Ave Maria in the Afternoon

For the last several years, the Church has been focusing on “synodality.” But many Catholics are still unsure of what the term even means, as many Church documents on the topic tend to be bogged down by bureaucratic jargon. Carl Olson turns to the clear writings of St Paul to help cut through the mess.
Further Reading
Reading Saint Paul in a Time of Synodality
Guest Info
Carl E. Olson is editor of Catholic World Report and Ignatius Insight. He is the author of Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?, Will Catholics Be "Left Behind"?, co-editor/contributor to Called To Be the Children of God, co-author of The Da Vinci Hoax (Ignatius), and author of the "Catholicism" and "Priest Prophet King" Study Guides for Bishop Robert Barron/Word on Fire. His recent books on Lent and Advent—Praying the Our Father in Lent (2021) and Prepare the Way of the Lord (2021)—are published by Catholic Truth Society. The Most Asked Questions about Faith, Reason, Jesus, and the Bible, co-authored with Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J., will be published by Ignatius Press in Fall 2026. He is also a contributor to "Our Sunday Visitor" newspaper, "The Catholic Answer" magazine, "The Imaginative Conservative", "The Catholic Herald", "National Catholic Register", "Chronicles", and other publications. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @carleolson.



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On June 26, the Texas State Board of Education approved a required reading list for the state’s 5.4 million public school students. Alongside classic literature, students will encounter selections from Scripture: Jonah and David and Goliath in the early grades, building later to Job and the Sermon on the Mount. We talk about it with Andrea Picciotti-Bayer.
Further Reading
Texas Steps Up to Include Religious Texts in Public Education
Guest Info
Andrea Picciotti-Bayer is a legal analyst for EWTN News. She also directs the Conscience Project. Follow her on Twitter @bayerpicciotti and visit conscience-project.org.



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The state of Florida is threatening to pull over a billion dollars of school choice funds from Catholic schools because those schools refuse to admit unvaccinated children in obedience to the policy of the Florida Catholic Conference. Dan Guernsey walks us through the case.
Further Info
Vouchers and Vaccines
Guest Info
Dr. Daniel Guernsey is senior fellow at the Cardinal Newman Society and associate professor of education at Ave Maria University



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In a post-truth, relativistic era, we can barely agree on what words mean anymore. Furthermore, we can barely agree what a word even is. We explore the nature of language and truth with Steven Rummelsburg.
Further Reading
What is a Cat?
Follow Steven’s substack blog
Guest Info
Steven Jonathan Rummelsburg is the founder of City of Truth Apostolate and St. Isidore’s Artisan Academy. At his Substack, The City of Truth (sjr1984.substack.com), he publishes The Canon weekly, along with writing for parents and teachers seeking an authentic liberal arts education sourced in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.



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In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us what to do when someone does us wrong. When someone is living apart from God, it is our duty as Christians to call them to repentance. And the Gospel today forces us to ask a difficult question:
Whom have I allowed to remain cut off from covenant life because it’s easier to not confront evil? Whom have I validated in their sin, simply because I am so afraid of losing the relationship?
Marcus reflects on today’s Gospel.


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