Bridge Builder Podcast

In this week's episode, we speak with Dr. Grazie Pozo Christie of The Catholic Association about the brief she submitted in the Supreme Court Case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, what the science of the unborn child tells us, and how this should impact our laws.

This week's action item:

Pray for your elected officials. Visit MNCatholic.org/actioncenter to send your elected officials a message that you are praying for them as they make decisions this session.

This week we are speaking with Danielle Brown. associate director of the USCCB's Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism. We're examining the call to evangelize and the ways in which the Church's decisions are impacting those efforts for communities and individuals of color. We also examine how this ties in with efforts to combat the sin of racism, and we delve into viewing Critical Race Theory through a Catholic lens.

Make sure to check out our YouTube channel for the extended conversation!

Links to the Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism and resources:

Letter - https://www.usccb.org/resources/open-wide-our-hearts-enduring-call-love-pastoral-letter-against-racism

Study Guide - https://www.usccb.org/resources/open-wide-our-hearts-study-guide

Ad Hoc Cmte - https://www.usccb.org/committees/ad-hoc-committee-against-racism

In this week's episode, we speak with Dr. James Stoner, a political science professor at Louisiana State University, about his recent article, "Vaccination, the Law, and the Common Good". We examine what historical Supreme Court rulings that have set precedent mean in today's landscape of vaccine mandates.

In this week's action item we have details on an upcoming pro-life training day and how you can get tickets to this event that can begin to change hearts and minds in conversations about abortion.

Links:

Professor Stoner's article: https://lawliberty.org/vaccination-the-law-and-the-common-good/

Equipped for Life Training: www.MNCatholic.org/equippedforlife

This week we speak with Dr. Ulrich Lehner a professor in the Theology Department at the University of Notre Dame where he specializes in the history of Christianity about his book, "Think Better: Unlocking the Power of Reason." We delve into how people can begin to think better when society has become ever more divided and has seemingly lost the ability to base decisions in reason instead of feelings.

In our action item we have details on a great event that will help you put into practice reasoned arguments to counter common pro-choice arguments in a way that promotes dialogue in truth and love.

Links:

Think Better: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/think-better/409330

God is not Nice:https://www.avemariapress.com/products/god-is-not-nice

Equipped For Life - Pro-life Training Day Registration: www.MNCatholic.org/EquippedForLife

We're speaking about how to approach answering the world's tough questions on sensitive political issues through the lens of Catholic apologetics. We speak with Fr. Carter Griffin the rector of the St. John Paul II Seminary in Washington, D.C. for his insights published in his new book "Cross-Examined: Catholic Responses to the World's Questions."

This week's action item is to take the Civilize It Pledge through the USCCB and to check out the resources provided by this campaign to help you be more equipped to lead civil conversations about tough political questions.

Related links:

Fr. Griffin's book, "Cross-Examined" https://stpaulcenter.com/product/cross-examined-catholic-responses-to-the-worlds-questions/

USCCB's Civilize It Pledge: http://www.civilizeit.org/

This week we're speaking with Dr. Daniel Di Salvo of the Manhattan Institute. He is also a professor of political science in the Colin Powell School at the City College of New York–CUNY.

His scholarship focuses on American political parties, elections, labor unions, state government, and public policy. He holds a Ph.D. in politics from the University of Virginia.

We're speaking with him about his National Affairs article, "The Trouble with Police Unions". We'll dive into how police unions came to be, why they have so much political power, and what - if any - reforms need to be made to that system.

This week's action item is to contact your U.S. Senators regarding the Build Back Better Act and urge them to ensure that faith-based schools and childcare providers are not left out of program funding.

You can send a message here: https://www.votervoice.net/USCCB/Campaigns/89541/Respond

This week we're talking about the intersection of theology and the economy. We speak with, Dr. Mary Hirschfeld, a professor of economics and theology at Villanova University and Author of Aquinas and the Market: Toward a Humane Economy.

This week's action item examines the meaning of Advent and how we can make use of this time to build relationships with our elected officials.

We have two guests on this week’s show. Dr. Kirk Doran an associate economics professor at Notre Dame and Brian Boyd a doctoral student at Notre Dame.

We’ll be discussing how pro-productivity reforms to the labor market could create better wages, why it all matters from a theological standpoint, and what improving human flourishing amidst it all looks like.

Article:https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2021/08/governance-for-good-jobs-the-need-for-pro-productivity-reforms/

This week we’re joined by Dr. John Cavadini a theology professor at the University of Notre Dame to discuss his reflections on Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ and the influences of St. Francis and St. Augustine on that document.

This week's action item: Join or start a small group using the Minnesota, Our Common Home resources to delve into the teachings in Laudato Si'.

Links:

Dr. Cavadini's article:https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/augustine-and-francis-the-saints-of-laudato-si/

Download/Purchase Minnesota, Our Common Home: www.MNCatholic.org/OurCommonHome

This week we're talking with, Zena Hitz, a tutor at St. John’s College and author of “Lost in Thought”. We’ll be talking about the state of education and get her thoughts on learning for the sake of learning.

This week's action item: Continue to keep respect life issues at the forefront beyond October. Register for a Nov. 18th webinar discussing assisted suicide and the loss of dignity in secularized health care.

Links mentioned in the podcast:

Webinar: www.ethicalcaremn.org/webinars

Catherine Project: www.catherineproject.org

Zena's website: www.zenahitz.net