Being Pro Life

Bob talks with Deacon Ed Shoener, founder of the Catholic Mental Health Institute, about mental illness. He share the prevalence of mental illness in the United States, and the lack of parity in acceptance of mental illness compared to physical illnesses. He shares a personal story of his own daughter's struggle with bipolar disorder, and how people of faith can treat people with illness as t...

Bob talks with Dr. Tim Jessick, a palliative care physician from Wisconsin about Palliative Care. They discuss how it is more than just end-of-life care, how patient-centered it is, and under what circumstances families should request palliative care for their loved ones. Dr. Jessick also discusses how it can help someone who may be interested in physician assisted suicide. Dr. Jessick closes by s...

Bob talks with Jill about her experience caring for her mother with dementia and other medical issues, and how difficult it can be to get good care for an elderly patient if a strong advocate cannot be there 24/7. This is an example of when palliative care can be very useful, even if the patient does not have a terminal illness. Jill also discusses the importance of families discussing care option...

Bob talks with Katalin Vogt, a palliative care social worker from Wisconsin about Palliative Care. They discuss how holistic and interdisciplinary it is, that it is care for the whole person's needs, and their families.  They also discuss its Catholic roots and how anyone can get involved in promoting better awareness. Support the show

Bob talks with Denise Hess, Executive Director of the Supportive Care Coalition, about Palliative Care. They discuss how it is so much more than just end-of-life care, or pain management. It is care for the whole person's needs, and their families, for anyone of any age with a serious illness. They also discuss its deeply Catholic roots, how it is not in any way associated with assisted suici...

Bob talks with Chad and Elizabeth about their experience fostering two children, one older and one younger than their biological son.   While encouraging more people to consider fostering, it ends with sharing ways anyone can get involved, even if they cannot be foster parents.  Support the show

Bob talks with Andy and Emily, about their experience adopting two boys through the foster care system, close in age to their biological daughter. They also talk about fostering children who return to their parents. While encouraging more people to consider fostering, it ends with sharing ways anyone can get involved, even if they cannot be foster parents.  Support the show

Bob talks with Jaymin, a 16 year old boy who spent most of his life living house to house neglected by family members who were constantly on drugs. He and his brother were put into foster care a few years ago, but Jaymin alone is still looking for a permanent home.  Support the show

Bob talks with Dana Gerstner and Susan Walthers of Warren County Children's Services about the state of foster care in Ohio, and the great need for more foster families. They also discuss other ways anyone can help, even if you are unable to become a foster family right now. Support the show

This is the fifth week of a five-episode series on Domestic Violence. This week Bob talks with Joanie, who shares her story of emotional abuse at the hands of her husband. Joanie helps us to understand how the exertion of control and emotional manipulation can be just as damaging as physical violence, and why that is just as unacceptable in a marriage.  Support the show

This is the fourth week of a five-episode series on Domestic Violence. This week Bob talks with Karen McQueary, Clinical Director of the Artemis Center, a resource center for victims of Domestic Violence in Dayton, Ohio. Karen shares her story as a  victim of domestic violence, and why it can be so difficult to just leave. Karen also discusses how the Artemis Center in Dayton can help victims of d...

This is the third week of a five-episode series on Domestic Violence. This week Bob talks with Carol Owens, Director of the Office of Life and Family Ministry for the Diocese of Providence. She and her children have both been victims of domestic violence as well. Carol shares her story, giving further insight on why it can be difficult for victims to leave their abusers. They also close on how par...

This is the second week of a five-episode series on Domestic Violence. This week Bob talks with Gloria Sheppard. She was a victim of domestic violence as a young child, and continued to be abused in her adult relationships as well. Carol shares her story, giving further insight on why it is that people abused as children are more likely to continue to choose abusive relationships as adults. She al...

This is the first week of a five-episode series on Domestic Violence. This week Bob talks with Dr. Sharon O'Brien of Catholics for Family Peace in Washington, DC. They discuss a few statistics on domestic violence in the United States, how victims can get help, and how the average person can get involved to help as well. In coming weeks we will hear personal stories from those who have been i...

This is the fourth of a four week episode on Abortion Pill Reversal/Rescue in our series from the Office for Respect Life Ministries called  Being Pro Life. We speak with Dr. Ann Moell of the Women's Centers of Ohio, one of the doctors of the Abortion Pill Reversal network. We discuss more about the abortion pill, Abortion Pill Reversal process. The podcast ends by sharing ways anyone can hel...

This is the third of a four week episode on Abortion Pill Reversal/Rescue in our series from the Office for Respect Life Ministries called  Being Pro Life. We speak with Rebekah, a client of Abortion Pill Rescue, who shares the story of her crisis pregnancy with her second child, how she took the first abortion pill (RU486 pill), regretted it, and found Abortion Pill Reversal treatment to save her...

This is the second of a four week episode on Abortion Pill Reversal/Rescue in our series from the Office for Respect Life Ministries called  Being Pro Life. We speak with Sarah, a client of Abortion Pill Rescue, who shares the story of her crisis pregnancy with her fourth child, how she took the first abortion pill (RU486 pill), regretted it, and found Abortion Pill Reversal treatment to save her...

This is the first of a four week episode on Abortion Pill Reversal/Rescue in our series from the Office for Respect Life Ministries called  Being Pro Life. We speak with Dr. George Delgado, founder of Abortion Pill Rescue, who explains the process of how a woman who changes her mind after taking the RU486 pill, can receive treatment to save her baby. The podcast ends by sharing ways anyone can hel...

This is the 13th episode in our series from the Office for Respect Life Ministries called  Being Pro Life . The topic is Welcoming the Blind in our Parish Communities. We speak with Chris Sabine, who is blind, about his experience as an active member of a local parish, and how parishes can be more accommodating and welcoming to the blind and visually impaired at their parishes today.   Support the...

This is the 12th episode in our series from the Office for Respect Life Ministries called  Being Pro Life. The topic is Welcoming the Deaf in our Parish Communities. We speak with Adam Frazier, teacher and campus minister at St. Rita's School for the Deaf, and Mary Ann Barth, who is deaf, and has done a lot of ministry with the deaf community both locally and internationally. The voice you he...

This is the 11th episode in our series from the Office for Respect Life Ministries called  Being Pro Life. This is Part two of a two part episode on Capital Punishment.  Part Two features an interview with Bill Pelke, a man whose grandmother was brutally murdered by a group of teens, one of whom was sentenced to death, at only 16 years old. Bill talks about his conversion experience against the de...

This is the 10th episode in our series from the Office for Respect Life Ministries called  Being Pro Life. This is Part one of a two part episode on Capital Punishment.  Part One features an interview with Joe D’Ambrosio, a man who spent 22 years on death row for a crime he did not commit.  With him is Fr. Neil Kookoothe, a priest who saw the lack of evidence in his case, and worked to have his ca...

This is the ninth episode in a monthly series from the Office for Respect Life Ministries called Being Pro Life.  This month's episode features interviews with Hillary Byrnes, Assistant General Council for the USCCB on Religious Freedom, Cathy DeCarlo, who was forced to participate as a nurse in an abortion, Steve and Bridget Tennes, who were asked to renounce their beliefs on marriage in ord...

This is the eighth episode in a monthly series from the Office for Respect Life Ministries called Being Pro Life. This month's episode features interviews with several guests, who share their stories of what it is like to bring a child with autism spectrum disorder to church, specifically Catholic Mass, and religious education. They encourage people to be more understanding and inviting, rath...

This is the seventh episode in a monthly series from the Office for Respect Life Ministries called Being Pro Life. This month's episode features interviews with several guests, who share their stories of loss from ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, and early infant loss. They share the pain of early loss, and give advice on how individuals and parish communities can better serve those who suffer...