Bioethics on Air

Robert Smedley, President of the Matthias Group, joins Joe Zalot to discuss how Catholic employers can maintain Catholic identity and mission in their employee health benefits plans, focusing specifically on pharmaceuticals. Resources 1. The Matthias Group, LLC – https://matthiasgrp.com/. Contact info: smedley@matthiasgrp.com or 844-628-8477 2. “Mission Aligned Job Postings,” Catholic Benefits Ass...

Dr. Marie Meaney joins Joe Zalot to discuss how her Catholic faith sustained her in her struggle with infertility, and inspired her to write the book "When Expecting Doesn’t Happen: Turning Infertility into a Journey of Hope." Resources 1. When Expecting Doesn’t Happen: Turning Infertility into a Journey of Hope – https://stpaulcenter.com/product/when-expecting-doesnt-happen-turning-infertility-in...

Bishop John Barres, ordinary of the Diocese of Rockville Centre (Long Island)—along with canon lawyer Fr. Brandon O’Brien—discuss the bishop’s governance with regard to Catholic health care, as well as his role in fostering its Catholic identity and ethical integrity. Resources: 1. Bishop Barres’ webpage – https://www.bishopbarres.com/ 2. “The Pastoral Role of the Diocesan Bishop in Catholic Healt...

Jenny Ingles, Director of Fertility and Life Ministries for the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan, discusses her state’s Proposal 3. If enacted by voters, Proposal 3 would enshrine the so-called right to abortion in the Michigan state constitution. Resources 1. Diocese of Lansing, MI: “Fight Like Heaven: Vote NO on Proposal 3” – https://www.dioceseoflansing.org/office-bishop/fight-heaven-54-day-rosary-...

Pharmacy resident Angela Baalmann discusses ethical challenges facing faithful Catholic pharmacists drawing from her article “Pharmacist Refusal to Provide Contraceptive Services” published in the Spring 2022 edition of The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly. Resources 1. “Pharmacist Refusal to Provide Contraceptive Services” – https://www.pdcnet.org/collection/authorizedshow?id=ncbq_2022_0022_...

Dr. George Mychaskiw discusses the proposed St. Padre Pio Institute for the Relief of Suffering, School of Osteopathic Medicine, an institute that will “train faithful physicians in the Catholic framework, and through their practice of medicine evangelize the good news of Jesus Christ.” 1. St. Padre Pio Institute for the Relief of Suffering, School of Osteopathic Medicine (proposed) – https://www....

Religious liberty attorney Eric Kniffin returns to Bioethics on Air to break down US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, the case that reversed Roe v. Wade. Kniffin addresses originalism, how Roe was “egregiously wrong,” and why stare decisis did not apply in Dobbs. Note: Although not discussed, the podcast references the due process clause of...

Diocesan pro-life leaders Allison LeDoux (Worcester, MA) and Fr. Peter Ascik (Charlotte, NC) discuss the opportunities provided by, and the challenges facing, the Catholic Church in the post-Dobbs world. They also address the Church’s ongoing efforts to promote the culture of life in the United States. Resources: 1. Respect Life Office, Diocese of Worcester, MA – https://www.worcesterdiocese.org/r...

In part 2 of their interview, nursing student Elizabeth Niekrewicz and nurse educator DiAnn Ecret address concrete, practical steps that nursing students (and others) can take to protect their conscience rights in an increasingly hostile medical environment. Resources: 1. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Ethics in Health Care, https://www.ethics.va.gov/index.asp 2. NCBC, “Cooper...

Nursing student Elizabeth Niekrewicz and nurse educator DiAnn Ecret address ethical challenges facing nursing students both in the classroom and in clinicals. Issues discussed include the importance of—and changing nature of—the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics, hierarchal power dynamics, and differing interpretations of the term advocacy. Resources: 1. Ashley Fernandes & DiAnn Ecret, “T...

In part two of her interview, Grace-Marie Turner, President of the Galen Institute, addresses issues of cost, waste, and accessibility within the US health care sector. She also explains free market proposals for reform offered by the Health Policy Consensus Group in its publication Health Care Choices 2020: A Vision for the Future. Resources 1. Galen Institute – https://galen.org/ 2. Health Care...

In the first of a two-part interview, Grace-Marie Turner, President of the Galen Institute, explains both the history and the many challenges facing the US health care sector, focusing on the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). She also discusses the impact of implementing a single-payer system, or “Medicare for All,” in the United States. Resources 1. Galen Institute – https://galen.org/ 2. Health C...

In part two of his interview, Dr. Charlie Camosy speaks about his appearance on Tucker Carson Tonight where he addressed Canada’s euthanizing of the poor. He also discusses his new position at the Creighton University School of Medicine. Resources 1. Camosy on Canada’s euthanizing the poor from “Tucker Carlson Tonight” – https://twitter.com/TPostMillennial/status/1524554181515915265 2. “Why is Can...

Dr. Charlie Camosy returns to Bioethics on Air to discuss the leaked decision in the Dobbs case and its impact on abortion politics in the United States.

Pro-life OB/GYN Chris Stroud continues his critique of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ March 2022 ‘guidance’ on how to speak about abortion. This interview focuses on ACOG’s deceptive claims concerning dismemberment abortion and what the word term means. Resources: 1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) – Guide to Language and Abortion https://www.ac...

Pro-life OB/GYN Chris Stroud joins Bioethics on Air to critique the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ March 2022 ‘guidance’ on how to speak about abortion. This interview focuses on ACOG’s claim that we can no longer use the terms baby, unborn child, or fetal heartbeat. Resources: 1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) – Guide to Language and Abortion at h...

Steven White, MD and NCBC President Joseph Meaney join Joe Zalot introduce the newly formed Catholic Health Care Leadership Alliance (CHCLA). Steve and Joseph explain why the alliance was formed, discuss its founding members, and set an ambitious agenda to transform Catholic health care. CHCLA website – CatholicHealthAlliance.org

Family Medicine physician Lisa Gilbert discusses the ethical challenges surrounding referrals for illicit medical interventions, the distinction between referral and transfer of care, and her work advocating for the conscience rights of medical professionals. Resources: 1. Ukrainian Catholic Crisis Media Center – https://uccmc.org 2. Advocacy for Life course - https://www.studentsforlifehq.com/adv...

In part two of his interview, Dr. John Di Camillo addresses how the Catholic understanding of the common good can help inform responses to ongoing ethical concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, as well as mandates.

Dr. John Di Camillo discusses his presentation on COVID-19 vaccines and mandates from the 2022 NCBC Bishops Workshop. In part one of this interview, John focuses on the latest available information concerning COVID vaccines and how this information should inform judgments of conscience.

Ashley Womack, MD discusses how, through her Catholic faith, she navigated the ethical challenges of both medical school and OB/GYN residency, including her refusal to complete a “family planning” rotation at Planned Parenthood.

Mary McClusky, Assistant Director for Project Rachel Ministry Development with the USCCB Committee on Pro Life Activities, joins Joe Zalot to discuss this specifically Catholic model of abortion healing ministry. Mary focuses on the challenges women face following an abortion, the services that Project Rachel Ministry offers, and how the sacraments (especially reconciliation) play a key role in th...

Noah Brandt, Director of Government Affairs at Live Action, discusses the Dobbs case, the Texas Heartbeat Bill, and Ohio’s 2363 Bill. He also explains the importance of properly interpreting the Fourteenth Amendment as well as Live Action’s efforts to counter corporate censorship. Access all of Live Action’s resources at liveaction.org.

In part two of our interview, attorney Jonathan Berry offers a legal perspective of religious and conscience objection, and he discusses what is reasonable (and not reasonable) in terms of requesting such an exemption. He also suggests what individuals can do when facing termination for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine.

Attorney Jonathan Berry explains the legal and constitutional challenges to the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, and he clarifies the status of these challenges in the federal courts to date. UPDATE: Just hours after this interview was recorded, a three-judge panel of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the Biden vaccine mandate. Boyden Gray filed an appeal with the US Supr...