Conversations with Consequences
The Catholic Association (TCA)
“Conversations with Consequences” is the voice of The Catholic Association, offering a weekly hour of thoughtful dialogue—with the leading thinkers of our time— on the most consequential issues of our day.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 4, 2019 • 32min
BONUS - Bishop Barron's "Letter to a Suffering Church"
On this special bonus episode of Conversations with Consequences, Dr. Grazie Christie and Andrea Piccioti-Bayer discuss Bishop Robert Barron’s new book, “Letter to a Suffering Church,” which addresses the abuse crisis head-on. Don’t miss Grazie and Andrea's timely and hard-hitting discussion from their perspective as lay women, working mothers, and concerned Catholics.
Buy the book:
https://order.sufferingchurchbook.com/order
https://www.amazon.com/Letter-Suffering-Church-Bishop-Speaks-ebook/dp/B07RLZ5TMT/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2SOPB3GZKQJIT&keywords=letter+to+a+suffering+church+barron&qid=1567613336&s=gateway&sprefix=letter+to+a+%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE5NUM0UllMMTZSQk8mZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA3MjI4MzYxRkY4VjI5WDFNVFZJJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAyOTYzMzkyVTBMWjNBNFFZMk5VJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Aug 30, 2019 • 51min
Ep 19 - What you need to know about the Cardinal Pell case, with Phil Lawler
The abuse crisis has rocked the Church. Should we assume that any priest accused is guilty? The conviction of Australian Cardinal George Pell should give any Catholic and defender of the rule of law pause. An incredible allegation of abuse formed the basis of Pell's conviction and his accuser's perceived credibility was recently cited in dismissing his appeal. What about the overwhelming evidence of the improbability— and perhaps even impossibility— of the abuse even occurring? Phil Lawler, editor of Catholic World News, joins TCA's Dr. Grazie Christie and Andrea Picciotti-Bayer for a lively discussion of the case crafted against Cardinal Pell, the basis for his appeal to Australia's highest court and what this means for the Church.
Helpful articles:
https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otn.cfm?id=1358
http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/cardinal-pells-unsuccessful-appeal-and-reason-for-hope

Aug 23, 2019 • 20min
BONUS EPISODE: Title X funding and abortion providers; what's next?
Planned Parenthood will no longer receive Title X funds, after refusing to separate out abortion from the rest of what they do. Now what? Women in need can look forward to the expansion of federally-funded family planning clinics that truly support "positive birth outcomes and healthy families" — the primary goal of the Title X grant program. TCA's Dr. Grazie Christie and Andrea Picciotti-Bayer are joined by pro-life OBGyn Dr. John Bruchalski, founder of Tepeyac OB/GYN clinic and Divine Mercy Care in Northern Virginia, in a bonus episode to discuss the future of Title X family planning grants and the federal government's renewed support for healthcare for women and their families.
Learn more at:
https://tepeyacobgyn.com

Aug 22, 2019 • 50min
Ep. 18 - Abortion pill reversal and the myth of late term abortion
Is late term abortion ever medically necessary? Can the abortion pill really be reversed, or is that just a pro-life twisting of the facts? Our host Dr. Grazie Christie interviews another doctor, Dr. Mary Jo O’Sullivan, about late term abortion, pro-life bioethics and how Dr. O’Sullivan works to reverse medication (abortion pill) abortions.
Helpful links:
https://www.abortionpillreversal.com/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23191936
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK132781/

Aug 15, 2019 • 50min
Ep. 17 - “Sex Scandal” and the erasure of sexual difference
What does “sex” mean? What about “gender?” There’s a lot of competing information out there about the ways in which men and women are different, and why it matters. Your host, Dr. Grazie Christie, sits down with the Catholic Association’s Ashley McGuire and Andrea Picciotti-Bayer to talk about Ashley’s 2017 book, “Sex Scandal: The Drive to Abolish Male and Female." We talk about what the breakdown of sexual differences means for women in sports, sex selective abortions, the #Metoo movement and more.
Ashley’s book:
https://www.amazon.com/Sex-Scandal-Drive-Abolish-Female/dp/1621575810/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=sex+scandal&qid=1565894478&s=gateway&sr=8-2
TCA clips:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/administration-moves-to-enforce-abortion-restriction/2019/08/09/392efdc6-bac4-11e9-8e83-4e6687e99814_story.html
https://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2019/08/09/archbishop-naumann-fighting-abortion-is-most-important-human-rights-effort-of-our-time/
https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/foster-to-adopt-parents-share-their-life-changing-stories-of-the-gift-of-fa

Aug 8, 2019 • 54min
Ep. 16 - The ousting of Dr. Leana Wen and the future of Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood: With revenues of over half a BILLION dollars a year from taxpayers, is this giant corporation a “healthcare” provider or a political machine? We argue that the recent firing of Dr. Leana Wen tells us Planned Parenthood is not interested in women’s health, but only in their bottom line and political clout.
Dr. Grazie Christie and Ashley Mcguire of The Catholic Association drill down in lively conversation.
Helpful links:
https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/455901-dr-wens-departure-from-planned-parenthood-seemed-to-be-about-one-thing
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/07/25/planned-parenthood-firing-dr-leana-wen-captures-truth-column/1815089001/
TCA Clips:
https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/08/04/pope-encourages-priests-disheartened-by-sex-abuse-fallout/
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jul/31/advocates-aim-to-overturn-new-york-state-ban-on-su/

Aug 1, 2019 • 54min
Ep. 15 - Nourishing a parish through traditional liturgy, with Father Christopher Pollard
Are we a suffering Church? A Church in crisis? Yes. But we are also a Church deeply alive. Parishes across the U.S. are vibrant and energetic, filled with luminous men and women who are busily doing their part to bring about the Kingdom. Our new series “The Church on the Ground: Going forward in Joy” will highlight some of these ordinary, extraordinary people and their marvelous work.
Our inaugural show of this series features Father Christopher Pollard of McLean, Virginia, pastor of St. John the Beloved, where both the ordinary form of the Mass and the Latin Mass are celebrated. The solemnity of both forms has a transformative effect and inspires both reverence and enthusiasm both in this priest and among the faithful.
Rather than foment distinct "Catholic communities," Father Pollard has a secret for keeping his parish united. We also talk about the continuous stream of young men responding to their priestly vocations in the diocese of Arlington, Virginia and one priest's reaction to the clergy abuse crisis.
Helpful links:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/080419.cfm
https://www.stjohncatholicmclean.org/
TCA Clip:
https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/the-supreme-court-review-of-sharonell-fulton-et-al-v-city-of-philadelphia/

Jul 25, 2019 • 53min
Ep. 14 - Building an intentional family, with the Hernons of the “Messy Family Project"
Does your family have its own "family" culture? Are you reacting to the challenges of parenting or do you have a plan? This week's guests on Conversations with Consequences, Mike and Alicia Hernon, share their experience in running the Messy Family Project (messyfamilyproject.org). This dynamic husband and wife duo not only raised 10 kids, but also seek to help other parents become more "intentional" in parenting with marvelous tips and resources (and a fabulous podcast of their own). Listen and learn their tips and ideas for strengthening your family.
Helpful links:
https://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072819.cfm
https://www.messyfamilyproject.org/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messy-family-podcast-catholic-conversations-on-marriage/id957216506
TCA Clip:
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/454426-faith-based-health-clinics-spurn-contraceptives-under-trump-rule

Jul 18, 2019 • 51min
Ep. 13 - Mary FioRito on the deregulation of abortion and the myth of abortion "care"
Is an abortion the best "care" for a child with limited life expectancy? Recent extreme abortion legislation has enshrined the "right" of New Yorkers to an abortion up until the moment of birth. Illinois took things one step further by stripping any regulation directed to the safety and well-being of women in the state. Are women well-served by "progressive" deregulation of abortion? This week's guest, Mary FioRito, joins TCA's Dr. Grazie Christie and Andrea Picciotti-Bayer to discuss recent legislative travesties and how perinatal hospice cares for both mother and child.
Helpful links:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072119.cfm
https://eppc.org/author/mary_fiorito/
TCA Clips:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/17/us/politics/planned-parenthood-wen.html
https://www.wsj.com/articles/pompeo-gets-religion-11563405522
https://angelusnews.com/voices/grazie-pozo-christie/a-quiver-of-gladness

Jul 12, 2019 • 53min
Ep. 12 - "Get Out Now," with Mary Hasson and Theresa Farnan
Public education in America is in a sorry state; maybe it's time to "Get Out Now." The greatest threat to our children is not poor academic performance but the push for ideological conformity in the classroom. Promoting gender ideology, kicking God out of the classroom, and encouraging a victim mentality are pillars of today's "progressive" curriculum for public school students in America. Parents can't opt their children out. Even teachers feel compelled to go along. What is the answer? Mary Hasson, the Ethics and Public Policy Center's Kate O'Beirne Fellow, and Theresa Farnan, Phd. in philosophy, argue that the best answer is to GET OUT NOW! These two delightful women join TCA colleagues Dr. Grazie Christie, Ashley McGuire and Andrea Picciotti-Bayer to discuss the exhaustively researched new book "Get Out Now: Why You Should Pull Your Child from Public School Before It's Too Late." This is an important podcast for all parents and people interested in America's future. Maybe public schools can be fixed, but not soon enough for today's children.
Helpful links:
www.eppc.org
https://www.amazon.com/Get-Out-Now-Should-Public/dp/1621576469/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=get+out+now&qid=1562906706&s=gateway&sr=8-1
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/071518.cfm
TCA Clips:
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/never-accept-separation-of-faith-from-political-engagement-chaput-says-60220
https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2019/07/54599/
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-migrants/pope-defends-migrants-after-clashes-between-italy-and-rescue-ships-idUSKCN1U3152
AP-NORC Poll: Americans rarely seek guidance from clergy - The Washington Post


