Kresta in the Afternoon

When we read or watch the news, we aren’t just informed – we are formed by the stories we hear and the images we see. But St. Paul also instructs us to not be conformed to the world. How can we consume the news in a way that builds virtue and leads to greater flourishing? Jeffrey Bilbro is our guest.

Do scientists see conflict between science and faith? Which cultural factors shape the attitudes of scientists toward religion? Can scientists help show us a way to build collaboration between scientific and religious communities, if such collaborations are even possible? Elaine Ecklund has conducted a comprehensive international study of more than 20,000 scientists around the world to find their...

In John 12, Jesus meets some Greeks who said they wanted to see him. In response, Jesus predicted his death and that the Father’s name would be glorified. What does it mean to say that Jesus shows us the way to the Father? Al discusses.

President Joe Biden has lost ground among Catholics since the 2020 election, according to the findings of a new EWTN News/RealClear Opinion Research poll, and faces a lack of confidence among Catholics that his administration will be able to deal effectively with inflation over the next year. Matthew Bunson joins us with analysis of this and other church news.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear the story of when Jesus visited Martha and Mary. Peggy Stanton opens up the Scriptures and the Catechism to examine what this story can tell us about contemplative prayer.

The writings of John Paul II are almost beyond count, and among them is a recently-discovered series from his years as the Archbishop of Krakow. Based on St Paul’s sermons to the Athenians, he presents a framework for articulating the faith for a skeptical and often unbelieving world. We look at what he says about faith, truth and the human person with Eduardo Echeverria

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.” So says Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. Al helps unpack the teaching.

Most priests are devout men who have sincerely committed their lives to Christ and His Church, but they are also human beings with faults and failings. Some are cranky and stern, and others can be weak or indifferent. Some grapple with sins of the flesh, and others are controlled by money. We’ll talk with Fr Mitch Pacwa about how Christ anticipated these struggles and how to deal with them spiritu...

In his letter to the Philippians, St Paul is in chains – and those chains are marks of his union with the suffering Christ. We look at St Paul’s persecution and the joy of the Philippians with Fr Richard Cassidy

Jesus opens the 14th Chapter of John by comforting his Disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house there are many rooms…” What lessons can we take from this today? Al discusses.

July 14 is celebrated in France as Bastille Day, when revolutionaries stormed the infamous Paris prison. It’s regarded as the start of the French revolution. How does the French revolution differ from the American Revolution? What were their philosophical foundations and what kinds of societies did they seek to create? We talk with Michael Miller.

As America moves away from Christianity, it increases its focus on new social and political religions. Archbishop José Gomez reflected on this in a recent talk, and Al weighs in.

Every year, the United Nations publishes a “World Happiness Report” to rank each country based on its citizens’ happiness. European countries, particularly in Scandinavia, have dominated the list in recent years. But other surveys show that the West overall is facing a happiness crisis, and less than a quarter of American adults say they are “very happy.” Why is true happiness so hard to define, m...

When the media covers Catholic politicians, it’s common to hear the terms “liberal” or “conservative” Catholic. But since Catholicism exists outside the realm of the US Political system, those definitions aren’t particularly helpful. Terry Mattingly has another way of looking at it – “pro-Catechism” Catholic. He joins us to weigh in on this and how the media has covered the Catholic angle of the D...

The monastic lifestyle began spreading throughout the West a few centuries after Christ’s death, but it was not uniform. Each monk lived his own lifestyle and tradition. That began to changed when Benedict of Nursia became a hermit and authored his Rule, which would become the universal guide for Western monks. Bill Cook tells the story.

While criticizing the overturn of Roe, President Biden told the story of a 10-year-old Ohio girl who became pregnant through rape and need to go across state lines to obtain an abortion. But a Washington Post fact-check has had trouble verifying the story. What do we know? Al discusses.

New data from the United Nations projects that India will overtake China as the world’s most population by 2023, and that the total global population will top 8 Billion late this fall. With this news will come the usual calls for increased birth control access to combat overpopulation, especially after the Dobbs decision. This effort goes back to the years after World War II, when US policymakers...

The issue of abortion is far beyond a political issue. It addresses our deepest understanding of what it means to be human. St John Paul the Great addressed this in Evangelium vitae – the Gospel of Life. Al discusses.

At the recent World Meeting of Families in Rome, Dr Greg and Lisa Popcak gave a presentation entitled “The Domestic Church and Synodality: Towards a New Ecclesiology through the Liturgy of Domestic Church Life.” They join us to discuss what this means and how you can grow in the new liturgy of the Domestic Church.

For decades, pro-abortion Democrats have relied on the courts as a last resort to block state laws attempting to limit or regulate abortion. With the Dobbs ruling removing that option, they are now turning to more subversive tactics. Clare Kosmalski joins us.

Pope Francis has said he would announce the appointment of two women to the Vatican committee that elects bishops. It will be the first time women have served on this dicastery. We look at this and other Church news with Matthew Bunson.

When the Supreme Court ruled in Planned Parenthood v Casey, Justices O’Connor, Souter and Kennedy wrote that abortion was necessary to assure women’s capacity to “participate equally in the economic and social life of the nation.” But a cursory review of history reveals that women’s increased participation in political, social, and economic spheres of American life predated Roe . Teresa Collett ex...

In this Sunday's Gospel, we hear the parable of the Good Samaritan. Almost everyone knows the story, but do you know its deeper meanings? We explore some of the overlooked symbols and messages of the parable with Peggy Stanton.

President Biden has signed an executive order he hopes will push back against states that are passing laws restricting abortion. At the signing ceremony, he denounced “Republican extremists” and said the idea of a nationwide abortion ban is “not some imagined horror. It’s already happening.” We get the latest news on pro-life laws from Clare Kosmalski.

More than 23,000 people tuned in to last week's Life Beyond Roe webinar. All over the world, pro-lifers are preparing themselves for the next step in the fight. Michael Kenney joins us.