Today on "Kresta in the Afternoon" - February 6, 2013

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Feb. 6, 2013

4:00 – The Tragic Loss of a Son and Pro-Life Leader: A Testimony
In 2011, Jon Scharfenberger, a staff member for Students for Life of America, and recent graduate of Ave Maria University passed from complications suffered after a tragic automobile accident that also claimed the lives of Kortney Blythe Gordon and her unborn baby Sophy. Gordon, Scharfenberger and two pro-life students were driving back from the Students for Life of America Georgia conference when their vehicle was struck by another head on in a massive collision. Jon’s mother Ana Scharfenberger is here to share her testimony.

5:00 – Former Archbishop Mahony Stripped of Public Duties for Role in Shielding Alleged Priest Child Molesters
Hours after personnel files detailing years of alleged sexual abuse by Los Angeles priests were released last week, the Archbishop of Los Angeles apologized for priests' past abuse as he took action against two church leaders who were at the helm while the suspected abuse took place. Retired Cardinal Roger Mahony will "no longer have any administrative or public duties," and his former Vicar of Clergy Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry will resign as the Regional Bishop of Santa Barbara, Archbishop José H. Gomez said in a statement. We talk to long-time sex abuse watcher Phil Lawler who says this day is long overdue.

5:20 – New HHS “Compromise” No Compromise At All
If the Obama administration hoped that the battle over the HHS birth control mandate would end with the release of last week’s “revised” regulations, it was wrong. Legal analysts with religious organizations are still working through the revised regulations, which purport to offer a broader opt-out for religious employers, to determine whether the protections offered are meaningful, or - as they determined with the administration's previous "accomodation" - merely an accounting gimmick. But no matter what protections might be afforded to religious employers, what remains certain is that non-religious non-profits and for-profit businesses - such as Hobby Lobby - will not fall under the umbrella of protection. Matt Bowman, a lawyer with Alliance Defending Freedom explains.

5:40 – Massachusetts diocese cancels appearance by Robert Spencer, writer on Islam
The Diocese of Worcester has canceled an appearance by Robert Spencer, the author of several books on Islam. Spencer had been invited to speak at a diocesan Catholic men’s conference. “Although the intention of the conference organizers was to have a presenter on Islam from a Catholic’s perspective, we are asking Robert Spencer to not come to the Worcester Catholic Men’s Conference, given that his presence is being seen as harmful to Catholic–Islamic relations both locally and nationally,” said diocesan spokesman Raymond Delisle. One of many problems is that the Diocese NEVER even called Robert to talk about his views. Robert joins us.