Kresta in the Afternoon

Marian devotion plays a special role in Catholic life. She appears in countless works of art, is the subject of hundreds of books, and is a central character in Mel Gibson’s film The Passion. But the Scriptures don’t often mention her. Do we overemphasize Mary? Al discusses.

Cardinal Joseph Zen is set to stand trial next month, along with four other people, in connection to his role as a trustee of a pro-democracy legal fund. It appears he has not been indicted under Hong Kong’s national security law, which would have carried with it much more serious penalties. Matthew Bunson talks with us about this and other Church news.

Great numbers of Michigan pro-lifers are needed next Wednesday at the Oakland County Circuit Courthouse to make their voices heard. That’s when Judge Jacob Cunningham will consider his blocking of enforcement of the 1931 state law that prohibits abortion. Wear white and stand up for life. Christen Pollo has the details.

Salman Rushdie, the author whose novel “The Satanic Verses” drew death threats from Iran’s leader in the 1980s, was attacked and apparently stabbed in the neck Friday by a man who rushed the stage as he was about to give a lecture in western New York. Al has the details.

"I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” So says Jesus in this Sunday’s Gospel reading. Peter Herbeck joins me as we discuss what Jesus meant when he said that he had come to establish division, dividing a son against his father and mother against her daughter, and why it’s time to set fire on the earth

Why is it that so many people, even Christians, have never really heard the Gospel? That they see the faith as a set of rules and disciplines rather than a radical and joyful encounter with Christ? Fr. John Riccardo’s Rescue project is an effort to tackle this problem and he’ll be joining us regularly over the next several weeks. He joins us today.

We live in troubling times. And we sometimes feel we just fall too short to be accepted by God. But throughout the Scriptures we hear of God’s mercy, and that He has great plans for us. Al discusses.

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.

If you look at the news headlines from the last few years, you may find yourself questioning what happened to the country you grew up in. This kind of reflection has led Wilfred McClay to ask himself – are we no longer a serious nation? He joins us to lay out the case and see if there is a way back.

If you’ve been thinking about joining the 2023 Good News Cruise, don’t miss your chance. Current rates are only guaranteed until August 14. And Royal Caribbean has removed the vaccination requirements for all passengers. Our world needs strong marriages and this is a great opportunity to strengthen yours. We’ll talk more with Curtis Martin.

In the last four years, the Catholic Church in Nicaragua has suffered nearly 200 attacks and desecrations in addition to persecution of clergy under the regime of Daniel Ortega. Most recently, Bishop Rolando José Álvarez has been placed under house arrest after he openly spoke against the abuses being committed regime. We learn more from Ed Clancy.

Al takes a closer look at what we know about yesterday’s FBI investigation at Mar-a-Lago and explains why he isn’t foaming at the mouth – yet. Also, a Church in Texas has produced an adaption of the Broadway hit Hamilton – Al examines what the real Alexander Hamilton believed.

You’re probably familiar with Count Dracula and Richard the Lionheart from the world of pop culture. But did you know their movie counterparts are inspired by real people who helped defend the Christian west from Islam? Raymond Ibrahim joins us with these stories and more.

Today is the Feast of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. Born Edith Stein, she was raised in a Jewish home but abandoned the faith in her teens. She was drawn to the Catholic Church through the readings of Teresa of Avila and joined the discalced Carmelites. In 1942, she and her sister were sent to Auschwitz and murdered in the gas chambers. We discuss her example of suffering with Anne Costa.

Yesterday agents from the FBI raided the Florida home of former President Trump and confiscated 15 boxes of classified materials. While we don't know exactly what those boxes contain, we do know that such a move is unprecedented in our history. Michael Tabman, a former FBI agent, weighs in.

David McCullough was one of the premier historians of this generation and was known for his ability to bring the events and characters of the past to life. He died yesterday at the age of 89. Al interviewed him at a Legatus Summit in Naples, Florida in 2011 and we look back on that conversation today.

In the ancient world, crucifixion was seen as the worst fate imaginable, a punishment reserved for slaves. Yet it was a victim of crucifixion who would become the centerpiece of a religion whose influence has reverberated throughout history. We talk with Tom Holland.

Today is the Feast of St. Dominic. Unlike many of our great saints, Dominic did not leave a deposit of writings to be examined and built upon. Yet this medieval Spaniard still has much to teach us today, and we see this in the way of life he left to the Church. Fr. Patrick Briscoe joins us.

On August 4, 2020, a warehouse of improperly-stored fertilizer exploded in the port of Beirut, Lebanon. At least 218 people were killed with thousands more injured, and the estimated damage was more than $15 Billion. Two years later, the city is still struggling to recover. Fr. John Tayar live there and is back in the US for a visit. He lets us know what has happened.

You may have heard about Matt Walsh’s film “What is a Woman,” in which he challenges people to define the meaning of female. This question of gender – who we are as men and women – has never been more pressing or more misunderstood. Abigail Favale joins us to trace the roots of the issue and how gender is reshaping our language, our society, and our own self-perceptions.

Three New York pro-lifers will spend the next three months in jail for participating in a Red Rose Rescue at a local abortion clinic. Judge John Collins found them guilty of trespass and said their offering of help to pregnant mothers was nothing but a ruse. Chris Bell shares their story.

It’s been just over a month since the Dobbs decision, and we’re already seeing the media focus on stories of women who have suffered from lack of access to care in states where abortion is restricted. But many of these stories are linked to a flawed, or misrepresented, understanding of the meaning of words like miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. We take a closer look with Clare Kosmalski.

Michelle Paine was raised in a devout Christian home, and outside of the Christmas season she didn’t give Mary much thought. That began to change when she spent a year studying Art History in Italy, where Marian imagery was everywhere. She shares how encountering Mary through art helped her find her way to the Church.

A new survey finds that just 37% of Christian pastors in the US profess a “Biblical Worldview.” What does it mean to have a Biblical worldview and why is it so essential for the Christian message? Al discusses.

On July 30 we celebrate the Feast of Solanus Casey. He’s taken on a special meaning for Nolan Ostrowski, who contracted COVID-19 last summer and was admitted to a hospital in Lansing, Michigan. As he lay in bed a few nights later, a figure appeared next to him – it appeared to be Solanus Casey. His condition soon downgraded and he was taken to another hospital for special treatment. But now, he’s...