Episode CCLXVIII - Don't Shoot the Messenger... Unless You're in Minnesota?

1. Defending Catholic Priests and the Faith Jay and Elliott opened the show with a candid conversation about the portrayal of Catholic priests, focusing on the sacred seal of confession. Jay, drawing from personal experience as a former altar boy, stressed the importance of defending his faith and challenged widespread negative stereotypes. He shared statistics showing that while abuse within the Catholic Church must never be ignored, it represents a smaller percentage compared to other sectors. Elliott echoed the frustration over anti-Catholic bias, questioning why legal scrutiny often zeroes in on Catholic clergy while overlooking broader contexts.

2. Education and Health Insights The discussion shifted to education, where Jay and Elliott compared public and private schooling, especially Catholic education. They highlighted key differences—discipline, class size, safety, and individual attention. Jay reflected on his own time in a small-town public school and praised its environment. On the health front, the duo explored diet, sugar intake, and cooking methods, with Elliott sharing efforts to guide his grandmother toward healthier eating habits.

3. Confession Laws and Religious Freedom Next, they examined the controversial topic of clergy reporting laws. A new Washington state law requires clergy to report child abuse—even if it's heard in confession. Jay voiced strong concern over this, noting it threatens the core principle of confessional confidentiality. They discussed the Catholic Church’s opposition and a related civil rights investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. The segment highlighted the tension between safeguarding children and upholding religious liberty.

4. Confidentiality and Abuse Statistics Jay presented eye-opening statistics: over a 52-year period, 4% of Catholic priests were accused of abuse, compared to 14% of Protestant clergy and nearly 10% of public school employees. While both hosts agreed all abuse must be punished severely, Jay warned that undermining confession could damage the Church’s role as a place of healing. Elliott supported the importance of confidentiality by recounting a powerful story of redemption through confession.

5. Global Affairs: Israel, Iran, and Western Policy The conversation turned international as Jay and Elliott analyzed rising tensions between Israel and Iran. Jay questioned U.S. involvement and criticized the evangelical political alignment with Israel. Elliott warned about the risk of escalation and the real human toll such conflicts bring. They also briefly touched on recent violence in Los Angeles.

6. Political Violence in Minnesota In a sobering segment, the duo broke down a shooting in Minnesota targeting Democratic politicians. The suspect, Vance Butler—appointed by Governor Walz and linked to overseas security firms—had published a manifesto attacking abortion rights. The incident led to protest cancellations across the state, raising questions about political extremism and public safety.

7. Local News and Security Concerns Wrapping up, Jay and Elliott reviewed a new residential armed security service and raised red flags about the legitimacy of its pricing and credentials. They also covered heavy local stories: a tragic child trafficking case in South Africa and a teen shooting in Akron. The episode closed with a warning about Cleveland’s infrastructure woes, including sewage overflows at Edgewater Park after storms—advising locals to steer clear of Lake Erie for now.