Hard Topics Workshop

January 29, 2026 7:00 PM
Location: West Des Moines Marriott, 1250 Jordan Creek Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA 50266

This event is co-sponsored by FORGE and Serva Fidem. Both men and women are invited to attend.

Pope Saint John Paul II famously taught that “the future of the Church and of the world passes by way of the family.” Yet today, many Catholics feel ill-equipped to understand—or articulate—the Church’s teachings on marriage, sexuality, and family life amid a rapidly changing cultural landscape.

In this workshop, John Bishop will equip participants to engage these sensitive and often controversial topics with clarity, confidence, and charity. Drawing from the Church’s rich theological tradition, he will address questions surrounding same-sex attraction, transgender ideology, contraception, and in-vitro fertilization, while offering practical tools for persuasive and compassionate conversation. Participants will leave with a deeper grasp of the Church’s sacred vision for marriage and family, and with renewed confidence to speak the truth in love— whether in personal conversations or within small-group settings.

Doors open and drinks will be served at 7 PM with the talk starting at 7:30 PM.