Headline News and Catholic Social Teaching

Tom Mulhern
  • 4.5 (2)
  • Christianity

A brief look at specific stories in the news through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.

  1. Farm Bill, SNAP and Catholic Social Teaching

    6d ago

    Farm Bill, SNAP and Catholic Social Teaching

    In this episode we look at recent news regarding the US Farm Bill, and more specifically the part of the Farm Bill that deals with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, and see what light Catholic Social Teaching might shine on this issue. References and notes below: House passes 2026 farm bill - Apr 30, 2026Farm Bill Primer: Overview and Status - May 7, 2026Catholic groups stress efforts to combat hunger as Senate prepares to consider farm bill - May 7, 2026Household Food Security in the United States in 2024 - 12/30/2025Joint Catholic organizations letter on 2026 Farm Bill - Feb 20, 2026Joint Catholic organizations letter to Congress on Agriculture Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2027 - April 28, 2026Explainer: Understanding the SNAP program—and what “One Big Beautiful Bill” cuts to these benefits may mean - Nov 10, 2025SNAP Numbers Fall Across US–Food Banks Are Sounding the Alarm - May 13, 2026The Dismal Economics of SNAP’s Work-Hours Test and Time Limit - Apr 19, 2023 - Reviews 19 studies on SNAP work requirementsSNAP work requirements don’t boost jobs, but drop participation, research finds - April 10, 2026Employed in a SNAP? The Impact of Work Requirements on Program Participation and Labor Supply - February 2023Untangling Errors in the SNAP Program (August 5, 2025), USDA Efforts to Reduce Waste, Fraud and Abuse in SNAP (May 5, 2025), and What We Get Wrong About SNAP Fraud and Why It Matters (April 20, 2026)Pope Leo’s May 2026 prayer intention: 'That everyone might have food'Podcast website with full transcripts for this episode and all other episodesSend me a text or voicemail

    13 min

  2. May 13

    Declining Birth Rates and Catholic Social Teaching

    In this episode we’ll look at declining birth rates and see what Catholic Social Teaching has to say about this global long-term trend. Here are references and notes: National Center for Health Statistics - Births: Provisional Data for 2025 – report issued April 2026World Bank - Interactive chart showing birth rate trends for US and all other countriesWhich countries have fertility rates above or below the “replacement level”? - visual mapWorld Population – overview from UNInternational Monetary Fund - The Debate over Falling Fertility - June 2025How Countries might Reverse Plunging Birth Rate - 26 January 2026 - Interesting secular analysis from the Global Policy JournalHarvard Gazette article on “How to reverse nation’s declining birth rate” - August 20, 2025Catechism of the Catholic Church - The Family in God’s Plan - 2201-2213Pope Leo’s October meeting on marriage, family gains urgency amid declining birth rates in West - April 27, 2026Amoris Laetitia - 2016 - see section 42The Marriage Crisis Driving America’s Fertility Decline  (April 22, 2026) and Catholic family experts tie marriage to dropping US fertility rate (August 7, 2025) - some overlap between these articles‘Dramatic’ decline in Catholic marriage (January 31, 2026) and What is causing our fertility crisis? Catholic experts weigh in (May 2, 2024) - some overlap between these articlesPope Leo urges Europe to confront ‘declining birth rates,’ strengthen family life - October 14, 2025Pope Francis: World's ills rooted in too much greed, not too many babies - May 10, 2024Podcast website with full transcripts for this episode and all other episodes.Send me a text or voicemail

    14 min

  3. Apr 29

    Birthright Citizenship and Catholic Social Teaching

    In this episode you’ll hear about the issue of birthright citizenship and whether Catholic Social Teaching has anything to say about it. Here are references and notes: Executive Order that would end birthright citizenship for certain immigrantsFAQ about the Executive Order from the Legal Defense Fund, an entity that is opposed to the Executive OrderArticle about Senate hearing on birthright citizenship held March 12, 2026Full transcript of Oral arguments before the Supreme Court on April 1, 2026Takeaways from Supreme Court arguments, CNN article April 1, 2026U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Brief Submitted to Supreme CourtSelected Catholic commentaries critical of USCCB brief by Kelsey Reinhardt, Philip Lawler, and Jacob NeuUS Bishops Brief Gets Mixed Reviews, article from National Catholic Register March 6, 2026, with links to both critical and supportive viewsProjection: Repealing Birthright Citizenship Would Significantly Increase the Size of the U.S. Unauthorized PopulationGerman research showing birthright citizenship impact on education and youth crimeCatholic Social Teaching: Call to family, community and participationPodcast website with full transcripts for this episode and all other episodesSend me a text or voicemail

    14 min

  4. Apr 15

    War in Iran and Catholic Social Teaching

    This episode is about the war in Iran and what Catholic Social Teaching has to say about the war, focusing on news and reactions from February 28 to April 8, 2026. Here are references and notes: Here's what the Trump administration has said motivated the strikes.Persons killed and injured in Iran and US casualties through early April 2026Persons displaced by the war in IranEstimated US expenditure on war through early April 2026Cardinal Parolin: Preventive wars risk setting the world ablaze - March 4, 2026Cardinal Pizzaballa: Using God's name to justify war is 'gravest sin'Pope at Palm Sunday Mass: ‘Jesus does not listen to prayers of those who wage war’Catechism of the Catholic Church – Safeguarding Peace and Avoiding War – see section 2309 for just war criteriaCardinal McElroy says U.S. entry into war with Iran ‘not morally legitimate,’ citing Catholic just war teachingArticles from Catholic commentators supporting the war:  A Cautious Case for the Iran War by Philip Primeau and Contra Pope Leo, Catholic Just War Doctrine Supports Iran Strikes by Shannon Walsh & Sean Patrick CalabriaThe Just War Tradition and the Iran War: A Catholic Examination for American Conservatives by Will Wright - a Catholic conservative makes the case that the Iran war does not meet just war criteriaPope Leo: The threat against the entire Iranian people is unacceptable April 7, 2026Statement from Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the USCCBPodcast website with full transcriptsSend me a text or voicemail

    13 min

  5. Apr 1

    Humanitarian Aid Cuts and Catholic Social Teaching

    This episode is about the significant reduction in global humanitarian assistance that started in 2025 and continues into 2026. Here are notes and references: A Generational Collapse: Tracking the Toll of Trump’s Humanitarian Aid Cuts - February 5, 2026Documents reveal scope of Trump’s foreign aid cuts - March 26, 2025The Great Aid Recession: 2025’s Humanitarian Crash in Nine Charts - Dec 23, 2025The Impact of Foreign Aid Cuts – Interactive map, country by country summaryUpdate on Lives Lost from USAID Cuts - December 16, 2025 Marco Rubio said no one has died due to U.S. aid cuts. This mom disagreesUS government will let lifesaving aid expire in seven African countries - Feb 22, 2026Catholic Vision for U.S. Humanitarian and Development Assistance 2025 - US Conference of Catholic Bishops5 Reasons Why International Humanitarian Aid Matters - August 8, 2025 - Catholic Relief ServicesForeign aid from the United States saved millions of lives each year - Sept 29, 2025 - chart showing $ totals and % of Gross National Income of 10 major donor countries in 2023KFF Health Tracking Poll February 2025: The Public’s Views on Global Health and USAID - 5th bullet point at top of article addresses US public misconception of percentage of budget going to aidPodcast website with full transcripts for this episode and all other episodesSend me a text or voicemail

    13 min

  6. Mar 18

    Gender Legislation and Catholic Social Teaching

    This episode is about the fairly remarkable amount of recent legislative activity related to transgenderism, and what Catholic Social Teaching has to say about this topic. Here are references and additional resources. Supreme Court temporarily blocks California policy against parental notification of gender identityMap of US showing which states shield and which states ban gender-modifying medical procedures for young people,  Click on the “Shield Laws and Youth Care Bans” tab.  Note: posted by a pro-transgender group that takes positions are not in harmony with Catholic teachingList of 126 bills passed in 2025, in 29 states. Note: posted by a pro-transgender group that takes positions that are not in harmony with Catholic teachingHHS Announces Rule to Bar Hospitals from Performing “Sex-Rejecting Procedures” on Children — December 18, 2025Declaration “Dignitas Infinita,” on Human Dignity - August 4, 2024 - See #55-59 Gender Theory and #60 Sex ChangeCardinal provides further clarification of points made in “Dignitas Infinita.”US bishops overwhelmingly back ban on ‘gender interventions’ by Catholic health care - November 12, 2025Catholic Medical Association statement - 2023Two medical groups back limits on gender transition procedures for minors - February 6, 2026Four things Catholics need to know about transgender people - Article by a Catholic nun advocating for greater acceptance of transgenderism by the ChurchCatholic Tradition Has Always Included Trans People Like Me - Article by a transgender Catholic advocating for greater acceptance of transgenderism by the ChurchPastoral statement on accompanying those suffering gender dysphoria by Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma CityPodcast website with full transcripts for this episode and all other episodesSend me a text or voicemail

    14 min

  7. Mar 4

    Climate Change Denial and Catholic Social Teaching

    This episode is about the recent withdrawal of the United States from a variety of  efforts aimed at responding to global climate change, and what Catholic Social Teaching has to say about this related series of newsworthy actions.  Here are references and additional resources. EPA reverses climate change endangerment findingThe United States exits Paris Climate AgreementWhat Trump’s US exit from UNFCCC and IPCC could mean for climate actionGreater than 99% consensus on human caused climate changePlanetary Health Check 2025 – Executive Summary1990 World Day of Peace Message from Pope St. John Paul IIRenewing the Earth - US Conference of Catholic Bishops 19912010 World Day of Peace Message from Pope Benedict XVI2015 Encyclical Laudato Si’2023 Apostolic Exhortation Laudate DeumWorld Must Come Together to Fight Climate Change, Pope Leo SaysWays to Get Involved:  Catholic Climate Covenant and Laudato Si MovementPodcast website with full transcripts for this episode and all other episodesSend me a text or voicemail

    13 min

  8. Feb 18

    Nuclear Treaty Expiration and Catholic Social Teaching

    This episode is about the recent expiration of the New START nuclear weapons treaty between the United States and Russia, with no new agreement on the horizon, and how this situation looks from the perspective of Catholic Social Teaching.  Here are references and additional resources. Russian and U.S. nuclear arsenals could expand for the first time in three decades.  Feb 3, 2026The U.S. Needs to do Something about New START.  Posted on the American Security Project website Jan 26, 2026Which Countries Have Nuclear Weapons?  Nuclear arsenals by countryThe US and Russia’s nuclear weapons treaty is set to expire. Here’s what’s at stake Analysis January 26, 2026Catechism of the Catholic Church scroll down to sections 2314-2315Lapse of last US-Russia nuclear treaty ‘simply unacceptable,’ says Archbishop Coakley February 3, 2026What does the Catholic Church teach about nuclear weapons?  Aug 19, 2020  Good summary of papal and bishop conference statements from 1954-2020Pope Leo XIV, bishops commemorate 80th anniversary of atomic bombing of Japan  Aug 6, 2025Statements from US Conference of Catholic Bishops on nuclear deterrence:  1983 Pastoral Letter on War and Peace, scroll down to page 2 section I.B.;  1993 10th Anniversary Reflection, scroll down to section II.E.1.1.1998 Statement signed by 75 US Catholic Bishops (but not the entire USCCB) stating that the conditions for the moral acceptance of nuclear deterrence are not being metPodcast website with full transcripts for this episode and all other episodesHow to contact the the President   https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ or call: 202-456-1111 How to contact your U.S. Senator or U.S. Congressperson:  https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member  Send me a text or voicemail

    13 min
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A brief look at specific stories in the news through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.

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