It’s amazing how much “input” there is for our lives in the 21st century. With television and radio, the chirp of cell phones and the constant flow of information, we’re constantly bombarded with media “noise.”  One big problem is sorting through what’s true (and of value) and what honors with dignity the human person created by God .

On American Catholic Radio, we meet a guest who can help us cope with the “noise” of everyday life. Teresa Tomeo hosts the nationally syndicated radio talk show, Catholic Connection. She’s also a motivational speaker and media consultant and has written a book called Noise, in which she makes a compelling case about the dangers of our dominant media culture and gives concrete guidelines on what concerned parents and others can do to battle these effects of media.

News from the Middle East is part of our reality these days, much of it tragic. Franciscan Father John Quigley, O.F.M., director of Franciscans International, the Franciscan presence at the United Nations, visits our ACR microphone again to discuss the war in Iraq, why the Church has opposed U.S. intervention in Iraq and how Catholics can think about peace. Producer Judy Zarick will introduce us to Ruth Abood, from Michigan, who risked it all to bring back the son she and her husband adopted in Lebanon. When she was there to visit her son, bombs fell in Lebanon, and Ruth faced a choice: either to leave without her son or stay in a dangerous place to make sure he could come home with her. She stayed while her husband worked furiously to get their son papers so that they could both return to the U.S.

From the inner life to the world stage, American Catholic Radio continues to bring your listeners ways to ground their contemporary lives in the mystery of our Catholic faith. Thanks for helping us in this mission, and let us know how we can serve you better!

Fr. Greg Friedman, O.F.M.

Use the links below to preview the shows or download them in MP3 format for broadcast.

Highlights from this episode include:

Dorothy Day

Teresa Tomeo, talk-show host, motivational speaker and media consultant, has written a book called Noise, in which she makes a compelling case about the dangers of our dominant media culture.

How can an older person relate to a newly ordained young priest? What is the origin of the rosary?

Catholic Charities

Father John Quigley, O.F.M., director of Franciscans International, talks about why the Church is opposed to the U.S. intervention in Iraq and how Catholics can think about peace.

Highlights from this episode include:

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

Ruth Abood risked it all to bring back the son she adopted in Lebanon. When she was there to visit her son, bombs fell, and she had to either leave without her son or stay in a dangerous place to make sure her son could come home with her.

Why is it wrong to use stem cells from an aborted embryo for scientific research? Do priests always grant absolution to those receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

Catholic Relief Services

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun was recently in the U.S. and Canada to update Catholics of Chinese descent on the situation of the Church in China.