Catholic in America
Identity politics and tribal thinking has become America's dominant paradigm. Why has the respect for genuine civic friendship and the common good waned? What are the set of moral and spiritual principles needed to reclaim or reimagine what has been lost? How do we use them to make right judgments about our world and to move forward with clarity and joy? The answer is at the heart of the Catholic faith and its social doctrine: rediscovering our common identity as children of the Father, the One who created us for love. Join Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, to engage our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic.
Catholic in America
The Hidden Engine of the Economy: How the Catholic Church Powers Minnesota’s Communities
In this episode of Catholic in America, host Jason Adkins welcomes Dr. Anna Faria and Dr. Grant Clayton — economists from the University of Colorado — to unpack their groundbreaking study, Fruits of the Vine: The Economic Impact of the Catholic Church in Minnesota.
While faith institutions are often praised for spiritual and charitable contributions, this new research shines light on a lesser-known dimension: the Church’s staggering $5.4 billion annual impact on Minnesota's economy.
Through parishes, schools, hospitals, charitable organizations, and capital projects, the Catholic Church supports thousands of jobs, reduces public costs, and strengthens communities statewide.
The conversation explores:
- Why measuring the Church’s economic footprint matters for public policy
- How volunteerism, education, and magnet effects (like weddings and pilgrimages) ripple through the local economy
- The role of civil society in American life and why the Church’s presence remains vital
- Why policymakers should protect the Church’s freedom to serve, especially in an increasingly secular culture
Tune in for this eye-opening discussion that makes a compelling case for the Church’s visible — and often invisible — role in building the common good.
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Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements.
Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here.
