What Matters Most

On this episode of what matters most I speak with Dr. Catherine E. Clifford, a Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She holds a PhD in Theology from the University of St. Michael’s College, Toronto, and an STL from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Her teaching, research, and publications are in the areas of ecclesiology, ecumenism, and the history of the Second Vatican Council with a particular emphasis on understanding the conversion and renewal of the churches, the development of doctrine, and the unity and diversity of Christian communities.  We spent a lot of time in this episode talking about ecumenism, the process by which the variety of Christian churches speak to each other and try to move to greater unity. We also talked about the fact that unity is not uniformity and the great diversity even within the Catholic church. Dr. Clifford is presently a member of the Methodist Roman Catholic International Commission, one of the many official groups working on ecumenism. Finally, we discussed synodality and her paper for the upcoming Pope Francis conference at St. Mark’s College on Pope Francis and the Future of the Church: Prospects and Challenges for Renewal  May 4-6, 2023. Her paper is titled, “Leaning into the Distant Goal of Vatican II: Pope Francis and Christian Unity.”  Cathy describes her paper in this way: "Catholics would not be embarking on the path towards a more synodal church today were it not for sixty years of sustained ecumenical dialogue with other Christians who have helped us to rediscover how such practices are “constitutive” of the church. Learning to embrace the synodal way in the life and practice of the Catholic Church will have profound consequences for the realization of Vatican II’s distant goal of Christian unity and for the future shape of Christianity. Francis models a practice of leaning into reconciliation, walking together with fellow Christians in common witness as we grow together in unity."  All three plenary addresses at the Pope Francis conference are free and open to the public. You can find tickets at Eventbrite by clicking on the link above or here: Pope Francis and the Future of the Church: Prospects and Challenges for Renewal, but I would suggest signing up soon to hear Dr. Massimo Faggioli, Dr. Emilce Cuda, and Dr. Cathy Clifford. Tickets are free but limited. If you want to attend the concurrent sessions, you can attend either day of the conference for $20.00 or the whole conference for $40.00.   Finally, Cathy's publications include the newly released The Oxford Handbook on Vatican II (2023), co-edited with Massimo Faggioli, Keys to the Council (2012), co-authored with Richard R. Gaillardetz, and Decoding Vatican II: Interpretation and Ongoing Reception (2014).        

Welcome to part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Greg Kennedy. In the first epiosde we talked about ecology, animals, and spiritual direction.  In this, the second episode, we discuss his books the Reupholstered Psalms  and Amazing Friendships between Animals and Saints. What does he mean by Reupholstered Psalms ? We talk about that title and how he is not rewriting” or “reconstructing” the Psalms, but “reupholstering” them. He has also written a lovely children’s book called Amazing Friendships between Animals and Saints. We talked about St. Kevin, who held out his hands as a nest for blackbirds. Greg mentions Seamus Heaney's poem St. Kevin and the Blackbird, which you can find at this link. You can find it in many other places online, too, including a reading by Seamus Heaney. If you enjoy this podcast, please rate and review it for others to find and enjoy it too!   Cheers, John 

I spoke to Dr. Steve Millies on February 6, 2023. Steve Millies is a Catholic political theorist and the director of the Bernardin Center at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, his hometown, and Professor of Public Theology. He has written Joseph Bernardin: Seeking Common Ground (Liturgical Press, 2016), a book which won first place in the biography category for the Catholic Press Association’s 2017 Book Awards.  He is also the author of  Good Intentions: A History of Catholic Voters' Road from Roe to Trump (Liturgical Press Academic, 2018).  We talked about the polarization of politics in the US and throughout the world, the similar sorts of polarization in the Catholic Church, much of it focused on opposition to Pope Francis, and the historical roots of this polarization in the Church and in our political systems.  When I talk about historical roots, I mean that Steve takes us back to the Roman Republic, Constantine, St. Augustine, and the medieval period. He recommended a number of books to help us understand this polarization currently: The Big Sort by Bill Bishop;   "What is Authority?" by Hannah Arendt; and  The Revolt of the Public, Martin Gurri.  We also talked about synodality in the Church, what that is and what that isn’t.  Finally, we discussed his paper for the upcoming Pope Francis conference at St. Mark’s College on Pope Francis and the Future of the Church: Prospects and Challenges for Renewal  May 4-6, 2023. His paper is titled, “Full Citizenship”: The Synodal Political Vision of Pope Francis.”  All three plenary addresses are free and open to the public. You can find tickets at Eventbrite by clicking on the link above or here: Pope Francis and the Future of the Church: Prospects and Challenges for Renewal, but I would suggest signing up soon to hear Dr. Massimo Faggioli, Dr. Emilce Cuda, and Dr. Cathy Clifford. Tickets are free but limited. If you want to attend the concurrent sessions, you can attend either day of the conference for $20.00 or the whole conference for $40.00.   I also mentioned a favourite book and writer of mine. The Night of the Confessor, a book by Czech priest Tomáš Halík on the state of Christianity in the world today, is a challenge to Christians. He writes "we are witnessing the withering away of a type of religion (and Christianity) that came into existence at the time of the E­nlightenment—­partly under its influence and partly in reaction to it. It is withering away with its epoch: “modern times.” As on many occasions in history, this situation of faith can be interpreted 'optimistically' or 'catastrophically.'" Halík instead wants interpret the present situation not with optimism or catastrophe but as "Easter paradox.”  This was a fascinating discussion for me, especially the discussion regarding cities and rural areas, their differences and similarities. Please enjoy and lease rate and review so others can find the podcast. John W. Martens  

Dr. Greg Kennedy is a doctor of philosophy and a Jesuit priest.  As we discuss in this episode, though, Greg is leaving the Catholic priesthood and has requested laicization. He is not, however, leaving the Jesuit life as he continues what he calls the "joyful disciplines of poetry, spiritual direction, retreat leadership and farming on the graceful land of the Ignatius Jesuit Centre in Guelph, Ontario." Greg and I spoke on January 10, 2023 and we had a fascinating conversation about spirituality, ecology, gardening, and spiritual direction, something about which Greg is deeply engaged in his life and in his work at the Ignatius Jesuit Centre in Guelph, Ontario. We also talked about capitalism and how those of us who love our pets might be making them unwitting participants in the excesses of late stage capitalism. This is at the heart of the first episode, but there is a second epiosde that will be released soon in which we discuss his books the Reupholstered Psalms  and Amazing Friendships between Animals and Saints.  Please listen and enjoy and if you did enjoy it, rate and review the podcast. We would love other people to find our series of discussions!   Cheers, John   

In 2012 Sister Nancy Brown received the Order of British Columbia. This is what was written about Nancy on her reception of the award: “Sister Nancy Brown is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable in British Columbia: homeless youth and young people at risk for human trafficking and sexual exploitation." In this episode I speak to Nancy, who was born in Vancouver, about her life as a Sister of Charity – Halifax, a congregation of consecrated women sharing the gift of a call to give joyful witness to love, and her work at Covenant House Vancouver with young men and young women. Now retired, though you will see this does not mean she does not remain active, Sister Nancy took a leadership role in fighting sexual exploitation and human trafficking for over two decades at Covenant House. Before joining Covenant House, Sister Nancy spent five years volunteering at a women’s shelter, which inspired her to earn certificates in addictions counselling and working with abused young women, as well as those who have been abusing women. Sister Nancy worked directly with young people on the street, and today continues to serve on numerous committees focused on preventing youth homelessness and the exploitation of women and children. She has raised the profile of these issues, highlighting the very real danger of youth exploitation and trafficking. During the episode Sister Nancy discussed a number of documents and people. I have tried to find the best links for each of them. Click here to find out more about Canada's Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act. To learn about Covenant House in Vancouver, please follow this link.  For a short history of Saint Josephine Bakhita, see the following page.  Sister Nancy also mentioned a Vatican document, Pastoral Orientations on Human Trafficking , that can be found by clicking on the title.  For the Canadian bishops' pastoral letter, For Freedom Christ Has Set Us Free,  a document that outlines the bishops' response to human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Canada, click on the title of the document.  Finally, Sister Nancy mentioned the horrors of sexual abuse perpetrated by members of  the Christian Brothers at Mount Cashel Orphanage in St. John's, Newfoundland against the most vulnerable of children, orphans and wards of the state. The Mount Cashel sexual abuse scandal in many ways made people aware of sexual abuse committed by members of the Catholic clergy, but it was only the beginnings of the necessary and painful revelations of sexual exploitation of minors and other vulnerable people in many places in Canada and around the world by Catholic clergy. I hope that these links will offer necessary context for the work that Sister Nancy has done and is doing and will encourage you to see if there is a way that you might help in responding to the devastation of human trafficking and sexual exploitation wherever it is found.  If you would like to participate in the upcoming anti-human trafficking webinar that Sister Nancy discussed, Working Towards Freedom, it takes place on February 8, 2023, 7-8 pm PST through the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Please register by following the link.  CANADA NOW HAS A CANADIAN HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE If you suspect someone is being sexually trafficked or exploited, please call the 24/7 Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010 or visit www.canadianhumantraffickinghotline.ca LEARN TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING Visit www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/human-trafficking/recognizing-human-trafficking-victims  

Donna Naughton is an Ojibway and Cree from Biigtigong First Nation located in northern Ontario. Donna holds both a BSW and a MSW. With a Master’s Degree in Social Work, Donna has been helping Indigenous communities for almost 30 years. She is also the Executive Director of Kateri Native Ministry, a role she has held since 2016.  Kateri Native Ministry is based in eastern Ontario and has been committed to the healing, reconciliation and spiritual growth of Indigenous people for over 20 years. Kateri Native Ministry serves in communion with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa. I met Donna this summer at a meeting of the Jesuits of Canada in Midland, Ontario. Donna was part of a panel that reported on the visit of Pope Francis to Canada and the apology that he offered to the indigenous peoples of Canada. Donna spoke powerfully on that panel about the Pope’s visit and what she appreciated about the Pope's apology to the Indigenous people of Canada and what she found missing in the Pope's visit. In this episode we talk about what it means for her to be both Catholic and engaged in Indigenous spirituality, which includes discussion of the Pope's visit. Donna also speaks about her mother's experience as a student at a Catholic residential school. 

Martin Strong is a veteran of radio in Vancouver, starting out as an announcer and writer in the 1980s at CFOX. He then moved to the Bro Jake Show at Rock 101 and hosting at Roundhouse Radio. He also wrote and hosted "Radio Shangri-La" for the CBC under the pseudonym "Marty Beaumont," which featured the best in cocktail lounge music (Frank, Dean, Sammy, etc.). The show ran nationally in various time slots on both CBC 1 & 2 between 1995 and 2000. He is also a voice over actor, narrating "Jade Fever," which ran for 7 seasons on Discovery Canada as well in the U.S., the U.K. and around the world. In addition, he is an instructor at BCIT Media Arts, teaching for over 15 years the core course "Discovering Your Inner Storyteller," which teaches writing and communication skills for both traditional and new media. He was also the department head for Broadcasting for Web, Radio & T.V. at VanArts. In this episode we discuss Martin's  personal story and journey, which includes his spiritual practices and thoughts on organized religion. At the end of the episode I connect some of our discussion to Julian of Norwich, Martin Luther and the indulgence controversy, and Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si'. 

In this conversation I speak with Dr. Dawn Eden Goldstein about her new biography Fr. Ed: The Story of Bill W.'s Spiritual Sponsor.  We focus on the life of Fr. Ed, his own struggles to become a priest, his debilitating medical issues, and his indelible mark on AA and the founder of AA Bill W. I hope that when we talk again, we can discuss some of the other books she has written and her own spiritual journey. Under the pen name Dawn Eden, she has written a number of popular and award winning books, including My Peace I Give You, The Thrill of the Chaste, and Remembering God's Mercy. Dawn began her working life as a rock-and-roll historian and went on to editorial positions at the New York Post and the Daily News before publishing her first book in 2006. In 2016, she became the first woman to earn a doctorate in sacred theology from the University of St. Mary of the Lake. Her book Remembering God's Mercy won First Place in the Inspirational category of the Association of Catholic Publishers 2017 Excellence in Publishing Awards. She has taught at universities and seminaries in the United States, England, and India. Currently, she lives in Washington, D.C. Follow her on Twitter @dawnofmercy.

In part 2 of my conversation with Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan, Professor of Jewish Studies and Director of Inter-Religious Studies at the Vancouver School of Theology, we speak about her book Mouth of the Donkey: Reimagining Biblical Animals, a book that rekindles wonder about animals and their place in human lives and in creation. Laura is also Professor Emerita of Philosophy at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Rabbi Emerita of Or Shalom Synagogue in Vancouver, and a U.S. Professor of the Year. She lives in Vancouver, Canada, on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, with her husband (and musical partner) Charles, their young adult children, and a changing array of companion animals.    

In this episode I speak with Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan, a professor from Vancouver School of Theology, about her integrated life as a philosopher, rabbi, and professor of Judaism at a Christian school of theology. Rabbi Laura brings a thoughtful approach to the spiritual life, seeing God throughout creation and the natural world, an understanding of God inspired by kabbalah. We also talk about the ongoing need to combat antisemitism in Christianity.