Kresta in the Afternoon

Last Saturday marked 500 days since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Through times of trial, division, repression, and new growth, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church – a particular Church in full communion with the Holy See - has remained faithfully at the foot of the Cross. John Burger sat down recently with Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk to talk more about the Church in Ukraine. John join...

In the Gospel this Sunday we hear the Parable of the Sower. But in that parable it seems like most of the seeds fail to produce fruit. Why would God sow seeds He knows will ultimately wither and die? How many of us are like the seeds sown among thorns? Peggy Stanton joins us.

Today the FDA gave approval for the first time to a birth control pill to be sold over the counter. This comes aver a panel of 17 advisers gave the FDA unanimous approval, advising that the benefits of making the Opill available far outweighed the risks. Michael New joins us with more.

Sound of Freedom, the story of one man’s efforts to rescue children from sex traffickers, has been a surprise hit this summer, grossing more than $45 million on a $14 million budget. But there’s another story that’s just as remarkable – the Sisters of Mary, who have rescued thousands of children from some of the most dangerous areas imaginable. Kevin Wells tells us their story.

In the Old Testament, we read of the time Joshua asked God to let the Sun stand still in the sky. That’s the attitude that the Rome Boys have taken – asking God to do great things, and letting Him guide their work. Chris Martin joins us with more – you can meet him on the Good News Cruise.

Larry Nassar, the infamous doctor who sexually abused more than 200 female gymnasts, was stabbed in federal prison on Sunday. Upon hearing the news, most people’s immediate reaction was “good riddance, you monster.” Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to publicly accuse him of abuse, had a different reaction that reflects her deeply-held Christian faith. Al takes a closer look.

Data from the General Social Survey finds that the share of LGBTQ Americans under the age of 30 has risen from 4.8 percent in 2010 to 16.3 percent today. But rates of non-heterosexual behavioral experience have not risen nearly as sharply. Sexual behavior once comprised the key distinction to homosexuality – is that no longer the case? Mark Regnerus joins us.

From the days of the apostles, the Church's pastors and teachers have met, when necessary, to defend and explain the Catholic faith. From the "Council of Jerusalem" in the Acts of the Apostles, through the Councils of Nicaea, Constantinople, Trent, and Vatican II, these meetings of the world's bishops are some of the most important events in the life of the Church and the most pr...

Carl Sagan, the well-known astrophysicist and science popularizer, once declared, “I am a collection of water, calcium and organic molecules called Carl Sagan. You are a collection of almost identical molecules with a different collective label.” Strange as that assertion may sound, it expresses an idea that many of our contemporaries regard as so obvious as to be beyond dispute. The idea is calle...

How can Aristotle help us understand the meaning of the Eucharist? We talk with David Sherwood.

Nearly every college and university in the country advertises itself as educating future “leaders.” But if everyone claims to be training “leaders,” it’s hard to believe anyone is. A system with a hundred leaders and no followers is like a hundred generals and no soldiers to do the fighting, or like a hundred administrators and no teachers. Randall Smith joins us.

The monastic lifestyle began spreading throughout the West a few centuries after Christ’s death, but it was not uniform. Each monk lived his own lifestyle and tradition. That began to changed when Benedict of Nursia became a hermit and authored his Rule, which would become the universal guide for Western monks. Bill Cook tells the story.

For most of recorded history, cultures and societies sanctioned differences among peoples. Slavery was almost universally accepted and legal distinctions based on race, gender and ethnicity were justified. How did religion help restructure society towards a view of all humans having inherent dignity? We talk with PJ Hill.

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.” So says Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. Al helps unpack the teaching.

On July 10, 1925, the Scopes Monkey Trial began. The state of Tennessee accused John Scopes, a high school teacher, of violating the Butler Act, which prohibited teaching human evolution in a state-funded school. The trial brought national attention to the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy, a debate over the compatibility of Scripture and modern human science. We take a look at the trial and su...

It’s easy to share the faith with people who are eager to hear the message and learn from it. But many times we will find ourselves working with people, especially young people, who are ambivalent or even hostile to the message. What should we do? Mark Berchem joins us.

The California legislature is considering a bill that would instruct family court judges to award custody rights based on “a parent’s affirmation of the child’s gender identity.” The language of the bill also points towards something more ominous – the notion that parents are defined by function rather than biology. We talk more about it with Carl Trueman.

What can modern and postmodern seekers learn from an epic journey to hell written seven hundred years ago by an Italian poet who was as influenced by Homer, Plato, Aristotle, and Virgil as he was by the Bible? A great deal! Louis Markos tells us why.

St. Thomas and St. Peter really blew it. But Jesus forgave them—and he can forgive you, too. Rod Bennett is our guest.

In the early days of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, groups in Ann Arbor and elsewhere were being asked from around the world for guidance and teaching. This led to the formation of Charismatic Renewal Services, known today as Pentecost Today USA. We examine the growth of the movement and the work of the Spirit today with Alicia Hartle.

On the last day of its term, the Supreme Court affirmed by a 6-3 majority that the First Amendment’s free speech guarantee protects the work of artists with traditional views of marriage. John Czarnetzky joins us with more on this case.

In last week's Gospel, Jesus called us to take up our Cross and follow Him. But this week He promises us that His yoke is easy and burden light. Do these promises seem to contradict each other? We talk with Peggy Stanton.

On July 1, the Holy Father appointed Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández of La Plata, Argentina, the new prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF). Multiple commentators have pointed out that Pope Francis has "Found his Ratzinger." What does this mean, and what do we know about Archbishop Fernandez? Matthew Bunson joins us.

The month of July is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. Even as a Baptist, Steve Ray knew the importance of Jesus’s Blood and loved the hymn “What Can Wash Away My Sin?” But his understanding deepened upon his conversion to Catholicism. Steve joins us with more.

In the days since the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Colorado wedding website designer who does not want to design websites for same-sex weddings, the media has acted as if we are going back to the days of “whites only” segregated service. How do we find news and commentary that helps us understand the views of people we completely disagree with? Terry Mattingly joins us.