A charismatic demagogue with millions of devoted followers. A novel means of communication with little government regulation and few guardrails. The threat of violence in the streets and a country in crisis.
No, we’re not talking about the 45th president but America’s first radio priest, Father Charles Coughlin. On “Radioactive,” a new podcast series from Tablet Studios, Andrew Lapin takes listeners through the history of Father Coughlin, who through a mixture of Catholic piety, anti-Semitism and raw political ambition became the most popular voice on the U.S. airwaves during the Great Depression and the lead up to World War II.
[Related: Before Rush Limbaugh, Father Coughlin was America’s first demagogue of the airwaves]
We ask Andrew what Father Coughlin’s story can tell us about the connection between religious demagoguery and authoritarianism; the Wild West of new media platforms; and the failure of the church to rein in Catholics who exploit these toxic forces.
In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley share some Pope Francis-inspired New Year’s resolutions and give their predictions for Catholic stories coming in 2022.
Links from the show:
- Volunteer, stop judging and get off Twitter: 8 New Year’s Resolutions Inspired by Pope Francis
- Pope Francis’ action-packed agenda for 2022
- Potentially explosive report will document handling of sex abuse in Pope Benedict’s former diocese
- Who will be the first Black Catholic saint from the United States?
- Join our Patreon community
- Come to Italy with Jesuitical!
What’s on tap?
Bringing in the New Year with some Bubbly
