Conversations with Consequences

Do women make important contributions to the world of work? Yes, absolutely! In this week's podcast, Grazie is joined by Ashley and Andrea to talk with two Catholic women who are making their mark on the media. Meg McDonnell, editor-in-chief at Verily magazine, discusses her professional ascent and Verily's purpose to "elevate what is honest, real, and beautiful for the modern woman." And Susanna (Susie) Pinto shares her unique professional trajectory as a young journalist with the Holy See's Press Office in Rome, in a busy newsroom in Chicago, and now at the helm of EWTN News as Executive Producer. Susie answers questions about being a woman working at the Vatican and her experience as one among millions during Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines among other fascinating anecdotes. Don't miss out hearing from these two fabulous women as well as Father Roger Landry's inspired thoughts in preparation for Sunday mass. Helpful links: https://verilymag.com/ https://www.ewtnnews.com http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070719.cfm TCA Clips: https://www.wsj.com/articles/church-school-and-the-supreme-court-11561932658 https://www.wsj.com/articles/vatican-hits-back-at-attempts-to-break-confession-secrecy-11561987796

Is abortion good for minority women and minority communities? Is it possible to be a woman of color and be pro-life? How does an abortion culture affect the disabled? "Big Abortion" is inherently racist, from its inception by the infamous eugenicist Margaret Sanger to today, with most Planned Parenthood clinics located in minority neighborhoods. Today’s guests Gloria Purvis and Notre Dame Professor Carter Snead, along with the Catholic Association’s Grazie Christie and Andrea Picciotti-Bayer, discuss the eugenic history and present of abortion. We also examine a well-written opinion by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in a recent case involving selective abortion, Box v. Planned Parenthood, where he laid out the long and sordid history of Planned Parenthood and its decades-long attack on children of color.  Helpful links: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pdf/18-483_3d9g.pdf https://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/063018.cfm https://ewtnmorningglory.com/ https://www.c-span.org/person/?graziechristie https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2019/01/48245/ Links to TCA clips: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/21/joe-biden-abortion-hyde-amendment-1543804 https://www.wsj.com/articles/cradles-pews-and-the-societal-shifts-coming-to-politics-11561382477

In this very special bonus episode, the TCA's Grazie Christie, Andrea Picciotti-Bayer and Ashley McGuire bring you the latest on an important Supreme Court decision: the Bladensburg Cross. Don't miss this helpful analysis of a significant religious freedom case that happened just this week. https://thecatholicassociation.org/tca-statement-on-bladensburg-peace-cross-supreme-court-ruling/

TCA’s Grazie Christie, Maureen Ferguson and Andrea Picciotti-Bayer welcome Christopher Scalia to speak about “On Faith: Lessons from an American Believer.” This gem of a book edited by Chris and the Ethics and Public Policy Center’s Ed Whelan compiles speeches and opinions by the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on his Catholic faith and the role of faith and religion in America. Chris gives wonderful readings from some of the most beautiful excepts found in this compilation. Helpful links: https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Lessons-American-Believer/dp/1984823310/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=on+faith&qid=1560788283&s=gateway&sr=8-2 https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jun/13/book-review-on-faith-by-antonin-scalia/ http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062319.cfm Article referenced in the TCA clips section: https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/06/britain-needs-its-own-mexico-city-policy-to-stop-funding-abortion-overseas/ https://thecatholicassociation.org/tca-statement-on-bladensburg-peace-cross-supreme-court-ruling/

Our host Grazie is joined by our TCA colleges Maureen and Andrea for a fascinating conversation with two of the founders of Canavox.com. Dr. Ana Samuel and Ana Victoria Bethencourt talk about this dynamic, locally-based reading group program for today’s woman. Marriage is a big topic for Canavox study groups! You don’t have to grapple with the complex cultural issues of the day all alone. Helpful links: https://canavox.com/ http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061619.cfm Links to articles from the TCA Clips section: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/new-vatican-document-says-gender-theory-is-cultural-and-ideological-revolution-88531 https://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/grazie-christie/planned-parenthood-cannot-hide-truth-cost-abortion-high-and-women-are https://www.crisismagazine.com/2019/a-new-kind-of-sacrament

Your TCA hosts Grazie Christie, Ashley McGuire and Andrea Picciotti-Bayer are joined in studio by Montserrat Alvarado, Vice President and Executive Director of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. A lively discussion about why Catholics and Americans are defending religious freedom— including how the Church's teaching can be helpful in defending liberty— as well some of the current attacks on this fundamental aspect of human dignity.  Find out all about Becket's work, including their advocacy for the Little Sisters of the Poor going on right now: https://www.becketlaw.org/ Links to articles referenced in the “clips” section: www.nationalreview.com/news/texas-ag-sues-for-access-to-records-related-to-san-antonios-chick-fil-a-ban/amp/ https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2019/06/04/omar_errs_in_her_views_on_women_--_and_religious_belief_140479.html https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/2018/09/12/universities-diversity-inclusion-religious-liberty/1281306002/

Our host Dr. Grazie Christie is joined by TCA colleague Andrea Picciotti-Bayer and George Weigel, Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, to discuss the highly suspect conviction on charges of the child sexual abuse of Australian Cardinal George Pell and the pending appeal that will be heard next week. And, as always, Father Roger Landry offers a preview of Sunday’s homily, this week offering a meditation on the Ascension of our Lord. Helpful links: https://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/060219-ascension.cfm https://eppc.org/author/george_weigel/ https://www.realclearreligion.org/articles/2019/03/20/the_catholic_church_needs_an_innocence_project.html https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2019/05/the-pell-case-developments-down-under Links to articles referenced in the “clips” section: https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2019/05/28/mccarrick-correspondence-confirms-restrictions-speaks-to-wuerl-and-china/ https://catholicherald.co.uk/author/andrea-picciotti-bayer/ https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/445159-tweeting-wont-solve-frances-deeper-church-fire-problem-prime-minister

We discuss the persecution of Christians in the Middle East and around the world with Father Benedict Kiely, an expert on the topic who has visited Iraq many times and runs a charity to help Christians rebuild their lives after suffering unimaginable persecution. Helpful links: https://www.nasarean.org/ https://www.nasarean.org/Driver-has-new-taxi http://usccb.org/bible/readings/052619.cfm Links referenced in the “clips” segment: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/two-dozen-states-municipalities-sue-over-trumps-conscience-rule/2019/05/21/564d61c6-7c09-11e9-a5b3-34f3edf1351e_story.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/abortion-extremism-in-new-york-and-virginia-paved-the-way-for-alabama-and-georgias-laws/2019/05/17/ffad643a-78f0-11e9-bd25-c989555e7766_story.html https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2019/05/21/la-archbishop-says-amended-confession-bill-still-targets-priests-catholic-employees/ https://cruxnow.com/church-in-asia/2019/05/19/womens-advocate-calls-widows-hidden-victims-of-china-one-child-policy/

Author and noted commentator Mona Charen joins the podcast to discuss her book "Sex Matters: How Modern Feminism Lost Touch with Science, Love, and Common Sense." Then Mary Hasson of the Ethics and Public Policy Center is on to talk feminism, marriage, life, and love. Helpful links: https://www.amazon.com/Sex-Matters-Modern-Feminism-Science/dp/0451498399 https://eppc.org/author/mary_hasson/ Links to articles referenced in the "Clips" section: Pope saddened by attack in Burkina Faso: https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/05/13/pope-saddened-by-church-attack-in-burkina-faso-vatican-spokesman-says/ US birth rate drops: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-births-fall-to-lowest-rates-since-1980s-11557892860 Abortion laws and the Supreme Court: https://thecatholicassociation.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d1c628b8f196b52bd284f6a39&id=e23e51bbad&e=e0d4984c86

This week your hosts Grazie and Andrea discuss adoption and foster care with Kathryn Jean Lopez, an expert on the topic and a senior fellow at the National Review Institute, who joins us all the way from Rome. Then, Father Roger Landry offers a preview of this Sunday's homily to get you ready for Mass. Finally, Grazie takes you through a collection of news clips, curated by the Catholic Association, to help you be stay informed about the latest news that matters to people of faith. Kathryn tweets at https://twitter.com/kathrynlopez. https://youtu.be/394aCwA3ebw Links to stories referenced in the "Clips" segment: https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/grazie-pozo-christie-freedom-conscience https://cruxnow.com/church-in-asia/2019/05/08/asia-bibi-reported-to-be-on-her-way-to-canada/ https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/how-the-south-sudanese-bishops-are-working-to-promote-peace-45523