TCA Podcast, – “Conversations with Consequences,” Episode 54

Anne Schlafly Cori On Mrs. America And Lori Windham Discusses Little Sisters Of The Poor

On this week’s Conversations with Consequences, Dr. Grazie Christie is joined by TCA colleagues Andrea Picciotti-Bayer and Ashley McGuire to discuss the realities of homeschooling amid this coronavirus pandemic. Anne Schlafly Cori also joins to discuss the new Hulu miniseries that plays fast and loose with her mother’s life, Mrs. America. Anne sets the record straight on the amazing work her mother forged in defeating the ERA and how this battle still continues today. With the Little Sisters of the Poor heading back to the Supreme Court in an historic telephonic argument in the age of the coronavirus, Lori Windham, Senior Counsel for the Becket Fund, joins with the latest on the case and how this long battle might ultimately end for the Little Sisters who work selflessly for the elderly and those most in need. Stay tuned til the end for an inspiring homily from Father Roger Landry and make sure to tune in every Saturday at 5pm ET on EWTN radio!

https://thecatholicassociation.org/podcast/ep-54-anne-schlafly-cori-on-mrs-america-and-lori-windham-discusses-little-sisters-of-the-poor/
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1. A quarter of Americans, and a majority of black Protestants, say their religious faith has deepened because of the coronavirus.

By Michelle Boorstein, The Washington Post, May 1, 2020, Pg. A10

One in four Americans say the coronavirus has deepened their religious faith, a poll released Thursday found, including a majority of black Protestants. Just 2 percent said the virus has left their faith weakened.

Pew Research found the trend of strengthened faith primarily among Americans who are already religious — people who frequently pray, attend services in normal times and rate religion as important to them.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/04/30/coronavirus-deepening-more-religious-black-protestants/
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2. 5 Nuns Die as Virus Sweeps Wisconsin Convent for Patients With Dementia.

By Julie Bosman, The New York Times, May 1, 2020, Pg. A9

Our Lady of the Angels Convent was designed as a haven of peace and prayer in a suburb of Milwaukee, a place where aging, frail nuns could rest after spending their lives taking care of others.

The quiet convent has become the site of a deadly cluster of the coronavirus. Four staff members have tested positive, a health official said. Since April 6, five nuns have died from the virus.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/30/us/virus-wisconsin-nuns.html?
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3. Ralph Northam’s Good Friday expansion of abortion on demand: Virginia governor signs law that guts protections for unborn children and their mothers.

By Marjorie Dannenfelser, The Washington Times, May 1, 2020, Pg. B3, Opinion

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam chose to observe Good Friday by signing into law a radical expansion of abortion on demand, gutting hard-won protections for unborn children and the health and safety of their mothers. The new law not only repeals key informed consent provisions, but for the first time, it permits non-physicians (such as nurse practitioners) to carry out abortions. Religious leaders called Mr. Northam’s choice of timing a “particular affront to all who profess the Gospel of life.”

In stark contrast, President Trump has governed as the most pro-life president in history. Acting on the will of the people, he has done everything in his power to stop taxpayer funding of the abortion industry. He has had two outstanding U.S. Supreme Court justices and nearly 200 federal judges confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and potentially many more. At every opportunity, including two State of the Union addresses and virtually every rally, he has used his platform to call out Democrats’ extremism and urge Congress to send popular pro-life bills to his desk. He has even invited abortion survivors to meet with him in the Oval Office.

Democratic Party leaders have betrayed the most innocent among us, their pro-life constituents, and about one-third of rank-and-file members of their own party. Susan B. Anthony List’s canvassing team will be working nonstop through Election Day to educate and mobilize millions of voters in critical battleground states, including the pro-life Democrats and independents, to re-elect President Trump and win a pro-life Senate. This November don’t let extremist politicians wash their hands and move on — hold them accountable at the ballot box.

Marjorie Dannenfelser is president of the national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List. She serves as national co-chair of Pro-Life Voices for Trump.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/apr/30/pro-life-leaders-accused-hypocrisy-wanting-open-ec/
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4. Cruz urges DOJ to watch for religious discrimination in NYC.

By Elana Schor, Associated Press, April 30, 2020, 2:05 PM

Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz is urging the Justice Department “to closely monitor New York City” for potential religious discrimination amid the pandemic after its mayor singled out “the Jewish community” following the breakup of a large gathering of Orthodox Jews.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/cruz-urges-doj-to-watch-for-religious-discrimination-in-nyc/2020/04/30/243950c8-8b0d-11ea-80df-d24b35a568ae_story.html
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5. NYPD cracks down on another big funeral, stoking tensions.

By Michael R. Sisak, The Washington Post, April 30, 2020, 9:29 PM

Tensions between police and members of New York City’s Hasidic Jewish community flared again Thursday as officers interrupted a crowded funeral procession to crack down on social distancing violators.

Video posted on social media showed officers in protective masks chasing a minivan through Brooklyn’s Borough Park neighborhood as it carried the body of a deceased rabbi. The officers can be heard shouting at dozens of people marching behind the van to get out of the street and onto the sidewalk.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/nypd-cracks-down-on-another-big-funeral-stoking-tensions/2020/04/30/28075842-8b4b-11ea-80df-d24b35a568ae_story.html
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6. Let states defund Planned Parenthood, Congressmen tell Supreme Court.

By Catholic News Agency, April 30, 2020, 9:30 AM

More than 130 members of Congress are asking the Supreme Court to allow states to defund Planned Parenthood.

In an amicus brief filed at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, 108 representatives and 29 senators argued that states should have the flexibility to determine qualified Medicaid providers.

They urged the Supreme Court to hear South Carolina’s case on barring Planned Parenthood affiliates in the state from receiving Medicaid reimbursements.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/let-states-defund-planned-parenthood-congressmen-tell-supreme-court-65288 ___________________________________________________________

7. Chinese Government Resumes Removal of Crosses from Church Buildings: According to a parishioner in the Chinese province of Anhui named John, Chinese officials cut down the cross from the top of Our Lady of the Rosary Church on April 18.

By Catholic News Agency, April 30, 2020

As the Chinese government makes progress containing the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities have resumed action to remove crosses from buildings and crackdown on religious practice.

The latest round of enforcement actions have included the removal of crosses from buildings belonging to the state-run churches. According to a report from UCA News, priests say they are cooperating in the removal of exterior crosses in hopes that entire church buildings will not be demolished or converted into a building for secular use. 

Paul said that police officers blocked people from entering the church or taking pictures of the removal, and that a cell phone had been confiscated after it captured a picture of the cross coming down.

https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/chinese-government-resumes-removal-of-crosses-from-church-buildings
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TCA Media Monitoring provides a snapshot from national newspapers and major Catholic press outlets of coverage regarding significant Catholic Church news and current issues with which the Catholic Church is traditionally or prominently engaged. The opinions and views expressed in the articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Catholic Association.
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