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Fulton Sheen: The First Celebrity Bishop

September 24, 2026 · 48 min

Show notes

This week on the “Jesuitical” podcast, Ashley McKinless and Zac Davis speak with Rachel Lu about the beatification of Fulton Sheen, the American archbishop who was famous for his media evangelism in the mid-20th century. Rachel is a senior editor at Law and Liberty and a regular contributor to the National Review and America Magazine. Together they discuss Sheen’s charisma, cultural influence, and his lesser known political philosophy which defended both the public role of religion and the separation of church and state.  

Chapters:

Chapters:

00:00 Beatification of Fulton Sheen

01:23 When Fulton Sheen arrived on the scene

05:20 Sheen’s philosophical training

07:34 Fighting communism

11:22 What made Sheen’s TV show so popular?

13:51 What Sheen would think of America today?

26:09 The first celebrity bishop?

34:19 Introducing "Auguri!"

36:15 Faith sharing: Praying about using A.I.

Links from the show:

Fulton Sheen Bet on America. Some Catholics Want to Call It Off.

Pope Leo calls Archbishop Fulton Sheen ‘a light of faith’ who touched millions with the Gospel

Archbishop Fulton Sheen to be beatified Sept. 24 in St. Louis

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