Expanding Horizons Jesuit Institute South Africa

Winter Living Theology 2018
Racial Justice and the Demands of Discipleship
presented by Rev Fr Bryan Massingale.

Lecture 1 of 6
Introduction and Overview: What is "Racism?"
Why Is It So Difficult to Talk about?

“Johannesburg Airport has become a ‘narco’ airport. In the last 2 years, something like 22 people were arrested in Hong Kong for drugs. December 6 last year, two passengers caught a flight from Johannesburg, each of them had twelve kilos of cocaine…”

Matthew Charlesworth SJ talks to Fr John Wotherspoon OMI about drug mules, corruption and prison ministry.

“If you go on pilgrimage and you experience what you experience specifically… and I always talk about the Holy Land. You give people the hope that your faith is still that strong and that it still exists. When they read that Gospel in church, you go back and you see it and you experience the Gospel. The Gospel comes alive.”

Russell Pollitt SJ, talks to Gail Fowler who is the owner and operator of Fowler Tours as well as Günther Simmermacher, editor of Southern Cross, South Africa’s Catholic weekly about pilgrimages.

Please note that the next podcast will be released in January 2020. Thank you for your support.

“People are very critical of Pope Francis… I keep on reminding myself, don’t forget how conscious you were of the presence of the Holy Spirit during that conclave. Therefore, the man you’ve got now has to be the choice of the Holy Spirit.”

Cardinal Wilfrid Napier is the Archbishop of Durban, South Africa. He recently published a book entitled “The Here and Now Christian”.

Russell Pollitt SJ talks to Cardinal Napier about his book, his life, his studies and formation during the Second Vatican Council, being a bishop for over 30 years and the challenges we face in South Africa today.

“Above everything else, I’m a Catholic as Günther Simmermacher but I am also a professional journalist. As a journalist, it is not my job to do PR for the bishops or the Vatican. I have to reflect truthfully and fairly what is happening.”

Next year, South Africa’s Catholic weekly The Southern Cross celebrates 100 years of publication. Günther Simmermacher has been with the paper for 25 years and almost 20 years as editor.

Russell Pollitt SJ talks to Günther about Catholic media in general as well as the specific challenges around editing a Catholic newspaper.

“We’ve got this great Constitution, it certainly prohibits any form of violence. But when we step inside of our homes, many of us leave that constitution behind and we subscribe to a set of values determined by a religion. Most religions are made in this patriarchal mould. So you have got women across religions and cultures having to grapple with this in their homes…”

Joanne Joseph presents Talk Radio 702’s Afternoon Drive. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Drama, Film and English, and an Honours and Master’s Degree in Modern Languages and Literatures. Joanne has worked for many years in the media industry and has always chosen to face issues of social justice. This was instilled by her Catholic education.

Russell Pollitt SJ talks to Joanne about gender-based violence, the systemic issues and the struggle for justice.