Today on Kresta - March 11, 2010

Talking about the Things That Matter Most on Mar. 11

4:00 – Lenten Pep Talk: Holy Week is Coming
As we enter the closing weeks of Lent, Ave Maria Radio chaplain Fr. Pat Egan joins us to offer a Lenten pick-me-up if you are struggling to keep you commitments, or to keep your eyes focused on Holy Week. We look at how to prepare for Holy Week, how to celebrate Holy Week, and what you can do in these closing days of Lent.

4:20 – Gorbachev vs. the Evil Empire
The media jumps at anniversaries of historical figures and events. For those of us who write about history, we, too, seize these opportunities to teach history, especially history Americans should know. Here’s one such case: Can you believe it has been 25 years today since Mikhail Gorbachev came to power? Gorbachev seized the reins of the Soviet state on March 11, 1985. We look, with Paul Kengor, at Gorbachev and the Evil Empire.

4:40 – Controversy Over ‘Bump+’
Whether it’s Focus on the Family’s Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad or the new online drama series “Bump+,” recent pro-life efforts have drawn criticism from some pro-life groups and individuals who feel that the projects don’t go far enough. The production company Yellow Line Studio launched its drama series about crisis pregnancies on Jan. 22, the 37th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. The fictional series, which is available for viewing exclusively on the Internet, tells the stories of three women caught in crisis pregnancies. The executive producer, Dominic Iocco, came up with the idea early last year. Iocco wanted to use the Internet to get people on both sides of the abortion issue talking. “The goal was to start a conversation about a topic that, prior to now, has been polarizing, with people on either side shouting at one another,” said Maggie Mahrt, co-director of the series and an actress in it. But discussion about “Bump+” in pro-life circles has not been so simple. Tim Drake has written on it for National Catholic Register and is here to look at it.

5:00 – Kresta Comments


5:20 – Politics for Christians: Statecraft As Soulcraft
Politics is concerned with citizenship and the administration of justice--how communities are formed and governed. The role of Christians in the political process is hotly contested, but as citizens, Francis Beckwith argues, Christians have a rich heritage of sophisticated thought, as well as a genuine responsibility, to contribute to the shaping of public policy. In particular, Beckwith addresses the contention that Christians, or indeed religious citizens of any faith, should set aside their beliefs before they enter the public square. What role should religious citizens take in a liberal democracy? What is the proper separation of church and state? What place should be made for natural rights and the moral law within a secular state?