February 3, 2026 - Hour 2

Segment 1: A Hidden Mental Health Crisis in the Church?A new survey by CatholicTV suggests widespread emotional distress among US Catholics, raising questions about how mental health may shape parish life and Mass attendance. Dr. Greg Popcak joins us.Segment 2: Healing the Wounds of InfertilityInfertility and pregnancy loss plagues many Catholic marriages. And it’s a wound that continues to stay tender. Because the world keeps moving, the parish calendar, the liturgical life keeps turning, and many well-meaning people and conversations keep flowing. But for a lot of these parents the ache just keeps returning to that same place again and again and again. Marcus reflects on his personal experience.Segment 3: The Jewish Roots of American Liberty (2 segments)For much of American history, an impassable gulf seemed to separate Jews and Christians, keeping their respective peoples and cultures far apart. But in recent decades that has begun to change. The rise of a militant secularism, one equally hostile to Israel and to America’s Judeo-Christian values and institutions, has unexpectedly drawn Jews and Christians closer together. In the face of a common civilizational threat, the study of the two traditions’ joint contributions to the West has risen to the forefront. We explore it with Wilfred McClay. 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