Kresta in the Afternoon

Science populizer Neil deGrasse Tyson once expressed dismay that any scientist would pray or believe in God. But science and religion are ultimately asking two different things about the world. Al discusses.

Despite the efforts of some transhumanists, all of us are going to die someday. In his letter to the Philippians, St. Paul writes that for him “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” This idea that death could be a gain is foreign to our society and even to many Christians. This discomfort with death might be why the Anointing of the Sick tends to be an underappreciated sacrament. Roger Nutt is h...

A recent in-depth article championed the cause of “women priests fighting for reproductive justice.” It highlights the work of women who claim to be ordained Catholic priests and are vigorous champions of abortion. And in March leaders at the German Synod overwhelmingly voted in support of a female diaconate. What is our understanding of the authority of Mary and role of women in the Church? We ta...

“And so I say to you, you are Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church.” This passage from the Gospel of Matthew, which we will hear this weekend, is foundational to our understanding of the Papacy. Al picks up on yesterday’s conversation with Peggy Stanton to take a deeper dive into its meaning.

A new book written by two Brazilian theologians and endorsed by Cardinal Raymond Burke aims to expose dangers and concerns with the Vatican’s Synod on Synodality. As we approach the Synod’s opening session, Al looks back at the history of Vatican synods and what we might expect from this one.

Islamic persecution of Christians has intensified in Pakistan in recent weeks following an accusation that a local man blasphemed and desecrated the Quran. More than 30 churches and 800 homes have been destroyed – but on Sunday more than 700 people gathered to celebrate Mass in the remains of their Church. Edward Clancy joins us.

After a retirement marked with scandal and shame, Bishop Emeritus Howard Hubbard of Albany died last week and his funeral was celebrated today. How does the Church remember a prelate who dies without publicly repenting for their sins? Matthew Bunson joins us.

Contraception and abortion were not originally part of the 1960s women's movement. How did the women's movement, which fought for equal opportunity for women in education and the workplace, and the sexual revolution, which reduced women to ambitious sex objects, become so united? We’ll talk with Sue Ellen Browder, who witnessed it firsthand.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus asks Peter “who do you say that I am,” and after Peter’s response he says that Peter is the Rock upon which He will build the Church. Peggy Stanton joins us with a look at what the Catechism says about this key passage.

In Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis writes, "Love needs space and time…Time is needed to talk things over, to embrace leisurely, to share plans, to appreciate one another and to build a stronger relationship. Sometimes the frenetic pace of our society and the pressures of the workplace create problems, at other times the problem is the lack of quality time together, sharing the same room without...

Do you feel uncertain about how to share your Catholic faith with others, especially as society increasingly rejects religion? Why not follow examples from the scriptures and saints to guide you? We talk with Kevin Cotter, who has tips for becoming a daily disciple in a hostile world.

Some people, in an effort to discredit the Catholic Church, allege that Hitler was a practicing Catholic. Others allege that he was an atheist. Neither of these claims is accurate. So what was Hitler’s religion? How did his understanding of spirituality and philosophy shape the worldview that led to such atrocious crimes against humanity? We’ll talk with Richard Weikart.

On August 19, 1934, Adolf Hitler – already Chancellor of Germany – was elected president. It was an unprecedented consolidation of power in the short history of the republic. In the decades since his rise to power, Hitler’s personal beliefs have been the subject of much study and debate. Al discusses more.

On August 9, five pro-lifers filed into a federal courtroom to face charges stemming from a rescue they conducted in October 2020. Monica Miller updates us on their trial along with defendant Will Goodman.

Last month doctors transplanted a genetically-modified pig kidney into a brain-dead patient, and as of last week the new organ is still working. The patient has been maintained on a ventilator and given fluids to sustain his body. This case presents significant bioethical concerns, especially regarding the meaning of brain-death. Dr. Steve Doran helps us understand.

Tens of thousands of Armenian Christians are languishing in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan due to a military blockade cutting them off from the outside world. Mark Movsesian tells us more.

The 2002 film Amen explores the life of Kurt Gerstein, a Christian doctor who was a part of the Nazi party working from the inside to sabotage the Holocaust. It portrays the Vatican response to the Holocaust as timid and vague. How does history remember Pius’ response to the Holocaust? Al discusses.

Catholic schools are, by their very nature, different from their secular counterparts. They do more and teach more and therefore require leaders that are trained to understand this difference. Ave Maria University has developed a new Masters of Education program to address this need. Dr. Daniel Guernsey has the details.

Over the past decade, the state of the Mexican family – so long its strongest institution – has entered the worst crisis of its history. Divorce rates have skyrocketed and eminent Catholic prelates have endorsed homosexual unions. Matthew Hoffman explains where it went wrong.

It's easy to forget how far Catholic have come in the US; we were never the cultural majority and for a large part of American history, Catholics have faced harsh anti-Catholicism. What was like for Catholics in the South during the years leading up to the Civil War? How did they handle life in a society in which slavery was so ingrained? We talk with Adam Tate.

We live in an age of crisis. Financial crisis, political crisis, environmental crisis―the list goes on. We're confronted with calamity every time we read the headlines. But behind each of these lurks another kind of crisis, one we find harder to define: a moral crisis―a crisis of goodness. Behind financial crisis is unrestrained greed; behind political crisis is the lust for power. To properly...

Why are JRR Tolkien’s works so universally loved? One reason is the profound moral and religious visions contained within his tales. But Tolkien’s work also highlights leading philosophical and literary concerns of modern thinkers. We look at his post-modern thought with Ralph Wood.

One of our Faith’s greatest treasures is the sacrament of mercy itself, Reconciliation, commonly called Confession. The Eucharistic Revival is a particularly appropriate time to take advantage of this blessing. We talk more with Bobby Angel.

The devastating Maui fires appear to have spared Maria Lanakila Catholic Church in Lahaina, providing a symbol of hope amid catastrophic destruction. Matthew Bunson has more.

After almost a decade of litigation, the New Jersey Supreme Court has reached the sensible conclusion that Catholic schools may require their teachers to follow Catholic teaching. Daniel Benson has the details.