Podcasts about Catholic Answers

One of the most persistent myths promoted by LGBT advocates is that sexual orientation is fixed and cannot change. Research and clinical experience suggest otherwise.   In this episode of The Dr. J Show, Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse interviews Dr. Floyd Godfrey, a clinical sexologist and Christian counselor with decades of experience helping individuals overcome pornography addiction, unwanted same-sex attraction, and sexualized attachments. Dr. Godfrey explains how many of these issues stem from emotional wounds and disrupted attachment patterns—conditions that are treatable through compassionate, evidence-based therapy.   The discussion explores the concept of sex addiction as an intimacy attachment disorder, the development of the arousal template, and the role that trauma and early relational dynamics play in shaping sexual behaviors. It also contrasts mainstream therapeutic approaches with those rooted in a biblical worldview, showing that faith and science are not at odds when it comes to human sexuality.   Dr. Floyd Godfrey is a seasoned Mental Health Consultant, Speaker, and Educator with over two decades of clinical experience. He offers consulting services to individuals, families, and professionals, addressing complex issues related to mental health and human sexuality. Dr. Godfrey holds credentials as a Clinical Sexologist, Certified Sex Addiction Specialist Supervisor, Certified Christian Counselor, and Certified Mental Health Coach. His educational background includes degrees from Arizona State University, Ottawa University, and the International Institute for Clinical Sexology. Early in his career, he worked at Tempe Social Services with children and facilitated after-school programming, which deepened his understanding of family dynamics and child development. Building on this experience, Dr. Godfrey dedicated over 20 years to developing comprehensive sexual addiction programming for various populations, including adults, couples, young adults, and adolescents. His approach integrates a biblical worldview, blending academic rigor with practical expertise to create impactful interventions for mental health and human sexuality concerns.   Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/   Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you!   Watch the full episode, uncensored, on Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/Theruthinstitute     Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/   00:00 - Introduction 00:00 02:00 - Introduction to Dr. Floyd Godfrey 07:03 - Understanding Sexual Addiction 10:45 - The Role of Attactment 16:43 - Contrasting Approaches to Sexual Issues 22:59 - The Arousal Template Explained 28:37 - The Confusion of Identity & Sexual Orientation 35:37 - Mainstream Psychology   Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you!   Watch the full episode, uncensored, on Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/Theruthinstitute   Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute  Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed   Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse   Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/   Buy Dr. Morse's Books: The Sexual State: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/the-sexual-state-2/ Love and Economics: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/love-and-economics-it-takes-a-family-to-raise-a-village/ Smart Sex: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/smart-sex-finding-life-long-love-in-a-hook-up-world/ 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-a-happier-marriage/ 101 Tips for Marrying the Right Person: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-marrying-the-right-person/   Listen to our podcast: Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1   Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/   Get the full interview by joining us for exclusive, uncensored content on Locals: https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/support

The narrative promoted by pro-gay activists is that sexual orientation is fixed, immutable, and that efforts to change it are both futile and harmful. In this interview, Hudson Byblow offers a deeply personal and thoughtful counterpoint to that claim. He describes how emotional wounds, unmet childhood needs, and confusion about belonging contributed to the development of his same-sex desires. His testimony reveals that identity is more than a label and that healing is possible through love, truth, and authentic relationships.   Byblow speaks candidly about how chastity and Catholic teaching did not restrict his life but instead opened a pathway to peace and interior freedom. He unpacks the ways in which early experiences of isolation and a longing for male friendship became entangled with sexual attraction. Rather than feeling condemned by the Church, he was embraced by faithful Catholics who walked with him patiently, helping him to see his dignity not as something he created, but as something he received from God.   Throughout the conversation, Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse provides thoughtful questions and pastoral insight that help frame Hudson's story within the broader struggle of many who experience same-sex attraction. The discussion challenges prevailing cultural assumptions while offering encouragement for anyone seeking hope, healing, and holiness. It's a conversation that testifies to the transforming power of truth told in love.   Watch Part 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o11j1YzcjA     Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/   Watch the full episode on censorship-free Rumble or Locals: Rumble: https://rumble.com/v6t6m2n-hudson-byblows-story-will-deepen-your-faith-a-catholic-witness-of-healing-a.html Locals: https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/post/6917798/hudson-byblows-story-will-deepen-your-faith-a-catholic-witness-of-healing-hope     Hudson Byblow is a Catholic Speaker and author who specializes in training faithful Catholics how they can respond to all things LGBTQ+ in an authentically Catholic way. He is also the founder of Something More Beautiful, a site that helps people understand that just because LGBTQ+ desires/experiences might be part of their story, they are not automatically excluded from holy vocation to holy, chaste marriage.   LINK: https://smbm33.com/   Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you!   Watch the full episode, uncensored, on Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/Theruthinstitute   Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute  Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed   Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse   Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/   Buy Dr. Morse's Books: The Sexual State: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/the-sexual-state-2/ Love and Economics: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/love-and-economics-it-takes-a-family-to-raise-a-village/ Smart Sex: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/smart-sex-finding-life-long-love-in-a-hook-up-world/ 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-a-happier-marriage/ 101 Tips for Marrying the Right Person: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-marrying-the-right-person/   Listen to our podcast: Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1   Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/   Get the full interview by joining us for exclusive, uncensored content on Locals: https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/support

What do we mean by a Post-Christian world? Marcus explains and we talk with Tim Staples of Catholic Answers about the dangers of viewing the Papacy with American eyes.

Hudson Byblow speaks about the Catholic Faith in engaging, personalized, and trauma-informed ways, formed by his own journey of coming home to the Catholic Church – the last place the world said he should ever look! After leaving behind his prior-held “LGBTQ+ is who I am” mindset to in favor of striving to grow in the virtue of chastity, he has come to experience greater peace, joy, hope, love, and freedom than what he ever before knew was possible.   In this conversation, Dr. Jennifer Roback-Morris and Hudson Byblow explores the complexities of identity politics, particularly in relation to LGBT experiences and the Catholic understanding of chastity. Byblow shares his personal journey of reconciling his same-sex attractions with his faith, emphasizing the importance of pursuing virtue and understanding chastity as a transformative process. They discuss the distinctions between chastity, celibacy, and abstinence, and the detrimental effects of resentment on personal growth. The conversation also highlights red flags in discussions surrounding LGBT identities and the importance of seeking a deeper, more fulfilling understanding of one's vocation in life.   Watch the full episode on censorship-free Rumble or Locals: Rumble: https://rumble.com/v6t6m2n-hudson-byblows-story-will-deepen-your-faith-a-catholic-witness-of-healing-a.html Locals: https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/post/6917798/hudson-byblows-story-will-deepen-your-faith-a-catholic-witness-of-healing-hope     Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/   Hudson Byblow is a Catholic Speaker and author who specializes in training faithful Catholics how they can respond to all things LGBTQ+ in an authentically Catholic way. He is also the founder of Something More Beautiful, a site that helps people understand that just because LGBTQ+ desires/experiences might be part of their story, they are not automatically excluded from holy vocation to holy, chaste marriage.   LINK: https://smbm33.com/       Chapters   00:00 Exploring Identity Politics and Its Impact 03:12 Hudson Byblow's Journey and the Concept of Chastity 05:59 Something More Beautiful: A New Ministry 08:49 Understanding Chastity: Definitions and Misconceptions 12:10 The Distinction Between Chastity, Celibacy, and Abstinence 14:56 Resentment and Its Impact on Chastity 17:47 Red Flags in Understanding Sexual Identity 21:04 The Connection Between Pornography Addiction and Same-Sex Attraction 23:56 The Origins of Same-Sex Attraction: A Personal Perspective   Hudson Byblow Interviews: Trauma-Informed Education & Evangelization | Hudson Byblow on The Dr J Show ep. 152 https://youtu.be/bsq4c7D3tD8   Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you!   Watch the full episode, uncensored, on Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/Theruthinstitute   Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute  Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed   Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse   Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/   Buy Dr. Morse's Books: The Sexual State: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/the-sexual-state-2/ Love and Economics: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/love-and-economics-it-takes-a-family-to-raise-a-village/ Smart Sex: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/smart-sex-finding-life-long-love-in-a-hook-up-world/ 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-a-happier-marriage/ 101 Tips for Marrying the Right Person: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-marrying-the-right-person/   Listen to our podcast: Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1   Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/   Get the full interview by joining us for exclusive, uncensored content on Locals: https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/support

Joe and Lee speak with Cy Kellett of Catholic Answers about Walker Percy and G.K. Chesterton! Register for the conference today to hear Cy's talks: Visit https://www.chesterton.org/44th-annual-chesterton-conference/ Visit Catholic Answers at https://catholic.com/ FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT Consider making a donation: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ Visit our Shop at https://www.chesterton.org/shop/

AJ Benjamin joins Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse to share a powerful story of healing from same-sex attraction and the deeper wounds that fed it — fatherlessness, confusion, and emotional pain. With honesty and humility, AJ walks us through the trauma he experienced as a child and how it distorted his identity, his relationships, and his view of God. Through years of spiritual growth and personal reflection, he came to see that his deepest needs weren't about sexuality, but about truth, healing, and belonging.   Together, AJ and Dr. Morse explore how our culture often exploits emotional wounds rather than healing them — especially when it comes to sex, gender, and family life. They speak candidly about the ways trauma can mask itself as identity, and how the loss of strong father figures leaves children vulnerable to false ideologies. At the heart of their conversation is a call to compassion — not the kind that affirms everything, but the kind that loves enough to tell the truth.   This interview is filled with hope. AJ's story is a testimony to the power of grace, the gift of confession, and the maternal care of Our Lady. His journey reminds us that healing is possible, that God hasn't given up on us, and that love — real love — always leads us back to truth. Watch, share, and be encouraged.   Watch part 1 here: https://youtu.be/Uo0qXkqyT0U Watch the full video Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/   When the Son Frees You: A Catholic Man's Journey of Healing From Same-Sex Attraction - https://tanbooks.com/products/books/when-the-son-frees-you-a-catholic-mans-journey-of-healing-from-same-sex-attraction/   Nancy Charles with Dr. Morse part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99S1_mv903I Nancy Charles with Dr. Morse Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99S1_mv903I Christie May Jesse with Dr. Morse Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHjr84Zc8tg Christie May Jesse with Dr. Morse Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piJ0vb954UQ   The Tilma of Guadalupe https://garystockbridge617.getarchive.net/amp/media/guadalupe-tilma-33ab1c   Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Fatima_BW_2018-10-05_21-52-30.jpg   Miracle of the Sun https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Miracle_du_soleil_attente_pluie.jpg https://picryl.com/media/miracle-of-the-sun-0c9100?zoom=true https://itoldya420.getarchive.net/amp/media/danse-du-soleil-fatima-13-oct-1917-764d84   The children who saw Our Lady of Fatima https://picryl.com/media/fatima-children-with-rosaries-0ea2f2?zoom=true   Our Lady of Fatima https://www.flickr.com/photos/catholicism/34587584510   The Servant of God, Maria Esperanza de Bianchini http://www.thesilentknight.net/writings/maria-esperanza-and-a-kiss-from-our-lady https://sign.org/articles/servant-of-god-maria-esperanza-prophecy-and-hope-245796 https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2019/07/21/she-had-a-heart-for-souls-the-life-and-cause-of-servant-of-god-maria-esperanza-de-bianchini/   Reverend Mother Mary Angelica https://www.olamshrine.com/about/mother-angelica   Watch on Rumble: https://rumble.com/v6skei5-what-if-youre-not-born-that-way-aj-benjamins-story-of-hope-healing-and-rede.html   Watch on Locals: https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/post/6877643/what-if-you-re-not-born-that-way-aj-benjamin-s-story-of-hope-healing-and-redemption   Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you!   Watch the full episode, uncensored, on Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/Theruthinstitute   Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute  Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed   Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse   Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/   Buy Dr. Morse's Books: The Sexual State: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/the-sexual-state-2/ Love and Economics: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/love-and-economics-it-takes-a-family-to-raise-a-village/ Smart Sex: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/smart-sex-finding-life-long-love-in-a-hook-up-world/ 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-a-happier-marriage/ 101 Tips for Marrying the Right Person: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-marrying-the-right-person/   Listen to our podcast: Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1

The Shroud of Turin The Shroud of Turin is a linen cloth with an image of a crucified man, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth. The cloth, currently housed in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, has been a subject of intense debate and scientific study for centuries.    Here's a more detailed look: What it is: A linen cloth measuring approximately 14 feet long and 3 feet 7 inches wide.    It bears a faint, brownish image of a man who appears to have been tortured and crucified.    The image is believed to be the result of a process that is still not fully understood, and is not the product of a painting, drawing, or scorch.    The image is considered to be three-dimensional when evaluated with a VP-8 scanner, according to Catholic Answers.    History and Significance: The shroud first appeared in historical records in the 1350s and has been kept in Turin since 1578.    Many Christians consider it to be a holy relic and a symbol of Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection.    The shroud has been the subject of numerous scientific studies, including radiocarbon dating, which has yielded conflicting results and fueled the debate about its authenticity.    Scientific Studies and Debates:    Radiocarbon Dating: A 1988 radiocarbon dating test indicated that the shroud was likely from the medieval period, not the time of Jesus. However, this result has been disputed, and new dating analysis suggests that the shroud may actually date back to the time of Jesus.    Bloodstains: Reddish-brown stains on the cloth are believed to be blood, and tests have shown that they contain human DNA.    Image Formation: The process by which the image was created is still not fully understood, but it is generally agreed that it is not the result of a painting or drawing.    Ongoing Research: Scientists continue to study the shroud, looking for new evidence to help understand its origins and the nature of the image.    Controversy: Authenticity: The shroud's authenticity remains a major point of debate, with many believing it to be a medieval forgery.    Scientific Evidence: While some scientific evidence supports the idea that the shroud is genuine, other evidence suggests it is a forgery.    Theological Significance: For many Christians, the shroud holds immense theological significance, and its authenticity is a matter of faith.   

The Shroud of Turin The Shroud of Turin is a linen cloth with an image of a crucified man, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth. The cloth, currently housed in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, has been a subject of intense debate and scientific study for centuries.    Here's a more detailed look: What it is: A linen cloth measuring approximately 14 feet long and 3 feet 7 inches wide.    It bears a faint, brownish image of a man who appears to have been tortured and crucified.    The image is believed to be the result of a process that is still not fully understood, and is not the product of a painting, drawing, or scorch.    The image is considered to be three-dimensional when evaluated with a VP-8 scanner, according to Catholic Answers.    History and Significance: The shroud first appeared in historical records in the 1350s and has been kept in Turin since 1578.    Many Christians consider it to be a holy relic and a symbol of Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection.    The shroud has been the subject of numerous scientific studies, including radiocarbon dating, which has yielded conflicting results and fueled the debate about its authenticity.    Scientific Studies and Debates:    Radiocarbon Dating: A 1988 radiocarbon dating test indicated that the shroud was likely from the medieval period, not the time of Jesus. However, this result has been disputed, and new dating analysis suggests that the shroud may actually date back to the time of Jesus.    Bloodstains: Reddish-brown stains on the cloth are believed to be blood, and tests have shown that they contain human DNA.    Image Formation: The process by which the image was created is still not fully understood, but it is generally agreed that it is not the result of a painting or drawing.    Ongoing Research: Scientists continue to study the shroud, looking for new evidence to help understand its origins and the nature of the image.    Controversy: Authenticity: The shroud's authenticity remains a major point of debate, with many believing it to be a medieval forgery.    Scientific Evidence: While some scientific evidence supports the idea that the shroud is genuine, other evidence suggests it is a forgery.    Theological Significance: For many Christians, the shroud holds immense theological significance, and its authenticity is a matter of faith. 

In this Episode:The Mystical Body of Christ and the Saints in Heaven...Diocesan Staff Apologist and Speaker for Catholic Answers, Dr. Karlo Broussard, explains the Why's behind Catholic Beliefs from Faith, Morality, and Culture. Providing the Reasons behind the claims made by the Catholic Church. Send your questions to...Karlo@stmichaelradio.comA Production of St. Michael Catholic RadioThe Catholic Reason Airs Every Thursday on 94.9 St Michael Catholic Radio at 4 p.m. CST.

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my friend author, podcaster, and former Episcopalian priest Andrew Petiprin to talk unpack one of the biggest misconceptions about the Catholic Church: that Catholicism is simply another Christian denomination. With aplomb, charity, and with Scripture and the history books in hand, Andrew explains exactly what's wrong with thinking of Catholicism as just another denomination, why that matters, and why it's abundantly  clear from history and Scripture that the Catholic Church is unique in a sea of Christian choices.Plus, we unpack the danger of thinking of the Church as an institution, the notion of the "rules" of Catholicism, and so much more. For more from Andrew listen to his complete conversion story way back on Episode 69 of the podcast.You can find Andrew's book, Faith Unboxed at Catholic Answers or any fine bookseller. And make sure to visit the Spe Salvi Institute.Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com. Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.Please consider financially supporting this show! For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.Thank you to those already supporting the show!Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish of the Diocese of...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showFind and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:Instagram: @cordialcatholicTwitter: @cordialcatholicYouTube: /thecordialcatholicFacebook: The Cordial CatholicTikTok: @cordialcatholic

Happy feast of Pope St. Pius V! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell look at some of the hallmarks of his reign as successor of St. Peter. Guests include Fr. Rob Jack to reflect on one of the voting cardinals he went to school with, and Karlo Broussard from Catholic Answers with more thoughts on the saints. Plus news, weather, sports, and more… ***** Prayer of St. Vincent Pallotti Eternal Father,it is Your will that all should be saved.Great is Your mercy.Your Son, Jesus Christ died for all.Teach all people to recognize You and love You.With deep faith in Christ’s deathand resurrection we pray:‘Send Forth, O Lord, laborers into Your vineyardand spare Your people.’Eternal Word, Redeemer of all creation,convert all souls to You.You have been obedient for all,even to death on the cross.Look upon the merits of Your Motherand of all the angels and saintswho intercede for us.Send forth, O Lord, laborers into Your vineyardand spare Your people.O Holy Spirit,through the infinite merits of our Lord, Jesus Christ,enkindle in all heartsYour ardent love that can do all things,that all may be one fold and one Shepherd,and that all may arrive in heavento sing Your Divine mercy.Queen of Apostles and all the angels and saints,pray to the Lord of the harvest:Send forth, O Lord, laborers into Your vineyardand spare your people,that united with you,and the Father and the Holy Spirit,we may all rejoice forever. ***** Cincinnati Right to Life is online at cincinnatirighttolife.org. Full list of guestsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Episode:What does Luke mean by "Firstborn"? After Jesus' birth, Joseph redeemed Jesus as Mary's firstborn (Luke 2:22–23)Diocesan Staff Apologist and Speaker for Catholic Answers, Dr. Karlo Broussard, explains the Why's behind Catholic Beliefs from Faith, Morality, and Culture. Providing the Reasons behind the claims made by the Catholic Church. Send your questions to...Karlo@stmichaelradio.comA Production of St. Michael Catholic RadioThe Catholic Reason Airs Every Thursday on 94.9 St Michael Catholic Radio at 4 p.m. CST.

The Original airdate for this episode was Easter Monday but with the passing of Pope Francis, we pushed the episode back to Easter Wednesday Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Celebrate Easter Wednesday with the Flannel Panel on this special episode of Catholic Answers Live! Join host Cy Kellett, apologist Joe Heschmeyer, and Catholic Answers president Chris Check as they reflect on the joy of the Resurrection, the meaning of the Easter Octave, and the profound relevance of Jesus’ triumph over death. From theological insights on the empty tomb and the significance of liturgical traditions to real-world news of a remarkable resurgence in Catholicism—especially among young men in Great Britain—this conversation dives deep into the signs of hope across the global Church. Whether you’re a convert, cradle Catholic, or someone exploring the faith, this lively episode offers encouragement, challenge, and practical takeaways for living the Resurrection all year long.

What if the most “settled science” around abortion was built on sand? In this stirring episode of The Dr. J Show, world-renowned psychologist Dr. Priscilla Coleman exposes the deep flaws behind the much-lauded “Turnaway Study” and shares decades of suppressed research on the psychological toll of abortion. “At least 30% of women come out of that room... and they're changed. Sometimes to the point of suicide,” she says. It's a truth our culture refuses to face—but the data, and the stories, are undeniable. Dr. Coleman and Dr. Morse don't just speak from data—they speak from the heart. “It wasn't until I went back to the Catholic Church and went to confession that the night terrors finally stopped,” Dr. Morse shares in a rare moment of personal testimony. We cannot love women by lying to them. Watch this powerful conversation and discover how the International Institute for Reproductive Loss is arming counselors, lawyers, and pregnancy centers with scientific truth because “science is finally supporting what the Church has always taught.” Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/ Watch Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ukkz7sKYI4 Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you! Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute   Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed https://rumble.com/c/TheRuthInstitute Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/ Buy Dr. Morse's Books: The Sexual State: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/the-sexual-state-2/ Love and Economics: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/love-and-economics-it-takes-a-family-to-raise-a-village/ Smart Sex: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/smart-sex-finding-life-long-love-in-a-hook-up-world/ 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-a-happier-marriage/ 101 Tips for Marrying the Right Person: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-marrying-the-right-person/ Listen to our podcast:  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1 Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/ Get the full interview by joining us for exclusive, uncensored content on Locals: https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/support

Today on the show, Liz Wheeler breaks down what's really happening at the Pentagon between Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and senior ranking staffers. What is President Donald Trump's foreign policy? Who was Dan Caldwell? Is United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff going to secure a new Iranian deal? Does Israel want to bomb Iran? Plus, Liz chats with Jimmy Akin, the senior apologist at Catholic Answers, about Pope Francis, what comes next for the Church, and who he hopes to see as the next vicar of Christ. All that and more! -- SPONSORS: ALL FAMILY PHARMACY: Because you're part of this movement, use code LIZ10 at checkout for an exclusive discount. Check out https://allfamilypharmacy.com/LIZ, code: LIZ10. PREBORN: Your tax-deductible donation of twenty-eight dollars sponsors one ultrasound and doubles a baby's chance at life. How many babies can you save? Please donate your best gift today– just dial #250 and say the keyword, “BABY" or go to https://preborn.com/LIZ. KEKSI COOKIES: Mother's Day is coming up so don't wait—go to https://www.keksi.com right now and use code LIZ15 for an exclusive 15% discount. Your mom deserves the best—give her something she'll remember! BLAZETV: "The Truth About January 6: A Day in the Life of Harry Dunn Part III " is streaming right now, exclusively on BlazeTV. Subscribe today at BlazeTV.com/J6 to watch the full investigation from the very beginning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe speaks with Christopher Check, president of Catholic Answers, about his upcoming talk for the annual Chesterton conference on the history of the Acadian people and their expulsion.  Register for the conference today at https://www.chesterton.org/44th-annual-chesterton-conference/ Visit Catholic Answers at http://catholic.com/ FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT Consider making a donation: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ Visit our Shop at https://www.chesterton.org/shop/

All men 18 years and older are invited to a special night of fellowship and listen to special guest, Christopher Check, President of Catholic Answers.More information can be found on their webpage.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

In this Episode:Is it Contrary to God's Goodness to Permit an Epistemic Gap to an Honest Inquirer?Diocesan Staff Apologist and Speaker for Catholic Answers, Dr. Karlo Broussard, explains the Why's behind Catholic Beliefs from Faith, Morality, and Culture. Providing the Reasons behind the claims made by the Catholic Church. Send your questions to...Karlo@stmichaelradio.comA Production of St. Michael Catholic RadioThe Catholic Reason Airs Every Thursday on 94.9 St Michael Catholic Radio at 4 p.m. CST.

In Part 1 of our interview with Dr. Priscilla Coleman, a renowned professor of human development and family studies, we delve deeper into her extensive research on the psychological effects of abortion on women. Dr. Coleman discusses the methodologies behind her studies, addresses common criticisms, and shares insights from her meta-analyses that have been pivotal in shaping the discourse around abortion and mental health.​ It also deals with the societal and policy implications of her findings, offering viewers a comprehensive understanding of the complexities involved. Whether you're a student, researcher, policymaker, or someone interested in the nuanced aspects of this topic, this interview provides valuable perspectives grounded in empirical research.   Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/   Dr. Priscilla Coleman is a developmental psychologist and retired Professor of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) at Bowling Green State University (BGSU). She is now the Science Director for The International Institute for Reproductive Loss (IIRL) (https://www.iirl.net/). The mission of IIRL is to provide, develop, and maintain evidence-based resources on the personal and relational impact of reproductive loss for lay and professional audiences. Dr. Coleman has published over 60 peer-reviewed journal articles, with most on the psychology of abortion (decision-making and mental health outcomes). She has shared her research and analysis of peer-reviewed studies in numerous countries (Australia, Canada, Chili, Ecuador, England, Germany, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Poland, Portugal, and Scotland) to wide-ranging audiences, most notably in Parliament Houses as medical and government personnel evaluated current and future laws regulating abortion.   Timeline of Events 2008: APA Task Force Report on Abortion. 2008-2010, recruitment for Turnaway Study. 2011. Coleman publishes article in British Journal of Psychiatry. June 2, 2020: A book by one of the principal investigators, Diana Greene Foster, is published, The Turnaway Study: Ten years, a Thousand Women, and the Consequences of Having—or Being Denied—an Abortion. June 17, 2022: Coleman publishes Critique of the “Turnaway Study.” In Frontiers in Psychology. June 24, 2022, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. September 2022: calls for retraction of BJP article October 5, 2022, Frontiers publishes “Expression of Concern” regarding the article. October 13, 2022. Coleman retains legal representation. December 22, 2022. Coleman receives notice that Frontiers plan to retract the article. December 23, 2022. Dr. Coleman's attorneys sent a letter to the Frontiers in Psychology Editorial staff. December 26, 2022 Dr. Coleman's Frontiers article was retracted. December 29, 2022 Dr. Coleman's attorneys sent a letter of objection to the Frontiers in Psychology May 2023: Cambridge Press, publisher of the British Journal of Psychiatry, ruled in Coleman's favor and declined to retract.   Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you!   Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute  Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed   Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse   Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/   Buy Dr. Morse's Books: The Sexual State: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/the-sexual-state-2/ Love and Economics: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/love-and-economics-it-takes-a-family-to-raise-a-village/ Smart Sex: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/smart-sex-finding-life-long-love-in-a-hook-up-world/ 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-a-happier-marriage/ 101 Tips for Marrying the Right Person: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-marrying-the-right-person/   Listen to our podcast: Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1   Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/   Get the full interview by joining us for exclusive, uncensored content on Locals: https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/support

Welcome to our deep-dive into the question: How do we know God exists?In this series, we return to the topic of God's existence, which we covered aaall the way back in Episode 2 (!!), and we break it open to explore it more deeply. In this episode, we look at St. Thomas Aquinas's first three 'ways', or arguments for God's existence. These are among the most famous arguments for the existence of God, and they have been hugely influential in the history of the Philosophy of Religion. They have also been at times misunderstood and misrepresented, so in this series we're taking the time to delve deep and understand what, exactly, Aquinas is arguing. Donate via PayPal⁠⁠Support us on Patreon!⁠Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/References and further reading/listening/viewing:Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae Part 1, Question 2Summa Contra GentilesEdward Feser:Aquinas: A Beginner's GuideFive Proofs of the Existence of God"Scholastic regress arguments"Catholic Answers, "What Caused God?"Peter Kreeft, "The First Cause Argument"Summa of the SummaThomas Joseph White: "The First Way""The Second Way""The Third Way (I, 2, 3)"The Thomistic Institute:"Five Ways to Prove God Exists (Aquinas 101)""St. Thomas Aquinas' Favorite Argument for the Existence of God (Aquinas 101)""What's Wrong With St. Thomas Aquinas' First Proof for the Existence of God? (Aquinas 101)""How St. Thomas Aquinas' Second Way for Proving the Existence of God Works (Aquinas 101)""How St. Thomas Proves God's Existence Through Efficient Causality (Aquinas 101)""What is Efficient Causality? (Aquinas 101)""St. Thomas' Third Way: You Didn't Have To Exist—But You Do! (Aquinas 101)""The Third Way: How St. Thomas Argues for God's Existence From Contingency (Aquinas 101)""The Third Way: Another Take On The Argument (Aquinas 101)"Bishop Barron on Thomas Aquinas and the Argument from Motion

Fr. Rob Jack and Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse discuss the upcoming supreme court case involving a Colorado therapist saying conversion therapy bans infringe on her free speech and freedom of religion as a counselor wishing to help people.     Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute  Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed   Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse   Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/   Buy Dr. Morse's Books: The Sexual State: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/the-sexual-state-2/ Love and Economics: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/love-and-economics-it-takes-a-family-to-raise-a-village/ Smart Sex: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/smart-sex-finding-life-long-love-in-a-hook-up-world/ 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-a-happier-marriage/ 101 Tips for Marrying the Right Person: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-marrying-the-right-person/   Listen to our podcast: Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1   Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/

In this Episode:Why Peter Held a Special Task to Strengthen the ApostlesDiocesan Staff Apologist and Speaker for Catholic Answers, Dr. Karlo Broussard, explains the Why's behind Catholic Beliefs from Faith, Morality, and Culture. Providing the Reasons behind the claims made by the Catholic Church. Send your questions to...Karlo@stmichaelradio.comA Production of St. Michael Catholic RadioThe Catholic Reason Airs Every Thursday on 94.9 St Michael Catholic Radio at 4 p.m. CST.

Katie McMann and her husband struggled with infertility for years, finally turning to IVF to resolve their infertility. They discovered that not only does IVF not cure infertility, but it also comes with tremendous moral implications, especially in Catholic theology. Katie explains the process she and her husband went through after they learned more about the Catholic perspective on infertility and IVF as well as the origins of their IVF ministry. Through Shiloh IVF Ministry, Katie helps couples deal with the hardship of infertility, discern what to do with frozen embryonic children, and more. Shiloh IVF Ministry: https://www.shilohivf.com/ Home | The Fruitful Hollow: thefruitfulhollow.com The Fruitful Hollow is a Catholic resource and community for those who struggle with infertility. Springs in the Desert | Catholic Infertility Ministry: https://springsinthedesert.org/ Chapters Chapters 00:00 The Journey Through IVF and Infertility 02:51 Inception of Shiloh IVF Ministry 06:07 Support Systems for Infertility 09:05 Alternatives to IVF: Exploring Natural Methods 12:11 Understanding Catholic Teachings on IVF 15:08 Navigating Conversations with Children about IVF 17:47 The Role of God in the IVF Process 20:59 Reflections on Regret and Healing 23:55 Encouragement for Those Facing Infertility Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/ Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you! Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute   Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/ Buy Dr. Morse's Books: The Sexual State: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/the-sexual-state-2/ Love and Economics: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/love-and-economics-it-takes-a-family-to-raise-a-village/ Smart Sex: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/smart-sex-finding-life-long-love-in-a-hook-up-world/ 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-a-happier-marriage/ 101 Tips for Marrying the Right Person: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-marrying-the-right-person/ Listen to our podcast:  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1 Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/ Get the full interview by joining us for exclusive, uncensored content on Locals: https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/support

Good morning! On today's show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Fr. Rob Jack to continue his series on the Seven Last Words of Christ. Other guests include Gary Zimak with more reflections on giving up worry for Lent, and Karlo Broussard from Catholic Answers. Plus news, weather, sports, and more...

Good morning! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Fr. Rob Jack to continue his series on the Seven Last Words of Christ. Other guests include Gary Zimak with more reflections on giving up worry for Lent, and Karlo Broussard from Catholic Answers. Plus news, weather, sports, and more… ***** Prayer of St. John Chrysostom O Lord Jesus Christ, open the eyes of my heart that I may hear your Word,and understand and do your will, for I am a sojourner upon the Earth.Hide not your commandments from me, but open my eyes, that I may perceive the wonders of your Law.Speak unto me the hidden and secret things of your wisdom.On you do I set my hope, O my God, that you shall enlighten my mind and understanding with the light of your knowledge; not only to cherish those things which are written, but to do them;For you are the enlightenment of those who lie in darkness, and from you comes every good deed and every gift. Amen. ***** Cincinnati Right to Life is online at cincinnatirighttolife.org. Full list of guestsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Episode:What Did Jesus Mean by Repetitious Prayer?Diocesan Staff Apologist and Speaker for Catholic Answers, Dr. Karlo Broussard, explains the Why's behind Catholic Beliefs from Faith, Morality, and Culture. Providing the Reasons behind the claims made by the Catholic Church. Send your questions to...Karlo@stmichaelradio.comA Production of St. Michael Catholic RadioThe Catholic Reason Airs Every Thursday on 94.9 St Michael Catholic Radio at 4 p.m. CST.

“Infertility is hard, it is a cross, it is suffering, but we can help each other by recognizing that and choosing things that will lift up humanity instead of introduce so many harms.” IVF is often sold as a treatment for infertility, and couples who struggle with infertility flock to it. On the surface, it appears to more than adequately deal with the problem, but if you scratch the surface, there are a host of issues that plague the couples, children, and industry. And the funny thing is, IVF doesn't actually cure infertility. Whatever biological issues caused the infertility will still exist after IVF treatment. Katie McMann discusses her own journey with IVF, the Catholic perspective on IVF, healing from the negative effects of IVF, and setting up a ministry to help people struggling with having used IVF. Many women experience infertility or impaired fertility at some point in their lives. Some, such as Katie McMann, turn to in vitro fertilzation. Through IVF, she and her husband bore two children, but ten others were lost in the process. Listen as Katie explains how, as well as reveals her painful realization of the problems with IVF, and how she came to co-found Shiloh IVF Ministry. “At every stage of IVF, there's risk to the embryos,” Katie notes, also sharing that some of her embryos didn't survive the thawing process. “I tried to say, ‘Oh, they're just droplets of water. There's no way they're life.' I really tried to tell myself that they weren't children.” Through Shiloh IVF Ministry, Katie helps couples deal with the hardship of infertility, discern what to do with frozen embryonic children, and more. Shiloh IVF Ministry: https://www.shilohivf.com/ Home | The Fruitful Hollow: thefruitfulhollow.com The Fruitful Hollow is a Catholic resource and community for those who struggle with infertility. Springs in the Desert | Catholic Infertility Ministry: https://springsinthedesert.org/ Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/ Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you! Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute   Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/ Buy Dr. Morse's Books: The Sexual State: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/the-sexual-state-2/ Love and Economics: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/love-and-economics-it-takes-a-family-to-raise-a-village/ Smart Sex: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/smart-sex-finding-life-long-love-in-a-hook-up-world/ 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-a-happier-marriage/ 101 Tips for Marrying the Right Person: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-marrying-the-right-person/ Listen to our podcast:  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1 Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/ Get the full interview by joining us for exclusive, uncensored content on Locals: https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/support

What is “apologetics”? Chris Check, president of Catholic Answers, joins Bishop Caggiano to answer this question. They also answer questions like:    What do Joan of Arc, Catherine of Siena, and Chris Check have in common?  Why should you fill your house with good books?  Why should you, as Chesterton put it, “let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair”?   Along the way, Chris talk about his relationship with Fr Paul Check (beloved priest of our diocese), the history of Catholic Answers, and the role of the military in a young man's formation.  

Good morning! On today's show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Gary Zimak to continue his series on the theme of giving up worry for Lent. Other guests include Karlo Broussard from Catholic Answers, and Fr. Rob Jack with more thoughts on the Seven Last Words of Christ. Plus news, weather, sports, and more...

Questions answered this episode: Questions answered this episode: 1. My eldest son is nearly 20, and he told us 2 years ago that he doesn't believe in God, which was incredibly heartbreaking for my husband and me. He is, however, respectful of our faith. He has a girlfriend, and they have been dating for about 4 months. She's just moved to another state to study at a university, which is about 4 hours from where we live. He's looking forward to visiting her in the next few weeks. He's planning on staying with her when he visits, which seems to him like a completely practical thing to do. How do I broach the topic of chastity and avoidance of sin with someone who doesn't claim to believe in God? I want to find a way to speak truth to him, even if it only plants a seed for the future. Any ideas or wisdom from your experience as parents and years of ministry would be greatly appreciated. 2. My wife and I are in our mid-40s. We have 4 kids ages 17 to 11. We also have 2 in heaven from a miscarriage and a premature birth. The 11-year-old was our last pregnancy. We've used NFP ever since to avoid pregnancy, but it has been challenging for our relationship with just a few days per month that we feel safe to have sex. All these years, I've been honoring my wife's reluctance and fear of another pregnancy, but I never realized my own until today. We're left to believe it is our responsibility to avoid getting pregnant because God will give us more kids whether he should or not if we give him the opportunity to. I think he's reckless about giving out children and doesn't consider the toll it could take on us. I'm not proud of this confession, and I doubt it is a good way to think of NFP. I guess I'm asking for help to see things more clearly. I should add that my wife has had hard pregnancies and deliveries, and having this 11-year gap only heightens our fears about another pregnancy. But it is not like doctors ever told us we should avoid getting pregnant or risk serious health consequences. We've just been afraid to keep going through the hardships that come with new life. We can keep up the cautious NFP approach, but it feels a lot like we're not trusting God and we're holding back from each other. I don't know the right way to think about this, and it has been a long time of uncertainty. 3. I am a 29-year-old single woman, and I come from a family with a history of sexual abuse. Some of my siblings were sexually abused by my dad. I was also sexually abused, though it was by one of my brothers when we were younger. My brother is sorry for having done this and has sought reconciliation with both me and the church, and I have forgiven him. Growing up, my mom always said that a man and a woman should never be alone together if they're not married because, quote, something could happen. I realize this might be a prudent way to live, and with everything that has happened in my family, I can understand why my mom says this. However, because of all these things, I find myself having a hard time trusting men or knowing how to relate with them without being, I think, overly cautious. Most of the friendships I have with men tend to stay at the surface level because I don't know how to open myself to them. I really want to be able to have deep relationships with men, but I also don't know how deep is too deep. Do you have any advice on how I can learn to trust men and to open myself up to having deep, intimate friendships with them? How do I know if I'm crossing over into a place of going too deep, and would it be best to wait to date a man until I've learned to not have these thoughts of what he might do constantly at the back of my mind? Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II's beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

In this conversation, Dr. Jennifer Roback-Morris and Richard Doerflinger discuss the Catholic Church's teachings on sexual morality, particularly in the context of contraception and family planning. They explore the cultural shifts towards subjectivism in moral reasoning, the role of the Pontifical Academy for Life, and share personal experiences that highlight the challenges and implications of these teachings. The discussion emphasizes the need for a return to moral absolutes and the importance of rebuilding a marriage culture to address issues like abortion. This conversation explores the profound social and moral implications of contraception and abortion, emphasizing the unintended consequences of these practices on individuals and society. The speakers discuss how the contraceptive ideology has led to increased out-of-wedlock childbearing, emotional distress among women, and a shift in moral norms that undermine the sanctity of life. They argue for the importance of moral absolutes and the need to recognize the lived experiences of those affected by these issues, advocating for a return to a culture that respects human dignity and the value of life. Pontifical Academy for Life: https://www.academyforlife.va/content/pav/en.html Lived Experience and the Search for Truth: Revisiting Catholic Sexual Morality - Kindle edition by Savage, Deborah, Fastiggi, Robert: https://www.amazon.com/Lived-Experience-Search-Truth-Revisiting-ebook/dp/B0DFYCXWYB/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2L3OM7KLJGYZ5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VRY_r53EM1RowmQWfdKq6A._ySgZB5JoVbqbPziahwk0YAMhmGj5-cJPULAmC1FQKA&dib_tag=se&keywords=lived+experience+and+the+search+for+truth&qid=1741907745&sprefix=lived+e%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1 Theological Ethics of Life: https://www.academyforlife.va/content/pav/en/news/2022/theological-ethics-of-life.html Chapters: 00:00 The Church's Stance on Sexual Morality 05:57 Cultural Shifts and Moral Absolutes 08:33 The Role of the Pontifical Academy for Life 18:46 Personal Experiences with Contraception and Family Planning 31:20 Consequences of Contraception and Abortion 38:04 The Impact of Contraceptive Ideology on Society 43:37 Moral Norms and the Dangers of Relativism 51:23 The Role of Personal Experience in Moral Decision-Making 57:01 The Importance of Moral Absolutes 58:33 The Value of Lived Experience in the right hands This Dr J Show is also on the following platforms: TheRuthInstitute.Locals.com https://rumble.com/c/TheRuthInstitute https://www.bitchute.com/channel/MXkWgTk4Brwr/ https://odysee.com/@TheRuthInstitute:7 Sign up for our weekly newsletter here: https://ruthinstitute.org/newsletter/ Be sure to subscribe, and check out ALL the Dr J Shows! Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you! Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute   Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/ Listen to our podcast:  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1  

In this Episode:Why Purgatory is a Reality Embedded in Biblical Principles... Diocesan Staff Apologist and Speaker for Catholic Answers, Dr. Karlo Broussard, explains the Why's behind Catholic Beliefs from Faith, Morality, and Culture. Providing the Reasons behind the claims made by the Catholic Church. Send your questions to...Karlo@stmichaelradio.comA Production of St. Michael Catholic RadioThe Catholic Reason Airs Every Thursday on 94.9 St Michael Catholic Radio at 4 p.m. CST.

Richard Doerflinger on the Dr. J Show, episode 275 https://youtu.be/W1CEN49YgGU “When young women go to college, they are instantly expected to fall into the hook-up culture," Richard Doerflinger says in Part 2 of this interview. "Their initial feeling is ‘I'm free. I'm liberated from all these restrictive norms. Nobody's watching. Sex is consequence-free.'” And yet, among these young women is more depression, anxiety, isolation, suicidal thoughts, and cutting “to know you're alive," he notes. "Then they can't figure out why they feel so miserable.” Watch part 1 here: https://youtu.be/RSUCTbkjOtM More about Richard Doerflinger: https://lozierinstitute.org/team-member/richard-doerflinger/ Chapters 00:00 The Impact of Contraception on Society 02:49 Consequences of the Contraceptive Mindset 05:49 Moral Norms and Their Importance 09:10 The Dangers of Relativism 11:56 The Role of Experience in Moral Decision Making 15:06 The Breakdown of Marriage and Family 18:14 The Need for Moral Absolutes 21:08 Reviving Natural Intuition 23:59 The Long-Term Effects of Individual Choices 26:55 The Importance of Sharing Experiences Transcript (Please note the transcript is auto-generated and contains errors) Richard Doerflinger (00:00) the social science part of it. What happens when people pass new, broader, more sweeping contraceptive programs? Do they reduce abortions? And I ended up doing a fact sheet with a couple of dozen references, concluding that they don't reduce abortions in a number of cases, they have increased abortions. The contraceptives have given people a false sense of security. made them more open to more casual sex and therefore opened them up to the possibility of a pregnancy that they don't know what to do about because they're the act that created that child was so anonymous and and so meaningless to them in a way. So it's a it was a big wake up call for me because even as a even as a social phenomenon. Contraception doesn't work. It certainly at reducing the number of abortions. And that's something that John Paul the second mentioned in his encyclical on the gospel of life as well. People think it's going to prevent it, but it can be very many times a road toward it. You had this technical thing that was supposed to prevent this. But as a backup to contraceptive failure, you have this other technical thing that will solve the problem you didn't think you were supposed to have. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (01:39) And you know, repair of a couple of economists, Janet Yellen and her husband, right? You know this article. Yes, yes. Richard Doerflinger (01:48) Let's sources, yeah. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (01:51) Basically, they were asking the question, how is it possible that in the age of contraception and abortion, both being readily available, that we have more out of wedlock childbearing than we ever did before? How is this possible? And they concluded pretty much what you just concluded, which is that the social is, contraception is the social cause. It's not a cause like smoking causes cancer, but it's a social cause in the sense that it sets a set of incentives into motion. which then the net result of the whole new system that you've created ends up with people having pregnancies that they feel socially are not sustainable, because you're the father of the child is your boss who's married to someone else. And you would never have done that if you didn't have contraception, you know, that type of thing or some schmuck you picked up at a bar, which you never would have done if you didn't feel protected. And so the woman has a choice of either aborting the baby or carrying it to term and being a single parent because there's no marriage isn't really practical. And then our friends in the crisis pregnancy center world, the pregnancy care center world, they are dealing with this issue all the time. And they would like to be able to tell the young ladies, should be, can you marry this guy? And oftentimes the answer is it would really, they couldn't in good conscience urge the girl to marry the guy. So there have been a whole series of consequences from the widespread promotion of sex that is not intended to be procreative, you know, if you can put it that way. Can you, from your perspective, Richard, spell out, you know, just kind of trace more of those consequences? What are some other things that have followed from the whole contraceptive ideology, the whole contraceptive mindset? What are some other… things that you've documented or observed. Richard Doerflinger (03:50) Well, one thing, and this was the subject of Anne Maloney's chapter in this book about, you the boys from the trenches. She's been teaching for many years at a women's college, Catholic women's college. And, you know, the female students, they come there, they're freed from their past social Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (04:03) yes. Richard Doerflinger (04:20) environment from their parents and so on. And instantly you are expected to fall in with the hookup culture. their initial experience or their initial feeling is, I'm free, I'm liberated from all these restrictive norms and nobody's watching. And I'm a liberated woman. The sex is consequence free. Well, it's not consequence free because what she found in talking to these young ladies over decades really is more depression, more anxiety, more cutting, cutting yourself in the arm to know you're alive, more isolation, more abandonment, more suicidal thoughts. And they can't figure out why they feel so miserable. It's the saddest thing I've ever read. And as we as well, you know, where's where's the young man? Well, you know, it was one night. never talk to me again. This is a very destructive culture, destructive, especially to women, though I don't think it's it's good for men either. So it's something you can see writ large in social findings. My friend Helen Alvarez calls it the immistration of women. That means women are more miserable than ever before. And that shows up in social surveys. And I think it does make people ready for abortion. The other thing is that the ideology that started with contraception and then was used to create a Supreme Court judgment that there was a constitutional right not only to contraception but to abortion, I found has gotten used by later courts, by later judges, to justify the lethal neglect of handicapped newborn children to as a precedent for euthanasia and assisted suicide for elderly. And so the whole idea that life, innocent life, supposedly burdensome life or imperfect life has no great rights that can Trump, should stop using that word, shouldn't I, can override liberty, personal liberty. that has gotten into any number of other areas where life is at risk. So it's something that has been kind of poisoning society. This idea that you can have actions that are, you don't have any actions that are consequence free. And very often the consequences are bad consequences for the most helpless among us. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (07:45) And you know, I like the way you put that because the whole idea that there are some norms, some moral norms that have no exceptions, there's a reason for those things having no exceptions. And the underlying reason is that you're trying to protect the true equality of every human being and their right to life. know, so much of this has been done in the name of equality for women. Well, when they're talking about equality for women, they're talking about in terms of income or occupational stature, that kind of thing. There's no question that women make more money as individuals than they used to, or that women have more education than they used to. That's certainly true. And so men and women are more equal. But only in that dimension. The women are now more miserable than they were before. And the idea that every human person has a baseline of human rights, that gets completely shot. you know, that the woman has the sole right to determine whether this particular person even gets to live, you know. That idea is extremely corrosive. And it's one of these things, it's superficially appealing, but when you really dig down a little bit, you find there's all sorts of dark sides to it. And, you know, it seems like it's been the job of the faithful Catholic remnant to make sure that at least somebody digs down a little bit. to pass that superficial appeal of the thing. Richard Doerflinger (09:14) Yeah, it's a, it reminded me of something that was once written by one of my favorite priests that I ever met, Jesuit priest named John Connery SJ. And he had a steady debate going back and forth between him and Richard McCormick, who was one of the great consequentialist theologians in the United States in journals like Theological Studies. And he ended one of his articles about moral absolutes with a statement that I thought, well, it's so obvious that you're the first person that wrote anything that brought it home to me. And that was, look, it's when it's hard to obey a moral norm, that's when you need the moral absolute. You don't need moral absolutes for when it's easy. You only need it when it is when the temptation is greater to to violate it. And I don't know why they're just stuck in my mind as well. It's enormous common sense. But for some reason, there are people who think that that's not true. The. And the whole history of Catholic moral teaching has been to refine and sometimes to expand the application of its witness to life. You know, more and more of the church has turned against capital punishment as, you know, an unnecessarily violent means for trying to punish or stop crime. Our tradition on war has become more and more skeptical about the idea that you could ever have in practice today with all our technology, a just war, a limited war. And so here, when life is at its most helpless, we seem to be wanting to go in the opposite direction. And I would like to say to some of my liberal Catholic friends, do you really think that once you make this new paradigm where it's only your subjective Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (11:20) Mm-hmm Richard Doerflinger (11:29) desires and your own experience that are going to make the moral norm for you. You don't think anybody's going to think of applying that to war. I don't see any reason why not. If it's a paradigm, it's a paradigm. It undermines all moral absolutes. So I think it's very, very important to that. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (11:45) Right And it undermines all moral absolutes, but it also places the weak in an even weaker position, right, because there's nothing to which they can appeal. The law of the strongest becomes much more potent in a relativistic type of system, and this is something Pope Benedict was, I think, referring to when he talked about the dictatorship of relativism. If you really don't have any standards, then you are going to end up with the law of the strongest, whether you mean to or not, whether you like it or not. that's where you're going to end up because you don't have any standard that everybody can appeal to. Richard Doerflinger (12:30) That's right. That's John Paul II as well in the Gospel of Life. When liberty, when freedom does not serve the truth, it's just a war of the strong against the weak. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (12:44) Right, right. And that's pretty much where we are. Richard Doerflinger (12:47) what we seem to be heading for. The other thing that just surprises me is that a lot of the Protestant denominations, and this has been noted by Mary Eberstadt and others, have taken this road toward a more subjectivist, more relativist morality, accepting the zeitgeist, the spirit of the age, in terms of sexuality, among other things. And those are the denominations that are dying. know, the Presbyterians, the Lutherans, the Episcopalians, at least some branches of them have decided we need to get with the spirit of the age so that people will find us credible. And instead, people found them dispensable. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (13:43) Yes. Richard Doerflinger (13:44) They were just saying the things that the secular society was already telling them and wrapping it around in some theology, but you don't need the theology if you've already got, you know, the answer to what you're allowed to do, which is pretty broad answer. So it's very frustrating to find that this, you know, sexual revolution, obviously, I mean, you have to just open your eyes had many, many casualties. And I don't know why that can be invisible to bishops, to theologians. The evidence is all there. again, know, Berenstead has been, and her contribution to this as well, and in yours, it's all there. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (14:36) That's right. Richard Doerflinger (14:37) Question about it, really. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (14:40) Well, I can tell you how this works, Richard. can tell you exactly how this works, because this is the kind of stuff I track, right? People selectively choose the evidence. And so the people who are talking about lived experience, they always have one kind of experience in mind, the experience of the hard case, whatever the hard case might be, the issue is abortion or the issue is end of life issues or homosexuality or whatever the issue is, it's always the hard case where it's hard to meet the norm, like you were saying before, but they never ever present the evidence, the lived experience of the people who violated the norm and then later regret it. And the whole list of reasons why people turn out to regret violating the norm. You know, it's like we're driving down the Pacific Coast Highway in California, which is a beautiful winding road, but we're driving down that highway with no guardrails. in a car that has no brakes. Well, when you go careening off the cliff, you kind of wish you had the brakes. You kind of wish somebody had said, danger, slow down, you know? But that's what the absolute moral norm can do for you, is it keeps you from the worst kind of catastrophe, but still give you lots and lots of freedom about how. So for example, you and your wife, I want to come back to your story, which by the way is the subject of his contribution here. That what you discover is when you say, okay, certain things are off limits. We're not going to use the rubbers anymore. We're not going to take the pills anymore. Okay, that's off limits. But within that, within the constraints we've now accepted for ourselves, we can do all sorts of things. We're very free if we stay in the playground, you know, and the playground is much safer than the free for all that includes cars coming through at 50 miles an hour. You know, can, the kids can't play in that kind of environment. And so, but the contraceptive ideology has broken down marriage precisely as Paul VI said it would do because if you have a strong marriage culture and you know you're supposed to be sexually exclusive, that means this ring says I'm off limits. I'm off limits to everybody, you know, and you're off limits to everybody because you got a ring on your finger. Richard Doerflinger (16:59) Even the guys who are trying to cheat on their wives and go to a bar to pick up a woman they don't know, they realize they need to take that ring off first. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (17:12) Yeah, that's right. No, that's very true. That's very true. Because there is still some residual moral norm around that you don't mess around with somebody's spouse. But contraception makes it seem like it will be OK, that we can get away with this. It's not as potentially catastrophic and stuff. And how many marriages are destroyed by infidelity? A lot. A lot are destroyed by infidelity, obviously. So yeah. Anyway, go ahead. Richard Doerflinger (17:44) I was just going say that, you when you're talking about the playground, it reminded me of something that I think GK Chesterton said about there was once a playground. It was on a sort of plateau, but it has this big strong fence all around, all around the playground. And kids would come and they would play. And sometimes they, you know, when running in a ball game, they'd actually bounce off the fence or something, you know, that everybody was having a good time. Everybody decided. Although their parents decided, well, this is very restrictive. We will take away the fence. The next day they came, the fence was down. The children arrived. They were all huddling together in the center and no one was laughing. And it reminded me also of there's a palliative care physician I used to work with on the issue of physician assisted suicide. said something very similar. said, because I know that deliberately ending the life of my patient is the one thing I must never do that freed me to do all of the ways to explore all the ways in which I can relieve his suffering and accompany him or her. Because I know that's where I don't go. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (19:09) Mm-hmm. Richard Doerflinger (19:10) So I think that's very true on all kinds of issues. You say this is what I will not do. What is it? Meet Lo, Fustasing. I'll do anything for love, but I won't do that. Those norms are there to free us for the ways in which we can live with each other and, yes, plan our families. and respect each other. I that was one of the other things that just I had to respect my wife's body and its natural cycles and so on. And that helped to undergird my respect for her, which, of course, every husband should have for his wife. And so it is a way of working with reality instead of trying to change reality to your whims. I think this is a much longer term debate or struggle than just, you know, changing laws or, you know, changing official documents. It really is about changing culture. It's about changing attitudes. I've done some writing in the past about this whole worldview of expressive individualism, that every one of us is just sort of a individual. Well, it's really, it's very Nietzschean, you know, it's the will to power. I express myself, I can create myself, making my identity by the way that I work out what I want to do. And that is so destructive on so many levels. And I think that the marriage culture, the idea of actually committing yourself to another person, that that is freeing. It frees you from all the consequences of uncommitted sex that so many women have had to experience. And it is also something that, there is also you were talking about, you know, there's a there's a moral norm built into us, you know, instinctually, a mother has the instinct of protecting her child. at every stage. We have been trying to suppress that over the recent decades of developments on this is what your individual freedom frees you or maybe requires you to do. I was very taken aback once I was reading a Catholic account of abortion. This is a priest who is responding to an essay by Anne Landers in favor of abortion. And he went through all kinds of rebuttals about the arguments in favor. And then he said, but to get back to the one thing, the essential thing, the only thing to abort is to destroy your son or daughter. And I have been working with the, you know, this is the taking of a human life or this is, you know, a form of killing and so on. And suddenly just those words took me aback. Well, of course it is. You're related. This is a member of your family. It already is a member of your family. Even if your family is only the two of you. And I think it has taken a lot of work for society to break down that very natural intuition. And there must be ways to revive it because it hasn't entirely disappeared. mean, many, many abortions are very broken up about it. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (23:01) Yes, yes. And many men are broken up by their wives or girlfriends' decisions to have an abortion. And even siblings. Every once in a while somebody will share with me, you know, Dr. Morse, my mom told me when I was a teenager, my mom told me that she had had an abortion, you know, at some point. And that guy said to me, my gosh, I have a sibling who died, you know. So even there, none of these things only affect the individual. This is the other big myth, you know. The person making the decision cannot foresee all the consequences if you, particularly if you expand the consequences beyond yourself. What impact will this have on the people around me, on my husband, on my boyfriend, on my other kids, you know? What are all those consequences? This has always been the argument against consequentialism. You know, no, I mean, it's one argument against consequentialism. You can't possibly know all the possible consequences. Richard Doerflinger (24:12) And there's no way to quantify one against the other because they're different projects. And the first consequence is on you. I you have just made yourself the kind of person who does this. And I mean, there's certainly opportunity for repenting of that, for turning your life around again. But the first consequence is on your own conscience. There are people who, you this was the first time they realized they were capable of doing this thing that they didn't think they would ever do. And that changes your life. it's, yeah, consequentialism is, it's a very one dimensional way of talking about one very small subset of all the consequences that we create when we have a human act, a moral act. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (25:10) Yes, yes. And I'm glad you're calling it expressive individualism, because one of the… I almost think of it as a trick. You know, one of the tricks that is done to make you think this act is okay is that you greatly redefine what counts as a consequence. You know, so when you see people expressing themselves by deciding they were really born in the wrong body, and they're going to change the sex of the body, and they're going to leave their wife and their children to go live as a woman… You know, that person's thinking about the consequences to themselves. They're not thinking about the long-term impact on the wife and the children. Somehow that doesn't enter the calculation. It doesn't enter as a harm, you know? And that's how a lot of this stuff is done. That's the trick, I would call it the trick. And one of the things that we try to do here at the Ruth Institute is to make sure those people get a microphone, you know, that the people who've been left behind have an opportunity to say, you know, my dad did this and it was awful. My mom did this and it was awful for us, you know, all of those type of things to broaden that discussion so that people understand your actions do have far reaching consequences, not just to you today, but to generations down the line. You're gonna be having consequences, the consequences of these acts. So we have our work cut out for us in this volume, us little, our intrepid people who are trying to fight against consequentialism in the Roman Catholic Church. where it doesn't belong, okay people, it does not belong in the Roman Catholic Church. The rest of you maybe have an excuse, but no, we're not gonna accept this. So in your opinion, who should read this book? Who should get this book? Who should have it on their shelf? Richard Doerflinger (26:55) You know, I think it would be a very handy guide for pastors who, you know, deal with people coming to them with questions regarding sexuality and so on. know, people will not necessarily always listen to, well, that this is immoral in the teaching of the Catholic Church. They might listen to, well, I mean, what you're doing or what you want to do. has really done a lot of harm to a lot of women and a lot of men. And here's some experience. I mean, if people will listen to experience, this book has got those. I think people who are teaching moral theology or are teaching marriage preparation or RCIA, Pre-Kena programs, can look at this and get some insights that will help them to talk in a very down to earth way about sexual ethics. I mean, I have a vested interest, I would, you know, I hope everybody reads this book, of course, but I think especially in those consequences, you know, in those situations, it could be an extremely helpful guide for where to go when just saying no is not enough. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (28:19) Right, right. And do you think people would respond well if they received this book as a gift from someone else? I wonder if some of our viewers might want send it to their pastor, might want to send it to their moral theologian professor or something like that. I don't know. Maybe people don't respond well to that. But maybe they do. Maybe. I don't know. What do you think, Rich? Should people try that? Richard Doerflinger (28:46) It couldn't hurt. The one person I know I should not send it to. I was talking to one of our grown daughters the other day and said, you know, Maria, I just finished, you know, I got a chapter in a recently published book. We were talking about, you know, moms and my married life in our checkered history with family planning. You want to read it? She said, God, no. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (29:15) That's it. Richard Doerflinger (29:18) So, you know, your kids don't want to. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (29:20) Send it to her. Duly noted, Richard. We will not send it to your daughter. Richard Doerflinger (29:26) But I hope other people will be sort of interested in what we learned from our experience. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (29:33) Yes. And the strategic significance of this book, just to reiterate something that Rich and I started at and have been kind of hinting around about, is that lived experience is the terminology that people use to defend consequentialism. Lived experience can trump those moral norms. And we want to say that it's actually the lived experience of people who violate those norms that should tell us that the norms are very valuable to us. and that the norms are worth defending and the norms are worth keeping. Richard Dorflinger, thank you so much for being my guest on today's episode of the Dr. J Show. This has been very interesting, very, very helpful. Are you still writing and working in this series or do you have a website or something like that where people can keep up with you? Richard Doerflinger (30:25) I don't have a website. mean, if you were to do an internet search in my name, some of my work would come up. Also, some nasty articles about me from people who didn't appreciate what I was doing in Congress. my wife is asking me once in a while when I'm going to retire from my retirement. I continue to do writing and speaking. giving a talk at Notre Dame next week, part of their fall conference on the Catholic imagination, which is interesting, is they wanted me to apply the idea of the Catholic imagination, the Catholic worldview and how it looks at reality as having deeper levels than other accounts recognized and apply it to some of these issues like abortion. so So it's mainly, a lot of the speakers are gonna be novelists, poets and so on, but I get to take that idea and apply it to what I work on usually. And it's been an interesting exercise to figure out what I'm gonna say. I haven't figured out all of it yet. Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (31:44) Well, Richard Darflinger, it has been a lot of fun talking with you about these issues, these very serious and important issues, but we have had a little bit of fun while we're doing it. I do hope that people will take this volume seriously. I do hope that people will use these thoughts to interpret what you see coming out of Rome from time to time and help you understand what some of these debates are in Catholic moral theology. Your contribution here, Richard, has been really a big help to me and I'm sure to many of the viewers of the Ruth Institute. So I want to thank you so much for being my guest on today's episode of The Dr. J Show. Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you! Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute   Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/ Buy Dr. Morse's Books: The Sexual State: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/the-sexual-state-2/ Love and Economics: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/love-and-economics-it-takes-a-family-to-raise-a-village/ Smart Sex: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/smart-sex-finding-life-long-love-in-a-hook-up-world/ 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-a-happier-marriage/ 101 Tips for Marrying the Right Person: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-marrying-the-right-person/ Listen to our podcast:  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1 Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refute the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/ Get the full interview by joining us for exclusive, uncensored content on Locals: https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/support

Questions answered this episode: Dear Christopher and Wendy, thank you for all you do. For context, my husband and I are expecting a baby again for the third time in less than three years, despite our best efforts to practice NFP. I am exhausted and facing potentially serious health concerns. My parents have never understood our stance against contraception, despite being Catholic themselves, and have always tried to persuade us to use it. Things came to a nasty head recently when we announced our latest pregnancy, and we had a major fight. My father says Catholics are not bound by the teachings of Humanae Vitae and are thus free to practice contraception because it is not, quote, ex cathedra doctrine. How do I respond to this? My dad said some very hurtful things about my husband and me. I don't know what to do. I held my ground during the argument, but now I'm starting to doubt myself. Please help. I'm a 20-year-old college student who truly started choosing Christ in my first year of college. In high school, I was in sinful relationships, but when attending a Catholic college, I wanted to stop that. Everything changed when I met a girl who inspired me to pursue sainthood, and I knew I needed to grow in virtue to date her. After seven months of waiting and growing, we began a Christ-centered relationship. But it ended after a month and a half when she chose to discern religious life. Two years later, I still struggle to move on. I've mistakenly entered other relationships hoping to forget her but constantly find myself thinking of her and comparing potential partners and even friends to her. Deep down, I don't want to let her go and feel drawn to reach out, remembering the Christ-filled joy our relationship brought to both of us. My question is, should I let go or should I pursue this relationship? I've been married for 21 years. On our honeymoon, my husband suffered an injury that made sexual intercourse extremely difficult and eventually impossible for him. We have seen doctors for treatments that were unsuccessful and very embarrassing for my husband. In time, we realized it was not going to get better, and it hasn't. By God's grace, we were able to have one child, but marital relations between us have not been possible for over 17 years. My heart aches and longs for this affection from my husband, but I long ago accepted the fact that our marriage is celibate and always will be. In the early days, we fought about this all the time, mostly because he avoided physical contact with me so as not to arouse himself, and I felt very rejected. He's never really liked to talk about this as he finds it very difficult to share his emotions. I used to pressure him to talk, but I've learned that that just isn't his way. I've also learned to see the many other ways that my husband loves me through his acts of service and dedication to our family. He is a wonderful husband, and we love each other deeply. Our strongest connection is our Catholic faith. I experienced a very deep conversion back to my Catholic faith a few years after our marriage, and this has helped me to mature and grow a deep intimacy with God. Even though I have that intimacy with God, I still at times feel so very alone with this cross and have spent most of my marriage feeling as though my husband doesn't desire me, as if he doesn't miss the intimacy because he won't share his pain with me. I have recently begun reading a book, The Cantata of Love, a commentary on the Song of Songs. The imagery in the poem is so beautiful, and it has reawakened in me again the feelings of how much I miss my husband. This part of me I mostly shut down because it's too painful to keep revisiting those unmet desires. It feels a bit like, why torture yourself by reading this? At the same time, I realized that the poem is also an allegory of the love between the bridegroom and the bride, Jesus and my soul. I wonder if you have any experience with people in similar situations and what has helped them. Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II's beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

In this Episode:How Does the Church View Evolution?Diocesan Staff Apologist and Speaker for Catholic Answers, Dr. Karlo Broussard, explains the Why's behind Catholic Beliefs from Faith, Morality, and Culture. Providing the Reasons behind the claims made by the Catholic Church. Send your questions to...Karlo@stmichaelradio.comA Production of St. Michael Catholic RadioThe Catholic Reason Airs Every Thursday on 94.9 St Michael Catholic Radio at 4 p.m. CST.

Questions answered this episode: 1. Hi, Christopher and Wendy, thank you for this podcast and your ministry. It has changed my life. I have a rather delicate question, but I guess I don't know whom else to turn to. I can help you. I've been married for a few years now to my wonderful bride. I have struggled with self-esteem and self-confidence issues since childhood, and that is still the case today. My delicate question concerns the marriage bed and sexual intimacy. In the few years we've been married, my wife has only reached climax 3 or 4 times. This hurts my heart deeply. When I ask what I can do or should do to aid in this, she simply says, I don't know, or it's fine. I don't need the climax. My wife loves me deeply, and the same is true of my love for her, but it bothers me greatly that she won't talk to me about it or that she seems to not care. I feel like less of a man. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. 2. My journey to motherhood has been challenging—seven years of infertility due to PCOS leading to surgery, an unexpected C-section, and last October, an ectopic pregnancy. As I tried to cope with the loss of my baby and feelings of helplessness due to emergency surgery and the loss of a damaged fallopian tube, I felt so embraced by our Mother as this loss coincided with the arrival of Advent, a promise of hope. I almost heard my child say, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" I'm truly grateful for the sacraments, as I have personally felt resurrected from this difficult cross through reconciliation and spiritual guidance. Today during Eucharist on the Feast of the Presentation, I felt compelled to actually give my child to God—to present him. Until now, I felt like God had taken him. Though I see the graces the Lord is giving me, even in my suffering, I do continue to struggle with feelings of isolation as I grieve the loss of my baby and my fallopian tube. How can I overcome the tendency to resent other women, and how do I regain the courage to embrace being open to life when, as the Gospel says, a sword has pierced my heart? 3. I'm a 24-year-old man, and I've been discerning a conversion to the Catholic faith for the past two years. I'm currently in the process of getting confirmed, thanks in no small part to your podcast. Thank you for everything you do and the passion with which you do it. Through my journey into Catholicism, one of the most appealing aspects of the Church has been the communion of saints. The friendship of these extraordinary spiritual leaders has been so impactful to me and has been an incredible source of encouragement. As my confirmation approaches and I consider who I'll choose to be my patron, I've realized that almost every saint I've developed a devotion to is a woman. Women like Saint Elizabeth, Mary Magdalene, and Joan of Arc are so insanely powerful, with such varying and glorious expressions of femininity. I find I can't help but be drawn to them. I'm wondering if I have an inordinate attraction to female saints over male saints. Should I get more guy time in my devotions? Is it natural to be drawn to attractive women regardless of centuries-long gaps in time? Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II's beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Catholicism is one of the last holdouts against contraception, abortion, euthanasia, sex outside of marriage, and more. The Church's moral teachings ultimately protect people from heartache, illness, broken families, and, especially in the case of abortion, death. And yet, these teachings have opponents even within the Catholic Church's hierarchy. Richard Doerflinger is one of the contributors to Lived Experience and the Search for Truth: Revisiting Catholic Sexual Morality, which argues against those who wish to change the Church's moral teachings. He shares his personal experience of how The Pill affected his wife physically and mentally, and how they came to follow the Church's path, Natural Family Planning, instead. Doerflinger explains how secular culture has turned to “expressive individualism” and subjectivism, where moral principals are whatever feels right for the individual. This mindset causes problems, Doerflinger explains. Moral absolutes are absolute for a reason. More about Richard Doerflinger: https://lozierinstitute.org/team-member/richard-doerflinger/ Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/ Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you! Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute   Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/ Buy Dr. Morse's Books: The Sexual State: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/the-sexual-state-2/ Love and Economics: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/love-and-economics-it-takes-a-family-to-raise-a-village/ Smart Sex: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/smart-sex-finding-life-long-love-in-a-hook-up-world/ 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-a-happier-marriage/ 101 Tips for Marrying the Right Person: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-marrying-the-right-person/ Listen to our podcast:  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1 Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/ Get the full interview by joining us for exclusive, uncensored content on Locals: https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/support

Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse joins Pro-Life Waco in March of 2025.   This Dr J Show is also on the following platforms: TheRuthInstitute.Locals.com https://rumble.com/c/TheRuthInstitute https://www.bitchute.com/channel/MXkWgTk4Brwr/ https://odysee.com/@TheRuthInstitute:7 Sign up for our weekly newsletter here: https://ruthinstitute.org/newsletter/ Be sure to subscribe, and check out ALL the Dr J Shows! Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you! Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute   Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/ Listen to our podcast:  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1

Linda wanted to be a man. She planned it all out and chose her new name. But a powerful experience with Christ changed her life forever.  Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/ Linda discusses her research on individuals transitioning from an LGBT identity, and Christian perspectives on LGBTQ+ issues, including affirmation, accommodation, mortification, and holistic transformation. Linda highlights parental roles and language's impact on perceptions, stressing compassion and truth in addressing same-sex attraction.   Dr. Linda Seiler earned a PhD from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. As an ordained minister, Linda has dedicated her life to ministry and education. Her book, "Trans-Formation," reflects her personal journey and academic insights, offering guidance to those navigating similar paths.  Linda's website: https://lindaseiler.com/   Get the 5 streams document here: https://lindaseiler.com/resources/   Buy her book, “TRANSformation” https://www.amazon.com/dp/1625862601   Linda shares her story with Focus on the Family: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4WxPhWdU60   Follow her on social media: https://www.facebook.com/RevLindaSeiler/ https://www.instagram.com/revlindaseiler/ https://x.com/revlindaseiler?lang=en   ReStory Ministries: https://restoryministries.org/   This Dr J Show is also on the following platforms: TheRuthInstitute.Locals.com https://rumble.com/c/TheRuthInstitute https://www.bitchute.com/channel/MXkWgTk4Brwr/ https://odysee.com/@TheRuthInstitute:7 Sign up for our weekly newsletter here: https://ruthinstitute.org/newsletter/ Be sure to subscribe, and check out ALL the Dr J Shows! Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you! Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute   Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/ Listen to our podcast:  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1

In this very special episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my two friends Catholic Answers apologist Joe Heschmeyer and Gospel Simplicity host Austin Suggs for an extraordinary conversation about what it takes to convert to Catholicism. This is the most cordial, thoughtful conversation you'll ever hear!Austin, a Protestant Christian, has spent many years on his fantastic YouTube channel talking to the best and brightest in the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches so I'm joined by Joe Heschmeyer to ask Austin why does he remain a Protestant? And what would it take for him to consider converting to Catholicism? I'm so thrilled to bring together my friends to weigh the evidence, dig deeply, and tackle Austin's objections to Catholicism and what kind of evidence it would take for someone as thoughtful as Austin to become Catholic.Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com. For more from Joe check out his YouTube channel Shameless Popery which is also available in podcast form wherever you get your podcasts. Also, his fantastic books, which I cannot recommend more highly, are available from Catholic Answers.Find and follow Austin on his incredible YouTube channel Gospel Simplicity.Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.Please consider financially supporting this show! For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.Thank you to those already supporting the show!Theme Music: "SpleJoin myself and my parish priest Fr. Joseph on a pilgrimage experience to France.This retreat-like pilgrimage takes place August 12 - 20, 2025. With Mass every day, we'll walk in the footsteps of St. Joan of Arc in Rouen, retreat to the home of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the iconic Mont-Saint-Michel, and explore the newly restored Cathedral de Notre Dame de Paris.Visit Trinity Travel Tours for more information. This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patreon Co-Producers. Thank you to Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William. Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish of the Diocese of...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showFind and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:Instagram: @cordialcatholicTwitter: @cordialcatholicYouTube: /thecordialcatholicFacebook: The Cordial CatholicTikTok: @cordialcatholic

Born gay is a narrative that severely inhibits anyone dealing with same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria. Dr. Linda Seiler talks about both the qualitative research that she did regarding same sex attraction as well as the transformation she went through after she reoriented her life towards God. Watch part 1 here: https://youtu.be/gqJ48N5uqYA Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/ Chapters 00:00 The Journey to Forgiveness and Healing 02:47 Pursuing Intimacy with Jesus 06:01 Facing Pain for Transformation 08:54 Understanding Temptation and Responsibility 12:14 The Cycle of Transformation 15:11 Exploring the Five Streams of LGBTQ Responses 18:09 Condemnation vs. Affirmation 20:59 Accommodation and Identity 23:53 Mortification and the Fall 27:14 Understanding Temptation and Sin 30:36 The Complexity of Concupiscence 33:25 Celibacy: A Gift or a Burden? 37:43 Holistic Transformation: Body, Soul, and Spirit 41:03 The Role of Prayer in Transformation 43:08 Identifying the Root of Desires 44:05 Advice for Parents of LGBTQ Individuals 46:20 The Importance of Language in Identity 50:23 Resources for Further Learning Dr. Linda Seiler is a trailblazer in understanding gender identity and sexuality. Born and raised in a conservative environment, Linda faced internal conflicts regarding her gender identity from a young age. Despite these challenges, she pursued her education with determination, eventually earning a PhD from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. Her academic journey was marked by a deep exploration of gender and sexuality, culminating in a dissertation that examined the experiences of individuals who have undergone significant personal transformations. As an ordained minister, Linda has dedicated her life to ministry and education, leading initiatives like Chi Alpha at Purdue University and serving as a National XA Field Specialist. Her book, "Trans-Formation," reflects her personal journey and academic insights, offering guidance to those navigating similar paths. Through her work, Linda continues to inspire and educate, contributing significantly to the discourse on identity and transformation. Linda's website: https://lindaseiler.com/   Get the 5 streams document here: https://lindaseiler.com/resources/   Buy her book, “TRANSformation” https://www.amazon.com/dp/1625862601   Linda shares her story with Focus on the Family: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4WxPhWdU60    Follow her on social media: https://www.facebook.com/RevLindaSeiler/ https://www.instagram.com/revlindaseiler/ https://x.com/revlindaseiler?lang=en   ReStory Ministries: https://restoryministries.org/ Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you! Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute   Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/ Buy Dr. Morse's Books: The Sexual State: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/the-sexual-state-2/ Love and Economics: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/love-and-economics-it-takes-a-family-to-raise-a-village/ Smart Sex: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/smart-sex-finding-life-long-love-in-a-hook-up-world/ 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-a-happier-marriage/ 101 Tips for Marrying the Right Person: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-marrying-the-right-person/ Listen to our podcast:  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1 Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/ Get the full interview by joining us for exclusive, uncensored content on Locals: https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/support

Want to reach out to us? Want to leave a comment or review? Want to give us a suggestion or berate Anthony? Send us a text by clicking this link!A fascinating dive into the collision between traditional Catholic values and modern digital culture as we examine viral videos of priests creating TikTok dances that compromise clerical dignity. The episode opens with a critical analysis of this troubling trend, connecting it to Leo XIII's warning about preserving the modesty and gravity befitting the priesthood in a world obsessed with social media influence.We tackle a profound question that reveals much about our cultural understanding of marriage: "Who comes first—your mother, daughter, or wife?" The responses from men in a street interview expose a deeply disordered view of family hierarchy, with most claiming wives are "replaceable." We explore the theological foundation for why spouses must prioritize each other above all other relationships, and how this proper ordering creates healthy families. The discussion connects these misplaced priorities to broken family structures and absent fathers, highlighting how what children witness shapes their understanding of love and commitment.The conversation shifts to a deeper exploration of patron saints that moves beyond standard apologetics approaches. Rather than simply defending devotion to saints with Scripture passages, we examine their cosmic significance as spiritual guardians over regions and cities—filling roles once claimed by pagan deities and demonstrating how Christianity transformed cultural landscapes throughout history.Perhaps most valuably, we critique the limitations of typical "Catholic Answers" style apologetics when engaging with sophisticated Protestant theological arguments. While standard apologetics works against evangelical fundamentalism, it often fails to address the nuanced arguments from classical Reformed theology. This segment challenges listeners to deepen their theological understanding beyond mere talking points.The episode concludes with a touching story about the power of family prayer, as a father shares his experience praying the rosary with his speech-impaired four-year-old son who persevered through an hour-long prayer despite his limitations. What will you prioritize in your spiritual journey toward deeper understanding?Support the showSponsored by Recusant Cellars, an unapologetically Catholic and pro-life winery from Washington state. Use code BASED25 at checkout for 10% off! https://recusantcellars.com/Also sponsored by Quest Pipe Co. Get your St Isaac Jogues pipe here: https://questpipeco.com/discount/Amish?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fst-isaac-jogues-limited-edition********************************************************Please subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKsxnv80ByFV4OGvt_kImjQ?sub_confirmation=1https://www.avoidingbabylon.comMerchandise: https://shop.avoidingbabylon.comLocals Community: https://avoidingbabylon.locals.comRSS Feed for Podcast Apps: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1987412.rssSpiritusTV: https://spiritustv.com/@avoidingbabylonRumble: https://rumble.com/c/AvoidingBabylon

Questions answered this episode: 1. I'm a 25-year-old man, called by God to marriage. Two years ago, I met a girl who helped in the same parish as me, and I fell in love with her. After a few months, we spoke about it, but she kindly rejected me. We lost contact, and I went through a deep crisis of faith. I felt abandoned, extremely and hopelessly alone. After a time, I came back to her city, and we served again together in the same parish. Shortly after, she broke up with her boyfriend and asked me to continue our friendship. She made it clear that although she was open to us having a romantic relationship, I should not expect any concrete outcome to the friendship. I accepted the challenge, and for a year, we struggled to learn to love each other as close, tender friends, embracing with all our hearts whatever God would want from us. Together, we tried to follow the example of Francis and Clare of Assisi. Recently, she told me that she felt the call to consecrated virginity and decided to go to another country to discern this more intensely. My heart reacted to this news with immense joy. I experienced my friend's happiness as my own and felt the grace of God flowing from her heart. This friendship has healed the wound of that hopeless loneliness I felt when she first rejected me. My deepest desire is her happiness, and I know she will find it—whether with Christ or even with another man. But somehow, the secondary desire remains—that she would be the mother of my children and the companion of my dreams. I know we've experienced something rare and wonderful, yet I ask myself if any woman will ever fall erotically in love with me. What would your advice be to heal this wound? 2. Is there any Catholic teaching concerning body hair? Is it immoral to be waxed in certain places, considering that it involves exposing oneself to the person doing the waxing? Secondly, I'm in law school and learning about criminal procedure. One of my classes was discussing a rape case and having to collect semen samples from several different suspects. That led to me pondering the morality of collecting semen samples, also like for medical purposes, and what a Catholic approach to that would be in light of our teachings. 3. My husband and I have been married for 20 years, have four kids, and have always used natural family planning. I recently heard on a Catholic podcast that any type of making out is sinful unless it is meant as foreplay and must end in intercourse. I always thought foreplay was morally permissible as long as it does not lead to climax by either person or incomplete sexual intercourse. Could you please clarify? I would hate to think we've been offending God our whole marriage but would rather be corrected now than never. Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II's beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Linda wanted to be a man. She had planned it all out, to the monetary side and even going so far as to choose the name, 'David' for her post operation itentity. But a powerful experience when she was 21 with Christ changed her life forever. Listen as she shares her journey with gender identity, sexual attraction, faith struggles, and her 11-year transformation. She highlights pivotal moments, the role of confession, accountability, and divine intervention in her healing.   Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/   Linda stresses forgiveness, responsibility, and the messy nature of discipleship in her path to self-acceptance and faith. She discusses her research on individuals transitioning from an LGBT identity, exploring commonalities and mindsets aiding transformation. Linda emphasizes intimacy with Jesus over sexual orientation change and outlines a transformation cycle involving pain and a relationship with Christ. She introduces five streams of Christian responses to LGBTQ issues, advocating for nuanced understanding. Linda and Dr. J Show discuss Christian perspectives on LGBTQ+ issues, including affirmation, accommodation, mortification, and holistic transformation. Linda highlights identity, parental roles, and language's impact on perceptions, stressing compassion and truth in addressing same-sex attraction complexities.   Dr. Linda Seiler is a trailblazer in understanding gender identity and sexuality. Born and raised in a conservative environment, Linda faced internal conflicts regarding her gender identity from a young age. Despite these challenges, she pursued her education with determination, eventually earning a PhD from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. Her academic journey was marked by a deep exploration of gender and sexuality, culminating in a dissertation that examined the experiences of individuals who have undergone significant personal transformations. As an ordained minister, Linda has dedicated her life to ministry and education, leading initiatives like Chi Alpha at Purdue University and serving as a National XA Field Specialist. Her book, "Trans-Formation," reflects her personal journey and academic insights, offering guidance to those navigating similar paths. Through her work, Linda continues to inspire and educate, contributing significantly to the discourse on identity and transformation. Linda's website: https://lindaseiler.com/   Get the 5 streams document here: https://lindaseiler.com/resources/   Buy her book, “TRANSformation” https://www.amazon.com/dp/1625862601   Linda shares her story with Focus on the Family: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4WxPhWdU60    Follow her on social media: https://www.facebook.com/RevLindaSeiler/ https://www.instagram.com/revlindaseiler/ https://x.com/revlindaseiler?lang=en   ReStory Ministries: https://restoryministries.org/   This Dr J Show is also on the following platforms:   TheRuthInstitute.Locals.com   https://rumble.com/c/TheRuthInstitute   https://www.bitchute.com/channel/MXkWgTk4Brwr/   https://odysee.com/@TheRuthInstitute:7   Sign up for our weekly newsletter here: https://ruthinstitute.org/newsletter/   Be sure to subscribe, and check out ALL the Dr J Shows!   Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you!   Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute  Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed   Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse   Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/   Listen to our podcast: Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1

Questions answered this episode: 1. I recently gave birth to our first baby. My plan going in was to have a natural, unmedicated birth. There's something beautiful, especially from a Catholic perspective, about the pain of childbirth that brings new life into the world, a reflection of Christ's suffering on the cross. Many of my Catholic friends have had this type of birth, and I came across a lot of women on social media who advocate for this type of birth, saying, "Your body was made for this." This was my plan, but of course, nothing goes according to plan, especially when it comes to labor. I ended up getting an epidural and going on Pitocin after a stalled 24-hour labor. I was really disappointed, and when I tell others about my labor and how I got an epidural, I feel a sense of shame and guilt that I took the easy way out, that I couldn't do it without medication, that I did something wrong in not allowing my body to birth on its own. Now I'm one of those moms who had a hospital medicated birth and not a natural birth. Can theology of the body help me come to terms with my medicated birth and see the beauty of my body and what it can do even in this type of birth? 2. If you read this, I am desperate. My wife is so hurt, and I do not know what to do because I'm the one who hurt her. Years of pornography use coming out, facing up to it. We're trying to heal, but I just don't know what to do. I don't know who to talk to about this in my real life. I'm incredibly angry with my parents for not helping me when I was younger. I'm angry with myself for not fessing up to it sooner and being afraid to face it. I stopped masturbation years ago, but it was only more recently that I truly began to be honest with my wife about what was going on in the past. And the hurt is so painful. We have a 2-year-old and another on the way. Please pray for our family. Bless you. 3. My sister purchased your TOB intro video series and has since facilitated the course, bringing it to over 100 people. I've started reading all about John Paul II. He's amazing, and we'd both love to learn theology of the body in more depth and continue to spread it to others. I purchased a few TOB books to circulate among friends. However, it's quite pricey to buy books and to seek studying TOB courses ourselves. So I'm wondering whether you ever have sponsorship available for study or discounts for buying bulk resources such as books. I'm especially thinking about my sister as she's very intelligent and passionate about TOB, as well as being a gifted coordinator. I think she's seriously considering and praying about getting involved in TOB ministry for the future. This year she'll be busy completing her theology bachelor's degree. I know she'd love to hear if you have any advice on where she should complete future study, or if there are any courses which are on the cheaper side of things she could fundraise for. If nothing else, be encouraged by the ripple effects of your ministry. God's brought it all the way to us in New Zealand, and a large group of Protestants and cradle Catholics are captivated by the beauty of TOB, catalyzing them to seek out the Catholic faith with a genuine excitement to know the good news. Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II's beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Jason shares his profound journey from atheism to Christianity, exploring the complexities of same-sex attraction, the dynamics of same-sex relationships, and the role of addiction within gay culture. He reflects on his experiences with therapy, the importance of family support, and the impact of his religious upbringing on his life choices. He emphasizes the transformative power of faith and the search for meaning and healing, ultimately offering hope for those on similar journeys. He also discusses his upcoming book, which delves into personal letters to God and addresses themes of addiction and recovery.   00:00 Journey from Atheism to Faith 02:53 Understanding Same-Sex Attraction 06:08 The Dynamics of Same-Sex Relationships 09:04 The Role of Addiction in Gay Culture 12:08 Therapy and Personal Growth 14:54 Family Dynamics and Support 17:49 The Search for Meaning and Healing 21:02 The Impact of Religion on Life Choices 24:05 Hope and Transformation 26:48 Upcoming Book and Final Thoughts   Jason D. Hill was born and raised in Jamaica and immigrated to the United States at age 20 in 1985. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. from Georgia State University. He later received his M.A. and Ph.D. in philosophy from Purdue University and is currently a philosophy professor at DePaul University in Chicago. He has been interviewed regularly in various media outlets, including NBC's Today show, The Daily Caller Show, Fox News, Fox Business, Bill O'Reilly's NO Spin News, NPR, and several other mainstream media.   Follow Dr. Hill:   https://x.com/jasondhill6   https://www.jasondamianhill.com/   Letters to God from a Former Atheist: https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Former-Atheist-Jason-Hill/dp/1592115101   No, I wasn't born this way: https://www.frontpagemag.com/no-i-wasnt-born-this-way/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hill1913/?ref=bookmarks   Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-hill-314007a/   Biography: https://www.atlassociety.org/staff-trustees-and-authors/dr-jason-hill   https://www.jasondamianhill.com/   https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001KIGUHS   https://condor.depaul.edu/jhill6/news.htm   https://las.depaul.edu/academics/philosophy/faculty/Pages/jason-hill.aspx         Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you!   Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute  Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed   Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse   Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/   Buy Dr. Morse's Books: The Sexual State: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/the-sexual-state-2/ Love and Economics: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/love-and-economics-it-takes-a-family-to-raise-a-village/ Smart Sex: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/smart-sex-finding-life-long-love-in-a-hook-up-world/ 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-a-happier-marriage/ 101 Tips for Marrying the Right Person: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-marrying-the-right-person/   Listen to our podcast: Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1   Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refute the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/   Get the full interview by joining us for exclusive, uncensored content on Locals: https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/support

Full Episode! John A. Di Camillo, PhD, BeL, is a health care ethicist and the Personal Consultations Director at The National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC). He manages NCBC's 24/7 free ethics consultation service as well as the Personal Consultations Fellows and Interns Program. Dr. Di Camillo applies Catholic moral theology to science and medicine through research, writing, speaking, mentoring, and fielding hundreds of ethics questions every year. His areas of focus include cooperation with evil, sexual orientation and gender identity, brain death and organ donation, reproductive technologies, and pregnancy complications. He also assists hospital ethics committees as an outside expert and conducts moral analyses of institutional collaborative arrangements. Dr. Di Camillo has a range of teaching experience from middle school to graduate school across various disciplines, including Italian, Church history, science, philosophy, biomedical ethics, and moral theology. He has translated Italian publications on theology, spirituality, and bioethics, and served for a time as the managing editor for Dappled Things Magazine. He earned his BA in the Biological Basis of Behavior and Italian Studies at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and completed his graduate degrees in bioethics at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome.   The National Catholic Bioethics Center: https://www.ncbcenter.org/   Article, “On The Donations of Eggs, Sperm, and Selves” by Dr Morse: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00243639221128391   Stephanie Gray-Connons on IVF on The Dr J Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoDVr6CndD0   The National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC): www.ncbcenter.org   NCBC Personal Consultations Department: https://www.ncbcenter.org/about-personal-consults   The Center for Bioethics & Culture Network (CBC): https://cbc-network.org/   The Alabama Decision more info: https://www.ncregister.com/news/alabama-in-vitro-fact-and-fiction and https://cbc-network.org/2024/02/no-alabama-didnt-ban-ivf/   Sacred Heart Shelter ministry: https://sacredheartguardians.org/   Restorative Reproductive Medicine and fertility awareness-based methods as authentic, natural ways of helping couples achieve pregnancy: https://naprotechnology.com/ - Natural Reproductive Technology https://iirrm.org/ - International Institute of Restorative Reproductive Medicine https://naturalwomanhood.org/ - Natural Womanhood: Know Your Body https://www.factsaboutfertility.org/ - Fertility Appreciation Collaborative to Teach the Science   Infertility ministries: https://springsinthedesert.org/ - Springs in the Desert https://www.thefruitfulhollow.com/ - The Fruitful Hollow https://rabboniinstitute.org/infertility/about/ - Sarah's Hope and Abraham's Promise (Rabboni Institute)   This Dr J Show is also on the following platforms:   TheRuthInstitute.Locals.com   https://rumble.com/c/TheRuthInstitute   https://www.bitchute.com/channel/MXkWgTk4Brwr/   https://odysee.com/@TheRuthInstitute:7   Sign up for our weekly newsletter here: https://ruthinstitute.org/newsletter/   Be sure to subscribe, and check out ALL the Dr J Shows!   +   Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you!   Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute  Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed   Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse   Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/   Listen to our podcast: Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1d

Questions answered this episode: 1. I'm a woman in my 40's and I've found it difficult to get in the mood with my husband unless I create fantasies in my head. These fantasies are usually of sexual situations I create that don't involve my husband or in many cases even me. I'll picture two nameless people in an intimate act. Sometimes one party is using another party or the other party is cheating on his wife with a beautiful young woman. Before I was serious about my faith I had looked at porn although it was rare, and my sexual history was not good; multiple parters out of wedlock, using and being used, contraception, and other things. I hate that I have these fantasies because I want the union with my husband to be holy. However, either I create the fantasies to get in the mood or if I push those fantasies away I find sex boring and just another item on my to do list. I don't know what I'm supposed to think about when in the marital embrace. I feel like my mind has been so warped by the culture that it is hard to move forward. Can you help my mind and these fantasies during the marital embrace? What should I be thinking about? 2. I've heard you say that it's important not to stop at the window. Meaning not to let the icons in our lives become idols where we expect from them what only God can be for us. I love the emphasis on finding windows to the divine in our life and how many of these can lead us towards rather than detract us from our relationship with God. How can this be applied on a practical day to day basis? 3. For most of my life I've had a warped view of the natural experience of erections. I've been told that it's meant to be immediately relieved, that it's meant to be pleasurable, but most of all that it's shameful and dirty. As I've gotten deep into my faith and discovered TOB I've wrestled with what new redeemed definition this experience could have. Could it be that this rising of my body could be the desire of my heart and soul to rise to the occasion of loving well and the desire to physically give myself to someone else? Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II's beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Questions answered this episode: 1. My husband and I have been married for almost 3 years. Shortly after we got married, my husband became verbally and physically abusive. There's such a disconnected between his professed love for me and the lived reality of our marriage. As his abusive behavior has continued, I've found myself walling off my heart more and more. Intellectually I know that a covenantal relationship with God is different and I need to remain open but it feels like my heart has stopped believing it. Many days I feel like if marriage reflects how God loves us then I'm sick of “being loved”. How can I stay open to the beautiful promises of the eternal wedding feast when its early foretaste is ugly and painful? 2. Recently I was in confession and I said that at times I am “lustful”. The priest asked me to be more specific and as a woman I felt very uncomfortable being more specific. After confession I was reflecting on it more and realized maybe I do need to be more specific so the priest understands what exactly I'm confessing. Typically how I feel when I engage in this sin is when I see an attractive man that's not my husband, I may find myself aroused by him and let myself entertain the idea of him to much. Also at times I see my intentions for coming together with my husband are not fully pure and there might be some selfish, lustful desires there. Many times I stop myself and do not suggest coming together with my husband to avoid using him. Is there a more concise yet specific way of confessing these sins without giving all these details? Is there a name for these sins? I want to be accountable but understand that priests are fallen men too and I want to be prudent especially because I'm a young woman. 3. What would your advice be for two catholics with same sex attraction who want to adhere to the teachings of the Church who believe it is their vocation to be life partners romantically but not sexually? Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II's beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Questions answered this episode: 1. In the state of original innocence did Adam & Eve experience bodily functions like defecation and urination? If so, how would these have aligned with their original harmony and the perfection of creation. Sometimes these functions are uncomfortable or even painful. 2. For almost a year now I've been in a beautiful catholic relationship. We both love God and our faith and want to follow the Church's teaching in our relationship. We're discerning marriage at the moment and we're navigating through the obstacles. I'm 21 now and since I was 13 I've had endometriosis with heavy symptoms. I've tried many treatments over the years with little success. One year ago, after a lot of inner battles I started taking a birth control pill. Since them I'm almost symptom free. If we were to get married in the next year, it wouldn't be responsible for us to have children right away because we're both still in college for at least 2 and a half years. If I would stop taking the pill and start NFP that would mean a lot of pain and a great burden for my daily life. I'm extremely afraid of this scenario. Could you shed some light into this confusion? 3. I have a physical disability that prevents me from driving and being handy and limits my ability to provide physical protection. I hear so often about how women want men with these traits so they feel safe to express their femininity. I want to trust that God will help me find someone but I get discouraged thinking about how my disability limits me in fulfilling natural female desires. How should I make myself worthy of a kind, affectionate and loyal woman given my disability. Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II's beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.