The America Magazine Podcast

Jesuit ethicist Thomas Massaro considers the legacy of Ted Kennedy and Robert McNamara, and explores the complexities of bringing the church’s social tradition to bear on political decisions.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 23:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (714)

Read Full Post »

Karen Sue Smith, editorial director of America, reports on obstacles to health care reform and why despite growing opposition the passage of a bill is more likely today than in 1994. Also, a closer look at the uninsured. For more on this subject read Karen Smith’s blog posts on the path to health care reform.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 21:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (653)

Read Full Post »

Alon Ben-Meir of New York University analyzes U.S. strategy in Afghanistan under President Barack Obama and offers commentary on the upcoming Afghan election.  Read Professor Ben-Meir’s article, “Obama’s Long War,” from the August 17-24 issue.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 17:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (633)

Read Full Post »

Now the dean of Fordham Law School in New York, William Michael Treanor served for three years in the president’s Office of Legal Counsel, a branch of the executive that was little-known to the general public until legal advisers to President George W. Bush released the infamous “torture memo” in 2002. Treanor, who served under President Clinton, talks about the expansion of executive power under Bush II, and what Congress and President Obama can do to bring greater transparency to the activities of the executive branch and to restore the integrity of the Office of Legal Counsel. Read Den Treanor’s article, “Legal Obligations,” from the Aug. 3-10 America.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 20:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (748)

Read Full Post »

America’s Book Club reviews Colm Toibin’s Brooklyn, a new novel that chronicles a young Irishwoman’s journey to adulthood in an unfamiliar country. Purchase Brooklyn from amazon.com.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 21:53m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (680)

Read Full Post »

Julie Irwin Zimmerman discusses the difficulties facing Catholics encountering infertility. Too often, she argues, Catholics feel bewildered by the moral implications of the choices offered by the fertility industry. In this environment, the church should do more to reach out to couples weighing these difficult matters, to listen and guide them to a life-affirming decision. Look for Zimmerman’s article, “Science and the Path to Parenthood,” in the July 6-13 issue.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 18:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (833)

Read Full Post »

Jim McDermott, S.J., describes the terrible beauty of Australia, a country that he experienced as both exotic and familiar. Father McDermott spent seven months down under as part of the final stage of his Jesuit formation. Read his article, “Gone Walkabout,” from the June 22-29 issue of America.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 17:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (704)

Read Full Post »

Dave Nantais, a frequent contributor to America’s pages and a Detroit native, reports on the mood of the Motor City as the American auto industry continues to shrink, what the church is doing to help the unemployed and why the city’s cultural scene continues to hum despite the troubles.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 21:01m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (673)

Read Full Post »

Jaime Lara of Yale Divinity School considers trends in church architecture from early church history, when no seating was provided for the congregation, to the innovations introduced after Vatican II. Professor Lara also offers a critique of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, and an appreciation of the new Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, Calif.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 19:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (751)

Read Full Post »

Robert Sullivan, author of The Meadowlands and How Not To Get Rich and a frequent contributor to the New Yorker and Vogue, talks about rats, swamps and his new book, The Thoreau You Don’t Know. Inspired by the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins and the theology of Karl Rahner, Sullivan’s writings seek out the divine spark in even the most repellent of God’s creations.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 28:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (702)

Read Full Post »