TCA Podcast, – “Conversations with Consequences,” Episode 183 – Why Americans Aren’t Having Kids & Navigating The Struggle Of Infertility
Dr. Grazie Christie and TCA colleague Ashley McGuire discuss a disturbing survey showing the #1 reason most couples aren’t having kids–and it’s not about climate change or money concerns–but a selfish desire to maintain indepedence. On the other end of the spectrum, with countless women suffering the cross of infertility, Dr. Marie Meaney offers her own experience and some wise words that St. Teresa of Calcutta offered on the grief so many endure. Father Roger Landry also offers an inspiring homily for this Sunday’s Gospel. Catch the show every Saturday at 7amET/5pmET on EWTN radio!
https://thecatholicassociation.org/podcast/ep-183-why-americans-arent-having-kids-navigating-the-struggle-of-infertility/
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1. Jesus Saves, but He’s No Protectionist, Christians who decry international trade misunderstand the church’s tradition., By Dylan Pahman and Alexander William Salter, The Wall Street Journal, October 21, 2022, Pg. A15, Opinion
Skepticism of commerce, especially international commerce, is rising among religious conservatives. In “Why Liberalism Failed,” Notre Dame political scientist Patrick Deneen indicts the “expansion of commerce” for severing “traditional ties and relationships.” A group of self-styled “critics of contemporary liberalism” recently declared in an open letter the need to “limit the market,” repudiate “destructive globalisation” and recover the “supreme theological virtue” of Christendom: charity.
National renewal, economic or otherwise, is praiseworthy. We must always tend to our community, for “in its peace you will have peace” (Jerermiah 29:7). But the international community isn’t a faceless agglomeration of governments, nonprofits and multinational institutions. It consists of real people with whom we can produce and exchange, and turning away from them isn’t the right answer for Christians. Church tradition affirms the providential nature of international commerce.
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This doesn’t mean that Christians must support international trade on any terms. When we enter into commercial relationships with those who oppress their fellow men—such as Chinese counterparties who economically and politically exploit Uyghurs—we participate in their iniquity. As St. John and others warned, the pursuit of wealth can’t be justified at any cost. Rather, we should recenter the discussion on one of the most important questions Jesus was ever asked: “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29).
Jesus answered with his most famous parable: the Good Samaritan. A Samaritan, notably, was considered a foreigner to the Jewish community in Judaea at the time—racially and religiously distinct and excluded. He was the descendant of another nation, the long-since-conquered northern kingdom of Israel. Yet Jesus points to a foreigner’s compassion for a man in distress as the ideal of neighborly love, made concrete through acts of not only charity but commerce: “He took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you’ ” (Luke 10:35).
Rather than condemn international commerce, Christians should understand it as a medium through which we honor others as our neighbors. Once that is established, the Bible is clear on what we should do: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). Economic historians call this the doctrine of “universal economy.” We call it providence.
Mr. Pahman is a research fellow at the Acton Institute and executive editor of the Journal of Markets & Morality. Mr. Salter is an economics professor at Texas Tech University, a research fellow at TTU’s Free Market Institute and a senior fellow with the American Institute for Economic Research.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/jesus-saves-but-hes-no-protectionist-international-trade-commerce-christianity-national-conservative-market-china-11666293029
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2. Biden snaps at reporter over abortion restrictions: ‘Get educated’, By Jeff Mordock, The Washington Times, October 21, 2022, Pg. A2
President Biden snapped at a reporter on Thursday after he asked the commander-in-chief if there should be any restrictions on abortion, telling the reporter to “get educated.”
The president fielded reporters’ questions as he departed the White House on his way to Pennsylvania, where he will deliver a speech in Pittsburgh and stump in Philadelphia for Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democratic running for U. S. Senate.
“Should there be any restrictions on abortion at all?” the reporter asked Mr. Biden.
“Yes. There should be,” the president responded.
“What should they be?” the reporter followed up.
“It’s Roe v. Wade. Read it, man. You’ll get educated,” Mr. Biden snapped back, appearing to grab the reporter’s hand.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/oct/20/biden-gets-testy-when-asked-if-he-supports-any-res/
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3. Pentagon to provide funds, help for troops seeking abortions, By Tara Copp, Associated Press, October 20, 2022, 3:47 PM
The Pentagon will provide travel funds and support for troops and their dependents who seek abortions but are based in states where they are now illegal, according to a new department policy released Thursday. The military will also increase privacy protections for those seeking care.
The order issued by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin outlines the rights and protections service members and their dependents will have regardless of where they are based, which was a key concern of troops after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/pentagon-to-provide-funds-help-for-troops-seeking-abortions/2022/10/20/6f7937a0-50a5-11ed-ada8-04e6e6bf8b19_story.html
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4. Vatican-China deal to be renewed, with no changes to terms, By Elise Ann Allen, Crux, October 20, 2022
Amid increased controversy as a trial against a prominent Chinese cardinal continues to move forward in Hong Kong, the Vatican and China will for the second time renew their provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops.
Speaking to Crux, a high-ranking Vatican official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the renewal publicly, said “the agreement with China is scheduled to be renewed on (the) 22nd of October 2022, with no changes to the terms.”
https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2022/10/vatican-china-deal-to-be-renewed-with-no-changes-to-terms
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5. Report: Catholic medical school teaching gender-transition therapies, By Edie Heipel, Catholic News Agency, October 20, 2022, 11:00 AM
Medical students at Georgetown University have been taught that the only way to help patients suffering from gender dysphoria is to “fix” their bodies through drug therapies and gender-transition surgeries, a claim that contradicts Catholic teaching on human sexuality, according to an investigation by The Spectator.
The news outlet cited information drawn from lecture slides from a course taught last year and a description of a clinical rotation course in a course catalog.
Georgetown, a Catholic university, did not respond to requests for comment from either The Spectator or CNA.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252597/report-catholic-medical-school-teaching-gender-transition-therapies
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6. Catholic Church apologizes ‘unreservedly’ after English child sex abuse inquiry, By Catholic News Agency, October 20, 2022, 7:00 PM
The Catholic Church in England and Wales has offered an “unreserved apology” to all sexual abuse victims who have suffered in the Church, following the publication of an independent inquiry released Thursday.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse published a report on child sex abuse in England and Wales on Oct. 20.
The report scrutinises the handling of abuse cases through a national lens and focuses in detail on several institutions and organizations, including the Catholic Church, concluding that “The investigation into the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales revealed a sorry history of child sexual abuse where abusive priests and members of religious orders and institutions preyed on children for prolonged periods of time.”
The report goes on to note that the Church has failed to support victims, while at the same time taking “positive action” to protect perpetrators and the Church’s reputation.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252605/catholic-church-apologizes-unreservedly-after-english-child-sex-abuse-inquiry
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7. Pro-life leaders condemn Biden’s support for federal abortion fund, By Katie Yoder, Catholic News Agency October 20, 2022, 6:20 PM
Pro-life leaders are challenging President Joe Biden after he expressed support for a federal fund for women who take time off work or pay for child care while seeking an abortion.
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CatholicVote also responded on Twitter, asking: “Govt sponsored abortion vacations?” The Catholic advocacy organization challenged Biden for “committing to take tax dollars out of the pockets of American workers to pay for time off to destroy unborn children.”
The president, a Catholic, has repeatedly supported abortion despite the Catholic Church’s teaching that abortion is a grave evil and that human life is sacred from the moment of conception.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252603/pro-life-leaders-condemn-biden-s-support-for-federal-abortion-fund
__________________________________________________________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. |
