We are here for you and we listen to you. Write to us at [email protected] and leave us what you would like to see covered in this new podcast.

It is becoming increasingly clear that religious freedom in America is under sustained attack in the very places that should be defending it – our schools and colleges. Just this week we learned that the FBI has a process in place to follow parents who speak out against ideologically motivated teachers and school board members – and this process was a response to instruction by none other than the Attorney General of the Biden administration, Merrick Garland. This is the kind of thing we imagine happening in China, not in the United States.

For years, progressive Marxist-inspired ideologies have found favor in universities and high schools. In some places today, even 8-year-olds are intimidated by gender ideology and critical race theory. Some school officials and government officials do not think about keeping parents in the dark about what their children are going through in school. And, surprisingly, some of these institutions are Catholic.

As a mother of 10 children, I navigate these waters myself. And, as a defender of civil rights and religious freedom, I am committed to protecting the religious freedom of parents and students.

My organization, the Conscience project, was founded to protect the rights of conscience and religious freedom in all aspects of life, here and abroad. We believe that, in a changing society, an individual’s right of conscience is often the last line of defense.

We want to tell you more about what we do. Last summer, the Conscience Project and the National Catholic Register teamed up to produce the Religious Freedom Matters podcast. Our pilot series looked at the challenges we face as faithful Americans. There is no doubt that we are confronted with an overwhelming cultural force that alienates our society from its moral and religious roots. We took a look at what the Catholic Church has to say about the importance of religious freedom in society. We also discussed legal protections for people of faith in America, some recent victories for religious freedom in our courts, and clashes between government and religious freedom that have yet to be resolved. We also spoke about our country’s duty to advance religious freedom around the world. Our message was clear: religious freedom will only survive if we know how to defend it.

But, as this latest news on the FBI’s follow-up project shows, attacks on religious freedom in America continue, especially when it comes to parents’ rights as primary educators. That’s why we’ve decided to bring you another Religious Freedom Matters podcast series.

This time we will focus on religious freedom in education. We will hear about the anxieties of parents trying to pass the faith on to their children, only to find educators who undermine them. We also invited Catholic scholars, political analysts, and Church leaders for dynamic discussions on how safeguarding religious freedom in education promotes a healthier society and strengthens the Church. And we will also bring you good news: the growing success of parents, teachers, students, and religious leaders spreading the gospel in a vibrant and orthodox way.

Each episode will start with the breaking news – and, believe me, this is an area where things change quickly, for better and for worse. The pro-religion Supreme Court and hostile progressives in government are pulling in opposite directions. It is horribly disorienting.

My co-host is one of the most distinguished journalists in this field – Joan Desmond, Editor-in-Chief at The Register. She will track down courageous parents who assert themselves as the first educators of their children; she will also keep an eye out for the latest maneuvers from die-hard progressives and deaf politicians.

After hearing from Joan, we’ll move on to in-depth discussions with some of the brightest minds in Catholic academia and political analysis, as well as with Church leaders who work to preserve and protect the faith. We will explain, in a fresh and authoritative way, why religious freedom has never been so important.

We want the podcast to be a conversation you can participate in. Let us know what questions you have. What are you concerned about? Have you been prevented from knowing what your children are learning while they are in school during the day? Were you able to work with teachers and school officials to address and resolve issues? What steps have you taken to ensure that your children do not lose confidence in school?

I want you – parents, grandparents, students, teachers, clergy and religious – to participate in this conversation. Write to us at [email protected] tell us what you would like to see addressed. Or, better yet, record and send us an audio file share your experience or ask a question. We are here for you and we listen to you.