Today on Kresta - November 9, 2010

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Nov. 9

GUEST HOST: SHEILA LIAUGMINAS

4:00 – Election Analysis – Is the Catholic Vote Back to Being Pro-Life?
And the Catholic vote was decisive. Republicans took control of the house in a massive sweep, while the Senate remains in the hands of the Democrats by a slim margin. Early indications suggest the GOP won at least 53% of the Catholic vote with Democrats garnering 45% of Catholics. After losing the Catholic vote by 10 points in 2008, this eight point advantage represents an 18-point shift in support to the Republican Party. The question is why? Josh Mercer and Brian Burch of CatholicVote.org are here to answer that question.

4:20 – Pro-Life v.s. Pro-Choice, Settling the Debate
At 16 years of age Yvonne Florczak-Seeman ran away with her boyfriend and became pregnant. She chose to have an abortion, which led to depression, continual feelings of guilt and a sense of constant torment. In order to numb the pain she began using drugs and even attempted suicide. In her depressed state, she continued to be sexually involved with her boyfriend and had four additional abortions. Several years later, Yvonne finally turned to the only means of peace, her Heavenly Father. By God’s grace, she has risen above the difficulties of her past. Yvonne’s desire to keep others from experiencing the trauma she went through has given her the courage to speak out on behalf of the unborn and post-abortive women. We hear her incredible testimony.

5:00 – Kathryn Jean Lopez: “The Biggest Winner…Was Human Dignity”
On her National Review Online column, Kathryn Jean Lopez had this to say about the midterm elections: “The biggest winner Tuesday night was human dignity. The health-care debate and legislation were an affront to human life and dignity, individual responsibility, and truth — a manipulative mess of a debate and dangerous reality. Republicans took the House Tuesday night having promised to pass a universal, permanent Hyde Amendment — an across-the-board prohibition on taxpayer funding of abortion. (This is a plan you don’t have to want to overturnRoe v. Wade to get behind.) Thank John Boehner for that. Thank co-sponsors Chris Smith and Democrat Dan Lipinski for that. It was a big win for life, and one that defies the idea that social issues are irrelevant. Congratulations, too, to groups like the Susan B. Anthony List, Americans United for Life, and the National Right to Life Committee for holding “pro-life” congressmen who voted for the health-care legislation accountable.” She joins us.

5:20 – The Middle East Synod and Violence in Iraq
Pope Benedict XVI formally closed the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East with a Mass in St. Peter’s basilica on Sunday, October 24. In his homily the Holy Father called for solidarity among the Christians in the Middle East and for continued drive for a lasting peace in the region. “We must never resign ourselves to the absence of peace,” the Pope said. “Peace is possible. Peace is urgent.” But it was only one week later that Islamic militants in Iraq slaughtered 46 Christian worshippers in a Baghdad cathedral. That led to at least one prominent Christian leader to call on Iraqi Christians to leave Iraq. We look at the situation for Christians in the Middle East with Marinate Msgr. Sharable Maroun.