Today on Kresta - Sept. 29, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Sept. 29

3:00 – Kresta Comments

3:20 – What Should We Know About the G-20?
The G-20 summit in Pittsburgh took the first tiny steps toward an ambitious reordering of the global economy designed to prevent a repeat of the current financial crisis. For the U.S., that means less credit-fueled shopping. Europe will need to invest more, while consumers in China and other fast-growing nations must open their wallets in ways they never have. However there was also an agreement that there will be no enforcement mechanism to guarantee that member governments actually implement policies agreed upon at G-20 meetings. Instead, they will rely on “moral suasion.” So what can be gained and what is too much to expect from these meetings? Economist Dr. Mark Hendrickson is with us.

3:40 – The Pulpit Initiative – Should Churches be able to endorse candidates without losing their tax-exempt status?
More than 80 pastors nationwide participated in the Alliance Defense Fund’s second annual Pulpit Freedom Sunday this weekend. The pastors preached sermons related to biblical perspectives on the positions of electoral candidates or current government officials, exercising their constitutional right to free religious expression despite a problematic Internal Revenue Service rule that activists groups often use to silence churches. Pulpit Freedom Sunday is an event associated with the ADF Pulpit Initiative, a legal effort designed to secure the First Amendment rights of pastors in the pulpit. We talk to ADF attorney Erik Stanley about the Initiative and some very interesting developments in this Initiatives

4:00 – Kresta Comments

4:20 – TBA

5:00 – Dan Brown, Freemasonry, and the Catholic Church
Dan Brown may loathe Catholics, but he just adores the Masons. Brown goes out of his way in his latest book “‘The Lost Symbol” to present the lodge as essentially benign and misunderstood. The Catholic Church, of course, is seen by Brown as essentially wicked and misunderstood only by its followers. “Masons are praised for their religious tolerance,” an AP article says. In the book, Brown defends the Masons against “unfair” portrayals. So kind of him. In real life Brown says he has “enormous respect for the Masons.” Must be their historic anti-Catholicism that won him over. Showing nothing but sweetness and light, the man who has made millions dumping on the Catholic Church says of his new work, “It’s a reverent look at their philosophy. I’m more interested in what they believe than all their rituals and conspiracy theories about them.” Now if only Brown had cut Catholics the same break. We are joined by John Salza, former 32nd degree Freemason in the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and author of Why Catholics Cannot Be Masons and Masonry Unmasked.

5:40 – UPDATE: EEOC Violates Religious Liberty By Forcing Catholic College to Provide Insurance for Contraceptives
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ruled last month 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 progression of the case.