Kresta in the Afternoon

Pro-life groups in Michigan have filed a challenge against a pro-abortion petition that would make abortion constitutionally protected in the state. In their challenge, they cite serious errors in the language of the bill. Genevieve Marnon of Right to Life of Michigan joins us.

After keeping him on house arrest for two weeks, Nicaraguan police forced their way into the home of Bishop Rolando Alvarez on Friday and abducted him. In an issued statement, the police said the action was to “recover normality for the residents and families of Matagalpa” and that the bishop would have continued with “destabilizing and provocative activities” if they had not intervened. Ed Clancy...

We’re living at a time when it’s presumed that our political opponents are stupid, ignorant, or evil. And for that, they must be canceled or shamed. Al shares some examples, including the riot on January 6.

We are born with an inherent understanding of right and wrong - it's one of the things that sets us apart from the rest of Creation. But the world we live in - one that no longer acknowledges even something as basic as the nature of gender - constantly interferes with this understanding. How can we regain our moral compass? We talk with Gerard Verschuuren about reacquainting our moral judgement.

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is re-inventing the story of St. Joan of Arc in an upcoming production called “I, Joan,” in which the French Catholic heroine will be portrayed as a non-binary “queer” character who refers to herself with “they/them” pronouns. For medieval scholar Rachel Fulton Brown, nothing could be more boring. She explains why.

What if we were able to gain profound insight into the unique design, creative drive, and potential destiny of the people in our lives? We are all called to holiness, but we are called to implement it in different ways. How can cultivating our own vocation and call to holiness help us with the mess we are in? We talk with Josh Miller.

Do you see your work as simply a job – or does it change who you are as a person on mission? Al discusses.

In the year 1140, in a cathedral in France, a showdown occurred between two of the era's greatest minds: Bernard of Clairvaux and Peter Abelard. Bernard had accused Peter of heresy, a charge for which he had the power to order Peter executed. Few people know about this small but significant episode in Christian history. Jon Sweeney joins us to shed a light on their clash.

A popular figure in literature is the “strong, silent man,” – a man of few words but great deeds. This certainly describes St. Joseph. He’s one of our most popular saints today, but for centuries artists virtually ignored him. The artwork we do have of St Joseph show him in a wide variety of styles, but always as a man we can turn to. We look at some examples with Liz Lev.

When we think of iconic American landmarks, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the Lincoln Memorial, Mt. Rushmore, or the Grand Canyon. But have you ever thought of American Catholic landmarks? Kevin Schmiesing is our guest as we journey through American Catholic history and meet some of the people and places that made our country the place it is today.

In 1997, a study found that a vast majority of Catholic catechetical materials in the United States were doctrinally deficient. It’s a symptom of what Pope Emeritus Benedict has called the “Catastrophic Collapse of Catechesis.” But there have been improvements. And today more than 70 bishops from all over the world released a letter directed at the German bishops, warning them of the harmful effec...

We continue a discussion from last week with Fr. John Riccardo, looking at the Rescue Project and what it means to say we are Rescued by Christ.

With all the focus on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, less attention has been given to the work Catholics are doing to assist refugees there. Fr. Marek Machala joins us to share the work he is doing in Poland to help Ukrainian refugees and how you can support him in his efforts.

In the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus’ followers ask him the all-important question: “Will only a few people be saved?” Understanding His response is crucial for our lives as Christians. We’ll talk about it with Peggy Stanton.

An article published this weekend suggests that the Rosary has become a symbol of violent, right-wing extremism in the United States. The article has set off a wide variety of reactions, from amusement to grave concern over the author’s lack of understanding of American Catholicism. We’ll talk more about the Rosary with Luke Lancaster.

Israeli scientists have created what they are calling “synthetic mouse embryos,” which involves using mouse stem cells to create and develop mouse embryos. Researchers believe the work could eventually pave the way for use in humans. Wes Smith explains more.

The leftist regime of President Daniel Ortega continued its persecution of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua with several acts of repression over the weekend. We get the latest from Alejandro Bermudez.

Many of us, when we hear the term “The Universal Call to Evangelization” think immediately of “The Universal Call to Holiness,” taught by recent popes and the bishops of the Second Vatican Council. The language is similar, and both are intimately related to one another. In truth, you cannot have one without the other. You cannot have a universal call to holiness without a universal call to evangel...

On Monday, the Swiss Bishops' Conference published a document for the upcoming Synod on Synodality in Rome reporting the Catholic Church was seen as suffering from clericalism —as well as "denying equality to women" and excluding "people with LGBTQ identity." Matthew Bunson joins us with a look at this and other Church news.

Does cognitive science show that religious belief is irrational?  Do our genes determine who we are and what we believe? We talk with Dr. Kelly James Clark, who brings together science and philosophy to answer some of humanity’s most pressing questions.

Zac Kriegman spent six years working in Data science at Thomson Reuters, one of the world’s largest news organizations. His job was to study numbers and stats and figure out what they really meant. When he turned his focus to race and police brutality, he came across a shocking realization – the data was being used incorrectly in our national conversation, with disastrous effects. But when he trie...

As a young Marine, Andrew Young was part of the first wave of America’s military to enter Afghanistan, just months after the 9/11 attacks. After tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, he became a priest and spent much of 2020 in Afghanistan as one of the last Catholic U.S. military chaplains in the country. He joins us.

"I know of no instance in which the Catholic Lite project has led to a vibrant Catholicism, doing the work that Pope St. John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council set before the Church: the conversion and sanctification of the world." So says George Weigel in a recent piece for First Things. Al shares some thoughts.

Catholics are frequently challenged on the Marian teachings such as the Assumption or Immaculate Conception. But, as Brant Pitre points out, few of these discussions ever look to the Old Testament for defenses of Marian dogmas. As we celebrate the Month of Mary, Brant takes us on a tour of the Jewish roots of Mary

The gospel of John has been recognized as unique from the other Synoptic Gospels – but why? Michael Pakaluk looks for the answer by examining the subtle but powerful influence of our Blessed Mother within John’s Gospel, drawing out the deeper meaning of what happened when the beloved disciple took her into his home.