Today on Kresta - December 25, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Dec. 25

Kresta Countdown of the top interviews of 2009

#24 – Notorious Abortionist Gunned Down in Church
George Tiller, one of the nation's few providers of late-term abortions despite decades of protests and attacks, was shot and killed on May 31, in a church where he was serving as an usher. The gunman fled, but a 51-year-old suspect was detained some 170 miles away in suburban Kansas City three hours after the shooting. We have talked with Joe Scheidler many times about “Tiller the baby killer.” He joins us again.

#23 – Bridging the Great Divide : Musings of a Post-Liberal, Post Conservative Evangelical Catholic
Fr. Robert Barron’s book “Bridging the Great Divide: Musings of a Post-Conservative Evangelical Catholic” represents a pivotal moment in the life of the Catholic community. Today's faithful are searching for an expression of Catholic Christianity that is vibrant, colorful, provocative, counter-cultural, deeply rooted in the tradition, and full of the promise of the Good News. In this timely and prophetic book, Fr. Barron--himself a member of the younger generation--has minted a new vernacular and blazed a new way that bridges the great divide and gives voice to the concerns of post-liberal, post-conservative, evangelical believers.

#22 – Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul
On the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, we took a unique look at the two giants of the faith. Because Peter plays such a prominent role in the New Testament and the tradition of the church, he has been the focus of much scholarship over the centuries. One wonders whether there can be anything more to say about Peter. Indeed, there is. Fr. Richard Cassidy takes a look at Peter in the story of each gospel individually, rather than studying Peter via a side-by-side analysis of the gospels. We look at Four Times Peter.

#21 – Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, R.I.P.
Fr. Richard John Neuhaus passed away in January at the age of seventy-two. He never recovered from the weakness that sent him to the hospital the day after Christmas, caused by a series of side effects from the cancer he was suffering. As a priest, as a writer, as a public leader in so many struggles, no one can take his place. He was a giant of an intellectual leader, a prolific writer, a leading voice of authentic ecumenism and so much more. We took time to remember his life and contributions to the Church with Jody Bottum, editor-in-chief of “First Things.”