Catholic Church Reform Int'l

Dr. Massimini shares his insights into how we grow up and become mature Christians in today's world. He reflects on the fact that it is our job as Christians to assume far greater responsibility for our world, our church, and the future of our planet. You might enjoy checking out his blog called the 21st Century American Catholic: http://the21stcenturyamericancatholic.blogspot.com/p/about_30.html.

In this episode, Sister discusses the coming 2020 presidential election. She points out the similarity of the healthcare plans proposed by the various candidates and how it is primarily cost that distinguishes them from one another. Understanding this will hopefully unite Democrats behind Joe Biden, the likely nominee for the Democratic party. She also addressed how Catholic Christians learn to make "prudential judgments" about applying the church's teaching to politics? it is not up to church hierarchy to tell Christians how to vote. With well-formed consciences, it is up to each of us to make that determination for ourselves as to the moral good of our country. Sister shares the need for us all to be multi-issue voters focused on the common good for all.

In this interview, we explore with Nontando Hadebe, a woman theologian from South Africa, why the Bishops Synods on the Family did not engage the work of women theologians who have for many years been writing on issues of marriage, family life, sexuality, and human relationships. Our guest points out that without women, there would be no church in Africa since women comprise 85-90% of the laity. The Roman Catholic Church is one of the few institutions not promoting full equality of women.

This episode introduces a discussion on family life as presented in the papal exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, the Joy of Love. It discusses its perspective on such critical issues as divorce-remarriage, birth control, and the LGBT issue offering less emphasis on church rules and a greater realization of the need for compassion as families struggle in today’s world. It softens the ban on divorced and remarried Catholics being excluded from the Sacraments. This first segment introduces you to Love, Sex, and the Joy of Amoris Laetitia as presented by theologian, and author, Reverend Daniel P. Horan, OFM where Father offers an introduction to the Joy of Love. In the second segment, Josh Elliott interviews Candace Moss, a theologian and professor of the New Testament at Catholic University on this exhortation. And in the final segment, Professor John Leonard is interviewed who further explains this exhortation as moving away from a pronouncement of church rules to the need for personal conscience in these important matters.

Virginia has worked professionally her whole life for the cause of women in the Church. In this interview, representing Voices of Faith, she invites all of us to participate in the March 8, 2020 Int'l Women's Day to stand in solidarity with women and the need for women to be treated with dignity and recognized for their significant contributions to the Church. It is well beyond time for women to be allowed to participate equally with men as ministers in the Church.