# Prayer for Society and a Preview of the Foreign‑Affairs Debate
*2020-10-19*

> Bill Young and John O’Rourke open with a prayer for society, then discuss recent political news, compare the foreign‑policy platforms of Biden and Trump, and urge listeners to vote in the upcoming election.

## Prayer for Society

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus, come back into our society, our families, and our souls. Grant peace, faith, and charity. Bless those who work for the good of the poor with your Spirit of discipline, order, and gentleness. Keep the flame of enthusiasm alive in their hearts. May the day soon come when you restore a joyful, Christ‑centered life among your people. Amen.

## Recent Headlines

We noted a recent interview with former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, who raised questions about Hunter Biden’s laptop and alleged undisclosed meetings with his father’s administration. Giuliani claimed that Hunter’s attorney asked for the laptop back and that the Biden campaign has avoided answering reporters’ questions. The story has been circulating on various media outlets, though some platforms have restricted it.

## Biden’s Foreign‑Policy Proposals

The Biden platform includes re‑joining the Iran nuclear agreement, the Paris Climate Accord, the UN Human Rights Council, and the UN Population Fund; expanding international aid and committing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals; increasing funding for diplomatic missions; and strengthening ties with Israel, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. It also calls for NATO commitments, engagement with China on North‑Korea denuclearisation, extending the New START treaty with Russia, and expanding defense cooperation with Taiwan and Poland.

We raised concerns about the practicality of these proposals, noting that Iran has not fully complied with the nuclear deal, that the UN Human Rights Council includes countries with poor human‑rights records (e.g., Russia, China, Iran, Cuba), and that some initiatives (such as the Population Fund) appear to support policies contrary to Catholic teaching.

## Trump’s Record on Foreign Affairs

We highlighted President Trump’s actions: withdrawing from the Trans‑Pacific Partnership, the Paris Climate Accord, and the Iran nuclear deal; demanding fair‑share contributions from NATO allies; negotiating the Abraham Accords (Israel‑UAE‑Bahrain); moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem; imposing sanctions on Iran and Russia; and securing a new agreement with North Korea on denuclearisation. We argued that these moves reflected a focus on American interests and a rejection of multilateral bodies that include authoritarian regimes.

## Call to Vote

Early voting has begun in Florida, and turnout appears strong. We urged listeners to get out and vote, emphasizing that this election will affect fundamental freedoms—religious liberty, free press, and the Second Amendment. We warned that a Biden administration could raise taxes on capital gains and retirement withdrawals, and could support policies that undermine Catholic values. Regardless of personal feelings toward Trump’s personality, we encouraged voters to consider the concrete policy differences.

*Choose leaders whose policies protect both our nation’s security and the moral teachings of the Catholic faith.*