Welcome to Empathy Media Lab’s Belief Street where we’ll be exploring religious concepts through text and scripture, interviews and profiles, and documentaries and films.
So why do I want to explore religious concepts even though I haven’t been a practicing Catholic for over two decades?
Well, first, I’m appalled at the hypocrites who have hijacked Jesus’ teachings to love our neighbor and treat people the way we want to be treated.
And as an outsider looking into the internal politics of the Catholic Church, it appears to me that there is civil war raging between a progressive Pope Francis and a very dangerous reactionary faction that sides with the hypocrites previously mentioned.
Ultimately, the outcome of this battle will determine whether it is fear or love that organizes the Holy See.
Fratelli TuttiFor this series of Belief Street, I’ll be reading Fratelli Tutti, which is Pope Francis’ Encyclical subtitled "on fraternity and social friendship.”
The encyclical calls for more human fraternity and solidarity, and is a plea to reject wars.
The document was signed on October 3rd 2020, on the occasion of Pope Francis's visit to the tomb of his namesake, Saint Francis of Assisi, and was published the following day, on the saint's feast day.
The Catholic Church I went to growing up in Muskegon, Michigan was called St. Francis De Sales and it is one of the strangest concrete structures I’ve ever seen.
The Sunday experience in that brutalist architectural design made a lasting impression on me that I plan to discuss in coming episodes.
Almost twenty years ago, I also had the pleasure of visiting the town of Assisi in Italy during a solo backpacking trip across Europe at the beginning of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
After a day of exploration, I found a modest campsite at Fontemaggio Assisi not far from the town center, ate a delicious pasta meal with some local red wine, and I still remember that night sleeping on the side a mountain on a clear evening, looking up at the sky and thinking about the deeper questions of our life.
So with an interest in getting back to my roots, for this installment, I’ll be reading Fratelli Tutti, Chapter 7 Paths of Renewed Encounter.
85. Harold Meyerson (American Prospect), John Russo (Kalmanovitz Initiative at Georgetown University), Kayla Blado (President NPEU), Nicholas Juravich (UMassBoston)
83. LRPN Livestream - Kim Kelly (Teen Vogue Labor Columnist), Damon Silvers (AFL-CIO Policy Director), George Mann (Labor Folksinger & Songwriter)
82. Dialogue and Friendship in Society - Fratelli Tutti Chapter 6 - Belief Street
81. Alan Wierdak contributor to Labor History Today - Labor Radio Podcast Member Spotlight Series
80. Chris Bangert-Drowns reporter with 89.3 WPFW - Labor Radio Podcast Member Spotlight Series
79. Patrick Dixon Co-Producer of Labor History Today - Labor Radio Podcast Member Spotlight Series
78. Power Struggle - Episode 4 - New Years Eve Special & 2020 Recap
77. Simon Sapper of the Union Dues - Labor Radio Podcast Member Spotlight Series
76. Jacob Morrison of The Valley Labor Report - Labor Radio Podcast Member Spotlight Series
75. Gene Lantz of Workers Beat - Labor Radio Podcast Member Spotlight Series
74. A Better Kind of Politics - Fratelli Tutti Chapter 5 - Belief Street
73. Marc Bélanger of RadioLabour - Labor Radio Podcast Member Spotlight Series
72. John Andrechak of Laborlines - Labor Radio Podcast Member Spotlight Series
71. A Heart Open to the Whole World - Fratelli Tutti Chapter 4 - Belief Street
70. Dan Golodner of Tales from the Reuther Library - Labor Radio Podcast Member Spotlight Series
69. Envisaging and Engendering an Open World - Fratelli Tutti Chapter 3 - Belief Street
68. A Stranger on the Road - Fratelli Tutti Chapter 2 - Belief Street
67. Kayla Blado, President Nonprofit Professional Employees Union - LRPN Livestream (shortened)
66. Timothy Sheard, Publisher of Hard Ball Press - LRPN Livestream (shortened)
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