Political Vocations, Human Rights, Conservative Leadership ~ Garnett Genuis

08/09/22 • 57 min

We take advantage of the Canadian House of Commons’ summer recess to sit down with Garnett Genuis, Member of Parliament for Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan in Alberta.
We shoot the summer breeze getting to know Garnett better: how his political discernment was partly inspired by a Holocaust survivor in his family and a German bishop who resisted the Nazis; how he juggles his obligations as parliamentarian and father of five; and how the Christian faith is practiced, shared, interpreted and sometimes maligned on Parliament Hill.
Our discussion also features a lively mix of current events: Pope Francis’ recent trip to Canada and the legacy of Indian residential schools; religious freedom at home and abroad; the state of the national pro-life movement; and the outlook for upstart political parties seeking to challenge the conservative establishment.
Oh, and there’s that whole Conservative Party of Canada leadership race to talk about too.
Garnett was first elected to federal office in 2015 and was likewise victorious in the 2019 and 2021 elections. At 35 years of age, he’s spent nearly 20% of his life representing his constituents. He’s the host of his own political podcast, Resuming Debate. Garnett and his wife, Rebecca, live outside Edmonton, Alberta and have five children.
Documents/Websites Referenced
Garnett Genuis biography (official website)“Resuming Debate” podcast hosted by Garnett Genuis
“What the bishop who resisted the Nazis can teach us today,” Catholic News Agency (December 17, 2017)
“Pope Francis in Canada” (official webpage for the July 2022 papal visit)
“‘Terrible and tragic’: Century-old Catholic Church in Morinville, Alta., destroyed by fire,” CBC News (June 30, 2021)
Garnett Genuis tweets #1 and #2 endorsements in 2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership race“Canada election: Did the PPC split the Conservative vote? Maybe - but it’s not that simple,” Global News (September 22, 2021)
“Alberta MP among those calling for re-opening of national Office of Religious Freedom,” Grandin Media (March 10, 2021)

[email protected]www.crownandcrozier.comtwitter.com/crownandcrozierPlease note that this podcast has been edited for length and clarity.

[email protected]www.crownandcrozier.comtwitter.com/crownandcrozierPlease note that this podcast has been edited for length and clarity.

Previous Episode

The Pope Comes to Canada ~ John Paul Meenan

From July 24-29, 2022, Pope Francis will be visiting Canada. During the trip, the Pope is set to deliver an apology on Canadian soil for the involvement of Catholic dioceses and religious orders in the operation of residential schools from the 1870s through the 1990s.
Residential schools were established under a federal government program which was intended to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture, and equip them with the education and skills deemed necessary to participate in Canada’s economic and social life.
In anticipation of the Holy Father’s visit, this episode explores Indigenous reconciliation and ministry, major themes and challenges from Pope Francis’ pontificate, and whether Canada has a unique contribution to make to the Church’s mission in the 21st century.
Along the way, we take some scenic detours, including reminiscing about the last time a pope visited Canada for the occasion of World Youth Day in 2002, and reminding ourselves of the importance of continuously building communities of faith.
Our guest is John Paul Meenan, Assistant Professor of Theology at Seat of Wisdom College in Barry’s Bay, Ontario. John Paul was the co-founder of the small academic community which eventually became Seat of Wisdom College. He's also the Editor in Chief of the online magazine Catholic Insight.

Documents/Websites referenced
John Paul Meenan biography (Seat of Wisdom College): https://www.seatofwisdom.ca/academics/faculty-2/jpmeenan/
“Pope Francis in Canada” (official webpage for the papal visit): https://www.papalvisit.ca
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Brief History of Indian Residential Schools”: https://www.cccb.ca/indigenous-peoples/resources/indian-residential-schools-truth-reconciliation-commission/
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Statement of Apology by the Catholic Bishops of Canada to the Indigenous Peoples of This Land” (September 24, 2021): https://www.cccb.ca/letter/statement-of-apology-by-the-catholic-bishops-of-canada-to-the-indigenous-peoples-of-this-land/
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Visit 2002”: https://www.cccb.ca/the-catholic-church-in-canada/papal-visits-canada/john-paul-iis-third-visit-canada-july-2002/
Pope Francis, Apostolic Letter Traditionis Custodes (July 16, 2021): https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/motu_proprio/documents/20210716-motu-proprio-traditionis-custodes.html
Catholic Insight magazine: https://catholicinsight.com/

[email protected]www.crownandcrozier.comtwitter.com/crownandcrozierPlease note that this podcast has been edited for length and clarity.

Next Episode

Al Smith, America’s 1st Catholic Presidential Nominee (and Enemy of the KKK) - Robert Slayton

Long before Joe Biden, John Kerry and JFK threw their hats in the ring for President, Alfred E. Smith blazed the trail in 1928 as the first Catholic nominee for the White House.
Smith’s story is the stuff of legend. The son of a poor Irish immigrant, Smith grew up in Lower Manhattan, laboured in the local fish market, served in the New York assembly for over 10 years, and won four elections for Governor. During the 1928 presidential election, he encountered an avalanche of anti-Catholic bigotry, much of it spearheaded by the Ku Klux Klan.
Join us as we examine the life and legacy of a good man who lived and defended the faith in public office, and whose witness can help shape our vision of what to look for in any politician, let alone a Catholic one. Our guest is Dr. Robert Slayton, Professor Emeritus of History at Chapman University and author of Empire Statesman: The Rise and Redemption of Al Smith.Documents/Websites Referenced
Dr. Robert Slayton biography

Robert Slayton, “Empire Statesman: The Rise and Redemption of Al Smith”

Alfred E. Smith, “Catholic and Patriot”, The Atlantic (May 1927)

“How Al Smith and FDR countered the KKK and anti-Catholic prejudice in politics”

“The Knights vs. The Klan”

“Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire”

[email protected]www.crownandcrozier.comtwitter.com/crownandcrozierPlease note that this podcast has been edited for length and clarity.