Today on "Kresta in the Afternoon" - April 2, 2012

Talking about the "things that matter most" on April 2

4:00 – “Obamacare” and the Supreme Court: An Analysis of Last Week’s Arguments
The Supreme Court last week wrapped up its exhaustive three-day session which will determine the fate of the federal health care overhaul, ending with what is arguably the most consequential question of the case -- if the individual mandate is struck down, does the law survive? The nature of questioning over the last few days signaled several judges have serious doubts about the law. But they hardly indicated which way the often-divided court would rule, with a decision expected by summer. The unanimous public opinion is that the Obama administration attorneys struggled through a number of exchanges with the Justices. We talk with Dick Thompson of the Thomas More Law Center, who was one of the first to file a federal lawsuit against the individual mandate.

4:20 – Making a Pilgrimage in Your Own Back Yard
Many Christians go on pilgrimage, whether to Jerusalem, Rome, Lourdes or Fatima, but many don’t consider pilgrimages in their own back yard. We look at the biblical and theological elements in pilgrimage and ask how we could do pilgrimage differently. Examination of pilgrimage in the Old and New Testaments provides a grounding for thinking through pilgrimage theologically. Steve Ray is our guest.

4:40 – “Right to Work” Bills Being Debated Nationwide
Right to Work Legislation is being hotly debated right now Minnesota, New Hampshire and Michigan. This comes after a year of contention over the issue boiled over in WI, IN and other states that passed Right to Work measures. The issues is back on the front burner with Wisconsin’s primary tomorrow and Gov. Scott Walker’s upcoming recall election. We talk to Right to Work expert and Law Professor John Raudabaugh.

5:00 – Vanderbilt Catholic Group Forced to Leave Campus Over University Policy
A Catholic student group says it will leave the Vanderbilt University campus at the end of the year over a controversial school policy which bars the group from requiring its leaders to be Catholic. The university policy prevents student groups from requiring their leaders to hold specific religious beliefs, It has an “all-comers” policy, which means that groups must be open to all students and must allow every student member to run for office. Leaders of Vanderbilt Catholic say the rule makes no sense. They will not comply and instead will become an independent off-campus ministry. We talk with their chaplain Fr. John Sims Baker.

5:20 - Analyzing the Pope’s Trip: What Message Did Benedict Want to Leave With Cuba and Mexico?
Pope Benedict XVI wraps up his visit to Cuba on Wednesday with an open-air Mass in the shrine of the Cuban revolution, and a meeting with Fidel Castro. He delivered a number of addresses and issued a number of challenges to the Cuban as well as the US government. We analyze the trip and messages of Pope Benedict with Dr. Matthew Bunson.

5:40 – Biden: HHS Mandate Opponents “Out of Touch With Reality”
In a weekend interview, pro-abortion Vice-President Joe Biden claimed those opposed to the HHS mandate forcing religious employers to pay for birth control and drugs that may cause abortions are “out of touch with reality.” Biden appeared on the “Face the Nation” on CBS and told host Bob Schieffer that he found the recent debate over the mandate “remarkable.” “I just find it remarkable that the argument is even taking place,” Biden said. “I think it’s totally out of touch with reality and totally out of touch with what the Independent” voters of America think. He said such opposition violates “the right of women to decide for themselves, whether or not they want to use contraception.” We play the exchange and Al has the reaction.