Kresta in the Afternoon

We all have areas in which we are ignorant. And ignorance can be overcome by learning. But is there a point when ignorance becomes arrogance? Al discusses.

As Vatican II began, Pope John XXIII had some words of advice for the journalists who would be covering the Council. Acknowledging the temptation to be “more concerned with speed than accuracy, more interested in the ‘sensational’ than in what is objectively true”, John XXIII urged journalists not to allow personal opinions or beliefs blur or obscure the truth. Teresa Tomeo joins us.

Former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst died by suicide earlier this year. In an essay last summer, she reflected on the pressure she felt from aging: "turning 30 feels like a cold reminder that I’m running out of time to matter in society’s eyes — and it’s infuriating." Al discusses.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells us of two men who went to pray. One, a Pharisee, lauded himself for his virtuous lifestyle. The other, a tax collected, begged God to forgive his sins. Peggy Stanton connects this story to the Catechism and to her own life.

Protests continue in Iran following last month’s death of Mahsa Amini and they have taken a new twist. Elnaz Rekabi is a competitive climber who competed in an event last week without her hijab. Cheering, jubilant crowds greeted her upon her return to Tehran, and it is unknown how authorities will respond. We talk more with Jim Phillips.

Paul Jernberg is a composer and conductor who has worked in the fields of ballet, theater and opera. More recently, though, he has worked to compose sacred music, including music for Mass. He has composed a new fully-sung Mass for Persecuted Christians, which raises awareness and encourages prayer for Christians facing persecution around the globe. It will premiere this Friday in Massachusetts. &n...

Today we celebrate the Feast of the North American Martyrs – Isaac Jogues, John de Brebeuf, and their companions. The enduring witness of these martyrs reaches far beyond the political conflicts of their day and provides a great lesson for Catholics today confronting their own evangelical challenges. Dr. Christopher Shannon is our guest.

In the opening address for Vatican II, Pope St. John XXIII announced that his goal for the council was to strengthen the faith and transmit it more effectively. Fr. Roger Landry points out that the entire work of the Council can be looked at through a Eucharistic key. He joins us, and also shares his experience leading a Eucharistic procession on the anniversary of the Council.

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist. Fr. Pablo Gadenz joins us with a close look at his Gospel, highlighting its themes and connecting it to the Old Testament.

Although all the Gospels are rich in theology, it is the Gospel of John that stands out in making the point that Christ is not just the last of the Prophets; He is the Creator of Earth and Heaven. So much can be gleaned from the first 18 verses alone. Anthony Esolen is our guest.

In 1998, Michigan voters were presented with Proposal B, which would have legalized assisted suicide. Months before the election, polls indicated the bill would pass - but it was defeated thanks in part to the efforts of Catholics educating their fellow voters.

When the Dobbs decision was announced, several large corporations announced they would help financially assist any employee seeking an abortion. Peter Rex is taking a different approach - his company has pledged to support any pregnant employee who wants to keep their child and seek an adoption. He explains how he came to make this decision.

Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart. This devotion is intimately linked to our response in love to the Eucharistic Christ. It lies at the core of Catholic spiritual life and is the key to effective renewal of individuals, the Church and the world. We talk with Tim O’Donnell about living this devotion more fully.

What is American political conservatism? Is it the movement defined by William F Buckley and Ronald Reagan? The Tea Party movement that arose in the mid-2000s? That which is identified by allegiance to Donald Trump? All of the above? Something else? We’ll talk it over with Matthew Continetti.

Vatican II is one of the most significant events in modern Church history and has been studied endlessly over the last 60 years. Is there anything left to say about it? George Weigel thinks so – by reexamining the event through the prism of Pope John XXIII’s original intentions for the council. He joins us.

When Msgr. Hilary Franco was a young priest, he served as an assistant to Bishop Fulton J Sheen and was with him during the Second Vatican Council. 60 years later, he may be the only priest alive who witnessed those events firsthand. He joins us to share his memories.

Though much has been done to address the issue of sex abuse in the Church, wounds remain in the hearts of victims and their loved ones. What might be done? As a scholar of genocide, civil war and other injustices, Dan Philpott has a unique view of how societies respond and rebuild after trauma. He joins us.

When the Dobbs decision was announced, many pro-lifers wondered what would happen to the annual March for Life. Would it still be necessary? What would its message be? We got our answer last night. Clare Kosmalski joins us with the latest pro-life news.

In a tweet, PETA brought attention to another alleged stain on our society – speciesism; in other words, favoring the human race over animal “races.” PETA claims that this is manifested in our everyday language; when we say a sloppy person is a “pig” or a treacherous politician is a “snake,” we are practicing speciesism. Al shares some thoughts.

“At the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life." So said Justice Anthony Kennedy in the 1992 Supreme Court case Planned Parenthood v Casey. This viewpoint that defines humans by their capacity to choose is pervasive in American law and policy, but it disregards a stubborn fact - we are naturally limited...

We live in a world surrounded by lies. People lie to their friends, their employers, their pastors, their spouses and even themselves. And it makes public conversation virtually impossible. How do we combat this problem? It begins with the most basic step – being mindful of the words we use. We’ll talk with Marilyn McEntyre about caring for words in a culture of lies.

Today is the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima. What happened that day? What effects did the events of Fatima have on the greater world? Al discusses.

If Vatican II is an ongoing theological event, it has now been ongoing for 60 years – if it were a person, it might be looking at retirement! Has the Council — once young, hip, celebrated as part of the 1960s baby-boomer revolutions — become creaky and tired, even “over the hill?”  Was Vatican II about this-worldly power or deeper fidelity to the cruciform love of Christ? How the Church answe...

The Second Vatican Council launched on October 11, 1961. Just a few days later, US reconnaissance aircraft confirmed the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba, and the Cuban Missile Crisis began. Since then, much has changed in the world and the Church. Al shares his own thoughts on the legacy of Vatican II.

Carlo Acutis’ time on this earth only lasted about 15 years – but he made the most of that time. The boy who once described the Eucharist as his “highway to heaven” began documenting Eucharistic miracles and developed a website of miracles from all over the world. We celebrate his Feast and his love for the Eucharist with Corinna Turner.