Today on Kresta - July 1, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on July 1

3:00 – Kresta Comments

3:20 – The Year of the Priesthood
Pope Benedict XVI opened the “Year for Priests” last week in St. Peter’s Basilica. “Faithfulness of Christ, faithfulness of priests” is the theme for a year that ends on June 19, 2010 in St. Peter’s Square at a World Meeting of Priests. The year also marks the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney, now patron of all priests. In a letter to priests, the Holy See stressed that the Church “is proud of her priests, loves them, honors them, admires them and recognizes with gratitude their pastoral work and witness.” We talk to Fr. Robert Barron about the significance of this year, the call of the priesthood, and the charism of the calling.

4:00 – Kresta Comments

4:20 – Khatami calls for rioters to be executed
A senior hardline Iranian cleric yesterday demanded an end to protests over the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president after Iran's top legislative body slammed shut the last door for a legal challenge. Ahmad Khatami, a leading cleric then called for "rioters" to be executed."All who believe in the Islamic system and are committed to its laws and regulations must accept the Guardian Council's opinion," he said. Meanwhile, U.S. troops are withdrawing from Iraq. What does this mean for the different Islamic factions in the country? Robert Spencer has the answers.

4:40 – Economic Heresies of the Left
What exactly is in Benedict XVI’s new encyclical on the economy and labor issues is not yet known. Catholic leftists and progressives, though, are already trembling with excitement. Three glaring errors have already appeared in these heavily panting anticipations. An accurate presentation of real existing capitalism requires at least three modest affirmations: Michael Novak tells us what they are and speculates on the Papal Encyclical.

5:00 – Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger
No book is more important than the Bible, and no question is more important than what writings belong in the Bible. Controversy has raged since Martin Luther challenged the content of Scriptures. Gary Michuta puts the controversy to rest and provides an simple yet scholarly explanation and defense of the Catholic Bible. Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger: The Untold Story of the Lost Books of the Protestant Bible.