Kresta in the Afternoon

Last year we spoke with Phil Blosser about the gift of tongues and its prevalence throughout Church history. How does the modern experience of tongues relate to the accounts we read in the Book of Acts? We look over centuries of church discussion and debate with Phil.

Hundreds of books have been written about Martin Luther King, Jr. in the half-century since his death, but it’s surprisingly been several years since a serious biography was published. That’s changed with Jonathan Eig’s new book, King: A Life. What have we learned about the man we celebrate today? Jonathan joins us.

On January 10, Stan Mattson, President and Founder of the CS Lewis Foundation, died. He was a Christian culture warrior who has now fought his last battle. Joseph Pearce helps us remember him.

An Oregon woman was denied the opportunity to adopt a child because she refused to express support for gender ideology and homosexuality, and filed a federal lawsuit. A district court ruled against her in November, and she has appealed. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has the details

Tomorrow we celebrate the feast of St Hilary of Poitiers, a fourth-century bishop and Doctor of the Church. We get to know him with Mike Aquilina.

The current relationship crisis is first a spiritual crisis. Only spiritual beings can have relationships, which are rooted in the spiritual faculties. What would John Paul II suggest for curing this crisis? We talk with Deacon David Delaney.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus calls two disciples by asking them what they are looking for. They then tell their brother that they have found the Messiah. Peggy Stanton joins us with more.

St. Peter calls us to “always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” It’s one of God’s greatest gifts to us and is an essential and life-giving topic. By meditating on Scripture and the teachings of the Church, we come to a deeper understanding of how hope is necessary in the life of a disciple. We’ll talk more with Fr. Philip Bochanski.

On January 15, 1535 King Henry VIII was proclaimed Supreme Head of the Church of England due to the Act of Succession, changing things forever in the once Catholic country. What was life like in the coming years for English Catholics? We talk with Stephanie Mann.

The spirit of our age is secular and materialistic. If you believe knowledge can be obtained by personal spiritual revolution, you’re seen as an oddball. Ethical questions are led to each person’s personal autonomy. And St. Paul writes that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers that are hostile to the Gospel. Al discusses more.

The atonement has become a problematic category in contemporary theology because it seems to presume that the forgiveness of sins requires the suffering of the sinner or someone who represents him or her. In its most severe expression, God the Father sends his Son to his death on the cross in order to satisfy the infinite punishment that justice demands. Gary Anderson joins us with more.

Catholics have always had a special understanding of death, and care of cemeteries has a long pedigree within Catholicism. We get the story from Philip Campbell.

When it comes to the Catholic Church’s teachings about Mary, there’s one question you hear more than any other: Where is that in the Bible? Where in Scripture can we find the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption, the Virgin Birth, or support for venerating Jesus’ mother? The answer? Everywhere. Fr John Waiss joins us.

St. Gregory of Nyssa wrote that “all the fullness of nature together” in some way bears the image of God. But how, precisely, does the fabric of the universe as a whole manifest its divine Origin? We talk with Matthew Ramage.

Darren Geist's journey to baptism began with a plunge into the water - but it wasn’t one he planned. He was awakened one night by a crash and found a car had plunged into a canal near his home. As he dove into the water, moments stretched into eternity and after he emerged he began to reconsider everything he believed. He soon felt a call from Mary that - as a borderline atheist - he couldn&#3...

A study from the University of Texas at San Antonio suggests growing up in a religious household can be a mixed blessing. The findings show that children raised in religious families tend to have enhanced social and psychological skills, but may perform less well academically, compared to their non-religious peers. Greg Popcak joins us with more.

By now, we’ve all heard statistics that show for every convert into the Catholic Church, more than seven leave. The millions of people who have left are still looking for meaning, but if the culture and even their own experiences have positioned Christianity as irrelevant, then our efforts to reach them will be fruitless. We talk effective evangelization with Michel Therrien.

The story of abortion in America extends far beyond the 50-year lifespan of Roe vs Wade. It’s been a part of American history since the beginning. Leah Savas walks us through the cultural and legal history of abortion in America from 1652 to today.

In this Sunday's Gospel we hear the story of the Magi, who traveled to visit the newborn king. We examine what the Catechism has to say about the story with Peggy Stanton.

On July 12, the California State Board of Education adopted a new K-12 math program that is built on themes of “equity.” This is manifested by changing how math principles are taught, and making political issues the subject of a math class. Dr. Williamson Evers has more.

One of the biggest Church stories of 2023 hit before the confetti had even stopped falling, with the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict on New Year’s Eve. Over the next 12 months we would say goodbye to Cardinal Pell, continue our preparation for the National Eucharistic Congress, celebrate World Youth Day, and finally see the much-discussed Synod on Synodality. We look back on the year that was with...

Much of the coverage of Christian persecution this year has focused on two countries: Nigeria, where kidnappings of priests and other religious have become commonplace, and Nicaragua, where the Ortega regime has arrested and exiled bishops and priests. Ed Clancy updates us on these and other hotbeds of persecution.

Threats to religious freedom are becoming commonplace, especially as progressive policies brook no dissent. But there is hope. This year showed us, once again, this Supreme Court is protecting America’s first freedom. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer joins us.

The world has lost sight of what it means to be human and has denied the existence of a natural law, and we see the effects playing out in courthouses and seats of government. Euthanasia numbers continue to rise in Canada and “right to die” laws are sprouting up worldwide. Meanwhile, medical experts in Europe are walking back on their previous willingness to provide “gender-affirming care” to mino...

How does a better understanding of Catholicism enhance our understanding of the modern world? Beginning with the French Revolution, John McGreevy helps us understand the path the Church has taken over the last two centuries and the complex role the Church has played as both a shaper and follower in global politics. By understanding our history, we may better understand how to approach the challeng...