For years, Fr James J. Bacik has delivered some of the most thought-provoking lectures covering Relationships, Democracy, Religion and more. Now, Fr Bacik and co-host Brad Rieger bring you “A Bacik Conversation,” a thoughtful podcast that dives into topics that Fr Bacik covers in his lectures, articles and books.
Latest episodes
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Father Bacik's Hopes for Pope Leo
Pope Leo, the first American Pontiff, carries the hopes of many for a more peaceful world, a more widely present Church, and a more unified US society.
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Pope Leo XIV on the Christian-Muslim Dialogue
Pope Leo calls Christians and Muslims, who share a belief in the one God creator and judge, to work together to spread God's gift of compassion to a world bombarded by suffering so…
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Pope Leo XIV and Artificial Intelligence
In his encyclical Magnificent Humanity, Pope Leo demonstrates that Catholic Social Doctrine can help guide shared efforts to get rapidly expanding digital technology to serve the c…
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Pope Leo XIV and Women and the Church
Pope Leo, who naturally relates very well with women, will continue to appoint women to high positions in the Church, but will honor the long tradition of not ordaining women as pr…
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Pope Leo XIV and Political Theology
Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Pope Leo's political theology affirms the non-establishment clause of the First Amendment against Christian nationalism and the free e…
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Pope Leo XIV on Peace and War
From the beginning of his ministry as Bishop of Rome, Pope Leo has been a courageous and consistent advocate for peace: calling for a halt to all wars around the world; the elimina…
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Pope Leo XIV - Ministering in Peru, His Second Homeland
As a young Augustinian friar, Pope Leo XIV was sent to Peru where he encountered liberation theology, pioneered by Gustavo Gutierrez, that he appropriated as a priest, teacher, and…
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Pope Leo XIV as an Augustinian
The first Augustinian Pope, Leo XIV has given expression to the Augustinian charism in various ways: often quoting Saint Augustine in public statements; living in community with ot…
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Pope Leo’s Embrace of Synodality
Pope Leo XIV, the first Roman Pontiff from the United States is carrying on the reform strategy of Pope Francis commonly called "Synodality", an approach that involves listening to…
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Leo 14 - The First American Pope
By choosing the name, Leo, the first American pope indicated his intention to speak up for justice and peace as did Pope Leo 13 in his groundbreaking encyclical Rerum Novarum.
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Pope Francis as Peacemaker
During his 12-year ministry as Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis was a consistent advocate for peace, calling on Christians to follow the example of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and advo…
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Pope Francis and Synodality
Pope Francis, who mistrusted top-down attempts at Church renewal and trusted the faith instincts of ordinary believers, worked to renew the mission of the Church through “synodalit…
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Pope Francis and Climate Change
In his encyclical on care for our common home, Pope Francis supported the ratification of the Paris Agreement and called on all members of the human family to do our part to reduce…
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Caring for the Poor
Pope Francis, the first Latin American Bishop of Rome, drew on liberation theology to help the poor take hold of their lives.
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Women in the Church
Pope Francis appointed many women to high positions in the Vatican, but he stopped short of ordaining women deacons.
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Pope Francis and Consumerism
Pope Francis argues that our economic system tends to reduce persons to commodities and offers advice on how to maintain a Christian attitude by meditating on the teachings of Jesu…
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Pope Francis and Christian Marriage
Pope Francis teaches us that Christian marriage is an icon of Christ's love for the church and encourages married couples to make use of parish programs to enrich their marriage.
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Pope Francis Proclaiming the Word
Pope Francis teaches that all Christians by virtue of our baptism are called to proclaim the word and that the three year cycle of Sunday Mass readings, guided by relevant homilies…
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Pope Francis and the Clergy Sex Abuse Crisis
This podcast episode, on Pope Francis and sex abuse, deals with very sensitive and disturbing material, portrays the pope as having sincere compassion for the victims and urging al…
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Pope Francis and the Liturgy
This episode on Pope Francis and the Liturgy highlights the pope's commitment to implementing the liturgical reforms of Vatican II and encourages all of us to be full, active, cons…