Dear Listeners,
Long before many of us had language for LGBTQ inclusion in the Church, a Catholic priest was already living it with care and conviction. Fr. Tom Oddo (1944–1989) publicly advocated for gay rights while also defending a human, life-giving vision of liberal arts education. His life reminds us that the work of LGBTQ dignity in Catholicism is not new—and that compassion, courage, and faithful witness have always been part of the Church’s story.
For this episode, I’m joined by guest Tyler Bieber, whose research and writing chronicle Fr. Tom’s life and work with remarkable care. His book, “Against the Current: Father Tom Oddo and the New American Catholic” from Unencumbered Press is available for purchase now.
I’m also grateful to be joined by today’s co-host, Madeline Marlett, whose own spiritual journey brings depth and clarity to this conversation about history, advocacy, and faith. Together, we reflect on what it means to inherit a legacy of public witness—and how learning about elders like Fr. Tom can ground and sustain those of us still pushing for a more honest, diverse, and just Church.
This episode is especially for anyone who feels worn down by the slow pace of change, or who’s been told that LGBTQ inclusion is somehow foreign to Catholicism. Fr. Tom’s life shows us that we’ve been here before—and that the work of reform, truth-telling, and love has always been part of the Church’s story.
🎧 Listen to the podcast here on Substack (where you can read a transcript by clicking the button on the top of the episode page on the web), Spotify (which has video and in-app transcripts), Apple Podcasts (which has in-app transcripts), and YouTube.
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Thank you, as always, for listening, reflecting, and showing up for these conversations.
With gratitude,
Max
