Bridge Builder Podcast

In vitro fertilization and the ethical dilemma created when life is created and then discarded or kept in a frozen state not allowing the child to continue growing past an embryonic state. We discuss these issues with Laura Elm, founder of Sacred Heart Guardians and Shelter. She also gives some great practical ways that we can make a difference for families facing infertility, and for embryonic ch...

This week's episode starts with a very special interview with a woman who, spurred by her passion for educational opportunity, inspired families, filmmakers, and lawmakers to make positive changes to the education system. Virginia Walden Ford is one of America’s leading advocates for parent empowerment. As a student, a mother, an advocate, and a grandmother, Virginia has spent her life fighting to...

In today’s episode, we discuss immigration, pornography, human trafficking and how you can make a difference on these issues. National Migration Week, wrapped up January 11th, and is an opportunity for the Church to reflect on the circumstances confronting migrants, including immigrants, refugees, children, and victims and survivors of human trafficking. January is also human trafficking awareness...

Religion and politics - the two topics you're not supposed to bring up at the dinner table, right? As Catholics, we know that in reality, it is our faith that is supposed to form our consciences and thereby inform our politics. So, in a society that is less and less religious and more and more polarized, how can we go about sharing our faith and talk about politics without causing division? How ca...

Thousands upon thousands of pro-lifers are preparing for the March for Life 2020 to make their presence known and voices heard in defense of the unborn and their mothers. The 47th annual March for Life in Washington, DC takes place on January 24th. This year’s theme, “Life Empowers: Pro-Life is Pro-Woman” carries a special historic moment with it. 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amend...

We get a great perspective from a Catholic who has worked for years inside the Capitol. Kevin Matzek now works in government relations but was most recently the Executive Director of the Senate Republican Caucus. We delve into what it takes to keep our government running. In our mailbag segment, we answer questions about "Minnesota, Our Common Home" the newly released teaching resource from the MN...

In this week's episode, we delve into the ethics of care for the environment, and the Catholic response to climate concerns and calls for population control. Then in the mailbag segment, we discuss questions regarding the removal of historical monuments. In the Bricklayer segment, we highlight a great new resource, the "Minnesota, Our Common Home: Ecological Examen" for examining your own practice...

As Americans, we’re all familiar with the phrases, “One nation under God” in our pledge of allegiance to the flag. Or, the phrase “In God We Trust” on the back of our money. But these phrases are often under attack and many people raise the question of whether the United States had a Christian founding. We discuss that question with Dr. Mark Hall. He is a Herbert Hoover Distinguished Professor of...

In this episode, we discuss with Dr. Thomas Hibbs, president of the University of Dallas, the role of Catholic education in shaping civil discourse. In our mailbag segment, we discuss the Church's response as it relates to the student debt crisis. We mention the Labouré Society, which exists to provide financial assistance and spiritual support to individuals who must resolve education loans in or...

We live in a fallen world that must deal with the effect that sin has on creating social problems. Because of the interconnectedness of humanity one person’s decision or sin can have ripple effects on the rest of society. These so-called “social-sins” can be reinforced by social structures or systems that reinforce decisions contrary to God’s will and lead to on-going social problems. To discuss t...

What does it mean to advocate for laws and policies that uphold "the common good"? Because we live in a world where society seems to struggle to agree on the real meaning of words, we decided to spend some time digging into this question. Fr. Aquinas Guilbeau lends us his expertise. He is an assistant professor of moral theology and the current prior of the Dominican House of Studies in Washington...

In this week's episode, we're discussing Catholic Social Thought and how we can overcome the divisiveness of the rhetoric in today's public discourse. We speak with Kim Daniels of The Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University. In the mailbag, we answer a question regarding a recent decrease in the number of refugees that will be allowed into the United States....

Today we are discussing anti-poverty initiatives and ways that advocates are working on to make a difference for the poor including legislation regarding payday lending. Pat Kaiser, of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in the Twin Cities lends us his insights and expertise on the great work being done by this Catholic group right here in Minnesota. In our mailbag segment, we discuss the role of the...

Dr. Bronwen McShea, an Associate Research Scholar with Princeton University’s James Madison Program and the author of “Apostles of Empire: The Jesuits and New France," shares with us the role of the North American Martyrs/Jesuit missionaries in both colonizing parts of North America for France as well as their role in the spreading of the Gospel. In our mailbag segment, we answer questions regardi...

The first Monday of October marks the start of the U.S. Supreme Court’s session. Among the cases being heard this session is Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue. This case examines the question of whether it violates the religion clauses or the equal protection clause of the United States Constitution to invalidate a generally available and religiously neutral student-aid program simply beca...

Why do some communities thrive while others collapse? Charles Marohn, the founder and president of Strong Towns, helps examine that question bringing his insights into how the built environment plays a role in building strong communities. Charles has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute. In our ma...

In this week's episode we're discussing the importance of interfaith advocacy. We speak with Anne Krisnik, the executive director of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition about how Catholic Christians, Muslims, Jews, and Protestant Christians work together on a number of social justice issues at the Minnesota Capitol. In our mailbag segment, we answer questions surrounding a possible special s...

Often times in politics we hear about the need to be realistic in regards to what can be accomplished. That there is only a limited horizon of possibilities, and we have to use prudence and recognize that it is a fallen world in which we can only hope for so much. In this episode, Brandon McGinley, a writer for multiple Catholic outlets and an editor for EWTN Publishing, breaks apart those ideas....

In this week's episode of the Bridge Builder we speak with Dr. Stephen Krason, a professor of political science and legal studies and Associate Director of the Veritas Center for Ethics in Public Life at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Dr. Krason discusses his recent article, "Time for a non-feminist reappraisal of the role of women," which appeared in his column “Neither Left nor Right, bu...

In this episode of the Bridge Builder, we're talking about Catholicism and nationalism. Are these two things at odds, or can one be a good Catholic and hold a strong patriotism for one's country. We speak with Dr. William Cavanaugh a professor of Catholic Studies at DePaul University and director of the Center for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology. In this week's mailbag segment we are...

In this week's episode, we speak with Madeleine Kearns, a reporter at National Review, about her recent article, “Don’t Legalize Prostitution; It Will Only Make the Problem Worse.” We delve into the movement that is trying to legalize prostitution and why it could have a host of other unforeseen consequences. Plus, what the 2020 presidential candidates are saying on the issue, and the successes be...

Dr. Daniel Mahoney speaks with us about how the religion of humanity is subverting Christianity and how the fundamental goal of political life has become ideological activism. In our mailbag, we answer your questions about assisted suicide and the proposed legislation here in Minnesota. We also examine the arguments of faith, right reason, human dignity, and the common good that show us why assist...

In this episode of the Bridge Builder, we speak with Tim Carney, author of "Alienated America: Why Some Places Thrive While Others Collapse." After traveling the U.S. to answer that question he now shares his data and research, which shows how a lack of social connections in communities are leading to their collapse, and the solutions he sees. Plus, we examine how our culture of alienation is play...

Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, founder and president of The Ruth Institute, a global non-profit that defends the family at home and in the public square speaks with us about her book, "The Sexual State: How elite ideologies are destroying lives and why the Church was right all along.” She has a passion for helping people recover from the consequences of the Sexual Revolution. In our mailbag segment, w...

We're speaking with Charles Camosy, an associate professor of theology at Fordham University in the Bronx. Dr. Camosy shares a few thoughts from his book "Resisting the Throwaway Culture: How a Consistent Life Ethic Can Unite a Fractured People". A theme running throughout his work is the fostering of intellectual solidarity between political and ethical approaches which find conversation difficul...