Fordham Center on Religion and Culture

Trump as the Master of Revels | SAPIENTIA What the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s late-night show says about the power of politics and money, and why comedy will always have the last word.

What the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s late-night show says about the power of politics and money, and why comedy will always have the last word. @oliviapoust.bsky.social, assistant director of the CRC, for #Sapientia.

Read more.

Billy Joel’s Weaponized Nostalgia and Spiritual Truth | SAPIENTIA A sprawling documentary about the singer’s life has plenty of sinners but could use a saint like Ignatius.

"Billy Joel: And So It Goes," a sprawling documentary about the singer’s life, has plenty of sinners but could use a saint like Ignatius. @jimmcd.bsky.social for #Sapientia.

Checking in with a brief update amid your Midsummer celebrations 🌞

Registration is now live for our October 9 event with @blairbraverman.bsky.social — author, adventurer, influencer, and dogsledder extraordinaire! Sign up and read more in our July newsletter: conta.cc/4kJIUCO

This was great fun -- great crowd, great venue, to talk popes real and fictional, from Pope Kiril to JP2, Jude Law to Bob Prevost, and why we can't get enough of it all. Life imitates art, and vice versa. Pope Culture/Pop Culture

Did you catch @gibsonwrites.bsky.social, director of the CRC, at Lectures on Tap last Thursday? 🍷👨‍🏫

He presented "Popes, Conclaves, and Pop Culture" at @caveatnyc.bsky.social on the Lower East Side. 🎬🍿

.@gibsonwrites.bsky.social, director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University, will present "Popes, Conclaves, and Pope Culture" for Lectures on Tap tomorrow, 7/10, on the Lower East Side.

Last-minute tickets will drop tomorrow, 7/10, at 10am: www.eventbrite.com/e/lectures-o...

Films That Show the Reality of Trans People | SAPIENTIA The Tribeca Film Festival featured two docs that showcase a better way of telling trans stories and treating trans people.

In his latest blog for #Sapientia, @jimmcd.bsky.social explores two docs featured by the Tribeca Film Festival that showcase a better way of telling trans stories and treating trans people.

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Absolute Déjà Vu | SAPIENTIA There is nothing like a visit to Paris to feel the power of protest. The revolution’s memory is in the stones and soil, its legacy in the spirit of the people. It manifests itself in myriad ways in ev...

Olivia Poust, assistant director of the CRC, visited Versailles as "No Kings" protests swept the United States. In this blog post, she reflects on the current political reality in the U.S. in relation to the history of absolutism in France under Louis XIV.

The Center on Religion and Culture at @fordham.edu hosted the world premiere of "Wisdom Keepers," a new series that airs tonight, June 9, at 10/9c on PBS. It will also be available to stream at PBS.org.

Learn more: www.pbs.org/show/wisdom-...

Unitas, Caritas, Veritas: Understanding the Augustinian Spirituality of Pope Leo XIV | SAPIENTIA In the weeks since American Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV, he’s returned more than once to a few key concepts. “I would like our first great desire to be for a united church,” he sa...

In Jim McDermott's latest piece for #Sapientia, Augustinian father and Bronx native Father Arthur Purcaro, O.S.A., assistant vice president of Mission and Ministry at Villanova University, explains his order and his connection to Pope Leo XIV. Read more.

The CRC hosted the world premiere of "Wisdom Keepers" yesterday, May 29, at Fordham's Lincoln Center campus. The new PBS show will air its first episode on Monday, June 9, 10/9c.

Learn more: www.pbs.org/show/wisdom-...

The Rev. Kelly Brown Douglas is an Episcopal priest and theologian featured in “Wisdom Keepers.” Join the CRC for a free premiere screening of the first episode tomorrow, May 29.

Register now: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

.@gibsonwrites.bsky.social, director of the CRC, speaks with Msgr. Kevin Sullivan about Pope Leo XIV and the conclave in the latest episode of #JustLove, a Catholic Charities NY radio show.

Listen to the full episode: justloveblog.org/2025/05/17/f...

Richard Rohr, OFM, is a Franciscan friar and “wisdom keeper” of Christian mysticism. Join the CRC for a premiere screening of “Wisdom Keepers,” a new PBS series that features a rare interview with Father Rohr, on May 29, from 6-7 p.m.

Learn more: now.fordham.edu/event/pbs-wo...

To say that much has transpired since our last newsletter would be an … understatement? To say the least.

Check out what the CRC has been up to this month — and what we still have to look forward to!

Read it here: conta.cc/3H1ZdwQ

Join our email list: lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/v2xTpDu

The CRC invites you to a free screening of the first episode of "Wisdom Keepers," a new PBS series, on Thursday, May 29, from 6-7 p.m.

Learn more and register: now.fordham.edu/event/pbs-wo...

Opinion | The New Pope Might Be Something Like the Old Pope

David Gibson, director of the CRC, for @nytopinion.nytimes.com.

Habemus Papam! The CRC is overjoyed at the election of Pope Leo XIV. Join us in praying for the Holy Father as he begins his ministry.

Keep an eye on our blog for updates from Rome from our director, @gibsonwrites.bsky.social.

Great, hugely knowledgeable chat with @gibsonwrites.bsky.social, who used to work at the Vatican and is a director at New York's Jesuit university.

Black Dandyism and the Power of Fashion | SAPIENTIA The Met Gala was a red carpet extravaganza that should highlight, not obscure, how fashion is more than what is fashionable.

The Met Gala brought its signature opulence to New York on Monday, May 5. As glamorous as the evening was, it’s also important not to let the spectacle obscure the fashion legacy that the corresponding Costume Institute exhibition explores.

Olivia Poust writes for #Sapientia.

The Conclave Bandwagon | SAPIENTIA Vatican insiders are predicting a short conclave, in keeping with recent history. Social science might explain why.

Vatican insiders are predicting a short conclave, in keeping with recent history. Social science might explain why. David Gibson writes for #Sapientia from Rome.

Pope Donald? Trump would hate it | SAPIENTIA President Trump has been trolling Catholics about getting himself elected pope. His campaign reveals a common misunderstanding about the power of the papacy.

President Trump has been trolling Catholics about getting himself elected pope. His campaign reveals a common misunderstanding about the power of the papacy. David Gibson writes for #Sapientia.

A Synodal Conclave | SAPIENTIA This papal election is turning out to be a free-wheeling discussion that reminds me of nothing so much as a synod – even if synod critics don’t want to admit it.

This papal election is turning out to be a free-wheeling discussion that reminds me of nothing so much as a synod — even if synod critics don’t want to admit it. David Gibson writes for #Sapientia.

Uncle Bob | SAPIENTIA When I was working on my story last month about Denzel Washington’s work while a student at Fordham and now on Broadway in Othello, I kept running across the name of a theater professor: Robert Stone....

When Jim McDermott was working on a story for #Sapientia last month about Denzel Washington’s work as a student at Fordham and now on Broadway in Othello, he kept running across the name of a Fordham professor: Robert Stone.

Nurith Aviv’s Dual Identities and Dueling Languages | SAPIENTIA Fordham co-sponsored a retrospective of the work of the Tel Aviv-born French filmmaker, who broke barriers for women in cinema while examining sensitive topics for Jews and other immigrants.

Fordham co-sponsored a retrospective of Nurith Aviv’s work. Her film “From Language to Language” explores the dichotomy of language in Israel, examining Hebrew as a shared language that fosters a sense of belonging, but that also contributes to a double consciousness. Olivia Poust for #Sapientia.

Opinion | Three Religious Thinkers on the Church After Pope Francis Three religious thinkers on the state of Catholicism.

David Gibson, director of the CRC, discusses the papacy post-Francis with @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social and Leah Libresco Sargeant on "The Opinions," a @nytopinion.nytimes.com podcast.

Ciao Papa What time does the conclave start?

David Gibson, director of the CRC, discusses Pope Francis' papacy with @maryharris.bsky.social on "What Next," a @slate.com podcast. Listen here.