The USCCB Spring 2024 plenary assembly gets underway with addresses from Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, as well as Archbishop Timothy Broglio, President of the USCCB. Catholic Current also spoke with Bishop Robert Barron, Chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life & Youth, about the proposed pastoral framework for youth and young adults.

Guest Andrew Middleton, Director of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Apostleship of the Sea, discusses ministry to the crew of the container ship Dali, which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing its collapse and the death of six construction workers.

Making Catholic education inclusive and accessible for students with special needs is a priority for the Committee on Catholic Education. Guests Mary Pat Donoghue, Executive Director of USCCB’s Secretariat for Catholic Education, and Maggie Hubbard, Ed. D, with the National Catholic Partnership on Disability, discuss the importance of serving all students in Catholic schools.

In his recently published book, Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect, John Inazu reflects on his experiences as a law professor and considers how we can build bridges with our neighbors, coworkers, and loved ones. Dr. Inazu talks with Aaron about the unique approach he takes in this book and what we can learn about how to disagree better.

Bishop Edward J. Burns of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life & Youth discusses the issue of mental health among the clergy with Rev. James E. Garvey, O.Praem., D.Min. (St. Luke Institute), Patricia Donoghue, Ph.D. (St. John Vianney Center), and Anthony Isacco, Ph.D. (Chatham University).

We speak with Cathy McCarthy of the Diocese of Gallup, a “mission diocese” in New Mexico, about the reality of life in mission dioceses and how the Catholic Home Mission Appeal strengthens the Church “at home.” Learn more at https://www.usccb.org/committees/catholic-home-missions.

Dr. Kenneth Craycraft of Mount St. Mary's Seminary & School of Theology in Cincinnati discusses his most recent book, Citizens Yet Strangers: Living Authentically Catholic in a Divided America. The book aims to help Catholics recover the grammar and moral imagination of Catholic teaching in their engagements with American culture.

Bishop Robert E. Barron, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, discusses the mental health crisis among young people with two Catholic psychologists. The discussion touches on issues such as social media, depression, and spiritual engagement.

Guests Jeffrey Monforton, chair of the Subcommittee on Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, and Fr. Anthony Corcoran, SJ, Apostolic Administrator of Kyrgyzstan, discuss the mission of the Catholic Church in Central Asia and the importance of solidarity among Catholic globally.

Dr. Abigail Favale of the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame discusses her book The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory, which weaves personal experience with expert knowledge to provide an in-depth yet accessible account of the gender paradigm—a framework for understanding reality and identity that has recently risen to prominence.