Bridge Builder Podcast

Hey Bridge Builder listeners, Jason Adkins here. As the executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, I am so grateful to everyone who has tuned into these podcast episodes over the years. Now, that the Bridge Builder has come to an end, I want to introduce you to a new podcast venture, "Catholic in America."

Catholic in America is a podcast collaboration between OSVNews.com and OSVPodcasts.com. I host the program, but this is not a project of the Minnesota Catholic Conference nor are the opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Minnesota Catholic Conference.

Take a listen to the introductory episode, and then search for Catholic in America in you favorite podcast app or go to www.MNCatholic.org/CatholicInAmerica. Thanks for listening!

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In the first episode of Catholic in America on the OSV Podcast Network, host Jason Adkins introduces the mission and vision of the podcast. Adkins explains the importance of faithful citizenship and how living for the good of the earthly city contributes to attaining the heavenly one. He shares his background as the Executive Director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference and outlines the role of the organization in advocating for policies that protect human dignity and promote the common good. Adkins emphasizes the integration of religion and politics, inspired by messages from Pope Benedict XVI and other Church thinkers. The episode sets the stage for future discussions on diverse issues impacting both local and national landscapes, focusing on the evangelical role of the Church in today's secular society.

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. Welcome to Catholic in America.

Jason Adkins, Executive Director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, joins Real Presence Radio to discuss the Minnesota Child Tax Credit and the tax relief it provides to so many Minnesotan families. He also provides an update on harms of sports gambling.

Listen to MCC weekly on Real Presence Radio from now through May. Subscribe to our YouTube by visiting www.YouTube.com/MNCathConference.

Jason Adkins, Executive Director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, joins Real Presence Radio to provide an update on the efforts to restore religious protections in the Minnesota Human Rights Act, and he shares an update on the status of the physician-assisted suicide bill.

Listen to MCC weekly on Real Presence Radio from now through May. Subscribe to our YouTube by visiting www.YouTube.com/MNCathConference.

Maggee Hangge joins Real Presence Radio for a weekly update on the Minnesota Legislative Session, discussing proposed laws and how Catholics can engage in faithful citizenship.

Jason Adkins joins Real Presence Radio for a weekly update on the Minnesota Legislative Session, discussing proposed laws and how Catholics can engage in faithful citizenship.

In today's episode, we talk with Rachel Moriarty and Jared Spears from the Schumacher Center to discuss a new economics - welcoming the future and building for it.

In today’s episode we’re talking with R. Khari Brown and Ronald Brown on what Americans hear about social justice at church - and what do they do about it.

In this week's episode, we're speaking with Reverent Dr. John Senior the Director of the Art of Ministry, Assistant Professor of Practical Theology and Religious Leadership, and Director of the Collaborative for Religious Leadership at Wake Forest University’s School of Divinity.

We are speaking with Dr. Senior about his book, "A theology of Political Vocation: Christian Life and Public Office." We delve into questions such as what does it mean for politics to be a vocation, what difference is there for the Christian serving in the public square, and what does the journey look like when answering the calling to be a public servant?

In our action item, we introduce you to the new bill tracking tool in our Catholic Advocacy Network action center and what issues we are tracking this session that Catholics will want to keep on their radar for discussions with their legislators.

Related links:

Dr. John Senior's webpage: https://divinity.wfu.edu/academics/faculty/john-e-senior/

Baylor Press for ordering "A theology of political vocation": https://www.baylorpress.com/9781481300353/a-theology-of-political-vocation/

Catholic Advocacy Network action center: www,MNCatholic.org/actioncenter

This week we're talking with, Dr. Glenn Hubbard a professor of finance and economics at Columbia Business School. He about his book, “The Bridge and The Wall” which just became available on January 25th.

He argues in the book in favor of economic policies based on building bridges of preparation and adaptation rather than walls of protection and exclusion.

In this week's action item we're discussing the importance of joining the Catholic Advocacy Network and how you can easily join to become better formed in the faith, informed on the issues, and contact your elected officials to begin to transform our state.

Related links:

The Wall and the Bridge (Yale University Press): https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300259087/wall-and-bridge

Dr. Hubbard's Website: www.GlennHubbard.net

This week we speak with Jason Bedrick, Director of Policy at EdChoice a non-profit committed to understanding and pursuing a K–12 education system that empowers every family to choose the schooling environment that fits their children’s needs best. We're speaking with him about a recent report he authored, "Who's afraid of school choice?" It examines some of the false rhetoric that school choice opponents make and compares it with the actual outcomes of school choice programs across the country.

This week's action item: Check out our partners at Opportunity for All Kids (OAK) to learn more about school choice efforts in Minnesota and how you can help advocate for parents and students to have real educational choices.

Links:

OAK: https://opportunityforallkids.org/

School Choice Report:https://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Whos-Afraid-of-School-Choice-by-Jason-Bedrick-and-Ed-Tarnowski.pdf

EdChoice: https://www.edchoice.org/