8640 http://www.provokeradio.com en-us Provoke Radio and the Provoke Radio Podcast is Where faith and social justice meet. Provoke Radio is a bi-weekly podcast that provides a fresh, engaging, and challenging faith-based perspective on social issues. From Darfour to the War in Iraq, from poverty to microfinancing in developing countries, Provoke Radio explores how the message of the Gospel applies to the issues of the 21st century. Provoke Radio is a bi-weekly podcast that provides a fresh, engaging, and challenging faith-based perspective on social issues. From Darfour to the War in Iraq, from poverty to microfinancing in developing countries, Provoke Radio explores how the message of the Gospel applies to the issues of the 21st century. no Provoke Radio, Inc. 2004-2008 religion,spirituality,politics,social,justice,catholic,progressive,radio,education,commentary,international,peace,news Religion & Spirituality News & Politics Education Government & Organizations/Non-Profit producer@provokeradio.com Provoke Radio Provoke Radio religion,spirituality,politics,social,justice,catholic,progressive,radio,education,commentary,international,peace,news It is Jean Vanier’s contention that, “When you live with people with disabilities, you discover a whole lot about yourself.” Vanier, a soft-spoken, gentle giant of a man is the founder and spiritual leader of L’Arche, an international federation of communities where people with and without developmental and cognitive disabilities live together in mutually loving and trusting relationship. Jean Vanier established the first L’Arche in 1964, when he invited 2 men with developmental disabilities to live with him in an old house in Trosly- Breuil, a quiet, unassuming little village just north of Paris. Today, there are 135 L’Arche communities throughout the world, including the original in Trosly, where we had the distinct honor of interviewing Vanier. There are also several L’Arche communities in the United States including one in Oregon where we interviewed four members of the Portland L’Arche community. Together, we discussed the human condition known as woundedness or brokenness; the power of relationship and community to heal that woundedness and transform lives; the importance of belonging; and the revelation of God’s unconditional love for each of us through our personal relationships. Before we met Vanier and the other members of L’Arche, we had assumed to live and work in a L’Arche community meant sacrifice and selflessness. Instead we learned that each L’Arche community is a place where the whole self…the true self…is revealed and flourishes in deep and abiding relationship with the Other and in the context of shared values. This is a beautiful and moving story and one which encapsulates all the themes Provoke has ever touched on. So don’t forget to tune in because you don’t want to miss this inspiring story. Guests: Jean Vanier, the founder and spiritual leader of L’Arche; Joan Mahler, the director of L’Arche USA; Marilyn Petruzelli, Sr. Susan Mitchell and Alison Hilkiah, members of L’Arche, Portland. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_96_LArche_WEB.mp3 Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean Every year, more than 600,000 ex-offenders are released from state and federal prisons. As a society, we should have a keen interest in promoting their successful re-entry back into our communities. But in fact, very little is done for people with criminal records to help them make a successful transition…either while they are in prison or upon their release. Consequently, at nearly 66%, the recidivism rate in the United States is at an all time high. The Maryland Re-Entry Partnership or ‘REP’ is one program trying to make a difference. REP is a community justice partnership, administered by Catholic Charities, in which public agencies and community based organizations work together to provide continuous case management for ex-offenders as they re-enter their communities. Over the years, Maryland REP has become a successful national model dealing with the issues of re-entry and recidivism. Just how does it work? What are the ex-offender’s immediate needs upon release from prison? And what are the roadblocks to successful re-entry? We spoke with 3 representatives of the Maryland Re-Entry Partnership, 3 men who have seen and experienced life from both sides of the law and both sides of the system and have used that experience to help make the ex-offender’s transition back into society safe, successful...and permanent. And who wouldn’t want that? Guests: Mr. Trevor Britt, Program Manager, Maryland Re-Entry Partnership (REP); Mr. Andre Fisher, Caseworker, Maryland REP;Mr. John Reazer, Maryland REP client. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_95_REP_WEB.mp3 Sun, 8 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean Before anything else a school must provide a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for children. And yet, in today’s increasingly turbulent world where the role of adult and child are often reversed, where respect for authority and experience is not a given, and where the culture promotes escalation and violence as the first and best approach to agitation and conflict, the school as safe haven can be difficult to maintain. Particularly, if that school sits in the middle of a community, which is itself torn apart by crime and violence. Many of our poor, urban school systems face such a challenge. It’s not that more affluent, suburban schools haven’t seen their share of violence. But children in poor, urban school districts face some particularly persistent and formidable challenges. What’s being done to help identify the external and internal forces that lead to school disruptions? How are these school children - and their teachers – being taught to navigate the many obstacles in their way and prevent altercations? And who shoulders the responsibility to insure that our schools are indeed safe and nurturing places where each student is engaged and excited to learn? We spoke with Dr. Andres Alonso, the dynamic and passionate CEO of the Baltimore City Public School System, and with Mr. Michael Sarbanes, the dedicated director of Baltimore City Public School System’s Office of Partnerships, Communications and Community Engagement. Now, as Baltimore goes, so goes much of the rest of the country. That there is violence in many of the schools, these two professionals don’t deny. That it is pervasive or emblematic, they do. They acknowledged the harsh reality surrounding so many city communities but they also corrected harmful misconceptions and challenged many of our own third hand assumptions. What matters most to them is not whose fault it is, but what the school system can do to make things better. And, as always, what each of us can do to help. Guests: Dr. Andres Alonso, CEO of the Baltimore City Public School System; Mr. Michael Sarbanes, Director of the Office of Partnerships, Communications and Community Engagement for the BCPS. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_94_BCPS_WEB.mp3 Sun, 15 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean Welcome to Part Two of our story about Father Vien Nguyen and ‘his people’ - the parishioners of Mary Queen of Vietnam Church - a Catholic community of Vietnamese American immigrants living in New Orleans. Theirs is the story of a community torn apart - both literally and figuratively – by Hurricane Katrina in the late summer of 2005. In that respect, they’re no different than the scores of other communities who experienced the frightening rampage of that violent storm and who were victims of its devastating destruction. But as you began to sense in Part One, what makes their story so unique is how they faced the storm, the ensuing evacuation, and the reconstruction of their lives and their parish…together. Under the calm and tireless leadership of their pastor, Father Vien, the community dealt with Katrina and its aftermath the way they had dealt with so many trials in the past: with remarkable courage, perseverance and wisdom born of common experience. While Katrina ripped apart so many other communities and even the country, Father Vien’s community pulled together and rebuilt with amazing speed and spirit. What can their story teach us about leadership, fellowship, faith and virtue? Is theirs an old-fashioned story full of old-fashioned people and out-dated ideas? Or is theirs a timeless story, one for the ages from which we all can learn? Tune in and decide for yourself! Guest: Father Vien Nguyen, Pastor of Mary Queen of Vietnam Parish, New Orleans, Louisiana http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_93_KatrinaPt2_WEB.mp3 Sun, 1 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean This week we bring you an old-fashioned story. What kind of old-fashioned tale and just what the moral is… is for you to decide. But it’s got all the elements of a great adventure: disaster, exodus, drama and suspense. It’s got a fearless leader and faithful followers, and they’re all part of a community torn apart and scattered, yet determined to reconnect and rebuild. And not for the first time…or even the second. Yet remarkably…this time as before, they faced their challenge together…and without the slightest trace of self-pity. This week’s show is the story of Mary Queen of Vietnam Parish, a Catholic community of Vietnamese American immigrants living in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit ground. Together, under the calm and tireless leadership of their pastor, Father Vien Nguyen, the community faced Katrina and its aftermath the way they had faced so many trials in the past; with remarkable courage, perseverance and wisdom born of common experience. While Katrina tore so many other communities and even the country apart, Father Vien’s community pulled together and rebuilt with amazing speed and spirit. What can their story teach us about leadership, faith and virtue? Is theirs an old-fashioned story full of old fashioned people and out-dated ideas? Or is theirs a timeless story, one for the ages from which we all can learn? Tune in and find out. Guest:Father Vien Nguyen, Pastor of Mary Queen of Vietnam Parish, New Orleans, Louisiana http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_92_KatrinaPt1_WEB.mp3 Sun, 25 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean We listen to the stories in disbelief. Stories of unspeakable violence and horrific barbarism that come to us from around the world and around the corner. Perhaps the most startling phenomenon is our own disbelief…for these horror stories are nothing new. They come to us in a steady stream day in and day out... century after century. Man’s inhumanity to man bludgeons on relentlessly, yet we are still surprised by it. The fact that we have not altogether become desensitized to brutality offers a sliver of hope, but the harsher reality is that we persist in creating new enemies, new reasons to hate, new ways to inflict pain…and new ways to defile and annihilate both the human body and human spirit. The latest collective nightmare is the one that has been unreeling in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the past ten years where the most horrific violence against women has been carried out as a deliberate strategy in a brutal civil war. It is by far the most mind-numbing, savage sexual violence in history. The stories are nearly impossible to listen to and yet they must be told. Thankfully, HBO filmmaker, Lisa Jackson, is one woman who was brave enough to travel to the Congo in order to give these women a voice and bring their stories to our attention. Little by little the broken but courageous Congolese women opened up to Lisa and shared their sad and harrowing stories, which she presents to us in her documentary, "The Greatest Silence", a film which has helped raise awareness of this terrible war crime and has spurred UN and Congressional action to help. Recently, our producer, Claire Hartman, sat down with Ms. Jackson to discuss the issue of gender violence in the Congo and to learn what’s being done to stem the persecution. That conversation can be heard in this show. A must hear for everyone because it is just one more stark argument against war. As if we needed another. GUEST: Filmmaker Lisa Jackson, director of the HBO documentary, The Greatest Silence. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_91_CongoWomen_WEB.mp3 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean Welcome to Part Two of our discussion on Race and Racism in 21st Century America. In Part One, our producer, Claire Hartman, spoke with two renowned African American scholars: Dr. Melissa Harris-Lacewell of Princeton University and Father Bryan Massingale of Marquette University. In that conversation Claire and her guests dissected the significance of an Obama presidency to Black America, and discussed some of the promise…and problems…facing African Americans today. They covered a lot of territory including Black America’s surprise at white America’s support of Obama; the dual tensions called “white anxiety” and “black anger”; the unfortunate but inevitable vestiges of 300 years of previous racism and even the very definition of racism itself. In Part Two, Claire and her guests discuss among other things, the priority issues facing African Americans today, emerging African American leadership; the role the greater Christian Church has played in race relations in the past… and the better role it can play in the future. The revelations are startling and humbling. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_90_RacePt2_WEB.mp3 Sun, 21 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean The election of Barack Obama as the next president of the United States has varied and far-reaching significance. His supporters are legion and have placed great trust and hope in him… and have shouldered him with monumental responsibility. Only time will tell what his legacy will be. But there is one sector of the population for whom the Obama presidency has immediate and historic significance: Black America. For them the Obama presidency is a crowning achievement, a proud moment in a turbulent history and one which many - if not most - black Americans thought they would never live to see. Does Obama’s election signal a quantum leap in race relations in the United States? What barriers still exist? What is the legacy of 300 years of racism and racial inequality? And just what does it mean to be an African American in the 21st century? Our producer, Claire Hartman, sat down with 2 renowned African American scholars to discuss these questions and more. Listen in to this lively conversation as our guests dissect the significance of the Obama presidency and discuss the promise and problems facing African Americans in the 21st century. What they have to say is both enlightening and eye-opening. Don’t miss Part One of this two part series. Part Two will be a continuation of the discussion with an emphasis on the role of the church in American race relations.The revelations are startling and humbling. Guests: Dr. Melissa Harris-Lacewell, professor of politics and African American Studies at Princeton University and a seminarian as well; and Reverend Bryan Massingale, a professor of theology who specializes in Catholic social thought, African American religious ethics, and racial justice at Marquette University in Milwaukee. Both Father Massingale and Dr. Harris-Lacewell are African American. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_89_RacePt1_WEB.mp3 Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean The plight of our neighbor to the southeast, Haiti, is one of relentless crisis revealed in a battery of sobering statistics:more than 80% of Haitians live in abject poverty; unemployment is estimated at 60%; illiteracy at 50%. Less than 45% of Haitians have access to potable water or health care. And there are deadly health risks for nearly everyone, including tuberculosis, HIV AIDS, malaria and malnutrition. The child mortality rate alone…is 33%. Our neighbor. Haiti. The poorest country in the western hemisphere, shattered by centuries of conquest and occupation, brutal dictatorships and fragile democracies, intentional abuse and benign neglect. On this show, we discuss Haiti’s plight with Dr. Paul Farmer, the world-renowned physician and anthropologist and the subject of best selling author Tracy Kidder’s book, “Mountains Beyond Mountains.” Dr. Farmer is the founder of Partners in Health, a worldwide, non-profit dedicated to providing a preferential option for the poor in healthcare. He has spent his life connecting the dots between poverty and disease, which in turn has led him to connect the dots to the political aspects of poverty. Though his work now takes him all over the world, Haiti holds a special place in his heart and he spends 6 months a year there caring for the sick and poor, “whatever it takes.” Listen in to this inspiring conversation as Dr. Farmer explains our very complicated and imperfect relationship with Haiti and how we all can be a part of “building a better Haiti.” A must hear for any US parish who twins with a Haitian parish as well as anyone with an interest in Haiti and her people. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_88_Haiti_WEB1.mp3 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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: 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_87_WallStreet_WEB1.mp3 Sun, 2 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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: 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_87_WallStreet_WEB.mp3 Sun, 2 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_86_FBD_WEB.mp3 Sun, 19 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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." http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_85_CivPt2_WEB.mp3 Sun, 5 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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" http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_84_CivPS_WEB.mp3 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean During an election year, no one is more aggressively courted than the candidates themselves. Special interest groups & corporate America; political action committees & single issue advocates; high paid lobbyists & other hired guns…heck, even other candidates… all vie for the final nominees’ attention. And for the most part, these attention seekers are motivated by one thing and one thing only…self-interest. Or - to put it more generously - narrow interests. Our guests for this week’s show are quite different. True, they too represent a group whose members all share a common bond: that of Catholicism; 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_83_CforCG_WEB.mp3 Sun, 7 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Tim_and_Hoovers_Stories.mp3 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_82_StreetSoccerUSA_WEB.mp3 Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_81_FarmBill_1283.mp3 Sun, 10 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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 http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_80_RalphMoore_WEB.mp3 Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_79_BrazilPt4-DS_WEB.mp3 Sun, 25 May 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_78_BrazilPt3-DS_WEB.mp3 Sun, 18 May 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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.) http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_77_BrazilPt2-DS_WEB.mp3 Sun, 4 May 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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 http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_76_BrazilPt1-DS_WEB1.mp3 Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_75MCGenericWeb.mp3 Sun, 13 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke74PewStudyWEB1.mp3 Sun, 30 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke73TortureWEB.mp3 Sun, 16 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_72_Kiva_WEB.mp3 Sun, 2 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_71_Kenya_Ext_WEB.mp3 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_70_FC_WEB.mp3 Sun, 3 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_69_MSA_WEB1.mp3 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_68_Appalachia_WEB1.mp3 Sun, 6 Jan 2008 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_67_AIDS_Web.mp3 Sun, 9 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke_66_OtherSide_WEB.mp3 Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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! http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke65MatrixWeb.mp3 Sun, 11 Nov 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke64BHGHWeb.mp3 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean 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". http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke63ForgivenessWeb.mp3 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean While others analyze the top military commander’s recent report on the relative success or failure of the U.S. troop surge in Iraq, we are left to ponder the larger question. That is: when it comes to Iraq today, what is our moral responsibility? Five years ago, the prescient words “You break, you own it” were uttered. While we appreciate Colin Powell’s prophetic warning and wish those in charge had given them a little more consideration, now it is too late. The damage has been done. Yes, we broke it all right. An entire country has been destroyed. Can we fix it? Should we? Or should we step aside and let someone else take over? Regardless of whether or not we should have invaded Iraq in the first place, what do we owe Iraq and its people… today? From a strictly religious point of view, what is the moral response to the human and political disaster that is Iraq? We asked 2 outspoken ethicists and scholars to address these questions and others. Jesuit priest Father Tom Reese, senior fellow at Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown and former editor of America Magazine; and Gerard F. Powers, director of Policy Studies at the Joan B. Crock Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke62IraqWeb.mp3 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean Peace. It’s been on our mind a lot lately. There’s so little of it in the world today, you can’t really blame us for being stuck in a rut. In an era where violence and warfare are still the main tools used by humanity to settle differences, it gives us hope to seek out those who advocate and promote non-violence and peace. You don’t hear very much about them in the more mainstream media, but they’re out there. A lot more than you might think…though not nearly enough to turn the tide. It’s not an easy mantle to take up, after all. They’re subject to all sorts of ridicule and name-calling. Unpatriotic. Naïve. Irresponsible. Still, they persevere. Of all those who work for peace in this world – from peace organizations to religious congregations to prophetic and visionary thinkers, perhaps no group is more misunderstood or has a harder time convincing the world of their sincerity than those who have been asked to carry out the actual warfare and who have said …“No.” Conscientious Objectors. Who are they? What realizations do they come to and when? What do they have to prove and to whom before official C.O. status is granted? What do those who oppose war misunderstand most about those in the military? What do those who support the military misunderstand most about conscientious objectors? What would the world look like if conscientious objection was taught in all our churches, synagogues, and mosques? Listen in as we discuss these questions and more and hear the stories of some very brave souls, indeed. Guest: Ms. J.E. McNeil, Executive Director of the Center on Conscience and War, the main organization set up to counsel and represent conscientious objectors. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Program_61COWEB.mp3 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean It’s a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question: Did Jesus preach non-violence? If the answer is ‘yes’ then how many of us can really claim to be a true follower in a world that is, has, and – from the looks of it – always will be rife with human violence, armed conflict and war? That’s a much tougher question; one that requires each of us to look inward for the answer. But if we’re honest, even if only in our most private moments, we will have to conclude that to be a true follower…not just a believer…but a follower, an imitator, a wanna be… we have to bear prophetic witness to Christ’s message of peace and non-violence. Given the seemingly intractable disposition of human nature, it’s a daunting task. Yet there we are. Called to it in no uncertain terms. Called to – let’s face it – what most people would simply dismiss as “the impossible.” Fortunately, we don’t have to go it alone. There are individuals and organizations who show the way, bearing witness to the transformative power of Gospel non-violence in the hopes of creating a world where there is true justice for all and real and lasting peace. Pax Christi International is one such organization. Unlike other peace organizations however, Pax Christi was born out of a deep and troubling awareness on the part of its Catholic founders of their own complicity in war. How could they reconcile the enormous contradiction between what they claimed to believe as Christians and the horrific atrocities they had perpetrated on each other and their neighbors during World War II? How could they, in other words, become the people… they always thought they were? Listen in as our guest Dave Robinson, Executive Director of Pax Christi, USA tells us about the history and mission of Pax Christi and what initiatives it is involved with today. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke60Web.mp3 Sun, 9 Sep 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean In the beginning was the “house church.” And it was good. For the first three centuries of the early church, Christians met in private homes - to celebrate faith, to share fellowship, and to break bread. They gathered as small, intimate communities sharing both spiritual and physical nourishment. Two thousand years and 2 billion Christians later, the house church is all but gone, replaced by everything from tiny chapels to soaring cathedrals. And though the venue has changed, the purpose remains the same. Believers still gather to worship and break bread. Indeed, for 1 billion Catholic Christians, the Eucharist is the centerpiece of faith. Yet, what should be a sacramental moment of holy communion with God and each other has, for many, become a hollow ritual we all but sleepwalk through. Fellowship – table or otherwise – is often completely missing. For the sleepwalkers, this is just fine. But many others, Catholics in particular, yearn for something more. They long for the spirit that filled the early house churches. Not satisfied to settle for what passes as a faith community today, many look elsewhere. Not so much outside the Church as outside the traditional parish setting. Forming their own small faith communities, they are sustained in ways that enrich and renew. These groups are called “intentional communities” and chances are, there’s one near you. Listen in as our guests discuss the origins of their own intentional communities, why they joined one, how they’re different and what Vatican 2 had to do with any of it. It gives whole, new and invigorating meaning to “being church”. Guests: William D’Antonio of Catholic University, member of the Washington DC based community called, Communitas and contributor to such books as: The Catholic Experience of Small Christian Communities; American Catholics Today and others. Kathleen Kautzer of Regis College in Boston and author of the soon to be published book, The Underground Church; Fr. Walter Cuenin and Sr. Marie LaBollita, pastoral leaders of a new intentional community at Brandeis University and John Moynihan, Rosemary Oliver, Mary Troy, Chris Tree and Steve Alcott of a 35 year old intentional community in the Boston area known as People of the Promise. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke59WEB.mp3 Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean On Part Two of this program on filmmakers who use the power of film to explore issues of faith and justice, we profile Martin Doblmeier, a very different kind of filmmaker-journalist. Whereas Paul and Gerry - 2 filmmakers featured in Part 1 - make films which focus on societal structures and human constraints, Martin’s geography of interest is decidedly less tangible. Essentially, his films are an attempt to make the invisible, visible. Because for as long as he can remember, Martin has always had an insatiable interest in the realm of the theological. His search for God in the world has sent him on a life long journey and his mode of transportation...is his camera. If a pilgrimage is a journey undertaken in the light of a story already told, then Martin is a pilgrim, going in search of the proof, the evidence, the experience of that story. Listen in to this fascinating profile of an award winning documentarian. Guest: Martin Doblmeier of Journey Films. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provokepgm58The%20MoviePt2WEB.mp3 Sun, 24 Jun 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean Put a video camera in someone’s hands, and the subject focused on will tell you as much about the person behind the lens as the images captured. Unfortunately today, nearly everyone wields a camera and most of the visual fare offered up is life at its most prosaic and profane.There are those, however, who use a camera not to exploit but to explore. Not for self-aggrandizement but for the betterment of society. Not to divide and conquer, but to forge connections. . On this two part show, we will feature three such film-makers who use the medium of film and video as a compelling social justice tool as well as an effective way to explore otherwise abstract ideas of faith and the spirit. They are professional documentarians who have managed to combine their love of film and story telling with their interests in justice or God…or both. In Part I, we focus on two filmamkers who have chosen to train their lens on the mortal struggle of everyday life endured by so many in our midst. Their work has helped forge connections, transform lives and change hearts. In doing so, they have made a real difference in the world. Tune in to these fascinating stories of personal conversion and awakening. They are 2 more wonderful examples of the application of personal belief to the practice of everyday life. Guests are: Filmmaker Paul Santomenna, founder and executive producer of Megaphone Project, Baltimore, Maryland; and filmmaker Gerry Straub, founder and director of The San Damiano Foundation, Los Angeles, California. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provokepgm57FJTheMoviePartIWEB.mp3 Sun, 17 Jun 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean We got to wondering one day…why isn’t there a Department of Peace? Why aren’t there government sponsored, university level academies for diplomacy and non-violence, just as there are military academies? If there’s a War College – and there is – why isn’t there a Peace College as well? How on earth can peace be attained if we don’t put the same amount of human effort, resources, preparation and study into non-violence as we put into military defense? And if peace is a common tenet among all the world religions, how has the human race managed to so blatantly disregard it for several millennia? What are all the Christians alone going to say to the Prince of Peace one day when he asks, “Why didn’t you follow my command and spread peace to all?” Well, maybe it’s time for a different strategy. Or, to paraphrase both Pope Paul VI and Gandhi, “If you want peace, work with the children.” That’s Mary Hilton’s idea. A mother of five and honorary mother of an additional 14 foreign exchange students, Mary Hilton was on a plane home from Brazil the morning of September 11th, 2001. Hers was one of the last planes to land in the U.S. that morning. Upon hearing the news, she became convinced right then and there that she had to do something about the state of the world. That day, the idea for a Kids for Peace Camp was born. Six years later, the Kids for Peace Camp and Foundation is a thriving enterprise, teaching kids of all ages about other cultures, conflict resolution and international understanding – thereby laying the groundwork for a generation of future peacemakers. Listen in to this amazing story of dedication and love and saying “Yes” to God despite the uncertainty and sacrifice involved. Guest: Mrs. Mary Hilton, founder and executive director of the Kids for Peace Camp and Foundation. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provokepgm56KidsforPeaceWEB.mp3 Sun, 3 Jun 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean This show is about Fair Trade. No, we're not talking about the NFL draft. But we are talking about things like coffee and chocolate and arts & crafts. The demands we make - or don't make - about the every day products we purchase have a direct effect on the people who work the hardest to get these products to us. That is, the producers. The ones who make or grow these products. Many of these products come from underdeveloped countries where poor farmers and artisans do not make a living wage, resulting in a cycle of poverty.Fair Trade. What is it? What's faith got to do with it? Listen in and find out how ordering a fair trade, half-caf, defac,mocha latte...can be an act of social justice! Guests are: Ms. Jackie DeCarlo, the Fair trade Programmer for Catholic Relief Services and Mr. Chris Treter, co-founder and president of Higher Grounds Trading Company in Michigan. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provokepgm55FaiTradeWEB.mp3 Sun, 20 May 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean The ascendancy of the corporation as the dominant influence in the modern world - some might say surpassing even religion and government - recently led Provoke to examine a movement known as corporate social responsibility. In an earlier show, we discussed this issue from the point of view of the corporate executive. In this follow up program, we discuss the issue from the point of view of the investor. How much influence can the investor have in the ethical and moral conduct of a publicly held company? Whose interest does a group of socially conscious investors represent? Just how do these stakeholders guide and advise corporations on such issues as human rights, environmental stewardship, global conflicts and others? What kind of impact can investors make? And what does faith have to do with any of it? Listen in as you discover how the activist watchdog can actually be a corporation’s best friend and how your portfolio can represent an act of social justice. Guests are: Reverend David Schilling, a Methodist minister and currently the Director for Global Corporate Accountability for the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, (ICCR); Mr. John Kleiderer, Policy Director of Social and International Ministries for the National Jesuit Conference and a member of the National Jesuit Committee on Investor Responsibility; Father Mark Hallinan,S.J., the chairman of the National Jesuit Committee on Investor Responsibility. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provokepgm54SRIWEB.mp3 Sun, 6 May 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean Father Greg Boyle, a Jesuit priest, grew up in Los Angeles, the "gang capital of the world." Nevertheless, he would not have known a Blood from a Crip until he was assigned to Delores Mission Parish in East L.A., the poorest parish in the city, deep in the heart of gang territory. It was not long before he began working on behalf of those caught up in the gang culture. That was 20 years ago. Today, Father Boyle is the executive director of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang intervention program in the country. This is a not to be missed show for those who think that gang violence is about young people who just aren't scared enough or who don't know right from wrong. Listen in as Father Boyle explains what he has come to learn so well. It's not that these kids aren't scared enough. It's that they are not hopeful enough. Father Boyle and Homeboy Industries provide that hope and something else these kids have never experienced...unconditional love. Listen to this compelling conversation with Father Boyle and 3 ex-gang members, now part of the Homeboy Family. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke-pgm53GangsWEB.mp3 Sun, 22 Apr 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean There are six billion people in the world and nearly half of them live in abject poverty. The statistics are staggering. One out of six live on less than $1 a day. One out of 3 live on less than $2 a day. The consequences of such pervasive poverty are heartbreaking: hunger, malnutrition, starvation, disease, infant and maternal mortality,lack of education, lack of opportunity...and despair. Still, there are those who think we can turn things around and eliminate extreme poverty altogether. So how long would that take? Try...15 years. In the year 2000, every member of the United Nations, including the United States, made a commitment at the highest political levels to something called the Millennium Development Goals (MDG's). The MDG's are 8 specific goals with concrete plans of action designed to eradicate poverty. And they targeted the year 2015 as the date to realistically achieve them.Possible? Yes. Probable? Listen in and find out. Take the challenge to eradicate poverty.Guests: Ms. Carol Welch, U.S. Coordinator for the U.N. Millennium Campaign;Fr. Andrew Small, OMI, Foreign Policy Advisor to the USCCB and other guests from around the world. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke-pgm52GLOBPOVWEB.mp3 Sun, 8 Apr 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean When we first discussed doing a show on this topic, the question we asked ourselves was: "Does corporate America have a responsibility beyond the bottom line?" Implicit in that question - at least for us - was "a responsibility to society and the larger world"...not just its shareholders. It was a bit of a rhetorical question. But as we learned, there is actually a great deal of debate about the potential and limits of corporate social responsibility (CSR). We were surprised by the starting point for some - that is, the question: "Does virtue pay?" - but also by the commitment of many companies who take their CSR quite seriously. Our guest, Mr. David Collins, is a retired executive who spent the better part of his career at Johnson & Johnson, serving in a variety of senior management positions including corporate secretary, general counsel and board member. While at J&J, David helped steer the company through the Tylenol crisis in the 80's and to this day, J&J is held up as the premier role model of CSR. By his own admission, David discusses the issue from the POV of the executive. In a subsequent show, we will discuss the show from the POV of the activist investor. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provokepgm51CSRWEB.mp3 Sun, 25 Mar 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean Because we live in an urban center, one of the issues that perpetually haunts us is the utter waste, generation after generation of so much human potential. The premature but inevitable loss of hope among so many of our cities'children who are born into poverty, perilous neighborhoods and broken homes. Children whose future is jeopardized by absent parents, a delinquent school system, danger on every corner and the misplaced priorities of adult citizens. Over time one young life after another is lost to drugs, gunfire or despair. Whenever we hear of anyone or any organization trying to do something about it, we like to tell you about them. On this show, we bring you the story of Jim and Lyla Dupree. They are a couple in their 70's, of limited means, who live in the very kind of neighborhood described. Nearly 20 years ago, after having raised 9 children of their own, they started a program called "Do You Know Where Your Children Are?" in an effort to get kids off the killing streets of the city. And they funded it out of their own threadbare pockets. Their's is a remarkable story of parental love, courageous compassion and saintly humility. Guests: James and Lyla Dupree Guest Narrator: Kate Pipkin, Director of Communications for Maryland Province Jesuits. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provoke-pgm50WEB.mp3 Wed, 7 Mar 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean Most of our programs start out with the introduction of a particular topic important in the world of faith and social justice and wrap up with ways you can help. But even if the flame of desire is there, it takes much more than mere suggestion to engage people in the work of outreach and social justice. A good place to start is with your own faith community. Yet, for so many of us, our experience of social ministry at our church is lackluster at best. Too few people doing all the work. Too many people sitting in the pews feeling overlooked. And no one feeling particularly engaged or energized. This show asks the questions: how can all of us participate fully in the social justice ministry of our faith community? What does a successful parish social justice ministry look like? How do you get there and , more importantly, how do you sustain it? Our guests are two people whose life work is spent nurturing and guiding the development of robust social ministries in various faith communities throughout the country. Listen in as they discuss their ideas on creating passion for social justice within the context of community. Guests are: Jeff Korgen, Director of Social Ministires for the National Pastoral Life Center, New York; and Jim Jezreel, creator of the extremely successful - if challenging - program called Just Faith. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provokepgm49.mp3 Sun, 25 Feb 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean On any given night in America, anywhere from 700,000 to 2 million people are homeless. Finding permanent housing is the last thing on their mind. Finding a place to sleep for the night, food, clothing, safety,employment all take priority. So where does healthcare fall on this list? All too often, at the bottom, if at all. And yet, poor healthcare and homelessness are inextricably linked. What are the particular health risks the homeless face? What's being done to help these most vulnerable members of our society? Who is advocating on their behalf? And what are the daunting challenges healthcare providers face as they attempt to care for this growing population? Listen in as our first guest, Mr. James Bridgeford, explains from first hand experience what life is like for someone living on the streets with severe health problems. The discussion continues with Mr. Jeff Singer, President/CEO of Healthcare for the Homeless in Maryland and a tireless advocate for the homeless for over 20 years. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provokepgm48WEB.mp3 Sun, 4 Feb 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean Our guest, Bishop Tom Gumbleton, is everything you look for in a church leader: a true imitator of Christ, a compassionate human being,and a humble minister to those he serves. Born in Detroit,he was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1956 and named auxiliary bishop of his hometown in 1968. In 1983, at his request, Bishop Gumbleton was assigned as pastor to the poor, inner city parish of St. Leo's, not far from where he grew up. Yet he is a citizen of the world - having traveled the globe on behalf of peace and human rights -from Vietnam to El Salvador, from South America to the Middle East. He is a founder of the peace organization, Pax Christi and a leader in such social justice organizations as Bread for the World, Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, Fellowship of Reconciliation and others. In this conversation, the bishop shares his views on building community, service to the poor, and the struggle for peace and justice - both within the church and the world at large. Listen in as he discusses his pastoral ministry and his social activism and explains how they dovetail. Though his fate, revealed at the end of the show, may come as a shock, one thing is certain, this servant of the people will always be dedicated to the cause of peace and justice...wherever he ministers. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provokepgm47.mp3 Sun, 21 Jan 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean Just for a moment, Provoke turns its attention away from the sorrows and woes of a lonely planet and towards the magnificence of a vast and prolific universe. What can looking at the heavens tell us about life on earth? What does looking at the cosmos tell us about God, ourselves, the world and our place in it? Are we really made in God's image or have we, in our feeble attempt to comprehend, made God in our image? And by doing so, have we made God way too small? Are these scientific or theological questions? Or both? In our search for clues, we spoke to 2 people who spend their lives looking at the universe, not only through the lens of a telescope, but also through the lens of fatith. How do they reconcile faith and science? Is it possible that when it comes to the God question, there is something between verifiable evidence and a frightening leap of faith? Perhaps experience? The experience of a personal encounter with God. Guests are: Fr. George Coyne, SJ - astronomer, Jesuit priest and recently retired Director of the Vatican Observatory; Dr. Aileen O'Donoghue, astronomer, distinguished professor of physics at St. Lawrence University and prolific writer on the subject. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provokepgm46.mp3 Sun, 7 Jan 2007 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean This is a story that has something for everyone. It's about the whole wide world and very small communities. About a 60 year old organization and an 8 year old girl. About lending a hand and standing on your own. It's about faith, hope and love. And cows and goats and sheep! This is a story about simple gifts. About paying them forward and passing them on. This is the story of Heifer International. An organization working exclusively in the areas of livestock distribution and agricultural technology to develop programs that will alleviate hunger and poverty throughout the world. You want to listen all the way through because the last "chapter" alone is worth waiting for! Guests are: Mr. Ray White, Director of Public information for Heifer International; Mr. Umaru Sule of Cameroon Africa,Heifer Community Relations Coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Region and a Heifer beneficiary; Mrs. Katrina Guettler, Heifer supporter and mother of very special guest, 8 year old Miss Elle Guettler, Heifer fundraiser extraordinaire. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provokepgm45.mp3 Sun, 24 Dec 2006 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean The Chinese symbol for the words "crisis" and "opportunity" is one and the same. Ancient Chinese civilizations knew long ago what we all have come to understand: that out of great and unbearable crisis, something good can come. The sexual abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church is certainly a crisis. What good can possibly come of it? Groups like Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) have some ideas. VOTF is recognized as one of the most promising lay organizations to evolve in the Catholic Church in recent years. It's motto is, "Keep the faith, change the church" and that's just what they hope to do. First, by supporting those who have been abused and then, by working to shape structural change within the church. Will the proposals they make to achieve the first goal be accepted by the church hierarchy? And if not, how can they move on to their ultimate goal of structural change? What ideas and strategies does VOTF have to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again? Listen in as VOTF President, Ms. Mary Pat Fox and VOTF secretary, Dr. Gaile Pohlhaus discuss these and other questions. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provokepgm44.mp3 Sun, 10 Dec 2006 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean Global Warming. It's the most devastating environmental crisis facing the planet today. The faith community, in general, has rallied round the issue somewhat late in the game, but the scientific community has been sounding a warning for nearly 2 decades. Still others deny the problem exists at all. Why? Who stands to gain from such willful ignorance? And who will be hardest hit by global warming's calamitous effects? The answer to the latter is, of course, the poor. Which is why this is not only a moral issue impacting all of humanity, but a social justice issue as well. Can we turn this around? What's being done and by whom? Our guest, environmentalist Bill McKibben discusses these and other questions. Mr. McKibben, a devout Methodist and a prophetic voice in the environmental movement, wrote the first book on the topic, The End of Nature, in 1989. A former staff writer with the New Yorker magazine, he currently is a visiting environmental scholar at Middlebury College, Vermont. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provokepgm431.mp3 Sun, 26 Nov 2006 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean "What have you got for me?" That was the question posed to Fr. Jim Conroy, SJ. The inquirer was the parent of a newly ordained young Jesuit. He was an older man, about to retire, and he too felt a need for spiritual growth. He too was on a personal journey and he too wanted to serve the world's neediest. He knew there were all sorts of Jesuit sponsorted programs for the young. "But," he repeated, "What have you got for me?" Thus was born the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, or IVC, a volunteer program for lay people 50 years and older that incorporates service to the poor with the spirituality of the Jesuit founder, St. ignatius. There are now over 200 IVC volunteers across the country. This show tells the story of 3 of them. Guests are: IVC volunteers, Mr. Tom Tiffany, Ms. Duffy Laws, and Mr. Jerry May. Their stories will bring a smile to your face and entertain you. And, as always, you will be inspired by their humility and commitment. Also interviewed is Mr. Bill MacSherry, a regional director of the IVC. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provokepgm42.mp3 Sun, 12 Nov 2006 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean In the paradox of all paradoxes, the world - though whole - remains forever divided. And so, for obvious reasons, Provoke turns its attention to the timely subject of the perceived divisions today between the Muslim world and the Christian world. What are the misconceptions held by people of both traditions and cultivated over a thousand years? Can we separate fact from ficition? Perception from reality? Religion from culture? In this show, our guests attempt just that and offer some practical ideas of where to go from here. Guests are: Dr. John Esposito, director of the Center for Muslim Christian Understanding at Georgetown University; Dr. Zahid Bukhari, director of the American Muslim Studies program at Georgetown; and Mr. Ibrahim Ramey, director of the American Muslim Society,human rights division. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provokepgm41.mp3 Sun, 22 Oct 2006 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean At Provoke, we claim to be a voice for the voiceless and that mission leads us to examine dramatic issues that affect the least among us throughout the world. But sometimes that claim leads us to look no further than our own backyard; to examine the hardships of our neighbors right around the corner. This week's show does just that as we examine the efect the soaring costs of gas and electricity have on the economically fragile throughout the United States and what programs are in place to serve as a safety net for them when the heat is turned off or the lights go out. Listen in as our guest, Mary Ellen Vanni, Executive Director of the Maryland Fuel Fund (partner in a nation-wide network) discusses the social justice aspects of this issue. Guest host is Dr. Steve Miles, Theology Professor at Loyola College in Maryland. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provokepgm40.mp3 Sun, 15 Oct 2006 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean This is one of our favorite kind of stories: the story of ordinary people living extraordinary lives, well outside the reach of any spotlight. Jill Wrigley and her husband Michael Sarbanes are both lawyers by profession who have chosen to spend their careers in the non-profit sector. But it is what they do outside their jobs that is the real story. Living "intentionally" in a blighted city neighborhood, they have developed an important and compassionate ministry not only to their 3 children who are special in their own right, but to all the children in the neighborhood. Though they would blush at the label, Jill and Michael are what we call "authentic Christians". Through their story we learn that what one believes and how one lives really can be one and the same. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provokepgm39.mp3 Sun, 8 Oct 2006 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean When does life begin? When is a person a person? Is there something worse than death? Is there something better than life? These are questions we are compelled as human beings to ask,even as the answers elude us. And the questions keep coming: Why - for so many - does "compassion for the most vulnerable" seem to end at birth? Why - for so many others - does the end justify the means? For the rest of us, how do we balance our desire to alleviate pain and suffering in the world with a respect for life? Do we have our priorities straight when it comes to spending our vast but limited resources? All this in a half hour! Listen in as guest host, Sarah Ford, tries to make sense of this weighty and important issue. Guests are: Fr. Kevin Fitzgerald,SJ, Chair of Catholic Healthcare Ethics at the Center for Clinical Bioethics at Georgetown University, PhDs in Molecular Genetics and Bioethics. Rabbi Elliot Dorff, vice-chair of the Conservative Movement's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards and author of their position paper on embryonic stem cell research, chair of the Society of Jewish Ethics. http://www.provokeradio.com/shows/Provokepgm38.mp3 Sun, 1 Oct 2006 12:00:00 EST Provoke,Social justice,Social issues,Social consciousness,Catholicism,Religion,Religion and Politics,Inter-religious dialogue,Progressive Christian,Religious Left,Ethics,Faith in action,Reflection,Compassion,Inspiration clean Of this week's show it can be said, "It's about time". Not to be confused, however, with "long overdue". Rather, today's show is about the precarious relationship between The Times and Time. The mind tripping connection between Timeless Truths and Deceptive Assumptions. We could not have presented this topic one day sooner, although, in many ways, the issues and problems discussed are centuries old. This week's topic is "The Emergent Church", a relatively new movement dedicated to developing revitalized approaches to Christian theology, community and mission, in dialogue with all denominations and traditions. For our guest, what started as a question regarding the next generation, turned into an examination of what he'd been taught in the past. Don't miss this fascinating story of one man's awakening to the social justice message of the Gospels. Guest: Mr. Brian McLaren, best selling author of such books as, "The Secret Message of Jesus" and others. Brian is a leader in the Emergent co