The Open Door

Jim Hanink, Mario Ramos-Reyes, and Christopher Zehnder of The Open Door reflect on the Diaconate, from New Testament times to our own day, with special and returning guest Deacon Michael L. Russo, a deacon of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnston, Pennsylvania. He's also the author of The Via Dolorosa: A Forensic and Spiritual Treatise on the Salvific Work of Jesus Christ (Zulon Press, 2013). 1. Deacon...

This week (Thursday, May 6) on The Open Door we explore the multi-faceted legacy of Asian Americans. In recent months, as we know, they have increasingly become the targets of hate crimes. A range of other issues also come to mind: international study abroad programs, charges of intellectual espionage, and the influence of the Chinese Communist Party. Our special and welcome guest is the distingui...

This week (Wednesday, April 28), on The Open Door, we discuss Politics and Christianity. Our special and welcome guest is Rodolfo Casadei, a prestigious intellectual, writer, and journalist from Milan, Italy. He recently authored a best-seller Roberto Formigoni, Una Storia Popolare (Edizioni Cantagalli, 2021).Roberto Formigoni: the first interview about a renowned political leader from the region...

To order a copy of Steve Mamanella's book _Providential_, see https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/providential/ This week (Wednesday, April 21) on The Open Door we move from philosophy and politics to what, even in such domains, guides our lives. We’ll be talking about providence. Our special and welcome guest is Steve Mamanella, author of the memoir Providential (En Route Books and Media, 2021). He...

Imran Mushtaq, of Pakistan, and Deacon Michael Russo, of Pennsylvania join Jim Hanink, Mario Ramos-Reyes, and Christopher Zehnder concerning Christian life in Pakistan. 1. Could you please tell us a bit about yourself and your family? 2. What is daily life like in your village? 3. We understand that Christians in Pakistan face many obstacles. Could you explain them for us? 4. Do Pakistani courts d...

Welcome to The Open Door! This week we talk politics with a decided emphasis on the experience of a member of the American Solidarity serving on a midwestern town council and the California gubernatorial campaign of another member. No special guests, just our regular panel! Among the questions we'll consider are the following. Please feel free to suggest others. 1. What is political subsidiarity?...

In this episode of The Open Door, panelists Jim Hanink, Mario Ramos-Reyes, and Christopher Zehnder engage American Translator Daniel Fitzpatrick in his work on the Help Dante Help Italy Project (March 31, 2021) For more about the project, see http://www.helpdantehelpitaly.com

In this episode of The Open Door, Dr. Jim Hanink and Dr. Mario Ramos-Reyes speak with Dr. Stacy Trasancos and Dr. Catherine Pakaluk on Conscience and the Vaccine. (March 25, 2021)

This week (March 17) on The Open Door we discuss the peril, promise, and possibility of secularism. Our special guest is Nathaniel Peters. He is Contributing Editor of Public Discourse and Director of the Morningside Institute. 1. Could you begin by telling us a bit about your background 2. We’re regular readers of Public Discourse. How did it come about? Where is it headed? 3. During the lead-up...

On this episode of The Open Door, panelists Jim Hanink, Mario Ramos-Reyes, and Christopher Zehnder discuss Catholic journalism, the relation of culture and politics, and how to integrate lighting a candle whilst cursing the darkness. Our special guest is Pieter Vree, Editor of the New Oxford Review. Raised in Berkeley, California, Vree is a longtime observer of “Berserkely.” Pieter and his wife, R...

In this episode of The Open Door, panelists Jim Hanink, Mario Ramos-Reyes, and Christopher Zehnder discuss philosophy, the family, and politics with Mark Spencer. He’s an associate professor at the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota). He and his wife Susanna are the parents of four children. He writes on the nature of the human person, beauty, and natural theology. Prof. Spencer’s first book, The...

The Open Door discusses euthanasia advocacy and the ethical and legal questions it raises. Richard Stith is our special and returning guest. He is a Senior Research Professor of Law at Valparaiso University. Prof. Stith serves on the board of the Consistent Life Network, an organization that combats abortion, euthanasia, war, the death penalty, racism, and poverty. 1. Some argue that there should...

This week on The Open Door we discuss ethical excellence. Why do some achieve it while others fail? Our special guest is Heidi M. Giebel, professor of philosophy at the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota. She is the author of Ethical Excellence: Philosophers, Psychologists, and Real-Life Exemplars Show Us How to Achieve It (The Catholic University of America Press, 2021.) 1. Some people overcome...

The Open Door discusses ethical and legal questions at the beginning and end of human life. We find an inspiration to do so in the visual arts. Richard Stith is our special and returning guest. He is a Senior Research Professor of Law at Valparaiso University. Prof. Stith serves on the board of the Consistent Life Network, an organization that combats abortion, euthanasia, war, the death penalty,...

In this episode of The Open Door, panelists Jim Hanink, Mario Ramos-Reyes, and Christopher Zehnder discuss family life in the context of our chaotic times. Their special guest is Valerie Niemeyer, an American Solidarity Party leader from Nebraska. She is the mother of six and a homeschooler. She also has a longstanding interest in social justice. Our questions for her include the following. 1. A b...

This week on The Open Door, we discuss ethical questions that arise at the beginning and end of human life. We will do so in the context of human rights and the law. Our discussion will lead us to explore some implications of being “pro-life for the whole of life.” Our special guest is Richard Stith. He is a Senior Research Professor of Law at Valparaiso University. (January 27, 2021) Questions on...

This week on The Open Door we discuss ethical concerns about the new COVID-19 vaccines. We welcome two special guests. Stacy Trasancos, Ph. D., is the Executive Director of St. Philip Institute in Tyler, Texas. Melissa Moschella is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the Catholic University of America. She is also a visiting scholar at the Heritage Foundation's Simon Center for American Studie...

On this episode of The Open Door, panelists Jim Hanink, Mario Ramos-Reyes, and Christopher Zehnder engage Paul Fahey on his piece: the Anti-Pelagian Queen's Gambit, a critique of Josh Herring's article. (January 15, 2021) The Open Door (our second podcast this week) takes another, and sharply different, look at Netflix’s surprise hit series, The Queen’s Gambit. Our special guest is Paul Fahey, co-...

In this episode of The Open Door, panelists Jim Hanink and Mario Ramos-Reyes discuss politics, reconciliation, and the role of the American Solidarity Party. Their special guest is Daniel Philpott, Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame. He specializes in religion and global politics with a focus on reconciliation, the political behavior of religious actors, and Christian p...

On this episode of The Open Door, panelists Jim Hanink, Mario Ramos-Reyes, and Christopher Zehnder discuss the surprise popular series The Queen’s Gambit and what it tells us about the corrosive Netflix effect. Our special guest is Josh Herring. His work has appeared on Public Discourse, the Imaginative Conservative, and The Federalist. He is Dean of Students at Thales Academy. Josh has a Master o...

WCAT TV is an en air wing of En Route Books and Media working with WCAT Radio to share the joys of the Catholic faith. To support the station, please visit our Patreon account at https://www.patreon.com/wcatradio In this episode of The Open Door, James Hanink, Mario Ramos-Reyes, and Christopher Zehnder discuss the ongoing pro-life struggle, including nonviolent direct action. Our special guest is...

This week on The Open Door we discuss faith and reason. Our special guests and welcome friends are John Médaille and Thomas Storck. They have just co-authored a new book, Theology: Mythos or Logos: A Dialogue on Faith, Reason, and History (Angelico Press, 2020). We ask them the following questions. 1. Can you tell us what led up to this new book? 2. What’s the difference between faith and fideism?...

In this episode of The Open Door, panelists Jim Hanink, Mario Ramos-Reyes, and Christopher Zehnder talk with D. Alan Shewmon, M.D., on Brain Death and Actual Death. (December 18, 2020) This week on The Open Door we discuss “brain death” and the determination of actual death. The topic brings us to the heart of what it is to respect the dignity of the human being. It is particularly timely, since t...

This week on The Open Door, Jim Hanink, Mario Ramos-Reyes, Christopher Zehnder discuss immigration, with a special focus on “the right to stay.” Our welcome guest is John Hittinger, a professor of philosophy at the University of St. Thomas (Houston). Hittinger founded the Pope John Paul II Forum for the Church in the Modern World in 2005. He is the author of four books and has published articles a...

In this episode of The Open Door, panelists Jim Hanink, Mario Ramos-Reyes, and Christopher Zehnder speak with Maria Charlotta Maric of the Swedish Christian Democratic Party, who draws Wisdom from Martin Buber (December 4, 2020) How did you come to join the Christian Democracy Party? What is involved in your work as an “ombudsman” for the Party You now teach an ABC Course on Christian Democracy. W...