Today on "Kresta in the Afternoon" - December 15, 2011

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Dec. 15

4:00 – Debate - Note on Financial Reform from the Pontifical Council for Justice & Peace: Does the Vatican support a one-world economy?
A Vatican document released in October called for the gradual creation of a world political authority with broad powers to regulate financial markets and rein in the "inequalities and distortions of capitalist development." The 41-page text titled "Toward Reforming the International Financial and Monetary Systems in the Context of Global Public Authority" was prepared by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. It said the current global financial crisis has revealed "selfishness, collective greed and the hoarding of goods on a great scale." It called for the establishment of “a supranational authority” with worldwide scope and “universal jurisdiction” to guide economic policies and decisions. Max Torres and David Peterson are here to debate the document.

4:20 – Throw Them All Out: How Politicians and Their Friends Get Rich Off Insider Stock Tips, Land Deals, and Cronyism That Would Send the Rest of Us to Prison
It’s a book that has sparked a national debate and almost instantaneous Congressional legislation. It’s Throw Them All Out by Peter Schweizer. One of the biggest scandals in American politics is waiting to explode: the full story of the inside game in Washington shows how the permanent political class enriches itself at the expense of the rest of us. Insider trading is illegal on Wall Street, yet it is routine among members of Congress. Normal individuals cannot get in on IPOs at the asking price, but politicians do so routinely. The Obama administration has been able to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars to its supporters, ensuring yet more campaign donations. An entire class of investors now makes all of its profits based on influence and access in Washington. Peter Schweizer has doggedly researched through mountains of financial records, tracking complicated deals and stock trades back to the timing of briefings, votes on bills, and every other point of leverage for politicians in Washington. The result is a manifesto for revolution: the Permanent Political Class must go.

4:40 – Cross Catholic International And Support of Their Work For The Future
Ave Maria Radio has been partnering with Cross International Catholic Outreach over the last couple years in assisting with the devastation in Haiti following the earthquake which decimated much of the country. Jim Cavnar and Bill Fenton at Cross Catholic join us to look at how you can help the least among us in the long-term.

5:00 – Facing Substance Abuse During the Holidays
As we approach the Christmas, families will be gathering, relatives that we don’t see regularly will get together, and discussions of friends and family struggling with substance abuse will be a topic of conversation. Mike Vasquez is the Co-Founder and CEO of the St. Gregory Retreat Center for drug rehab and alcoholism treatment programs. He is here to help us navigate through the holidays when faced with substance abuse issues.