Today on Kresta - July 6, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on July 6

3:00 – 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.

4:00 – Health Care Reform and the Concerns of Right to Life
The National Right to Life Committee has long argued that the cost of health care does not require rationing life-saving treatment. With so much momentum building for enactment of some sort of measure to provide coverage for the uninsured, it is not enough for NRLC simply to oppose ways of doing so that entail health care rationing. It is necessary to demonstrate that it is in fact possible to achieve this goal without having to accept rationing as a tradeoff. Since its inception, the pro-life movement has been as concerned with protecting older people and people with disabilities from euthanasia as with protecting unborn children from abortion. It has recognized that denial of lifesaving medical treatment, food and fluids against the will of a patient is a form of involuntary euthanasia. When the government prohibits Americans from obtaining health care necessary to preserve their lives, or limits their ability to obtain it, this health care rationing is a form of such involuntary euthanasia. We talk with Burke Balch of the National Right to Life Committee.

4:20 – Movies: The Good, the Bad, and the Really, Really Bad
Movies, like parables, can teach and uplift as well as entertain. Sad to say, that doesn't seem to be the goal of major film studios. So, should we even go to movies? Is a job as a film reviewer even valid? But movies are here to stay, and Christians are going to them - just like everybody else. So, how do Christians make peace with Hollywood? Or should they? And can a movie critic light the way? Phil Boatwright is here to point out Hollywood agendas, explore ways we can resist the secular world's tug of war against God's directives, and take a lighter look at the positives of motion pictures, including examples of men and women who are using the movie medium to amuse man and glorify God. Also, we'll showcase some films (both old and new) that entertain, enrich, enlighten and edify. With any luck, we'll experience a couple of chuckles along the way.

5:00 – Papal Social Encyclical Released Tomorrow
The public release of Caritatis in Veritate has been anticipated for more than a year. By the time we wake up tomorrow morning, it will have been released in a press conference at the Vatican. The encyclical has been repeatedly delayed-- most recently by a desire to amend the text in order to respond to questions raised by the current worldwide economic crisis. Reports say the text will be a theoretical reflection on the global economy, invoking traditional Catholic principles such as subsidiarity and solidarity. While the text will be critical of market failures, some who have read it say that it would be wrong to characterize the encyclical as "good news for liberals and bad news for conservatives;" both sides of the political spectrum will be challenged. We talk to Fr. Robert Sirico of the Acton Institute about the forthcoming document.

5:35 – Abortionist Fined $10,000 For Killing Woman
MI abortionist Alberto Hodari has been fined $10,000 by the State of Michigan for the 2003 abortion death of Regina Johnson. Now we know what a woman’s life is worth in the State of Michigan once she walks into an abortion clinic. In exchange for the fine, counts of negligence and incompetence against Hodari were dismissed, leaving only the charge that his conduct constituted a “lack of good moral character.” Yet another slap on the wrist for this abortionist who has been in trouble many times before. We talk with Monica Miller of Citizens for a Pro-Life Society who, last year, found aborted babies and medical records in Hodari’s dumpster.