing "Preach: The Catholic Homilies Podcast"
June 19, 2023 07:00 - 29 minutesWe have an exciting new podcast from America Media to share with you. It’s called “Preach: The Catholic Homilies Podcast.” On each episode listeners will first hear an inspiring homily, especially delivered for the podcast, and then take a privileged peek into the heart and mind of the preacher in a conversation with the host, Jesuit priest and America’s associate editor, Ricardo da Silva, S.J. Whether you’re a preacher looking for inspiration or a Catholic in the pews, who believes like Po...
What it’s like to be an 11 year old Afghan boy fleeing the Taliban
September 16, 2022 00:09 - 24 minutesAfter the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2021, thousands of Afghan refugees have been seeking a permanent home in the United States. This is the intimate family portrait of Ali, a child refugee since eleven years old, and his American foster parents, Mary and Mark Kaech. The episode is based on an article written for America Magazine by J.D. Long-García called Thousands of Afghan refugees fled to America in search of a new home. Too many are still waiting. Learn more about th...
Introducing: Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols
December 22, 2021 18:00 - 40 minutesChurch Meets World is proud to share the latest podcast in the America Media family: Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols. Subscribe to the entire Hark! podcast series online, on apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. It is hard to imagine a midnight Mass on Christmas Eve without Silent Night. Musicians may treat it differently—singing it a cappella, with spare chords on the organ in the background, or to the gentle picking of a guitar as its creators intended—but...
Young adults struggle with the church. But they are also its best advocates for justice.
October 12, 2021 19:30 - 36 minutesWhat does it mean to be ruined for life? Join America’s summer intern Amelia Jarecke, as she follows three young women who have spent the last year serving in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. They wrestle with lots of challenges, like: How do you live on a $100 month? Can you live simply and gluten-free without breaking the bank? How do you reconcile being Catholic and bisexual? What happens when your prayer life dries up? And what does it mean to take the Pedro Arrupe prayer seriously- and l...
What Catholics still don’t understand about the abuse crisis
August 07, 2021 13:00 - 39 minutesThree years ago, a Pennsylvania Grand Jury report described in graphic detail the abuse of over 1,000 minors at the hands of more than 300 priests. Then, Theodare McCarrick, an influential cardinal in the American Church, was found credibly accused of abusing minors and adult seminarians. For survivors, the news was painful, yet validating. How did this second wave of scandal–the news of both abuse and cover up–affect the Catholic faithful more broadly? What do they believe caused the crisis...
'The Memory of God': How residents of one NYC nursing home survived Covid
July 21, 2021 16:00 - 33 minutesAs the world went into lockdown, the residents at Terence Cardinal Cooke–a Catholic nursing home and rehabilitation center run by the Archdiocese of New York–did too. Many seniors required long-term care while others had only expected to stay for a short period of recovery. The pandemic changed everyone’s experience. Ricardo da Silva, S.J., an associate editor at America, takes us through the center to hear from the residents who not only survived Covid but persevered through a year of extrem...
How I learned to grieve
June 30, 2021 22:00 - 46 minutesIn a time when so much has been lost, what does it mean to grieve well? In this episode, America’s audio producer, Maggi Van Dorn, turns the mic on herself to capture a more intimate side of a subject that is already pretty personal- the experience of grief. To help her unpack this strange and unpredictable force, she turns to friends and people whose lives have also been visited by grief. Support this podcast by subscribing to America! Related Links: Ben Perry: Crying as a spiritual discip...
Descendants & the Jesuits: Beginning a path toward racial healing
April 29, 2021 06:00 - 35 minutesIn 1838, to save itself from financial ruin, the Jesuits at Georgetown University sold 272 enslaved persons. It’s a shameful piece of history and one that the Jesuits are reckoning with like many other communities and institutions today. But the bill of sale that has been recently recovered has enabled thousands of descendants to discover their ancestry and reunite for a better future. And the Jesuits have pledged $100 million to a partnership with those descendants called, the Descendants Tr...
Should colleges pay their athletes?
March 19, 2021 06:00 - 43 minutesShould college athletes get paid? That’s the question we’re exploring in today’s episode of Church Meets World. It was written, produced and narrated by Kevin Jackson and based on a feature he wrote last year called, “Should colleges pay their athletes? What Catholic social teaching has to say.” This episode of Church Meets World is brought to you by The Great Courses Plus. Sign up for The Great Courses Plus and get an entire month of unlimited access to thousands of video and audio courses ...
'Year of the Rat'
February 08, 2021 07:00 - 45 minutesAmerica's poetry editor Joe Hoover S.J. sits down with Ohio's first poet laureate Amit Majmudar to talk about his poem "Year of the Rat." They discuss the unforgettable year that was 2020, writing during Covid, and mystical parallels between Catholicism and Hinduism. Read 'The Year of the Rat' here.
Entrapment: The data scientists fighting to end human trafficking
January 16, 2021 07:00 - 30 minutesRiana decided to run away from home after getting into an argument with her mother for missing curfew. It was cold and nighttime. She had nowhere to go. Looking for help, she reached out to an older man who had given her his phone number earlier that day... Isabelle Senechal narrates the harrowing story of Riana, a young woman who was manipulated and coerced by a violent sex trafficker. The booming industry is largely hidden, but some faith-based anti-trafficking initiatives are making progre...
The inevitable result of Donald Trump’s presidency
January 08, 2021 07:00 - 45 minutesOn January 6th, 2021, a violent mob, incited by President Trump, stormed the US Capitol. They were there to disrupt Congress as it was certifying the election of Joe Biden. The mob overwhelmed the capitol police and made their way into the offices and chambers, as elected officials ran for safety. In conversation with Fr. Matt Malone, America’s Editor in Chief, Fr. Bryan Massingale says the insurrection was a direct result of four years of lies from Donald Trump. This interview first aired as...
Burned out: The case for more free time
December 28, 2020 07:00 - 42 minutesIs your relationship with work undermining all the other goods in your life? If so, you might have what Jonathan Malesic calls a “demonic work ethic.” He’s not alone in saying so. After years of academic burnout, Jonathan made a trip to the Christ in the Desert monastery, where the Benedictine monks helped him rediscover the sacred rhythms of work and rest. Everyone from Thomas Aquinas to Annie Dillard has written about the importance of leisure, and yet, Catholic Ethicist Conor Kelly says th...
Joe Biden's Catholic Faith
November 18, 2020 07:00 - 43 minutesOn January 20, 2021, President-elect Joe Biden will make history in several ways: He received over 74 million votes, surpassing any presidential candidate in history. Biden is the oldest person and only the second Catholic to become president. And his running mate, Kamala Harris, is the first woman and first woman of color to hold the office of the Vice President. But beyond the polls, numbers and issues, Biden’s Catholic faith has become a subject of great interest. So we’re sharing an inter...
Living the issues with the 'Voting Catholic' podcast
October 29, 2020 17:00 - 29 minutesJust ahead of the election we're sharing the Voting Catholic podcast. To hear the full series, just search "Voting Catholic" wherever you get your podcasts! Voting Catholic Episode 1: "What Happened to the Catholic Vote?" A survey of the evolution of the Catholic vote from the election of JFK in 1960 to the election of Donald Trump. Show links: 8 facts about Catholics and politics in the U.S. US Bishops teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics: "Forming Conscience...
‘Mama, I’m through’: The martyrdoms of Emmitt Till and George Floyd
August 28, 2020 18:29 - 20 minutesOn the anniversary of Emmitt Till’s murder on August 28, 1955, we reflect on the present day killing of George Floyd and the litany of Black Americans who have been crucified by racial injustice. In both, we witness how Floyd’s cry for his mama and Mamie Till Mobley’s public outcry at her son’s murder, turns private suffering into a public sin and catalyst for justice. This episode was adapted from an America Magazine article written by Abraham Nussbaum, which you can read at: https://www....
A Coronavirus Prayer
March 14, 2020 06:00 - 4 minutesWritten and narrated by one of America's executive editors, Kerry Weber, the following coronavirus prayer is a reminder of God’s healing presence in a time of great fear and anxiety. Please pray along with us in the language of your choice: A Coronavirus Prayer - In English A Printable Version of "A Coronavirus Prayer" in English Una Oracion por el Coronavirus - En Español Une priere pour le coronavirus - En Francais Una Preghiera per il Coronavirus - In Italiano
Introducing PLAGUE: Untold Stories of AIDS and the Catholic Church
November 26, 2019 19:59 - 2 minutesIn "Plague" journalist Michael O'Loughlin investigates stories of the AIDS epidemic and the Catholic Church. Mike is America’s national correspondent and he’s covered Catholicism for more than a decade. Mike is also gay and Catholic—and he’s curious how others manage this sometimes complex identity. No time in modern history has been more volatile for gay Catholics than the height of the AIDS epidemic. So he spent the last few years interviewing people who were right in the middle of it. Peo...
The Final Episode
May 23, 2019 20:36 - 26 minutesAmerica This Week This is the series finale of "America This Week." Our guest is John W. Miller. We discuss his article "The opioid crisis demands a new solution. Churches are hoping to be part of it." We also discuss these articles: Social media reinforces clean divisions, but reality is messy. The threat of a climate catastrophe is here. Will U.S. Catholics heed the call? Detroit Catholic schools and parishes to stop all sports on Sunday
Why Evangelical megachurches are embracing (some) Catholic traditions.
May 17, 2019 14:18 - 24 minutesThis week's guest is Anna Keating. We discuss her article “Why Evangelical megachurches are embracing (some) Catholic traditions.” We also discuss these articles: Pope Francis tells women religious church cannot alter revelation on women’s diaconate Pope Francis’ almsgiver restores power (illegally) to homeless shelter in Italy How Mary can be a bridge between Christians and Muslims Can Christianity in northern Iraq survive after ISIS?
Catholic colleges are searching for new homes in the Southwest. Can they succeed?
May 02, 2019 14:56 - 23 minutesAmerica This Week This week's guest is Jonathan Malesic. We discuss his article "Catholic colleges are searching for new homes in the Southwest. Can they succeed?" We also discuss these articles: Ideological bias cannot taint our approach to sexual abuse The Mueller Report’s most pressing question: Who will hold Trump accountable? The Editors: Border security will not solve the immigration crisis
How one Catholic stays faithful in the city of angels
April 26, 2019 20:21 - 26 minutesThis week's guest is Lisa Hendey. We discuss her article "Here's how one Catholic stays faithful in the city of angels." We also discuss these stories: Sri Lankan cardinal demands answers about security lapses after Easter bombings Seven tips for new Catholics, from one convert to another Two U.S. churches: One is closing down parishes, the other is standing-room only
An inside look at Pope Francis’ election
April 17, 2019 19:41 - 28 minutesAmerica This Week This week's guest is Gerard O’Connell, America’s Vatican correspondent. We discuss his new book, The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Account of the Conclave That Changed History, an excerpt of which America has published. We also discuss these stories: Pope Francis kisses the feet of South Sudan leaders The wrong way to ask Catholics for money amid the sex abuse crisis Grieving the fire of Notre Dame during Holy Week
Can better corporate organization humanize the marketplace?
April 04, 2019 15:29 - 24 minutesAmerica This Week This week's guest is Thomas More Garrett. We discuss his article “Can better corporate organization humanize the marketplace? Kickstarter is finding out.” We also discuss these articles: How the Jesuits’ four new universal apostolic priorities support social enterprise Pope Francis: ‘Build bridges, not walls’ ‘Harry Potter’ books burned at Catholic parish in Poland
How can activists win more than a viral moment?
March 29, 2019 19:42 - 24 minutesAmerica This Week This week's guest is Nathan Schneider. We discuss his article "How can activists win more than a viral moment?" We also discuss these stories: Why Jesus movies should be strange Explainer: Why doesn't Pope Francis want people to kiss his ring? Founder, board of Vatican women's magazine quit
The Sports Episode
March 22, 2019 13:22 - 26 minutesThis week's guest is Michael J. O'Loughlin, America’s national correspondent. We discuss his article “Meet the Vatican team running for the greater glory of God (and maybe the Olympics).” We also discuss these articles: The difficult questions Catholics need to ask after the college admissions scandal A Jesuit confesses his love for March Madness and NCAA basketball A history of Catholic School Sports, From Babe Ruth to LeBron James
Why America Media created ‘Deliver Us,’ a podcast about the abuse crisis
March 15, 2019 18:22 - 26 minutesAmerica This Week This week's guest is Maggi Van Dorn. We discuss Deliver Us, America's podcast on the sex abuse crisis. We also discuss these articles: I fasted on only bread and juice for Lent. This is what I learned. The most dangerous Devil is the one you cannot see Review: The life of Bing Crosby, reviewed
America This Week: 3/6/19
March 08, 2019 20:29 - 25 minutesThis week's guest is Sister Theresa Aletheia Noble. We discuss her article "Here's why Catholics are called to think about death—daily." We also discuss these articles: The Vatican summit on the protection of minors is over. What’s next? How should we react to Michael Cohen’s imperfect contrition? Pope Francis will open the secret archives on Pope Pius XII
Demystifying the myths of mass incarceration
February 22, 2019 22:10 - 26 minutesAmerica This Week This week's guest is John Pfaff. We discuss his article Why today's criminal justice reform efforts won't end mass incarceration. We also discuss these articles: Pope Francis approves four priorities for the Jesuits’ next decade Vatican emphasizes transparency and accountability at upcoming sex abuse summit Catholic leaders resist Trump’s ‘national emergency’ plan to fund border wall
Bonus Episode - 2019 Oscar Nominees and Catholic themes at the movies
February 16, 2019 01:18 - 31 minutesOn Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will award the highly coveted Oscar for Best Picture to one of eight nominees. This year’s field is wide open—no one really knows who will walk away with the golden statue. But don’t worry, we brought in our best experts to weigh in. Father Eric Sundrup sat down with John Anderson of the New York Film Critics Circle, our culture columnist Bill McGarvey, and Eloise Blondiau, a producer here at America, to discuss each of ...
Catholics can learn a lot from Black Lives Matter
February 15, 2019 21:55 - 26 minutesAmerica This Week This week's guest is Olga Segura, an associate editor at America. We discuss her article "What Black Lives Matter can teach Catholics about racial justice." We also discuss these articles: The return of Daniel Berrigan's 'The Trial of the Catonsville nine' Explainer: Former Cardinal McCarrick faces laicization. What does that mean? Andrew Cuomo and the sad inheritance of ‘personal opposition’ to abortion
What comes after the era of the parochial school?
February 08, 2019 15:29 - 26 minutesAmerica This Week This week's guest is America contributor Betsy Shirley. We discuss her article “The era of the parochial school is over. Meet the Catholic educators searching for what’s next.” We also discuss these articles: The Jesuit institution uncovering the truth (and fake news) about saints Pope Francis on Yemen, Venezuela and the abuse of nuns by clergy Top 6 Catholic takeaways from President Trump’s State of the Union address
How can God and medicine work together to heal trauma?
February 01, 2019 19:21 - 21 minutesAmerica This Week This week's guest is Michael R. Lovell. We discuss his article "We need both medicine and God to overcome trauma." We also discuss these articles: Donald Trump and the complicated diplomacy of deportation What my friendship with Pope Francis taught me about interfaith dialogue What the New York Times gets wrong about the abortion debate
How can the Catholic Church help single mothers?
January 25, 2019 16:04 - 23 minutesAmerica This Week This week's guest is Kaya Oakes. We discuss her article “How the Catholic Church can help single mothers.” We also discuss these articles: Trump’s latest proposal to end the shutdown and what the border wall won’t fix How the New Wave Feminists are changing the conversation around abortion One-third of U.S. bishops believe church ‘should’ ordain women as deacons
What do descendants of slave owners owe descendants of slaves?
January 18, 2019 15:53 - 25 minutesThis week's guest is John W. Miller. We talk about his article "My ancestor owned 41 slaves. What do I owe their descendants?" We also discuss these articles: USA Northeast Province releases names of Jesuits credibly accused of sexual abuse Polarization can bring about real political change. Our past proves it. Can high-tech maps help the church and save the planet? Time’s a’wastin’: two new books on procrastination
What's at stake in the China-Vatican deal?
January 11, 2019 14:45 - 25 minutesAmerica This Week Our guest this week is Paul Mariani, S.J., and we're talking to him about his article, "The Extremely High Stakes of the China-Vatican Deal." We also talk about these articles: President Trump makes his case for the border wall, citing ‘a crisis of the soul’ How many members of the new Congress are Catholic? Tax incentives for Amazon? Less than prime.
How can we turn ‘Christmas Catholics’ into regular Massgoers?
January 04, 2019 15:35 - 24 minutesAmerica This Week Our guest this week is Jack Bentz, S.J., of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. He previously served as the director of the Catholic Student Center at Boise State. We discuss his recent article: How parishes can turn ‘Christmas Catholics’ into regular Massgoers. We also discuss these articles: “Mary Poppins Returns,” but what is she doing here? US Catholic bishops begin retreat to pray over clergy sexual abuse scandal Most people aren’t talkin...
Praying the examen this Advent
December 20, 2018 14:49 - 27 minutesAmerica This Week Our guest this week is James Martin, S.J., editor at large of America. We discuss praying the examen this Advent. We also discuss these articles: ‘Brideshead Revisited’ changed my life. Can it work its magic on the ‘Downton Abbey’ generation? The America Profile: Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, the pro-life Catholic Democrat A man walks into a confessional after 37 years
A look at women's leadership—in Biblical times and today
December 13, 2018 17:07 - 24 minutesAmerica This Week Our guest this week is Richard J. Clifford, S.J. We discuss his article Women have been leading since Biblical times—they can lead again today. We also discuss these articles: Pope beatifies ‘Of Gods and Men’ martyrs A 1940s French film is one of the most Catholic horror movies ever made Lessons from John Alan Chau (and Francis Xavier) for Catholic missions today
What setbacks are asylum seekers facing at the U.S. border?
December 07, 2018 14:30 - 24 minutesAmerica This Week Our guest this week is J.D. Long-García. We discuss his article As immigration denial rates increase, asylum seekers face setback at U.S. border. We also discuss these stories: Former President George H.W. Bush dies at 94 What we can learn from Isaiah Understanding Pope Francis' controversial comments on homosexuality in the priesthood
A look at the first pastoral letter against racism in 40 years
November 30, 2018 18:21 - 25 minutesAmerica This Week America This Week Our guest this week is Michael J. O'Loughlin, America's national correspondent. We talk about his and Olga Segura's article U.S. bishops adopt new anti-racism letter, first in almost 40 years. We also discuss these stories: Father James Martin: Stop the assault on asylum seekers How can we strengthen faith formation classes? How pastoral failures in communication are provoking a crisis of faith
What are the dangers of artificial intelligence in our brave new world of self-driving cars?
November 21, 2018 23:15 - 25 minutesAmerica This Week Our guest this week is John Miller. We talk to him about his article What are the dangers of artificial intelligence in our brave new world of self-driving cars? We also discuss some of the stories our editors are most thankful for from the year: Vatican Christmas stamps feature inmate's art No one had ever done a comprehensive survey of Catholic women. So we did. Óscar Romero
Is there a ‘civil war‘ in the Catholic Church?
November 16, 2018 19:54 - 28 minutesAmerica This Week Our October 24 guest is Joe Hoover, S.J. We talk to him about his article No, there is not a “civil war” in the Catholic Church. We also discuss these stories: Exclusive: Should U.S. bishops speak out on politics—or stick to religion? What it means to be a Catholic feminist and why the church must embrace it Pope Francis appoints Archbishop Scicluna to top role in addressing abuse crisis Inside the Vatican
How can we cure gun violence?
November 09, 2018 14:39 - 26 minutesAmerica This Week Our Nov 7 guest is Eileen Markey, who will talk about her article, "Can we use public health models to cure the disease of gun violence?" We also discuss these articles: I took in a Honduran refugee. It was no big deal The Ignatian Family Teach In poses a contrast to the divided American Family Three ways Catholics can respond to anti-Jewish violence
Choosing the Right Godparent
November 01, 2018 17:54 - 19 minutesOur October 31 guest is Simcha Fisher. We talk to her about her recent article on how to choose the right godparents, which you can read here. We also discuss these stories: Can the church be both holy and sinful? The ‘crisis’ of the migrant caravan is one of misperception Pakistani Christians fear violence after Asia Bibi’s blasphemy death sentence is overturned
What is left of the Christian community in Iraq?
October 26, 2018 18:52 - 25 minutesOur October 24 guest is Kevin Clarke. We talk to him about his recent reporting from Iraq, which you can read here. We also discuss these stories: The migrant caravan through the eyes of Catholic Social Teaching Synod Fathers: young people must be welcomed, but also welcomed What's it like being the only female cleric at the synod on young people?
Rethinking what it means to be 'college material'
October 18, 2018 14:24 - 23 minutesAmerica This Week Our October 17 guest is Cyrus Habib, the lieutenant governor of Washington State. We discuss his recent article Stop saying ‘college isn't for everyone.’ We also discuss these stories: Pope Francis declares Pope Paul VI, Óscar Romero saints Tomie dePaola's books help us find the sacred in stories of service and stillness Why can't women vote at the Synod on Young People?
Moving forward from the sexual abuse crisis with eight lessons
October 11, 2018 21:22 - 26 minutesAmerica This Week Our October 10 guest is John Carr, America's Washington correspondent. We discuss his recent article "Eight lessons to help us move forward from the sex abuse crisis." We also discuss these stories: Holy See issues first response in Archbishop McCarrick case Catholic comedian Jeremy McLellan on finding God by welcoming the disabled What—if anything—ensures a new college student will keep going to Mass?
What is the future of Jesuit education?
October 04, 2018 18:34 - 25 minutesOur Oct. 3 guest is Michael C. McCarthy, S.J., vice president for mission integration and planning and an associate professor of theology at Fordham University. We discuss his recent article, "The Uncertain Future of Jesuit Education." We also discuss these stories: St. John Paul II envisioned a big church. So why are millennials feeling excluded? Four lessons from Mary for the Synod on Young Adults Father Matt Malone: Why America magazine called for the withdrawal of Kavanaugh's nom...
Becoming a theologian means accepting an invitation
September 28, 2018 19:02 - 23 minutesOur September 26 guest is Sandra Schneiders, I.H.M., professor emerita of New Testament studies and Christian spirituality at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, Calif. We discuss her recent article "The vocation of the theologian begins with an invitation." We also discuss these stories: Pope Francis recognizes Chinese bishops ordained without papal approval Bishops draft plan to hold themselves accountable for sexual abuse and negligence Brett Ka...