Kresta in the Afternoon

Outgoing USCCB President Jose Gomez addressed his fellow bishops this week and spoke passionately on the importance of evangelization in countering the secularization of society. Al shares the letter today.

In recent years we have seen an increased focus on the division between “everyday Americans” and the “elites.”  But before we can address the problem, we need to understand what an “elite” is. Luke Foster joins us.

Yesterday the National Revolutionary Police in Cuba summoned EWTN correspondent Adrián Martínez Cádiz for “questioning,” without giving a reason for doing so. Matthew Bunson fills us in and also lets us know what we should take away from this week’s Fall Assembly in Baltimore.

Gertrude the Great, also known as Gertrude of Helfta, was one of the great mystics of the 13thcentury. She practiced a spiritualty called “nuptial mysticism” in which she came to see herself as a Bride of Christ and had a deeply personal union with Jesus and his Sacred Heart. Today is her feast, and we talk about her with Rachel Fulton Brown.

Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of St. Albert the Great, a champion of the relationship between Faith and Reason. The Catholic Church’s value of Faith and Reason and has given rise to extraordinary ideas, especially during the troubled decades of the twentieth century. Robert Royal joins us with a look at the history of this tradition and how it can help us answer today’s challenges.

Gambling addicts often say it’s the thrill of winning, not the money, that keeps them addicted. We ask Michael Burke if he agrees. Michael was a successful lawyer who spent over $1.6 million of his client’s trust account funds on gambling. He was eventually jailed for his actions. He joins us today to talk about how to identify and help people afflicted with gambling addiction.

The Church year comes to an end this weekend with the Feast of Christ the King. But to celebrate this feast, the Gospel reading will bring us back to Calvary, where Jesus was mocked for being the “King of the Jews” and crucified alongside criminals. Why this reading? Peggy Stanton joins us.

We hear often from listeners who want to thank Dr Ray Guarendi for the lessons he has taught them and their kids. But Ray would point to his own kids for many of the lessons he has learned. He explains why.

This afternoon Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese of the Military and Baltimore's Archbishop William Lori were elected President and Vice-President of the USCCB. Matthew Bunson has the latest from Baltimore.

It was snowing for much of the afternoon at our Ann Arbor studios today, which got us more excited than ever for the Good News Marriage Cruise. Join Al and Sally Kresta, Teresa Tomeo, Dr Ray, Archbishop Aquila and many more for a week of fun and rejuvenation. Fr Joe Krupp will be there as well. He joins us.

The founders of the United States wanted a nation of virtuous citizens, but they did not want a national Church. They hoped that the centrality of the Bible in the lives of American citizens would help in this formation of virtue. But this approach still led to problems, such as those who tried to use the Bible to justify the institution of Slavery. Al follows up on yesterday's discussion with Mar...

The Bible has played a decisive role in the shaping of American History, and American History has shaped how we interpret the Bible. From the writings of Tom Paine to the fall of slavery to Teddy Roosevelt, the two are intertwined. Mark Noll joins us looking at the rise and fall of America’s Bible civilization.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops kicks off its annual meeting in Baltimore today. Archbishop Jose Gomez will make his final address as President of the Conference, who will be voting on a new President and Vice-President. Among other things, they will also address the war in Ukraine and the Eucharistic Revival. Matthew Bunson gives us a report.

North Korea is once again flexing its muscles and has test launched dozens of missiles over the last several weeks. Today, President Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in person for the first time since taking office. Can we rely on China to help contain North Korea? Michael Rubin joins us.

In his book Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind, Mark Noll explains how the early Church had to examine how it would present the Gospel to a world that was completely unfamiliar with it. Before Mark joins us later in the program,

The First World War is often acknowledged as the event that transitioned America from a frontier power to a global superpower. We take a look at the US’s role in the war and the war’s lasting effects on the world with Harry Crocker.

The Armistice ending the Great War was signed on November 11, 1918, finally ending four years of lethal destruction. The “War to End All Wars” left millions dead, set the stage for another War just a few years later, and did incalculable damage to the Christian witness. We talk more with Regis Martin.

We have all heard stories of Eucharistic Miracles and they can strike us with wonder and awe. But what does a scientist think when they hear such stories? We walk through it with Stacy Trasancos.

Our culture is increasingly hostile to family life and our Catholic values. What's a parent to do? Greg and Lisa Popcak invite you to join them in a Free Webinar this Monday, November 14 at 7:30 eastern as they explore what it means to build the domestic Church.

On the night of November 9, 1938, Nazi SS officials – with the help of the Hitler Youth and regular civilians – ransacked and demolished thousands of Jewish homes and businesses throughout Germany. 267 synagogues were destroyed and more than 30,000 Jewish men were sent to concentration camps. It’s a tragedy that cannot be lost to history. We look back with historian Mitchell Bard.

In few places did the “red wave” fizzle as spectacularly as in Michigan. Despite Republican exuberance fueled by late polls that showed tightening races here, the challenges to Democratic control of the top state offices fell short. What went wrong? Al weighs in.

In the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus speaks of the End Times. Deceivers will come in his name, wars will arise and famine and plague will strike the land. But he also commands us to not fear, for not a hair on our heads will be destroyed. We take a closer look with Peggy Stanton.

There was a time when Pennsylvania voters supported pro-life leaders on both sides of the aisle. The state even produced Governor Robert Casey Sr, the namesake of the Planned Parenthood v Casey Supreme Court case. All that has changed. We look at the unraveling of the pro-life position in the state with Paul Kengor.

Change does not come through elections. It comes through changing hearts in the cultre. Al offers some final thoughts on the midterms.

Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Rev. Jerry Falwell differed profoundly on issues of theology and politics, but they shared an approach to public ministry that aimed directly at changing how Americans understood the nature and purpose of their country. We look at some of their stories, tying it into the midterms with Dr. James Patterson.