Faith & Politics is a podcast of the South Dakota Catholic Conference. Join Executive Director Chris Motz, Esq. as he and his guests explore a variety of contemporary civic issues through the lens of a classical Catholic moral and ethical framework. Winsome and robust, Faith & Politics ranges from the soul to the state as it seeks to cultivate thoughtful criteria for governing well in the 21st century.
In this episode, Chris visits with Matt Althoff, who among the many hats he wears so well, serves as Director of Education for the Diocese of Sioux Falls. Matt received an Master’s degree in education through Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education program. He shares about his experience teaching in Read more…
Ever thought about reading St. Augustine’s classic work, City of God, but intimidated by its size? Me too! Our guest this week is Dr. Jon Schaff, professor of political science at Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. In this episode, Chris and Jon begin a short series in which they Read more…
“Blessed Thomas More is more important at this moment than at any moment since his death, even perhaps the great moment of his dying; but he is not quite so important as he will be in about a hundred years’ time.” So wrote famous English essayist and Catholic convert G.K. Read more…
Fr. Michel Mulloy, diocesan administrator for the diocese of Rapid City, joins SD Catholic Conference director Chris Motz to discuss religious freedom.
What does missionary discipleship have to do with our lives as citizens? On this episode, SDCC director Chris Motz is joined by Bishop Donald DeGrood, as they discuss the joy of publicly living as disciples of Jesus, the importance of giving witness to moral truth in the public square, the Read more…
If we were made for Heaven, why should we care about politics? In Episode 9, SDCC Executive Director Chris Motz is re-joined by Fr. Tyler Mattson, to discuss why politics on earth matters if our ultimate home is in heaven.
How to have unity in a polarized society? In Episode 8, SDCC Executive Director Chris Motz is joined by Fr. Tyler Mattson, to discuss unity in a divided political environment. Drawing on the thought of Servant of God Chiara Lubich, founder of ecclesial movement Focolare, we explore the implications of Read more…
On Episode 7, we’re joined by Dr. Chris Burgwald, Director of Adult Discipleship and Evangelization for the Diocese of Sioux Falls to discuss HB 1057, known as the Vulnerable Child Protection Act, a bill filed Tuesday that would prohibit medical providers from prescribing puberty-blocking drugs and cross-sex hormones, or conducting mutilating Read more…
The Impeachment Episode. Dr. Jon Schaff, professor of political science at Northern State University joins the podcast again to discuss the third impeachment in American history, what it means for America, and what it means for us as Catholics and faithful citizens.
Joining us for Episode 5 is Fr. Andy Thuringer to discuss the Letter to Diognetus. In this second-century letter, we read “the Christian is to the world what the soul is to the body.” We have duties to bring Christ into the world, including politics. Text excerpts from the Letter Read more…
Religious Liberty is the first freedom listed in the Bill of Rights, and it’s a principle articulated in Church teaching. In this episode, we visit with Dr. Aaron Weldon, who works with the U.S. bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty. We explore what Religious Liberty is, and why it matters for Read more…
Abraham Lincoln, the virtues of prudence and moderation, and exploring the ways in which Lincoln’s thought on labor and property resonates with the church’s social doctrine, are the topic on this episode with special guest Jon Schaff, Professor of Political Science at Northern State University.
Emily Leedom, Director of Marriage, Family and Respect Life for the diocese of Sioux Falls, is our guest on this episode. October is Respect Life Month! Emily gets in depth about her most recent read, The Soul of the Apostolate by Jean-Baptiste Chautard, O.C.S.O.
Commercial Surrogacy w/ Jennifer Lahl. Ms. Lahl is a pediatric nurse, bioethicist, president of the Center for Bioethics & Culture, documentary filmmaker, and international expert on commercial surrogacy. In the inaugural episode, she tells the story of Kelly Martinez, a South Dakota woman and three-time commercial surrogate.