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Register Radio

From the National Catholic Register, this is Register Radio — bringing light and clarity to the news and topics that affect your life

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Hans von Kulmbach (1480-1522), “Christ the King”

Christ the King, and Sacred Music Meets AI (Nov. 25)

While Christians have celebrated Christ as King from the very beginning of the Church, the Feast of Christ the King of the Universe was put on the liturgical calendar less than 100 years ago. What’s the origin of this powerful solemnity? We find out with EWTN News’ Dr. Matthew Bunson. Then we look at another effort to sanctity the world — this time through sacred monastic music. Yet there’s a twist: Artificial Intelligence is involved. The Register’s Solène Tadié brings us a story of how an organization is using AI to help spread sacred monastic music.

The Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland, is the site of the 2023 Fall Assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

2023 USCCB Assembly Review, and UK Removes Baby Indi’s Life Support (Nov. 18)

The U.S. Bishops met this week in Baltimore for the Fall USCCB assembly where the 2024 elections, pro-life leadership, National Eucharistic Revival, Synod on Synodality and saints were on the agenda. The Register’s editor-in-chief Shannon Mullen was on the ground in Baltimore. He joins us now with highlights. Then we turn to the sad news of baby Indi Gregory, who died in Great Britain this week after her life support was removed against her parents wishes. The Register’s UK correspondent, KV Turley, gives us insights into how Great Britain has come to this point where parents have no power to decide their children’s medical care.

Aaron Baer, President of Center for Christan Virtue, listens to speakers at a pro-life canvasing meeting at Columbus Christian Center in Columbus, Ohio, on Nov. 4.

Pro-Life Political Setbacks and a Look at Christians in the Middle East (Nov. 11)

The pro-life movement experienced a few setbacks this week in three states’ elections, including in Ohio, where voters decisively approved a ballot referendum that expands abortion access and adds a new right to abortion to the state constitution. We talk to EWTN’s Prudence Robertson about Nov. 7 election results, the latest GOP debate and the formidable challenges the pro-life movement faces ahead. Then we turn to a very different kind of crisis — the one faced by Christians in the Middle East. We talk to Lebanese journalist Elias Turk from EWTN News’ Arabic language news agency ACI Mena about the impact of the Israel-Hamas war on the Christian community in the region.

L to R: Register staff writer Lauretta Brown’s sister Kateri spends time with their brother Jimmy and Jimmy enjoys the water.

Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and Edward Sri on Prayer (Oct. 28)

October is Respect Life Month for parishes and dioceses around the United States. It’s also Down Syndrome Awareness Month, which goes hand in hand with the Church’s call to respect the dignity of every life — especially those who are most vulnerable. Today on Register Radio, the Register’s Washington correspondent Lauretta Brown shares a personal story with us about how one child with Down syndrome captured her heart and motivates some of her reporting. And then, we turn to prayer, with well-known author and theologian Edward Sri. We discuss his latest book, ‘When You Pray: A Clear Path to a Deeper Relationship with God’

Pope Francis is seen on a monitor at the Synod on Synodality.

Synod on Synodality Update, and Life on the Ballot (Oct. 21)

The Synod on Synodality assembly now gathered at the Vatican is moving into the closing stretch. The final synod reports are expected next weekend and then in early November this phase of the synod concludes and the Church looks ahead to the next synod assembly set to gather in October 2024. What has emerged so far from the synod discussion? The Register’s Senior Vatican Analyst Edward Pentin joins us with a report on the synod. And then, we turn to national politics in the United States as many states are going to the polls for important matters concerning abortion, women’s health and unborn children. We are joined by the Register’s Washington Correspondent Lauretta Brown.

Hamas fires a large number of rockets toward Israel Oct. 7 in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

War-Torn Israel and Blessed Carlo Acutis (Oct. 14)

After the Islamist terrorist group Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, Israel is at war. The U.S. government has condemned Hamas’ attack. Pope Francis and other Catholic leaders throughout the world have condemned terrorism and violence and are calling for prayer and fasting for peace. Long-time Register contributor, Michele Chabin joins us on Register Radio with perspectives from the ground in Israel. Then we turn to the Eucharist, our source of hope, and an Italian teenager who was completely devoted to making our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament known to a world in need. We talk with Register contributor Sabrina Ferrisi about Blessed Carlo Acutis.

This picture taken Nov. 26, 2008, shows the solar panels covering the roof of the Paul VI Audience Hall with St. Peter’s Basilica in the background. Some 1,000 photovoltaic panels were installed at the Vatican during the pontificate of Benedict XVI.

‘Laudate Deum’ and an Update on the Synod on Synodality (Oct. 7)

Eight years after Pope Francis published his encyclical, Laudato Si, warning about the threats of climate change, the Holy Father has issued a new document on the environment, Laudate Deum. This week on Register Radio, we talk with Register contributor Father Raymond De Souza about Francis’ vision for ecology. And then, this week the Pope officially opened the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, better known as the Synod on Synodality, in the Vatican, and the participants went right to work. Catholics are asking: What will the next weeks bring? We are joined by Register Senior Editor Jonathan Liedl with the latest.

A ‘Hobbit house’ is seen in Hobbiton, New Zealand

Joseph Pearce on Hobbit Day and Tolkien Week (Sept. 23)

In the month of September, we mark the 50th anniversary of the passing of one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, J.R.R. Tolkien, and we celebrate this week both Hobbit Day and Tolkien Week. This week on Register Radio we talk to author and Tolkien expert Joseph Pearce about the legacy of the devoutly Catholic scholar and his masterwork, ‘The Lord of the Rings.’

‘Media at the Vatican’

Information Flow for the Synod on Synodality (Sept. 16)

We are now only a few weeks away from the start of the Synod on Synodality in Rome, and Synod officials have announced that the media will have limited access to the Synod’s sessions. This raises the question: Is a tightly-controlled information flow the best way to go? This week on Register Radio we talk with Russell Shaw, one of the great veterans of the Catholic Press, about the Synod, secrecy and the state of Catholic media.