A Bacik Conversation

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 other friars in the remodeled apostolic palace; and encouraging all of us to join with others in loving God, serving our neighbor, and promoting social justice and peace in the world.

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 the voices of the marginalized, having conversations in the Spirit, and seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit.

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.

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 advocating for the elimination of all nuclear weapons.

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 “synodality”, an approach that emphasized shared prayer and small group discussions.

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 global warming.

Pope Francis, the first Latin American Bishop of Rome, drew on liberation theology to help the poor take hold of their lives.

Pope Francis appointed many women to high positions in the Vatican, but he stopped short of ordaining women deacons.

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 Jesus who told the story of the rich man who suffered in the next life and Lazarus, who enjoyed happiness.

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.

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, can help us live our faith in every day life.

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 all Catholics to do our part to purge the church of this horrendous scandal.

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, conscious participants at Mass.

Fr Bacik and Brad Reiger discuss Dorothy Day: Dorothy Day (1897-1980) journalist, social activist, founder of the Catholic Worker Movement who encourages us to engage in concrete actions to serve the poor and promote peace.

Thomas Merton (1915-1968) Catholic priest, Trappist monk, author of best-selling autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, who reminds us that personal prayer should inspire us to work for justice and peace.

Father Bacik and Brad Reiger discuss Richard Gaillardetz (1958-2023), Outstanding American ecclesiologist who wrote profound reflections on his 18-month battle with pancreatic cancer now published as While I Breathe I Hope, a great addition to the spirituality of death and dying.

Father Bacik and Brad Reiger discuss Elizabeth Johnson, CSJ (1941- ), Premier American Catholic feminist theologian who proposed reimaging God in feminine language (Lady Wisdom and Mother) as a way of overcoming the sexism and patriarchy supported by traditional male images of God (Father and Son).

Karl Rahner (1904-1984) German Jesuit theologian, considered one of the five most influential theologians in the history of the church who encourages us to find the gracious God in our ordinary experiences of life including our work and leisure, and our joys and sorrows.

Bernard Lonergan (1904-1984) Canadian Jesuit philosopher and theologian, professor at Gregorian University in Rome and Harvard who developed a theological method that guides a process of conversion in various dimensions of our lives: intellectual, moral, affective and religious.

Brad and Fr Bacik discuss John Courtney Murray on today's episode. John Courtney Murray (1904-1967) American Jesuit theologian, who played a crucial role at the Second Vatican Council in passing the Declaration on Religious Liberty that affirmed the right of citizens to follow their conscious in religious matters.

Brad and Fr Bacik discuss Reinhold Niebuhr on today's episode. Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971) American, reformed, very influential theologian who developed an approach known as “Christian Realism” that emphasizes the ill-effects of original sin and calls Christians to work for “proximate justice” while avoiding the illusion that we can establish the kingdom of God on earth.

Fr Bacik and Brad Reiger discuss Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) Baptist minister, social activist and apostle of non-violence, who led the movement to desegregate southern states and pass federal legislation to secure voting rights for African-Americans.

Fr Bacik and Brad Rieger discuss Mohandas Gandhi. Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) the “Mahatma,” the “great souled” Indian holy man who challenges us to seek self-realization and become more aware of our true self.

Brad and Fr Bacik discuss Paul Tillich. Paul Tillich (1886-1965) German Lutheran theologian and Harvard professor who created a grand synthesis presenting the Christian message as the answer to cultural concerns.

Brad and Fr Bacik discuss Edward Schillebeeckx. Edward Schillebeeckx (1914-2009) Belgium theologian and Dominican priest who summarized biblical research concluding that we have enough reliable knowledge about the historical Jesus to bet our lives on him as Christ the Savior of the World as proclaimed by the New Testament.