Ralph Martin

President of Renewal Ministries

     

Ralph Martin is the president of Renewal Ministries and the host of the weekly Catholic television program The Choices We Face. He holds a doctorate in theology and is the director of Graduate Theology Programs in the New Evangelization at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Ralph is also the author of the widely read A Church in Crisis: Pathways Forward and The Fulfillment of All Desire: A Guidebook for the Journey to God Based on the Wisdom of the Saints.

Ralph and his wife, Anne, reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and have six children and nineteen grandchildren.

The Latest from Ralph

Click here to view Ralph’s complete YouTube playlist.

Recently Pope Leo caused some controversy in responding to the German Bishops' decision to institute in a formal way the blessing of same sex and irregular unions. Many praised Pope Leo’s quick response to the effect that the Vatican doesn’t agree and that the Germans have been “spoken to”. But others registered puzzlement about what his views on sexual sins really are. While casual comments in an airplane interview can’t be fairly used to determine what anyone’s views are in a considered way, many others, besides the Pope have made statements to the effect that “sexual sins aren’t the worst sins; there are others far worse.” In this video Ralph deals with this question with an answer based on scripture and tradition. While it is certainly the case that sexual sins aren’t the worst sins, it is still very important to pay careful attention to what the Lord does say about the seriousness of sexual sins so we can make appropriate decisions.

Articles and resources in this video:
📘 Ralph's new book, "The Coming Judgment": https://www.renewalministries.net/shop/product/the-coming-judgment
📘 Article by Dr. Monica Miller, "Sex and the Unity of the Catholic Church": https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2026/04/29/sex-and-the-unity-of-the-catholic-church/
📘 Article by Dr. Helen Alvare, "Sex and Catholic Social Teaching": https://whatweneednow.substack.com/p/sex-and-catholic-social-teaching?publication_id=1509432&post_id=196439631&isFreemail=true&r=dgq69&triedRedirect=true
📘 2024 Letter of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on "Fiducia Supplicans": https://www.doctrinafidei.va/content/dam/dottrinadellafede/documenti/2024-11-18-Lettera-Prefetto-a-SER-Mons-Ackermann.pdf
📘 Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo Besungu's letter for SECAM: “No blessing for homosexual couples in all Churches in Africa”: https://secam.org/5924/
📘 EWTN Article, "Vatican publishes 2024 letter prohibiting formal blessings for homosexual couples in Germany": https://www.ewtnnews.com/vatican/vatican-publishes-2024-letter-prohibiting-formal-blessings-for-homosexual-couples-in-germany?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=catholic_news_vatican_publishes_2024_letter_rejecting_formal_blessings_for_homosexual_couples_in_germany&utm_term=2026-05-05

Renewal Ministries is dedicated to fostering renewal and evangelization in the Catholic Church by helping people know the personal love of God in Jesus and grow in holiness. 

Stay connected with us to receive more compelling content that strives to help you walk more closely with the Lord:

Website: https://www.RenewalMinistries.net
Support the mission: https://www.renewalministries.net/donate
Connect with us: https://www.RenewalMinistries.net/email
Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/catholicrenewalministries 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renewalministries

Recently Pope Leo caused some controversy in responding to the German Bishops' decision to institute in a formal way the blessing of same sex and irregular unions. Many praised Pope Leo’s quick response to the effect that the Vatican doesn’t agree and that the Germans have been “spoken to”. But others registered puzzlement about what his views on sexual sins really are. While casual comments in an airplane interview can’t be fairly used to determine what anyone’s views are in a considered way, many others, besides the Pope have made statements to the effect that “sexual sins aren’t the worst sins; there are others far worse.” In this video Ralph deals with this question with an answer based on scripture and tradition. While it is certainly the case that sexual sins aren’t the worse sins, it is still very important to pay careful attention to what the Lord does say about the seriousness of sexual sins so we can make appropriate decisions.

Articles and resources in this video:
📘 Ralph's new book, "The Coming Judgment": https://www.renewalministries.net/shop/product/the-coming-judgment
📘 Article by Dr. Monica Miller, "Sex and the Unity of the Catholic Church": https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2026/04/29/sex-and-the-unity-of-the-catholic-church/
📘 Article by Dr. Helen Alvare, "Sex and Catholic Social Teaching": https://whatweneednow.substack.com/p/sex-and-catholic-social-teaching?publication_id=1509432&post_id=196439631&isFreemail=true&r=dgq69&triedRedirect=true
📘 2024 Letter of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on "Fiducia Supplicans": https://www.doctrinafidei.va/content/dam/dottrinadellafede/documenti/2024-11-18-Lettera-Prefetto-a-SER-Mons-Ackermann.pdf
📘 EWTN Article, "Vatican publishes 2024 letter prohibiting formal blessings for homosexual couples in Germany": https://www.ewtnnews.com/vatican/vatican-publishes-2024-letter-prohibiting-formal-blessings-for-homosexual-couples-in-germany?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=catholic_news_vatican_publishes_2024_letter_rejecting_formal_blessings_for_homosexual_couples_in_germany&utm_term=2026-05-05

Renewal Ministries is dedicated to fostering renewal and evangelization in the Catholic Church by helping people know the personal love of God in Jesus and grow in holiness.

Stay connected with us to receive more compelling content that strives to help you walk more closely with the Lord:

Website: https://www.RenewalMinistries.net
Support the mission: https://www.renewalministries.net/donate
Connect with us: https://www.RenewalMinistries.net/email
Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/catholicrenewalministries
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renewalministries

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The Choices We Face

Each week on The Choices We Face, Renewal Ministries’ President Ralph Martin, co-host Peter Herbeck, and their guests, explore important and inspiring topics surrounding faith and life in the Catholic Church.

 

Right Now with Ralph Martin

Join author, speaker, and world-wide renewal leader Dr. Ralph Martin, as he shares encouragement from the Holy Spirit to strengthen you for such a time as this.

Blog

Joyous Meetings in Rome

Joyous Meetings in Rome

Dear Friends, In the days leading up to the conclave, I published a YouTube video that offered some thoughts on it. You can view the video here. Now that Pope Leo XIV has been elected, let’s pray...

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The Call to Holiness

The Call to Holiness

Holiness is not just a good idea or an optional extra. God commands each of us to be holy because He is holy (see Lv 11:44-45, 19:2, 20:7, 20:26). To be in union with Him, something must change in...

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