Mercy Unbound

Jason Jones is a bestselling author, human-rights advocate, political scientist, and filmmaker whose work has taken him to some of the most troubled regions of the world. He has served vulnerable communities in the midst of war, persecution, and genocide, seeking to reveal the deeper realities often overlooked—or ignored—by the modern media. 

In this episode, Jason shares his powerful testimony, being a defender of life and human dignity and his work with the Vulnerable People Project, an apostolate dedicated to protecting the most defenseless members of the human family.

Early Life

Born to a mother who was only sixteen, and whose marriage ended within two years, Jason grew up without a faith foundation and in a home where neither religion nor politics was discussed. Having never seen his parents together, he formed one clear aspiration - to be a good father. Yet early in his military training, he learned that his girlfriend’s father had forced her to undergo a third-trimester abortion. That tragic event became the catalyst for Jones’s lifelong commitment to building a culture of life.

Life Ministry

Jason founded the Vulnerable People Project, which supports a wide range of humanitarian and Catholic initiatives. One example is funding security personnel to protect Catholic churches and seminarians in Nigeria, where violence against Christians continues to escalate.

In his book, Dispatches from the Great Campaign: Defending Life on the Front Lines, Jones exposes the ongoing assault on human life across the globe. The book is available through Sophia Institute and on Amazon. Commenting on the work, Bear Woznick wrote, “Jason Jones gives us his perspective on a world in crisis like a wordsmith pounding out a sharp edge with a forge and hammer. This book should come with a warning label; his riveting words will challenge you to action.”

Foreign Affairs

Jason reflects on America’s moral responsibility in foreign conflict. Drawing on principles from Just War Theory, he emphasizes the need to distinguish between military and civilian targets, to minimize civilian casualties, and to ensure that any response to aggression is proportionate. He raises difficult but important questions, asking whether actions such as the bombing of Hiroshima and especially Nagasaki upheld these principles.

In his essays—including “President Trump: Find Peace in Syria by Looking to Switzerland” and “What We Wish Donald Trump Would Say to Prime Minister Netanyahu”—Jason highlights the suffering of Christians in the Middle East, noting the destruction of Catholic churches and sacred sites. He recounts efforts to bring truckloads of food into Gaza and the immense challenges involved in providing relief there.

Throughout his work, Jason calls attention to the increasing persecution of Catholics and other Christians worldwide, urging the faithful to remain vigilant, compassionate and courageous in the face of suffering.

Mrs. Jamie McAleer resides in North Carolina with her husband, Jack, and their three children—Lauren, Jennifer, and Alexander. However, their journey to parenthood wasn’t always easy. 

Jamie and Jack were blessed with two daughters and longed to have more children. However, medical testing revealed that this would be highly unlikely. Through what Jamie describes as a series of “God-incidences,” they began a long and difficult journey that ultimately led them to adopt their son, Alexander, from a Russian orphanage. She recounts this remarkable story in her book, I Will Come to You, available at EWTNRC.com and SophiaInstitute.com.

Starting a family

Jamie met Jack while attending Auburn University. It was, as she fondly recalls, “love at first sight,” and the two eventually married. Jamie had been raised Lutheran and, by her own admission, was not deeply active in her faith. God was not a daily presence in her life. Jack, on the other hand, came from a large and devout Catholic family. Jamie was drawn to the warmth, unity, and joyful chaos of his family life—a witness that would later influence her own spiritual journey.

The couple married in 1981, and while Jack was occupied with building the family business of a Krispy Kreme donut shop alongside his brother Mac, they were blessed with two beautiful daughters. Jamie recalls one memorable radio interview in Indianapolis that helped propel Krispy Kreme’s success during those busy years.

The path to adoption

As the girls grew, Jamie continued to hope for more children. Yet after a series of medical tests, she was told that conceiving again would be nearly impossible. Though deeply saddened, she chose to accept this cross as God’s will. Not long afterward, she came across an article in their diocesan newspaper about adopting children from Russia. That evening, she mentioned it to Jack, who immediately supported the idea. Some family members encouraged them, while others counseled caution, suggesting they should be content with the two children they already had.

Determined to follow where God was leading, Jamie contacted Catholic Social Services. After a thorough home study and much paperwork—complicated by frequent delays and lost immigration documents—the adoption was finally approved.

One day, the McAleers received a photo of a little boy named Alexander. “Our hearts melted,” Jamie said. They sent him a teddy bear, and were later told that Alexander proudly told the other children, “My mommy and daddy sent this to me.”

During the long and emotional process, Jamie endured many trials and moments of uncertainty. One day, her mother-in-law gave her a prayer card with a prayer to the Blessed Mother. It was then that Jamie realized she needed to surrender everything to Our Lady, trusting Mary, the Mother of God, to intercede for their family.

Eventually, the entire family traveled to Moscow to bring Alexander home. Today, he is 35 years old, married and thriving.

Jamie shares her story not only to inspire faith and perseverance but also to encourage women facing difficult pregnancies. “Please consider adoption,” she urges, “as a far better and more loving alternative to abortion. Every child is a precious gift from God.”

In this episode, author Grayson Quay discusses the ethical and moral challenges posed by transhumanism—a growing movement that seeks to redefine what it means to be human through technology—and how we, as Catholics, can faithfully resist its allure.

In his book, The Transhumanist Temptation: How Technology and Ideology Are Reshaping Humanity—and How to Resist, Quay skillfully exposes the lies underpinning transhumanism and warns readers about the dystopian “brave new world” that is no longer a distant threat, but an unsettling reality already taking shape around us. His book is available through Sophia Institute Press and Amazon. 

At its core, transhumanism seeks to move “beyond” what is human. It is a non-theistic worldview that grounds its ethics in scientific advancement and utilitarian reasoning—essentially, if it benefits me, it must be good and acceptable. This philosophy rejects divine order and moral truth, elevating human will and technological power as ultimate authorities.

Quay’s book is divided into five sections: bodies, realities, politics, work and God. The first chapter addresses issues of sex and reproduction. The transhumanist aspires to total control over the body, desiring to choose its form and manipulate its functions at will. “It’s my body,” they argue, “and I have the right to do with it whatever I please.”

Procedures like In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) have become increasingly common in recent years. IVF involves fertilizing an egg outside the womb, typically resulting in the creation of multiple embryos—far more than are ever brought to term. The remaining embryos are destroyed, frozen for future use, or donated for experimentation. From a Catholic perspective, each embryo is a human life at its earliest stage, and to destroy or freeze them is gravely unjust. While the desire to bring a child into the world is noble, we must remember the moral principle that the end does not justify the means.

Surrogacy extends this detachment from the natural order even further. By implanting a fertilized embryo into another woman’s womb, the act of bearing a child becomes a transactional process rather than a sacred gift. This has led to complex legal and moral crises—separating motherhood from its natural, God-given unity.

Another subject Quay addresses is transgenderism, an issue unknown half a century ago. Increasingly, society is beginning to recognize the dangers of irreversible surgeries and hormone treatments, particularly when performed on children. The so-called freedom to alter one’s body has led to deep psychological and physical harm, often masked by slogans of self-expression.

For the transhumanist, the will reigns supreme—human desire knows no limits. This obsession with self-creation and autonomy mirrors, in many ways, the oldest temptation: “You shall be like gods.” Some might say that a form of modern satanism—the worship of the self—has become the new religion of the West.

Quay’s book offers a deeply thought-provoking examination of these issues. It challenges us as Catholics to recognize how the spirit of the age tempts us to reject God’s design in favor of human invention—and to renew our commitment to the truth that only Christ can restore the full dignity and meaning of our humanity.

This podcast episode follows the remarkable faith journey of Barbara Heil. Her full testimony is beautifully recounted in her book, Journey into His Heart: How the Holy Spirit Led Me into the Catholic Church, available at the Sophia Institute and Amazon.

Barbara Heil was raised without any particular faith or religious background. However, at the age of sixteen, she experienced a powerful encounter with the love of Jesus Christ that changed her life. She soon began attending a Protestant church and later became a missionary and pastor, traveling to more than fifty nations to share the Gospel. Her zeal for the Lord was contagious—she wanted everyone to know and love Jesus as she did.

At one point, Barbara attended a Bible school in Washington State, where her training included evangelizing Catholics. She was told that Catholics worshipped images, treated Mary as a goddess, and prayed to saints instead of to God. Those misconceptions stayed with her—until one day, a Catholic priest was invited to speak to her group. Barbara had mixed emotions about his visit, uncertain whether Catholics were even Christian. But to her surprise, she was deeply moved by the priest’s evident love for Jesus Christ.

Later, she was given a book about the saints and doctors of the church. Reading the writings of St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross stirred something within her soul and began what she would later recognize as a slow but steady journey toward the Catholic faith.

In the opening chapter of her book, “Holy Thursday,” Barbara recalls being invited by friends to attend a Holy Thursday Mass. At the time, she was still an ordained Protestant minister, yet she felt the unmistakable presence of God during the liturgy—though she did not yet understand its meaning or significance.

As a Protestant pastor, Barbara’s life was filled with prayer, worship, and Scripture study. Occasionally, she would encounter passages that puzzled her. Once, she asked her pastor, “How could Jesus be sinless if He was born of a human mother who herself was born after the Fall?” When he could not provide an answer, her curiosity deepened.

Over time, the Lord continued to work in her heart. She once heard Ralph Martin of Renewal Ministries speak, and his words stirred her soul in a profound way. Gradually, the pieces began to fall into place. Still, Barbara wrestled with familiar questions: Do Catholics worship Mary? Why pray the Rosary? Why pray to the saints? What is papal infallibility?

The more she prayed, read, and studied Church history, the more she discovered that the Catholic Church’s teachings were not what she had once been taught. She came to believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and to recognize the beauty, depth, and truth of the Catholic faith.

Dr. Stacy Trasancos, Ph.D., is both a chemist and a Catholic convert. In her work, she addresses the profound medical, moral, and ethical questions surrounding IVF (in vitro fertilization). Her recent book, IVF is Not the Way (available at SophiaInstitute.com), carefully examines why this increasingly common medical procedure—though accepted by the medical community—is not compatible with the Catholic faith.

Moving towards life

Dr. Trasancos draws from the early Church’s teaching. The Didache (“DID-uh-key”), a Greek text presenting the instruction of the twelve apostles to the Gentiles, states: “There are two ways, one of life and one of death, and there is a great difference between the two ways.” The text proceeds with a summary of the Ten Commandments and Our Lord’s teaching on the greatest commandment, as found in the Gospel of Mark. Dr. Trasancos demonstrates how artificial procreation, rather than serving the way of life, ultimately diverts us toward the way of death.

Medical and moral difficulties

The Magisterium has spoken clearly on this issue. In the encyclical Humanae Vitae, Pope St. Paul VI described the “inseparable connection established by God” between the unitive and procreative dimensions of the marital act. The Church’s teaching rests on the truth that the conjugal union of husband and wife—where “the two become one flesh”—is the only fitting and moral setting for the transmission of human life. IVF, by its very nature, severs this union, replacing it with a technical process.

Dr. Trasancos carefully outlines the medical steps of IVF: ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, sperm collection, laboratory fertilization, and embryo transfer. The very act of placing sperm and egg together in a petri dish bypasses the marital embrace, substituting a laboratory procedure for the gift of conjugal love.

Further moral difficulties arise in practice. IVF frequently produces multiple embryos; some are implanted, while others are frozen for potential future use. This raises troubling questions when cycles fail, when embryos remain indefinitely frozen, or when issues such as divorce or death occur. The U.S. Supreme Court, in 2024, ruled that frozen embryos may be considered children—an acknowledgment of the dignity of human life, but also a reminder of the serious moral quandaries created by this technology.

Ultimately, these realities bring us back to the perennial moral question: Does the end ever justify the means? The Church, in her wisdom, answers no—because to disregard the sacred unity of marital love and procreation is to diminish human dignity.

In her book, Dr. Trasancos presents the Church’s teaching with both intellectual rigor and pastoral sensitivity, helping us to see why IVF, despite its promises, is not the path God has given for the gift of life.

Jeffrey Trissell, Esq., was among the courageous “front line” attorneys engaged in the historic legal battles during the COVID-19 crisis of 2020 to 2021. 

He played a central role in challenging the unprecedented lockdown of churches, standing against California Governor Gavin Newsom’s orders that shuttered houses of worship. Through the perseverance of his team, their efforts brought about the only two victories in California’s lower courts, three appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court in a single year, and ultimately, a permanent injunction against Governor Newsom and the State of California. Mr. Trissell serves with the Thomas More Society, a national pro bono public-interest law firm dedicated to defending life, family and religious liberty. 

Drawing inspiration from St. Thomas More, the patron saint of lawyers and a model of fidelity in the face of tyranny, Mr. Trissell exhorts believers never to remain silent when their faith and freedoms are under attack. He reminds us of the timeless truth, “A faith worth dying for is a faith worth living for.” 

In this episode, we discuss his book, “Unlocking the Churches: The Legal Victory Against California’s Pandemic-Era Religious Discrimination.” The book is available through Sophia Institute Press and Amazon.

A double standard

Mr. Trissell emphasizes that religious freedom and the right to life must remain at the very heart of America’s constitutional order. Yet, during the pandemic, both were severely undermined. On March 4, 2020, Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency. By March 19, through executive order N-33-20, he shut down the entire state, granting himself authority to determine what was “essential” and what was not. 

While in late April, he promised to reopen sectors of society, he notably excluded churches. Businesses such as tattoo parlors, marijuana dispensaries, and bars were labeled “essential,” while public worship was deemed “nonessential.” Singing was permitted in the entertainment industry, but hymns were banned in church. To make matters worse, Governor Newsom was later exposed for violating his own rules, dining with lobbyists at an elite Napa Valley restaurant.

This troubling double standard was not limited to California. In New Hampshire, Governor Sununu prohibited gatherings of more than fifty people; courts quickly dismissed challenges to his order. In Louisville, Kentucky, Mayor Greg Fischer even banned drive-in Easter services, threatening police enforcement—until a federal judge struck down his decree.

Different practices across the country

Mr. Trissell notes that while the U.S. Supreme Court has historically recognized that the Bill of Rights is most vital during times of national crisis, it has also faltered. During World War II, the Court infamously upheld the internment of Japanese Americans. Similarly, in May 2020, Chief Justice Roberts denied South Bay United Pentecostal Church’s request for emergency protection of its First Amendment rights. That ruling triggered a wave of arbitrary, non-scientific decisions across the country.

Meanwhile, some states like Florida kept schools open, while others like Illinois and California prolonged harsh restrictions, despite mounting evidence that lockdowns were not scientifically justified. Studies soon confirmed that many individuals had natural immunity from asymptomatic infection. Additionally, deaths were frequently overcounted as “COVID-related” even when the virus was not the primary cause, such as cases when someone died of a stroke but tested positive for COVID-19. These missteps contributed to a widespread erosion of trust in government leaders and their handling of the pandemic.

Mr. Trissell’s book provides a thorough and well-documented account of these pivotal legal battles.

A retired law enforcement officer in the Los Angeles area, Jesse Romero has become a powerful Catholic apologist and evangelist. He is the author of The Devil in the City of Los Angeles, available through JesseRomero.com and Amazon.

In this podcast episode, we will hear his remarkable story—how his career in law enforcement ultimately led him to defend and proclaim the Gospel.

Satanic Encounters

Many people in our time deny the existence of God or live in doubt about Heaven and hell. Yet we know that confusion is one of Satan’s primary tools. To resist the devil and his works, Jesse suggests that we must remain close to the Lord, entrust ourselves to Our Lady, and frequent the sacraments.

In his book, Jesse recounts his first extraordinary experience in 1983 at the Los Angeles County Jail. He recalls speaking with an inmate, a self-proclaimed Satanist. Jesse offered him an extra ration of food if he would simply say, “Jesus is Lord.” The man was unable to speak those three words. Each time he tried, his face contorted, and it seemed as though an invisible force prevented him from uttering Jesus’ name.

Jesse also had an encounter with Richard Ramirez, the infamous “Night Stalker,” a convicted mass murderer. Ramirez, he explains, was in a state of “perfect possession” by Satan—so hardened in evil that he would read nothing but his satanic bible and pornography, having deliberately made a pact with the devil.

Spiritual Warfare

Another chilling incident involved a young man in a violent disturbance. It required four officers to restrain him. The young man shook uncontrollably, bit and scratched at those around him, and his eyes appeared completely white—without pupil or iris. He spoke in an unknown tongue. 

His devout grandmother began praying the rosary. Rather than calling for more reinforcements, Jesse instructed his fellow officers to pray as well. After forty agonizing minutes, the young man suddenly ceased his thrashing, ran to his grandmother, and cried out: “The monster is gone—he has left me!”

Signs of Demonic Possession

From these and other encounters, Jesse emphasizes the Church’s traditional teaching on the four signs of demonic possession:

1. The sudden ability to speak or understand unknown languages.

2. Abnormal physical strength disproportionate to one’s condition.

3. Knowledge of hidden events or realities that could not be known naturally.

4. A vehement hatred or aversion toward God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the cross, and the saints.

Jesse is a powerful and dynamic speaker for parish missions, retreats, or conferences. He is admired for his fervor and zeal for the Catholic faith. His riveting presentations leave a lasting impression on all who hear him.

Michael Lichens is an author, editor, and researcher with a deep passion for the lesser-known stories of Christian history. He has earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s degree from the University of Chicago Divinity School. He is the former editor of Catholic Exchange and St. Austin Review, and his work has appeared in numerous Catholic and secular publications. He is also a frequent guest on radio and television programs. 

In this episode, we discuss a remarkable and moving book, “I Killed Maria Goretti: The Life and Repentance of Alessandro Serenelli,” by Pietro Di Donato (1911–1992), first published in 1962. In this powerful work, Di Donato shares the true story of Alessandro Serenelli—the young man who murdered St. Maria Goretti—and the profound conversion he underwent later in life. The book is available through Sophia Institute Press.

Sin and conversion

The life of St. Maria Goretti is both heartbreaking and deeply inspiring. Her story is a radiant witness to the mercy of God and the power of forgiveness. Born into a poor Italian family, Maria lived with her widowed mother and siblings on a shared property with the Serenelli family. Alessandro, a troubled young man, developed an unhealthy obsession with Maria and attempted to seduce her on several occasions. Each time, Maria refused, telling him plainly that what he wanted was sinful and not of God.

One day, Alessandro resolved that if she resisted again, he would kill her. When she did, he brutally stabbed her multiple times. Before dying from her injuries, Maria famously said, "I forgive him."

Alessandro was sentenced to 30 years in prison, of which he served 27. During his incarceration, Maria appeared to him in a dream, encouraging him to repent and live a holy life, telling him she wanted him to be with her in Heaven. That vision marked the beginning of a sincere conversion.

A new life

Upon his release, Alessandro eventually sought out Maria’s mother, Assunta. He humbly asked for her forgiveness, and she gave it—saying that if Maria had forgiven him, she must do the same. In one of the most moving moments described in the book, Assunta and Alessandro attended Christmas Mass together. She took his hand and walked with him to receive the Eucharist, united in Christ.

The Church honors Maria Goretti as a virgin martyr, as she gave her life defending her purity and her faith. While Alessandro’s defense attorney had attempted to blame society—pointing to the influence of immoral media and culture—Alessandro himself, after his conversion, accepted full responsibility for his crime.

St. Maria Goretti is now venerated as a patron saint of chastity, purity, and forgiveness. Her legacy lives on as a powerful testament to the grace of God, the beauty of virtue, and the call to extend mercy—even in the most painful of circumstances.

You can follow Michael Lichens’ writings and ongoing projects at mlichens.com.

Alexandro Jurado is a passionate Catholic apologist and co-host of the popular podcast, Voices of Reason. In this episode, Alexandro helps clarify several commonly misunderstood Catholic beliefs, including the Eucharist, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the communion of saints.

Learning the Catholic faith

Raised in a devout Catholic family, Alexandro developed a deep interest in the faith from a young age. His love for apologetics—the reasoned defense of Catholic doctrine—began in earnest when he was just 15 years old and preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation. Driven by a desire to understand why the Church teaches what it does, he immersed himself in the Scriptures, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Church history, and other spiritual resources.

Although firmly grounded in his Catholic faith, Alexandro was also exposed to Protestant teachings and attended various non-Catholic services. Over time, he noticed the inconsistencies in doctrine among Protestant denominations. These discrepancies led him to a deeper appreciation for the unity and continuity of Catholic teaching.

The Eucharist

A common misunderstanding about the Catholic faith involves the Eucharist. Alexandro encourages us to view it through the lens of John, chapter 6. He draws a powerful parallel between the old and new covenants: just as it was not enough to sacrifice the Passover lamb—one had to consume it—Jesus, the Lamb of God, commands us to consume his body and blood. Alexandro notes that in the early Church, particularly in Corinth, some who received the Eucharist unworthily became ill and even died (1 Corinthians, chapter 11), underscoring the sacredness of the sacrament. When many of Jesus’ disciples found his teaching on the Eucharist too difficult to accept, he did not explain it away as symbolic. Instead, many walked away, and he let them go.

Communion of Saints

Alexandro also addresses Catholic teaching on the communion of saints. As St. Paul explains in 1 Corinthians, we are all part of the one body of Christ. Although our physical bodies may perish, the soul endures. The saints in heaven remain spiritually united with us and can intercede for us, just as our friends and loved ones can pray for us here on earth. Scripture affirms that "the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective" (James 5:16).

Our Relationship with Mary

When it comes to the Blessed Mother, Alexandro corrects the common misconception that Catholics "worship" Mary. He emphasizes that Scripture clearly states: "All generations shall call me blessed" (Luke 1:48). Unfortunately, some non-Catholics misunderstand Marian devotion and assume it diminishes love for Jesus. In truth, nothing could be further from Catholic teaching. Mary always points us to her Son. Even Martin Luther held Mary in high esteem and believed in her Assumption. The idea that reverence for Mary takes away from devotion to Christ is a distortion, largely arising in the 18th century. As Alexandro reminds us, no one could possibly love Mary more than her own son, Jesus.

To hear more from Alexandro Jurado and explore thoughtful discussions on Catholic doctrine, you can find the Voices of Reason podcast online. Each episode provides a deep dive into the beauty and truth of our Catholic faith.

DISCLAIMER: This episode contains graphic testimony that may disturb some listeners. 

Zachary King spent over 25 years deeply immersed in organized Satanism and the occult. From a young age, he was drawn into this world of magic. He was once a powerful instrument of evil, but a miraculous conversion with the Blessed Virgin Mary helped to turn his life to Christ. 

This is part two of a two-episode series. This episode focuses on Zachary’s conversion to Catholicism and giving his life to Jesus. Listener discretion is advised. 

Into darkness

In part one, Zachary shared how he was drawn into a world of magic and the occult from a young age. His life spiraled into darkness, involving addiction to pornography and drugs, participation in child pornography, and eventual membership in a satanic coven. 

As a teenager, he signed a pact in his own blood, dedicating his soul to the devil. He ascended the ranks of this dark world to become a “High Wizard,” participating in rituals as horrific as human sacrifice.

Check out part one of the series to listen to the full story. 

Finding the light

In this episode, we hear the astonishing testimony of Zachary’s conversion—an immediate and miraculous transformation brought about through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grace associated with the Miraculous Medal. 

Through Mary’s loving intervention, Zachary came to know the mercy of Jesus Christ. He now shares his story to warn others, to proclaim the power of God's mercy, and to defend life, particularly by exposing the satanic roots of abortion.

Zachary now devotes his life to evangelization, boldly proclaiming the truth of God’s love and mercy. His mission aligns with the words Christ gave to St. Faustina: “The greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to My Mercy” (Diary, 723). His book, “Abortion is a Satanic Sacrifice,” is available on Amazon.

Father Frank Pavone, founder of Priests for Life, wrote a powerful endorsement of Zachary’s work. Father Pavone and Dr. Bryan Thatcher co-authored Rachel, Weep No More: Healing After Abortion through Divine Mercy nearly 25 years ago—another testament to the transformative power of God’s love.

Zachary’s powerful story is a sobering reminder of the spiritual battle that exists, but also a profound witness to the saving grace of Jesus Christ and the tender mercy of Our Blessed Mother.

To learn more about Zachary King, visit his website at www.allsaintsministry.org.