Kresta in the Afternoon

When the Dobbs decision leaked this spring, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer vowed to "Fight like Hell" to protect abortion in her state. In response, Bishop Earl Boyea wants pro-lifers to Fight Like Heaven. He's starting a 54-day novena on Thursday, September 15 which will end the day before voters decide whether to enshrine abortion in the Michigan constitution. He joins us.

For the last several months we have been examining the weekly Gospel readings with Peggy Stanton. It's only natural for her to take a close look at these stories; as storytelling has long been a part of her life and career. During her years as the first female DC Correspondent for ABC News, Peggy traveled the world and met everyone from Julie Andrews to Fidel Castro. She shares her memories with u...

At 9:25 am on September 11, the Department of Transportation ordered US airspace closed. Thousands of planes suddenly had no place to go. 38 of them were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland. The tightly-knit community of less than 10,000 suddenly found itself playing host to nearly 7,000 scared and confused travelers. What followed was an incredible display of love and humanity on one of the world's...

In the weeks following the terrorist attacks, firefighter Tom Colucci attended the funerals of several of his friends and coworkers. While present at them, an old thought returned to his mind: “Why don’t I become a priest?” He joins us.

The German “synodal way” has failed - barely - to pass a resolution calling for a change in the Church’s approach to sexual ethics. A 2/3 majority vote was needed to pass the resolution; about 61% voted in favor. What does this tell us about the state of the Church in Germany? Matthew Bunson joins us.

News coverage around the world has focused almost exclusively on the death of Queen Elizabeth over the last 24 hours. Coverage has largely focused on her role on the world stage and her iconic status in Britain. But when it comes to coverage of her faith, the results have been mixed. Terry Mattingly weighs in.

A Michigan judge has cast aside a challenge to the pro-abortion ballot in Michigan. The challenge found that the language used in the petition drive contained several typographical errors, but the judge decided its meaning was still clear. A resolution to enshrine abortion rights in Michigan's constitution is officially on the ballot this fall. Clare Kosmalski has the latest.

From her first Christmas Address, Queen Elizabeth showed she was a woman who was not afraid to share her faith publicly. She also inherited religious responsibilities than can be traced all the way back to Henry VIII. Al takes a closer look.

The death of Queen Elizabeth marks the end of an era. The world today is very different than it was when she ascended to the throne. What does her death mean for England and the rest of the world? Dr. Robert Bucholz weighs in.

Truth. Beauty. Goodness . Throughout the centuries, thinkers have called these cosmic values transcendentals because they were believed to exist universally beyond space, time, matter, and history, and because all human beings longed to know them. That will be the focus of a new lecture series at the University of Michigan. Kishore Jayabalan explains more.

Queen Elizabeth, the longest-reigning British monarch and second-longest reigning monarch in world history, died today at age 96 after more than 70 years on the throne. Al looks at her legacy.

In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus gives us one of his most famous parables: the story of the Prodigal Son. What does this story have to tell us about confession and forgiveness? Peggy Stanton joins us.

If you ask people what they know about John Paul I, they can probably tell you that he was the “Smiling Pope” and his papacy was one of the shortest in history = but not much more. Now that he has been beatified, we get to know him better with Matthew Bunson, who also updates us on the German Synod, reforms in the Order of Malta, and other news.

For a large part of American history, it was widely believed that one could not be a good Catholic and a good American, as you would have to choose between loyalty to country and loyalty to the pope. Catholics play an important role in the American story - but we often make the mistake of seeing them as one, cohesive unit. In fact, Catholic immigrants from Ireland, Germany, Italy and other nations...

What is the nature of reality? At the root of our society's deepest political and cultural divisions are the conflicting principles of four global worldviews. While each of us holds to some version of one of these worldviews, we are often unconscious of their differences as well as their underlying assumptions. The ultimate test of a worldview, philosophy or ideology is whether it corresponds with...

Pope Gregory the Great wrote more prolifically than any of his predecessors, so much so that he is known in the East as St Gregory the Dialogist. He was the first pope to come from a Monastic background and did immense work to improve the welfare of the people of Rome. March 12 used to be his Feast Day, but it was moved to September 3 – the day his Papacy began. Bill Cook joins us.

Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of Mother Teresa. Over the last several years and especially since the murder of George Floyd we have seen an increased effort to "re-examine" the heroes of the past, with statues of everyone from Columbus to Abraham Lincoln being torn down or vandalized. But surely someone like Mother Teresa is exempt from such reckonings, right? Not so, as the New York Times pub...

Principled Entrepreneurship is the mindset that, among other things, enables and empowers the American Dream. Principled Entrepreneurs connect people to their purpose and passion by forming teams that create value for customers. We look at Five Pillars that define Principled Entrepreneurship with Andreas Widmer.

The cause of free enterprise is under assault from the progressive left, but are the foundations of economic truth understood well enough by those who defend a market economy? Can they withstand the assault? David Bahnsen is our guest.

Christians may not have the social influence we once did, but in all areas of life you can still find Catholics who are committed to integrating their faith and their everyday life. One example is Dan Weingartz, whose commitment to his faith led him to join the fight against the HHS Mandate. He joins us to discuss integrating his faith and work life.

When we reminisce about the "good old days," one of the features we tend to remember is how we spent our Sundays. Almost all the stores were closed, and after church we'd have a family dinner and spend the day resting. While the culture has long since abandoned such traditions, it doesn’t mean we can't restore it within our families. Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle joins us to discuss how we can reclai...

Rodney Stark was a groundbreaking sociologist of religion who passed away this summer. Through his books and numerous appearance and Kresta in the Afternoon, he argued against the lie that the world would be better off without religion and showed that Christianity has been beneficial to all, including nonbelievers. We look back on that discussion.

In recent years atheism has become ever more visible, acceptable, and influential. Atheist apologists have become increasingly vociferous and confident in their claims: that a morality requiring benevolence towards all and universal human rights need not be grounded in religion; that modern science disproves the existence of God; and that there is nothing innately religious about human beings. Chr...

In a primetime address last night, President Biden lambasted so-called “MAGA Republicans” for being “determined to take this country backwards.” What did a president elected on the promise to bring America together hope to accomplish from a speech entitled "The  Battle for the Soul of the Nation?" Al discusses.

September is the Month of the Seven Sorrows of Mary, with the official feast falling on September 15. Most of us probably can’t name those sorrows of the top of our heads. Steve Ray joins us to discuss them and takes it one step further – looking at the unknown sorrows of Mary.