Today on Kresta - November 19, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Nov. 19
Live from the USCCB Fall Meeting in Baltimore, MD

4:00 – Alba House Press – Sponsor of “Kresta in the Afternoon” at the USCCB
The Pauline Priests and Brothers are an order dedicated to media. Books, magazines, web content, CDs, DVDs, and much more. They are also our sponsors for our broadcast from the USCCB Fall Meeting. We talk with Fr. Jeffrey Mickler about St. Paul’s / Alba House Publishers and his new work with stpaulstube.com.

4:20 – A Bishop’s Story of Vocation
Bishop Alexander Sample of the Diocese of Marquette, MI has an incredible story of his calling to the priesthood, and he is here to share it. In this year for priests, the Bishops are calling on all Catholics to build up the priesthood, discuss the priesthood, and suggest the priesthood to young men. It is precisely because of this type of encouragement that Bishop Sample is a priest of God.

4:40 – Terrorist Trial Moving to NYC: Good Idea or Bad Idea?
Andrew McCarthy is the federal prosecutor responsible for leading the investigation of Blind Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman and others involved in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. He uses that experience to comment on the decision of the Obama Administration to try Khalid Sheik Mohammad and other terrorists in NYC rather than in military tribunals.

5:00 – “The Blind Side”
Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy know the Michael Oher story better than anyone, at least better than anyone other than Michael Oher himself. And they're thrilled with "The Blind Side," John Lee Hancock's feature film, starring Sandra Bullock, which opens with a nationwide release on Friday. The Tuohys spoke with the media on a teleconference Tuesday afternoon to promote the release of the movie, which is based on the former Ole Miss offensive lineman's rise from living on the streets of Memphis to becoming a first-round draft pick of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy took Oher in and later had him enrolled at the prestigious Briarcrest Christian School before going through the legal adoption process with the budding football star. We talk with Leigh Ann Tuohy.

5:20 – USCCB Study: The Causes and Context of the Clergy Abuse Crisis
Researchers from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice presented an Interim Report on the Causes and Context Study on sexual abuse of minors by clergy at the USCCB meeting this week. The research seeks to explain the rise in incidence of sexual abuse by priests in the late 1960s and 1970s and its subsequent decline after 1985. Karen Terry, PhD, the principal researcher on the Study, is with us to discuss her findings.

5:40 – Thanksgiving and Eucharist
For Americans, the term “Thanksgiving” conjures up images of turkey and cranberry sauce, parades and bowl games. These are “traditions” that have come to mark an event made a perpetual institution of American life by President Abraham Lincoln. But why did Lincoln proclaim the last Thursday in November as a national holiday? Because it was clear to him that the blessings of food, land, family, and freedom enjoyed by Americans are all gifts from the Creator. But Americans, he realized, had forgotten this. A special day was needed for us to forget our differences and remember our blessings. And from remembering naturally follows giving thanks to the Source of those blessings. We look at Thanksgiving and the Eucharist with Marcellino D’Ambrosio.