# Premiere of Catholic Conscience 2.0
*2020-08-21*

> Hosts Bill Young and John O'Rourke launch their new podcast, discussing the intersection of faith, politics, and the current American sociopolitical climate.

## Opening Prayers and St. Pius X

The episode begins with the Our Father and the Hail Mary. Bill notes that the feast day is for St. Pius X, a saint from the early World War I era who strongly believed that the Catholic laity should be politically involved. Bill suggests that this makes it a perfect day to launch a show focused on the Catholic conscience.

## A Providential Connection

John shares his background as a lifelong Catholic who relies on prayer and the Rosary for balance and guidance. Bill reflects on his 13 years of podcasting and describes a spiritual connection he shares with John. He recounts a 'God moment' from April when both he and John experienced the cross falling off their respective Rosaries within two days of each other. Bill views this not as a coincidence, but as a sign from the Holy Spirit, which inspired a popular podcast episode on the thousand-year reign of Christ where sickness and hatred will cease.

## Light, Darkness, and Mother Teresa

Bill recalls his visit to Rome for the canonization of Mother Teresa. He shares a quote from her stating, 'If I am going to be a saint, I'm going to be a saint of darkness,' expressing a desire to be the light for those in darkness. He references a Franciscan teaching that darkness is not a measurable thing, but rather the absence of light—the absence of God and communion with Him. Bill contrasts this theological understanding of darkness with the political rhetoric used in recent speeches by Joe Biden.

## Defining the Conservative Catholic

The hosts discuss what it means to be a conservative Catholic. John identifies several key pillars: being a practicing Catholic who attends Mass and partakes in the sacraments, upholding the sanctity of life, and believing that marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman. Bill adds the importance of religious freedom, criticizing the closure of churches during the pandemic while other businesses remained open.

## Political Critique and the Future of the Country

The conversation shifts to a critique of the Democratic platform and the Biden-Harris ticket. Bill and John express concerns over Kamala Harris's past comments regarding the Knights of Columbus and the treatment of judicial nominees. They contrast this with the accomplishments of the Trump administration, citing record employment and improvements to the VA. They argue that the current Democratic leadership is controlled by a far-left socialist agenda that is incompatible with Catholic values.

*The goal of the show is to promote truth and love in opposition to the hatred and deception the hosts perceive in modern political discourse.*