What Matters Most John W. Martens

Welcome to the eighteenth episode of season 2 of What Matters Most. I spoke to Alex Martins from his office in Milwaukee in February and have been waiting to get this episode to you for the past two months. 
Alexandre A. Martins is a theologian and bioethicist from Brazil; he is also a nurse. He received a Ph.D. in theological ethics/bioethics from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA) where he studied bioethics and global public health from a liberation approach. He then received a Post-Doctorate Degree in Democracy and Human Rights from the Human Rights Center at the Law School of the University of Coimbra, Portugal. He is a specialist in health care ethics and social ethics, especially in the areas of public health, global health, community-based health care, and Catholic social teaching, which you will hear about on this episode. As he tells us in this episode, citing Pope Francis, “you have to listen to the poor,” specifically in terms of health care, to move away from dependency, to sustainability, to local agency.
As a healthcare provider and global health advocate, he has served in middle and low-income countries throughout the world, such as Brazil, Bolivia, Haiti, and Uganda. Currently he is an associate professor at the Department of Theology and the College of Nursing at Marquette University in Wisconsin, where he is also director of undergraduate studies for the theology department, and William J. Kelly, S.J., Chair in Theology (2023-2026). He also serves as Regional Coordinator of Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church for Latin American and Caribbean region, and Vice-President of the Brazilian Society of Moral Theology.
There is so much you will learn about Alex’s life in this podcast that is moving, inspiring, and generative of love for the other. At the end of the podcast he says, “let the suffering of the other touch us and let the touch generate a response that puts ourselves with them.” Before we get to that powerful ending, we will learn about basic ecclesial communities in Brazil, his life as a teenager on his own in Sao Paulo, liberation theology, agricultura familiar, Paulo Freire, Paul Farmer, global health, Gustavo Guttierez, and what Christology has to teach us about health care.
Here are some links for books and articles written by Alex and others who have influenced his thought. In the Company of the Poor was written by Fr. Gustavo Guttierez and Paul Farmer. I mentioned the book about Paul Farmer by Tracey Kidder, Mountains Beyond Mountains and it is a beautiful introduction to his work and that of Partners in Health. The method of teaching that Alex mentioned was pioneered by Paulo Freire, whose best-known book is Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Leonardo Boff is a Brazilian liberation theologian who ran afoul of the Vatican in the 1980s and 90s for his book Church, Charism and Power : Liberation Theology and the Institutional Church. He ultimately left priestly ministry.
Also, you might want to look into basic ecclesial communities and agricultura familiar in Brazil.
Alex’s scholarship has been broad. He is widely published, and he has lectured in various countries, including Canada. Please check out his lecture for the CCE at on Care for the Sick in Catholic Healthcare. I will mention only a few of his books and I will link to them:
Christology and Global Ethics: Encountering the Poor in a Pluralist Reality (Mahwah, NJ.:  Paulist Press, 2023)
A Prophet to the Peoples: Paul Farmer’s Witness and Theological Ethics, co-edited with Jennie Weiss Block, OP and M. Therese Lysaught, (Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications by Wipf & Stock, 2023).
Covid-19, Política e Fé: Bioética em diálogo na realidade enlouquecida (São Paulo, SP: O Gênio Criador, 2020)
The Cry of the Poor: Liberation Ethics and Justice in Health Care (Lanham, MD.: Lexington Books, 2020)
For his other writings, please check out his Marquette University website.
What Matters

A note before the significant stuff:  you will notice that the intro and outtro are noisier than usual. I was not able to record at home in my home office with my regular equipment, but had to record in my office at work. It's a different location, and a worse microphone, and I will make sure to record at home again. And always.  The episode itself sounds great!  
Welcome to the seventeenth episode of season 2 of What Matters Most. I spoke to Dr. Joanna Leidenhag of the University of Leeds, who is currently Associate Professor in Theology and Philosophy at Leeds. She brings such a keen mind to the study of Christian theology, delving into topics like science and theology, creation, panpsychism, neurodiversity, pantheism, panentheism, and classical Christian doctrine. In general, Leidenhag  is a Christian theologian interested in interdisciplinary engagement with analytic philosophy and with the natural and psychological sciences. She engages with Christian doctrines such as doctrine of creation ex nihilo, the incarnation, the resurrection of the body with the metaphysics of panpsychism. 
Panpsychism holds mind and matter together. Panpsychism is the idea that consciousness is not unique to human beings or even animals, but comes in gradients as a fundamental and ubiquitous feature of reality. Leidenhag argues convincingly that such views are not odd and not at odds with Christian theology classically construed, but a way to understand creation’s value and its relationship to the creator. It’s also a way to keep matter and mind, consciousness, together, to solve the problem of mind-body dualism problem. How are we conscious and material?
There are connections with this view of panpsychism and religions of the east such as Buddhism and Hinduism, but this I think is a positive feature of panpsychism and something to be welcomed. Leidenhag also successfully, for me, explained the ways in which panpsychism is related to pantheism and panentheism, and how scientific theories, such as evolution, helps us understand consciousness and its development. Finally, in one of the most interesting aspects of our conversation regarding language and metaphor, Joanna Leidenhag explained how panpsychism helps us to understand passages of Scripture in which nature sings the praises of God. As a biblical scholar, I found this compelling. In fact I loved the idea of the mountains singing in joy and the rivers clapping their hands as metaphor that reflects the reality of all creation calling out in the consciousness of God best suited to each aspect of their unique creation.
We also discussed toward the end of our conversation neurodiversity, and autistic people, and what people with autism can teach theologians and the church about what it means to be human, a child of God, and members of the body of Christ. Joanna Leidenhag has published three articles on autism and theology to date, which I will link in the show notes: 
‘The Challenge of Autism for Contemporary Theological Anthropology,’ International Journal of Systematic Theology (2020) ‘Autism, Doxology, and the Nature of Christian Worship,’ Journal of Disability & Religion (2021)  ‘Accountability, Autism and Friendship with God,’ Studies in Christian Ethics, Vol. 34, Is. 3 (2021).  She is also working on a new research project, which she discussed in the podcast, God, Language and Diversity: Spiritual Flourishing in Neurodiverse and Multilingual Communities. I look forward to this new work. She has also written Minding Creation: Theological Panpsychism and the Doctrine of Creation, and her short popular level book called Creation and Ecology that introduces readers to the Christian doctrine of creation. In addition, she co-wrote with Dr John Perry, Science-Engaged Theology, which explores how theologians can use science and empirical studies as a resource within their work. And one more link you will find: Joanna co-edited a special issue

Welcome to the sixteenth episode of season 2 of What Matters Most. I spoke to Dr. Emilce Cuda, an Argentinian theologian, university professor, and Roman Curia official.  In 2021, Pope Francis appointed her to serve the Holy See as an official in the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, first as head of the office and then as Secretary.  In the spring of 2022, Francis appointed her to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and to the Pontifical Academy for Life.  She views her mission as assisting the Holy Father in preaching the gospel by building bridges that are about the peripheries.
Born in Buenos Aires, Emilce completed a cycle of studies at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina that resulted in Bachelor, Master, Licentiate, and Ph.D./STD degrees. She also studied philosophy at the University of Buenos Aires.  She has an MBA from the Commercial and Economic Sciences University.   In December 2022 the National University of Rosario in Argentina bestowed upon her a Doctorate of Humane Letters in honoris causa.
She has taught in various professorial capacities in a number of Argentinian universities, Boston College, DePaul, Northwestern, the National University Arturo Juaretche, and others.
Emilce is married with two adult children.  She is one of the very few lay women to hold executive office in the Roman Curia.  She has been based at the Vatican since September 2022. 
I first met Emilce Cuda in Vancouver when she gave one of the keynote lectures at the Pope Francis conference in May 2023. She is a speaker who brings the fire, which aligns with the nickname Pope Francis gave her, the Vatican pepper. I was also able to spend time with her at CELAM in Bogota, Columbia when I was invited as a Canadian representative for a conference comprising mostly South and Central American and Caribbean theologians and artists discussing theology of the peripheries. On this episode, you will get a sense of what she means by theology of the peripheries and closely related terms such as theology of the people and liberation theology.  It’s a joyous occasion to speak with Dr. Emilce Cuda and I hope you find that same joy listening to her.
Emilce Cuda asks people who want to understand Pope Francis in North America to read the encyclicals, read Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti, read Praedicate Evangelium on the Roman Curia, where our mission is described as in the Gospels to touch the suffering flesh of humanity. 
She also directed us to her and Pope Francis’s professor, the late Juan Carlos Scannone, S.J., an Argentinian theologian and his work on theology of the people, though I have not been able yet to determine which book of his she was referring to. I will add that to the show notes when I hear back from Emilce, but in the meantime the link above is a nice overview of his theology. Emilce Cuda also noted the work of another Jesuit, Juan Luis Segundo, S.J. and I have linked to an overview of his life and work from the Boston College website. 
This was a great conversation because it encapsulates for me what Christian theology should be. It’s good to know Dr. Cuda is at the Vatican doing her work because for me she is a model theologian, paying attention to all of the theologians out there who do not write books but need to be heard.  
What Matters Most is produced by the Centre for Christian Engagement at St Mark’s College, the Catholic college at UBC. The CCE is a centre at St. Mark’s College that explores the Christian and Catholic intellectual tradition and seek to learn from others, other Christians, members of other religious traditions, and from those who do not claim any particular or formal religious affiliation.
Thanks to Martin Strong, Kevin Eng, and Fang Fang Chandra for all of their help and support in crafting this and all the other episodes. I also want to thank our donors to the Centre, whose generosity enables this work to take place at all: Peter Bull, Angus Rei

Regular listeners know that this episode is late! I apologize for that but blame a nasty norovirus that has run amok through our extended family. And directly through me. It seems right, then, that the fifteenth episode of the second season focuses on health and public health with Fr. Myles Sheehan, SJ.     
Fr. Sheehan is a Jesuit priest, physician, and, since December 2020, the Director of the Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics at Georgetown University, where he also serves as Professor of Medicine and the David Lauler Chair of Catholic Health Care Ethics. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Medical School, he trained in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, practiced in these fields, and served until 2009 as the Senior Associate Dean at Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine, Professor of Medicine, and the Ralph P. Leischner Professor and Chair of the Leischner Institute for Medical Education.
On this episode we discussed Myles Sheehan’s life as a medical doctor and a Jesuit priest. We discuss green bioethics, how to make healthcare sustainable, and how to ensure everyone has access to healthcare, something we in the West both have in abundance and take for granted, while accepting that others have little access to, especially in the US. On the other hand, there are countries and regions that simply have little access to basic healthcare that would preserve numerous lives. Myles Sheehan places all of this in his role as a priest and in the Gospel of Jesus. 
Myles was in Vancouver for a lecture on January 25, 2024 and you can find that by clicking on the St. Mark’s YouTube channel here. The lecture features a PowerPoint presentation that makes it a bit easier to follow up on the names of scholars and theories.  
But one scholar Myles’ mentioned in the podcast, and the lecture, is Cristina Richie, not the actress, but an academic engaged with green bioethics and a graduate of Boston College. Her book is titled Principles of Green Bioethics: Sustainability in Health Care. 
What Matters Most is produced by the Centre for Christian Engagement at St Mark’s College, the Catholic college at UBC. The CCE is a centre at St. Mark’s College that explores the Christian and Catholic intellectual tradition and seek to learn from others, other Christians, members of other religious traditions, and from those who do not claim any particular or formal religious affiliation.
Thanks to Martin Strong, Kevin Eng, and Fang Fang Chandra for all of their help and support in crafting this and all the other episodes. I also want to thank our donors to the Centre, whose generosity enables this work to take place at all: Peter Bull, Angus Reid, and Andy Szocs. In addition, the Cullen Family, Mark and Barbara, continue to support the work and outreach of the CCE, particularly in our lecture series. 
Since St. Mark’s Centre for Christian Engagement seeks to enable the creation of a culture of encounter and dialogue, let me invite you into that discussion. Send me questions, send me ideas for guests, send me comments. Please follow me on Twitter @biblejunkies, or on Facebook, at Biblejunkies, or on Instagram @stmarkscce. Or email me at jmartens@stmarkscollege.ca. Let me know what you think.
I also want to ask you to help out by letting people know about the podcast. If you are enjoying the podcast, please let your friends know. You can also let people know by rating and reviewing What Matters Most on your favourite podcasting platform. This lets people find the podcast more easily and lets people like you enjoy the work that we are doing. I think these are important and inspiring discussions and I would like people to have a chance to listen in!
 
Upcoming Episodes:
And now some news on upcoming podcast episodes:
Dr. Alexandre Martins of Marquette University on healthcare justice and his life that began in poverty in Brazil; 
Dr. Emilce Cuda, of the Vatican, secretary of the Pon

This episode is the fourteenth episode of the second season of What Matters Most and features Reverend Grant Ikuta.  Since 2008, Grant has been the minister at Steveston Buddhist Temple outside of Vancouver. From April 2011 to April 2013, he served as Bishop of Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada. He was educated at the University of Alberta, holding a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in biology. In 1987, he attended a year of Ryukoku University Bekka (Foreign Student) program and received Tokudo (Basic) Ordination in the fall of 1988. He enrolled at Central Buddhist Academy (Chuo Bukkyo Gakuin) in April 1989 and graduated from Central Buddhist Academy Honka level (Primary level) in 1990. He entered Ryukoku University Post Graduate studies in April 1990 and received Kyoshi (Higher) Ordination in May 1990. In February 1992, he completed the Master’s Program in Shinshu (Pure Land Buddhism) Studies at Ryukoku University.
On this episode we discussed Reverend Ikuta’s life as pastor and a pastor’s son and grandson, just like Reverend Mark Kleiner in the Lutheran tradition, something which we discussed on a previous episode. And like Mark, Grant was not sure he wanted to follow in his Father’s and Grandfather’s footsteps. We also discussed celibacy in Buddhism, just as we discussed with Fr. Nick Meisl in the context of the Roman Catholic tradition. Celibacy is not common in Japanese Buddhism, but it is throughout much of the Buddhist tradition.
We discussed a number of figures and places in the history of Japanese Buddhism and Japan in general. I link to a number of these topics below. Key figures in the development of Pure Land Buddhism include Honen and Shinran. They were instrumental in the formation and history of the Jodo Shinshu school of Buddhism. A significant place for all of Japanese Buddhism is  Mt. Hiei in Kyoto. If you have never been to the temple in Nara and seen the massive Buddha statue there, please do check out this link. It is an incredible site and sight. If you have a chance to go to Nikko,  a shinkansen ride north of Tokyo, and see the many temples and shrines, I highly recommend it!
A significant place for the development and growth of Pure Land Buddhism in the west is the Hongpa Hongwangi Temple in Honolulu. On the Christian converts to Pure Land Buddhism in Hawaii, Zorn and Hunt, please see the book Immigrants to the Pure Land.  Locally, of course, for those in the Vancouver area, is Reverend Ikuta's Steveston Buddhist Temple.
For some of the history of Christianity in Japan, especially in Nagasaki, and the story of the Jesuits in Japan, please click on this link. This history was sometimes painful and involved persecution. Shusaku Endo's novel Silence offers a powerful literary representation of this early period of Christian history in Japan and the novel was also made into a motion picture by Martin Scorcese. Both the novel and movie are excellent. For the story of the internment of Japanese Canadians in Canada during World War II, please do read the moving novel by Joy Kogawa, Obasan. 
What Matters Most is produced by the Centre for Christian Engagement at St Mark’s College, the Catholic college at UBC. The CCE is a centre at St. Mark’s College that explores the Christian and Catholic intellectual tradition and seek to learn from others, other Christians, members of other religious traditions, and from those who do not claim any particular or formal religious affiliation.
Thanks to Martin Strong, Kevin Eng, and Fang Fang Chandra for all of their help and support in crafting this and all the other episodes. I also want to thank our donors to the Centre, whose generosity enables this work to take place at all: Peter Bull, Angus Reid, and Andy Szocs. In addition, the Cullen Family, Mark and Barbara, continue to support the work and outreach of the CCE, particularly in our lecture series. 
Since St. Mark’s Centre for Christian Engagement seeks to enable the

This episode is the thirteenth episode of the second season of What Matters Most and features Father Nick Meisl.  Fr. Nick Meisl is an Assistant Professor at Corpus Christi and St. Mark’s Colleges where he teaches the Bible. In addition, he is Pastor of St. Peter’s Parish in New Westminster, BC. He completed his License from the Pontifical Biblical Institute and is currently a PhD candidate at Durham University working with Dr. John Barclay on 1 Corinthians and celibacy.  
I asked Nick onto the podcast to talk about celibacy, both in the Church as a whole, his own life, and how it emerged in Jewish and Christian antiquity, because celibacy has a long history in the Christian tradition. Our conversation was spurred, however, by a recent interview given by Archbishop of Malta Charles Sclicuna about ending mandatory celibacy for RC priests. It’s a fascinating and complex topic. And Scicluna is an important voice on this matter as  an archbishop, someone involved in the Church’s fight against clerical abuse, and adjunct secretary to the the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Some of the important texts dealing with celibacy in the early Christian appear in the New Testament. Fr. Nick and I discussed Matthew 19 , Mark 12:18:-27, 1 Corinthians 7. See also 1 Corinthians 9 for other discussions on marriage and celibacy.  This chapter is also a passage that some scholars believe points to the possibility that Paul might have been married previously. Fr. Nick also discussed how Genesis 2 might play into Paul's own thought. We also discussed the deutero-Pauline passages in 1 Timothy 3 and 5 and the development of marriage and celibacy in the early Church. For further reading on the background of celibacy in 1 Corinthians, please see Will Deming, Paul on Marriage and Celibacy: The Hellenistic Background of 1 Corinthians 7 (Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series, Series Number 83) 
If anyone is interested in the Jewish context regarding celibacy and Jesus' own singleness, please see my article, "(Why) Was Jesus Single?" in The Single Life in the Roman and Later Roman World. I would be happy to send people a PDF of the article if they are interested. 
We also discussed the current Church teaching on celibacy and you can find a short summary of its theological justification on the Vatican website. 
What Matters Most is produced by the Centre for Christian Engagement at St Mark’s College, the Catholic college at UBC. The CCE is a centre at St. Mark’s College that explores the Christian and Catholic intellectual tradition and seek to learn from others, other Christians, members of other religious traditions, and from those who do not claim any particular or formal religious affiliation.
Thanks to Martin Strong, Kevin Eng, and Fang Fang Chandra for all of their help and support in crafting this and all the other episodes. I also want to thank our donors to the Centre, whose generosity enables this work to take place at all: Peter Bull, Angus Reid, and Andy Szocs. In addition, the Cullen Family, Mark and Barbara, continue to support the work and outreach of the CCE, particularly in our lecture series. 
Since St. Mark’s Centre for Christian Engagement seeks to enable the creation of a culture of encounter and dialogue, let me invite you into that discussion. Send me questions, send me ideas for guests, send me comments. Please follow me on Twitter @biblejunkies, or on Facebook, at Biblejunkies, or on Instagram @stmarkscce. Or email me at jmartens@stmarkscollege.ca. Let me know what you think.
I also want to ask you to help out by letting people know about the podcast. If you are enjoying the podcast, please let your friends know. You can also let people know by rating and reviewing What Matters Most on your favourite podcasting platform. This lets people find the podcast more easily and lets people like you enjoy the work that we are doing. I think these are importan