Kwok ’n’ Roll

The debate between Pope Leo XIV and Trump over the Iran conflict has put American Catholics in a difficult position. Many back the Pope's call for peace — but does that mean we should defer to him on all moral issues?

Is Pope Leo XIV progressive on war and peace, yet conservative on gender? And what do we make of JD Vance warning the Pope to "be careful" when speaking on morality?

Dr. Kwok Pui Lan speaks with Dr. Mary Hunt — co-director of the Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Rituals and a longtime Catholic feminist activist — to explore the reactions of American Catholics that aren't making it into the mainstream media. Mary articulates feminist concerns about the Pope's positions rarely heard in public discourse.

They also discuss Mary's reaction to Archbishop Sarah Mullally's installation as the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion — and her upcoming meeting with the Pope to pray for peace.

President Trump's criticism of Pope Leo XIV as  “weak on crime" and too liberal has ignited a firestorm — and Catholics are fighting back.

Trump's Truth Social post drew sharp rebukes from Catholic leaders across the country, including three American Cardinals, who called his remarks deeply disrespectful of the Pope — the spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. Meanwhile, Catholic members of Trump's own cabinet — Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio — were pressed to respond to the clash between the President and the pontiff.

Adding fuel to the fire: Trump posted an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ, drawing even wider condemnation.

To make sense of this moment, Dr. Kwok Pui Lan sits down with Dr. Peter C. Phan, Professor of Catholic Social Teaching at Georgetown University. Together they explore:

Why Pope Leo XIV — an Augustinian — spoke out against war

Augustine's just war theory and its relevance today

Why conservative evangelicals see Trump as a messianic figure

How some believe the war in Iran is hastening the Second Coming of Jesus

What if everything you learned about God's power is incomplete — or even wrong? In this conversation, Kwok Pui Lan sits down with Thomas J. Oord to explore one of the most provocative questions in contemporary theology: is God truly all-powerful? Drawing on open and relational theology and process theology, they challenge the traditional doctrine of divine omnipotence and ask what it means to reimagine God as one who is deeply relational, responsive, and present in the midst of suffering. In this episode, we explore:

• What open and relational theology actually teaches — and why it matters now

• How process theology reframes divine power not as control, but as love

• Why the traditional view of an all-powerful God struggles in the face of injustice and pain

• What a relational God means for faith communities, especially those on the margins

• How postcolonial perspectives reshape our understanding of God's power and vulnerability This is theology that doesn't just stay in the academy — it speaks directly to how we pray, grieve, resist, and hope.

Dr. Thomas Oord's recent book is A Systematic Theology of Love, vol. 1, God and Creation.

In an era of intense conflict, the intersection of Jewish identity and feminist principles has become a battleground. This video explores the unique challenges facing Jewish feminists — from reinterpretations of scripture to the political weaponization of antisemitism.

In this conversation, Dr. Judith Plaskow, a pioneer in Jewish feminist theology, discusses the origins of Jewish feminist theology and why Jewish feminists cannot ignore theological questions. While she has criticized anti-Judaism in Christian feminist thought, she explores the crucial difference between anti-Judaism and antisemitism. She shares how the wars in Iran and Gaza prompted her to rethink Jewish identity, especially during this year's Passover.

As one of the co-founders of the Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, Dr. Plaskow discusses changes of feminist scholarship in religion and the challenges of making the journal fully inclusive — incorporating contributions from women of color and international scholars.

A scholar and activist, Dr. Plaskow also reflects on her work supporting incarcerated women and her ongoing commitment to reproductive justice.

Dr. Judith Plaskow is the author of Standing Again at Sinai: Judaism from a Feminist Perspective.

Why does the Christian Right call the war against Iran a “Holy War” – and what does that reveal about the soul of White Christian Nationalism?

In this conversation, Dr. Carter Heyward – feminist theologian, pioneer of lesbian theology, and one of the first women ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church, USA –  breaks down the Seven Deadly Sins of White Christian Nationalism, including the lust for omnipotence, sin of entitlement, white supremacy, misogyny, capitalist spirituality, domination of earth and its creatures, and violence.

Drawing from her book The Seven Deadly Sins of White Christian Nationalism: A Call to Action, Heyward calls Christians to name these sins – and act. She traces the roots of LGBTQ+ theology from the 1970s to today, explores how transgender theology is transforming our understanding of gender and God, and reflects on the historic installation of Sarah Mullally as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury.

We also discuss:

How Project 2025 is dismantling democratic institutions in the name of Christian governance

President Trump’s “king of the world” posture and what it means theologically

The future of LGBTQ+ and transgender theology in the Church

Heyward’s forthcoming book Cry Justice: Letters to Liberals on the Church and Politics (Fall 2026)