Kresta in the Afternoon

Many of us are familiar with St. Jerome’s declaration that “ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” But did you know that when he said that, he was studying the Book of Isaiah? Many scholars consider Isaiah to be the Gospel of the Old Testament, and he is the main prophet people look to in order to understand

In March 2020, we were broadcasting from the Called and Co-Responsible conference at Notre Dame. Peter Andrastek was there was well and a statement by Fr. Michael Sweeny, O.P. resonated with him: “As a Church, we have no imagination for lay agency.” The Church has always placed an importance on the co-responsibility of the Laity, and it received special emphasis from recent popes. But do most Cath...

Politico correspondent Heidi Przybyla recently stated that Christian Nationalists are united in the belief that our rights do not come from the government, but from God. Al has a quick response.

Last month, the parents of St. Germaine Catholic School in St. Clair Shores received some distressing news: due to financial difficulties, they would be closing their doors at the end of the school year. Parents and others in the school community have banded together with an effort to save the school. Nicole Patten has the details.

Four Catholic bishops recently made media headlines after it was learned that they had met with members of organized crime in the Mexican state of Guerrero. Matthew Bunson joins us with more on this and other Church news.

On the evening of February 26, 1616, Galileo met a future saint. 73-year-old Cardinal Robert Bellarmine had been ordered by the Vatican to inform Galileo that he must abandon his support of Copernicanism, the idea that the earth and other celestial bodies orbit the sun. The Galileo affair is often used as a prime example of faith and science being incompatible, but it’s also one of the most misund...

On February 22, 1943, Hans and Sophie Scholl were put to death for their resistance efforts against the Nazis. Today, they are regarded as national heroes in Germany and are among the best-known examples of Nazi resistance from within Germany. Paul Shrimpton tells their story and their legacy.

Karl Marx originally published his Communist Manifesto on February 21, 1848. What did it say? How did the Manifesto impact the last two centuries of human history? What is its enduring legacy, and did the Manifesto deliver what the authors promised? Paul Kengor joins us.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Mark recounts the extraordinary tale of when Jesus took Peter, James and John up a mountain and was transfigured. We connect the Gospel to the Catechism and our lives today with Peggy Stanton.

Today is the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter and yes, there actually is a physical chair. But beyond that, we will talk about the authority of the Papacy and how Peter’s authority appears in the pages of the New Testament. Al discusses.

Rob Galea was a lonely, miserable teenager. He wanted to feel like he belonged, so he joined a gang. He went clubbing. He drank. He stole things. He lied. His reckless lifestyle ultimately led him to hide in fear for his life from other gang members. He was so desperate in those days spent in his dark bedroom that he contemplated ending his life. But a phone call from his grandmother led to him tu...

Why do so many Catholics find themselves too intimated to share the Faith? After all, Jesus and the apostles didn't have social media, television or even radio broadcasts - and they changed the world forever. Karen Edmisten joins us with the evangelization tools that brought her from atheism and how she uses them today.

Abraham Lincoln wrote countless notes to himself over the course of his adult life. As they were meant for his eyes only, he never signed or dated them – but they provide us with a fascinating insight to his private debates on the issues of the time. We take a look with Ron White.

The Church’s primary formation documents promote a strong, healthy relationship between the spiritual and psychological dimensions of our identities as Christians. We talk with Br. John Mark Falkenhain about this connection and how to address spiritual and mental health challenges.

Through her long career as a lawyer and diplomat, Mary Ann Glendon has worked closely with the Vatican under three different popes. She was a Vatican representative to a UN conference on Women under John Paul II, served as US Ambassador to the Vatican while Benedict XVI was pope, and then was named by Pope Francis as a member of the Pontifical Commission of inquiry into the Vatican bank. And the s...

Since the October 7th attack, we’ve seen blatant examples of anti-Israel sentiment all over, especially on college campuses. But there is a softer, more covert form of persecution that is just as prevalent. Aaron Rothstein explains.

The pastor of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City said the church has offered a Mass of Reparation after a controversial irreverent funeral service was held there this week for a well-known transgender advocate. Matthew Bunson tells us what happened.

Israel is facing increasing criticism as the civilian death toll in Gaza mounts. What does history tell us about civilian deaths, especially in urban warfare? Al discusses.

The term “cafeteria Catholics” is commonly used to describe self-identified Catholics who “pick and choose” which Church teachings to adhere to; typically, these Catholics will disregard Church teaching on matters such as abortion and the definition of marriage. But while this often describes people on the Left, the “cafeteria” mindset also applies to thinkers on the right. Dr. Richard DeClue join...

February is the month of the Holy Family. While they’re the go-to model that sets an example for all families, it’s easy to forget that they were also real people living real lives. How did Joseph spend his day at work? What did their home look like? Steve Ray takes us through a day in the life of the Holy Family.

On Friday, Russian dissident and vocal Putin opponent Alexi Navalny died in prison in western Siberia. Russian authorities claim that he had felt unwell that morning and that paramedics did all they could to save his life, but given Putin’s track record there is much to be suspicious of and much we will likely never know. Peter Conradi joins us with more.

There are two cases before the Texas Supreme Court that demonstrate the need for clarification for abortion bans that have exceptions for fetal abnormalities or risks to the health of the mother. Disabled people are a protected class under United States law, and this protection must extend to people in the womb. Rachel Roth Aldhizer has more.

Everyone knows John F. Kennedy was the first Catholic U.S. president. He overcame a long history of anti-Catholicism in America and won at the polls despite cries of alarm that he would take “orders from the Pope.” Yet Catholics have been connected to the White House throughout U.S. history. Al reviews some of the stories.

Who is to blame for society’s shortcomings? A society can only be as good as the people who comprise it, but individual virtue is not always sufficient to overcome systemic failures. A just society requires a balance of personal virtue with just institutions in order for the individual and collective responsibility to coalesce into the common good. Phil Campbell joins us with more.

On different parts of the political spectrum, marriage is seen as a “trap.” Some leftists claim that marriage and motherhood restricts a woman from reaching her true potential, while some on the right say that men are happier and better off financially if they stay single. The message is clear: leaning into work, rather than family life, is the path to prosperity. But this seductive message in our...