Register Radio

Register Radio notes the top stories of 2023 with Register Editor in Chief Shannon Mullen. Then Senior Editor Jonathan Leidl joins us from Rome to discuss ‘Fiducia Supplicans’ and the impact it will have on Pope Francis’ Legacy.

Fr. Jeff Kirby on the recent declaration from the Vatican on Blessings.

The US Supreme Court has agreed to take up a key abortion case in 2024. The Nation’s highest court will weigh in on how patients can access a widely used abortion pill mifepristone. The Register’s National Correspondent Lauretta Brown brings us this story and more from the Register’s coverage of abortion in the United States. But first we get an update on what seems to be a standoff between the Vatican and German Bishops from Jonathan Liedl who has been reporting on this ongoing story from Rome.

A new report released this week details the extent of the FBI's weaponization of law enforcement against traditional Catholics. Catholic News Agency’s staff writer Joe Bukuras brings us the latest about how far the FBI went in looking for possible domestic terrorists within traditional churches. The conversion story Register blogger Zubair Simonson who wrote: Advent Thoughts About Gaza and Israel, From a Muslim Who Became Catholic.

Poor health has kept Pope Francis from a trip to Dubai this weekend where he was to participate in the United Nations COP28 climate conference. Nevertheless, the pope has still kept a rather busy schedule. This week we talk about the pope’s health and other news from the Vatican such as the potential that Cardinal Raymond Burke will be stripped of his Vatican apartment and stipend. Register’s Jonathan Leidl joins us from Rome.

While Christians have celebrated the Christ as King from the very beginning of the Catholic Church, the Feast of Christ the King of the Universe was put on the liturgical calendar less than 100 years ago. What’s the origin this powerful solemnity? We find out with EWTN News’ Dr. Matthew Bunson. Then we look at another effort to sanctity the world … this time through sacred monastic music, yet there’s a twist … Artificial Intelligence is involved. Register’s Solene Tadie brings us a story of how an organization is using AI to help spread sacred monastic music.

The U.S. Bishops met this week in Baltimore for the Fall USCCB assembly where the elections 2024, pro-life leadership, Eucharistic Revival, synod on synodality, and saints were on the agenda. The Register’s editor in chief Shannon Mullen was on the ground in Baltimore. He joins us now with highlights. Then we turn to the sad news of baby Indi Gregory who died in Great Britain this week after her life support was removed against her parents wishes. Register’s UK correspondent KV Turley gives us insights into how the Great Britain has come to this point where parents have no power to decide their children’s medical care.

The Pro-life movement experienced a few setbacks this week in three states’ elections, including in Ohio where voters decisively approved a ballot referendum that expands abortion access and adds a new right to abortion to the state constitution. We talk to EWTN’s Prudence Robertson about Nov. 7 election results, the latest GOP debate and the formidable challenges the pro-life movement faces ahead. Then we turn to a very different kind of crisis – the one faced by Christians in the Middle East. We talk to Lebanese journalist Elias Turk from EWTN News’ Arabic language news agency ACI Mena about the impact of the Israel-Hamas war on the Christian community in the region.

The month-long meeting of Catholics at the Vatican known as the #Synod on Synodality ended last weekend with the issuing of the synod’s synthesis report – the report marking the close of this assembly didn’t actually draw many conclusions. So what was the result of this gathering, what’s next and why should it matter for Catholics in the pews? To provide some answers to these questions and perspective from the ground in Rome we are joined by the Register’s Senior Editor Jonathan Leidl.

October is respect life month for parishes and diocese around the United States. It’s also Down Syndrome Awareness Month, which goes hand in hand with the Church’s call to respect the dignity of every life especially those who are most vulnerable. Today on Register Radio, the Register’s Washington correspondent Lauretta Brown shares a personal story with us about how one child with down syndrome captured her heart and motivates some of her reporting. And then, we turn to prayer, with a well-known author and theologian Edward Sri. We discuss his latest book. When You Pray: A Clear Path to a Deeper Relationship with God

After the Islamist terrorist group Hamas’ attack Israel killing more than 1,000 people and taking more than 100 Israeli hostages, Israel is at war. The US government has condemned Hamas’ attack. Pope Francis and other Catholic leaders throughout the world have condemned terrorism and violence and are calling for prayer and fasting for peace. Long-time Register contributor, Michele Chabin joins us on Register Radio with perspectives from the ground in Israel. Then we turn to the Eucharist our source of hope and an Italian teenager who was completely devoted to making our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament known to a world in need. We talk with Register contributor Sabrina Ferrisi about Blessed Carlo Acutis.

Eight years after Pope Francis published his encyclical, Laudato Si, warning about the threats of climate change, the Holy Father has issued a new document on the environment, now warning that time is running out for the planet. This week on Register Radio, we talk to Register contributor Fr. Raymond De Souza about Francis’ vision for ecology. And then, this week The Holy Father officially opened the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, better known as the Synod on Synodality in the Vatican, and the participants went right to work. Catholics are asking: What will the next weeks bring? We are joined by Register Senior Editor Jonathan Liedl with the latest.

In the month of September, we mark the 50th anniversary of the passing of one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, JRR Tolkien and we celebrated this week both Hobbit Day and Tolkien Week. This week on Register Radio we talk to author and Tolkien expert Joseph Pearce about the legacy of the devoutly Catholic scholar and his masterwork The Lord of the Rings.

We are now only a few weeks away from the start of the Synod on Synodality in Rome, and Synod officials have announced that the media will have limited access to the Synod’s sessions. This raises the question: Is a Tightly-Controlled Information Flow the Best Way to Go? This week on Register Radio we talk with Russell Shaw one of the great veterans of the Catholic Press about the Synod, secrecy, and the state of Catholic media.

The Pope of the Peripheries makes history in Mongolia. Catholic News Agency’s Courtney Mares traveled in the papal press corps during first ever papal visit to the north central Asian country. She joins us now with her traveler’s diary notes. Then we look at AI on College Campuses. How are Catholic colleges and universities handling this new moment of artificial intelligence. There’s no one size fits all answer. Register writer Matthew McDonald gives us perspectives from the field.