Segment 1: The Culture that Mocks Chastity

Our culture’s worship of sexual liberation did not begin in a vacuum - it arrived after decades of intellectual shifts. Marcus looks at how it happened.

Segment 2: McKenna West saga exposes the flaws of surrogacy

A court battle is playing out in Texas after surrogate mother McKenna West refused to abort the child she was carrying after the baby was found to have a treatable birth defect. The couple who had planned to raise the child wanted McKenna to terminate the pregnancy, saying there was a clause for this situation in their contract. This entire mess exposes the flaws of the surrogacy industry. Josh West has more.

Segment 3: Mercy in Action: Join in a Day of Service

For ten years, the people of Southeast Michigan have come together to put God’s Mercy into action. There are many ways to take part, and Southeast Michigan is hungry for an experience of God’s mercy like never before. This year’s Catholic Charities Day of Mercy is on October 17, and Deacon Fred Billotto has the details.

Segment 4: Marcus’ Monologue: Pervert Worship, Annihilate Culture

The modern West finds itself in the throes of unprecedented crisis. Politicians scramble for solutions, educators devise new pedagogies, and social engineers craft endless schemes. Yet all of this is a fool’s errand. For the very heart of our civilization has been abandoned: the altar of the living God. Marcus explains the problem.

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Segment 1: Baptism and the Social Life of the Church (2 segments)

The Sacrament of Baptism saves us on an individual level. But it also goes beyond that – it is a vehicle to union with those who need God’s love. Mike Schramm joins us.

Segment 2: Everything you Need to Know about Angels (2 segments)

Since the beginning of time they have attended the Holy Trinity with unending praise, and at the Bible’s pivotal moments they were present. They convey God’s saving messages and assist in his continual ordering of the cosmos. Some are hell-bent on our damnation; others intercede tirelessly for our salvation. They are the Angels – and Fr Mike Driscoll joins us to talk about them.

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Segment 1: “Here is a true child of Israel”

If you read the Gospel readings today, you’ll see one of those deceptively brief encounters in the Gospel narratives, this one between Jesus and Nathanael. but There’s deep meaning behind the language that’s going forth here. Marcus takes a closer look.

Segment 2: Flourish Fundraiser for Arbor Woman Health

The Flourish Fundraiser to support Arbor Woman Health will take place on September 10 and you can be there! The evening includes delicious food, live music, and a keynote address by Dr. Kristin Collier. Dr. Rusty Chavey has the details.

Segment 3: On this Rock I will build my Church (2 segments)

Carl Olson grew up in strongly anti-Catholic home with a father who believed that Catholics “worship the pope” and “think the pope can’t sin.” The papacy is one of the biggest obstacles Protestants face when considering the Catholic faith. But the teaching is built solidly on the Scripture. Carl joins us with more.

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Segment 1: “Who do people say that I am?” (2 segments)

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus asks the disciples who people say that the Son of Man is – and then he confronts Peter “but who do YOU say that I am?” We unpack the readings with Rob Corzine.

Segment 2: Is Reading Gone for Good? (2 segments)

A recent longform piece in The Atlantic asks how Civilization can survive the postliterate area. It’s inspired by several recent studies showing a steady decline in American literacy. In one 2024 nationwide exam, only 35% of high school seniors ranked “proficient” in analyzing complex themes in fiction or the effectiveness of an essayist’s argument. From 1984 to 2025, the percentage of 13-year-olds who said they rarely or never read on their own for fun jumped from 8% to 29%. Is the age of reading over? David Bonagura joins us.

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Segment 1: The Stockholm Syndrome of Sin

Stockholm Syndrome is a term used to describe a bond that forms between a captive and their captors, and was coined after an attempted bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden in August 1973. While most of us will hopefully never be held hostage, we are all in a “Stockholm Syndrome” relationship with the devil – for we all have sins we have not yet let go of. Marcus has more.

Segment 2: I disrespected our Blessed Mother. Now she is my Queen.

On Saturday, we celebrate the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. When Marcus was still a Protestant, he detested such celebrations, believing they were proof that Catholics worshipped Mary. Since his conversion, he has come to appreciate Mary as a mother and a queen. He shares more.

Segment 3: Will the Temple Be Rebuilt?(2 segments)

As we pray for a just peace in the Middle East, some Catholics and Protestants have been engaging in a different yet related battle—regarding whether the Temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt, how and when the Antichrist will appear, and God’s plan otherwise for the End Times. We talk about the debate with Tom Nash.

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Segment 1: San Antonio priest laicized for schism (2 segments)

Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio has announced that John Mary Foster, a priest of the archdiocese, has been found guilty of schism and has been dismissed from the clerical state. Matthew Bunson has more on this and other Church news.

Segment 2: Toy Story 5: Our insatiable thirst for Screens (2 segments)

The latest entry in the Toy Story franchise features a young girl whose parents buy her a tablet so she can be like the other kids. The story is an illustration of a larger cultural phenomenon – the ubiquity of screens in our society. Paul Kengor joins us.

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Segment 1: “I will give you a new heart”

In today’s first reading, the Lord promises that he will give us a new heart and place a new spirit within you. This promise is fulfilled by Christ, who makes us new so we can manifest His glory to the ends of the earth, Marcus has more.

Segment 2: Philippine student live-streams school shooting

As Dan mentioned in the news break - On Tuesday a high school student in the Philippines live streamed himself shooting and killing a fellow student before taking his own life. School officials have urged the public not to circulate images or photos captured during the livestream. Marcus looks at the greater social phenomena

Segment 3: Should criminal cases require a full jury? (2 segments)

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to require 12-person juries in criminal cases, with the bishops arguing against a Florida policy allowing smaller six-person juries in many cases. We talk more about it with Dean John Czarnetzky.

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Segment 1: Whose Conscience Counts in Virginia?

Newly released texts show that Dr. Anthony Fauci privately told colleagues that a reaction some people had after their second COVID-19 vaccine dose “theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the 1st trimester.” Days later, he told the public that 10,000 pregnant women had received COVID-19 vaccines without any concerning safety signals being detected. “No red flags,” as he put it. Granted, the texts don’t prove the vaccines caused harm. But they do show a gap between what officials knew and worried about privately and what they told the public. All of this makes a court order out of Virginia worth attention. Andrea Picciotti Bayer has more.

Segment 2: Mary’s Meals: Hope for the Hopeless

Mary’s Meals is a global movement supported by people from many walks of life and different backgrounds. Their mission is to enable people to offer their money, goods, skills, time, or prayer, and through this involvement, provide the most effective help to those suffering the effects of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest communities. Jennifer Hartley tells us more about their work.

Segment 3: Massachusetts legalizes abortion up to birth

Democratic Gov. Maura Healey signed a bill allowing abortion at any point in pregnancy in the state of Massachusetts, making it the 11th state to impose no limits on abortion. Andrew Kubick joins us to talk about it.

Segment 4: The Shepherd who Didn’t Run: Stanley Rother film comes to theaters

As civil war raged across Guatemala, Fr. Stanley Rother assured his parishioners he would not abandon them: “A shepherd cannot run at the first sign of danger.” Now, his story is coming to theaters for two nights only, on August 25 and 26, with a Spanish edition premiering on August 27. Maria Scaperlanda tells us more about the film and his story.

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

Segment 1: “He who perseveres to the end will be saved”

In today’s Office of the Readings, we hear from a sermon of St Augustine, who declares that “He who perseveres to the end will be saved.” Marcus shares some thoughts

Segment 2: What Bumble says about virtue in dating

The dating app Bumble was long famous for its rule that women had to make the “first move” with potential matches. This month, it removed that feature – men can reach out first, just like on the hundreds of other apps. Marcus has some thoughts.

Segment 3: Organ Donations and the Brain Death Debate

A recent U.S. Department of Health and Human Services investigation revealed that many patients are wrongly determined to be “brain dead” and are unquestionably alive, by any standard. Dr Joseph Eble joins us to talk about it.

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Segment 1: A Hidden Mental Health Crisis in the Church?

A new survey by CatholicTV suggests widespread emotional distress among US Catholics, raising questions about how mental health may shape parish life and Mass attendance. Dr. Greg Popcak joins us.

Segment 2: The Mob of Public Opinion

Social Media is abuzz following the trial of Lindsay Clancy, a mother who has admitted to murdering her three young children in January 2023 but claims she was incapacitated by postpartum depression. Thousands of people online are rushing to her defense and accusing her ex-husband of committing the murders, while thousands of others call her a monster who deserves nothing less than execution. Marcus has more.

Segment 3: Face to Face with “Death to America” (2 segments)

On a recent trip to Yemen, David Pinault sat down with Yahya Sayfallah, a spokesman for the Houthi militant group. Upon learning David was an American, he stated the Houthi slogan: “Allah is great. Death to America and Israel. May the Jews be cursed. Victory belongs to Islam.” David shares more about the meeting.

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