The Supreme Court will take up a case out of Colorado asking whether a state may exclude a religious school from a universal preschool program because the school declines to abandon its beliefs on human sexuality and identity. The case, known as St. Mary Catholic School v. Roy, could shape the place of religion in American life for years to come. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer unpacks it for us.

Further Reading

A Historic Chance to Strengthen Religious Rights

Guest Info

Andrea Picciotti-Bayer is director of the Conscience Project and recipient of the Religious Freedom Institute’s 2025 Religious Freedom Impact Award.

This week Donald Trump read from 2 Corinthians 7:14 as part of the America Reads the Bible project. It’s a verse that has long been recognized in American public religion as a national call to prayer, repentance, and healing. And it’s a verse that few modern politicians of any particular persuasion seem to understand. Marcus unpacks the meaning behind the verse.

What does it mean to be human? A simple enough question, right? Until one tries to answer it, or pays careful attention to the host of competing answers in our world. We talk with Thomas Doran.

Further Reading

Mythology and what it means to be human

Guest Info

Thomas M. Doran is the author of the Tolkien-inspired Toward the Gleam (Ignatius Press, 2011), The Lucifer Ego, and Kataklusmos (2020). He has worked on hundreds of environmental and infrastructure projects, was president of Tetra Tech/MPS, was an adjunct professor of engineering at Lawrence Technological University, and is a member of the College of Fellows of The Engineering Society of Detroit.

The late Pope Benedict XVI said that “art and the saints are the greatest apologetic for our faith.” This is because they both have the same basic root—beauty. It was the Russian Orthodox novelist and prophet, Fyodor Dostoevsky, who famously said that “beauty will save the world.” This can only be true if there is some essential connection between beauty and the One whom both Benedict and Dostoevsky recognized as their Savior—Jesus Christ. Mike Schramm has more.

Further Reading

Will Beauty Really Save the World?

Guest Info

Mike Schramm lives in southeastern Minnesota with his wife and seven children. There, he teaches theology and philosophy at Aquinas High School and Viterbo University. He earned his MA in theology from St. Joseph’s College in Maine and an MA in philosophy from Holy Apostles College. He has written for Busted Halo, Homiletic and Pastoral Review, and the Voyage Comics Blog. Read Mike’s other WWNN essays.

Like it or not, Artificial Intelligence is developing on a breakneck pace. But used and developed properly, it still has potential for good use. Marcus has more.

Further Reading

Taylor Black Sees Endless Possibilities in AI — but Not Without Well-Formed Humans

Last week Gallup released the results of a new poll that finds a significant upsurge in religiosity among young men. While there remains much work to be done, this is also encouraging news - because if we want to create strong, faith-filled fathers who teach Catholic and pro-life beliefs and values to their children, we must first create strong and faith-filled young men. Michael New has more.

Further Reading

New Gallup Poll Shows Gains in Religiosity Among Young Men

Guest Info

Michael J. New is an assistant professor of practice at the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America and a senior associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute.

When you hear that Christians are called to build the kingdom of God, what do you think that means? The primary way we build God’s kingdom is not by doing “big things for Jesus,” but rather by working to build strong marriages and family lives. Dr Greg Popcak joins us.

Further Reading

Catholic 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 E and produced by Ave Maria Radio and carried across the EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network.

In today’s First Reading we hear of the martyrdom of St. Stephen. Before his execution, he boldly addressed the elders in the Temple and provides us with a standard of what Christian witness should look like. Marcus has more.

Modern man talks endlessly about happiness and then still wakes each morning with a hollow center. We’ve long been told that pleasure is the primary purpose of a man’s existence and that has left modern man starved for meaning and purpose. Marcus discusses the sources of true happiness.

Further Reading

Arthur Brooks on How to Find Meaning (and Happiness) in an Age of Emptiness

From the center of Rome, looking westward, an iconic shape appears on the horizon; a church dome, topped by a cross, reaches 448 feet into the sky. This year St. Peter’s Basilica celebrates the 400th anniversary of its consecration. Marcus looks at its art and history.

Further Reading

St. Peter’s Basilica at 400: ‘The Parish Church of the World’ Celebrates 4 Centuries