Catholic Social Teaching Archives

IP#236 Dr. Mark Latkovic – “What’s a Person to Do?” on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:52 — 25.5MB) | Embed

“What’s a Person to Do? Everyday Decisions That Matter” is an important work for those who seek to navigate through life’s daily choices. Dr. Mark Latkovic, who is a professor of moral and systematic theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan, does a fantastic job bringing forward basic principles that should be a part of our discernment process in making decisions.- especially when there is no definitive Catholic teaching on a subject. Applying those principles, he then takes a look at 40 different questions and answers. Whether it’s areas of Facebook and Internet interaction, purchasing lottery tickets or giving to particular “charities”, or how we deal with decisions for children and for elderly parents, Dr. Latkovic challenges us to ask important questions and respond to issues with moral virtue. With an engaging and accessible writing style, Dr. Latkovic provides an important resource for us all.

You can find the book here

This wonderful little book is a bracing wake-up call to those of us who often overlook the moral dimensions of the decisions we make in everyday life. Mark Latkovic not only wakes us up, but gently guides us through the ethical minefield of contemporary society. —Mary Ann Glendon, Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law School

This little gem of a book is not only a reliable guide to resolving some of the ethical questions we face in our everyday lives, it is a guidebook to thinking well about decisions that shape our characters. It provides answers to specific ethical problems, but that is only part of the story. What Professor Latkovic is doing is teaching us by example how to think deeply and well about the moral dimensions of our lives. —Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence, Princeton University

RN2 – Communion not opposition – Regnum Novum w/ Omar Gutierrez podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:58 — 19.2MB) | Embed

2. Communion not opposition

As I say in some of my posts, there is a spirit of opposition in a good deal of the social work that happens today. The corruption of workers’ unions is one of the great tragedies of our day. Imagine what great work they could do on top of the many achievements they’ve made. But they do not universally do great work because they are caught up in the oppositionist paradigms that make integral human development impossible.

True social justice requires that we drop these paradigms of opposition: management vs. labor; bourgeois vs. proletariat; state vs. individual. We own the great Catholic both/and. It applies to the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church more than ever.

Deacon Omar F. A. Guiterrez, M.A., studied Theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville and at the Angelicum in Rome. He holds a Master’s of Arts degree in Theology from the University of Dallas. He has worked for the Church in various capacities including as a teacher and administrator. His expertise includes Catholic Social Teaching, and his writings on the subject have appeared in several national Catholic newspapers and periodicals. He’s also the author of “The Urging of Christ’s Love: The Saints and The Social Teaching of the Catholic”

Also visit Omar’s “Discerning Hearts” page Catholic Social Teaching 101

IP#332 Terry Polakovic – Life and Love on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:42 — 25.2MB) | Embed

What a joy to speak with Terry Polakovic about “Life and Love: Opening Your Heart To God’s Design.” Personally, it was an honor and a blessing to talk with the co-founder of “Endow” (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women) which is an organization I have greatly admired for many years. This is her first book and she approaches her subject with joy, fascination, and love, especially for the teachings of inspiring pontiffs of the Church like Pope Leo XIII, Bl. Pope Paul VI, and St. John Paul II. This is a must-have book for anyone who wishes to be touched by wisdom and encouraged in “life and love.”

You can find the book here

From the book description:

In Life and Love: Opening Your Heart to God’s Design, Terry Polakovic takes us on a fascinating tour of eight Church documents, spanning nearly 140 years, that pertain to human life and love:

Arcanum Divinae (On Christian Marriage), by Pope Leo XIII, 1880

Casti Connubii (Of Chaste Wedlock), by Pope Pius XI, 1930

Humanae Vitae (Of Human Life), by Pope Paul VI, 1968

Familiaris Consortio (On the Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World), by Pope John Paul II, 1981

Mulieris Dignitatem (On the Dignity and Vocation of Women), by John Paul II, 1988

Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), by John Paul II, 1995

Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love), by Pope Benedict XVI, 2005

Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love), by Pope Francis, 2016

Whether you’ve read these documents before or are discovering them for the first time, Life and Love will help you understand how the Church consistently and fearlessly offers the only true response to the battles of our time.

“Get Cracking” The Baroness, Servant of God Catherine de Hueck Doherty speaks to us today! – Discerning Hearts

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:15 — 24.2MB) | Embed

We discovered an incredible audio of a conference talk given in the late 70’s by the Baroness herself, Servant of God Catherine de Hueck Doherty. She is the co-founder of the Madonna House Apostolate and one of our absolute favorite authors. We dare you not to be moved by her words!

Reflection on Catherine’s talk by Deacon Omar Gutierrez:

Catherine de Hueck Doherty speaks with the kind of prophetic fire that one imagines would have poured from the mouth of Isaiah or out of the minds of the early Church fathers. Her spirit and message are as thoroughly Catholic as any you have ever heard. With the kind of salty swagger of a woman who knew what it was to live with the poorest of the poor, she understood intimately what it meant to live the social teaching of the Church. “Service without prayer,” she says, “is paternalism, social service work, something that the poor do not accept.” “In order to do what we must do, in order to be what we must be we have to pray.”

As she loudly asks why it is that our cities do not applaud and cry at the manifest love for the poor that should be there but isn’t, and demands that we pray for the souls of the owners of multi-million dollar corporations, and points out the “stupid” behavior of Church governors she can at the same time turn around and insist that we all have the faith of a St. Perpetua in order to renew the ancient Church. She demands that we pray for our priests who are manifestations of God’s love for us. “We don’t need psychiatrists from our priests. We don’t need counselors from our priests. We need priests to take us by the hand and lead us to sanctity.”

Doherty is a lioness, a spirit that could move mountains. We would all do well to listen to her advice and seek union with Christ in His Church and in obedience to the teachings therein. So, in Catherine’s words, “Get cracking”!

USCCA30 – Life in Jesus Part 5 – U. S. Catholic Catechism for Adults w/ Arch. George Lucas

USCCA30 Chapter 24

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:50 — 26.4MB) | Embed

Archbishop Lucas offers insights on the US Catholic Catechism for Adults Chapter 24:

An awareness of the social dimension of human life is an important principle in understanding Christian morality, especially in light of the great emphasis on individualism in our society. The social aspect of what it means to be human is revealed in the natural inclination we have to seek social interaction and establish community. This awareness serves as a moral foundation for an attitude of solidarity with each other and leads to a dedication to social justice for everyone. Our Gospel commitment to Christ’s Kingdom of love, justice, and mercy always includes advocating and supporting fairness for all. God calls us to form community and to correct both the symptoms and causes of injustice that rip apart the solidarity of a community.

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

The Most Reverend George J. Lucas leads the Archdiocese of Omaha.

For other episodes in the visit our Archbishop George Lucas page

This programs is based on:

More information can be found here.

We wish to thank the USCCB for the permissions granted for use of relevant material used in this series.
Also we wish to thank Matt Wilkom for his vocal talents in this episode.

[ezcc]

IP#259 Sheila Liaugminas – Non-Negotiable on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:28 — 24.2MB) | Embed

“Non-Negotiable: Essential Principles of a Just Society and Humane Culture” by Sheila Liaugminas is a fantastic book which clearly articulates the essence of Catholic Social Doctrine, especially those teachings which touch the lives of Catholic Americans. She addresses important challenges many face in the arena of politics and cultural relativism and offers solid guidance in the struggle to restore respect for human dignity. Excellent!

You can find the book here

“I truly admire Sheila Liaugminas. She is an outstanding journalist. We have dialogued extensively on her radio program about the rights of conscience and the protection of what we call our ‘first principles.’ Sheila has laid out in great breadth and depth the need for a revived understanding of the essentials of human dignity and societal organization.”
– Jeff Fortenberry, Member of Congress

“Both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have spoken of the ‘dictatorship of relativism’ in our world today and its negative impacts not just on our faith, but to the common good of society. Shelia Liaugminas draws upon the universal principle of natural human rights and dignity to address several contemporary moral issues which have suffered as a result of a relativistic mindset. Her book is a valuable resource in the struggle to restore a true, just and virtuous society.”
– Most Reverend Thomas Paprocki, Bishop of Springfield, Illinois

USCCA28 – Life in Jesus Part 3 – U. S. Catholic Catechism for Adults w/ Arch. George Lucas

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:42 — 25.4MB) | Embed

USCCA28 Chapter 24 Life In Jesus part 3

Conscience represents both the more general ability we have as human beings to know what is good and right and the concrete judgments we make in particular situations concerning what we should do or about what we have already done. Moral choices confront us with the decision to follow or depart from reason and the divine law. A good conscience makes judgments that conform to reason and the good that is willed by the Wisdom of God. A good conscience requires lifelong formation. Each baptized follower of Christ is obliged to form his or her conscience according to objective moral standards. The Word of God is a principal tool in the formation of conscience when it is assimilated by study, prayer, and practice. The prudent advice and good example of others support and enlighten our conscience. The authoritative teaching of the Church is an essential element in our conscience formation. Finally, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, combined with regular examination of our conscience, will help us develop a morally sensitive conscience.

The Most Reverend George J. Lucas leads the Archdiocese of Omaha.

For other episodes in the visit our Archbishop George Lucas page

This programs is based on:

More information can be found here.

We wish to thank the USCCB for the permissions granted for use of relevant material used in this series.
Also we wish to thank Matt Wilkom for his vocal talents in this episode.

[ezcc]