Paterson bishop opens up about Biden, baseball, abortion and more in new podcast

Let's get personal with Bishop Kevin Sweeney: The spiritual leader of Paterson's Catholic Diocese discovered rock-and-roll at folk-flavored Masses as a kid in Queens. His favorite song growing up was U2's "Pride (In the Name of Love)," a rocker with religious overtones. And he worked as an elevator operator in Manhattan when he was 18. The job had "its ups and downs," he says.

These and more revelations surfaced in the 53-year old prelate's new podcast, "Beyond the Beacon," a lively half-hour discussion about religion that also meanders into other aspects of the bishop's life.

Sweeney, the spiritual leader for 430,000 Catholics in Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties, hosts the weekly conversation with diocesan Communications Director Jai Agnish. The dynamic duo make for entertaining listening as they interview guests and discuss an array of topics, including sports, politics and music.

The pair chat amicably, unless they are tackling sports: Sweeney is a Yankees fan; Agnish roots for the Mets.

A first for the Paterson Diocese, the podcast aims to give the faithful a chance to get more acquainted with Sweeney's folksy, down-to-earth style, a vibe that worshippers don't often get to see amid the rituals of Sunday Mass.

The podcast was Sweeney's idea. The bishop wanted to use new forms of media to interact with the faithful and share the good news of the diocese, said Agnish. Sweeney said he plans to "feature guests from our ministries, parishes and schools to further these conversations and illuminate the work of our diocesan family in new ways."

The program debuted in March on all major streaming platforms, with a video version available on the bishop's new YouTube channel. "A lot of people have been tuning in," said Sweeney. And they aren't just his and Agnish's relatives.

Agnish, a former newspaper journalist (he worked at The Record and NorthJersey.com for 15 years), said he's enjoyed developing "a highly effective and fun new way to tell stories and reach an audience."

Each episode begins with a prayer but quickly moves on to an assortment of topics. Sweeney's own life is not off limits. He's talked about his summer jobs, his love of sports and music and his years at Cathedral Prep, a Catholic high school and seminary in Elmhurst, Queens.

Sweeney was a standout baseball player who once dreamed of going pro. When Agnish asked him recently about his induction into the school's Sports Hall of Fame, the bishop quipped, "it was a very small school, so let's keep it in perspective."

An avid athlete, Sweeney said he also wanted to play on Cathedral Prep's basketball team. "My grades weren't as good as they should have been," he told listeners, so his mother forced him to choose just one sport.

His high school baseball coach would lead the team in reciting the Hail Mary before games, Sweeney recalled.

The podcast also delves into more serious and spiritual topics like anti-abortion protestors, the civil rights movement and what can be done to encourage more young people to join the priesthood.

In the show's sixth episode, Sweeney and Agnish interviewed the Rev. Frank O'Grady, a retired Paterson priest who discussed his surprise meeting with President Joe Biden last month at the Knock Shrine in Ireland. O'Grady was the priest who administered Last Rites to Beau Biden nearly eight years ago before the president's son died at age 46 from brain cancer. Biden was on a state visit to Ireland, where O'Grady now lives, and their tearful encounter made headlines around the world.

The podcast veered into a sensitive area − Biden's pro-abortion rights stance, which has led some Catholic leaders to say the Catholic president should be denied Communion at Mass.

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"His position on life is something that many are disappointed and frustrated with," Sweeney said. "And many of our listeners would be disappointed with some of our bishops in terms of how we interact with some of our politicians. But when we hear of Father O'Grady, who interacted as a priest with members of the family whose son was dying, we have to be careful in terms of judging."

Other episodes have featured Scott Milliken, the CEO of Catholic Charities for the diocese, who talked about volunteerism, and Solanyi Rodriguez, a "sidewalk counselor" who speaks to patients outside abortion clinics.

As participation in organized religion has slid in recent years, faith leaders have sought new ways of attracting young people. Many around the country − including bishops from New York, Atlanta and Minnesota − have launched podcasts to help spread their messages.

On Sweeney's show, listeners are encouraged to write in with questions. Several have, including one who asked about the bishop’s dispensation allowing Catholics in the diocese to eat meat on Saint Patrick's Day even though it fell during Lent this year.

"Are we such simple people that we must have a dispensation?" the writer asked. "Wouldn't it be more spiritual not to?"

Nobody was forced to take the dispensation, Sweeney noted. "But a day like Saint Patrick's Day for the Irish is an opportunity for people who have something in common to celebrate their heritage," he said. "You are encouraged to make other sacrifices, like give charity or abstain from meat on another day."

At another point, Sweeney noted that Catholics need to be open to tough conversations about abortion and other debates.

"We need to bring our faith into the public square. This is why we have the podcast," he said. "We want to have these conversations. I know as a bishop that there are Catholics who feel strongly on both sides of the issues as to whether the president should receive Communion or what the stance of the bishops should be. I ask for people to be patient and understanding and have an open heart and open mind."

Deena Yellin covers religion for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to her work covering how the spiritual intersects with our daily lives, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: yellin@northjersey.com

Twitter: @deenayellin

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson Bishop Sweeney starts new podcast Beyond the Beacon