Bridge Builder Podcast

In this week's episode, we speak with Madeleine Kearns, a reporter at National Review, about her recent article, “Don’t Legalize Prostitution; It Will Only Make the Problem Worse.” We delve into the movement that is trying to legalize prostitution and why it could have a host of other unforeseen consequences. Plus, what the 2020 presidential candidates are saying on the issue, and the successes being seen around the world in helping victims of prostitution and human trafficking.

Then in our mailbag segment, we tackle the issue of school choice, opportunity scholarships, and why enabling parents to choose the right school for their children will not negatively impact public school funding.

We round out the program with our Bricklayer segment. This week we discuss a new small group study program that MCC is about to release. We explain how the "Minnesota, Our Common Home" document, study guide, and ecological examen can help you to grow in the faith and put your faith into action.

Dr. Daniel Mahoney speaks with us about how the religion of humanity is subverting Christianity and how the fundamental goal of political life has become ideological activism.

In our mailbag, we answer your questions about assisted suicide and the proposed legislation here in Minnesota. We also examine the arguments of faith, right reason, human dignity, and the common good that show us why assisted suicide cannot be accepted as a good.

Plus, in our bricklayer segment, we've got a great way for you to make your voice heard on several issues of life and dignity in Minnesota while attending the state fair.

In this episode of the Bridge Builder, we speak with Tim Carney, author of "Alienated America: Why Some Places Thrive While Others Collapse." After traveling the U.S. to answer that question he now shares his data and research, which shows how a lack of social connections in communities are leading to their collapse, and the solutions he sees. Plus, we examine how our culture of alienation is playing a role in mass shootings.

In the mailbag, we examine measures aimed at curbing gun violence.

We round out the show with a fun way for you to start learning more about our state government while also learning some great Minnesota history.

Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, founder and president of The Ruth Institute, a global non-profit that defends the family at home and in the public square speaks with us about her book, "The Sexual State: How elite ideologies are destroying lives and why the Church was right all along.” She has a passion for helping people recover from the consequences of the Sexual Revolution.

In our mailbag segment, we answer questions regarding Minnesota's new wage theft law. We explain the law which is hailed as one of the toughest in the US, why Catholics should care, and help you identify ways wage theft may be happening to you.

We round out the program with our bricklayer segment, giving you practical ways to start living out the Catholic faith in the public arena. This week we discuss how you can connect with your members of congress.

We're speaking with Charles Camosy, an associate professor of theology at Fordham University in the Bronx. Dr. Camosy shares a few thoughts from his book "Resisting the Throwaway Culture: How a Consistent Life Ethic Can Unite a Fractured People".

A theme running throughout his work is the fostering of intellectual solidarity between political and ethical approaches which find conversation difficult. A Roman Catholic anthropology which refuses to choose to between individually- and communally-construed understandings of personal dignity is particularly important in this regard.

We'll also be discussing in our mailbag segment a Minnesota lawsuit that threatens to get rid of health and safety protections for women seeking an abortion.

Plus, what can you do to make your voice heard to your legislators? We tackle that question in our bricklayer segment - giving you the tools to build a bridge between faith and politics.

In this episode, we speak with Katy Faust, Founder and Director of Them Before Us. The organization was created to advance social policies that encourage adults to actively respect the rights of children rather than expecting children to sacrifice their needs to the desires of adults. Katy testified in March of 2019 in opposition to the creation of a commercial surrogacy market here in Minnesota.

Plus, in the mailbag we answer questions about the "Equality Act" and why the U.S. bishops have come out strongly against this bill.

And, we round out the show with our bricklayer segment. We're discussing how you can make your voice heard through writing on important policy issues that are impacting life and dignity.

We start off this episode speaking with Dr. Andrew Bacevich, Professor Emeritus of International Relations at Boston University, about the United States conflict with Iran and other Middle Eastern conflicts. He also shares how his own perspective on war and international relations has changed since the Cold War.

Dr. Bacevich is the author of many books including, "The New American Militarism: How Americans are Seduced by War", "American Empire: The Realities and Consequences of US Diplomacy", and "America’s War for the Greater Middle East."

In our mailbag segment we discuss "Integral Ecology" and MN Catholic Conference's teaching resource, "Minnesota Our Common Home," which helps place Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato si' into a local Minnesota context. You can order/download your own copy of that document by going to www.MNCatholic.org/OurCommonHome.

We round out the show with our Bricklayer segment, which provides you with practical tips on how to build bridges between faith and politics. This week we discuss how to become well informed on political issues in a media society that thrives on division.

In this week's episode we speak with Chris Arnade, author of "Dignity: Seeking Respect in Back Row America," ” the powerful photojournalistic stories of individuals who are far too often ignored and forgotten.

Plus, from our mailbag... Why is the Church getting involved with the issue of immigrant driver's licenses?

And, in our bricklayer segment, we give you tips on how to make a difference starting in your own neighborhood as a faithful citizen.

We're talking about religious freedom with Archbishop Kurtz of the Archdiocese of Louisville and chairman of the USCCB’s Committee for Religious Liberty. We delve into the so-called Equality Act, interfaith dialogue and how these things impact religious freedom.

Plus, what does it mean to be a faithful citizen? We answer your questions/comments from the mailbag.

Finally, in our bricklayer segment, we give you a practical way to start living out faithful citizenship in your own hometown this summer.

In this episode you'll get a unique perspective on the lessons in leadership Pope St. John Paul II has left for the world. Andreas Widmer, an entrepreneur and former Swiss Guard for John Paul II shares his own incredible faith journey guided by the pope he served.

Plus... Would you ace a test on Catholic Social Teaching? Andreas shares with us his research that may make you second guess just how well you really understand it.

Then in our Classic Catholic Social Teaching segment, we're discussing Octogesima Adveniens - On the Occasion of the Eightieth Anniversary of the Encyclical "Rerum Novarum" an apostolic letter of Pope Paul VI.

To round out the podcast episode we have our bricklayer segment where you'll learn practical tips for living out faithful citizenship.

You can access Andreas' study, "Faithful Measure: Gauging Awareness of the Catholic Church's Social Doctrine" here: https://business.catholic.edu/faculty-and-research/publications/index.html