In today’s recording of JustLove we return to the difficult situation facing our brethren in Afghanistan: over the past ten months since the withdrawal of American Forces on August 30th, 2021, the people of Afghanistan have faced enormous challenges including drought, a food crisis, and a devastating earthquake.  We speak with Megan Gilbert, Communications Officer with Catholic Relief Services, about what the organization is and has been doing to assist tens of thousands of households in Afghanistan.  Second, today’s episode is an examination of Nigeria where on June 5th a terrible massacre took place at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in that country, in which 40 congregants were killed and scores…

This week we celebrate the birthday of the United States by having two conversations about civics.  First, we will be joined by Tony Williams, a Senior Teaching Fellow at the Bill of Rights Institute of Arlington, Virginia.  He discusses the history of the Declaration of Independence and its legacy.  Then, we mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX with Prof. Courtney Flower, Ph.D., an Associate Professor of Sports Studies at Texas Southern University.  Title IX was the Federal Civil Rights Law that was passed in 1972 that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or other education program receiving funding from the Federal Government. Tony Williams is an author and Senior Teaching Fellow at…

On today’s edition of JustLove, we examine the intersection of Catholic theology and social questions facing the United States public.  In acknowledgment of the Annual Pride March in New York City, we talk with Stan “JR” Zerkowski, Executive Director of Fortunate Families, a Lexington, Kentucky-based Catholic Ministry dedicated to facilitating respectful conversations within the Church about the dignity of LGBTQ+ persons of faith.  Then, we talk with Christopher Bell, Executive Director of Good Counsel Homes (a CCNY affiliate) in preparation for the anticipated Dobs v Jackson Woman’s Health Organization case, and how the organization’s work might change in light of a potential overturn of Roe v Wade. Stan “JR” Zerkowski is the Executive…

On today’s recording of JustLove, we celebrate Father’s Day weekend by talking with the founder of the Texas-based nonprofit Voices of the Fatherless, Percy L. Kennedy Jr. This mentoring program is focused on helping incarcerated fathers connect with their children, also the subject of a book recently published by Kennedy, “Voices of the Fatherless: Letters from Incarcerated Dads Aimed at Breaking the Prison Pipeline.” We then celebrate an equally important holiday, Juneteenth, which originated in Galveston, Texas in 1865, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the emancipation of black Americans from slavery. We are joined by the President of One Hundred Black Men Inc., Aldrin Enis, an organization dedicated to…

On today’s recording of JustLove, we discuss the foundational concept of Religious Freedom as essential to civic harmony with Elizabeth Clark, J.D., of Brigham Young University. Then, we revisit the takeaways of our fact-finding trip to the border of Ukraine in Poland and discuss the ongoing conflict with Michael La Civita, Director of Communications of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) – which continues to aid Ukrainians displaced by the war. Professor Elizabeth Clark, J.D., is the Associate Director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at the J. Reuben Clark Law School of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Michael La Civita is the Director of…