Two recent stories out of Europe highlight just how far the Continent is going down the road to Secularism. In Finland, a Christian member of Parliament has been convicted for expressing her Christian beliefs on marriage. And in Belgium, a radio host said his countrymen wouldn’t be offended by the smashing of a Marian statue because “we’re not a very religious country.” Marcus has more.

Further Reading

Finnish court finds Christian parliamentarian guilty of ‘hate speech’

Belgian radio station apologizes after smashing statues of Jesus, Blessed Mother

Pope Leo XIV has called for renewed unity in the Church’s liturgical life, urging French bishops to seek “concrete solutions” to include Catholics attached to the Traditional Latin Mass while preserving communion. Matthew Bunson has more on this and other Church news.

Further Reading

Pope Urges Liturgical Unity, Inclusion of Traditional Latin Mass Faithful

Cardinal says Church cannot “continue to exist” without women’s ordination

Pope Leo XIV Explains Why the Priesthood Is Reserved to Men

Venerable Fulton Sheen Beatification Set for Sept. 24 in St. Louis

Boys Town founder Father Flanagan moves one step closer to sainthood

Sister Briege McKenna Needs Our Prayers: Beloved Irish Nun ‘Improving Each Day’ After Surgery

Guest Info

Matthew 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

Do we fully embrace the mysteries of Holy Week? Or are we like the people waving palms, mere bystanders along the Via Dolorosa? We talk more about the meaning of Holy Week with Bishop Daniel Thomas.

Guest Info

The Most Reverend Daniel E. Thomas is presiding Bishop in the Diocese of Toledo.

On the road to Damascus, St. Paul was transformed from one of the most zealous persecutors of Christians into one of the greatest apostles in history. Like all of us, he experienced suffering, weakness, and hardships, but amid these trials during his heroic mission trips, visions, and near-death escapes, he felt the strength of God’s grace sustaining him and urging him forward. We talk more about it with Fr Mitch Pacwa.

Further Reading

St. Paul on the Power of the Cross

Guest Info

Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J. is a renowned Jesuit Scripture Scholar, Author, popular EWTN Television and Radio Host, as well as the founder and President of Ignatius Productions. Father Pacwa is fluent in twelve languages and has received his Master of Divinity and S.T.B. at Loyola University, magna cum laude, and a Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Old Testament at Vanderbilt University, and has author over twenty books.

Though the power of the #MeToo movement peaked long ago, the Left’s cancellation machine kicked into gear this past week. After a New York Times article claimed that Cesar Chavez abused women and girls in the 1960s and 1970s, the Left lost no time in immediately covering up or taking down statues, erasing the Hispanic labor leader’s name from monuments and holidays, and calling for schools and streets honoring him to be renamed. But whether Chavez was innocent or guilty, this instantaneous cancellation is cause for concern. David Deavel joins us.

Further Reading

Opinion: The Left’s cancellation of Cesar Chavez looks bad either way

Guest Info

David Paul Deavel is Associate Professor of Theology at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX, and Senior Contributor at The Imaginative Conservative. The paperback edition of Solzhenitsyn and American Culture: The Russian Soul in the West, edited with Jessica Hooten Wilson, is now available in paperback.

Michael Knowles has been widely praised for comments he delivered at a recent Heritage Foundation event, highlighting the many Catholic influences on the thought of the Founding Fathers. He’s certainly right, but when we treat his observations as something novel we betray our own historical ignorance. We must not overlook the Catholic heritage of this nation. Marcus has more.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation. Mary’s simple act of obedience changed the course of world history and is a key part of Marian devotion. We discuss why Mary is important with Rachel Fulton Brown, who also looks at examples of Franciscan devotion to Mary.

Further Reading

Book: Mary and the Art of Prayer: The Hours of the Virgin in Medieval Christian Life and Thought

Rachel’s blog

Guest Info

Dr Rachel Fulton Brown is associate professor of History at the University of Chicago. She’s the author of many books, including Mary and the Art of Prayer. Follow her Fencing Bear at Prayer substack blog.

It’s no secret that we are inhabiting a moment in which digitalization is reshaping our world at an unprecedented pace. Day by day, screens, algorithms, and infrastructures of virtual reality are becoming the dominant frame through which we move through the world. The question is no longer whether technology shapes us, but what kind of human beings it is shaping us into. Matthew Ramage joins us.

Further Reading

Incarnate Transcendence in an Age of Transhumanist Counterfeits

Guest Info

Matthew Ramage is professor at Benedictine College and director of the Center for Integral Ecology. He is also author of The Essential Guide to Ratzinger with Our Sunday Visitor and the forthcoming Cosmic Covenant: A Catholic Theology of Creation Word on Fire.

Catholic leaders in one of India’s most populous states are demanding the repeal of a new law that criminalizes religious conversion — the 13th such measure enacted across the country under the ruling Hindu-nationalist government. We talk more about India’s anti-conversion measures with Chad Bauman.

Further Reading

Catholic bishops demand repeal of India state’s anti-conversion bill

Anti-Christian Violence in India (Religion and Conflict)

Guest Info

Chad Bauman is Professor of Religion at Butler University and the author of Anti-Christian Violence in India.

The recent National Catholic Prayer Breakfast was a celebration of Catholicism’s contributions to the nation and liberty. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer was there and gives us a look.

Further Reading

National Catholic Prayer Breakfast: An Invigorating Respite in a City Rife With Intrigue

Guest Info

Andrea 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.