Catholics Across the Aisle

Bishop Erik T. Pohlmeier is Florida’s newest bishop, having just celebrated his first year as shepherd of the Diocese of St. Augustine. 

In this episode, get to know more about Bishop Pohlmeier, from his upbringing in rural Arkansas, to discerning his vocation, to his adventures in the past two decades of his priestly ministry. 

Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, also speaks with the bishop about the episcopal role and his visi...

Michael Sheedy, FCCB's executive director, and Christie Arnold, associate for social concerns and respect life, discuss a response to immigration that is based in scripture, Catholic teaching, and respect for human dignity. 

Immigration policy has been a controversial topic, especially here in Florida where SB 1718 was recently signed into law. Michael and Christie unpack the potential consequences and legal challenges surround...

FCCB’s policy team debriefs on Florida’s 2023 legislative session. Listen to executive director Michael Sheedy, and policy associates Mike Barrett and Christie Arnold, recap some of the notable bills passed by lawmakers. Significant achievements include advancing protections for the unborn, historic school choice expansion and several bills aimed at shielding youth from the harms of gender ideology. 

Legislators also approved bills ...

 FCCB executive director Michael Sheedy and policy experts Christie Arnold and Mike Barrett sit down to discuss some of the bills currently being considered by lawmakers at the Florida Capitol, from a pro-life initiative that will limit abortion to the first six weeks of pregnancy, bills protecting minors from the harms of gender ideology, to a sweeping school choice bill that was already passed and signed by the Governor.  Grab a ...

Barbara Samuells, president and co-founder of Catholics for Freedom of Religion joins Michael Sheedy to discuss the longstanding history and principle of religious freedom in America. Certain policies and ideas continue to threaten freedom of religion today, even in places such as schools and hospitals. Barbara and Michael discuss some of these threats and what the laity can do in their local parishes and communities to defend reli...

In the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned, how can the Church renew its commitment to supporting families and mothers in need? What is the state of legal protection for the unborn in Florida, and what further restrictions could we expect the legislature to consider in 2023? Michael Sheedy, FCCB's executive director, and Christie Arnold, associate for social concerns and respect life, answer these questions and more in this e...

Maria DeLiberato, Executive Director of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP), joins Michael Sheedy to discuss ongoing efforts to end the death penalty and raise awareness of its injustice. 

Maria was part of the legal team that worked to exonerate Clemente Aguirre, who was wrongly convicted and sentenced to death in 2006. Maria outlines the details and her involvement in the frustrating legal battle that took plac...

Corporal Alan Wilkett, retired, Pasco County Sherriff’s Department, shares from his years of professional experience working to prevent human trafficking. Florida is the third highest state for reported human trafficking cases. The numbers are overwhelming, yet there are ways that we can better protect those we love. Learn how you and your faith community can work to end the scourge of human trafficking and support survivors.
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Paul Malley, president of Aging with Dignity, shares how Catholics are called to love and care for those near the end of life, providing a tangible vision for building a Culture of Life. Paul draws from personal stories, and the life of St. Teresa of Calcutta, as examples of how to care for, and recognize the inherent human dignity of all.

This episode of Catholics Across the Aisle was recorded live as a presentation at t...

Chelsy Gomez, Program Consultant, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, introduces the USCCB’s new pastoral initiative to increase support for pregnant and parenting mothers in need in our Catholic parishes. She shares how parishes can implement the Walking with Moms in Need process locally and renew the Church’s commitment to serve and accompany mothers in difficult circumstances. Chelsy also talks through common misconcep...

Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, highlights the key commitments of the Church to address the needs that confront our society. Can Catholics transcend partisanship and polarization and heal our society? It’s not easy, but yes, they can.

This episode of Catholics Across the Aisle was recorded live as a presentation at the 2022 Florida Culture of Life Conference, hosted by the Diocese of St. Petersburg. The audio has ...

In recent years, gender ideology has pervaded education, athletics, popular culture, politics, and even the workplace. How do we respond to this movement in a way that recognizes the God-given physical reality of being created male or female while also respecting the human dignity of those who struggle with gender dysphoria? FCCB’s Ken Kniepmann, associate for health, and Michael Barrett, associate for education address how Catholi...

 Listen to FCCB staff Michael Sheedy and Michele Taylor as they talk through the stances of candidates for governor Charlie Crist (Democrat) and Ron DeSantis (Republican) on key issues of concern to the Catholic Church. The information in this podcast is taken directly from the FCCB 2022 Gubernatorial Candidate Comparison, where supporting sources for each issue are linked.  The issues discussed in this podcast do not represent a c...

 As hurricane season approaches its peak in Florida, Michael Sheedy speaks with Gabe Tischler, Emergency Management Specialist for the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, to hear his real life stories, experience and tips to be prepared for natural disasters or any crisis event. Gabe shares the background of his career in Emergency Management, and how organizations like Catholic Charities and local churches can work together to...

While the nation awaits a monumental Supreme Court decision that could overturn Roe v. Wade, the state of Florida is impacted by several recent victories in pro-life policy. 

Join Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, and Christie Arnold, associate for respect life & social concerns, as they discuss legislation that bans abortion in Florida after 15-weeks’ gestation, and a circuit court ruling that puts a 24-hour waiting peri...

 Michael Sheedy discusses the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on health care in Florida with Loraine Brown, Chief Mission Integration Officer with Ascension Florida & Gulf Coast. Loraine shares stories of how healthcare workers and hospital administrators strived to provide the best care possible in the midst of so many difficulties, and the value of a healthcare system based on Catholic principles that recognize the dignity of...