Heidi Schlumpf

Thanks to investigations by media organizations and the D.C. attorney general — and now a subpoena from the Senate Judiciary Committee, the previously behind-the-scenes Leonard Leo is under a spotlight.

Through a web of organizations — centered around a PR firm that has essentially become the marketing arm of the Catholic right — Leonard Leo is poised to try to win over U.S. culture to his traditionalist views.

St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana, was the last Catholic women's college to expand admissions to some trans students. Now the school is reversing that policy in the wake of criticism.

Listen: Heidi, Father Daniel and David talk about the COP28, the U.N. climate change conference; Heidi interviews Bishop John Stowe of Kentucky; and the trio concludes Season 13 with a pop culture roundup.

A decision by St. Mary's College in Indiana to open enrollment to some transgender applicants has resulted in a reprimand by Fort Wayne-South Bend Bishop Kevin Rhoades and divided students and alumnae.

Listen: Heidi, Father Daniel and David talk about the ouster of Bishop Joseph Strickland, and a court battle over voting rights in Arkansas. Also, Heidi interviews theologian and professor timone davis.

Sociologist of religion Jesuit Fr. Paddy Gilger told an audience at Loyola Chicago that religious people can help reconstitute the collapsed public sphere — but not in ways that many think of "public religion" today.

Listen: Heidi, Father Daniel and David look at the recent testimony of former President Donald Trump and the recent election of Mike Johnson as House speaker, and Heidi talks with Fr. James Martin about the synod.

Listen: Heidi, Father Daniel, and David reflect on the last four weeks of the synod on synodality and give their thoughts on the synthesis document. Also, Heidi interviews NCR Vatican correspondent Christopher White.

Three Catholic sisters said they are hopeful that the church's synodal process might bring increased leadership roles for women. They also stressed that they already have significant influence as women religious.

Benedictine Sr. Patricia Crowley came from a famous Catholic family, and made her own mark as a Benedictine sister, social justice advocate, and leader in the church and community. Crowley died Oct. 14. She was 84.

A new program to prepare women to preach in the Catholic Church has received a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., even as current church practice does not allow women to give the homily at Mass.

Listen: Heidi, Father Daniel, and David explore the dysfunction of the Republican Party, and discuss Pope Francis' Laudate Deum. Also, Heidi interviews Kate McElwee of the Women's Ordination Conference.

Notre Dame conference panelists spoke at sometimes heated sessions on issues that included racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, vulnerable Black populations, violence and Black Lives Matter, and education and school boards. 

NCR has compiled a reference guide to the 24 Americans (or people with U.S. connections) who will be participating in the synod, either as voting members or experts/facilitators. 

Listen: Heidi, Father Daniel and David discuss the threat of U.S. government shutdown and look at recent friction in Germany over blessing same-sex unions. Also, Heidi interviews Brian Flanagan of New Ways Ministry.

Advocates for women's ordination told NCR's Heidi Schlumpf that they are hopeful that the synodal meetings in Rome will lead to change in the church. 

Listen: Heidi, Father Daniel and David look at the Catholic response to the ongoing migrant crisis and at the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes through a lens of Catholic teaching, and Heidi interviews Gustavo Arellano of the LA Times.

Listen: Season 13 of "The Francis Effect" kicks off as Heidi, Fr. Daniel, and David catch up on summer 2023; they discuss indictments against former President Donald Trump; and they look ahead to the Season of Creation.

A new podcast about a young Colorado Catholic woman who died by suicide brings attention to the danger of conversion therapy, especially in religious contexts. "Dear Alana" is currently the No. 1 podcast in the nation.