Kresta in the Afternoon

Harmel Academy of the Trades is a post-secondary institution in Michigan where men become experts in a skilled trade while growing in their Catholic Faith. We learn more from David Michael Phelps

Baylor University, the largest Baptist university in the world, has officially chartered Prism, an LGBT student organization, on campus. It’s simply the latest example of how successful the LGBT movement has become. How did the world arrive at its current state of identity politics and how can the Church respond? We talk with Carl Trueman.

Saint Charles de Foucauld was a missionary who served in French Algeria in the early 20th Century until he was killed by bandits. Critics of French Colonialism say he was not some simple preacher, but was a colonialist and empire-builder. What should we know about his life? We talk with David Pinault.

The Christian faith is deeply rooted in Hebrew tradition. The New and Eternal Covenants are ratified in the blood of Jesus and the promise of his father. Dr. Phil Gigliotti has devoted his ministry to exploring these covenants and the connections between Jesus and the Old Testament. He joins us to discuss his work.

In Evangelium Vitae, John Paul II writes that the Gospel of Life is at the heart of Jesus' teaching. Al explains what this means.

Born on July 4, 1872, Calvin Coolidge is the only US President to share a birthday with the birth of the country. He led the United States through a remarkable period in history, but is probably one of the least-known presidents of the last century. Amity Shlaes is back to give a voice to the life of “Silent Cal.”

Since the Second Vatican Council, the Church has called for the renewal of Catholic education at all levels, from grade school through the research university. The Church has warned that Catholic schools must not be just secular schools with a Catholic name and a religion class. The Institute for Catholic Liberal Education was established to help renew Catholic schools by drawing on the Church’s t...

There are many kinds of anger, and they have many effects. For some, anger is a trait; for others, it is a state. Some are “wired fiery,” with an anger that is always simmering or on a low boil, while the anger of others often comes and goes quickly. Dr Ray joins us again to discuss these types of Anger. Don’t miss him on the Good News Cruise!

In their dissenting opinion, Justices Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan wrote that “people did not ratify the Fourteenth Amendment, men did.” They say this led to men overlooking the importance of women’s reproductive rights. They also claim that the decision “consigns women to second class citizenship.” Stephen Mikochik weighs in.

Chief Justice John Roberts did not join the majority opinion on Dobbs; instead, he authored his own opinion in which he upheld Mississippi’s prohibition of abortion after 15 weeks, but declined to overturn Roe. Will his attempt to find a middle ground be effective? Jason Negri is our guest.

In his concurring opinion, Justice Kavanaugh writes that Roe had significant negative consequences because  it “gravely distorted the Nation’s understanding of this Court’s proper constitutional role,” damaging the Court as an institution. Carter Snead explains.

In his concurring opinion, Justice Thomas writes that “we should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell.” Some have used this passage to stoke fears that gay marriage and access to contraception could also be struck down in future court decisions. John Czarnetzky gives us his analysis.

The majority opinion in Dobbs was authored by Justice Samuel Alito, joined by Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett. In his opinion, Alito directly attacks the infamous passage from Planned Parenthood v Casey, when Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that “at the heart of liberty is the right to defend one’s own concept of existence.” Professor Lee Strang explains more about Alito’s majority opini...

Abraham Lincoln wrote countless notes to himself over the course of his adult life. As they were meant for his eyes only, he never signed or dated them – but they provide us with a fascinating insight to his private debates on the issues of the time. We take a look with Ron White.

What did Thomas Jefferson when he wrote "we hold these truth?" Al looks at this and other iconic passages in a special Independence Day commentary.

When most of us think of Benjamin Franklin, we think of flying kites in thunderstorms, Poor Richard’s Almanack, and his diplomatic efforts during the Revolution. But did you know he also published more works on religion than any other 18th-century layman? Though he abandoned the Christianity of his childhood for deism, his faith was more complex than that. We take a look with Thomas Kidd.

Were the Founding Fathers agnostic? Deist? Or something else? One thing we know is that their writings were heavily influenced by Scripture. Al looks at the religious lives of the founding fathers as we prepare to talk with Thomas Kidd.

On Wednesday Pope Francis released a new apostolic letter entitled Desiderio Desideravi, in which he addresses the “Liturgical formation of the people of God.” We take a look at the letter and how it is being received with Matthew Bunson.

What is the legal status of abortion in a post-Roe America? Studies show that as many as 26 states may ban abortion, while others will become abortion “safe havens.” We take a look at what states are doing with Clare Kosmalski.

Monsignor John A. Ryan was the foremost proponent of Catholic social teaching in Depression-era America, a leading figure in the bishops’ conference, and an enthusiastic supporter of the New Deal. We look at his application of Catholic Social Teaching to economics and politics with Kevin Schmiesing.

Throughout the Scriptures, we are told of the difference between just and righteous anger, and unjust and sinful anger. How can we understand proper anger and how can we avoid that anger which leads us to sin? Dr Ray Guarendi joins us to discuss how to master anger and frustration, and also invites you to join him on the Good News Cruise.

Reports surfaced this week that Nancy Pelosi received Communion during a Mass at the Vatican, despite her orders from Archbishop Cordileone to not receive. Understandably, many Catholics were angry upon hearing the news. Al looks at the story and offers his own reaction.

A recent piece in Slate magazine claims that the religious right did not originally form around the pro-life cause; it formed over support for segregation. But if you examine the early years of the pro-life movement, long before Roe was settled, you see just how ridiculous this is. We talk more with Daniel Williams.

Nominees for Secretary of Education are typically not widely known, so the press and the public grants them the benefit of the doubt. This was not the case with Betsy DeVos; from the time her nomination was announced, she was subject to attacks from critics. The New York Times claimed her nomination was "a triumph of ideology over evidence that should worry anyone who wants to improve results for...

Race was the morally defining issue of the last generation, and it remains an ongoing conversation. Ismael Hernandez joins us with a look at the work he has done and a look at the theories of race that have dominated the American discourse.