Kresta in the Afternoon

It’s human nature for us to yearn for something beyond this world. But many people today are skeptical of organized religion and declare themselves to be spiritual but not religious. How can we find meaning in a material world? Why are we attracted to things beyond? We talk with Fr. John Bartunek

Kresta Comments

We spoke on Friday with Canadian journalist Joe Warmington about the Truck convoys headed to the capital. He gives us a report on what happened.

The false notion that man is the measure of all things has permeated the culture and even influenced Christian thought. It reduces the faith to an inordinate concern for “social justice,” radical political change, and an increasingly fanatical egalitarianism, stripping it of its transcendental reference points. Humanitarians, secular or religious, confuse peace with pacifism, equitable social arra...

Today is the Feast of St Thomas Aquinas. We often call him “the dumb ox,” but his mentor Albert the Great once observed that “he will yet make his bellowing heard to the uttermost parts of the earth.” We talk more with Kevin Vost.

A New York Times column recently suggested that Dorothy Day’s cause for sainthood may be delayed because Church leaders are uncomfortable with her politics. Al responds and asks if “right” and “left” can be used to describe our political divisions.

As misinformation continues to swirl regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, Pope Francis is calling on journalists, especially Catholic media professionals, to verify the facts they report while adopting a respectful attitude toward those who produce and consume fake news. Meeting with members of the International Catholic Media Consortium today, he reflected on these themes of Communication and Truth....

As we speak, truckers from all over Canada are convoying to Ottawa to protest a mandate that requires them to be vaccinated in order to cross the border. Joe Warmington has been following them all week and lets us know what's going on.

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.

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI has apologized for mistakenly saying that he did not attend a disputed meeting in 1980 while serving as archbishop of Munich and Freising. This follows a report published last week that said he mishandled four abuse cases while he was archbishop. Matthew Bunson shares what we know about the case.

St. Irenaeus of Lyon is one step closer to being the first martyr to be declared a Doctor of the Church. Last week, Pope Francis met with the head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints who told him they had found Irenaeus worthy of the title. What theological contributions did he make to the early Church? We’ll talk with Joe Heschmeyer.

Last spring, it was unveiled that the University of Pittsburgh medical system was using aborted babies for medical research and an independent investigation was launched. The D.C.-based law firm hired to conduct the “regulatory assessment” said they found Pitt’s academic research with human fetal tissue to be “fully compliant with applicable laws.” But a close reading of the 40-page report shows t...

Al received a letter this week claiming we should not honor Martin Luther King as a leader, because he was also a plagiarist and adulterer. It is true that he is guilty of these sins, so should that disqualify him from his place of honor? Al discusses.

Much has been said about the kind of priests we need in these challenging times. But we can't forget the role of our deacons. What does the Church say about the purpose of the diaconate ministry? And what kinds of strategies can we develop to support our deacons? We talk with Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers.

Pope Francis has declared today a day of prayer for peace in Ukraine, where tensions are running high amid fears of a possible Russian invasion. It could mean a matter of life and death for thousands of people in the region and could send millions of refugees into Western Europe. We take a look at what's going on with Archbishop Borys Gudziak.

Today we celebrate the feast of Timothy and Titus, two of the closes followers of the apostle Paul. Al looks at their significance and how they helped bring the Gospel to both Jew and Gentile.

A Catholic adoption agency in Michigan has reached a settlement with the state that will allow the agency to continue to place children in homes in a manner consistent with its Catholic identity. The trouble began in 2019 when the state required agencies to match children with same-sex couples in order to receive state funding. This victory is similar to another from last year in Philadelphia. Lor...

For years, Saul was known as a man fervent in his Jewish faith and a great persecutor of any follower of Christ. But one day, on the road to Damascus, his life was changed forever. We celebrate the feast of that conversion today with Steve Ray.

In his letter to the Colossians, St. Paul instructs us to life a life worthy of the Lord and grow in the Knowledge of God? Al describes what this means and how it should affect our lives.

Alice von Hildebrand’s life accomplishments could fill a book. She escaped Nazi Europe in her youth, became one of the leading women in Catholic philosophy, and devoted decades of her life to writing and teaching. She also had a loving relationship with her husband, the late and great Dietrich von Hildebrand. She passed away last week, and we honor her legacy with John Henry Crosby.

In his Pontifical Message for World Communications Day, Pope Francis encourages us to pay close attention while listening: “It is not enough simply to listen, but that it is necessary to listen well…It is only by paying attention to whom we listen, to what we listen, and to how we listen that we can grow in the art of communicating.” What does it mean to Listen Well? Teresa Tomeo joins us.

Al was out of town last week caring for his mother, who died at the age of 90. By all accounts, she was a joyous and caring woman. Al shares some memories of his mother and lessons he learned from her.

It was a memorable weekend in the NFL playoffs; in three of the four games the underdog visiting team kicked a field goal to win as time expired. But although many kids have been positively formed and shaped by their experience in sports, others have been harmed – and we’re seeing kids drop out of youth sports at an alarming rate. Can sports and coaching be a ministry? We talk with Fr Patrick Kell...

President Biden’s 36 years as a Senator define his political style. During that time, he honed his skills as a backroom negotiator – which is important for helping produce legislation. However, that approach is counterproductive for a president who needs to be a leader. Henry Olsen explains more

When Fr. Aloysius Schwartz, known to his many friends as “Father Al,” was ordained he had one request – that he be assigned to one of the saddest places in the world: South Korea. The Korean War had just ended and as he stepped off the train in Seoul, he found himself entering a real-life dystopia. He would spend the rest of his life serving the poorest of the poor in Korea, the Philippines and Me...