Today on "Kresta in the Afternoon" - February 20, 2013

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Feb. 20

4:00 – Kresta Comments: CNN Soliciting Testimonies From Post-Abortive Women / Restaurants Finding Creative Ways to Keep Business Up During Lent

4:20 – The Cross and the Light: An Epic Theatrical Experience Based on Christ’s Passion
The Cross and the Light is an epic theatrical experience, making its debut at Music Hall in Detroit, March 24-31. It is a deeply moving music journey through Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Kelly Nieto, creator and songwriter for The Cross and the Light, first began developing this production in 2002, at which time it was named Living Stations. Two years ago, the production moved to the iconic Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, where it attracted more than 22,000 audience members. Kelly joins us to discuss her conversion and her path to this production coming to the stage.

5:00 – Kresta Comments: How China Plans to Wipe Out House Churches / America Magazine Editorial – “Repeal the Second Amendment”

5:20 – Assisted Death Bill Clears Hurdle in VT
The Vermont Senate last week gave preliminary approval to an amended bill allowing doctors to prescribe a lethal dose of medication to terminally ill patients. But even some backers of the measure, which passed 21-9, called the amended version a travesty because it contains safeguards: A dying patient requesting lethal medication had to make the request three times, one of them in writing; two doctors had to agree on a prognosis of less than six months to live; and the patient had to be mentally competent. Jason Negri of the Patients’ Rights Council joins us to discuss how dangerous this bill is.

5:40 – German Homeschool Case May Impact U.S. Homeschool Freedom
The U.S. law of asylum allows a refugee to stay in the United States permanently if he can show that he is being persecuted for one of several specific reasons. Among these are persecution for religious reasons and persecution of a “particular social group.” In most asylum cases, there is some guesswork necessary to figure out the government’s true motive—but not in the case of a homeschooling family from Germany. The Supreme Court of Germany declared that the purpose of the German ban on homeschooling was to “counteract the development of religious and philosophically motivated parallel societies.” The family is being denied asylum in America and Michael Farris says this will have an impact on homeschooling rights in America. Michael, attorney and founder of the Home School Legal Defense Association joins us.