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Jesuitical

The church needs younger deacons—and older priests

Jesuitical

America Media

News, News Commentary, Spirituality, Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

4.71K Ratings

🗓️ 11 November 2022

⏱️ 52 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

It’s no secret that the priesthood in the United States is aging, quickly. But what if part of the solution to the priest shortage is actually ordaining more older priests? Deacon Steve Kramer thinks the church should get serious about late-in-life vocations—recruiting men in the 40s, 50s or even 60s who have had another career, who maybe have been married and lost their spouse, for the priesthood. On the other hand, he thinks we should be encouraging men in their 30s and 40s to consider becoming a deacon—a vocation usually associated with more “mature” gentlemen. During National Vocation Awareness week, we ask Deacon Steve about the growing role of deacons in the U.S. church, his experience joining the diaconate in his 30s (and with four young kids!) and what questions someone discerning a call to the priesthood or diaconate should ask themselves. In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley talk with Colleen Dulle, the host of America Media’s “Inside the Vatican” podcast, about French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, the former head of the French bishops’ conference who admitted to abusing a 14-year-old girl 35 years ago. They ask: Have reforms aimed at combatting clerical sexual abuse really brought accountability to the highest levels of the church? Links from the show: French cardinal admits to abusing teen girl 35 years ago Report: 330,000 child victims of sex abuse in France’s Catholic Church Pope Francis issues new rules for accountability and response to allegations of sexual abuse Pennsylvania report documents over 1,000 victims of priest abuse Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick laicized by Pope Francis Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States What’s on tap? Barolo  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Jesuitical is supported by the Hank Center at Loyola University Chicago.

0:06.0

On November 16th, the Hank Center welcomes filmmakers Simunette de Talia Wiener and T.J. Burden for an in-person screening of unguarded, a film that tells the story

0:17.9

of successful restorative justice work and prison reform in Brazil and America. All are welcome.

0:24.0

To learn more about the Heng Center and its programs,

0:27.0

please visit

0:28.0

W. W. W.

0:31.0

LUC. E. D. U.D. U.S.E.D. U.S.E.

0:32.0

E. D. U.C. dot E. D.O. slash C.I.H. Hello and welcome to Jesuitical, a podcast by the Young Hip and Lay editors of

0:50.2

America Media.

0:51.2

That lay part means we aren't Jesuits but we work with them.

0:54.1

Join us each week for a smart Catholic take on faith culture in the news often over drinks.

0:58.6

I'm Ashley Kinliss and I'm joined by Zach Davis.

1:01.0

It is great to be with you on, it's finally fall in New York.

1:04.6

There's a, I hate, hate, hate, hate that time of year where we, I think we gain an hour of sleep,

1:10.6

but I guess now we just go home in the dark. Yeah go to bed at 6 p.m. Yeah really

1:14.8

rough. It is very weird I've been waking up early which is not my MO and like getting to the

1:19.0

office before 9 a.m. yeah I haven't been doing that. I'm up. I'm just tired all the time but excited to bring the energy

1:26.4

because it's not morning it's probably dark outside even though it's like

1:29.8

four o'clock here but great show coming up this week. Yes but first before we get to our

1:34.4

guest you have a great story about our drink this week. So we're drinking wine

1:39.1

so this is just like scenes from the offices at America magazine. We have mass once a week as the

1:44.1

staff which is really great great part about working here and working with

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