Ave Maria in the Afternoon – October 10, 2025 – Hour 1
A UN official is calling for a global ban on surrogacy – Marcus looks at the story. We also talk with Andrea Picciotti-Bayer about Washington state backing off on the Seal of Confession, and Matthew Bunson looks at Pope Leo’s new Apostolic exhortation.
Marcus’ Monologue: Top UN official calls for global ban on surrogacy
United Nations official Reem Aslalem has published a special report on surrogacy and is now calling for a global ban on the procedure for the harm it does to women. Marcus takes a closer look.
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Report to UN calls for global ban on surrogacy
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Washington State backs off on Seal of Confessional
Officials in Washington State have announced they will not force priests to violate the Seal of Confession as part of a mandatory abuse reporting law. Priests are still listed as mandatory reporters, but do not have to report information learned solely through the Sacrament of Confession. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has more.
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Washington state drops effort to make priests violate seal of confession in reporting law
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Pope Leo’s first Apostolic exhortation calls for Care of the Poor
The Vatican has published the first official document of Pope Leo’s papacy. Entitled Dilexi Te, it calls on Christians to care for the poor and downtrodden, and while it is in many ways a continuation of Pope Francis’ thought, it highlights Pope Leo’s unique thought process. We talk more on this and other Church news with Matthew Bunson.
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51 senators ask FDA to rescind approval of new ‘generic’ abortion pill
What Can We Expect From the Gaza Ceasefire?
‘Dilexi Te’: The Franciscan Framework of Pope Leo’s First Document
Pope Leo XIV: News agencies have ‘crucial role’ in forming consciences, sharing the truth
Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem welcomes Gaza agreement as step toward ending war
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