Today on "Kresta in the Afternoon" for March 16, 2012

Talking about the "things that matter most" on March 16

4:00 – Now I Walk on Death Row: A Wall Street Finance Lawyer Stumbles into the Arms of A Loving God
As one of the most influential finance lawyers in the country, Dale Recinella was living the American dream. With prestige, power, and unthinkable paychecks at his fingertips, his life was perfect... at least on paper. But on the heels of closing a huge deal for the Miami Dolphins, Dale's life took an unfathomable turn. He heard--and heeded--Jesus's call to sell everything he owned and follow him. Thus began a radical quest to live out the words of Jesus--no matter what the cost. Dale is here to share his amazing journey from growing up in the slums of Detroit, to racing through "the good life" on Wall Street, to finally walking the humble path of God--the path of ministry on death row.

5:00 – Ready to Pay for Abortion?
National Right to Life Legislative Director Doug Johnson has issued an in-depth analysis of the March 12 HHS "rule" that spells out how some of the components of the massive 2010 Obama health care law ("ObamaCare") will be implemented, specifically on abortion. You will not find a more accurate analysis. This may be as bad or worse than the "rule" on coverage of contraceptives, sterilization, and abortifacient drugs. As Nancy Pelosi said, "We have to pass it so we can find out what's in it." Now we are finding out what's in it. An assault on religious freedom and the greatest gift to the abortion industry since Roe. Doug joins us.

5:20 – St. Patrick of Ireland: A Biography
Ireland's patron saint has long been shrouded in legend: he drove the snakes out of Ireland; he triumphed over Druids and their supernatural powers; he used a shamrock to explain the Christian mystery of the Trinity. But his true story is more fascinating than the myths. We have no surviving image of Patrick, but we do have two remarkable letters that he wrote about himself and his beliefs -- letters that tell us more about the heart and soul of this man than we know about almost any of his contemporaries. Philip Freeman is here to tell the story of the historic Patrick and his world.

5:40 – The Irish American Chronicle
The phrase Irish-American brings scores of images to mind: the color green, a Saint Patrick's Day parade, Notre Dame, potatoes, a fisherman's sweater, a boisterous drunk, the Catholic Church, and names that start with "O" or "Mc.” Probably farther down the list would be James Hoban, the man who designed the White House, President Andrew Jackson, Henry Ford, William Randolph Hearst, Henry James, Davy Crockett, Princess Grace, Georgia O'Keeffe, Sam Snead, Bill Bradley, and labor leaders like Mother Jones and George Meany, who championed the rights of working men and women. As we approach St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow, Thomas Fleming is here to look at the Irish American experience.