Heidi Schlumpf

Following in the Super Bowl footsteps of the "He Gets Us" campaign, a commercial for the Hallow app during this year's big game will feature a prayer led by Catholic actors Jonathan Roumie and Mark Wahlberg.

Catholic media — especially diocesan papers that provide local coverage and often serve as the vehicle for a bishop's regular column — are not exempt from the larger forces affecting journalism, experts say. 

Listen: Heidi, Fr. Daniel and David talk about the defamation suit against Donald Trump and about the role of journalism in Catholic life. Plus, Heidi interviews Ansel Augustine about the synod and experiences of Black Catholics.

The right-wing lobbying organization CatholicVote.org has endorsed former President Donald Trump in the Republican presidential primary. The choice, according to CatholicVote President Brian Burch, is a "no-brainer."

Listen: Father Daniel, Heidi and David discuss the Iowa caucus and the Vatican document on blessing same-sex couples, and Heidi interviews political scientist and friend of the show Steven P. Millies.

Thanks to investigations by media organizations and the D.C. attorney general — and now a subpoena from the Senate Judiciary Committee, the previously behind-the-scenes Leonard Leo is under a spotlight.

Through a web of organizations — centered around a PR firm that has essentially become the marketing arm of the Catholic right — Leonard Leo is poised to try to win over U.S. culture to his traditionalist views.

St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana, was the last Catholic women's college to expand admissions to some trans students. Now the school is reversing that policy in the wake of criticism.

Listen: Heidi, Father Daniel and David talk about the COP28, the U.N. climate change conference; Heidi interviews Bishop John Stowe of Kentucky; and the trio concludes Season 13 with a pop culture roundup.

A decision by St. Mary's College in Indiana to open enrollment to some transgender applicants has resulted in a reprimand by Fort Wayne-South Bend Bishop Kevin Rhoades and divided students and alumnae.

Listen: Heidi, Father Daniel and David talk about the ouster of Bishop Joseph Strickland, and a court battle over voting rights in Arkansas. Also, Heidi interviews theologian and professor timone davis.

Sociologist of religion Jesuit Fr. Paddy Gilger told an audience at Loyola Chicago that religious people can help reconstitute the collapsed public sphere — but not in ways that many think of "public religion" today.

Listen: Heidi, Father Daniel and David look at the recent testimony of former President Donald Trump and the recent election of Mike Johnson as House speaker, and Heidi talks with Fr. James Martin about the synod.

Listen: Heidi, Father Daniel, and David reflect on the last four weeks of the synod on synodality and give their thoughts on the synthesis document. Also, Heidi interviews NCR Vatican correspondent Christopher White.

Three Catholic sisters said they are hopeful that the church's synodal process might bring increased leadership roles for women. They also stressed that they already have significant influence as women religious.

Benedictine Sr. Patricia Crowley came from a famous Catholic family, and made her own mark as a Benedictine sister, social justice advocate, and leader in the church and community. Crowley died Oct. 14. She was 84.

A new program to prepare women to preach in the Catholic Church has received a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., even as current church practice does not allow women to give the homily at Mass.

Listen: Heidi, Father Daniel, and David explore the dysfunction of the Republican Party, and discuss Pope Francis' Laudate Deum. Also, Heidi interviews Kate McElwee of the Women's Ordination Conference.

Notre Dame conference panelists spoke at sometimes heated sessions on issues that included racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, vulnerable Black populations, violence and Black Lives Matter, and education and school boards. 

NCR has compiled a reference guide to the 24 Americans (or people with U.S. connections) who will be participating in the synod, either as voting members or experts/facilitators.