The Dignity of Women

Janet E. Smith is the Father Michael J. McGivney Chair of Life Ethics at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. She taught at the University of Notre Dame for 9 years and the University of Dallas for 12. She is the author of Humanae Vitae: A Generation Later and The Right to Privacy, and Self-Gift: Humanae Vitae and the Thought of John Paul II . She edited Why Humanae Vitae is Right: A Reader, Life Issues, Medical Choices (with Christopher Kaczor) Living the Truth in Love: Pastoral Approaches to Same-Sex Attractions (with R. Paul Check) and Why Humanae Vitae is Still Right.

Alice von Hildebrand was close to her PhD in philosophy when she began applying to Catholic colleges - all of which turned her down, despite her strong curriculum vitae, because they refused to hire a women to teach philosophy. Alice had only been in the country for 7 years, speaking French most of her life previously, and at this point desperately needed a job. Hunter College (for women) desperately needed a substitute philosophy professor, so Dr. Von Hildebrand began immediately what would become a very challenging career, finally accepting an early retirement with the lowest possible pension. For 14 years she was paid hourly, with no medical coverage, no tenure, and a teaching schedule that kept her until 10PM, precisely because she was a woman. Dr. Von Hildebrand won an award for excellence in teaching - competing against 600 professors. Alice von Hildebrand joins me on this episode of The Dignity of Women to share her great wisdom on femininity, feminism, and the greatness of faith that distinguishes the two.

Rannah Evetts followed a call to teach sign language in Africa shortly after her senior year of High School, in which she was baptized into the Catholic faith. Rannah worked for 7 months in an established deaf school in Uganda’s capital city before discerning with the local priest and Bishop that she should start her own Catholic school for deaf children. In 2016 Rannah was given permission by the Bishop as well as a catechesis building to begin what became St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf in a remote village in the NW corner of Uganda, right next to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Rannah was 21 years old when Bishop Wanok granted her the building.

Perhaps you avoided the hookup culture altogether when you were dating your spouse, and therefore honestly can't understand it at all. Or maybe you encountered your fair share of it when you were navigating the messy waters of love. Some of you, I'm sure are even wading through it now! One of the primary and most frustrating elements of today's dating world is the fear of commitment. Professor Tim O'Malley gives his students extra credit for going on a date and analyzing that date according to the art of dating (there are actual skills to be learned)! Tim joins me on this episode of The Dignity of Women to unpack the popularized utilitarian concept of "hooking up," which has sought to replace dating and therefore threaten the healthy process of communication leading into the entrance of marriage. Tim looks at God, Love, Dating, and Marriage in a Hookup World.

Veteran moms have so much wisdom to pass on the future generations, and we don't hear their voices nearly as much as we would like to. Kimberly Hahn joins me on this episode of The Dignity of Women to share her experience homeschooling six children, her conversion to the Catholic faith alongside husband and scripture scholar, Scott Hahn, and her recent segue into local politics.

When Haley Stewart married her bee-keeping sweetheart, Daniel, they dreamed of a life centered on home and family. But as the children arrived and Daniel was forced to work longer hours at a job he liked less and less, they dared to break free from the unending cycle of getting more yet feeling unfulfilled. They sold their Florida home and retreated to Texas to live on a farm with a compost toilet and 650 square feet of space for a family of five. Surprisingly, they found that they had never been happier.

Guest - Sterling JaquithKimberly and Sterling discuss their recently released 40-Day Devotional for Catholic Single Women, tell stories of how they met their husbands...and share some funny ones of before they were married!

Kevin and Mary O’Neill. The O’Neill’s are a Catholic homeschool family with seven children.  Mary is a stay at home mom with a degree in elementary education. Kevin runs the family landscaping company, which has given him ample time to listen to Catholic audio and to read on the off-season. As a result Kevin now considers himself a product of the New Evangelization. Their idea for the Lego Catechism was born when their kids brought a popular children’s Bible to their attention and upon realizing it was blasphemous, Kevin and Mary knew that they were being called to create a catechism on the seven sacraments, utilizing theology of covenant and typology to teach the truth of the Catholic faith.    The O’Neill’s “Catechism of the Seven Sacraments" is the first book in a series. It uses typology to explain the necessity of the Sacraments in our relationship with Christ and His one, holy catholic and apostolic Church. The books are published through Storytel Press - a private non-profit foundation on a mission to inspire people to restore the sacred. Kevin and Mary are new to the world of publishing and the Catechism of the Seven sacraments is their first book.

The Dignity of Women - Episode 003 - The Art of Dance and Body Images

Fiorella Nash is one of the leading modern Catholic feminist voices in the Church today. As I read through her recent book, The Abolition of Woman: How Radical Feminism is Betraying Women, I was overwhelmed by her mastery of the work - her vast research into feminism, the abortion industry, the fertility industry, and gendercide issues. Fiorella's faith and understanding of human nature, social responsibility, and inviolable human rights clearly determine her pro-life convictions. I challenged Fiorella on how feminism can possibly reconcile with the pro-life stance, and what is left, if anything to "reclaim" of the feminism of ages past! Author and bioethicist Fiorella Nash joins me on The Dignity of Women podcast. Fiorella is a writer and bioethicist in the United Kingdom with over ten years' experience researching life issues from a feminist perspective. She speaks often at international conferences and has appeared on radio and in print discussing abortion, gendercide, maternal health and commercial surrogacy. She is also an award-winning novelist and has published numerous books under the nom-de-plume Fiorella De Maria, including Poor Banished Children, Do No Harm, and We'll Never Tell Them.

The Sisters of Life is a contemplative/active religious community of women founded in 1991 by John Cardinal O’Connor for the protection and enhancement of the sacredness of every human life. Like all religious communities, they take the three traditional vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The Sisters of Life also are consecrated under a special, fourth vow to protect and enhance the sacredness of human life.Sr. Veronica and Sr. Mercy of the Sisters of Life join me on The Dignity of Women podcast. This podcast was a special treat because I was able to visit the Sisters in their Yonkers, NY convent and record in person! Amidst the joy and laughter that filled the time we spent together, there were deep messages shared by the Sisters that are necessary for us to hear and to ponder.The witness of religious Sisters in our culture is certainly a testimony to the love of Christ, through his brides, which is unlike any other witness on earth. I felt that it was imperative to welcome Sr. Veronica and Sr. Mercy on a podcast dedicated to the dignity and worth of women.

8-year old Nomi is a survivor of human trafficking in Cambodia. When Diana Mao met Nomi at a recovery shelter, she was shocked and moved by her story. Trafficked by her stepfather, without her mother’s disapproval, Nomi was discovered by outreach workers – CAGED. She could not speak and was biting and drooling. Brought to the shelter, where she received care and nurture, it gave Diana great hope to witness Nomi’s growth – “living up to her God-given potential.” Diana founded the Nomi Network to share Nomi’s story and to help bring hope and healing to those recovering from human trafficking, as well as preventing and intervening for people at risk of being trafficked. Human Trafficking spokeswoman Diana Mao joins me on this episode of The Dignity of Women podcast, addressing the reality of human trafficking and how she left the path to a successful future, moved by a personal encounter, in order to found an organization that assists survivors and women at risk of human trafficking. Diana Mao co-founded Nomi Network after a rewarding career in economic development and management consulting. Since its inception, Diana has played an instrumental role in making Nomi Network the catalytic international organization it is today. She is responsible for the strategic direction of the organization since its founding and building Nomi Network’s Board and strategic partnerships with large corporations, funders, and investors. A 2015 Presidential Leadership Scholar and New York Academy of Medicine Fellow, Mao earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in BusinessEconomics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master of Arts in Public Administration with a specialization in International Management from New York University. She received the Pioneer Award from Asian Americans for Equality and New York University Recent Alumni Award for her critical work in conceiving and building Nomi Network to the powerful force it is today in the anti-human trafficking movement.” The Nomi Network creates economic opportunities for survivors and women at risk of human trafficking. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Personal encounter and call to human trafficking awareness Walking away from a successful future to embrace non-profit work Poverty, caste system, foster care, homeless youth connection to HT Inter-generational prostitution (largely in India) Rehabilitation and recovery for victims (50-60% success rate) Prevention of human trafficking Pornography and HT (80% survivors report being “trained” with porn) Response – What can I do? LINKS AND RESOURCES Nomi Network " Buy Her Bag Not Her Body " Pornography and Human Trafficking " National Human Trafficking Hotline " Justice and Care " Global Slavery Index " The Business of Modern Day Slavery " Books Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Day Slavery " Good News About Injustice: A Witness of Courage in a Hurting World " A Crime So Monstrous: Face-to-Face with Modern-Day Slavery " Comic Books " Support/Buy Nomi Network " Buy Her Bag Not Her Body Everlane " Patagonia " Thistle Farms " Restores https://www.habitat.org/restores

Abby Johnson has always been fiercely determined to help women in need. This desire is what led Abby to an 8-year career with Planned Parenthood, our nation’s largest abortion provider, and caused her to flee the organization, becoming an outspoken advocate for the pro-life movement. As a clinic director at PP, Abby realized abortion was a “product” they were selling, yet she loved and continued to serve the women that entered her clinic. That changed on September 26, 2009, when Abby was asked to assist with an ultrasound-guided abortion. She watched in horror as a 13-week old baby fought for, and ultimately lost its life at the hand of the abortionist. Seeking answers, Abby turned to a local pro-life group. Her leaving Planned Parenthood as a threat to the organization caused them to take immediate action. They sought to silence Abby with a gag order and brought her to court on a case that was ultimately dismissed. Abby is the author of the nationally best-selling book Unplanned, which chronicles her experiences. Today, Abby travels across the globe sharing her story, educating the public on pro-life issues, advocating for the unborn, and reaching out to abortion clinic staff who still work in the industry. She is the founder of And Then There Were None, a ministry designed to assist abortion clinic workers in transitioning out of the industry. To date, this ministry has helped over 430 workers leave the abortion industry. Abby lives in Texas with her husband and seven children. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS How a youthful desire to help women led to Planned Parenthood How abortions are the “products” PP sells Recounting the abortion that changed her life Modern feminism and the issue of life and “choice” Ministry that helps industry workers transition out Demonization of motherhood – robber of personal fulfillment Soon to be release movie, based on her book Unplanned Abby had 2 abortions, and this is often what helps her connect with women in crisis LINKS AND RESOURCES Unplanned https://www.amazon.com/Unplanned-Dramatic-Planned-Parenthood-Eye-Opening/dp/1414396546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538519880&sr=8-1&keywords=unplanned+by+abby+johnson Abby Johnson http://www.abbyjohnson.org/ And Then There Were None http://abortionworker.com/ NHS ad https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7247978/nhs-sexist-advert-women-give-up-lipstick/ Unplanned Film https://www.unplannedfilm.com/ About the Film https://stream.org/unplanned-film-planned-parenthood-abby-johnson/ LISTEN TO THE PODCAST http://breadboxmedia.com/the-dignity-of-women-episode-005-abortion-planned-parenthood-and-motherhood/ https://breadboxmedia.podbean.com/e/the-dignity-of-women-episode-005-abortion-planned-parenthood-and-motherhood/ http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheDignityOfWomenBBM https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/breadbox-media-2/the-dignity-of-women/e/56529874

Redeemed Vision - Setting the Blind Free from the Pornified Culture with author and founder of Freedom Coaching, Steve Pokorny.

The Dignity of Women podcast focuses on reclaiming femininity in the modern age. It challenges feminist viewpoints and the objectification of persons. The Dignity of Women calls us to higher virtue and nobility of character, so that men must aspire to be worthy of us, and that through Christ, beauty will save the world.