A Jesuit priest on why we love (or hate) scary movies

What makes a horror movie “Catholic”? That’s what hosts Zac Davis and Ashley McKinless ask on this week’s special Halloween episode of “Jesuitical.” They’re joined by Ryan Duns, S.J., a professor and theologian at Marquette University. Known for his love of scary movies, Father Ryan is the author of Theology of Horror: The Hidden Depths of Popular Films. Together, they discuss the Catholic fascination and taboo around horror. (Spoiler alert! The second half of this conversation reveals some plot points from “The Exorcist,” “Obsession” and “Sinners.”) Chapters: 0:00 Intro 4:33 Interview with Fr. Ryan Duns, S.J. 4:55 Addressing the clown in the room 6:33 Why horror films should be taken seriously 9:42 The best way to experience horror films 14:11 Gratuity of horror movies 19:09 The supernatural in horror movies 21:51 The Exorcist 32:02 Obsession 41:00 Sinners 54:01 Outro Links from the show: About Ryan Duns, S.J. ‘Father Fright’ reveals top five horror flick picks for 2026 Marquette Bookshelf: ‘Theology of Horror: The Hidden Depths of Popular Films’ ‘The Exorcist,’ as a work of art, fostered an understanding of Catholic theology. ‘Sinners’: a tale of temptation and transcendence Faith and Fine Wine: A Jesuit Pilgrimage to Italy Support Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow. You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where do U.S. politics and Catholicism intersect? On this week’s roundtable episode, “Jesuitical” host Ashley McKinless speaks with America’s chief correspondent, Kevin Clarke, and Father Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest and senior analyst at Religion News Service, about today’s “signs of the times.” Together, Ashley, Kevin and Father Reese discuss Pope Leo’s health post-cancer surgery, immigrant detention as a religious liberty issue, the death penalty and how these all tie into how Catholics are feeling about politics ahead of the midterm elections. *Note: After this was recorded, the Vatican announced that Pope Leo needs no further cancer treatment. Read the latest here: https://www.americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/10/21/pope-leo-cancer-test-results-treatment Chapters: 00:00 Our topics this week 1:19 Pope Leo health update (Note: After this was recorded, the Vatican  6:22 Pope calls Putin and Zelensky 11:50 Archdiocese sues Trump administration 15:52 Religious liberty and the Sacraments 20:20 Catholics denounce public execution 26:40 Catholics are souring on Trump 31:51 A Pope Leo effect in America? Links from the show: The Fragility of the Pope  St. Louis archdiocese sues DHS and ICE to bring sacraments to immigrant detainees The death of the American conscience will be livestreamed USCCB President Condemns Plans for Livestream of Fort Hood Shooter's Execution as ‘a Barbaric Promotion of a Culture of Death’ Pope Francis: ‘death penalty inadmissible’     Pew: Trump’s support among Catholic voters drops heading into midterms How Catholics have defended free elections—and why they must do so again   Support Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.   You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the “Jesuitical” podcast, Ashley McKinless and Zac Davis speak with National Public Radio’s Scott Detrow about Pope Leo’s cancer diagnosis and Scott’s new book, American Pope: Leo XIV's Road from the South Side of Chicago to Vatican City. Scott shares his initial reaction to the pope’s lung surgery this week and provides insights into Leo’s medical history. Then, Scott, Zac and Ashley follow Robert Prevost’s incredible journey from Chicago to Peru to the Vatican and discuss what makes the first American pope uniquely qualified to lead the Catholic Church. Chapters 00:00 Pope Leo's cancer diagnosis 2:02 A surprise conclave 4:18 Scott reacts to Leo's cancer 7:37 How Catholics in Chicago shaped Leo 13:45 Leo's leadership style 17:45 Leo's vision of the church 20:44 An unlikely bishop 29:56 A cardinal, not a bureaucrat 32:38 Did Francis prepare Prevost to be pope? 35:12 Pope Leo, the American 39:38 Open questions about Pope Leo Links from the show: - Pope Leo diagnosed with lung cancer, Vatican announces: https://www.americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/10/13/pope-leo-diagnosed-with-lung-cancer-vatican-announces - Pope Leo is walking, eating and receiving therapy after lung cancer surgery: https://www.americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/10/14/pope-leo-lung-cancer-recovery-walking - Pope Leo has ‘resumed work’ three days after lung cancer surgery: https://www.americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/10/15/pope-leo-cancer-lung-surgery-recovery-work - What to know about Pope Leo’s cancer diagnosis: https://www.americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/10/14/what-to-know-about-pope-leos-cancer-diagnosis - American Pope: Leo XIV’s Road from the South Side of Chicago to Vatican City: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250446053/americanpope - No one expected Leo to be pope — except everyone who knew him as ‘Bob’: https://www.npr.org/2026/10/03/nx-s1-5987816/pope-leo-american-pope-book-excerpt - Sign up for our Vatican newsletter: https://www.americamagazine.org/sign-up-for-vatican-notebook-email-newsletter You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow. You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. Support Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on “Jesuitical,” hosts Zac Davis and Ashley McKinless speak with Joseph de Viveiros, C.R., about the pastoral consequences of Pope Francis’ groundbreaking 2016 document on family life, “Amoris Laetitia.” Father Joseph is a priest of the Congregation of the Resurrection, and chaplain for the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board in North Bay, Ontario. As Pope Leo gathers bishops from around the world at the Vatican to review the document’s implementation, Zac, Ashley and Father Joseph discuss the complex challenges facing families and young couples, and how a lot of work needs to be done, especially by priests, to realize Pope Francis’ vision. Chapters: 00:00 Auguri Ashley McKinless! 1:50 Why we're talking about 'Amoris Laetitia' 7:45 The Christian ideal vs. lived reality 12:23 People's lives are messy 16:30 Critics of Francis' approach 21:57 How to discern in conscience 25:58 How the Church forms couples 36:20 Advice for priests 37:45 Why you should get married 43:25 Parish announcements: auguri! 44:33 Faith sharing: grace in sacraments Links:  Read “Amoris Laetitia” Amoris Laetitia: For a new proclamation of Gospel with families and for families Bishops are meeting at the Vatican next week to discuss ‘Amoris Laetitia.’ Here’s what you need to know. What you need to know about Pope Leo’s October meeting on marriage and family You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.   You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical.  Support “Jesuitical” by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Jesuitical, Colleen Dulle joins hosts Zac Davis and Sebasian Gomes to discuss Pope Leo’s recent visit to France, including his messages on assisted dying, European identity and the role of the Catholic Church in a secular country. Colleen also reflects on her experience of traveling with the pope for the first time. ⁠Sign up for Colleen’s newsletter, Vatican Notebook⁠! Chapters: 00:00 First time on the papal plane! 4:02 Why Pope Leo went to France 6:45 Catholic revival? 9:43 Secularity in France 14:02 Pro-life issues in France 17:57 Is Europe a "Christian" culture? 24:55 Pope meets abuse victims 34:08 Liturgy and division Links: ⁠Pope Leo’s trip to France won’t be a victory lap—and that’s a good thing.⁠ ⁠Vatican Notebook: Pope Leo navigates tensions between secularism and Catholic history on France visit⁠ ⁠‘More than a monument’: Pope Leo’s speech at the newly renovated Notre-Dame⁠ ⁠Pope Leo draws 800,000 to Mass in the heart of Paris⁠ ⁠Vatican Notebook: Pope Leo addresses French conversion boom, warns against complacency⁠ ⁠Pope speaks out against French assisted-dying and abortion laws in Lourdes visit⁠ ⁠Mother: Pope Leo’s blessing of special-needs daughter recognizes ‘segment of humanity often set aside’⁠ ⁠Pope Leo meets with survivors of abuse in Lourdes⁠ ⁠Pope Leo: Europe must return to path of dialogue, not military buildup⁠ ⁠Pope Leo is not ‘in panic mode’ about an A.I. catastrophe, but ‘we can’t just sit back’ and do nothing⁠ You can sign up for Colleen's 'Vatican Notebook' newsletter ⁠here⁠: ⁠https://www.americamagazine.org/sign-up-for-vatican-notebook-email-newsletter⁠ Follow Colleen on Instagram: ⁠@colleendulle⁠  Support the show by becoming a ⁠subscriber to America Magazine⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the “Jesuitical” podcast, Ashley McKinless and Zac Davis speak with Rachel Lu about the beatification of Fulton Sheen, the American archbishop who was famous for his media evangelism in the mid-20th century. Rachel is a senior editor at Law and Liberty and a regular contributor to the National Review and America Magazine. Together they discuss Sheen’s charisma, cultural influence, and his lesser known political philosophy which defended both the public role of religion and the separation of church and state.   Chapters: Chapters: 00:00 Beatification of Fulton Sheen 01:23 When Fulton Sheen arrived on the scene 05:20 Sheen’s philosophical training 07:34 Fighting communism 11:22 What made Sheen’s TV show so popular? 13:51 What Sheen would think of America today? 26:09 The first celebrity bishop? 34:19 Introducing "Auguri!" 36:15 Faith sharing: Praying about using A.I. Links from the show: Fulton Sheen Bet on America. Some Catholics Want to Call It Off. Pope Leo calls Archbishop Fulton Sheen ‘a light of faith’ who touched millions with the Gospel Archbishop Fulton Sheen to be beatified Sept. 24 in St. Louis Sign up for our newsletter, Vatican Notebook! You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.   You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical.  Support Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of “Jesuitical,” Zac Davis and Sebastian Gomes speak with America’s President and Editor in Chief, Sam Sawyer, S.J. to discuss the impact that U.S. bishops are having on politics, AI, and more. Bishops are speaking out against war, mass deportations, the death penalty and racism, and their voices are breaking through. In this episode, Zac, Sebastian and Sam talk about why they’re having a moment, the influence of Pope Leo, and the opportunities for shaping the future of A.I. Chapters: 00:00 Growing influence of Bishops on US politics 04:35 Opposing mass deportation  10:30 Engaging with the Trump Administration 14:05 Bishops are finding new ways to talk about issues 18:00 The influence of Pope Leo 22:43 Where Bishops stand on A.I. 29:54 How U.S. Bishops can implement Magnifica humanitas 32:55 Opportunities around A.I. Links:  The U.S. bishops are speaking out forcefully on politics—and finally being heard Top US bishop writes letter to Trump urging end to mass deportations of Haitians Why are there so few African American bishops? ‘The short answer is racism’ says Bishop Boxie Bishop Olson on racism US bishops form new task force over AI concerns, meet with tech leaders Pope Francis to U.S. Catholic bishops: Oppose mass deportations Analysis: The U.S. bishops showed their unity on behalf of immigrants—and may have repaired their relationship to Rome Artificial Intelligence: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops  USCCB Positions on Artificial Intelligence Support Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.   You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Schisms don’t happen often in the Catholic Church. Which makes Pope Leo’s recent excommunication of the Society of Saint Pius X big news. This week on Jesuitical, hosts Zac and Ashley speak to Shaun Blanchard, Senior Lecturer in Theology at the University of Notre Dame Australia, about the history of the SSPX, their illicit decision to ordain new bishops, and what their excommunication means for more traditional groups within the Catholic Church. Chapters: 00:00 Why we're talking about the SSPX 01:42 Why the SSPX was excommunicated 04:55 Why Archbishop Lefebvre rejected Vatican II 9:38 Lefebvre's problem with religious liberty 14:20 Was this a debate over liturgy? 18:00 Ordaining bishops crosses a line 21:33 How 17th c. Jansenism illuminates the crisis 28:45 Restricting the traditional Latin Mass 35:05 How excommunication works 38:52 Implications for the traditional Latin Mass 47:16 There's no going back on Vatican II 49:48 Learning to appreciate Vatican II Links:  Vatican declares excommunicated SSPX bishops, warns priests and lay faithful of schism Analysis: SSPX excommunications show what Pope Leo means by church ‘unity’ After SSPX excommunications, traditionalist Catholics face a difficult choice 5 years after Pope Francis’ Latin Mass restrictions, traditionalist Catholics reflect on ‘Traditionis Custodes’ After SSPX schism, some Catholics urge greater access to the older Latin Mass Latin Mass, schism and cardinals in the media: The liturgy wars are back (and never really left) Support Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When President Trump took to Truth Social earlier this year and attacked Pope Leo for being “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” most Catholics were understandably shocked. But a clash between a secular leader and the bishop of Rome is hardly without precedent. This week on “Jesuitical,” hosts Zac Davis and Ashley McKinless talk with Miles Pattendens, an expert on popes and papal conclaves, about the long and quirky history of feuds between popes and politicians. In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the Vatican rejection of a request from the German bishops to allow lay people to preach the homily at Mass. Plus, a look ahead at Pope Leo’s summer plans.  And in As One Friends Speak to Another, America Media’s O’Hare fellows—Brigid McCabe, Ed Desciak and Will Gualitiere—share some spiritual insights from a year working at the intersection of the church and the world.  Jesuitical listener survey 00:00 Context 2:47 Vatican says "no" to women preaching 12:07 Pope Leo's summer schedule 16:05 History of Catholic authority 19:46 The investiture controversy 26:03 Pastoral concern or power grabs? 34:27 Henry VIII vs. Popes 39:20 How the church lost power 43:10 Moral authority on the global stage 52:00 Donald Trump's attacks on Pope Leo 1:00:10 Fill out our listener survey! https://forms.gle/yggZcBKeXYKbWYpM7 1:01:12 Faith sharing with our Fellows! Learn about America Magazine's Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J., Postgraduate Media Fellowship: https://www.americamagazine.org/ohare-fellows Jesuitical listener survey: https://forms.gle/yggZcBKeXYKbWYpM7 Links: Vatican to German bishops: No lay people preaching homilies at Mass Extraordinary consistory signals Pope Leo’s push to work with cardinals on global challenges Pope Leo speaks out on SSPX ordinations and U.S.-Iran deal Pope Leo to accept Liberty Medal and address Americans on July 3 Electing the Pope in Early Modern Italy, 1450-1700 Support Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley sit down with Luke Burgis, the director of the Cluny Institute at The Catholic University of America and the author of The One and the Ninety-Nine: Forging Identity in the Age of Social Contagion. They discuss why we join and leave tribes, how to form a “solid” self and what healthy group identity looks like. In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss Vice President JD Vance’s new memoir on converting to Catholicism, the consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and new statutes for the Vatican’s commission for the protection of minors. Plus, Pope Leo wraps up his successful trip to Spain on the Canary Islands—but has some trouble getting off them. And in As One Friend Speaks to Another, Zac shares what he’s thinking about going into his very first Father’s Day. 0:00 Intro 3:30 J.D. Vance’s new book “Communion” 9:36 U.S. bishops meet for annual meeting in Orlando 19:44 Pope Leo finishes Spain trip 21:39 Papal plane trouble 24:25 Interview with Luke Burgis 25:52 The parable of the lost sheep 31:16 The age of social contagion 33:56 What Luke learned in seminary 38:05 Is your community good for you? 42:27 People respond to aesthetics 46:30 The importance of distance 48:46 The Catholic Church is unique as a community 57:20 What is the Cluny Institute? 1:02:25 What about AI? 1:05:24 Canonization 1:08:07 As One Friend Speaks to Another Links: The One and the Ninety-Nine: Forging Identity in the Age of Social Contagion Learn more about the Cluny Institute JD Vance writes about his journey to Catholicism in his new book, ‘Communion’ Consecration 101: What the bishops’ upcoming consecration of the US to the Sacred Heart means Pope Leo XIV approves new statutes for child protection commission Pope Leo ends visit to Spain with a call to repent What’s on tap? Sancerre You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.   You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical.  Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices