Today on "Kresta in the Afternoon" - June 7, 2013

Talking about the "things that matter most" on June 7

4:00 – Janet Smith Responds to Criticism From Last Week’s Interview on “Cardinal Dolan, the HHS Mandate and Hypocrisy?”
Last week we discussed with moral theologian Dr. Janet Smith a New York Times article regarding Cardinal Dolan, his fight against the HHS mandate, and what the NYT portrayed as hypocrisy on the part of the Cardinal. The issue centers on Union 1199 – including those union employees at Catholic facilities in New York City – which includes abortion and contraceptives in its healthcare plans. We focused on the moral theology of the situation. Much public debate ensued regarding Janet’s interview, largely focused on areas outside moral theology, and she is back with us to address these other areas, re-state the clear moral theology and take calls.

5:00 - How the West Really Lost God: A New Theory of Secularization
In this magisterial work, leading cultural critic Mary Eberstadt delivers a powerful new theory about the decline of religion in the Western world. The conventional wisdom is that the West first experienced religious decline, followed by the decline of the family. Eberstadt turns this standard account on its head. Marshalling an impressive array of research, from fascinating historical data on family decline, Eberstadt shows that the reverse has also been true: the undermining of the family has further undermined Christianity itself. How the West Really Lost God is both a startlingly original account of how secularization happens and a sweeping brief about why everyone should care. Mary joins us.