In this episode, we look at several recent news items related to in vitro fertilization, or IVF, a procedure for getting pregnant that is growing in popularity and usage in the United States and around the world, and why the Catholic Church teaches that IVF is not morally acceptable. 

References and notes:

1. Senate Democrats reintroduce "Right to IVF Act" - July 23, 2026
2. Expanding Access to In Vitro Fertilization - Executive Order - February 18, 2025
3. Trump Administration proposes rule to expand access to fertility benefits - May 10, 2026
4. Recent state legislative IVF activity in Georgia and Tennessee and in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas
5. Inside IVF clinic embryo mix-up
6. Opinion poll - Americans overwhelmingly say access to IVF is a good thing - May 13, 2024
7. For the First Time, More Than 100,000 Babies Born Through IVF in the U.S. in a Single Year - March 24, 2026
8. Begotten Not Made: A Catholic View of Reproductive Technology - 1998 USCCB document
9. What Is the Catholic Church’s Position on IVF? - Feb 28, 2024
10. Donum Vitae - February 22, 1987
11. Dignitas Personae - September 8, 2008
12. Catechism of the Catholic Church - see #2374-2379
13. More human embryos destroyed through IVF than abortion every year - Updated Sept 26, 2025
14. Description of the Church's position on IVF, suggesting that embryo adoption might be morally acceptable - December 9, 2020
15. Catholic Ethicists Discuss the Fate of the Estimated 1 Million Human Embryos on Ice - Jan 17, 2023
16. The Magisterial Liceity of Embryo Transfer - Perspective from a Catholic theologian who supports embryo adoption - 2015
17. Moral Contraindications to the Adoption of Abandoned, Frozen Human Embryos - June 11, 2023
18. Exploring the state of the Catholic debate over embryo adoption - August 5, 2025
19. Podcast website with full transcripts for this episode and all other episodes

Send me a text or voicemail

This episode brings together two news stories related to eradicating poverty, stories that didn't get a lot of attention but stories that have profound and practical significance for our lives as followers of Christ.

Here are references and notes:

1. Roadmap for Eradicating Poverty Beyond Growth presented to the UN Human Rights Council June 25, 2026
2. Opinion Piece originally published in The Guardian June 10, 2026
3. Pope Leo in 'Dilexi te': Faith cannot be separated from love for the poor - Oct 2025
4. Summary of Dilexi te from CAPP-USA
5. Dilexi te full text in English
6. Summary of the Roadmap for Eradicating Poverty Beyond Growth from The Tablet, UK Catholic magazine
7. Caritas Europe on why the Roadmap is a key milestone - April 22, 2026
8. The European Laudato Si’ Alliance welcomes the newly launched Roadmap for eradicating poverty beyond growth - April 22, 2026
9. Maryknoll Missionaries Office of Global Concerns Action Alert Regarding the Roadmap - June 23, 2026
10. Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations - Call for the eradication of poverty - July 8, 2026
11. Country Overshoot Days 2026 - Marking the date when the planet’s annual biocapacity budget would be used up if everyone on Earth consumed as much as the residents of that particular country.
12. Learning to Live Simply - September 7, 2023
13. Guide to Minimalism as a Catholic
14. Podcast website with full transcripts for this episode and all other episodes

Send me a text or voicemail

In this episode we look at Christian nationalism and what light Catholic Social Teaching might shed on this convergence of religion and national assertion, and we take a brief look at two recent US Catholic news stories – the consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the "one nation under God" theme selected by the 2026 National Eucharistic Congress – and ask if either of these stories relate to the idea of Christian nationalism.  

Here are notes and references:

1. Commanders Accused of Framing Iran War as Biblical Mandate
2. At Pentagon Worship Service, Hegseth Casts Iran Conflict as Violent Holy War Against God’s Enemies - Brian Kaylor - Mar 25, 2026
3. Pope Leo at Palm Sunday Mass - March 29, 2026, Pope Leo decried political leaders who invoke religious beliefs to justify conflicts or nationalist policies - December 18, 2025, and Pope Leo criticized the surge of nationalist political movements in the world - June 8, 2025
4. Article referencing Andrew L. Whitehead and Samuel L. Perry, authors of “Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States,” published 2020.
5. Review of "Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States," making the case that Christian Nationalism has become the de facto view of Christianity among the general population, contributing to the disaffection with real Christianity
6. Quotes from Amanda Tyler, executive director of Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
7. Authentic Christianity vs. Christian Nationalism - July 2, 2023 - blog of Pastor John Whitsett
8. Against Christian Nationalism: A Catholic Response to Stephen Wolfe - August 19, 2024 by Br. Anthony Maria Akerman, O.P. - includes nationalism/patriotism quotes from Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Pius XI
9. From the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church: Principle of the Common Good, Principle of the Universal Destination of Goods, and Principle of Solidarity
10. Not feeling celebratory as America turns 250? Read John Courtney Murray’s work - Will Cohen - June 17, 2026 - insight from a theologian who died in 1967
11. America Needs a Better Gospel Than Christian Nationalism - May 20, 2026 - perspective from evangelical Russell Moore
12. US bishops’ consecration of nation to Sacred Heart of Jesus affirms ‘our reliance on God’ - Kimberley Heatherington - May 13, 2026
13. Why the bishops are consecrating the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus - Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski - Jun 10, 2026
14. National Eucharistic Congress says use of ‘one nation under God’ is about ‘spiritual renewal’ - Gina Christian - April 21, 2026
15. Podcast website with full transcripts for this episode and all other episodes

Send me a text or voicemail

This episode looks at a headline news story that is itself all about Catholic Social Teaching: the publication of Pope Leo the 14th’s first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas, or “magnificent humanity,” on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence.  It was signed by Pope Leo on May 15 and published on May 25.

Here are notes and references:

1. Download and read Magnifica Humanitas online, listen to an audio recording of Magnifica Humanitas, or even download an epub version for use with reading apps.
2. Watch the Magnifica Humanitas presentation video (just under 4 minutes) - visual expression of the emotional power of what's at stake
3. Additional Magnifica Humanitas resources from the Vatican, including infographics, videos and a pastoral kit
4. Video of 6 Catholic leaders discussing Magnifica Humanitas, from the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University (1 hour and 19 minutes)
5. U.S. Bishops Echo Pope Leo’s Concern of AI Use in War - June 4, 2026
6. Pope Leo XIV declares the digital age a mission field in ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ - Ines San Martin - May 26, 2026
7. ‘A Hopeful Document’: Catholic Thinkers on AI Assess ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ - May 26, 2026
8. Can Catholics as consumers drive a better AI future? - Interview with Ron Ivey, a research fellow at Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program and founder of the Noesis Collaborative, a nonprofit focused on steering AI development toward human benefit - May 30, 2026
9. Women Are Being Left Out of the AI Conversation: Should We Care? - Solène Tadié - June 3, 2026
10. AI to Gen Z: Young Catholic Job Seekers and Employees Wrestle With the Future of Work - May 29, 2026
11. Why Protestants should read the pope’s encyclical - Rev. Michael W. DeLashmutt - May 28, 2026
12. Podcast website with full transcripts for this episode and all other episodes

Send me a text or voicemail

In this episode, my friend and collaborator Stan Werne provides his response to the previous episode on Gender Legislation, which was episode number 10.

1. “Intersex,” The Cleveland Clinic  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16324-intersex
2. Declaration “Dignitas Infinita,” on Human Dignity https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/04/08/240408c.html
3. “Four Things Catholics Need to Know About Transgender People,” Luisa Derouen, O.P. https://outreach.faith/2022/07/four-things-catholics-need-to-know-about-transgender-people/
4. “What is it like being Catholic and transgender?” Christine Zuba https://outreach.faith/2025/12/what-is-it-like-being-catholic-and-transgender/
5. “A transgender Catholic reflects on what keeps her in the church,” Danielle Koutsoufis https://outreach.faith/2025/08/a-transgender-catholic-reflects-on-what-keeps-her-in-the-church/
6. “Catholic Tradition Has Always Included Trans People Like Me,” Max Kuzma https://sojo.net/articles/opinion/catholic-tradition-has-always-included-trans-people-me
7. “Love-in-Truth: Accompanying Those Suffering Gender Dysphoria,” Archbishop Paul S. Coakley https://whatweneednow.substack.com/p/love-in-truth-accompanying-those
8. “Answers to Several Questions . . .,” Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (English version) https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_20231031-documento-mons-negri_en.html
9. “Pope Francis meets with transgender, intersex and ally Catholics,” Jeannine Gramick, SL https://www.lorettocommunity.org/pope-francis-meets-with-transgender-intersex-and-ally-catholics/
10. Podcast website with full transcripts for this episode and all other episodes

Send me a text or voicemail

In this episode we look at recent abortion legislation, Catholic teaching on abortion, and the attitude maintained by some that one can be personally opposed to abortion while at the same time supporting legal access to abortion.

Here are notes and references:

1. How Federal and State Abortion Policies Shifted in 2025
2. Abortion in the United States Dashboard - US map showing current legal status of abortion in each state (from a source that supports abortion)
3. State Funding to Replace Federal Medicaid Funding to Planned Parenthood - Feb 25, 2026 - from a source that supports abortion
4. Abortion in the United States - March 2026 - data and estimates from a source that supports abortion
5. Abortion pills can be ordered "just in case" they'll be needed in the future - May 21, 2026
6. The reality of the abortion pill - May 21, 2026
7. Joint Letter and Catholic Medical Association Paper to the FDA on Mifepristone (July 7, 2025)
8. Catechism of the Catholic Church - Respect for Human Life - scroll to sections 2270-2275
9. Respect for Unborn Human Life: The Church's Constant Teaching - Fact sheet by the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities
10. Catholic apologist Trent Horn makes the case that Catholics Can’t Be Pro-Choice - Sept 30, 2025 
11. It is possible to be morally pro-life and politically pro-choice at the same time. - Jan 22, 2019
12. Pro-life? Pro-choice? Try being pro-grace instead - Jan 19, 2026
13. 'Personally pro-life' but politically pro-choice? - October 2025
14. Why the Arguments about “Bodily Autonomy” and “Forced Birth” Fail to Justify Abortion - June 22, 2022
15. Option Line referral to pregnancy resource centers that don’t refer for abortion
16. Podcast website with full transcripts for this episode and all other episodes

Send me a text or voicemail

In this episode, my friend – and now collaborator – Stan Werne provides his response to the recent episode on Birthright Citizenship.  If you haven’t already done so, you’ll probably want to listen to that episode, which was episode 13,  before you listen to Stan’s response.  It’ll make a lot more sense that way.

Stan references some of the notes from Episode 13 in his comments, and so those notes are repeated here for convenience.

1. Executive Order that would end birthright citizenship for certain immigrants
2. FAQ about the Executive Order from the Legal Defense Fund, an entity that is opposed to the Executive Order
3. Article about Senate hearing on birthright citizenship held March 12, 2026
4. Full transcript of Oral arguments before the Supreme Court on April 1, 2026
5. Takeaways from Supreme Court arguments, CNN article April 1, 2026
6. U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Brief Submitted to Supreme Court
7. Selected Catholic commentaries critical of USCCB brief by Kelsey Reinhardt, Philip Lawler, and Jacob Neu
8. US Bishops Brief Gets Mixed Reviews, article from National Catholic Register March 6, 2026
9. Projection: Repealing Birthright Citizenship Would Significantly Increase the Size of the U.S. Unauthorized Population
10. German research showing birthright citizenship impact on education and youth crime
11. Catholic Social Teaching: Call to family, community and participation
12. Podcast website with full transcripts for this episode and all other episodes

Send me a text or voicemail

This episode introduces a new person and a new feature of the podcast.  My friend and college classmate Stan Werne is going to join the podcast as an occasional contributor, and in this episode Stan tells us about himself, his background, and his interest in Catholic Social Teaching.  

Below are additional Catholic Social Teaching references provided by Stan:

1. Another useful resource on CST from St. Mary's University in San Antonio, TX.  Church Documents - Catholic Social Teaching - Blume Library at St. Mary's University
2. Another summary of CST by Caritas a global network to serve people in need. Catholic Social Teaching - Caritas
3. Podcast website with full transcripts for this episode and all other episodes.

Send me a text or voicemail

In this episode we look at recent news regarding the US Farm Bill, and more specifically the part of the Farm Bill that deals with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, and see what light Catholic Social Teaching might shine on this issue.

References and notes below:

1. House passes 2026 farm bill - Apr 30, 2026
2. Farm Bill Primer: Overview and Status - May 7, 2026
3. Catholic groups stress efforts to combat hunger as Senate prepares to consider farm bill - May 7, 2026
4. Household Food Security in the United States in 2024 - 12/30/2025
5. Joint Catholic organizations letter on 2026 Farm Bill - Feb 20, 2026
6. Joint Catholic organizations letter to Congress on Agriculture Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2027 - April 28, 2026
7. Explainer: Understanding the SNAP program—and what “One Big Beautiful Bill” cuts to these benefits may mean - Nov 10, 2025
8. SNAP Numbers Fall Across US–Food Banks Are Sounding the Alarm - May 13, 2026
9. The Dismal Economics of SNAP’s Work-Hours Test and Time Limit - Apr 19, 2023 - Reviews 19 studies on SNAP work requirements
10. SNAP work requirements don’t boost jobs, but drop participation, research finds - April 10, 2026
11. Employed in a SNAP? The Impact of Work Requirements on Program Participation and Labor Supply - February 2023
12. Untangling Errors in the SNAP Program (August 5, 2025), USDA Efforts to Reduce Waste, Fraud and Abuse in SNAP (May 5, 2025), and What We Get Wrong About SNAP Fraud and Why It Matters (April 20, 2026)
13. Pope Leo’s May 2026 prayer intention: 'That everyone might have food'
14. Podcast website with full transcripts for this episode and all other episodes

Send me a text or voicemail

In this episode we’ll look at declining birth rates and see what Catholic Social Teaching has to say about this global long-term trend.

Here are references and notes:

1. National Center for Health Statistics - Births: Provisional Data for 2025 – report issued April 2026
2. World Bank - Interactive chart showing birth rate trends for US and all other countries
3. Which countries have fertility rates above or below the “replacement level”? - visual map
4. World Population – overview from UN
5. International Monetary Fund - The Debate over Falling Fertility - June 2025
6. How Countries might Reverse Plunging Birth Rate - 26 January 2026 - Interesting secular analysis from the Global Policy Journal
7. Harvard Gazette article on “How to reverse nation’s declining birth rate” - August 20, 2025
8. Catechism of the Catholic Church - The Family in God’s Plan - 2201-2213
9. Pope Leo’s October meeting on marriage, family gains urgency amid declining birth rates in West - April 27, 2026
10. Amoris Laetitia - 2016 - see section 42
11. The Marriage Crisis Driving America’s Fertility Decline  (April 22, 2026) and Catholic family experts tie marriage to dropping US fertility rate (August 7, 2025) - some overlap between these articles
12. ‘Dramatic’ decline in Catholic marriage (January 31, 2026) and What is causing our fertility crisis? Catholic experts weigh in (May 2, 2024) - some overlap between these articles
13. Pope Leo urges Europe to confront ‘declining birth rates,’ strengthen family life - October 14, 2025
14. Pope Francis: World's ills rooted in too much greed, not too many babies - May 10, 2024
15. Podcast website with full transcripts for this episode and all other episodes.

Send me a text or voicemail