Powered by RND

Glad You Asked

U.S. Catholic
Glad You Asked
Latest episode

Available Episodes

5 of 72
  • John Farrell - Were Adam and Eve real?
    Belief in a literal six-day creation, including a literal Adam and Eve, is more associated with evangelical Christianity than with Catholicism. Most Catholic schools teach evolutionary theory as the best and most reliable account of the origin of life and see no conflict between this and orthodox Catholic faith. At the same time, some Catholics still promote a creationist view on the origins of humanity. What does the Catholic Church have to say about this? Are Catholics obliged to believe that Adam and Eve were real people who talked to God, were tempted by a snake, and got cast out of a garden because they ate a forbidden fruit? If so, how does this fit with everything science has to tell us about evolution? And if the church accepts evolution, how does this affect other core Catholic teachings, especially on original sin?   On this episode of the podcast, science writer John Farrell talks about how the Catholic Church has grappled with the challenges posed by evolution over the years, as well as what science has to say on the question of whether Adam and Eve were real.  John Farrell is the author of The Day Without Yesterday: Lemaître, Einstein and the Birth of Modern Cosmology (Basic Books, 2005) and The Clock and the Camshaft: And Other Medieval Inventions We Still Can’t Live Without (Prometheus Books, 2020). He has contributed to U.S Catholic and many other publications, including Commonweal, Cosmos Magazine, New Scientist, the Wall Street Journal, the Guardian, the Boston Globe, Salon, Forbes and the Tablet of London.  You can learn more about this topic, and read some of Farrell’s writing, in these links.  “Do Catholics believe in evolution?” by John Switzer “What is original sin?” by Joel Schorn “Benedict's thinking on creation and evolution,” by John L. Allen Jr. “Middle ways on evolution,” by John Farrell “What would an updated natural law ethic look like?” by John Farrell  “The Bible is far more than history. It is legendary.” by Alice Camille “Evolution is our fundamental reality,” by Ilia Delio Original Sin: Origins, Developments, Contemporary Meanings, by Tatha Wiley Original Selfishness: Original Sin and Evil in the Light of Evolution by Daryl P. Domning and Monika K. Hellwig Lone Survivors: How We Came to Be the Only Humans on Earth, by Chris Stringer Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries.
    --------  
    34:38
  • Gareth Gore – What is Opus Dei?
    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.
    --------  
    42:05
  • Christian Matson – Are there still hermits?
    Christian history has multiple stories of people who felt called by God to separate themselves from the bustle of society and live alone, often in remote places. In the first centuries of Christianity, the desert fathers and mothers went into the wilderness seeking a simple life of spirituality and prayer. In the Byzantine Empire there were the stylites, or pillar-saints, who lived atop columns and practiced extreme asceticism.  Other hermits lived in seclusion within society, sometimes in little cells attached to churches. In the Middle Ages, this practice became more popular, especially among women, some of whom were physically walled up in their cells, with no door or means of exit, representing their death to the world. Known as anchorites or anchoresses (from the ancient Greek ἀναχωρεῖν, meaning “to withdraw”), the most famous of these was the mystic and theologian Julian of Norwich.  The tradition of the hermit vocation has deep roots in pre-Christian practices, too. Hebrew scriptures are filled with stories of people fleeing into the desert to escape society and draw closer to God. In the New Testament, both John the Baptist and Jesus follow their example. And other religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sufism, also have traditions associated with the eremitic life.  But what about today? What does the life of a Christian hermit look like, in the modern era? On this episode of Glad You Asked, the hosts talk to Brother Christian Matson, a professed hermit in the Diocese of Lexington. Brother Christian professes a rule of life that allows him to support himself financially through his work in the arts while he lives a life of contemplation in a private hermitage. You can learn more about the hermit vocation, and about Brother Christian’s work, in these links.  “What is a hermit?” by John Christman What is a hermit? - U.S. Catholic “How To Be Alone,” by Alexander Jusdanis How To Be Alone | Sojourners “Medieval anchoresses found spiritual freedom in tiny cells,” by Ellyn Sanna Medieval anchoresses found spiritual freedom in tiny cells - U.S. Catholic “Sixty Feet Above: The Difficult Sanctity of Simeon Stylites,” by Eric Shuler Sixty Feet Above: The Difficult Sanctity of Simeon Stylites “The Desert Fathers and Mothers” The Desert Fathers and Mothers — Center for Action and Contemplation “Catholic diocesan hermit approved by Kentucky bishop comes out as transgender,” by Jack Jenkins Catholic diocesan hermit approved by Kentucky bishop comes out as transgender | National Catholic Reporter “Theater partnership puts depression, suicide prevention under spotlight,” by Buddy Forbes Theater partnership puts depression, suicide prevention under spotlight Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries.
    --------  
    42:40
  • Stacy Davis – Who was Jezebel?
    The Bible is full of vivid, fascinating characters: heroes and antiheroes, tricksters and villains. One of the most memorable biblical villains is Queen Jezebel, wife of King Ahab in Kings 1 and 2. Jezebel shows up in multiple stories: persecuting the prophet Elijah, trying to institute the worship of the god Ba’al, conniving to steal a vineyard, and finally dying a gruesome death. She is mentioned in the book of Revelation, too, when the author refers to a woman in the church at Thyatira who “calls herself a prophet and is teaching and beguiling my servants to engage in sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols” (Rev. 2:20).   Because she lured her husband to worship a false god, and because she is remembered as wearing makeup and finery, she has come to be associated with ideas about women as dangerous, immoral temptresses. The name “Jezebel” has become a slur for a promiscuous woman who leads men astray, and this slur has been used especially to demean and demonize Black women.   But who was Jezebel really? Was she the sexually promiscuous character these slurs imply, and why does scripture depict her as a super-villain?    On this episode of Glad You Asked, theologian and biblical scholar Stacy Davis talks to the host about the character Jezebel and the history of using her as a weapon against Black women. Davis is a professor of religious studies and Theology at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, and the author of Haggai and Malachi in the Wisdom Commentary Series (Liturgical Press). She is an associate editor of The Africana Bible: Reading Israel’s Scriptures from Africa and the African Diaspora, as well as for the forthcoming Westminster John Knox Bible.   You can learn more about this topic in these links: “Jezebel from an African-American Perspective,” by Stacy Davis  whc.bibleodyssey.com “The Jezebel Stereotype,” by David Pilgrim The Jezebel Stereotype - Anti-black Imagery - Jim Crow Museum “Who Exactly Was the Original Jezebel?” by Wednesday Martin Who Exactly Was the Original Jezebel? ‹ Literary Hub “Jezebel Isn’t Who You Think She Is,” by Nyasha Junior Jezebel Isn’t Who You Think She Is - Dame Magazine “Naming the 333 women in the Bible,” by Alice Camille Naming the 333 women in the Bible - U.S. Catholic   Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries.
    --------  
    31:44
  • Nicholas Hayes-Mota – Are billionaires going to hell?
    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  
    --------  
    45:29

More Religion & Spirituality podcasts

About Glad You Asked

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.
Podcast website

Listen to Glad You Asked, Just Tap In with Emilio Ortiz and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app

Get the free radio.net app

  • Stations and podcasts to bookmark
  • Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
  • Supports Carplay & Android Auto
  • Many other app features

Glad You Asked: Podcasts in Family

Social
v7.15.0 | © 2007-2025 radio.de GmbH
Generated: 4/20/2025 - 9:32:20 AM