Podcasts

The Indian Jesuit Anthony DeMello died in 1987 but his spiritual writings still have wide appeal. In this discussion, Thomas G. Casey, S.J., a professor at the Gregorian University in Rome, and Margaret Brennan Hassett, one of his students, discuss their love for the work of “Tony” DeMello, and explain his teachings. Among DeMello’s insights: […]

Students and faculty at Fordham University talk about eloquentia perfecta, a course of study that dates to the early days of the Jesuits. Read Kevin Clarke’s article on EP in the May 16 issue.

April 14 marked the last day of Father Daniel J. Coughlin’s tenure as chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives. Fr. Coughlin was the first Catholic priest to serve in that role, and he held the position for 11 years. Here he speaks about some of his most difficult moments as chaplain, notably the tragedy […]

Richard Rohr’s newest book is Falling Upward, in which he writes about the “two halves of life,” our evolving identities and the significance of redemptive suffering. Rohr spoke with America during the 2011 L.A. Religious Education Congress following a talk about his book. He is the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation in […]

At the age of 13, Bethany Hamilton, an up-and-coming surfer, lost her arm in a shark attack. But with the help and encouragement of friends and family, she was back on a board within a month, and went on to become a nationally ranked professional in the sport. In the new film adaptation of the […]

Kenneth R. Himes of Boston College talks about his article, “Divided on Torture,” from the April 18 issue, which examines U.S. attitudes toward torture and explains why a public commission is still necessary to account for the moral panic unleashed by the war on terror. The tolerance of torture may stem from a humanitarian impulse—the […]

The papacy of Pope Benedict XVI has been marred by a series of communications mishaps, from an affair involving a Holocaust-denying bishop to public statements from Vatican officials which aggravated the sexual abuse crisis. John L. Allen Jr. spoke with America about the Vatican’s PR problems at the L.A. Religious Education Congress. Allen is a […]

The papacy of Pope Benedict XVI has been marred by a series of communications mishaps, from an affair involving a Holocaust-denying bishop to public statements from Vatican officials which aggravated the sexual abuse crisis. John L. Allen Jr. spoke with America about the Vatican’s PR problems at the L.A. Religious Education Congress. Allen is a […]

Michael Leach, an editor-at-large and publisher emeritus at Orbis Books, explains why he remains a committed Catholic in the age of falling Mass attendance and the clerical sexual abuse crisis. His new book, Why Stay Catholic?, lists 100 people, places and ideas that make the Catholic Church a compelling institution. On that list: the papacy, […]