Just got word that Sister Sandra Schneiders, IHM, will be a panelist on the NPR “On Point” program today, Wednesday, July 8. The topic is “U.S. Catholic Nuns and the Vatican” which will probably include discussion about the Apostolic Visitation. One of the other panelists will be Mother Mary Quentin Sheridan, RSM (Religious Sister of Mercy), who currently leads the Conference of Major Superiors of Women Religious, one of two women’s religious leadership groups in the United States (the other is the Leadership Council of Women Religious).

Also on the panel is Sister Mary Traupman, CDP (Sisters of Divine Providence), an attorney who helps senior citizens with legal work, and Laurie Goodstein, national religion correspondent for The New York Times. Goodstein wrote a recent article “U.S. Nuns Facing Vatican Scrutiny” (July 1, 2009) which included a misquote of Sister Sandra when it stated she “urged fellow nuns not to participate/cooperate in the study” — Sister Sandra has requested a correction.

Check your local station for the broadcast time of “On Point” is aired. You can also listen live on the “On Point” website 10am – Noon, 7 – 9pm (ET). The program will likely be available on the website after the broadcast too.

Last night I went to a free taping of the National Public Radio show Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me at the outdoor Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park in Chicago. The entertaining weekly news quiz show is hosted by Peter Sagal with scorekeeper Carl Kasell. The panelists were Mo Raca, Paula Poundstone, and Tom Bodett. They also had on the show the legendary baseball player Moose Skowron who today is a community relations representative for the White Sox.

As if all that was not entertaining enough, Chicago was beseiged by rain for the whole day and night yesterday. Having arrived early to get seats, my nun and I crouched beneath umbrellas, Starbucks in hand, for a good long time until the kindly people of Millennium Park allowed us to come up front where only the first few rows had some shelter from the rain. The yearly recording in Millennium Park normally sees 10,000 plus people, but this night it was just a few hundred wet but friendly people.

Moose Skowron was a delight and told story after story. He made the 1961 Yankees team come alive and his comparisons between players today and players in his day was hilarious. If I had my own radio show, I’d be sure to have him on.

Hmmm … if I did have my own radio show, who else would you like to see me interview and why? Sky’s the limit! Respond below in the comments section.