Interreligious Dialogue Videos
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By now it is abundantly clear, a morality tale of epic proportions is unfolding across the land. The protagonist… is Us. You and me. The antagonist? The formidable army of The Seven Deadly Sins, led into battle by its bold and brazen, insatiable and rapacious commander… Greed. His deputy, Wrath, sits on the sideline, chomping at the bit, ready and eager to burst on the scene and make heads roll. Meanwhile, Greed and his legions set up headquarters on Wall Street and Main Street. They are cloaked in Willful Ignorance and Blind Self Interest and armed with weapons of mass destruction called “Sub Prime Mortgages”, “Arcane Financial Instruments” and “Exotic Derivatives”. They calculate their next move from high atop their mountain of gold, behind the walls of their impenetrable Fortress of Financial Security, far removed from the daily battle below and immune to the defeat, despair and destruction they have caused. They promise wealth and glory for all but the only thing that trickles down from this mountaintop is More Want and Desire. And they laugh at our pathetic gullibility as they go skydiving with golden parachutes. So the battle rages on. What’s at stake are our very hearts and souls, our sense of right and wrong, of what’s important, good, and true. Yes, a morality tale is unfolding across the land. How it all ends is anyone’s guess, but the lessons are as clear as the opening bell for anyone paying attention. Listen in as Provoke asks: is this a crisis of ethics? If so, who is responsible? What would justice look like? And what message does the Cross offer at a time like this? There is something here for everyone. Don’t miss it. Guests are: NEWS ALERT - UPCOMING SHOW Topic: The Spiritual Lessons of the Financial Crisis By now it is abundantly clear, a morality tale of epic proportions is unfolding across the land. The protagonist… is Us. You and me. The antagonist? The formidable army of The Seven Deadly Sins – the SDS - led into battle by its bold and brazen, insatiable and rapacious commander… Greed. His deputy, Wrath, sits on the sideline, chomping at the bit, ready and eager to burst on the scene and make heads roll. Meanwhile, Greed and his legions set up headquarters on Wall Street and Main Street. They are cloaked in Willful Ignorance and Blind Self Interest and armed with weapons of mass destruction called “Sub Prime Mortgages”, “Arcane Financial Instruments” and “Exotic Derivatives”. They calculate their next move from high atop their mountain of gold, behind the walls of their impenetrable Fortress of Financial Security, far removed from the daily battle below and immune to the defeat, despair and destruction they have caused. They promise wealth and glory for all but the only thing that trickles down from this mountaintop is More Want and Desire. And they laugh at our pathetic gullibility as they go skydiving with golden parachutes. So the battle rages on. What’s at stake are our very hearts and souls, our sense of right and wrong, of what’s important, good, and true. Yes, a morality tale is unfolding across the land. How it all ends is anyone’s guess, but the lessons are as clear as the opening bell for anyone paying attention. Listen in as Provoke asks: is this a crisis of ethics? If so, who is responsible? What would justice look like? And what message does the Cross offer at a time like this? There is something here for everyone. Don’t miss it. Guests are: Reverend Mark Bozzuti-Jones, pastor of Trinity Wall Street Episcopal Church, New York City; Reverend James Martin SJ, Associate Editor of America Magazine and author of My Life with the Saints; and Mr. Michael Sean Williams, regular contributor to America Magazine.

Ask anyone what role religion plays in international politics and more often than not the answer is decidedly negative. There are too many conflicts in recent history where religion is viewed as part of the problem for some to ever entertain the idea that religion could also be part of the solution. Nevertheless, our guest on this week's show makes a compelling argument for faith based diplomacy, calling it the missing dimension in statecraft, and has dedicated his life to pursuing diplomacy through religion around the world. He refutes the claim that religion is the cause of many conflicts; arguing instead that religion is simply co-opted by powerful political factions who use it as a pawn to further their own agendas. His name is Dr. Douglas Johnston, President and Founder of the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy, and the author of: Religion, The Missing Dimension of Statecraft and: Faith-Based Diplomacy, Trumping Realpolitik. Dr. Johnston is a distinguished graduate of the US Naval Academy and holds a PhD in political science from Harvard University, where he taught for many years. In our conversation with Dr. Johnston we discussed his very practical approach to faith based diplomacy, how the core principles of all the world religions can be brought to bear in resolving heated and deep-rooted conflicts around the world and how we all can learn to be peacemakers, not just peacekeepers. This show is a must for students considering studies in conflict resolution, diplomacy or foreign service.

On our last show, we discussed the need for the return of civility to the public square and it was suggested that if that is to happen, it must be cultivated as a ‘habit of the heart’. In other words, we can’t expect diplomacy and civility to help us live with our deepest differences on political, religious, cultural or inter-national levels when individual human beings can’t treat each other with common decency and respect on a daily basis. So today we look at civility on the individual level and ask: how and where do we begin to cultivate those habits of the heart within ourselves? What do civility and sacrifice have to do with each other? Where is the concept of civility being taught today? And what does the practice of civility have to do with the practice of faith? Our guest is Dr. P.M. Forni, co-founder of the Johns Hopkins Civility Project and author of Choosing Civility and The Civility Solution. Tune in to this much needed refresher course on what Dr. Forni calls, "gracious goodness."

In a world torn apart by extremism – particularly religious extremism on one side and radical secularism on the other – the question arises: ‘How do we live with our deepest differences?’ Is it even possible? Or is our true human nature revealed in our affinity for keeping others ‘in their place’, for imposing ‘our way’ on them and for using everything from morality, philosophy and sacred text as an excuse to do so? And if we can’t learn to live with our deepest differences in a pluralistic society like the United States - where we have the constitutional foundation in place to make it possible – then, where can it be done? This week’s guest, Mr. Os Guinness, makes a strong argument for a return to civility as a way to achieve this rather crucial goal and he puts his hope in the United States as the country that can lead the way – over and above even inter-faith dialogue. That’s a pretty optimistic expectation for a country that’s morphed into one monstrously reactionary body of jerking knees, wagging fingers, and screaming heads. In fact, But Mr. Guinness approaches the subject from a unique point of view: that of the outsider looking in. He is a European who nevertheless has lived in the United States for the past twenty-five years. Theoretically at least, that makes him a little more objective than the rest of us and it is from this unique vantage point that he has made some keen observations. Over the years he has written more than 25 books on the American experience and the human condition; public life and public policy. He has been a guest scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Studies and a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institute. He served as the Executive Director of the Williamsburg Charter Foundation and was the creative force behind the Trinity Forum, a DC think tank whose mission is to engage leaders in the social issues of the day within the context of faith. In the end, whether or not you agree with every position Mr. Guinness takes or conclusion he comes to, is beside the point. What he does do is make a persuasive argument for what he calls, the ‘Civil Public Square.’ Tune in to this thought provoking discussion on the potential for what he calls a ‘post-secular’ society. Guest: Mr. Os Guinness, author of, "The Case for Civility and Why Our Future Depends on It"

During an election year, no one is more aggressively courted than the candidates themselves. Special interest groups political action committees high paid lobbyists and they too have an agenda they would like to get in front of all those running for elected office. But that’s where the similarity to the rest of the pack ends. Because where other agendas are narrow, this group’s is broad in scope. Where others’ are exclusive, theirs is inclusive. And where others’ are concerned for a select few, theirs considers ‘the common good’ – a concept they believe is at the heart of not only their own faith, but the US Constitution as well. In fact, earlier this year – inspired by their faith and building on our nation’s founding ideals, not to mention the good old Sermon on the Mount, - 800 committed Catholics gathered together in Philadelphia for the first ever Convention for the Common Good. We sat down with the lead organizers of the convention to discuss the key themes, purpose, and platform of the convention and to find out how it will be used now and beyond the current election cycle. Guests: Sr. Simone Campbell, Executive Director of Network, a national Catholic social justice lobby; and Ms. Alexia Kelley, Executive Director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good.

Bonus Tracks to Show #82, 'Helping the Homeless Through Art and Athletics' (go to archives and click on 82 to listen). Featured here are the compelling stories of Tim and Hoover, two members of the Artworks Football Club, a street soccer team of homeless and formerly homeless men and women who are coached by Lawrence Cann, featured in Show #82. Listen to these compelling stories as Tim and Hoover convey with honesty, courage and conviction how they struggle to move from homelessness to recovery, security and independence and how playing soccer helps them put it all together.

The world is not lacking for kind-hearted people who want to do their part to ease someone’s pain, right wrongs and make the world a better place. Bring a worthy cause to their attention and their first thought is always, “Gee, I’d like to help.” And yet… ask anyone what the biggest stumbling block is to turning that desire into action and 9 out of 10 will say, ”Getting started.” That’s why one thing that never ceases to amaze us here at Provoke is the sheer resourcefulness of those who do turn their desire into action; living lives of service to others. And we don’t just mean the resources they find outside themselves - like funding to turn an idea into a reality or the manpower to keep it going. We’re talking about inner resources. What so many people who we’ve featured over the years have in common is the ability to – as the Buddhists say – “start where they are.” They don’t see the stumbling blocks nor do they wonder, “But what difference can this make?” To steal a phrase from corporate America…they ‘Just Do It.’ And they do make a difference and they do change lives and they do… transform the world. So today, we bring you another story of someone who knows how to get things started. He is Lawrence Cann, a remarkable young man who has so many interests, well, we hardly knew where to start! Lawrence took his love for both art and athletics and put them at the service of the down and out with whom he works. He is the Director of Community Works at the Urban Ministry Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, an inter-faith, community based center offering service and support to the homeless. He is also the President of Street Soccer USA, a national organization dedicated to bringing awareness to the plight of the homeless through, yes, soccer. But that’s only half the story! What have art, soccer and the homeless got to do with each other? Tune in and find out! Accompanying Lawrence’s story are the compelling and inspiring self-told stories of two of Lawrence’s formerly homeless soccer stars, Tim and Hoover. Available 8/26/08.

The US Farm Bill has been in existence in one form or another since the 1930's and is the primary agricultural policy tool of the US. Originally, it was written to give family farmers the support they needed during the Great Depression. Since then both the American farm and the farm bill have evolved radically. Farming is now big business in the US and that big business has a direct effect not only on small American farms and farmers, but also on farmers around the world. 70% of the world's poorest people live in rural communities and rely on agriculture for their livelihood. Therefore agricultural policy and development will always have wide ranging social justice ramifications. What is the farm bill all about? Who does it help? Who does it hurt? Is it time to pay closer attention? Why is this a social justice issue and how can peace and justice advocates help? Guest:Mr. Jim French, a fifth generation American farmer from Kansas and the agricultural policy lead for Oxfam America, an affiliate of Oxfam International, a global relief, development and social justice organization dedicated to creating lasting solutions to poverty, hunger and injustice.

Sometimes, our narratives are quite epic in scope covering vast areas of the world and centuries of history. Others are narrower, covering nothing more than a moment in time. Today’s show is one of those…a short story: simple, bittersweet and open ended, yet complete in itself. Its geography of interest is no greater than 4 square blocks of inner city Baltimore known as Johnston Square. The main character is Mr. Ralph Moore, a respected community activist in the area who took to the streets one afternoon in May and won a battle against the local drug dealers there, while all around him the city was losing the war. To those who know Ralph, this came as no surprise. What is surprising was how it was done. Listen in to this inspiring story of one man’s efforts to wage peace wherever he goes. Guest: Mr. Ralph Moore, Director of the St. Frances Community Center in Baltimore, Maryland

To the ranchers and loggers of the Amazon, the forest represented big business. They were prepared to get rid of anything and anyone who stood in their way. And to them,no one represented a bigger obstacle than Sr. Dorothy Stang. She was a relentless advocate for the people, rallying them when they were down. It was humiliating for the ranchers and loggers to have this woman,this nun stand in their way. She had to be eliminated.All they needed…was someone to pull the trigger. Knowing she had a price on her head, Dorothy needed all the faith and spiritual strength she could muster to carry on. She stayed in her room for days and prayed. And then, like Jesus turning towards Jerusalem, Dorothy turned her face towards Esperanca in the Amazon and confronted death. To this day,people all over the world carry on the fight against greed and corruption.The world continues more or less on the same journey.But one question remains... is it worth it? Tune in to this fourth and final of our series to find out. To hear the series in its entirety, listen to shows 76-79.

Part Three of our continuing story on the life and death of Sister Dorothy Stang, a modern day martyr who was murdered in the Amazon in 2005. In this segment Dorothy becomes a relentless advocate for the poor people of Brazil. In so doing, her consciousness is raised about the critical importance of the Amazon Forest and comes to realize that the fate of the people and the fate of the forest are inextricably linked. As the battle over land heats up, Dorothy moves deeper and deeper into the forest and closer and closer to her destiny. Third of a four part series. Telling the story are those nuns who lived and worked alongside Dorothy in Brazil.

Part Two of our series on modern day saints and martyrs as exemplified by Sr. Dorothy Stang and her fellow sisters who traveled to Brazil as missionaries in the 1960's. Some eventually returned to the States, some now call Brazil home and one, Dorothy, died a martyr's death there, gunned down by 2 hired assassins in 2005. In this chapter, their odyssey is just beginning as they arrive in Brazil for the first time, struggle with the language, fall in love with the people and defy the repressive dictatorial government and ruling upper class. The chapter ends just as Dorothy and Rebeca head off for the Promised Land -the vast and virgin Amazon Rain Forest. What they encountered there would require deep reservoirs of faith, perseverence and courage. Their troubles were just beginning. (To hear Part i, visit the 2008 archives, show # 76.)

In this multi-part program we bring you a tale of personal journey and ultimate destiny. It begins with one woman’s simple quest to discover the humanity of those we call saints. As the story unfolds, you’ll meet a group of brave and dedicated nuns who traveled as missionaries in the 1960's to Brazil, a country a thousand miles and a hundred years away from their own. The longer they stayed, the more they fell in love with the Brazilian people, their culture and their magnificent Amazon Rainforest - even as they faced overwhelming obstacles and great danger. The story ends with the tragic murder of one of them, Sr. Dorothy Stang, a modern day martyr, killed defending the people and place she too had come to know and love so much. How these separate journeys intersect is part of the story. You don’t want to miss this one. It is a story for the ages. Guests: Sisters Rebeca Spires, Jo Depweg, Jane Dwyer, Joan Krimm, Bobbie English and Katy Webster, all Notre Dame de Namur nuns who served with Dorothy as missionaries in their beloved Brazil. Narrated by: Producer, Claire Hartman

Owning your own home is practically synonymous with living the American Dream. But that dream has become a nightmare for millions of Americans caught in the ongoing mortgage crisis.Everywhere you turn there are stories of broken lives, broken promises…broken dreams. Millions of homeowners are in danger of foreclosure, banks and other services have gone out of business and advocates have sprung into action. How did we get here and who’s responsible? What are the moral, ethical and spiritual lessons to be learned from this national catastrophe? What social justice measures should be advocated so that it doesn’t happen again? And as always…who’s watching out for the little guy? Listen in as our three advocates for fair and ethical reform of the mortgage lending business discuss these and other questions. Guests: Ms. Kathleen Day, spokesperson for the Center for Responsible Lending; Mr. Vinnie Quayle, Executive Director of the St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center in Baltimore and a leading social justice advocate on housing issues; and Reverend Gloria Sweringa, chairman of the Maryland branch of the national organization, ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now and herself a victim of predatory practices.

Recently, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life published the results of an extensive study entitled, The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey. The survey details the religious affiliations of the American public, depicting a landscape that is churned up and perpetually shifting. The study is comprehensive and provides concrete statistics regarding affiliation, trends, migration patterns and more. A key finding is that anywhere from 25% to 44% (depending on who you include) of American adults belong to a different denomination or faith from the one they were raised in as children. For many, the findings come as no surprise. For some, they are particularly troubling. For anyone who has an interest in such matters, the findings are at the very least…challenging. Why does the Pew Study matter? To whom should it be of greatest interest...and of greatest concern? What conclusions, if any, can be drawn regarding the wanderings of Americans from one religion to another? And are those who wander lost sheep or shepherds leading the way? Listen in as our guest takes us on a tour of this churned up landscape, drawing our attention to important and fascinating points of interest along the way. Guest: Mr. Greg Smith, senior research fellow with the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life and a lead principal of the US Religious Landscape Survey.

There are some things you just can’t put a positive spin on. Torture is one of them. Nothing about that is good or courageous. While victims of torture are often called heroes, the perpetrator never is. Those who stoop to torture are always, but always the bad guys. For some time now, the international community has outlawed torture and the US has always agreed. That is until 9/11, after which, those in power at the highest levels decided the American position needed to be re-examined. Maybe torture is OK. Maybe it’s quite necessary. Maybe, in fact, torture… really isn’t torture at all. But while those in power discuss the legality or illegality of torture and parse words about how to define it, we wonder if all that doesn’t sidestep the more fundamental question of ‘Is it moral?’ and miss the greater point of: shouldn’t America represent something better? Shouldn’t we live up to the very ideals we purport to defend? Listen as three experts weigh in on these questions and others. Each guest brings a unique – and sometimes highly personal – perspective to the issue. Guests are: Jennifer Daskal, Senior Counterterrorism Counsel at Human Rights Watch; Mr. Orlando Tizon, coordinator of the Helping Hands Program at TASSC: Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition and himself a torture survivor; and retired General Joseph Hoar of the US Marine Corps. General Hoar is both a Vietnam and Gulf War Vet and the former Commander in Chief of the US Central Command, responsible for operations in parts of Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. He currently has his own consulting firm, and among other things advocates against torture.

This may come as a shock to many of you but - for the record - mainstream financial institutions are set up to help those who already have financial assets. They're not set up to help those who don't. They'll be the first to tell you helping the poor get out of poverty is just not their line of work. According to most, it’s too labor intensive and too risky. But there are many economic experts who believe that delivering financial services to those of extremely limited means is as important to a country’s overall economic development as having a healthy commercial banking sector that deals in high value transactions. In fact, there is a unique area of financial services dedicated solely to helping the poor; primarily in third world and developing countries. It is called microfinance. Microfinance providers help poor people get on their feet by offering practical and manageable financial services, support,and loans. And they are starting to sprout up all over. One such organization is San Francisco based Kiva Loans launched by two young newlyweds, Matt and Jessica Flannery, just three short years ago. Since then, Kiva has distributed over 20 million dollars in micro-loans to the poor throughout the world. Where Kiva gets its funds is just one of the ingenious aspects of this inspiring story. Tune in and discover what microfinance is all about and how it helps transform the lives of both borrowers and lenders, one twenty five dollar loan at a time.It's social justice made easy! Guests are Kiva CEO and Co-Founder,Mr. Matt Flannery; and Kiva Director of Communications and PR, Ms. Fiona Ramsey.

It seems once again the subject is violence. Ghastly. Brutal. Deadly. On any given day, in any given country, and for as long as we have been keeping records of such things, human beings have perpetrated the most unspeakable violence against each other. Particularly troubling is the startling but undeniable fact that nearly all of the horrific violence in the world is carried out at the hands of those who profess to believe in a God who forbids such violence, who commands love not hate and dignity not inhumanity. And so today, the spotlight is on Kenya, a country where nearly 80 percent of the population call themselves Christian yet are just coming out of a particularly brutal and harrowing moment in their history. At this writing, after more than a month of the worst kind of barbaric violence triggered by the purported rigging of national elections, the turmoil there seems to be subsiding. But it has left deep and painful wounds that will take far longer than a month or a year or a generation to heal. What are the deeper, more perplexing reasons behind such violence? Why have neighbors who once got along suddenly unleashed such wrath upon each other? Why didn’t a set of deeper beliefs shared by many across ethnic lines, triumph over the ties of tribe? How can this sort of violence be prevented in the future and what can we as people of faith do to help? Listen in as our esteemed and knowledgeable guests discuss these and other difficult questions. Guests are: Reverend Doctor Samuel Kobia, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches and a native Kenyan; and Mr. John L. Allen, prolific author and prize winning senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter.

Here we are, folks. Another election year. Another opportunity to examine the role of faith in the public square. In a country where 85% of the population adheres to one faith tradition or another, it really should come as no surprise to learn that voters bring their belief systems into the voting booth with them. After all, what’s the point of shaping values and principles - a primary responsibility of all religions - if we’re not going to apply them to all aspects of our lives? What’s interesting is how those values are interpreted, prioritized and converted into a variety of actions. Currently, there are 65 million Catholics in the United States. Yet, there is by no means a monolithic Catholic voting block. Some think there should be. Others say it’s impossible. On this week’s show we will examine what the American Catholic bishops call, ‘faithful citizenship’. What is it? What does it look like in this election cycle? In a world where the issues are complex, inter-related and global, how do we know when we’re practicing faithful citizenship or not? And can two people practice faithful citizenship and yet still vote differently? We think so. But you decide. Whatever your denomination or faith tradition, you will get something out of this lively and provocative discussion! Guests:Ms. Alexia Kelley, Executive Director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good;Sister Sharon Dillon, Executive Director of the Franciscan Mission Service of North America and Professor Stephen Schneck, Chair of the Department of Politics at Catholic University and the Director of the University’s Life Cycle Institute.

If a group of women get together to discuss matters of faith and theology and there's no man around to hear them...do they make a sound? If you have to ask, we'd like to suggest two things. First, you might want to get your hearing checked. Secondly, you definitely want to listen to this show. Fifteen years ago, sensing a need for a place where women could bring the first hand experiences of their lives to bear on issues of faith, theology and spirituality, Sr. Mary Aquin O’Neill, RSM, then a professor in the theology department at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, left that academic environment and headed to Baltimore to open one of the first theological centers in the country exclusively for women. With the spiritual and financial support of her religious community, the Sisters of Mercy, and the intellectual partnership of her good friend, Dr. Diane Caplin, Sister Mary Aquin O’Neill opened the Mount Saint Agnes Theological Center for Women in 1993. And it has been going strong ever since. But why a center just for women? What does Mt. St. Agnes offer that other, established theological centers in the country don’t? And why don't we discuss the feminine side of God more often? Listen in and find out! Because there is definitely something in this very rich, very enlightening conversation for everyone. Guests:Sister Mary Aquin O’Neill, RSM; PhD Vanderbilt University; specialist in theological anthropology and feminist theory; co-founder and director of the Mount Saint Agnes Theological Center for Women. And Dr. Diane Caplin, PhD Marquette University; doctor of philosophy; co-founder and associate director of the Mount Saint Agnes Theological Center for Women.

For many, ‘Faith in the Marketplace’ sounds like an oxymoron. Some may debate whether they have anything to do with each other. But for economic advisor and social justice advocate, Fr. John Rausch, they are inextricably linked. Not only is ‘Faith in the Marketplace’ the name of his weekly newspaper column, it also defines his lifework among the disadvantaged people of central Appalachia. A transplanted Philadelphian, John has called the mountains of Kentucky home for more than 30 years. He arrived in the early 1970’s, armed with a Roman collar and a masters in economics. He fell in love with the place and the people and has worked on their behalf ever since. Over the years he has helped establish cooperatives among the local businesses, free health clinics for the uninsured, and the Mountain Management Institute, a traveling road show giving economic advice and aid to local cottage industries. But that was then. This is now. And the global economy has changed everything; putting most of the local companies out of business, leaving the people of Appalachia far behind and at the mercy of absentee owners and other outside interests. To make matters worse, their very homes, health and welfare are threatened by a form of coal extraction called Mountain Top Removal practiced by cost cutting mining companies. As the mining companies literally decapitate a mountain with explosive blasts more destructive than anything Tim McVeigh could dream up, the rivers and streams below are dammed up by the debris, towns are subsequently flooded out, the foundations of homes are cracked and destroyed, the water runs orange with mineral run-off, many of the men, women and children of Appalachia have become sick or worse. And the mountains are literally being blown away. So now, John and those around him continue the struggle not only for the rights of the people of Appalachia but for the preservation of the very mountains that have defined them and which they have called home for generations. Tune in to gripping interview and John’s moving account of his work among the people he loves and the place he has come to call home. Guest: Fr. John Rausch, Glenmary priest and missionary; coordinator for peace and justice for the diocese of Lexington, Kentucky; Director of the Catholic Committee of Appalachia; social justice advocate; economic advisor and writer of the weekly newspaper column, Faith in the Marketplace.

There is no longer any doubt about the lethal scope of HIV/AIDS. It has reached pandemic proportions. Transmission of the virus is faster than efforts to control it and no corner of the world is left untouched by this deadly disease. As the face of AIDS has changed over the decades, the Third World has been particularly hard hit. The response to the disease is heavily dependent on the broad mobilization of a variety of resources and organizations. Faith based organizations – or FBO’s - is one group that can be a substantial partner in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the health community and other non-government organizations – or NGO’s - depend on them greatly. But those partnerships are complex and require a great deal of mutual understanding before care and treatment can even be delivered. How can the health community take advantage of the valuable contributions the larger faith community can make to care for AIDS victims as well as help stop the spread of the disease? What myths and misconceptions need to be addressed before the really important work can begin? How can groups whose values sometimes clash discover what goals and values they hold in common? Listen in and find ou how people across the board are fighting this deadly disease. Guests are: Ms. Jennifer Overton, senior technical advisor for HIV/AIDS at Catholic Relief Services; Mr. Steven Lux, International Programs Director for the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University; and Ms. Kristine Greenaway, former director of communications for the World Council of Churches in Geneva and currently the organizer of the global communications congress for the World Association of Christian Communication.

Today, more than ever, the conflict between liberals and conservatives is apparent in both politics and religion. And while those at the 2 extremes may never consider each other’s point of view, those in between might actually be willing to do just that. But how? What’s the best way to go about understanding an issue from all points of view? What’s so wrong with trying? Who might benefit from such an exercise and how? And if we can’t do it in a secular democracy…what hope does that leave for the rest of the world? In a climate where polarization seems to be encouraged - in politics, in the church and in society - we thought this would be a good topic to explore. Listen in as our guest, Fr. Ron Rolheiser, President of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio and author of the weekly column "In Exile" explains the benefits of 'reading against your temperament', why Truth is more important than ideology and why everyone should have at least one really good friend with whom you share nothing in common! And, of course, what faith has to do with any of it. Fr. Rolheiser is interviewed by Fr. Tom Reese, SJ, senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgertown University.

This week’s show is about a place where art, life and religious faith converge. A sacred place of spiritual transcendence and holy communion, where all those who enter draw on the divine within; escaping their alienation from each other and the world - if only for a moment. Its altar is a stage; its celebrants, actors; its congregation, the audience. And what happens here is nothing short of miraculous. This week’s story is about the Matrix Theatre, a tiny little community based, storefront theatre in downtown Detroit. It stands alone on a seemingly bombed out street in a rather neglected area of the city. But what it lacks in size and grandeur, it more than makes up for in mission and imagination. The Matrix Theater Company uses the transformative power of original theater to change lives, to build community, and to foster social justice by creating opportunities for those in isolated or challenged communities to become the creators, producers, and audience of original theater. And in so doing they reveal the beauty of the soul within. Listen in as our guest, Ms. Shaun Nethercott, the visionary founder and executive director of the Matrix Theatre, tells the story of the Matrix mission. It is not to be missed!

In 1977, after observing the home life of at-risk children, Jesuit priest Father Paul Sheridan opened the first BoysHopeGirlsHope (BHGH) home in St. Louis. Today, there are more than 40 BHGH homes across the US as well as Guatemala and Brazil. BHGH is a privately funded, non-profit program that helps academically capable and motivated kids reach their full potential by providing them with a stable home away from home and quality education all the way through college. Listen in as some members of one Boys Hope home discuss how the experience has changed their lives forever and for the better so that, as one young resident put it, he now can not only “dream his dream" but "live his dream.” Guests are Mr. Chuck Roth, executive director of BHGH in Baltimore; and BH scholars, Mark Franklin and David Yeager.

Two of the most powerful phrases in any language are, “I’m sorry” and “I forgive you.” On an inter-personal level, neither is even remotely easy to say; yet our faith calls us to do just that in no uncertain terms. If repentance and forgiveness are difficult to carry out on a personal level, how much harder might it be to apply these decidedly religious concepts to the political arena of international conflict resolution? How realistic is that possibility? Has it been done before and done successfully? If so, what does forgiveness in international politics look like? How is it defined and by whom? We discussed these questions and others with our guest, William Bole of the Woodstock Theological Center and co-author of the book, “Forgiveness in International Politics”. He is also a frequent contributor to such publications as The Washington Post, Commonweal and America Magazine. His most recent book, co-authored with Bob Abernathy is, "The Life of Meaning".