Kresta in the Afternoon

When Pope Francis' pontificate comes to an end, there will be another conclave. We'll take a look with Edward Pentin at some of the leading Cardinals who are considered possible successors to St. Peter.

Eternals is the latest entry in Marvel’s MCU, which now comprises more than 25 films. In these films we see a fairly consistent theme – the idea of raging against “the man.” We’ll look at some examples with Steven Greydanus.

When we discuss sexual abuse in the Church, there are many myths and obstacles we must overcome if we are get to the roots of the problem. For example, many people today probably think that abuse rates in the Church are as high as they have ever been and that the Church has done nothing to address the scandal. We examine this and other falsehoods with Bill Donohue.

The Eucharist is the Source and Summit of our faith. Stacy Trasancos joins us to dive into the meaning of Jesus’ proclamation “behold, it is I” and examine the most convincing proofs for the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Next week the US Bishops will meet in Baltimore. Chief among the issues they will discuss is the document on reception of the Eucharist. Al looks at what we can expect.

Why does God allow us to feel pain? It’s a demanding question, and one that Philip Yancey has explored thoroughly in his work with the late Dr. Paul Brand, whose work as a leprosy surgeon gave him a unique perspective on the matter. We talk with Philip about the issue of pain and the marvel of how our bodies bear God’s Image.

We tend to think of the Enlightenment in a negative light – a time when the Church in France was violently dethroned in the name of “Reason.” But it also ushered in a wave of genuine Christian inspiration. We’ll talk with Joseph Stuart about the three strategies Christians employed during the Enlightenment and how they can be employed in our own anti-Christian age.

What does it mean to say that Christ will Come Again in Glory? AL discusses.

The Church has always been intensely concerned with the task of holding, preserving and sharing the revealed Truth of God. So what do we mean when we talk about the Development of Doctrine? Dr. Eduardo Echeverria joins us.

We live in a world surrounded by lies. People lie to their friends, their employers, their pastors, their spouses and even themselves. And it makes public conversation virtually impossible. How do we combat this problem? It begins with the most basic step – being mindful of the words we use. We’ll talk with Marilyn McEntyre about caring for words in a culture of lies.

Jesus opens the 14thChapter 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.

Charles Borromeo lived only forty-six years, but he accomplished more during his brief life than most Catholics do who live to twice his age. The nephew of Pius IV, he was instrumental in the completion of the Council of Trent. We celebrate his feast with William Doino.

On this day in 1979, 52 US citizens were taken hostage when a group of militarized Iranian college students stormed the US Embassy in Tehran. Among them was Marine Corps guard Rocky Sickmann, who would spend the next 444 days in captivity. He shares his story.

On November 2, 1917, Britain issued the Balfour Declaration, announcing support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish People.” The issue of The Land is central to Jewish self-identity. The Catholic Church certainly acknowledges the covenant between God and the Jewish People, but how does this covenant relate to the land and today’s Jews? We talk with Andre Villanueve

Two major talking points have emerged in the days since Glenn Youngkin’s victory – the impact Donald Trump will have on the future of the GOP, and whether Youngkin rallied “racists” to vote for him. Al examines both.

Back in mid-July, the Atlanta Braves were given a 0.3% chance of winning the World Series. And last night, they did just that – defeating the powerful Houston Astros 7-0 in Game Six. It’s popular to call stories like this a “Miracle.” Just think of the 1980 US Hockey Team’s Miracle on Ice or the Tennessee Titan’s Music City Miracle. But Catholics, of course, have a very different understanding of...

Yesterday we saw some of the first major election results since President Biden’s term began. In Minneapolis, voters rejected a “defund the police” bill. In Virginia, Republican Glenn Youngkin defeated Terry McAuliffe, who had tried in vain to brand him as a spiritual successor to Donald Trump. And as of this afternoon, the governor race in New Jersey was much too close to call. What hints do thes...

“Remember, remember, the Fifth of November…” On Friday, Britain will celebrate Bonfire Night, commemorating Guy Fawkes’ failed attempt to blow up the House of Lords. Most of us don’t know much about Guy Fawkes other than the mask that has appeared in films and online. Who was he? Joanna Bogle joins us.

For months, Catholic eyes have looked towards the USCCB’s Fall Assembly and its forthcoming document on the Eucharist, especially after last week’s meeting between President Biden and Pope Francis. A draft text of the document made public this week addresses the subject of “Eucharistic Worthiness” but does not include any recommendations for denial of communion. We examine the document with JD Fly...

Progressives are already blaming "racism" for Terry McAuliffe's defeat in Virginia. How would newly-elected Winsome Sears, the first Black woman to hold statewide office in Virginia, respond? Al discusses.

The communion of saints represents an enormous variety of lives, livelihoods, and personalities. But one thing that unites them is their approach to death - they knew that in the death of a saint, it is death that dies. Thomas Jacobi joins us with a closer look at how saints die.

Scholars such as Robert George who follow the Supreme Court closely think there is a good chance that the Dobbs case will result in a victory for pro-lifers. However, if Roe is overturned and abortion is kicked back to the states, the real work will only be beginning. Al discusses.

Any death of a loved one causes pain and can make us question God “why.” But losing loved ones to suicide is especially traumatic. How can we find hope in such a despairing situation? Fr. Chris Alar joins us.

Emily DeArdo was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at eleven, so she knows what it’s like to live with a keen awareness of her own mortality. It’s a good practice to keep in mind at any time, but especially on today’s Feast of All Souls. She joins us.

The U.S. Supreme Court spent nearly three hours Monday hearing arguments in a pair of cases challenging Texas’ new abortion ban. Now the justices must decide what action, if any, to take in response to a state law crafted expressly to ward off the court’s intervention. What do we know about how they might rule? Steven Aden joins us.