Today on Kresta - June 19, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on June 19
Live from Acton University in Grand Rapids, MI

3:00 – Social Teaching of Pope John Paul II
Soon Pope Benedict will release his first social encyclical. Fr. Raymond de Souza is here to discusses the specific contributions of Benedict’s predecessor, John Paul II, to the development of Catholic social teaching, with special attention to the treatment of economic subjects.

3:30 – A Path of Our Own
A Path of Our Own tells the story of Pomatambo, a village in one of the poorest parts of Peru’s highlands. Adam Webb brings to life the experiences of three generations of these humble peasants as they have been confronted by the modern world and tried to find a place in it. Through a land reform, a bloody Maoist insurgency, and the economic turbulence of more recent years, Pomatambo has looked for a way to break out of dire poverty while staying true to its own values and identity. But Adam argues this is much more than the story of one village. Pomatambo’s tale of hard times mirrors how traditional communities all over the world have been ill served by the dominant ideologies of the twentieth century. He maps out a vision of how traditional communities like Pomatambo can reclaim the future rather than surrender to others’ plans for them. And he imagines an economy of values that at last could bring a just and decent prosperity to the countryside of the global South—and elsewhere.

4:00 – Former Swiss Guard: 10 Lessons I Learned From Pope John Paul II
Andreas Widmer is the co-founder of the SEVEN Fund, a non-profit run by entrepreneurs whose goal is to dramatically increase the rate of innovation and diffusion of enterprise-based solutions to poverty. He also served as a member of the Pontifical Swiss Guard from 1986-1988, protecting John Paul II. He talks to us about 10 lessons that he learned from Pope John Paul the Great.

5:00 – Poverty and the Developing World
Michael Miller of the Acton Institute is here to examine poverty and the developing world. We look at some of the causes of poverty in the developing world, critically analyze current poverty alleviation strategies including aid and government planning, and focus on private property, rule of law, markets, and culture for economic development.

5:30 – Critiquing the Prosperity Gospel
Dr. Anthony Bradley examines the destructive impact that the “Prosperity Gospel” – the teaching according to which health and wealth are rewards for those who believe in a certain way, has on both human flourishing and authentic Christianity. We outline more constructive connection between wealth, economics, and Christian theology.