On Vox Clara........

The Gospel and Social Action - What makes for Catholic social action? And what does the Gospel have to do with it? Glenn McDonald, a Basilian scholastic and a member of the Basilian Fathers Social Justice Committee, shared his thoughts.

Faith and Politics – Is there such a thing as a private morality, a private faith belief? Richard Gwyn, one of Canada’s most well-known political commentators and the recipient of national awards for newspaper and magazine writing, joined us.

Sin and Reconciliation in the Moral Life - What does my brokenness reveal about me? How can healing happen? Marion Goodbrand, a psychotherapist, and Virginia Koehler, a counselor, talk about sin and reconciliation for Vox Clara’s episode of

Conscience and Virtue in the Moral Life - How do I discern the right things to do? What can I learn from the saints about this? Bridget Campion, a parent and teacher, and Nada Conic, a spiritual director, spoke about how we choose the good, and why we are called to do better

Moral Issues and the Economy - Who or what hold corporations responsible for their actions? Do I consider whether a company is responsible before I buy anything from them? Michael Van Pelt and Gideon Strauss from the Work Research Foundation, an economic think tank, discussed these issues of the economy.

The Morality of War - The Rwandan genocide of 1994 shocked the world. In one day, some 500,000 lives were taken. What does the Church say about war? What can I do to help in times of war? Major Brent Beardsley, personal staff officer to General Roméo Dallaire before and during the Rwandan genocide, shared his personal insights.

Human Sexuality and Contraception - What does the Church teach about contraception? How is natural family planning different from contraception? Angelina Steenstra, co-founder of Second Chance Ministry, and Peter Taras, father of three children, took the challenge of unpacking the Church’s teaching on contraception.

The Human Person and Technology - Would the Church approve of me using technology for aesthetic reasons, such as getting a nose job if I needed it? Or having the latest communications gadgets such as palm pilots? Twyla Gibson, an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the McLuhan Program at the University of Toronto, shared her insights on technology and its effects.

The Human Person and Dignity - What does it mean for man and woman to be made in the image and likeness of God as persons? As social beings? Rabbi David Novak, author of eleven books, including Natural Law and Judaism, and of over 200 articles in scholarly and intellectual journals, helped us understand human dignity.

The Human Person and Sexuality - How can young people understand Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body? How can they live the virtue of chastity in a sexually permissive society? Paul Hrynczyszyn, a 20-year-old seminarian studying at St. Philip’s seminary in Toronto for the Diocese of Hamilton, Ontario, and an advocate of Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, spoke on the nuptial meaning of the body and the universal call to chastity.

Marriage and Society - What social and political trends have led to the destruction of marriage and the family in our society today? Is there hope? Dan Cere, founder and director of the Institute for the Study of Marriage, Law, and Culture in Montréal, Quebec, which is called the finest project dedicated to studying marriage in relation to society in Canada today, spent time with us.

Marriage and Family - Can the traditional definition of marriage be supported on the basis of natural reason? How does the Catholic Church’s view of marriage shed light on the meaning of man and woman? Stephen and Kari Gay, a married couple dedicated to family formation from Barrie, Ontario, shared their insights.

Faith and Morality - How can the Catholic Church be opposed to a procedure like in vitro fertilization, when it results in the birth of a child? Does the Church ever “allow a person to die?” Moira McQueen, Director of the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute, spoke on these ethical issues.

Father Bill McGrattan is a native of London, Ontario and belonged to the parish of St. George’s Parish in Byron. Father McGrattan joined the formation faculty of St. Peter’s Seminary in 1992. He has acted in the capacity of a formation advisor, spiritual director, and Dean of Theology, and was appointed Rector in 1997 (read more)...