Episode 74: Engaging as Catholics in Public Life
with guest Maria McCann
“The gospel is good news. And when you have good news, you want to share it with people. That’s really why our faith should be relentlessly public, because if you have really good news, you just want to shout it from the rooftops. And I would encourage people to remember that it’s that times a million when it comes to Christ’s saving love.” - Maria McCann
This week we’re talking with Maria McCann, a pro-life advocate and public speaker from southwestern Ontario who works with pro-life non-profits doing public outreach and equipping Catholics to engage confidently on issues of abortion and assisted suicide. Maria is also a 2024-2025 alumna of Cardus’s NextGen Fellowship for Christian young professionals.
Our discussion explores:
Why Bishop Robert Barron calls Christianity a “relentlessly public religion” and what that means for everyday Catholics
The spiritual challenges of pro-life advocacy and confronting cultural brokenness daily
How to avoid both savior complex and abdication of responsibility in social issues
Why changed behavior, not just changed minds, is the true measure of transformation
The danger of “cafeteria Catholicism” and treating faith as merely intellectual assent
Practical steps to act yourself into a new way of thinking rather than waiting to feel motivated
How proximate justice differs from utopian thinking while still pursuing meaningful societal change
Simple ways to publicly witness your faith: praying before meals, crossing yourself near churches, wearing religious medals
Maria shares powerful insights from nearly a decade in the pro-life movement, emphasizing that engaging in public life isn’t just about political activism—it’s about having mercy on our vulnerable neighbors and letting our hearts be broken by injustice. This episode challenges the prevailing Canadian culture of niceness that discourages public expressions of faith, calling Catholics to remember their task as Christian citizens: to help see Christ’s love and freedom preside over all aspects of modern life.
🔗 to the episode on podcast platforms, on YouTube or on our website!
Two requests before you go...
(1) Please forward this to someone who needs encouragement to live their faith more publicly!
(2) Please subscribe to Coffee, Commerce & Catechesis on the website and on your favorite podcasting platform (e.g., Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, YouTube)
Soli Deo gloria 🙏