Today on Kresta - August 28, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on August 28

3:00 – The Biblical Roots of “I Have a Dream”
It was this day in 1963 that Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It electrified the nation and King’s prophetic utterances started the long overdue process of changing America's idea of itself. His words would enter the American lexicon, galvanizing the civil rights movement, becoming a touchstone for all that the country might someday achieve. We look at the speech, examining it on various levels: as a political treatise, a work of poetry, and as a masterfully delivered and improvised sermon bursting with biblical language and imagery.

4:00 – Freedom: Twelve Lives Transformed By the Theology of the Body
God has revealed His mystery of love through the Word made flesh Theology of the Body. This phrase is not only the title of a series of talks by the late John Paul II - It represents the very logic of Christianity. The Theology of the Body calls us to encounter the living, Incarnate Christ and to ponder how His body reveals the meaning of our bodies. John Paul II’s teaching appeals to many different kinds of people: married, single, consecrated celibates, professionals, and stay-at-home moms. And it’s not just for Catholics either. We talk to Matt Pinto about Freedom: Twelve Lives Transformed By the Theology of the Body.

4:30 – Real Women, Real Saints: Friends for Your Spiritual Journey
Heaven's doors are wide open and God is doing everything he can to make us all into saints. What would it take for you to become a saint? If you're thinking of quiet cloisters and hours in undisturbed prayer, think again. Real women who became real saints run the gamut from quiet to boisterous, single, married, divorced, post-abortive, social activists, hermits, academics, doctors and more. Among these women there is a friend for you, someone even a bit like you. Sanctity will never fit into a formula, but the women who have become canonized saints have this in common: their deep love for God and the determination to live life in harmony with his will. Gina Loehr is here to help us learn to abandon ourselves to God, and live a rich, full life in return – becoming Saints!

5:00 – The Biblical Roots of “I Have a Dream”
It was this day in 1963 that Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It electrified the nation and King’s prophetic utterances started the long overdue process of changing America's idea of itself. His words would enter the American lexicon, galvanizing the civil rights movement, becoming a touchstone for all that the country might someday achieve. We look at the speech, examining it on various levels: as a political treatise, a work of poetry, and as a masterfully delivered and improvised sermon bursting with biblical language and imagery.

Blood Money

A group of filmmakers have recently filmed a documentary that aims to expose the terrible reality of abortion, focusing on the financial aspect of the multimillion dollar abortion industry.

The film, entitled "Blood Money," includes numerous interviews with leaders of the pro-life movement, in which they lay out the facts about the abortion industry and the effects that abortions have on women.

The film covers a variety of issues, including Roe V. Wade, Planned Parenthood, the scientific fact that life begins at conception, and how abortion affects women who have had one.

Check out the trailer below and visit http://www.bloodmoneyfilm.com/

Today on Kresta - August 27, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on August 27

3:00 – Kresta Comments

3:20 – The New Ecumenism
The last several popes have made the quest for Church unity an item of the highest priority on their agendas. This has been true to perhaps a much greater extent than most Catholics, and indeed most Protestants, have generally realized. John Paul II put more personal time and effort into seeking improved relations with our fellow Christians, than into almost anything else. From the time of his election to the chair of Peter in 2005, Benedict XVI has followed the same pattern. These acted in response to a mandate of the Second Vatican Council which inaugurated a whole new era in ecumenism for the Catholic Church. The subject of ecumenism -- the Church's relations with other Christians, and the search for Christian unity – is our topic with Ken Whitehead.

4:00 – Kresta Comments

4:20 – Who Is My Neighbor?: Personalism And The Foundations Of Human Rights
Over the past half century the language of human rights has gained such dominance in moral, civic, and ecclesiastical discourse that ethical and social questions are increasingly framed in terms of rights. Yet the vast literature dealing with human and civil rights focuses almost exclusively on the juridical and practical ramifications of rights, rather than the philosophical, moral, and foundational aspects. As a result, the proliferation of rights claims and catalogs has not been accompanied by a reasoned case for the existence of human rights or rational criteria for distinguishing true moral entitlement from spurious claims. Fr. Thomas Williams makes an original, compelling case for human rights as moral entitlements grounded in the dignity of the human person.

5:00 – Wisconsin compels parishes, dioceses to provide contraceptive coverage
The bishops of Wisconsin have reacted angrily to a new state mandate that compels health insurance providers to include contraceptive coverage in their insurance plans. “This mandate will compel Catholic dioceses, parishes, and other agencies that buy health insurance to pay for a medical service that Catholic teaching holds to be gravely immoral,” the bishops write. “Only dioceses or agencies that are self insured, such as La Crosse and Superior, are not covered by this mandate. As Catholic teachers and pastors, we strongly object to this blatant insensitivity to our moral values and legal rights … This mandate violates not just our religious values, but also our constitutional rights.” We talk to Kim Wadas of the WI Catholic Conference.

5:20 – The Economy: The Government, Thirty Years of Bad Economic Policy, or Both?
Conventional wisdom in America today holds that high levels of taxes and government spending diminish America’s prosperity. The claim strikes a deep intuitive chord, not only among those on the Right, but also among many on today’s Left. Indeed, the antitax credo has become so obvious to so many over the past thirty years, and rolls off the tongues of policymakers from both parties with such fluency, that one would think evidence needn’t even be gathered to support it. Even Clinton proudly announced that “the era of big government is over.” Michael Miller of the Acton Institute is here to look the economic meltdown: blame the government, free market principles, or both?

5:40 – Feast of St. Augustine Tomorrow
Tomorrow we celebrate the feast of one of the greatest Saints the Church has ever known. Augustine was born in a Roman province and educated at Carthage. As a young man he became interested in philosophy, with little interest in Christianity until a profound experience in his early thirties. By 396 he had become bishop of Hippo, and his sermons and writings gained fame, notably his Confessions and the treatise City of God. His notions of God's grace, free will and Original Sin have had an unmatched influence on Christian theology. Augustinian philosopher Dr. Barry David joins us.

Watch Ted Kennedy Talk About His Catholic Faith

From David Brody at "The Brody File"

No matter what you think of Ted Kennedy or the Kennedy clan or their liberal philosophy, one thing you can't argue about is the fact that Ted Kennedy was one of the most influential Senators of all times. Let's face it. Ted Kennedy has a long list of legislative victories. Read the list here.

Let me touch on something that the mainstream media probably won't. Ted Kennedy was a Catholic and back in 1983, he delivered a speech called, "Faith, Truth and Tolerance in America". The speech was delivered at Jerry Falwell's Liberty Baptist College (now called Liberty University) A 5 minute video clip of the speech is below but you can watch the whole speech here. I have also included key excerpts from the speech to give you a better understanding of how Ted Kennedy viewed his own faith and how it intersected with his political life.

Ted Kennedy's famous "Robert Bork's America" Speech

The Legacy of Ted Kennedy

Brian Burch, President of CatholicVote.org, issued the following statement regarding the passing of Senator Edward Kennedy. He sums it up quite well.

Senator Edward Kennedy leaves behind a long record of public service, but honesty also requires that we acknowledge his mixed legacy. We applaud the late Senator for efforts to improve education, assist the poor, and for working to help the uninsured. While we didn’t agree with many of his legislative solutions to these important concerns, the nature of such issues allowed for substantive engagement and disagreement on how to best solve them.

Sadly, on the most seminal issue of our day, the plight of unborn children, Senator Kennedy’s legacy evokes deep sadness. During his early days in the Senate, Kennedy fittingly included the rights of unborn children in his dedication to protecting the most vulnerable. Since that time, millions of Catholics have been both saddened and disappointed by his decision to abandon the defense of unborn children and their mothers, a position contrary to the common good.

His words in 1971 are worth recalling: “When history looks back to this era it should recognize this generation as one which cared about human beings enough to halt the practice of war, to provide a decent living for every family, and to fulfill its responsibility to its children from the very moment of conception.”

Today we join the rest of the America, particularly our fellow Catholics, in praying for the repose of the soul of Ted Kennedy and for consolation for his family.

American Life League president Judie Brown also has a well-articulated statement:

For 50 years, the Kennedy brothers struggled to reconcile their Catholic faith with the public square. Sen. Edward Kennedy’s legacy will, sadly, remain compromised in the eyes of faithful Catholics.

Kennedy’s claimed to be a Catholic while using his worldly power to condone and facilitate the deaths of innocent preborn babies. Kennedy emphatically defended their right to life in 1971, but tragically abandoned his Catholic principles as his presidential aspirations rose toward the end of that decade.

By breaking faith, Kennedy set a catastrophic precedent for “Catholic” public officials to publicly dissent from fundamental Church teachings while continuing to identify themselves as Catholics.As Senator Edward Kennedy's death provides a platform for others to applaud him as a historic figure, we mourn the loss of only God knows how many preborn children – lives snuffed out by this man's advocacy of abortion. God have mercy on his soul.

We extend our prayer to his family during this time of loss. As his death brings an era to a close, we pray that it will also mark a new era in which American Catholics will set a far more faithful standard for Catholic conduct in public life.

Today on Kresta - August 26, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on August 26

3:00 – Kresta Comments

3:20 – New Words: A Deeper Meaning, but the Same Mass
The US bishops' conference has released a new web site designed to introduce the faithful to a new English translation of the Mass. After years of work, the translation will be introduced after it receives final clearance from the Holy See. The revised translation adheres to new Vatican norms requiring greater adherence to the original Latin text of the Roman Missal. Bishop Arthur Serratelli, who chairs the US bishops' liturgical committee, describes the new texts as "understandable, dignified and accurate." Fr. Peter Stravinskas is here to bring us up to date.

3:40 – Blessed Teresa of Calcutta – Born August 26, 1910
“Find the sick, the suffering and the lonely right there where you are. . . . You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have the eyes to see.” - Mother Teresa. Lifelong educator Mary Poplin, after experiencing a newfound awakening to faith, sent a letter to Calcutta asking if she could visit Mother Teresa and volunteer with the Missionaries of Charity. She received a response saying, “You are welcome to share in our works of love for the poorest of the poor.” So in the spring of 1996, Poplin spent two months in Calcutta as a volunteer. There she observed Mother Teresa's life of work and service to the poor, participating in the community's commitments to simplicity and mercy. Mary is here to give us an inside glimpse into one of the most influential lives of the twentieth century and the lessons Mother Teresa continues to offer on this 99th anniversary of the birth of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.

4:00 – Kresta Comments

4:20 – The Rise of Nuclear Iran: How Tehran Defies the West
If we stay on the path we're on....Get ready for the Ayatollahs to have the bomb. That's the stark warning of Dore Gold, Israel's former ambassador to the United Nations. Diplomatic engagement with Iran, Gold warns, has never worked. Iran has pursued its nuclear ambitions at first in secret and then in defiance of the United Nations and Western protests--and it will not be stopped by Western diplomats waving olive branches and offering promises of aid or threats of sanctions. Gold confronts us with the most important foreign policy question of our time: will Iran be allowed to become a nuclear power--and at what cost?

4:40 – Ted Kennedy: 1932-2009
Late last night Sen. Ted Kennedy passed away. Drawing on a vast store of original research and unprecedented access to Ted Kennedy’s political associates, friends, and family, Edward Klein wrote the definitive biography of Kennedy, taking the reader behind the scenes to reveal many secrets. Ted Kennedy: The Dream That Never Died does not shrink from portraying the erratic side of Ted Kennedy and his former wife, Joan. There were times during that career–such as after the incident in Chappaquiddick–when Ted seemed to have surrendered to his demons. But there were other times–after one of his inspiring speeches on the floor of the Senate, for example–when he was compared to Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, John Calhoun, and other great lawmakers of the past. Klein explains.

5:00 – Kresta Comments

5:20 – Come and See: A Photojournalist’s Journey Into the World of Mother Teresa
Today marks the 99th birth anniversary of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. Linda Schaffer is a professional photojournalist and was the last professional photographer granted complete access to Mother Teresa prior to her illness and death. The experience had a profound impact on her and resulted in the book Come and See: A Photojournalist’s Journey Into the World of Mother Teresa. She shares her experience.

5:40 – TBA

Congressman Mike Rogers from Michigan speaks about the health care reforme proposal.

Today on Kresta - August, 25, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on August 25

3:00 – Kresta Comments

3:15 – Libya assured “low key” return for Lockerbie bomber. Not so much.
Libya had assured Scotland that it would give a "low key" reception home to the Lockerbie bomber before his release. Not so. He received a hero’s welcome, which just added fuel to the fire that was built on the release of convicted terrorist Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi. Our guest says to expect more outrages like the Lockerbie case in the future, unless the West suffers a catastrophic attack that definitively discredits legalism as a prime weapon in fighting Islamist terror. National Security advisor John Wohlstetter is with us.

3:30 – Paying for Le Treatment: Nothing is free—certainly not French health care.
Recently in the New York Times, mystery writer Sara Paretsky published "Le Treatment," the story of how she took her husband, suffering from chest pains during their vacation in France, to a local hospital, where he was treated without delay. A cardiologist correctly diagnosed the problem, pneumonia, and administered the necessary medication. Our next guest says what she doesn't realize is that the French, too, would love to have such a system. Paretsky's adventure is a parable based on a false assumption: that health care can be public, reliable, and free. It may indeed seem free, or close to free, for an American tourist receiving treatment in an emergency; as a French taxpayer, however, Guy Sorman says he paid a heavy price for Paretsky's husband's treatment. And you, my American reader, he says, did too.

3:45 – A Few Questions on Abortion and Health Care
This weekend, President Obama spent another weekly radio address talking about health care reform. He said he wanted to spend some time, quote, "debunking some of the more outrageous myths circulating on the internet, on cable TV.” One of the so-called misrepresentations he said was the idea that coverage for abortions would be mandated under reform. Meanwhile, across town, the independent, non-partisan, FactCheck.org, was releasing its analysis of the issue of abortion in the health care reform bills. FactCheck.org has now issued its analysis, entitled, "Abortion: Which Side is Fabricating?" What does is conclude? Keith Pavlischek has the answers.

4:00 – Kresta Comments

4:20 – William Wilberforce Celebrates His 250th Birthday
Admirers of 18th century abolitionist William Wilberforce remembered him Monday – the 250th anniversary of his birth date – by reflecting on his life and carrying on the British statemen’s call for the end of slavery. Although Wilberforce was a prolific philanthropist, establishing 69 philanthropies during his lifetime, he is best known for leading an 18-year fight for the abolition of the British Empire’s slave trade, which legally ended in 1807 in England and 1808 in the United States. So why does he not get more attention? Eric Metaxas is the author of Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery. He joins us.

5:00 – Ban the burqa? Or ban such bans?
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has endorsed the idea of a ban on the burqa. This is the conservative Islamic head-to-toe covering with mesh or a slit at the face that is worn by some Muslim women in public. Mr. Sarkozy called the burqa "subservience," not religious garb. Now the UK is taking up the issue as well. In Iran, the Islamic government takes just the opposite view. Women must be mostly covered – hair, neck, and loose-fitting clothes on the body – as a sign of religious morality. A "spring thaw" from 1997 to 2005 under a reformist president allowed a liberal interpretation of the dress code, but the current president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, revved up the morality police to once again enforce it. It may be hard for an American to fathom – this idea that government would dictate a religious dress code. Why? Because it violates the separation of church and state. It suppresses religious freedom. And in a broader sense, it squelches identity – for isn't fashion (religious or not) a means of self-expression? We revisit the issue of the burqa. Ban the burqa? Or ban such bans? We want to hear from you.

Another slideshow from the Iowa State Fair

Obama on abortion vs. the truth

This weekend, President Obama spent another weekly radio address talking about health care reform. He said he wanted to spend some time, quote, "debunking some of the more outrageous myths circulating on the internet, on cable TV, and repeated at some town halls across this country." He said the debate is dominated by what he called "willful misrepresentations and outright distortions." One of the so-called misrepresentations he said was the idea that coverage for abortions would be mandated under reform.

Meanwhile, across town, the independent, non-partisan, FactCheck.org, affiliated with the Annenberg Public Policy Center, was releasing its analysis of the issue of abortion in the health care reform bills. FactCheck.org has now issued its analysis, entitled, "Abortion: Which Side is Fabricating?" It says, in part, quote “ it’s likely that any new federal insurance plan would cover abortion unless Congress expressly prohibits that. Low- and moderate-income persons who would choose the ‘public plan’ would qualify for federal subsidies to purchase it. Private plans that cover abortion also could be purchased with the help of federal subsidies. Therefore, we judge that the president goes too far when he calls the statements that government would be funding abortions ‘fabrications.’ . . . The NRLC’s Douglas Johnson said ‘the bill backed by the White House (H.R. 3200) explicitly authorizes the government plan to cover all elective abortions.’ And our analysis shows that Johnson’s statement is correct.”

Hmmmmmm.

"Bearing False Witness"

Obama tells a teleconference with left-leaning religious leaders on health care that many are "Bearing False Witness" and that abortion is "not in the bill."

Hear the words from the horse's mouth below and then read the pro-life reaction to Obama's conference call here.

Today on Kresta - August 21, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on August 21
Live From the Iowa State Fair With KWKY – Catholic Radio For Des Moines

3:00 – Kresta Comments / Questions from the Live Studio Audience

4:20 – Obama, health care, and religious leaders
With his health reform efforts on the ropes, President Barack Obama is courting the religious community with an unabashedly moral message that played little role in the White House’s earlier arguments for changing America’s health care system. Speaking on a conference call Wednesday evening with religious leaders, Obama also suggested that some critics of his health care proposals were violating the Biblical commandment against lying. “I know there’s been a lot of misinformation in this debate and there are some folks out there who are, frankly, bearing false witness,” Obama said on the call. Obama also insisted the plan would not provide government funding for abortion. We get the facts from Leonard Nelson.

4:40 – “Ponyo” and Hayao Miyazaki
If you have a child (or a nephew, niece, grandchild, etc.) under the age of ten … or an open-minded child of any age … or if you remember childhood well enough to watch films like Bambi and Winnie the Pooh, with five-year-old eyes … there is a movie in theaters you really should see, from a filmmaker whose work you really should know. Those are the words of our film critic Steven Greydanus, and he is here to tell us what – and who – he is talking about.

5:00 – Kresta Comments

5:20 – Souly Walking
Inspired through reading the lives of the saints Jon Leonetti realized that in order to live his Catholic faith to the fullest, he has to give it all. That is why he and a friend chose to walk, over 3,500 miles, asking young people to take on a new way of living, one where they are lost in the love of Jesus Christ. Their walk is over, and the feet are healed. We talk to Jon about the lessons learned, the impact made, and the fruits of the mission.

5:40 – How Bush Quietly Saved a Million African Lives
What if a president, on his own initiative, under no demands from staff or from supporters or opponents, set out to spend an unprecedented amount of money on AIDS in Africa, literally billions of dollars, at a time when the nation could not afford it, citing his faith as a primary motivation and, ultimately, saved more than a million lives? Wouldn’t the story be front-page news, especially in top, liberal newspapers? Wouldn’t it lead on CNN, MSNBC, and the “CBS Evening News?” Might statues be erected to the man in the nation’s more “progressive” cities? What if the president was George W. Bush? Paul Kengor has the facts and the analysis.

Today on Kresta - August 20, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on August 20

Live From the Iowa State Fair With KWKY – Catholic Radio For Des Moines

3:00 – How to Stay Catholic in College
“After they graduate from high school or move away from home, just 2 out of 5 teens say it is ‘very likely’ they will attend a Christian church on a regular basis”(George Barna, Real Teens, p. 136). Starting high school or leaving home for college is a pivotal time in the life of every young person. On campus, students leave behind their church, their friends, their families – namely, their sources of support, accountability and encouragement. Every campus in today's world is a battleground where students must diligently fight to keep their faith, build strong relationships, grow in holiness, and avoid temptations. Don’t make the mistake of allowing your students to walk onto campus this Fall unprepared to do battle for their faith. Send them into battle as soldiers for Christ, equipped and prepared for intelligent warfare. Steve Wood is here to equip you.

3:40 – PBS' ban on religious programming isn't very liberal
All individuals and institutions are, to some degree, marked by inconsistency. Not all of our ducks -- conceptual and behavioral -- are ever quite in a row. But sometimes, an inconsistency is so sharp, so jarring, that it crosses the line into hypocrisy. A case in point is the decision of the Public Broadcasting System to exclude any religious programming from its schedule. The usual reasons are trotted out: religion is divisive; it would be impossible to give equal time to all denominations; the public forum should not be the place for partisan speech but rather for objective exploration of issues, etc. etc. But how has this played out on the air? Fr. Robert Barron has the analysis.

4:00 – Kresta Comments

4:20 – A Taste of Heaven
Part travel guide, part cookbook, A Taste of Heaven is a delightful survey of the fine food and drink made by Catholic religious orders in America, Belgium, France, and Germany. From positively scrumptious beer and cheese to some of the richest chocolate on earth, the treats presented in this book are heavenly indeed, and author Madeline Scherb beautifully captures the heart and spirit of the holy work that goes into producing them. With vivid descriptions of the monasteries, their fascinating histories, and helpful advice for travelers on getting there and getting the most out of their visit, this book will serve as an invaluable guide. Madeline is our guest.

4:40 – The Pedagogy of God: Source and Model of Catechesis
Amicitia Catechistica is an association of institutions involved in the formation of catechists, begun by the Notre Dame de Vie (France), Franciscan University (Steubenville, Ohio) and Maryvale Institute (Birmingham, UK) with the support and encouragement of Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna, Austria, Editor of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The group just held their third International Conference on Catechetics, and Ken Ogorek, Director of Catechesis in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis was there. He joins us.

5:00 – Physical Graffiti: A Catholic Perspective on Body Art
Every day across the United States — indeed, throughout the world — men and women, boys and girls, get themselves tattooed and pierced. And not just their ears. They are participating in the modern fad of “body art,” which has its origins in antiquity, but which in recent decades as developed into some extreme forms that are often quite disturbing. The intentional marking or mutilation of the human body under the guise of “body art” goes beyond simple tattoos or ear-piercing as adornment for women. But from a Catholic perspective, what is the difference between piercing your ear or your lip? We look at a Catholic approach to body art. Deacon Robert Lukosh is our guest.

Did Keith Olbermann Target Sarah Palin for Assassination?

Great piece posted on Newsreal by our friend Dave Forsmark.

Keith Olbermann is worried about “violent” rhetoric, even if it’s in “code.” Unless it comes out of his own mouth, that is.

Last night, MSNBC blowhards Keith Olbermann and Ed Schultz yowled about Joe the Plumber’s blustering after a question about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in which Joe said that when he was a kid, people who lied and stole money usually got taken “behind the woodshed” and “slapped upside the head.”

Shultz called it “dangerous psycho talk,” and said it was particularly bad
at a time when “hate speech is on the rise.”

Olbermann, similarly horrified, brought up Timothy McVeigh and wondered
whether it had ever occurred to Joe that this was “an endorsement of
violence.”...

Last week, in a particularly demented Special Comment, Olbermann called
Sarah Palin a “clear and present danger to the nation.”...

While the phrase “clear and present danger” was first used by Justice
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. as a legal reason to suppress speech in wartime (and
even to consider it treasonous) today It’s more commonly used as a justification
for lethal force—usually military–against an imminent threat to the nation. John
F. Kennedy famously used it in his speech to the nation at the beginning of the
Cuban Missile Crisis.

One does not have to read between the lines or look for “code” to find a call
for violence there.

Read more here...

PETA wants Grand Haven lighthouses for "fish empathy center"

The title should say it all, however if you want to subject yourself to all of the details from the Detroit News, the story is below. All I know is that I will be beside myself if a single dollar of my tax money goes to a "fish empathy center."

Grand Haven's Lake Michigan lighthouses are the prime location sought by an
animal rights group for its anti-fishing campaign headquarters.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has applied through
a federal program to take over the structures and lighted catwalk that are
frequently photographed for dramatic sunsets, thick winter ice and crashing
waves.

The area gets nearly 2 million annual visitors, including anglers
casting lines into the Grand River channel and heading out in boats for Great
Lakes salmon.

Today on Kresta - August 19, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on August 19

LIVE FROM THE IOWA STATE FAIR WITH KWKY - DES MOINES CATHOLIC RADIO

3:00 – Kresta Comments

3:20 – Praying the Psalms With the Early Christians
Mike Aquilina opens a treasure chest of ancient Christian wisdom that will enrich your experience and appreciation of the psalms. He offers reflections from some of the greatest saints of the early church on the psalms. He will help us pray these beautiful and personal Old Testament songs-not just to read or recite them, but to make them part of our lives. We pray the Psalms with the early Christians: ancient songs for modern hearts.

3:40 – Vatican Congregation Issues Letter to Permanent Deacons
Cardinal Claudio Hummes, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, is urging the world’s permanent deacons to follow the example of St. Stephen in their ministry of the Word and the example of St. Lawrence in their ministry of charity. “The ministry of the Word which, in a special way for Deacons, has as its great model St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr, requires of ordained ministers a constant struggle to study it and carry it out, at the same time as one proclaims it to others,” writes Cardinal Hummes in a letter, dated August 10. “Meditation, following the style of lectio divina, that is, prayerful reading, is one well traveled and much counseled way to understand and live the Word of God, and make it ones own. Deacon Steve Thomashefski joins us to talk about the letter, the ministry of a deacon, and the year for priests.

4:00 – Kresta Comments

4:20 – The Way of Life: John Paul II and the Challenge of Liberal Modernity
The passing of John Paul II provoked questions about the Pope, particularly in his relation to modernity. Was he opposed to the tenets of modernity, as some critics claimed? Or did he accommodate modernity in a way no Pope ever had, as his champions asserted? Carson Holloway is here to examine the fundamental philosophers of modernity--from Hobbes to Toqueville--to suggest that John Paul II's critique of modernity is intended not to reject, but to improve. Thus, claims Holloway, it is appropriate for liberal modernity to attend to the Pope's thought, receiving it not as the attack of an enemy but as the criticism of a candid friend.

5:00 – How to Stay Catholic in College
“After they graduate from high school or move away from home, just 2 out of 5 teens say it is ‘very likely’ they will attend a Christian church on a regular basis”(George Barna, Real Teens, p. 136). Starting high school or leaving home for college is a pivotal time in the life of every young person. On campus, students leave behind their church, their friends, their families – namely, their sources of support, accountability and encouragement. Every campus in today's world is a battleground where students must diligently fight to keep their faith, build strong relationships, grow in holiness, and avoid temptations. Don’t make the mistake of allowing your students to walk onto campus this Fall unprepared to do battle for their faith. Send them into battle as soldiers for Christ, equipped and prepared for intelligent warfare. Steve Wood is here to equip you.

5:40 – PBS' ban on religious programming isn't very liberal
All individuals and institutions are, to some degree, marked by inconsistency. Not all of our ducks -- conceptual and behavioral -- are ever quite in a row. But sometimes, an inconsistency is so sharp, so jarring, that it crosses the line into hypocrisy. A case in point is the decision of the Public Broadcasting System to exclude any religious programming from its schedule. The usual reasons are trotted out: religion is divisive; it would be impossible to give equal time to all denominations; the public forum should not be the place for partisan speech but rather for objective exploration of issues, etc. etc. But how has this played out on the air? Fr. Robert Barron has the analysis.

Conservative Columnist Robert Novak Dies at 78

Robert D. Novak, 78, a Catholic convert, an influential columnist and panelist on TV news-discussion shows who called himself a "stirrer up of strife" on behalf of conservative causes, died today at his home in Washington of a brain tumor first diagnosed in July 2008. Mr. Novak's "Inside Report" syndicated column, shared for 30 years with the late Rowland Evans, was important reading for anyone who wanted to know what was happening in Washington. Mr. Novak and Evans broke stories about presidential politics, fiscal policy and intra-party feuds. Their journalism, which reported leaks from the highest sources of government, often had embarrassing consequences for politicians.

Today on Kresta - August 18, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on August 18

LIVE FROM THE IOWA STATE FAIR WITH KWKY - DES MOINES CATHOLIC RADIO

3:00 – Kresta Comments

3:15 – The Obama Administration and DOMA
The U.S. Justice Department filed a brief in a suit challenging the Defense of Marriage Act, with the administration going on record as favoring repeal. The Justice Department brief, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, also rejected arguments put forward by conservative groups on the importance of marriage for child-rearing as a justification for the act's ban on federal recognition of same-sex unions. Is the Obama administration on the same page with DOMA? Gary Bauer has the answers.

3:25 - Robert Novak (1931-2009)
Robert Novak passed away this morning after battling a brain tumor. The Catholic journalist was a centerpiece in Washington journalism and political reporting for 50 years. In his memoirs released in 2007, he cuts to the chase, beginning this memoir with his first in-person encounter with Joseph Wilson, in the green room of NBC's Meet the Press in 2003. Wilson and his wife, Valerie Plame, would eventually form the center of a major career-jeopardizing controversy for Novak, who was blunt in his immediate low opinion of the man. And that characteristic bluntness reigns throughout the book as he recalled 50 years of political reporting. We replay the interview Al did with Novak upon the release of his memoirs.

3:45 – A Taste of Heaven
Part travel guide, part cookbook, A Taste of Heaven is a delightful survey of the fine food and drink made by Catholic religious orders in America, Belgium, France, and Germany. From positively scrumptious beer and cheese to some of the richest chocolate on earth, the treats presented in this book are heavenly indeed, and author Madeline Scherb beautifully captures the heart and spirit of the holy work that goes into producing them. With vivid descriptions of the monasteries, their fascinating histories, and helpful advice for travelers on getting there and getting the most out of their visit, this book will serve as an invaluable guide. Madeline is our guest.

4:00 – Kresta Comments

4:20 – Faith Finances
Are you one of the millions of Americans that are treading water in a vast sea of debt? Are you perhaps struggling financially? Are you ready for change? Tom Zordani illustrates, through the use of Scriptural principles, how to improve your situation forever. He uses a step-by-step approach that mixes powerful biblical principles with proven secular techniques to positively transform any financial situation. Faith Finances will have you looking not only at your checkbook differently, but the Good Book as well.

4:40 – Heart of the Assassin
Heart of the Assassin is the culminating novel in Robert Ferrigno’s post-apocalyptic trilogy, following Prayers for the Assassin and Sins of the Assassin. Key leaders are planning to reunite the U.S., long divided into an Islamic Republic and a Christian Bible Belt. Elite Muslim warrior Rakkim Epps’ wife, Sarah, believes the path to reunification lies in retrieving a relic of Christ’s cross kept in a safe room beneath Washington, D.C., an area long looted by scavengers known as zombies who are willing to risk contamination from nuclear fallout in order to retrieve and sell treasured items. Also interested in reuniting America is the Old One, a 150-year-old despot who has achieved near immortality through genetic engineering. Robert joins us.

5:00 – Memories of Robert Novak
Robert D. Novak, 78, an influential columnist and panelist on TV news-discussion shows who called himself a "stirrer up of strife" on behalf of conservative causes, died today at his home in Washington of a brain tumor first diagnosed in July 2008.Mr. Novak's "Inside Report" syndicated column, shared for 30 years with the late Rowland Evans, was important reading for anyone who wanted to know what was happening in Washington. Mr. Novak and Evans broke stories about presidential politics, fiscal policy and intra-party feuds. Their journalism, which reported leaks from the highest sources of government, often had embarrassing consequences for politicians. We talk to Raymond Arroyo who worked for Bob Novak.

5:20 - Robert Novak (1931-2009)
Robert Novak passed away this morning after battling a brain tumor. The Catholic journalist was a centerpiece in Washington journalism and political reporting for 50 years. In his memoirs released in 2007, he cuts to the chase, beginning this memoir with his first in-person encounter with Joseph Wilson, in the green room of NBC's Meet the Press in 2003. Wilson and his wife, Valerie Plame, would eventually form the center of a major career-jeopardizing controversy for Novak, who was blunt in his immediate low opinion of the man. And that characteristic bluntness reigns throughout the book as he recalled 50 years of political reporting. We replay the interview Al did with Novak upon the release of his memoirs.

USCCB on Health Care Reform

The U.S. bishops believe we can have health care that covers everyone, respects human life and dignity, and doesn't violate anyone's conscience when it comes to abortion. Richard Doerflinger of the USCCB elaborates.

View this series of videos from the USCCB on Health Care Reform at http://www.youtube.com/user/usccb

Afghans warned by militants: Vote at your own risk

Next on the agenda?

President Barack Obama insisted Monday he still wants to scrap what he calls a discriminatory federal marriage law, even as his administration angered gay rights activists by defending the it in court.

The president said his administration's stance in a California court case is not about defending traditional marriage, but is instead about defending traditional legal practice.

Justice Department lawyers filed new papers Monday seeking to throw out a lawsuit brought by a gay couple challenging the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA. Gay rights groups say that by doing so, the administration is failing to follow through on campaign promises made by Obama last year to work to repeal the law.

Department lawyers are defending the law "as it traditionally does when acts of Congress are challenged," Obama said in a statement.

The Clinton-era law denies federal recognition of gay marriage and gives states the right to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Obama said he plans to work with Congress to repeal the law, and said his administration "will continue to examine and implement measures that will help extend rights and benefits" to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender couples under existing law.

The mixed message got a mixed review from Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights group.

"It is not enough to disavow this discriminatory law, and then wait for Congress or the courts to act," Solmonese said in a statement. "While they contend that it is the DOJ's duty to defend an act of Congress, we contend that it is the administration's duty to defend every citizen from discrimination."

U.S. bishops launch website on health care reform

As the American health care debate continues, the U.S. Catholic bishops have launched a webpage to promote support for a “truly universal” health policy that respects human dignity.

The page on the website of the USCCB includes letters for bishops to Congress, videos, facts and statistics, frequently asked questions, and links for contacting members of Congress.

According to a USCCB press release, letters to Congress include USCCB pro-life chairman Cardinal Justice Rigali’s August 11 letter which criticized abortion provisions in the House version of health care legislation. The site also reproduces the July 17 letter from Bishop William Murphy, which outlines the bishops’ concerns and priorities for health care reform from a social justice perspective.

The new webpage also includes videos of USCCB staff explaining the bishops’ position on health care. Kathy Saile, the USCCB’s director of Domestic Social Development, outlines the prelates’ general position and concerns. Richard Doerflinger, associate director of Pro-Life Activities, describes how abortion relates to the debate over health care reform.

The website also reports facts and statistics on Catholic health care in the U.S., where there are 624 Catholic hospitals, 164 home health agencies and 41 hospice organizations.

You can find the USCCB’s health care reform here.

Today on Kresta - August 17, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on August 17
Live from the Iowa State Fair with KWKY - Catholic Radio for the Heart of Iowa

3:00 – Kresta Comments

3:20 – Muslim Teen Who Converted to Christianity Says Family Threatened to Kill Her
An Ohio teenager says she ran away from home to Florida because her family threatened to kill her for converting from Islam to Christianity. Rifqa Bary, 17, testified last week at a custody hearing in Orlando that she'd recently changed religions and is worried her relatives will do something drastic. “They have to kill me because I'm a Christian. It's an honor (issue)," the girl said. Such threats are common, even in the United States, her attorney, Rosa Gonzalez, said. Rifqa, a non-citizen whose parents are from Sri Lanka, has for several weeks been staying with an Orlando couple who are pastors of a new Christian church there. She met them on a Facebook prayer group. Her father denied his daughter's allegations, saying he never threatened to kill his daughter because she rejected Islam. We talk with Bridgitte Gabriel about this case and honor killings.

3:40 – Gitmo Prisoners in MI?
A team of government officials has visited a prison in the northern state of Michigan which could host some detainees currently held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The visit was part of efforts to find a place where some of the remaining 229 detainees can be housed together, at a site that would include a maximum security prison, a holding center for those waiting release to another country, and rooms where legal proceedings can be held. The prison in Standish, Michigan, is expected to close soon due to insufficient numbers of prisoners, which would spell financial doom for an area already in the grips of high unemployment. Keeping it open could save 300 jobs. We talk with Frank Gaffney of the Center for Security Policy.

4:00 – Kresta Comments

4:20 – Woodstock Turns 40 – The Politically Incorrect Guide to the 60’s
Get ready to break on through to the other side as critically-acclaimed playwright and journalist Jonathan Leaf reveals the politically incorrect truth about one of the most controversial decades in history--the 1960s. Life was more "square" than "groovy" and Dean Martin was topping the Billboard charts--not Jimmy Hendrix. In this blast from the past, Leaf exposes the lies and busts the myths propagated by the liberal establishment. He proves the anti-Vietnam War sentiment and free love slogans that supposedly "defined" the decade were just a small part of the leftist counter culture. The mainstream culture was more politically incorrect. He joins us.

4:40 – The Pedagogy of God: Source and Model of Catechesis
Amicitia Catechistica is an association of institutions involved in the formation of catechists, begun by the Notre Dame de Vie (France), Franciscan University (Steubenville, Ohio) and Maryvale Institute (Birmingham, UK) with the support and encouragement of Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna, Austria, Editor of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The group just held their third International Conference on Catechetics, and Ken Ogorek, Director of Catechesis in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis was there. He joins us.

5:00 – Kresta Comments

5:20 – The Theology of the Laity
When many people think of the Catholic Church, they think of the Pope, Bishops and priests. But 99% of the Catholic Church is the laity. Has the Church become more open to the Laity since the Second Vatican Council? What “new” way of treating the Laity opened with the Council? How did the Council explain the stance of Laity in the Church? What did John Paul II contribute to the understanding of the Laity? What is Pope Benedict saying to the Laity? Fr. Bevil Bramwell is here to discuss the theology of the laity.

Today on Kresta - August 14, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on August 14

3:00 – 6:00: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
On this day before the feast of the Assumption, we break format to spend three hours looking at the Biblical Basis for Marian Dogma. Have you ever had family or friends challenge you on you belief in the Church's teachings on Mary - asking "where is that in the Bible?" We have the answers. Be with us.

Today on Kresta - August 13, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on August 13

3:00 – Kresta Comments

3:20 – Hitchcock Birthday – Aug. 13, 1899
In a career that spanned six decades and more than sixty films, Alfred Hitchcock became the most widely recognized director who ever lived. His films set new standards for cinematic invention and storytelling. He is certainly one of the greatest filmmakers of all-time. He was also a devout Catholic. We examine how his faith influenced his career and found its way into many of his productions. Biographer Patrick McGilligan joins us.

4:00 – Lawsuit Against Dearborn, MI School and Muslim Principal Over Firing of Christian Wrestling Coach
The Thomas More Law Center has filed a federal lawsuit against a Dearborn, MI high school, Fordson High School, and its Muslim principal, Imad Fadlallah, over the firing of Gerald Marszalek because of Marszalek’s connection to a Christian volunteer coach. Marszalek, who had coached wrestling for 35 years, had achieved a legendary status in the wrestling community. Earning more that 450 wins, and sending numerous wrestlers to various collegiate programs, he was elected to the Michigan High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, named “Sportsman of the Year” by the All-American Athletic Association. Marszalek’s contract was not renewed because of his association with a Christian volunteer coach, Trey Hancock, who the principal accused of converting a Muslim student to Christianity during a summer camp not connected with the school or Coach Marszalek. Attorney Brian Rooney is with us.

4:00 – Kresta Comments

4:20 – "The Soloist"
The Soloist is a story about a relationship across a socioeconomic chasm. Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) and Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx) have absolutely nothing in common. Lopez is a Los Angeles suburbanite columnist whose biggest problem is raccoons digging up his back yard turf for worms. Ayers is homeless, mentally ill, almost unreachable in a fog of confusion. But the film is based on a true story, adapted from the writings of the real-life Lopez — which, in a way, is itself the explanation for Lopez’s and Ayers’s relationship. Like any columnist, Lopez is always on the lookout for story fodder, and when he runs across Ayers in a public square playing a two-stringed violin — and catches a reference to “Julliard” in Ayers’s torrent of words — Lopez smells a story. Maybe even a series. The DVD is now out and Steven Greydanus has the review.

4:40 – EEOC Violates Religious Liberty By Forcing Catholic College to Provide Insurance for Contraceptives
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has ruled that a small Catholic college must include coverage for artificial contraceptives in its employee health insurance plan, raising new concerns about the need for conscience protections and religious exemptions in America’s health care policies. In December 2007, Belmont Abbey College removed coverage for abortion, contraception and voluntary sterilization after they were accidentally included in the college’s insurance plan. Eight faculty members filed complaints. The EEOC determined that Belmont Abbey has discriminated against women by denying coverage of contraception. We talk with Belmont Abbey President William Thierfelder about the case.

5:00 – Kresta Comments

5:20 – Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of the Civilization of Love
Today, Our Lady of Guadalupe continues to inspire the devotion of millions. From Canada to Argentina — and even beyond the Americas — one finds great devotion to her, and great appreciation for her message of love, unity and hope. Her shrine in Mexico City, where the miraculous image is housed to this day, is one of the most visited in the world. Carl Anderson is here to trace the history of Our Lady of Guadalupe from the sixteenth century to the present discuss of how her message was and continues to be an important catalyst for religious and cultural transformation. Looking at Our Lady of Guadalupe as a model of the Church and Juan Diego as a model for all Christians who seek to answer Christ's call of conversion and witness, he explores the changing face of the Catholic Church in North, Central, and South America, and shows how Our Lady of Guadalupe's message was not only historically significant, but how it speaks to contemporary issues confronting the American continents and people today.

Read the Bill? Me? Don't Be Ridiculous!

Abortion Provisions in House’s Health Care Bill Unacceptable, Says Cardinal in Letter to House

Letter from the USCCB Secrertariat of Pro-Life Activities to the US House of Reps.

Dear Representative:

As you continue deliberations on the “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act” (H.R. 3200), I urge you to consider the overall priorities and concerns presented by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Bishop William Murphy’s July 17 letter to Congress. The bishops’ conference views health care as a basic right belonging to all human beings. We therefore have long supported health care reform that respects human life and dignity from conception to natural death; provides access to quality health care for all, with a special concern for immigrants and the poor; preserves pluralism, with respect for rights of conscience; and restrains costs while sharing them equitably.

As this debate continues we will share our perspectives on positive and negative features in this and other health care reform legislation. In this letter I am writing specifically about our fundamental requirement that such legislation respect human life and rights of conscience in the context of abortion. Much-needed reform must not become a vehicle for promoting an “abortion rights” agenda or reversing longstanding policies against federal funding and mandated coverage of abortion. In this sense we urge you to make this legislation “abortion neutral,” by preserving longstanding federal policies that prevent government promotion of abortion and respect conscience rights.

As amended by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on July 31, H.R. 3200 addresses two aspects of the abortion issue: The Act will not preempt certain state laws regulating abortion, and will have no effect on existing federal conscience rights on abortion.

These changes are helpful improvements. Especially welcome is the committee’s approval of the Stupak/Pitts amendment, prohibiting governmental bodies that receive federal funds under this Act from discriminating against providers and insurers who decline involvement in abortion.
The bishops’ conference had urged approval of this amendment, which applies the policy of the Weldon amendment (approved by Congress every year since 2004 as part of the Labor/HHS appropriations bill) to the health care reform bill.

On two other fundamental issues, however, the Act remains seriously deficient:

1. The legislation delegates to the Secretary of Health and Human Services the power to make unlimited abortion a mandated benefit in the “public health insurance plan” the government will manage nationwide. This would be a radical change: Federal law has long excluded most abortions from federal employees’ health benefits packages, and no federal health program mandates coverage of elective abortions.

2. Because some federal funds are authorized and appropriated by this legislation without passing through the Labor/HHS appropriations bill, they are not covered by the Hyde amendment and other federal provisions that have long prevented federal funding of abortion and of health benefits packages that include abortion. The committee rejected an amendment to extend this longstanding policy to the use of federal subsidies for health care premiums under this Act. Instead the committee created a legal fiction, a paper separation between federal funding and abortion: Federal funds will subsidize the public plan, as well as private health plans that include abortion on demand; but anyone who purchases these plans is required to pay a premium out of his or her own pocket (specified in the Act to be at least $1.00 a month) to cover all abortions beyond those eligible for federal funds under the current Hyde amendment. Thus some will claim that federal taxpayer funds do not support abortion under the Act.

But this is an illusion. Funds paid into these plans are fungible, and federal taxpayer funds will subsidize the operating budget and provider networks that expand access to abortions.
Furthermore, those constrained by economic necessity or other factors to purchase the “public plan” will be forced by the federal government to pay directly and specifically for abortion coverage. This is the opposite of the policy in every other federal health program. Government will force low-income Americans to subsidize abortions for others (and abortion coverage for themselves) even if they find abortion morally abhorrent.

Please consider the broader context. No federal program mandates coverage for elective abortions, or subsidizes health plans that include such abortions. Most Americans do not want abortion in their health coverage, and most consider themselves “pro-life,” with a stronger majority among low-income Americans. About 80 percent of all hospitals do not generally provide abortions, and 85 percent of U.S. counties have no abortion provider. By what right, then, and by what precedent, would Congress make abortion coverage into a nationwide norm, or force Americans to subsidize it as a condition for participating in a public health program?

As long-time supporters of genuine health care reform, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is working to ensure that needed health reform is not undermined by abandoning longstanding and widely supported policies against abortion funding and mandates and in favor of conscience protection.

I urge you to help ensure that any legislation that comes up for a vote in the full House does not include these unacceptable features. Please support amendments to correct them, and oppose any rule for consideration of H.R. 3200 that would block such amendments. By your actions on these issues, you can advance urgently needed health care reform that will truly serve the poor and needy and uphold the dignity of all.

Sincerely,
Cardinal Justin Rigali
Archbishop of Philadelphia
Chairman USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities

Today on Kresta - August 12, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on August 12

3:00 – Kresta Comments

3:20 – Ministering with the Missionaries of Charity in India
Fr. Bob Roggenbuck has just returned from a mission trip to India, in which he and his fellow travelers ministered with the Missionaries of Charity. We talk about the work that was done and the impact on the missionaries.

4:00 – Kresta Comments

4:20 – Maafa 21
They were stolen from their homes, locked in chains and taken across an ocean. And for more than 200 years, their blood and sweat would help to build the richest and most powerful nation the world has ever known. But when slavery ended, their welcome was over. America's wealthy elite had decided it was time for them to disappear and they were not particular about how it might be done. What you are about to see is that the plan these people set in motion 150 years ago is still being carried out today. So don't think that this is history. It is not. It is happening right here, and it's happening right now. Mark Crutcher explains.

4:40 – The Case for Early Marriage
Virginity pledges. Chastity balls. Courtship. Side hugs. Guarding your heart. Evangelical and Catholic discourse on sex is more conservative than ever. Parents and pastors and youth group leaders told us not to do it before we got married. Why? Because the Bible says so. Yet that simple message didn't go very far in shaping our sexual decision-making. Amid our purity pledges and attempts to make chastity hip, we forgot to teach young Christians how to tie the knot. We talk with Mark Regnerus about the case for early marriage.

5:00 – Direct to my Desk
One of the big issues under debate in the United Kingdom this summer is whether to ban the burqa. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said last month that the burqa debases women and is not welcome in his country; Britain is trying to decide whether to follow suit. Underlying the debate is concern about terrorism and the inability to identify the person under a burqa. The central question, then, is whether women should be permitted to cover their faces in public. We look at the burqua debate, public safety, and religious freedom.

Twins created to treat sick brother

Children created by a couple through IVF to help treat an older son’s blood illness have been described as the first ‘saviour sibling’ twins.

Laurence Maguire and his partner Wendy Plant have a four year old son, Connor, who has aplastic anaemia, a very rare blood condition. The couple underwent IVF treatment after a worldwide search for bone marrow. Embryos from the IVF were then tested to see if they were suitable as future bone marrow donors for Connor.

Mr Maguire said they had not realised that IVF would be a difficult process: “It is a massive undertaking, with blood tests all the time, daily injections. It is incredibly stressful”.

The IVF resulted in five embryos and the two that were a match for Connor were implanted.
When the twins, Amy and Anthony, were born nearly two years ago, their umbilical cord blood was immediately taken and stored for use in the future.

So far, however, it has not been needed as Connor’s condition has stabilised. Mr Maguire insisted he and his partner had always intended to have more children, denying that the twins were created in order to provide ‘spare parts’. He added: “It wasn’t really a choice at all, because you will do anything for your child.”

The laws allowing the ‘saviour sibling’ process to take place were passed in 2008, but as early as 2004 the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority gave permission for one family to create a ‘saviour sibling’.

During the debate in the House of Lords on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, Christian Peer Lady O’Cathain opposed the creation of ‘saviour siblings’ to provide ‘spare-part’ tissues for the treatment of an existing child.

She said in the debate: “To manufacture a person in this way is to offend against the respect that is due to the integrity of that person, no matter how compelling the goal of trying to cure.”
Lord Tebbit said at the time: “Because it might bring great benefits to particular people does not mean it should be done.

“If we accept arguments of that kind we are effectively saying that the end justifies the means.”

The Pro-Life Kennedy

Former Susan B. Anthony List Advisory Committee Member Eunice Kennedy Shriver died today at the age of 88 at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Massachusetts, surrounded by her family. Eunice Kennedy Shriver was a sister of President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, and mother of Maria Shriver, the first lady of California. She founded the Special Olympics in 1968.

"No one more than Eunice Kennedy Shriver understood better the power held by the most vulnerable in our society," said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. "She fought for those hidden in the shadows of life, while acknowledging that they teach us far more than we could ever offer them. She was consistent in her championing of every vulnerable human life."

On July 14, 1992, Eunice and Sargent Shriver joined Pennsylvania Governor Bob Casey (D-PA) and many other influential pro-life leaders in signing a full-page ad in the New York Times protesting the Democratic Party's embrace of the abortion-rights agenda. The ad, titled The New American Compact, called for support of policies that embrace both mother and child. The ad concluded with the following statement:

"We can choose to reaffirm our respect for human life. We can choose to extend once again the mantle of protection to all members of the human family, including the unborn. We can choose to provide effective care of mothers and children. And if we make those choices, America will experience a new birth of freedom, bringing with it a renewed spirit of community, compassion, and caring."

Real or Fake? Video of Waterslide Stunt Stirs Authenticity Debate

A YouTube video showing a man riding down what's described as the "biggest waterslide on Earth" and landing in a small pool is fast becoming an online sensation. But is it real? You be the judge.

World's Smartest Bird?

Has someone been reading Aesop's fables?

Catholic Doctor to Receive Presidential Medal

Dr. Pedro José Greer, the assistant dean of academic affairs at the Florida International University School of Medicine, will be one of 16 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to be awarded tomorrow by President Barack Obama at the White House.

An Aug. 10 White House press release notes that Greer is “the founder of Camillus Health Concern, an agency that provides medical care to over 10,000 homeless patients a year in the city of Miami. He is also the founder and medical director of the St. John Bosco Clinic which provides basic primary medical care to disadvantaged children and adults in the Little Havana community. He has been recognized by Presidents Clinton, Bush Sr., and Carter for his work with Miami’s poor. He is also the recipient of three papal medals as well as the prestigious MacArthur ‘genius grant.’”

Obama Falsely Claims AARP Endorsed Health Care Plan

Obama: “We have the AARP on board because they know this is a good deal for our seniors.”

AARP: "Indications that we have endorsed any of the major health care reform bills currently under consideration in Congress are inaccurate."

Oops.

Olbermann: Sarah Palin is a "Clear and Present Danger"

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Today on Kresta - August 11, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on August 11

3:00 – Kresta Comments

3:20 – TBA

3:40 – Health Care Reform, Abortion, and MI
PA Senator Arlen Specter today said that Senate Democrats will seek two levels of health care coverage – on with an option for abortion coverage and a second level without abortion coverage. Meanwhile, the U.S. bishops' conference Committee on Pro-Life Activities Chairman is urging lawmakers to amend a health care reform proposal so that it respects ALL life and conscience rights. This afternoon MI Right to Life President Barb Listing hosted a teleseminar on the health care reform debate. She joins us.

4:00 – Kresta Comments

4:20 – Aug. 11, 70: Destruction of the Jerusalem Temple
On this day in the year 70, Roman troops, sent by Emperor Vespasian to put down a Jewish rebellion, break through the walls of Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. Some said that the event occurred on the same day of the year as the earlier destruction of Solomon's temple by Babylonians. We talk with Roy Schoeman about the significance of this event for the Jewish people.

5:00 – Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of the Civilization of Love
Today, Our Lady of Guadalupe continues to inspire the devotion of millions. From Canada to Argentina — and even beyond the Americas — one finds great devotion to her, and great appreciation for her message of love, unity and hope. Her shrine in Mexico City, where the miraculous image is housed to this day, is one of the most visited in the world. Carl Anderson is here to trace the history of Our Lady of Guadalupe from the sixteenth century to the present discuss of how her message was and continues to be an important catalyst for religious and cultural transformation. Looking at Our Lady of Guadalupe as a model of the Church and Juan Diego as a model for all Christians who seek to answer Christ's call of conversion and witness, he explores the changing face of the Catholic Church in North, Central, and South America, and shows how Our Lady of Guadalupe's message was not only historically significant, but how it speaks to contemporary issues confronting the American continents and people today.

5:40 – All Things Girl: Truth for Teens
Filled with the teachings of the Catholic Church, along with stories of hope and inspiration, girls are encouraged to learn and diligently live their Catholic faith with joy and integrity. Written with the same honesty and understanding that made their tween All Things Girl series so popular, the authors of Truth for Teens tackle a variety of today’s issues in a straightforward way that all teens appreciate. Sections include: You Are Here for a Reason; Relationships; Learning from All of God’s Creatures; Influences from the Feminist Movement; Be Mindful of the Media Messages; Fashion; Skin, Makeup and Hair; Financial Responsibility; How Does Your Garden Grow?; Every Life Is a Vocation; Virtues to Live by; and A Plan for Life. Teresa Tomeo and Cheryl Dickow join us.

Catholic School "Discriminates" By Not Covering Contraception

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has ruled that a small Catholic college must include coverage for artificial contraceptives in its employee health insurance plan, raising new concerns about the need for conscience protections and religious exemptions in America’s health care policies.

In December 2007, Belmont Abbey College removed coverage for abortion, contraception and voluntary sterilization after they were accidentally included in the college’s insurance plan. Eight faculty members filed complaints with the EEOC and the North Carolina Department of Insurance.

“As a Roman Catholic institution, Belmont Abbey College is not able to and will not offer nor subsidize medical services that contradict the clear teaching of the Catholic Church,” said Belmont Abbey President William Thierfelder. “There was no other course of action possible if we were to operate in fidelity to our mission and to our identity as a Catholic college.”

The EEOC determined that Belmont Abbey has discriminated against women by denying coverage of contraception.

“By denying prescription contraception drugs, Respondent [Belmont Abbey College] is discriminating based on gender because only females take oral prescription contraceptives. By denying coverage, men are not affected, only women,” wrote Reuben Daniels Jr. in his determination as the EEOC Charlotte District Office Director.

Belmont Abbey College has been directed by the EEOC to reach an agreeable resolution with faculty. If this does not happen, Daniels will advise the parties of available enforceable court alternatives.

Today on Kresta - August 10, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on August 10

3:00 – Kresta Comments

3:20 – TBA

3:40 – APA: No Therapy for Gays
There is no firm evidence that sexual orientation can be changed through therapy, so mental health professionals should not tell conflicted gay clients that they can become heterosexual with such treatments. That according to the American Psychological Association. Dr. Peter Kleponis disagrees and says the evidence is on his side. He joins us.

4:00 – Kresta Comments

4:20 – You're Teaching My Child What?
If you think sex education is still about the birds and the bees, you're wrong. And it's not about science either. If you're a parent with children in the public school system, you need to know what's really going on. Dr. Miriam Grossman, M.D. rips back the curtain on sex education today, exposing a sordid truth. Instead of teaching our children the facts of life, sex educators are lying to them, ignoring medical fact in favor of politicized, and dangerous, propaganda that could ruin your child's life forever.

4:40 – APA Dismisses Gay-to-Straight Therapy / New Study: Not So Fast
Last week The American Psychological Association declared that mental health professionals should not tell gay clients they can become straight through therapy or other treatments. Instead, the APA urged therapists to consider multiple options — that could range from celibacy to switching churches — for helping clients whose sexual orientation and religious faith conflict. Two days later, Mark Yarhouse of Regent University and Stanton Jones of Wheaton College released findings at the APA meeting from their six-year study of people who went through Exodus programs. More than half of 61 subjects either converted to heterosexuality or “disidentified” with homosexuality while embracing chastity. Is this proof that change is possible? Or that the attempt to change will not be harmful? We talk to Professor Jones.

5:00 – Kresta Comments

5:20 – God Loves You and There's Nothing You Can Do about It
God's love comes to us through the Holy Spirit, but many people are confused about the role and work of this third person of the Trinity. David Mangan's experience of the sacrament of confirmation, when the Holy Spirit floods the soul, is typical: “I figured that God knew what He was doing, and the bishop knew what he was doing, but I wasn't sure that I knew what I was doing.” If you're wondering how to receive more of God's life and love through the action of the Holy Spirit, you want to hear this interview. The power Jesus promised his followers when he ascended to the Father is yours for the asking. Blending lively anecdotes, personal testimony and humor, the Dave shows us how to turn to God in expectant faith and open ourselves to the dynamite of the Holy Spirit.

Schaeffer Continues to Go Over the Cliff

Schaeffer on America: "We have a history of being a well-armed violent country"

Scheaffer on Religious Right: "These people can be energized to go out and do really dreadful things. We've seen it in front of abortion clinics."

Schaeffer on Conservatives: "Anti-democratic, anti-American movement in this country that is trying to shut down legitimate debate and replace it with straight-out intimidation."

Schaeffer on Conservatives: "Small, angry group of white people. To paraphrase Bart Simpson: 'The election broke their brains.' They are angry and are ready to do just about anything to stop the process."

Catholic Marketing Network Photos

Today on Kresta - August 7, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on August 7

Live from the Catholic Marketing Network Convention

3:00 – The Bible Compass: A Catholic's Guide to Navigating the Scriptures
We’ve long heard the jokes and characitures about Catholics and knowledge of Scripture. But knowing and understanding God’s word is no laughing matter. We talk with Scripture scholar Dr. Ted Sri about his forthcoming book The Bible Compass: A Catholic’s Guide to Navigating the Scriptures.

3:20 – The Future of Catholic Publishing
As we broadcast from the Catholic Marketing Network and talk with publishers, authors, and industry leaders, Mark Brumley, President and C.E.O. of Ignatius Press is here to look at the future of Catholic publishing. Where has it been, where is it now, and where is it headed?

3:40 – The Catholicism Project
The Catholicism Project is an epic series that will be one of the most innovative productions ever to promote the Catholic faith to the world. Fr. Robert Barron has gone from Jerusalem to Rome to Mexico City and beyond - and use art, architecture, literature, music and all the riches of the Catholic tradition to tell an inspiring story and draw people into the faith. We talk about the 10-part series and his recent filming in Spain and Lourdes.

4:00 – The Catholic Writers’ Guild
The Catholic Writers' Guild, in conjunction with the Catholic Marketing Network, is hosting the Catholic Writers’ Conference LIVE! this week. Panel discussions/workshops and presentations include world building, generating query letters, crafting good stories, marketing finished works, honing speaking skills, and more. Catholic magazines, devotionals, novels and educational materials are incorporated as publishers/editors and authors cover various aspects of Catholic writing. We talk with Karina Fabian and Ann Lewis of the Guild.

4:40 – APA Dismisses Gay-to-Straight Therapy
There is no firm evidence that sexual orientation can be changed through therapy, so mental health professionals should not tell conflicted gay clients that they can become heterosexual with such treatments. That according to the American Psychological Association. Dr. Richard Cohen disagrees and says the evidence is on his side. He joins us.

5:00 – Kresta Comments

5:20 – Fulton Sheen on the Priesthood
In this year for priests, Fr. Andrew Apostoli, the postulator for the cause for canonization of Archbishop Fulton Sheen says that we should be looking to Sheen for his writings on the priesthood. Originally given as a retreat for Irish clergy in 1977, we look at Sheen’s Called and Chosen: The Never Changing Face of the Priesthood, in which he shares with remarkable frankness and amazing precision, his thoughts and feelings on what it means to be a priest of God.

5:40 – The Domestic Church
Pope John Paul II wrote that the “little domestic church, like the greater Church, needs to be constantly and intensely evangelized: hence its duty regarding permanent education in the faith.” That's a tall order for busy Catholic mothers. You might even say it's as big as a house: You wouldn't want to clean the whole thing in one fell swoop but, if you take it one room at a time, you'll get the job done. In a systematic course for mothers that's equally useful for groups and individuals, Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle shows us how to remodel our homes based on the spiritual design of Holy Mother Church.