Conversations with Consequences

Planned Parenthood: With revenues of over half a BILLION dollars a year from taxpayers, is this giant corporation a “healthcare” provider or a political machine? We argue that the recent firing of Dr. Leana Wen tells us Planned Parenthood is not interested in women’s health, but only in their bottom line and political clout. Dr. Grazie Christie and Ashley Mcguire of The Catholic Association drill down in lively conversation. Helpful links: https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/455901-dr-wens-departure-from-planned-parenthood-seemed-to-be-about-one-thing https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/07/25/planned-parenthood-firing-dr-leana-wen-captures-truth-column/1815089001/ TCA Clips: https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/08/04/pope-encourages-priests-disheartened-by-sex-abuse-fallout/ https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jul/31/advocates-aim-to-overturn-new-york-state-ban-on-su/

Are we a suffering Church? A Church in crisis? Yes. But we are also a Church deeply alive. Parishes across the U.S. are vibrant and energetic, filled with luminous men and women who are busily doing their part to bring about the Kingdom. Our new series “The Church on the Ground: Going forward in Joy” will highlight some of these ordinary, extraordinary people and their marvelous work. Our inaugural show of this series features Father Christopher Pollard of McLean, Virginia, pastor of St. John the Beloved, where both the ordinary form of the Mass and the Latin Mass are celebrated. The solemnity of both forms has a transformative effect and inspires both reverence and enthusiasm both in this priest and among the faithful. Rather than foment distinct "Catholic communities," Father Pollard has a secret for keeping his parish united. We also talk about the continuous stream of young men responding to their priestly vocations in the diocese of Arlington, Virginia and one priest's reaction to the clergy abuse crisis. Helpful links: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/080419.cfm https://www.stjohncatholicmclean.org/ TCA Clip: https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/the-supreme-court-review-of-sharonell-fulton-et-al-v-city-of-philadelphia/

Does your family have its own "family" culture? Are you reacting to the challenges of parenting or do you have a plan? This week's guests on Conversations with Consequences, Mike and Alicia Hernon, share their experience in running the Messy Family Project (messyfamilyproject.org). This dynamic husband and wife duo not only raised 10 kids, but also seek to help other parents become more "intentional" in parenting with marvelous tips and resources (and a fabulous podcast of their own). Listen and learn their tips and ideas for strengthening your family. Helpful links: https://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072819.cfm https://www.messyfamilyproject.org/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messy-family-podcast-catholic-conversations-on-marriage/id957216506 TCA Clip: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/454426-faith-based-health-clinics-spurn-contraceptives-under-trump-rule

Is an abortion the best "care" for a child with limited life expectancy? Recent extreme abortion legislation has enshrined the "right" of New Yorkers to an abortion up until the moment of birth. Illinois took things one step further by stripping any regulation directed to the safety and well-being of women in the state. Are women well-served by "progressive" deregulation of abortion? This week's guest, Mary FioRito, joins TCA's Dr. Grazie Christie and Andrea Picciotti-Bayer to discuss recent legislative travesties and how perinatal hospice cares for both mother and child. Helpful links: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072119.cfm https://eppc.org/author/mary_fiorito/ TCA Clips: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/17/us/politics/planned-parenthood-wen.html https://www.wsj.com/articles/pompeo-gets-religion-11563405522 https://angelusnews.com/voices/grazie-pozo-christie/a-quiver-of-gladness

Public education in America is in a sorry state; maybe it's time to "Get Out Now." The greatest threat to our children is not poor academic performance but the push for ideological conformity in the classroom. Promoting gender ideology, kicking God out of the classroom, and encouraging a victim mentality are pillars of today's "progressive" curriculum for public school students in America. Parents can't opt their children out. Even teachers feel compelled to go along. What is the answer? Mary Hasson, the Ethics and Public Policy Center's Kate O'Beirne Fellow, and Theresa Farnan, Phd. in philosophy, argue that the best answer is to GET OUT NOW! These two delightful women join TCA colleagues Dr. Grazie Christie, Ashley McGuire and Andrea Picciotti-Bayer to discuss the exhaustively researched new book "Get Out Now: Why You Should Pull Your Child from Public School Before It's Too Late." This is an important podcast for all parents and people interested in America's future. Maybe public schools can be fixed, but not soon enough for today's children. Helpful links: www.eppc.org https://www.amazon.com/Get-Out-Now-Should-Public/dp/1621576469/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=get+out+now&qid=1562906706&s=gateway&sr=8-1 http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/071518.cfm TCA Clips: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/never-accept-separation-of-faith-from-political-engagement-chaput-says-60220 https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2019/07/54599/ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-migrants/pope-defends-migrants-after-clashes-between-italy-and-rescue-ships-idUSKCN1U3152 AP-NORC Poll: Americans rarely seek guidance from clergy - The Washington Post

Do women make important contributions to the world of work? Yes, absolutely! In this week's podcast, Grazie is joined by Ashley and Andrea to talk with two Catholic women who are making their mark on the media. Meg McDonnell, editor-in-chief at Verily magazine, discusses her professional ascent and Verily's purpose to "elevate what is honest, real, and beautiful for the modern woman." And Susanna (Susie) Pinto shares her unique professional trajectory as a young journalist with the Holy See's Press Office in Rome, in a busy newsroom in Chicago, and now at the helm of EWTN News as Executive Producer. Susie answers questions about being a woman working at the Vatican and her experience as one among millions during Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines among other fascinating anecdotes. Don't miss out hearing from these two fabulous women as well as Father Roger Landry's inspired thoughts in preparation for Sunday mass. Helpful links: https://verilymag.com/ https://www.ewtnnews.com http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070719.cfm TCA Clips: https://www.wsj.com/articles/church-school-and-the-supreme-court-11561932658 https://www.wsj.com/articles/vatican-hits-back-at-attempts-to-break-confession-secrecy-11561987796

Is abortion good for minority women and minority communities? Is it possible to be a woman of color and be pro-life? How does an abortion culture affect the disabled? "Big Abortion" is inherently racist, from its inception by the infamous eugenicist Margaret Sanger to today, with most Planned Parenthood clinics located in minority neighborhoods. Today’s guests Gloria Purvis and Notre Dame Professor Carter Snead, along with the Catholic Association’s Grazie Christie and Andrea Picciotti-Bayer, discuss the eugenic history and present of abortion. We also examine a well-written opinion by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in a recent case involving selective abortion, Box v. Planned Parenthood, where he laid out the long and sordid history of Planned Parenthood and its decades-long attack on children of color.  Helpful links: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pdf/18-483_3d9g.pdf https://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/063018.cfm https://ewtnmorningglory.com/ https://www.c-span.org/person/?graziechristie https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2019/01/48245/ Links to TCA clips: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/21/joe-biden-abortion-hyde-amendment-1543804 https://www.wsj.com/articles/cradles-pews-and-the-societal-shifts-coming-to-politics-11561382477

In this very special bonus episode, the TCA's Grazie Christie, Andrea Picciotti-Bayer and Ashley McGuire bring you the latest on an important Supreme Court decision: the Bladensburg Cross. Don't miss this helpful analysis of a significant religious freedom case that happened just this week. https://thecatholicassociation.org/tca-statement-on-bladensburg-peace-cross-supreme-court-ruling/

TCA’s Grazie Christie, Maureen Ferguson and Andrea Picciotti-Bayer welcome Christopher Scalia to speak about “On Faith: Lessons from an American Believer.” This gem of a book edited by Chris and the Ethics and Public Policy Center’s Ed Whelan compiles speeches and opinions by the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on his Catholic faith and the role of faith and religion in America. Chris gives wonderful readings from some of the most beautiful excepts found in this compilation. Helpful links: https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Lessons-American-Believer/dp/1984823310/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=on+faith&qid=1560788283&s=gateway&sr=8-2 https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jun/13/book-review-on-faith-by-antonin-scalia/ http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062319.cfm Article referenced in the TCA clips section: https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/06/britain-needs-its-own-mexico-city-policy-to-stop-funding-abortion-overseas/ https://thecatholicassociation.org/tca-statement-on-bladensburg-peace-cross-supreme-court-ruling/

Our host Grazie is joined by our TCA colleges Maureen and Andrea for a fascinating conversation with two of the founders of Canavox.com. Dr. Ana Samuel and Ana Victoria Bethencourt talk about this dynamic, locally-based reading group program for today’s woman. Marriage is a big topic for Canavox study groups! You don’t have to grapple with the complex cultural issues of the day all alone. Helpful links: https://canavox.com/ http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061619.cfm Links to articles from the TCA Clips section: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/new-vatican-document-says-gender-theory-is-cultural-and-ideological-revolution-88531 https://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/grazie-christie/planned-parenthood-cannot-hide-truth-cost-abortion-high-and-women-are https://www.crisismagazine.com/2019/a-new-kind-of-sacrament