Bill and Stephanie are joined by Veronica (Leave, Laugh, Love) to talk about Benedetta—starting with her own experience discerning religious life, and the moment that path ended when she was denied entry to a convent because she’s a lesbian.
From there, the conversation moves through fundamentalist Catholic spaces and the charismatic movement, touching on ideas like vocation, discernment, religious orders, and what it actually means to be “called” in a system with hard boundaries.
We also get into the reaction to Benedetta, including a harsh condemnation from Tradition, Family, Property and a more favorable take that approaches the film on its own terms.
Along the way, we set the stage for Part II with some context on director Paul Verhoeven—known for films like Basic Instinct, Showgirls, and RoboCop—and why a movie about Catholic mysticism, sainthood, and alleged miracles was always going to land exactly where it did: somewhere between serious religious drama and total controversy.
Check out the Leave, Laugh, Love podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leave-laugh-love/id1755663974
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