Ave Maria in the Afternoon Segments

For most of American history, putting family first was not just a private choice; it was a deep expression of American identity. But that seems to have changed. A new survey of more than 90,000 correspondents found that only 48% of Americans ranked family as a top-five value in their lives, and only 11% ranked it as their top priority. We discuss this collapse with Peter Laffin.Further ReadingFrom ‘family first’ to ‘me first’: How American values collapsed — and how to restore themFollow Peter on Twitter Guest InfoPeter Laffin is the In Focus editor and senior editor of commentary at the Washington Examiner. He was formerly a staff writer for the National Catholic Register. His commentaries, news features, and book reviews have appeared in Catholic Herald UK, the Catholic Thing, RealClearPolitics, and RealClearReligion, and he has offered analysis on Fox News, EWTN, and Sirius XM’s POTUS. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Bethlehem is more than a name on the page. It is a real place that has existed for thousands of years, and we look at its historical context with Steve Ray.Further ReadingSteve’s website Guest InfoSteve Ray leads pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Rome and other sites. He converted to Catholicism in 1994 and is the author of “Crossing the Tiber,” “Upon this Rock” and other books, including a brand-new study on the Book of Genesis. He’s the host and producer of the Footprints of God DVD series and has been to the Holy Land more than 200 times. He also writes bible studies for Catholic Scripture Study International Visit catholic-convert.com and footprintsofgodpilgrimages.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

In an address today to the Roman Curia, Pope Leo called on Church leaders to be “more mission-oriented” and cautioned against the “forces of division” that can take root in the Church. Doug Keck joins us to discuss his comments.Further ReadingPope Leo XIV urges a ‘more missionary’ Roman Curia and warns against internal divisionsGuest InfoDoug Keck is the host of EWTN Bookmark and the retired president and COO of EWTN. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

If we accept the natural law as a law that governs our lives, then it must bind more than one person and coordinate their activity, beginning with its very first principles. We look at the Social character of the natural law with Michael Pakaluk.Further ReadingMichael’s essay on the Natural LawFollow Michael on Substack Book: The Shock of Holiness: Finding the Romance of Everyday LifeGuest InfoMichael Pakaluk, an Aristotle scholar and Ordinarius of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas, is Professor of Political Economy in the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America. He lives in Hyattsville, MD with his wife Catherine, also a professor at the Busch School, and their children. His collection of essays, The Shock of Holiness (Ignatius Press) is now available. His book on Christian friendship, The Company We Keep, is now available from Scepter Press. He was a contributor to Natural Law: Five Views, published by Zondervan last May, and his most recent Gospel book came out with Regnery Gateway in March, Be Good Bankers: The Economic Interpretation of Matthew’s Gospel. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

On Christmas Eve of 1914, the guns of the Great War’s Western Front fell silent. Enemy soldiers left the trenches, crossed the battle lines, and gathered to exchange food and gifts and sing carols. The ceasefire was not planned or sanctioned – it arose from the instincts of exhausted men. It emphasized a universal truth: at each end of the rifle, men were the same. Marcus has more.Further ReadingBook: Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas TruceCarol Ann Duffy: The Christmas Truce This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

In 1849, Fyodor Dostoyevsky stood before a firing squad fully prepared for death, only to have his sentence revoked at the last moment. But this near brush with death gave him unique credibility for writing about life. Marcus has more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

The question of IVF remains an important moral issue for Catholics. Genetic testing companies claim to give parents “the power to protect their children before pregnancy begins” by screening embryos in the petri dish. We look at the ethical complications with Andrew Kubick.Further ReadingBabies, Made to Order: The New York Times Sounds the Reproductive Technology AlarmIVF, Human Dignity, and the Gospel of LifeNational Catholic Bioethics Center Guest InfoAndrew Kubick is Senior Research Fellow for Public Policy at the Catholic Health Care Leadership Alliance and Ethics Consultant at the National Catholic Bioethics Center. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

In this Sunday’s readings, we hear multiples stories of people who received direct messages from God and responded. In both the Gospel and the First Reading, we hear of the coming of a baby named Emmanuel. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.Guest InfoRob Corzine is the Vice-president of Programs for the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

The Church has given us a rich tradition of music for Advent. Solemn, yet joyful, it helps us to prepare our hearts for the birth of Christ. Deacon Tom Loewe joins us with two examples.The featured songs are:Bereitet die Wege, Bereitet die Bahn (Prepare the Way, Prepare the Path)Composer: J.S. Bach (1685-1750) From: Advent Cantata, BVW 132 (f.p., Weimar, December 22, 1715) Vocalist, Arlene Auger, soprano (oboist unnamed) Orchestra: Bach Ensemble-Helmuth Rilling, Conductor CD: Hanssler Classics label, 2010Veni Veni, EmmanuelTraditional Latin (circa 7th century AD)Performance: Gesualdo SixArrangement: Philip LawsonDirector: Owain ParkRecorded Live: Trinity Chapel, Cambridge, 2014Guest InfoDeacon Tom Loewe is the co-host with Sr. Sarah Burdick of Notes from Above on Ave Maria Radio. You can catch his program Sundays at 4:30 pm, Wednesdays at 9 pm, and Saturdays at 8 am on Ave Maria Radio. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

A young woman in Japan recently made headlines for “marrying” her AI-generated boyfriend. Wearing a wedding dress and virtual-reality goggles, she walked down the aisle and exchanged vows with a virtual image powered by Chat GPT. It’s an example of a culture craving for frictionless affirmation – relationships completely free of challenge or conflict. But if such relationships exist, they are hollow. Marcus has more.Further ReadingWoman Marries AI-Generated Boyfriend This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

The Old Testament details 353 prophecies by which the Jews could recognize the Messiah. The odds that one man would fulfill them all are astronomic, but what do they say? We discuss them with Andre Villeneuve. Further ReadingThe Probability That Jesus Fulfilled 8 Prophecies by HappenstanceThe Feasts of Israel: Foreshadowing the MessiahGuest InfoDr. André Villeneuve is a Catholic theologian, biblical scholar, and Associate Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. He previously taught theology and Scripture at St. John Vianney Seminary (Denver, CO) and Franciscan University of Steubenville (OH), and the Great Books in the Honors College at Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, CA). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Pope Leo has tapped Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet, Illinois to be the next Archbishop of New York following the retirement of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who has served America’s second-largest Archdiocese since 2009. We get to know him with Dr Matthew Bunson.Further ReadingPope Leo Picks Fellow Chicagoan with ‘Missionary Spirit’ as New York’s Next ArchbishopCardinal Dolan: Joyful Herald and Personification of the Good News‘She Radiated Christ’: Brown University’s Catholic Chaplain Remembers Ella CookPentagon Chief Announces Reforms to U.S. Military’s Chaplain CorpsGuest InfoMatthew Bunson is Vice President and Editorial Director of EWTN News and a Senior Fellow at St Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He’s the author or co-author of more than 50 books including the first English-language biography of Pope Francis and The Encyclopedia of Catholic History. Follow him on twitter at MattBunson. Register Radio airs Saturdays at 4 pm and Sundays at 11 am on Ave Maria Radio This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

In a recent video discussion on the Bible, Jordan Peterson discusses the Gospels. He uses a translation known as The Single Gospel, a condensed version that combines the four narratives into one. However, this raises some issues because of what is lost. We discuss it with Daniel Gallagher.Further ReadingOn Jordan Peterson and the necessity of tethering the Gospels to TraditionGuest InfoDaniel B. Gallagher is a Lecturer in Literature and Philosophy at Ralston College. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

St. Joseph the Worker Academy is an all-boys school in the Ann Arbor area based upon the educational philosophies of St. John Bosco and John Senior. Inshal Chenet and Jack Carter tell us about it. Further readingSt. Joseph the Worker Academy website Guest InfoInshal Chenet is the Headmaster of St. Joseph the WorkerJack Carter is the Dean of Men at St. Joseph the Worker. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

“Mary was an unwed mother.”“Joseph was merely Jesus’ foster father.”“The Holy Family were illegal immigrants in Egypt”You’ve probably already heard these claims in the days leading up to Christmas, as people attempt to fit the story of Christmas into a modern mold. But it doesn’t work that way. Marcus has more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

On December 16, 1773, members of the Sons of Liberty disguised as Native Americans boarded three ships in Boston Harbor and dumped hundreds of chest of tea into the water. The protest greatly escalated hostilities between Great Britain and the Thirteen Colonies, and open war broke out less than two years later. Shawn McGhee joins us with a closer look at how the Boston Tea Party transformed the American Revolution.Further ReadingBook: No Longer Subjects of the British King: The Political Transformation of Royal Subjects to Republican CitizensShawn’s articles Guest InfoDr. Shawn David McGhee is a political historian of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century America and educator in the Philadelphia Metropolitan area. He is author of No Longer Subjects of the British King: The Political Transformation of Royal Subjects to Republican Citizens, 1774-1776, and regular contributor to the Journal of the American Revolution. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, Jacquelyn, and their three children. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Truthly is a groundbreaking Catholic AI app designed to empower people with instant, reliable Catholic answers to questions about the faith and life. Co-founder Zac Johnson tells us more about it.Further ReadingTruthly website Guest InfoZac Johnson is the co-founder of the Truthly app. Visit truthly.ai This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

The 14-year legal battle against federal contraceptive mandates will continue, with Little Sisters of the Poor and the federal government seeking to reinstate moral and religious exemptions that were established in 2017. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has the details.Further ReadingLittle Sisters of the Poor File Another Appeal Over Contraception MandateFollow Andrea on XConscience ProjectGuest InfoAndrea Picciotti-Bayer is a legal analyst for EWTN News. She also directs the Conscience Project. Follow her on Twitter @bayerpicciotti and visit conscience-project.org. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

In his travels, George Weigel has found that the perspective of American bishops in other countries is often far from reality. Friends will ask him why the bishops are so deeply divided, or why they disliked Pope Francis so much. With Pope Leo’s emphasis on unity, one would hope that such misconceptions will lessen. George joins us with more, and also discusses the latest developments with the German bishops.Further ReadingRome and the Church in the United StatesThe German Bishops’ Conference, Over the CliffGeorge’s website George’s books Guest InfoGeorge Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, where he holds the William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies. He is the author of many books, including To Sanctify the World: The Vital Legacy of Vatican II, Witness to Hope, and Evangelical Catholicism. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

In the final days of Advent, the Church entreats us to the O Antiphons – short chants used during Vespers that are deeply set in Scripture and tradition. Marcus plays them and examines their deeper meaning.Further ReadingThe “O Antiphons” of Advent This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Laptops, tablets, smartphones and other tech products were supposed to make learning easier. They would enhance our student’s access to knowledge and allow them to collaborate and exchange ideas. But the receipts are coming in and they show a different trend – the more schools digitize, the worst their students perform. Dr. Jared Horvath has more.Further ReadingBook: The Digital Delusion: How Classroom Technology Harms Our Kids’ Learning -- And How To Help Them Thrive AgainWe Gave Students Laptops and Took Away Their BrainsJared’s websiteGuest InfoDr. Jared Cooney Horvath is a neuroscientist, educator, and best-selling author who specializes in human learning and brain development. He’s the author of several books, most recently The Digital Delusion: How Classroom Technology Harms Our Kids’ Learning -- And How To Help Them Thrive Again. He is also the creator of The Learning Blueprint, an international award-winning program helping educators and students understand how learning actually works. Learn more about his work at lmeglobal.net This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Today is the 250th birthday of novelist Jane Austen. We talk about how her beloved characters speak to today’s culture with Henry Russell.Guest InfoDr. Henry Russell is Headmaster of the St. Augustine’s Homeschool Enrichment Program, which he founded with his wife Crystal. The program began in Fall 2005 with 20 students in two living rooms and now tutors more than 140 students in three locations.Dr. Russell’s works include The Catholic Shakespeare Audio Series. He was the Associate Editor of The Formalist from 1990-2004 and his writings have been published in various journals. He was honored to edit Dr. Alice von Hildebrand’s groundbreaking volume, The Privilege of Being a Woman. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

When Christians of any age or denomination debate the nature of the good life, the soul, or free will, their thought process is based on Aristotelian principles. Though not a Christian himself, Aristotle made full use of general revelation to arrive at deep truths about the nature of God, human identity, and the universe. We explore his thought with Louis Markos.Further ReadingBook: From Aristotle to Christ: How Aristotelian Thought Clarified the Christian FaithBook: From Plato to Christ: How Platonic Thought Shaped the Christian FaithAristotle’s Nicomachean Ethicshttps://x.com/loumarkos‘From Aristotle to Christ’: Greek Thought Meets the Christian FaithGuest InfoLouis Markos is the author most recently of From Aristotle to Christ: How Aristotelian Thought Clarified the Christian Faith. He is professor of English at Houston Christian University, where he also holds the Robert Ray Chair in Humanities. His other books include Atheism on Trial and From Plato to Christ: How Platonic Thought Shaped the Christian Faith. Follow him on X @loumarkos This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

For the last week, the University of Michigan football program has been rocked by the news that its head coach, Sherrone Moore, was fired for having an affair with a member of his staff. It’s a trend tracing back to King David and beyond – a powerful, successful man whose life is undone by sexual immorality. And it’s why Tom Nash says that chastity can be a man’s real best friend. Tom joins us.Further ReadingChastity is a boy’s best friendGuest InfoTom Nash has served the Church professionally for more than 35 years, including as a theology advisor at the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). He is a staff apologist for Catholic Answers, and a contributing writer for both the National Catholic Register and Catholic World Report. He is the author of The Biblical Roots of the Mass, To Whom Shall We Go?: The Biblical Case for the Catholic Church, and 20 Answers: The Rosary. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

In a post reacting to the death of director Rob Reiner, President Trump seemingly linked the murder to Reiner’s political leanings. Reiner was a vocal progressive and frequent critic of Trump, and Trump wrote his death was due to the anger Reiner caused others with his “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” Marcus discusses how this was a missed opportunity to make a unifying statement about the value of life.Further ReadingChristians Must be Better than Donald Trump This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Religion in America has seen its ups and downs throughout the country’s history. Recent statistics show that we’re experiencing a little bit of both now. Miles Smith takes a look at America’s Religious landscape.Further ReadingAmerican Religion by the NumbersBook: The American Religious Landscape: Facts, Trends, and the FutureBook: Religion & Republic: Christian America from the Founding to the Civil WarGuest InfoMiles Smith is a historian of the American South and the Atlantic World. He has taught at Hillsdale College, Regent University, and Texas Christian University, and is the author most recently of Religion and Republic: Christian America from the Founding to the Civil War. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Jimmy Lai was found guilty today of multiple violations of China’s national security laws. He has not been formally sentenced, but is likely facing life in prison. Benedict Rogers joins us with more.Further ReadingJimmy Lai found guilty of national security violations, faces life in prisonTo China, He Was an Arch Villain. To His Supporters, He Was Their Hope.Book: The China NexusFollow Ben on X HongKong WatchGuest InfoBenedict Rogers is the co-founder and Trustee of Hong Kong Watch. Ben launched Hong Kong Watch, together with other co-founders, in Speaker’s House in the British Parliament on 10 December 2017, just two months after he was denied entry to Hong Kong on the orders of Beijing, and served as the Chair of Trustees of Hong Kong Watch from 2017-2020. He is also the author of The China Nexus Thirty Years in and Around the Chinese Communist Party’s Tyranny. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

The Bill of Rights was ratified on this day in 1791. Doug Keck joins us to discuss the source of our rights.Guest InfoDoug Keck is the host of EWTN Bookmark. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Pope Benedict XVI had a lot to say about Israel. For example, n his poignant address at the Reichstag in Berlin, he highlighted the Church’s “great closeness to the Jewish people” and the “special bond” we share with them as “beloved brothers.” We take a closer look with Dr. Matthew Ramage. Further ReadingWhat Benedict XVI taught us about Israel—and why it matters nowGuest InfoMatthew J. Ramage, Ph.D., is Professor of Theology at Benedictine College where he is co-director of its Center for Integral Ecology. His research and writing concentrates especially on the theology of Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI, the wedding of ancient and modern methods of biblical interpretation, the dialogue between faith and science, and stewardship of creation. In addition to his other scholarly and outreach endeavors, Dr. Ramage is author, co-author, or translator of over fifteen books, including Dark Passages of the Bible (CUA Press, 2013), Jesus, Interpreted (CUA Press, 2017), The Experiment of Faith (CUA Press, 2020), and Christ’s Church and World Religions (Sophia Institute Press, 2020). His latest book, From the Dust of the Earth: Benedict XVI, the Bible, and the Theory of Evolution, was published by CUA Press in 2022. Visit him at www.matthewramage.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Cultural commentators frequently speak of the “War on Christmas.” And there certainly is a long trend of secularizing the season, where Christ is replaced by Santa and gifts. But Joseph Vukov sees another battle – the War on Advent, when premature Christmas celebrations overshadow the Advent season. He joins us.Links for this SegmentThe War on AdventBook: Staying Human in an Era of Artificial IntelligenceGuest InfoDr. Joseph Vukov is an Associate Professor of Philosophy and the Associate Director of the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage at Loyola University Chicago. He is the author of several books, including, most recently, Staying Human in an Era of Artificial Intelligence. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed a bill legalizing assisted suicide in the state. Wes Smith has the details.Further ReadingAssisted Suicide Legalized in IllinoisCenter on Human ExceptionalismBook: Culture of Death: The Age of Do Harm Medicine Wes’s Humanize Podcast Follow Wes on XGuest InfoWes Smith is the Chair and Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute’s Center on Human Exceptionalism. He’s also the host of the Humanize Podcast. He’s the author of 13 books including “Culture of Death: The age of Do-Harm Medicine.” Follow him on Twitter @thewesleyjsmith and check out his articles at National Review, First Things and more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

The Protestant Reformation did not arise on a whim or in a vaccuum. It was the result of more than a century of cultural and intellectual upheavel. And in the wake of this turmoil, Mary appeared to a young peasant in Guadalupe, Mexico. Marcus has more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

In this Sunday’s Gospel, the imprisoned John the Baptist sends messengers to Jesus to inquire if he is the Messiah. We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.Guest InfoRob Corzine is Vice President of Programs for the St Paul Center for Biblical Theology. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Bishop Daniel Thomas from the Diocese of Toledo joins us to discuss growing closer to Christ during Advent as well as Our Lady of Guadalupe and the pro-life mission.Guest InfoBishop Daniel Thomas serves as the 8th bishop of the Diocese of Toledo. He chairs the USCCB’s Pro Life Activities Committee. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

For thousands of years, the sacrifice of Isaac has challenged readers of Scripture to reconcile the God who commands “Thou shalt not kill” with the God who commands Abraham to kill his own son. Can the God who condemns the killing of the innocent be the same God who orders the innocent to be killed? How could God command such a morally abhorrent action? Monica Miller joins us.Guest InfoDr Monica Miller is the Director of Citizens for a Pro-Life Society and the author of many books including “The Authority of Women in the Catholic Church,” “Abandoned: The Untold Story of the Abortion Wars” and “Theology of the Passion of the Christ” Check out prolifesociety.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

A vineyard owner in California has paid tens of thousands of dollars to clone his dog. The cloned animal shares completely identical genetics with the original dog, and it displays an almost eerie physical resemblance. However, it behaves in distinct ways, unique to itself. The story is an example of how we are limited in our ability to control the entire world around us. Marcus has more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Jacques Maritain was regarded as one of the most prominent Catholic intellectuals during his lifetime and was a spokesman for the Thomistic revival. His philosophy was also essential in the development of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We look at his thought with Jason West.Further ReadingBook: The Christian Philosophy of Jacques MaritainFollow Jason on Twitter Guest InfoJason L.A. West is professor of philosophy at Newman Theological College, Edmonton, Canada. He’s the author of The Christian Philosophy of Jacques Maritain, available from CUA Press. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

As an OB-GYN in training, Dr. John Bruchalski considered abortion to be health care. But that changed when, one night, he was caught between trying to save the life of one unborn baby — and ending the life of another. Our Lady of Guadalupe plays a key role in his story, and he joins us today.Further ReadingBook: Two Patients: My Conversion from Abortion to Life-Affirming MedicineWhat Our Lady of Guadalupe Means to a Former AbortionistJohn’s website Follow John on Twitter Guest Info Dr. John Bruchalski is the author of Two Patients: My Conversion from Abortion to Life-Affirming Medicine. He is an OB/GYN who founded Tepeyac OB/GYN in Fairfax, Virginia in 1994 to help serve all women regardless of their beliefs, background or financial situation. In 2000 he founded Divine Mercy Care, which helps to cover the cost of prenatal care for mothers in need. Learn more at tepeyacobgyn.com and divinemercycare.org and follow him on Twitter @JohnBruchalski. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Like many medieval Catholic theologians, St. Thomas Aquinas offers a fundamentally ambiguous take on Judaism and the Jewish people. He’s clearly committed to both the importance of the Jews in salvation history, and to the fundamentally flawed practices of Judaism after the coming of Christ. Bruce Marshall joins us with more.Further ReadingBook: From Sinai to Rome: Jewish Identity in the Catholic ChurchGuest InfoBruce Marshall is Lehman Professor of Christian Doctrine in the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. He’s the author of Trinity and Truth and Christology in Conflict, and is working on a book entitled The Primacy of Christ: Faith, Reason and the Cross. He is also a contributor to From Sinai to Rome: Jewish Identity in the Catholic Church. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

America is supposedly a secular country, with separation of church and state, free exercise of religion, and so on. Yet we find ourselves in the middle of what amounts to a religious war. How could this be? John Daniel Davidson joins us.Further Reading America’s Conflicts Are Not Primarily Political Or Ideological, But ReligiousGuest InfoJohn Daniel Davidson is a senior editor at The Federalist. His writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the Claremont Review of Books, The New York Post, and elsewhere. He is the author of Pagan America: the Decline of Christianity and the Dark Age to Come. Follow him on Twitter, @johnddavidson. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

The scandal involving University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore is the latest example of a successful, prominent man allowing his life to be ruined by sexual infidelity. Marcus discusses how society has been hurt by a lack of virtuous men. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

When historians study battles, or sports analysts study games, they attempt to identify the “turning point” – the moment when the tides turn. With Advent, we prepare for the biggest turning point the universe has ever seen: the Incarnation of the Son of God. David Bonagura joins us.Further ReadingAdvent: Turning Point UniverseBook: 100 Tough Questions for CatholicsDavid’s website Guest InfoDavid G. Bonagura, Jr. is the author, most recently, of 100 Tough Questions for Catholics: Common Obstacles to Faith Today, and the translator of Jerome’s Tears: Letters to Friends in Mourning. An adjunct professor at St. Joseph’s Seminary and Catholic International University, he serves as the religion editor of The University Bookman, a review of books founded in 1960 by Russell Kirk. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

The ideological partisanship that is rampaging through our society today can be traced back partially to our educational system. Some students buy into the ideologies of campus classrooms, while others reject it so harshly they end up embracing other forms of extremism. What should we do? Robert P. George joins us.Further ReadingA Solution to Campus ExtremismFollow Professor George on XGuest InfoRobert P. George is McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. He has served in several other capacities, including as chairman of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and as a presidential appointee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights. He is a former Judicial Fellow at the Supreme Court of the United States, where he received the Justice Tom C. Clark Award. His scholarly articles and reviews have appeared in such journals as the Harvard Law Review, the Yale Law Journal, the Columbia Law Review, the American Journal of Jurisprudence, and the Review of Politics. He’s the author of several books, most recently Seeking Truth and Speaking Truth: Law and Morality in Our Cultural Moment. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

As families gather this holiday season, finding entertainment that is both edifying and enjoyable shouldn’t require a culture-war battle. For years, it has. Here’s the good news: Americans are winning. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has more.Further ReadingThis Thanksgiving, Choose Movies That Will Bring Your Family TogetherGuest InfoAndrea Picciotti-Bayer is a legal analyst for EWTN News. She also directs the Conscience Project and is a fellow at the Institute for Human Ecology at Catholic University of America. Follow her on Twitter @bayerpicciotti and visit conscience-project.org. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Advent is profoundly eschatological, a reality that grows more apparent as the season reaches its climax. In these days, Holy Mother Church considers Jesus Christ as the Approaching One, who brings into the middle of time not only the spotless light of the Beginning, but also the awesome glory of the End. Philip Primeau joins us.Further ReadingAdvent and EschatonPhilip’s blog Guest InfoPhilip Primeau’s work has appeared in Crisis, Homiletic & Pastoral Review, Catholic World Report, and Aleteia. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

The Genocide Convention, signed on December 9, 1948, was the first international legal document to codify genocide as a crime. In commemoration of this convention, Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting is sponsoring a forum examining the state of Human Rights in China. Featured speaker Reggie Littlejohn joins us.Further ReadingWomen’s Rights Without Frontiers Forced Abortions in China: An Interview with Reggie LittlejohnGuest InfoReggie Littlejohn is Founder and President of Women’s Rights Without Frontiers, an international coalition to expose and oppose forced abortion, gendercide and sexual slavery in China. Visit womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Today is the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The world had staggered out of a period in history in which industrialized nations used their technology to achieve a brutality many would have thought unthinkable. From this, the world reached for a moral vocabulary that would clarify human dignity in a way that no legal system could challenge. Marcus has more.Further ReadingKnowing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Fulton Sheen emerged as a thinker with a capacity for synthesis that astounded his contemporaries. He combined rigorous philosophy and theology in a manner that revealed the Truth to his listeners. Marcus shares some thoughts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Venerable Fulton J. Sheen was one of America’s great spiritual leaders of the last century. His Emmy-winning television shows reached millions and he was a household name throughout the 1950s and 60s. But his greatest gift was in finding the lost sheep. We’ll talk about it with Cheryl Hughes.Further ReadingBook: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Convert MakerFulton Sheen, Convert-Maker ExtraordinaireGuest InfoCheryl Hughes holds a PhD in historical theology from Durham University in England. She’s the author of several books, most recently Archbishop Fulton J Sheen: Convert Maker. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com

Did you find yourself simply “surviving” the stress, chaos, and family tensions of Thanksgiving? Are you already dreading going through it at Christmas? Or did you have a great time and want to make Christmas even better? Dr. Greg Popcak has some tips.Further ReadingCatholic Households on Mission Guest Info Dr Greg Popcak is the founder and director of CatholicCounselors.com, a group pastoral telecounseling practice providing faithful help to Catholics dealing with personal, emotional and relationship problems. He is also the former chair of the Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies program at Holy Apostles College and Seminary and an adjunct professor of psychology and graduate theology at Franciscan. Together with his wife, Lisa, he is the author of over 20 books integrating insights from counseling psychology and the timeless wisdom of our Catholic faith. They are also the developers of the CatholicHOM app, a resource helping Catholic families thrive. Dr. Greg and Lisa are the hosts of More2Life, a call in advice program airing weekdays at 10am Eastern and produced by Ave Maria Radio and carried across the EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com