Heidi Schlumpf

Heidi Schlumpf is NCR senior correspondent. Her email address is hschlumpf@ncronline.org. Follow her on Twitter: @HeidiSchlumpf.

Schlumpf was previously NCR's executive editor and a national correspondent. As national correspondent, Schlumpf did in-depth coverage on the influence of money in the church, sex abuse, politics, women's issues, racism and young people in the church. Her work has included investigations into Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) and popular Catholic author Matthew Kelly. She previously wrote an opinion column for NCR for almost a decade.

Schlumpf has three decades of experience covering religion, spirituality, social justice and women's issues, having previously served as managing editor of U.S. Catholic magazine and as a reporter at Chicago's archdiocesan newspaper and secular newspapers in California and Wisconsin. Her work has been published by CNN Opinion, Sojourners and Huffington Post. She taught journalism as an associate professor of communication at Aurora University in Illinois.

A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, she also earned a master's of theological studies from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern University, where she studied with feminist theologian Rosemary Radford Ruether.

She is the author/editor of three books, including Elizabeth A. Johnson: Questing for God (Liturgical Press, 2016), the Notre Dame Book of Prayer (Ave Maria, 2010) and While We Wait: Spiritual & Practical Advice for Those Trying to Adopt (ACTA, 2009).

Schlumpf is based in Chicago, where she lives with her husband, Edmund, and their two children, and where she is a member of St. Gertrude Parish.

By this Author

Jesuit Fr. Paddy Gilger speaks Nov. 9 on "The Subject of Public Religion," a talk sponsored by the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage at Loyola University Chicago. (NCR photo/Heidi Schlumpf)

Jesuit sociologist sees role for public religion in stemming 'de-democratization'

Sociologist of religion Jesuit Fr. Paddy Gilger told an audience at Loyola Chicago that religious people can help reconstitute the collapsed public sphere — but not in ways that many think of "public religion" today.

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Jesuit Fr. James Martin, editor at large of America magazine, share a laugh during a break at the assembly of the Synod of Bishops in the Vatican's Paul VI Audience Hall Oct. 11. (CNS/Vatican Media)

The Francis Effect podcast: Trump in court, Speaker Johnson, and talking to Fr. James Martin

Listen: Heidi, Father Daniel and David look at the recent testimony of former President Donald Trump and the recent election of Mike Johnson as House speaker, and Heidi talks with Fr. James Martin about the synod.

NCR Vatican correspondent Christopher White at work during the synod on synodality in Rome in October (NCR photo)

The Francis Effect podcast: Synod reflections and an interview with NCR's Christopher White

Listen: Heidi, Father Daniel, and David reflect on the last four weeks of the synod on synodality and give their thoughts on the synthesis document. Also, Heidi interviews NCR Vatican correspondent Christopher White.

Three women sit on a couch as they talk to group and a camera records them.

Moments of frustration but also hope: Sisters believe synod will bring slow change

Three Catholic sisters said they are hopeful that the church's synodal process might bring increased leadership roles for women. They also stressed that they already have significant influence as women religious.

 

Sr. Patricia Crowley of the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago, a social justice advocate, and a leader in the church and community, died Oct. 14. (Courtesy of Benedictine Sisters of Chicago)

Sr. Patricia Crowley, prominent Chicago sister who made a mark on the church and community, dies

Benedictine Sr. Patricia Crowley came from a famous Catholic family, and made her own mark as a Benedictine sister, social justice advocate, and leader in the church and community. Crowley died Oct. 14. She was 84.

Casey Stanton, co-director of Discerning Deacons, preaches about synodality in a Catholic Women Preach video. (NCR screengrab/Catholic Women Preach)

$1.25M Lilly grant funds new program in women's preaching

A new program to prepare women to preach in the Catholic Church has received a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., even as current church practice does not allow women to give the homily at Mass.

 

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-California, walks back to the speaker's office after he was ousted from the position by a 216-to-210 vote of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington Oct. 3. (OSV News/Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)

The Francis Effect podcast: No GOP speaker; 'Laudate Deum'; Kate McElwee interview

Listen: Heidi, Father Daniel, and David explore the dysfunction of the Republican Party, and discuss Pope Francis' Laudate Deum. Also, Heidi interviews Kate McElwee of the Women's Ordination Conference.

Bishop Matthew Kukah of Nigeria

Notre Dame conference aims to involve Black church in religious liberty fights

Notre Dame conference panelists spoke at sometimes heated sessions on issues that included racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, vulnerable Black populations, violence and Black Lives Matter, and education and school boards. 

Illustration of St. Peter's with pope and other people in foreground

NCR's guide to US participants at the synod on synodality

NCR has compiled a reference guide to the 24 Americans (or people with U.S. connections) who will be participating in the synod, either as voting members or experts/facilitators. 

Brian Flanagan (Courtesy of New Ways Ministry)

The Francis Effect podcast: Looming shutdown; German same-sex unions; Brian Flanagan

Listen: Heidi, Father Daniel and David discuss the threat of U.S. government shutdown and look at recent friction in Germany over blessing same-sex unions. Also, Heidi interviews Brian Flanagan of New Ways Ministry.

Group protests near Vatican, They carry signs supporting women's ordination,

The synod could change whether women can be ordained as deacons or priests. These women are hopeful.

Advocates for women's ordination told NCR's Heidi Schlumpf that they are hopeful that the synodal meetings in Rome will lead to change in the church. 

SAG-AFTRA members picket in front of Warner Bros.' offices in Manhattan, New York, on July 31. (Wikimedia Commons/Phil Roeder)

The Francis Effect podcast: Migrant crisis; Hollywood strikes; interview with Gustavo Arellano

Listen: Heidi, Father Daniel and David look at the Catholic response to the ongoing migrant crisis and at the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes through a lens of Catholic teaching, and Heidi interviews Gustavo Arellano of the LA Times.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to turn himself in to be processed at Fulton County Jail in Atlanta after his Georgia indictment, Aug. 24. Trump is one of 19 defendants in the indictment that alleges racketeering by a criminal organization that tried to overturn the election results. Local authorities said Trump would be treated like any other defendant. (OSV News/Reuters/Brendan McDermid)

The Francis Effect podcast: Trump indictments; climate crisis; Season of Creation

Listen: Season 13 of "The Francis Effect" kicks off as Heidi, Fr. Daniel, and David catch up on summer 2023; they discuss indictments against former President Donald Trump; and they look ahead to the Season of Creation.

Alana Chen's story is told in an eight-episode podcast, which began releasing one episode at a time in mid-August. "Dear Alana," was created, hosted and produced by Simon Kent Fung. It is currently the No. 1 podcast on Apple Podcasts. (NCR screenshot)

Sometimes LGBTQ issues are literally life and death

A new podcast about a young Colorado Catholic woman who died by suicide brings attention to the danger of conversion therapy, especially in religious contexts. "Dear Alana" is currently the No. 1 podcast in the nation.

Jeannie French, a former board member of Democrats for Life and a longtime pro-life advocate, has opened a combination resale shop/pregnancy help center in downtown Pittsburgh. (Courtesy of Jeannie French)

In a post-Dobbs world, helping women in crisis is key

An upscale resale shop in Pittsburgh offers free maternity wear, baby clothes and referrals to other resources for women facing crisis pregnancies. Owner Jeannie French says the project combines her love of thrifting and pro-life advocacy.
 

Kristin Colberg, associate professor of theology at St. John's School of Theology and Seminary, speaks at the Women of the Church conference in Collegeville, Minnesota. Her July 19 presentation was titled "Fruit and Seed: New Roles for Women in a Synodal Church." (Courtesy of Janet Millen)

Joy and hope amid struggle at Women of the Church event

Participants at a recent women's conference expressed hope and optimism about the upcoming synod on synodality and what it might mean for women's leadership in the church, reports NCR Executive Editor Heidi Schlumpf.  

Members of the Catholic Theological Society of America mingle in the exhibit area during the June 8-11 convention in Milwaukee. (Courtesy of Catholic Theological Society of America/Paul Schutz)

Anxiety at annual Catholic theology meetings amid higher education closures

Despite news of closures and cutbacks at Catholic colleges and universities, theologians from three theological societies met this month and found hope in facing a time of transition for their profession.

Jesuit Fr. Roger Haight received the highest honor from the Catholic Theological Society of America at its June 8-11 convention in Milwaukee. (Paul Schutz/Catholic Theological Society of America)

Theologian Roger Haight honored with CTSA's John Courtney Murray Award

A theologian and Jesuit priest whose writings had previously been censured by the Vatican was recognized with the highest award from the Catholic Theological Society of America at its June 8-11 conference in Milwaukee. The society also honored two women scholars with awards for their work.

Cecilia Gonzalez-Andrieu (second from left) receives the 2023 Ann O'Hara Graff Award June 8 at the annual convention of the Catholic Theological Society of America. Among those honoring the theologian at the award ceremony were (from left) Susan Abraham of the Pacific School of Religion, Layla Karst of Loyola Marymount and Jennifer Owens Jofré of St. Louis University. (NCR/Heidi Schlumpf)

González-Andrieu honored for scholarship, mentoring undocumented students

Feminist theologians honored Cecilia González-Andrieu of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles with this year's Ann O'Hara Graff Award at the Catholic Theological Society of America convention in Milwaukee.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence show their support during the gay pride parade in West Hollywood, California, June 12, 2016. (AP/Richard Vogel,File)

Actual sisters react to LA Dodgers and Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

Much ink has been spilled over the Dodgers honoring a charity group that dresses in drag and habits. NCR Executive Editor Heidi Schlumpf asked sisters who have ministered in the LGBTQ community what they thought.

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