Today on Kresta - Sept. 24, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Sept. 24

3:00 – True Active Participation at Mass
The annual Call to Holiness Conference will be held in two weeks at the Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, MI. The theme for the day is “Treasures of the Mass.” Participants will hear topics such as The Sacredness of the Holy Eucharist and the Fathers of the Church, How the Mass Shaped the Western World, Sacred Music, and more. Fr. John Zuhlsdorf will speak on “True Active Participation in the Mass” and is with us today to look at that topic.

3:20 – Days of Fire and Glory: The Rise and Fall of a Charismatic Community
It was the late summer of 1986 when Julia Duin moved to Houston as the new religion writer for The Houston Chronicle. At the invitation of friends, she visited the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Houston's blighted East End and fell in love with its gorgeous music and charismatic worship. After she met Graham Pulkingham, the spellbinding priest who had led Redeemer into a powerful renewal starting in 1964, Duin became convinced the world needed to know the story of this gifted man and his church. As she began investigating the story, many warned her there was a darker history behind Pulkingham. Now the journalist who first broke that story reveals the details of the scandal that rocked the charismatic and Christian community movements, and the Episcopal Church. Duin provides a fascinating portrait of the glorious days of the renewal and its sister movements within Catholic and Pentecostal churches.

4:00 – Kresta Comments

4:20 – Finding Faith & Freedom After Childhood Sex Abuse
Jaycee Dugard is back with her family 18 years after being kidnapped by Phillip Garrido at the age of 11. Now Dugard, her two daughters and the family that had lost her will be dealing with a long, unknown road as they try to adapt to a new life. What are some of the emotions Dugard will be facing after being freed from her captor of 18 years? Regardless of the circumstances of the violation, every survivor can attest that it will impact relationships with parents, friends, spouses, children, and God. Sexual abuse survivors are often left feeling isolated and without anyone to trust. But it does not have to be this way. Nicole Braddock Bromley understands the fears and anxieties Jaycee faces as she seeks to build healthy relationships after sexual abuse. As a survivor herself, Nicole offers readers the power and hope necessary to share their story, build intimacy, and develop healthy communication in all their relationships.

4:40 – “Catholic Heroes of the Faith: The Story of St. Perpetua”
It is the year AD 203 in Carthage, North Africa. Perpetua, an affluent young mother, is charged with converting to Christianity and is sent to prison. But her freedom can be secured easily. All she has to do is offer one pinch of incense in honor to the Roman gods. With this simple act of devotion and loyalty to the Roman Empire she can regain her freedom and return to her son and a life of comfort. As her father pleads for Perpetua to consider the welfare of her child and the reputation of their family, she slowly makes her way to face the Roman proconsul and declare her final decision. What will it be? This inaugural episode of Catholic Heroes of the Faith presents one of the most influential, true stories of the Early Church. We talk with Executive Producer Robert Fernandez about Catholic Heroes of the Faith, a DVD series of animated programs for youth ages eight and older, presenting the lives of true-life heroes of the Catholic Faith.

5:00 – The Complete Infidel's Guide to the Koran
The Koran: It may be the most controversial book in the world. Some see it as a paean to peace, others call it a violent mandate for worldwide Islamic supremacy. How can one book lead to such dramatically different conclusions? Robert Spencer reveals the truth in The Complete Infidel's Guide to the Koran: not many Westerners know what's in the Koran, since so few have actually read it -- even among the legions of politicians, diplomats, analysts, and editorial writers who vehemently insist that the Koran preaches tolerance. Spencer unveils the mysteries lying behind this powerful book, guiding readers through the controversies surrounding the Koran's origins and its most contentious passages. Stripping out the obsolete debates, Spencer focuses on the Koran's decrees toward Jews, Christians, and other Infidels, explaining how they were viewed in Muhammad's time, what they've supposedly done wrong, and most important, what the Koran has in store for them.