Heidi Schlumpf
@heidischlumpf.bsky.social
Religion journalist; co-host of the Francis Effect podcast
Heidischlumpfwrites@gmail.com
Heidischlumpfwrites@gmail.com
Excellent reporting from the bishops' meeting by Aleja Herzler-McCain at RNS:
“We see nurses running from room to room, taking on unsafe assignments, skipping breaks, holding our bladders and holding our tears," said Monica Gonzalez, a registered nurse at Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin, Texas.
religionnews.com/2025/11/13/a...
religionnews.com/2025/11/13/a...
Bishops ban trans care at Catholic hospitals, sidestep nurses’ push for better work conditions
BALTIMORE (RNS) — The bishops face criticism from transgender Catholics and their advocates, who say that the bishops failed to meaningfully consult their community, as well as from nurses, who say…
religionnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Excellent reporting from the bishops' meeting by Aleja Herzler-McCain at RNS:
My analysis: I'm glad the bishops spoke out about immigration but the only way to get "unity" on this issue was to be careful to still placate the Trump administration.
www.commonwealmagazine.org/bishops-stat...
www.commonwealmagazine.org/bishops-stat...
Bishops’ Statement on Immigration Falls Short
The USCCB released a statement in support of immigrants—but its failure to mention Trump and ICE undermines its welcome message.
www.commonwealmagazine.org
November 14, 2025 at 1:01 PM
My analysis: I'm glad the bishops spoke out about immigration but the only way to get "unity" on this issue was to be careful to still placate the Trump administration.
www.commonwealmagazine.org/bishops-stat...
www.commonwealmagazine.org/bishops-stat...
My new employer is doing a fundraising pitch today, on its 101st anniversary. If you're grateful they hired me, maybe throw in a few bucks. Thanks!! @commonweal.bsky.social
subscribe.commonwealmagazine.org/CMW/?f=donat...
subscribe.commonwealmagazine.org/CMW/?f=donat...
November 11, 2025 at 3:14 PM
My new employer is doing a fundraising pitch today, on its 101st anniversary. If you're grateful they hired me, maybe throw in a few bucks. Thanks!! @commonweal.bsky.social
subscribe.commonwealmagazine.org/CMW/?f=donat...
subscribe.commonwealmagazine.org/CMW/?f=donat...
Reposted by Heidi Schlumpf
This is a good book. I read it in one afternoon this summer. Lots of insight into how today’s rad-trad Team Leonard Leo Opus Dei political Catholics came about.
@heidischlumpf.bsky.social
www.americamagazine.org/books/2025/1...
@heidischlumpf.bsky.social
www.americamagazine.org/books/2025/1...
Review: Catholic militants in the present day
In 'Catholic Fundamentalism in America,' Mark Massa, S.J., describes the birth and growth of Catholic fundamentalism over the past six decades.
www.americamagazine.org
November 8, 2025 at 4:42 PM
This is a good book. I read it in one afternoon this summer. Lots of insight into how today’s rad-trad Team Leonard Leo Opus Dei political Catholics came about.
@heidischlumpf.bsky.social
www.americamagazine.org/books/2025/1...
@heidischlumpf.bsky.social
www.americamagazine.org/books/2025/1...
In honor of my new position, Commonweal is offering a FREE 1-year subscription to the magazine to my friends and family. This link is good for 24 hours, until 8 am Thursday, Nov. 6:
subscribe.commonwealmagazine.org/CMW/?f=freet...
subscribe.commonwealmagazine.org/CMW/?f=freet...
Commonweal
subscribe.commonwealmagazine.org
November 5, 2025 at 2:37 PM
In honor of my new position, Commonweal is offering a FREE 1-year subscription to the magazine to my friends and family. This link is good for 24 hours, until 8 am Thursday, Nov. 6:
subscribe.commonwealmagazine.org/CMW/?f=freet...
subscribe.commonwealmagazine.org/CMW/?f=freet...
Thanks for the kind words, Steve.
This is such incredibly welcome news.
@heidischlumpf.bsky.social is one of the most experienced Catholic journalists in the US with a deep perspective. Commonweal is the oldest and most thoughtful lay Catholic journal we have. Great things are coming.
Ad multos annos.
@heidischlumpf.bsky.social is one of the most experienced Catholic journalists in the US with a deep perspective. Commonweal is the oldest and most thoughtful lay Catholic journal we have. Great things are coming.
Ad multos annos.
November 3, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Thanks for the kind words, Steve.
Some professional news!
I have so much respect for their leadership and team and look forward to contributing to their excellent content.
I have so much respect for their leadership and team and look forward to contributing to their excellent content.
Please join us in welcoming the great @heidischlumpf.bsky.social to Commonweal! We’re delighted to announce that Heidi will be coming on board as Senior Correspondent.
Read more about it here!
www.commonwealmagazine.org/news/heidi-s...
Read more about it here!
www.commonwealmagazine.org/news/heidi-s...
November 3, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Some professional news!
I have so much respect for their leadership and team and look forward to contributing to their excellent content.
I have so much respect for their leadership and team and look forward to contributing to their excellent content.
I was honored to be asked to write the entry on the sex abuse crisis in the Catholic Church for Encyclopedia Britannica:
www.britannica.com/topic/Cathol...
www.britannica.com/topic/Cathol...
Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Crisis | Cases, Scandal, United States, Ireland, & Facts | Britannica
Since the 1980s and ’90s, sexual abuse by clergy and other church members has permeated every aspect of the Roman Catholic Church. Learn more about the global abuse crisis and the Vatican’s response.
www.britannica.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
I was honored to be asked to write the entry on the sex abuse crisis in the Catholic Church for Encyclopedia Britannica:
www.britannica.com/topic/Cathol...
www.britannica.com/topic/Cathol...
Reposted by Heidi Schlumpf
Fantastic event tonight with Future Church listening to @heidischlumpf.bsky.social
futurechurch.org/fall-event/
futurechurch.org/fall-event/
FutureChurch's 2025 Fall Event
FutureChurch's 35th Annual Fall Event: "The Spirit Still Speaks" with Heidi Schlumpf, Cynthia Bailey Manns, and Barbara Ann Kozee.
futurechurch.org
October 22, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Fantastic event tonight with Future Church listening to @heidischlumpf.bsky.social
futurechurch.org/fall-event/
futurechurch.org/fall-event/
This is one of the most beautiful essays I've read in a long time.
www.commonwealmagazine.org/gently-they-go
www.commonwealmagazine.org/gently-they-go
Gently They Go
"When a ninety-year-old Catholic mother dies, a man who’s been at the parish for fewer than six years puts on a robe, says a few words, and then we go home. And every time I think, you have no idea wh...
www.commonwealmagazine.org
October 24, 2025 at 12:57 PM
This is one of the most beautiful essays I've read in a long time.
www.commonwealmagazine.org/gently-they-go
www.commonwealmagazine.org/gently-they-go
Congratulations to Michael O'Loughlin on being named the next executive editor of the National Catholic Reporter.
www.ncronline.org/news/ncr-nam...
www.ncronline.org/news/ncr-nam...
NCR names Michael O'Loughlin as executive editor
O'Loughlin brings more than 15 years of experience in religion journalism, as a reporter, editor, podcast host and author. He will step into the position in January.
www.ncronline.org
October 20, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Congratulations to Michael O'Loughlin on being named the next executive editor of the National Catholic Reporter.
www.ncronline.org/news/ncr-nam...
www.ncronline.org/news/ncr-nam...
Fr. Dowling drew an additional conclusion about ICE’s refusal to let clergy inside: “They are afraid of people of faith."
Steven Millies: "Pressure from religious groups works, but there will need to be more of it." @stevenpmillies.com
religionnews.com/2025/10/15/i...
Steven Millies: "Pressure from religious groups works, but there will need to be more of it." @stevenpmillies.com
religionnews.com/2025/10/15/i...
ICE turned away the body of Christ. Catholics must keep showing up anyway.
(RNS) — Catholics processed in prayer had hoped to send eight people into a Chicago-area ICE facility to distribute Holy Communion.
religionnews.com
October 16, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Fr. Dowling drew an additional conclusion about ICE’s refusal to let clergy inside: “They are afraid of people of faith."
Steven Millies: "Pressure from religious groups works, but there will need to be more of it." @stevenpmillies.com
religionnews.com/2025/10/15/i...
Steven Millies: "Pressure from religious groups works, but there will need to be more of it." @stevenpmillies.com
religionnews.com/2025/10/15/i...
Reposted by Heidi Schlumpf
For what it's worth @heidischlumpf.bsky.social did a good job exploring some of the weird discourse about the Catholic vote a while back: www.ncronline.org/news/there-a...
Is there anything Catholic about the so-called Catholic vote?
Election results indicate shifts among Catholics overall, especially white Catholics, as well as with Latino voters – and point to abortion's growing insignificance as a political issue.
www.ncronline.org
October 12, 2025 at 11:52 AM
For what it's worth @heidischlumpf.bsky.social did a good job exploring some of the weird discourse about the Catholic vote a while back: www.ncronline.org/news/there-a...
Paul Lakeland's must-read review of John Gehring's book about Catholicism and Trump:
www.commonwealmagazine.org/heavy-lift
www.commonwealmagazine.org/heavy-lift
Heavy Lift?
John Gehring’s 'Reclaiming American Catholicism' is an exhaustive account of Catholicism in the Trump era and all that we face to reclaim the faith.
www.commonwealmagazine.org
October 13, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Paul Lakeland's must-read review of John Gehring's book about Catholicism and Trump:
www.commonwealmagazine.org/heavy-lift
www.commonwealmagazine.org/heavy-lift
A reminder that you can watch tonight's lecture via Livestream at 7pm Eastern.
events.fairfield.edu/event/the-25...
events.fairfield.edu/event/the-25...
The 25th Annual Anne Drummey O'Callaghan Lecture on Women in the Church
events.fairfield.edu
October 8, 2025 at 3:43 PM
A reminder that you can watch tonight's lecture via Livestream at 7pm Eastern.
events.fairfield.edu/event/the-25...
events.fairfield.edu/event/the-25...
Thank you to Jack Jenkins for this report on religious protesters in Chicago and how they're being treated. @jackjenkins.me
religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...
religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...
Religious protesters say ICE threatens religious freedom in Chicago
(RNS) — Despite potential danger, religious leaders and faith activists have been a visible presence at Chicago-area ICE protests, some waving signs with slogans such as ‘Love thy neighbor’ and ‘Who w...
religionnews.com
October 8, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Thank you to Jack Jenkins for this report on religious protesters in Chicago and how they're being treated. @jackjenkins.me
religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...
religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...
Pay attention. Trump thinks he can cancel the 1st amendment.
October 5, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Pay attention. Trump thinks he can cancel the 1st amendment.
Dan Horan on the development of doctrine and his belief that "the Holy Spirit will inevitably prevail."
www.ncronline.org/opinion/can-...
www.ncronline.org/opinion/can-...
Can doctrine be changed? Another look at Pope Leo's comment on LGBTQ+ Catholics
Reflecting on Pope Leo's recent comment in an interview, Daniel Horan suggests we look to history for the ways in which changing attitudes did eventually result in changing doctrine.
www.ncronline.org
October 3, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Dan Horan on the development of doctrine and his belief that "the Holy Spirit will inevitably prevail."
www.ncronline.org/opinion/can-...
www.ncronline.org/opinion/can-...
What's interesting to me about this is that Leo was taking questions from a journalist --and we didn't even have to wait for a plane trip!
cruxnow.com/church-in-th...
cruxnow.com/church-in-th...
Pope weighs in on Durbin controversy hours before senator declines award
Pope Leo XIV waded into a leadership controversy in the United States on Tuesday, mere hours before the dispute became largely academic.
cruxnow.com
October 1, 2025 at 3:11 PM
What's interesting to me about this is that Leo was taking questions from a journalist --and we didn't even have to wait for a plane trip!
cruxnow.com/church-in-th...
cruxnow.com/church-in-th...
"A prominent Church leader and a U.S. senator, brought together to speak for immigrants would have brought a lot of attention to the problem. That opportunity is gone now. All the attention has been wrested away to abortion." --Steven Millies
open.substack.com/pub/millies/...
open.substack.com/pub/millies/...
"Millions of Abortions Have Continued"
Abortion Cancel Culture Wins Again. What Was Gained?
open.substack.com
October 1, 2025 at 3:13 AM
"A prominent Church leader and a U.S. senator, brought together to speak for immigrants would have brought a lot of attention to the problem. That opportunity is gone now. All the attention has been wrested away to abortion." --Steven Millies
open.substack.com/pub/millies/...
open.substack.com/pub/millies/...
New episode of the Francis Effect podcast: Heidi, Daniel and David discuss Pope Leo's first interview and the effects on free speech after recent bouts of alleged political violence. Also, my interview with sociologist Tricia Bruce about synodality.
francisfxpod.com/current/2511
francisfxpod.com/current/2511
Pope Leo's long interview, free speech fallout, and Tricia Bruce on synodality — The Francis Effect
Heidi, Daniel, and David explore what we might learn from the first official interviews with the Holy Father. We then turn to the recent bouts of alleged political violence and the chilling effects on...
francisfxpod.com
September 25, 2025 at 1:30 PM
New episode of the Francis Effect podcast: Heidi, Daniel and David discuss Pope Leo's first interview and the effects on free speech after recent bouts of alleged political violence. Also, my interview with sociologist Tricia Bruce about synodality.
francisfxpod.com/current/2511
francisfxpod.com/current/2511
Reposted by Heidi Schlumpf
At a People's Mass outside a reported ICE hub, clergy and community members preached a God who stands with the oppressed.
Reporting from @heidischlumpf.bsky.social:
www.commonwealmagazine.org/chicago-ice-...
Reporting from @heidischlumpf.bsky.social:
www.commonwealmagazine.org/chicago-ice-...
Fear Not
At a People's Mass outside a reported ICE hub, clergy and community members preached a God who stands with the oppressed.
www.commonwealmagazine.org
September 24, 2025 at 5:17 PM
At a People's Mass outside a reported ICE hub, clergy and community members preached a God who stands with the oppressed.
Reporting from @heidischlumpf.bsky.social:
www.commonwealmagazine.org/chicago-ice-...
Reporting from @heidischlumpf.bsky.social:
www.commonwealmagazine.org/chicago-ice-...
If you don't already subscribe to Commonweal, you should based on this essay by editor Dominic Preziosi alone:
www.commonwealmagazine.org/preziosi-kir...
www.commonwealmagazine.org/preziosi-kir...
American Babel
MAGA partisans cannot plausibly celebrate Kirk as a champion of free speech while threatening to silence anyone who dares to criticize him.
www.commonwealmagazine.org
September 18, 2025 at 2:46 PM
If you don't already subscribe to Commonweal, you should based on this essay by editor Dominic Preziosi alone:
www.commonwealmagazine.org/preziosi-kir...
www.commonwealmagazine.org/preziosi-kir...
Reposted by Heidi Schlumpf
Scholars gathered at the sociology of religion meeting in Chicago still saw synodality as the most encouraging cause for hope in the American Church.
New reporting from @heidischlumpf.bsky.social:
www.commonwealmagazine.org/schlumpf-soc...
New reporting from @heidischlumpf.bsky.social:
www.commonwealmagazine.org/schlumpf-soc...
Still Positive on Synodality
Scholars gathered at the sociology of religion meeting in Chicago still saw synodality as the most encouraging cause for hope in the American Church.
www.commonwealmagazine.org
September 11, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Scholars gathered at the sociology of religion meeting in Chicago still saw synodality as the most encouraging cause for hope in the American Church.
New reporting from @heidischlumpf.bsky.social:
www.commonwealmagazine.org/schlumpf-soc...
New reporting from @heidischlumpf.bsky.social:
www.commonwealmagazine.org/schlumpf-soc...