December 29, 2025 - Hour 2

2025 Ave Maria in the Afternoon year in reviewSegment 1: Life in Afghanistan under the Taliban (2 Segments)The Taliban have set up a ministry for the “propagation of virtue and prevention of vice” in Afghanistan. The rules include dozens of standards for dress code and how women may conduct themselves in public, with severe punishments for violating the rules. Luma Simms joins us to discuss the Catholic and Islamic views of the nature of the human person and the role religion can play in supporting democracy.Segment 2: I lost my son to an AI Chatbot (2 segments)In February 2024, Megan Garcia’s son Sewell took his own life after he fell “in love” with an AI Chatbot, which encouraged him to join “her” in an artificial world. It’s a harrowing example of the dangers of this technology. She shares her story. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com