Beyond Rome

In this episode, I sit down with Sr. Maris Stella of the Sisters of Life to discuss the remarkable life and witness of Cardinal John O’Connor — a champion of life, a bridge-builder with the Jewish people, and a spiritual father who left a lasting mark on the Church in America. Spoiler: after his death, it was discovered that his mother was Jewish and his grandfather a rabbi!

While serving as a Naval Officer, Sister Maris Stella had ...

In this episode, Simone Rizkallah sits down with Dr. Gerry McDermott to discuss his influential book Israel Matters: Why Christians Must Think Differently about the People and the Land. Together, they explore:

Why many Christians misunderstand Israel and the promises of God, the persistence of supersessionism (replacement theology) and why it matters for today, Biblical foundations for Israel’s enduring role, including Gen...

Simone interviews Dr. Gavin D’Costa about his groundbreaking work in Jewish-Catholic dialogue and the emerging idea of minimalist Catholic Zionism — a theological approach that affirms God’s enduring covenant with the Jewish people while engaging questions of land, justice, and peace.

They explore:

• How Vatican II transformed Catholic-Jewish relations.
• Why the land of Israel is central to Jewish identity and faith.
• How justice for P...

Welcome to Season 2! This week Simone Rizkallah is joined by Peter Wolfgang, an orthodox Catholic from a Jewish family. They discuss the religious and political landscape of the Church, the world, and the Near East—what to be aware of and what to do, particularly as American Catholics. 

Peter Wolfgang is President of Family Institute of Connecticut Action, a Hartford-based advocacy organization whose mission is to encourage and stre...

This week Simone Rizkallah and James O’Reilly are joined by Fr. Deacon Andrew Bennett, founder of the Canadian Christian Declaration on Antisemitism, for a timely and urgent conversation about the growing crisis of antisemitism in Canada. Drawing from Church teaching, public theology, and his experience in public life, Fr. Deacon Andrew explores how Christians are called to respond with courage, clarity, and conviction.

The discussi...

This week Simone Rizkallah and James O’Reilly are joined by Dominican priest and theologian Fr. James Brent, O.P., for a powerful conversation about Pentecost and the transformative power of truth in the Christian life. Drawing from Scripture, philosophy, and the Church Fathers, Fr. Brent explores how the descent of the Holy Spirit reveals not only divine power, but divine reason. The discussion also delves into the Catholic unders...

This week, James O’Reilly is joined by Fr. Chris to explore the life and legacy of St. Ephrem of Syria—the only Syriac Christian recognized as a Doctor of the Church. A prolific hymnographer, theologian, and poet, St. Ephrem’s writings continue to shape both Eastern and Western Christian thought.

The conversation also dives into the beauty of Eastern Catholic spirituality and its unique contributions to the universal Churc...

This week James O’Reilly is joined by David Moss, president of the Association of Hebrew Catholics (AHC), to discuss how Hebrew Catholics live and express their faith within the universal Church. The conversation also addresses the special challenges and role of Jewish Catholics in the 21st century. 

The Association of Hebrew Catholics works to preserve the identity and heritage of Catholics of Jewish origin within the Church, to en...

This week Simone Rizkallah and James O’Reilly are joined by Matias Perttula and Dan Harre of Save Armenia to discuss the recent and ongoing events in Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia, as well as the history and importance of the Armenian people.

Matias Perttula is the Director of Save Armenia. Previously, Perttula served as the Director of the Center for American Values at the America First Policy Institute. Perttula completed his master’s...

As one of the bonus episodes for Beyond Rome, we are sharing the second panel from Catholics and Antisemitism—Facing the Past, Shaping the Future, our conference with the Catholic Information Center in Washington DC, March 10, 2025. This panel discussion examines the historical roots and evolution of Catholic antisemitism, providing context for our current challenges. 

Moderated by Simone Rizkallah, the Director of Philos Catholic, ...

As one of the bonus episodes for Beyond Rome, we are sharing the third panel from Catholics and Antisemitism—Facing the Past, Shaping the Future, our conference with the Catholic Information Center in Washington DC, March 10, 2025. This panel discussion explores practical strategies and tools to address and combat antisemitism within Catholic circles.

Moderated by Simone Rizkallah, the Director of Philos Catholic, the panelists for ...

As one of the bonus episodes for Beyond Rome, we are sharing the closing keynote address from Catholics and Antisemitism—Facing the Past, Shaping the Future, our conference with the Catholic Information Center in Washington DC, March 10, 2025. 

Given by George Weigel, this keynote address illustrates Pope St. John Paul II as one of the greatest exemplars of Catholic-Jewish friendship and offers us ways to combat antisemitism today.

G...

As one of the bonus episodes for Beyond Rome, we are sharing the first panel from Catholics and Antisemitism—Facing the Past, Shaping the Future, our conference with the Catholic Information Center in Washington DC, March 10, 2025. This panel discussion explores the contemporary relevance and presence of antisemitism within Catholic communities.

Moderated by Simone Rizkallah, the Director of Philos Catholic, the panelists for this t...

This week Simone Rizkallah and James O’Reilly are joined by Maggie Phillips to discuss an essay she wrote for Word on Fire last May, titled Christians Have an Obligation—and a Way—to Stop Antisemitism. We also ask Maggie about her job as the only Christian working at a Jewish outlet and what inspired her to write her essay for Word on Fire.

Maggie has authored the series “Religious Literacy in America” for Tablet Magazine, work made...

This week Simone Rizkallah and James O’Reilly are once again joined by Dr. George Weigel to discuss Pope St. John Paul II’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2000 and his exemplary witness to Catholic-Jewish relations despite the always changing geopolitical climate.

George Weigel, Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, is a Catholic theologian and one of America’s leading public intellectuals. He holds EPP...

This week Simone Rizkallah and James O’Reilly are joined by Andre Villeneuve to discuss how Catholics should navigate between the two heresies of Supersessionism (or Replacement Theology) and Dual Covenant Theology.

Dr. André Villeneuve is a Catholic theologian, biblical scholar, and Associate Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. 

André received his Ph.D. from the Hebr...

This week Simone Rizkallah and James O’Reilly are joined by Yarden Zelivensky to discuss his journey to Catholicism and his life as a Jewish and Hebrew speaking Catholic in Israel.

Yarden is a husband and father of three. A Jewish convert to the Catholic faith (via Jehovah’s Witnesses), Yarden is working with the Association of Hebrew Catholics in Israel to preserve the identity and heritage of Catholics of Jewish origin within the ...

This week Simone Rizkallah and James O’Reilly are joined by Habib Malik of The Philos Project to discuss his father Charles Malik’s role in Pope St. Paul VI’s historical 1964 pilgrimage to the Holy Land. 

Habib C. Malik is a Senior Research Fellow at The Philos Project, where his work focuses on mapping out Lebanon's current challenges and the best path forward for reform. He holds a BA degree in history from the American Unive...

In this week’s episode of Beyond Rome, Simone Rizkallah interviews both her co-host James O’Reilly and Phillip Dolitsky, a friend and colleague who serves as strategic advisor at The Philos Project.

Together Phil and James share about their friendship with each other despite the fact that Phillip is an observant, Orthodox Jew and James is a practicing, traditional Catholic. Despite a long and contentious history of Cathol...