Recent polls indicate that feelings of patriotism are at an all-time low in the United States. This is especially the case for younger Americans, who are less likely than their older counterparts to describe themselves as patriotic, and less inclined to participate in displays of patriotism. On one hand this is nothing new: According to a Pew Research Center study, the generational divide has played a role in whether a person identifies as patriotic since at least 2003. And, as Sara Pequeño pointed out in an article for USA Today, boomers who call themselves patriots today were once "protesting the Vietnam War by marching in the streets and burning American flags."

This also comes at a time when religious affiliation is on the wane. And the discussion around patriotism in the United States is tangled up in ideas about faith, God, and divine will. For instance, one PRRI poll found that 44% of people surveyed think God has granted the United States a special role in human history.

But is this what patriotism means? How should people of faith think about their obligations to their country?

On this episode of Glad You Asked, the hosts talk to religion scholar and public intellectual Dr. Lewis Brogdon, who was recently appointed executive director of JustFaith Ministries. Brogdon has also served in leadership and teaching roles in various academic institutions, and is a regular contributor to a number of publications and the author of several books, most recently The Gospel Beyond the Grave: Toward a Black Theology of Hope (Wipf and Stock Publishers).

You can learn more about this topic, and read some of Brogdon's work, in these links.

"True patriotism is about building bridges, not walls," by Mark Shea

"Teach kids the complicated truth about American heroes," by Kathleen Bonnette

"Any religion allied with nationalism is dangerous," by Stephen Schneck

"Christians Can Be Bad Neighbors? Reflections on Luke 10:25-37 and My Visit to the United Nations," by Lewis Brogdon

"Can justice movements lose their soul?" by Lewis Brogdon

"Why most bow," by Lewis Brogdon

According to the USCCB's voting guide, Catholics are called to "stand with newcomers, authorized and unauthorized, including unaccompanied immigrant children, refugees and asylum-seekers, those unnecessarily detained, and victims of human trafficking." This directive is in line with the church's longstanding emphasis on immigrant rights, and the ancient mandate to "welcome the stranger," a core value for Christianity and a sacred obligation in many pre-Christian societies.

What this means when it comes to the nuts and bolts of policy, however, is a matter many Catholics debate. At a time when the federal government has been removing protections for immigrant groups, barring immigrants from entering the nation, and promising to deport immigrants en masse, the debate is pressingly relevant.

What does the church have to say about deportation? Is there an official Catholic stance on the matter?

On this episode of Glad You Asked, the hosts talk with moral theologian Therese Cory about whether the Catholic Church condemns deportation. Cory is a professor of Thomistic Studies at Notre Dame as well as director of the Jacques Maritain Center and its associated History of Philosophy Forum. Her scholarship focuses on medieval theories of mind, cognition, and personhood, with special focus on the thought of Thomas Aquinas.

Learn more about this topic, and read some of Cory's writing, in these links.

"7 things the Catholic Church teaches about immigration," by Rebecca Bratten Weiss

"Migration should be a choice, not a necessity," by Antônio Lemos

"U.S. bishops unite to defend migrants—laypeople should, too," by Kevin Clarke

"Wyoming bishop's immigration letter puts faces to mass deportations," by Cassidy Klein

"How to Reason Prudentially about Immigration: A Reply to Feser," by Therese Cory

"Migrants and the Unborn: A Culture of Life Versus a Culture of Deterrence," by Therese Cory

Today, millions of baptized Catholics exist on the church's margins. Many of them identify as "cultural Catholics," but what that means may depend very much on the individual. Some identify as Catholic even though they no longer engage in traditional Catholic practices. Some pick and choose which practices they want to hold onto. For various reasons, some avoid institutional spaces. Many are Easter and Christmas Catholics who show up at Mass only on special occasions, but who still value the Catholic faith and tradition.

Catholic identity is rooted in baptism—not in belief or devotion. Yet some might still be inclined to write off cultural Catholics as "not real Catholics." What gives these millions of Catholics their sense of Catholic identity or connection with the church?

On this episode of the podcast, the hosts talk with sociologist and theologian Maureen K. Day about what it means to be a cultural Catholic, how cultural Catholics live their faith, and what the church can learn from them.

Day is Visiting Research Fellow at the Center for Church Management at Villanova University, as well as research affiliate at the Center for Religion and Civic Culture and the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies—both at the University of Southern California. She is also an Associate Member of the Las Casas Institute of Blackfriars Hall at the University of Oxford. She is the author of several books, including Cultural Catholics: Who They Are, How to Respond (Liturgical Press, 2024).

Learn more about this topic, and read some of Day's work, using these links.

"Baptism, not piety, is what makes us Catholic," by Don Clemmer

"Rigid definitions of 'Catholic' leave too many out in the cold," by Don Clemmer

"The Catholics who refuse to leave," by Teresa Coda

Cultural Catholics: Who They Are, How to Respond, by Maureen Day

"Data and discernment: How the church can make better use of empirical evidence," by Maureen K. Day.

This episode is sponsored in part by Q Furnald and Dr. Aaron Bianco, authors of Love Is More Than Words: An Examination of Faith from the Margins. In Love Is More Than Words, the authors explore faith, belonging, and justice through scripture, early church history, and the voices of Catholics from across the Church. This thought-provoking new book challenges readers to reimagine discipleship through compassion, dignity, and radical love.

While people sometimes use the term "the church" as shorthand for the Vatican or the magisterium, the church is, strictly speaking, all its members, regardless of gender or vocation. So, while Catholic women are barred from holy orders and from most ministerial and leadership roles in the church, that doesn't mean they have no voice in the church.

Catholic women teach theology, catechetics, and preaching. They manage schools and universities. They serve on dicasteries and advisory boards. Women religious take the lead in social justice initiatives. Catholic women work as editors and journalists in religious media. Some Catholic women even help train priests. And many do tireless—often thankless—work to keep parishes running smoothly.

But does all this mean that women have an equal voice in the church?

On this episode of the podcast, the hosts talk to award-winning journalist Heidi Shlumpf. For three decades, Schlumpf has covered religion, politics, and women's issues. Currently senior correspondent at Commonweal magazine, she has also worked as columnist, correspondent, executive editor, and vice president at the National Catholic Reporter, and as managing editor at U.S. Catholic. She has written for multiple other outlets and is the author of Elizabeth A. Johnson: Questing for God (Liturgical Press, 2016) and While We Wait: Spiritual & Practical Advice for Those Trying to Adopt (ACTA Publications, 2009). She's also one of the hosts of the Francis Effect podcast.

Read some of Schlumpf's writing, and learn more about this topic, in these links.

"Are church leaders really listening to women?" by Jenn Morson

"Pope Francis' legacy on women a mixed bag," by Heidi Schlumpf

"The synod could change whether women can be ordained as deacons or priests. These women are hopeful," by Heidi Schlumpf

"The Catholic women teaching priests how to preach," by Kelly Sankowski

"Can the church give more than lip service to women's leadership?" by Meghan J. Clark

"To empower women in the church, allow lay preaching," by Rhonda Miska

"Jesus calls women to lead. Someday the church will, too," by Yunuen Trujillo

"In Catholic media, a woman's place is everywhere," by Rebecca Bratten Weiss

"Has the synod on synodality changed anything?" by Heidi Schlumpf

Women Erased: Women in Catholic Media with Heidi Schlumpf

This episode is sponsored in part by Tyndale House Publishers. Share God's Word with the NLT Catholic Holy Bible, Gift Edition. The New Living Translation is accurate, easy to understand, and approved by the Catholic Church. With a special presentation page, it's a perfect gift for baptism, First Communion, confirmation, or any milestone. Visit Tyndale.com and give a gift that lasts forever.

In the 6th chapter of Matthew's gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray, introducing what today we call the "Our Father," or the "Lord's Prayer." But Jesus imparts this prayer in the context of various instructions on the many ways we shouldn't pray. Don't pray in public for everyone to see. Don't put on a gloomy face. Then, in the following chapter, he says: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven."

So Christians should pray. But Christians should also, it seems, be wary about praying the wrong way. This opens up intriguing questions about what it means to pray, whether there are things we should or shouldn't pray for, and what it means for a prayer to be answered.

On this episode of Glad You Asked, the hosts talk with award-winning writer Laura Kelly Fanucci about the point of prayer.

Fanucci is the author of a number of books, most recently Living Easter: 50 Days to Practice Resurrection Joy (Liturgical Press, 2026). She has written for U.S. Catholic as well as OSV News Service, America Magazine, and on two popular substacks. Her work has also been featured on the Hallow and Ritual apps, and in popular outlets including NPR's Morning Edition, On Being, and The Kelly Clarkson Show.

You can learn more about this topic, and read some of Fanucci's work, in these links.

Living Easter: 50 Days to Practice Resurrection, by Laura Kelly Fanucci

The Holy Labor: Original essays on theology & spirituality from Laura Kelly Fanucci

"Should you request prayers on social media?" by Teresa Coda

"Can prayer heal?" by Teresa Coda

"Prayer must lead to practical solutions," by Shireen Korkzan

"Pope Leo says God rejects prayers of leaders who wage wars," by Joshua McElwee

This episode is sponsored by Catholic Relief Services. Prayer connects us to God and to one another, and CRS puts that connection into action by serving people facing hunger, violence and displacement worldwide. Through shared prayers and humanitarian response, CRS invites you to live out your faith through service to others. Learn more about CRS' work at crs.org.

People go "parish hopping" for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes it's because of simple things like wanting more convenient mass times, or a shorter drive. Or it might be because they're looking for a community with more people in their age group, or more options for activities or outreach.

Sometimes, people leave their parish because of reasons pertaining to doctrine or liturgy. A new pastor might preach homilies that run counter to people's understanding of the faith, or initiate liturgical changes that leave them feeling spiritually desolate. For instance, following Pope Benedict XVI' 2007 motu proprio relaxing restrictions on the old Latin Mass, some parishes shifted to a more traditional liturgical form that sent some parishioners on a quest for the inclusive, Vatican II type Mass they preferred. Then in 2021, Pope Francis' instruction limiting the traditional rite sent other parishioners scrambling in other directions.

And sometimes, people leave their churches for more serious reasons relating to financial scandals, or spiritual or sexual abuse.

Does the church have an official stance on parish-hopping? If your parish is inconvenient, or you don't like the liturgies, or don't get along with your pastor, should you leave, or are there other options for dealing with issues in your parish?

On this episode of Glad You Asked, the hosts talk to Paul Jarzembowski about what a Catholic should do if they have issues with their parish or don't like their pastor. Jarzembowski is associate director for the Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the United States' national coordinator for World Youth Day. He serves as an advisor to the Vatican on ministries with young people.

You can learn more about this topic in these links.

"Would you leave your parish because of the priest?" by Rosy McCarty

"After a bad homily, this is what I told my kids," by Shannon Wimp Schmidt

"Two very different parishes point to divisions in the church," by Peter Feuerherd

"Is there a bright side to parish mergers?" by Nathaniel Hunter

"Should you stop donating to your parish?" by Abby Rampone

"It's time to make parishes accessible to people of all abilities," by Karen Jackson

"Can my parish celebrate the Latin Mass?" by John Kyler

"For heaven's sake, say hi to new parishioners," by Angela Howard-McParland

You don't have to be Catholic to recognize St. Francis of Assisi. Across the nation, you can find this gentle bearded figure, clad in simple robes, often with birds perched on his shoulders, as he adorns people's lawns and gardens. St. Francis is the subject of multiple movies and even a Marvel comic book. Hippies love him for his simple, nature-based spirituality. Animal rights activists love him because of stories about him preaching to the birds or taming a dangerous wolf.

But how accurate are our popular renderings of this Medieval Italian saint? Francis was a reformer in his day, a controversial figure in many respects. As well as stories about him preaching to the birds, we have other stories about him stripping naked in front of a bishop or throwing himself into a thorn bush. How can we square the gentle nature-lover with the intense reformer? And would St. Francis even recognize himself in your pretty garden statue?

On this episode of Glad You Asked, the hosts talk to Bishop John Stowe, a priest in the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor Conventual and bishop of the diocese of Lexington, Kentucky —a diocese that encompasses various underserved Appalachian communities. In keeping with the Franciscan tradition, Stowe has been a voice for justice for the poor, and has spoken out repeatedly on environmental justice, immigrant rights, and LGBTQ+ inclusion.

You can learn more about this topic in these links.

"What do we know about St. Francis, the most popular saint?," by Kathleen Manning

"What did St. Francis say about poverty?" by Daniel P. Horan

"How St. Francis led one activist to fight for ecological justice," by James Ehlers

"St. Francis and the Taming of the Wolf," by Murray Bodo, O.F.M.