Jesuitical

In March 2026, the Vatican’s doctrine office released its final report on women’s participation in the life and leadership of the Catholic Church. The report brings to a close the two-year work of Study Group 5, which, as part of the Synod on Synodality, was tasked with studying women’s ministries and leadership. In this special roundtable conversation, editors at America magazine discuss the report’s content and proposals, and ask if the document changes the status quo for women in the Catholic Church.

Featuring:

Ashley McKinless, executive editor and co-host of the “Jesuitical” podcast

Kerry Weber, executive editor

Colleen Dulle, Vatican correspondent and co-host of the “Inside the Vatican” podcast

Molly Cahill, associate editor

0:00 The Vatican’s final report on women and ministry

4:23 Women’s reactions to the report

11:28 New ministries for women?

20:05 The horizons and limits of women’s authority

30:30 Will women be involved in decision-making?

Links:

⁠The final synod report on women: what it says, what it means and what’s next⁠

⁠Where the women deacons question stands at the Vatican⁠

⁠Full Report of Study Group 5 on “The Participation of Women in the Life and Leadership of the Church⁠”

Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at ⁠americamagazine.org/subscribe⁠
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This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with Bishop Michael Martin, O.F.M. Conv., of the Diocese of Charlotte. Bishop Martin sparked headlines in 2025 when a document leaked with plans to restrict the Latin Mass and other liturgical practices in his diocese.

Ashley, Zac and Bishop Martin discuss:

- His pastoral priorities as bishop of Charlotte

- Changes to the celebration of the Latin Mass in his diocese

- How he approaches his outspoken critics within his community—and online

In “Signs of the Times,” Ashley and Zac discuss the recent sexual abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez; Pope Leo’s call for bishops to come to Rome for a meeting on the family in October 2026; and a Belgian bishop who said he will “make every effort” to ordain married men as priests by the year 2028. Finally, in light of Easter coming up, Zac and Ashley talk about the pope’s favorite candy, Peeps!

Finally, in “As One Friend Speaks to Another,” Ashley talks about her experience inadvertently unplugging on a recent trip and the spiritual freedom found from it.

 Links for further reading: 

How the cover-up of Cesar Chavez’s abuse mirrored the clergy sex abuse crisis

What you need to know about Pope Leo’s October meeting on marriage and family

Belgian bishop says he will ‘make every effort’ to ordain married men by 2028

You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.  

You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. 

Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe
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This week on a special episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley, Zac and Jesuitical producer Sebastian have a conversation with Dr. James Finley about first-half-of-life mysticism. Jim is a clinical psychologist and faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation where he teaches and writes on the Christian mystical tradition. He’s also the host of the podcast, ‘Turning to the Mystics.’

0:00 A special episode on mysticism

3:00 How Jim Finley discovered monasteries

12:00 An introduction to interior prayer

22:48 Where to start

24:30 How to stay patient

28:40 When life gets busy

34:48 Cultivating silence in your life

39:50 Finding God in trauma

41:45 Trusting your own experiences of God

48:00 Is God really inside of us?

51:00 Where mysticism and formal religion intersect

56:15 Does mystical experience relativize religion?

Links for further reading: 

Jim’s podcast, “Turning to the Mystics with James Finley”

The Center for Action and Contemplation

Merton's Palace of Nowhere

The Healing Path: A Memoir and an Invitation

You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.  

You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. 

Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe
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This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with Timothy Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics and founder of the nonprofit UNITE, which incubated the Dignity Index, a language evaluation tool that aims to bring greater dignity to our public discourse.

0:00 Welcome back Zac Davis!

2:35 A new papal nuncio to the U.S.A.

6:27 Cardinals respond to Iran war

9:04 Synod report on women released

10:27 Tim Shriver's holy family

13:04 What is the dignity index?

18:57 Contempt is the problem

24:00 What's your dignity score?

30:52 What dignity really means

38:20 Responding to contempt with dignity

46:00 How to do it

51:48 Is the Catholic Church a model?

54:32 Influence of Pope Leo XIV

58:50 Updates and faith sharing

 Links for further reading: 

Pope Leo appoints Archbishop Caccia as nuncio to the United States

Iran’s Cardinal Mathieu evacuated to Rome

Pope Leo expresses ‘deep sorrow’ for Lebanese Maronite Catholic priest killed by Israeli tank fire

Final synod report on women’s leadership does not address female diaconate

The Dignity Index

Need a Lift? With Tim Shriver

You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.  

You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. 

Please consider supporting “Jesuitical” by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe
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This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley sits down with America’s chief correspondent, Kevin Clarke, to discuss the widening conflict with Iran and whether the U.S. intervention in the conflict can be justified under just war theory.

Then, we re-share one of our favorite interviews from last year: a conversation with Jamie Baxter, the founder & C.E.O. of Exodus 90. The program, which helps men to strengthen their faith through prayer, asceticism and fraternity, faced some early skepticism from some in the church—and the “Jesuitical” team—that gave way to greater understanding and valuable innovation. 

 Links for further reading: 

Against Unjust and Unjustified War with Iran

I regret supporting the Iraq War. We shouldn’t repeat our mistakes in Iran now.

Cardinal Parolin on Iran war: ‘The force of law has been replaced by the law of force’

Lebanese archbishop: Innocents are ‘paying the price’ of Middle East war

Pope Leo urges a halt to ‘spiral of violence’ across Iran and Middle East

Sorrow, shock for Catholics in Middle East as US and Israel strike Iran amid negotiations

You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.  

You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. 

Please consider supporting “Jesuitical” by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe
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