Friday, May 24, 2013

Today on "Kresta in the Afternoon" - May 24, 2013

Talking about the "things that matter most" on May 24

Guest Host: Jerry Usher

4:00 – Pope Francis Defends Atheists???
In a homily Wednesday, Pope Francis described doing good not as a matter of faith, but of "duty, it is an identity card that our Father has given to all of us, because he has made us in his image and likeness." Then, referring to non-Catholics and nonbelievers, he said, "if we do good to others, if we meet there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little by little, we will make that culture of encounter: we need that so much. We must meet one another doing good." Now the media is reporting this story as “Pope Francis Says Atheists Will Be Saved.” We talk to Fr. Peter Stravinskas, author of Salvation Outside the Church.

4:20 – News Flash: Pro-Life Groups Support Pro-Life Candidates
This week the abortion-rights giant NARAL released a groundbreaking report on the activities of the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List. The report contains shocking allegations and makes for fascinating reading. According to the report, Susan B. Anthony List 1) raises money for pro-life candidates, 2) supports pro-life laws, 3) hires pro-life people, and 4) receives grants from conservative foundations. Last spring the group even went so far as to hire a lobbyist to lobby against Planned Parenthood funding. Shocking! So pro-life organizations support pro-life candidates? Michael New is here to discuss this and other pro-life issues.

4:40 – Christian Street Preacher Arrested 3 Times: Lawsuit Filed
In three separate incidents beginning May 2011, David Allen, a Christian street preacher in Houston, Texas, was arrested, searched, jailed, and repeatedly denied his constitutional rights to free speech and free exercise of religion. He was never convicted on any of the charges.  To stop further harassment, the Thomas More Law Center announced it filed a federal lawsuit late last week on behalf of Allen. Allen’s three arrests occurred while he was preaching the Gospel message against the sins of abortion, homosexuality, and adultery on public sidewalks in Houston, Texas. Erin Mersino of the Thomas More Law Center joins us.

5:00 – Are We Losing the Battle for the Definition of Marriage?
For months and months, the National Organization for Marriage has been fighting hard to protect marriage in Illinois. That's why, with less than ten days left to go in the legislative session, gay activists are still scrambling to twist arms and strike backroom deals in Springfield. Yes, even in this deep blue state where Democrats hold a supermajority and the governor is pushing for gay marriage, they have so far managed to stop them in their tracks. We talk with Thomas Peters, director of culture with NOM about IL and the larger question – are we losing the battle over marriage?

5:20 – Boy Scouts of America Vote to Allow Gay Scouts – No Gay Adult Leaders
After lengthy and wrenching debate, local leaders of the Boy Scouts of America have voted to open their ranks to openly gay boys for the first time, but reactions from the left AND right made clear that the BSA's controversies are far from over. The longstanding ban on gay adults remains in force, and many liberal Scout leaders — as well as gay-rights groups — plan to continue pressing for an end to that exclusion even though the BSA's top officials aren't ready for that step. Meanwhile, many conservatives within the Scouts are distraught at the outcome of the vote and some are threatening to defect. A meeting is planned for next month to discuss the formation of a new organization for boys. John Stemberger of OnMyHonor.net is back with us.

5:40 – Film Reviews: Star Trek Into Darkness / 42
It’s Friday and if you may be headed to the movie theater this weekend film critic Steven Greydanus has some advice. He joins us to look at Star Trek: Into Darkness and 42, the bio pic on Jackie Robinson.

11 comments:

  1. The natural law arguments used to defend traditional marriage are so contrary to the spirit of rights and equality oriented constitutionalism that very few people are moved by them. Now it's too late to alter the trajectory. A majority of Catholics, no less than others, want this possibility available to their gay family members and friends.

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  2. "No salvation outside the Church" This teaching is the most absurd of all Catholic teachings. And the most hateful.

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  3. Today's Gospel reading is a clear outline for the model of Marriage. PERIOD....we can try to re-negotiate but the model was laid out by JESUS himself. Live with it...there are plenty of LEGAL protections for those who do not live by the law of God and there is NO REASON to redefine marriage unless the goal is to LEGITIMIZE sin.

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    1. You are behind the times. The question is no longer whether we will have gay marriage--it's already in Europe, in Latin America, Canada, and a number of large states in the US. There will be gay marriage. The Catholic Church is not required to approve or participate. Live and let live must be the rule for this new right.

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  4. 1. Jesus came to REDEEM the world. It is a free gift that MANY choose NOT to receive. Jesus died for atheist, Jews, Buddhists et al...what the Pope was talking about was common ground and a starting point for dialogue and unity....good works is a starting point, otherwise why would JESUS had to suffer and die?
    2. JESUS established the Catholic church and put into place the FIRST church leaders, Peter being the first pope.
    3. Book of ACTS establishes apostolic succession.
    4. WITHOUT THE CATHOLIC Church there would be no KNOWLEDGE of JESUS or salvation through HIM which was established by JESUS.
    5. UNLESS YOU EAT of my Flesh and DRINK OF MY BLOOD, you shall NOT have LIFE, is pretty clear.
    6. We have FREE WILL to join the Church JESUS established or not and to follow HIS commands and teachings.
    7. God decides who gets into heaven.
    8. Purgatory is the waiting room for heaven and many will end up there as there are not many Saints walking the earth these days.

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  5. Who can really believe that there is no salvation outside the Church? Such a view is cruel beyond measure. And anyway it's quite ridiculous, amounting to a scandal, in fact.

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    1. Justice is frequently cruel. Justice for a world so immersed in selfishness, greed, lust and murder is beyond any measure that we can understand. All the Church requires from us is the humility of a child embracing their parents. His gift of salvation is free to us, but came at a cruel cost to Him on calvary. We all have the opportunity today to renounce the sin and perversions of this world and embrace his ridiculously scandalous gift of eternal salvation!!

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    2. You're missing the point rather dramatically. Think through the meaning of the phrase "No salvation outside the Church." It is without exception. So think of what exceptions are necessary to make and you'll see what's wrong with this teaching.

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    3. Read Redemptoris Missio. Pope John Paul II does an elegant job articulating the Church's teaching on this matter. He doesn't allow for a legalistic minimalization of Christianity, which may render your point incongruous with the reality of the living body of Christ= the Church.

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    4. Thanks, I'll read it. We cannot believe that a just God would condemn the simple and good people of the earth who reject him because of ignorance or circumstance. It is well to remember that faith, of whatever kind, is largely a matter of geography and history.

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