Your Guide to the Theology of the Body Controversy

Earlier this month, Christopher West’s appearance on ABC’s Nightline generated controversy and debate among prominent Catholic theologians. At issue is West’s work in general, as well as the proper interpretation and presentation of Pope John Paul II’s theology of the body.

Criticism of the Nightline piece mainly centered around two quotes from West attributed to him during the interview: his comparison of the late pope with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and his description of the Book of the Song of Songs as the Bible’s “centerfold.”

West and the Theology of the Body Institute, of which he is senior fellow, quickly issued a statement about the Nightline interview. The statement said that while West and the TOB Institute were pleased that the show exposed more people to Pope John Paul II’s teachings, ABC “failed to provide the larger context Christopher offered in his extended interview.” “This lack of proper context has led some to misinterpret Christopher’s remarks as somehow endorsing Hefner’s views,” the statement said.

Shortly after the Nightline piece, Catholic News Agency ran a story citing statements by Catholic theologians Alice Von Hildebrand, Mary Shivanandan and Fr. Jose Granados, all of whom were critical of West’s approach and presentation of the former pope’s teachings.

CNA’s story was followed by another critical piece by Prof. David Schindler, provost and dean of the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, exclusively published on Headline Bistro.

Prof. Janet Smith first responded to Schindler’s article, defending West. Smith, who holds the Father Michael McGivney Chair of Life Ethics at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, will also teach a course with West through the Theology of the Body Institute later this summer.

Fr. Jose Granados -- also of the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, as well as coauthor of "Called to Love: Approaching John Paul II's Theology of the Body" -- has likewise issued a statement in response to West's Nightline appearance. The statement -- which has been excerpted elsewhere -- can be read in its entirety here.

Soon after, Dr. Michael Waldstein also weighed in to defend West. Waldstein, who recently translated Pope John Paul II's writings on theology of the body, now teaches at Ave Maria University in Florida.

In response to professors Smith and Waldstein, Schindler offered an in-depth explanation of his original critiques, which can be read here.

In defense of West, Ascension Press president Matthew Pinto argued that his approach to the theology of the body ought to be judged by its fruits. In addition to heading Ascension Press, which publishes West's works, Pinto was also involved in the founding of the Theology of the Body Institute, with which he still serves as a founding board member.

Most recently, Prof. Smith offered a response to Dr. Schindler, in which she argued that West has not received fair treatment from critics.

Would this ever happen in America? We can hope so.

In a country where complaints of vote-rigging are common -- and commonly ignored -- Anton Chumachenko's stands out: The authorities say he won an election, but he insists he lost.

A first-time candidate for office and a member of Vladimir Putin's ruling United Russia party, Chumachenko won a seat on a local legislative council in St. Petersburg last month. Three weeks later, he publicly renounced his own victory, expressing disgust that votes had been falsified in his favor.

"I don't need this kind of victory!" the recent college graduate wrote in an open letter to residents. "I don't want to begin my political career with a cynical mockery of rights, laws and morality."

Chumachenko's stand took authorities by surprise and caused an uproar, challenging the nation's crooked electoral system in a way no member of the opposition could. But it also stunned the government's critics, many of whom could hardly believe that a young man who came of age in Putin's Russia might choose idealism over the cynicism that pervades politics there today.

Chumachenko said that he never considered accepting the falsified votes, but that he worried he might be punished if he objected. After the official results were published March 16, he consulted with the other United Russia candidates on his ticket. They agreed to back him if he spoke out. Four days later, he released his letter without notifying party superiors in advance, he said.

Chumachenko also pointed out problems in a neighboring precinct where the vote count had changed overnight and knocked out two independent candidates.

Chumachenko has provided evidence to the court and urged it to overturn the results. A ruling is pending. Meanwhile, prosecutors have sought to examine the original ballots. Election officials say they were damaged when a water pipe burst, an explanation that has been used before in Russia to stall investigations into election irregularities.

"We have very smart pipes," Chumachenko said with a grin. "They know exactly where to leak."

"Abortion?"..."I know nada."

As more evidence comes in that Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor will likely support abortion and uphold Roe v. Wade if she is confirmed, a new comment she made during a meeting with one senator provides another talking point for pro-life advocates opposed to her nomination.

This week Sotomayor has been meeting with each member of the Senate privately in preparation for the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing expected to take place in July.

Senator Jim DeMint, a pro-life Republican from South Carolina, says he had a "good meeting" with the appeals court judge, but he came away with a telling comment.

"When I asked if an unborn child has any rights whatsoever, I was surprised that she said she had never thought about it," he said. "This is not just a question about abortion, but about respect due to human life at all stages -- and I hope this is cleared up in her hearings." Given her comment, DeMint questions whether Sotomayor has an "unwavering commitment to the Constitution and equal justice for all Americans."

You haven't t thought about it!!! How is that possible? Any thinking adult in America has thought about the issue of abortion and whether the unborn have rights protected under the Constitution. ESPECIALLY a judge. If someone in a position like Sotomayor tells you they haven't thought about whether the unborn have protections under the Constitution, they are either lying or hiding something.

In all fairness, this agnosticism about abortion seems to be the script for virtually all Supreme Court nominees regardless of what party's president tenders the appointment. They are all equally disingenuous and they are all equally symptoms of a political ethos that rewards public statements of ignorance and punishes public statements of principle.

Here's more on Sotomayor and abortion.

Sad: Frank Schaeffer Blames Religious Right for Tiller Murder

Frank Schaeffer Jr. is a man I've known and interviewed multiple times over the last twenty five years. He is the son of the late evangelist and pro-life Evangelical icon Francis Schaeffer, who arguably, was the most important early adult influence on my life and ministry. I'll have more to say on this topic later.

But the prodigal son Schaeffer has written: "In the mid 1980s I left the Religious Right, after I realized just how very anti-American they are." (the theme he explores in his book "Crazy For God")

He is now trading on his family's name and his past as a member of the Religious Right to sell books, campaign for Obama, blog for Huffington Post, and now this.

Frank, meet Doug Kmiec. You should get along nicely.

Gay in Space - No It's Not a Sci-Fi Movie, It's NASA!!!

The Acting Administrator of NASA and the Equal Opportunity Programs Office has encouraged agency employees to take part in “LGBT Pride Month,” (per Obama's proclamation) leading to criticism that the action takes the space agency “completely off-mission” and promotes homosexual activism.

An announcement posted at the NASA website says "During Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, we focus on our efforts to embrace acceptance and welcome diversity in communities regardless of sexual orientation. Gay and lesbian groups celebrate this special time with pride parades, picnics, parties, memorials for those lost from HIV and AIDS, and other group gathering events that attract thousands upon thousands of individuals.”

The announcement then described “symbols of LGBT pride” and referred employees to internal sites for more information.

It continued: “Take time to learn about the contributions of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans, and celebrate the diversity that has helped shape and strengthen NASA and our nation.”

Elton John sang Rocket Man. Was this what he had in mind?

Today on Kresta - June 12, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on June 12

3:00 – Flag Day – June 14
Thirteen stars and thirteen stripes. It was 1777, that the Second Continental Congress chose June 14 as the flag of the United States. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation making it “National Flag Day.” It was also on that day in 1954 that President Dwight Eisenhower signed the act of Congress that added the phrase “One Nation Under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Eisenhower stated: “From this day forward ... millions of ... school children will daily proclaim ... the dedication of our nation ... to the Almighty.” We talk about the history of Flag Day with American historian Bill Federer.

3:20 – Direct to My Desk

4:00 – George Tiller Murder = MLK Assassination

The niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is here to condemn the remarks of late-term abortionist LeRoy Carhart in comparing the recent murder of abortionist George Tiller to King’s assassination. Carhart said: “This is the equivalent of Martin Luther King being assassinated. This is the equivalent of Pearl Harbor, the sinking of the Lusitania and any other major historic event where we've tolerated the intolerable for too long.” Alveda King responds.

4:20 – Looking Forward to the Feast of Corpus Christi
The Feast of Corpus Christi, or the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (as it is often called today), will be celebrated in the Churches of the United States this Sunday. The history of the Feast Day goes back to the 13th century, but it celebrates something far older: the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion at the Last Supper. For centuries after the celebration was extended to the universal Church, the feast was also celebrated with a Eucharistic procession, in which the Sacred Host was carried throughout the town, accompanied by hymns and litanies. The faithful would venerate the Body of Christ as the procession passed by. In recent years, this practice has almost disappeared. We talk with Fr. Gerald Garownski about the source and summit of our faith – the Eucharist.

5:00 – Direct to my Desk

Tit for Tat between state of CT and the Diocese of Bridgeport

The bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn., says he's a man of God, not a lobbyist. But state officials say he's both.

According to the Connecticut Office of State Ethics, the diocese acted as a lobbying organization in March when it rented buses to transport people to a rally in Hartford — the state capital — to protest a bill that would have granted more power to parishioners regarding church finances.

Officials also are investigating whether the church acted as a lobbying organization on its Web site when it urged parishioners to contact lawmakers about the bill, which eventually was withdrawn amid public outcry, and about a another bill to legalize same-sex marriage, which was signed into law in April.

Bishop Lori appeared on this program to discuss the issue and urge action on it at the time.

Now the ethics office is "evaluating" whether the diocese failed to register as a lobbyist — an investigation that Bishop William Lori says violates the diocese's First Amendment right to free speech and assembly.

"I don't know what the motive of the Office of State Ethics was or is, but I do know that their actions stem directly from our attempts to defend ourselves in the face of two pieces of legislation that were unfriendly to the day-to-day mission of the church," Lori told said today.

One question: Where is the ACLU and their favorite mantra "Separation of Church and State"?

Today on Kresta - June 11, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on June 11

3:00 – My Visit to Hell
Nearly seven hundred years ago the Italian poet Dante wrote The Inferno, an epic tale of the fate awaiting doomed souls in the underworld. Now, the story continues! Thomas Travis had always thought the toughest streets in the ghettos of Atlanta were next door to hell. But he didn’t know just how close they were until the threat of racial violence sent him fleeing down the stairs of an abandoned building only to fall headlong into a tortured realm of fire and ice, the place of the damned. The only chance of escape was to trust the strange elderly woman who met him there and insisted on being his guide. She claimed to know the way out, but it would lead through all the terrifying circles of divine judgment, each one deeper and more tormenting than the last. In the lowest pit, the Lord of Darkness himself lay in wait. Thomas had lived a godless life, and now there was hell to pay. If his soul could be purged on the journey, he just might make it. But the odds were against him. In hell, the only guarantee is justice and the only way out is down. Paul Thigpen with us – the novel is My Visit to Hell.

3:20 – God’s Continent: Christianity, Islam, and Europe’s Religious Crisis
What does the future hold for European Christianity? Is the Christian church doomed to collapse under the weight of globalization, Western secularism, and a flood of Muslim immigrants? Is Europe, in short, on the brink of becoming "Eurabia"? Though many pundits are loudly predicting just such a scenario, Philip Jenkins reveals the flaws in these arguments and offers a much more measured assessment of Europe's religious future. He is with us to make his case.

4:00 – Feast of St. Barnabas

Barnabas, a Jew of Cyprus, comes as close as anyone outside the Twelve to being a full-fledged apostle. He was closely associated with St. Paul (he introduced Paul to Peter and the other apostles) and served as a kind of mediator between the former persecutor and the still suspicious Jewish Christians. We celebrate his feast day with Steve Ray.

4:20 – Praying Scripture for a Change: An Introduction to Lectio Divina
Many Christians find prayer difficult and, as a result, do not do much of it. The fact is, many simply do not know how to pray. Even St Paul notes this sad fact when, in Romans 8:26, he says, We do not know how to pray as we ought. In a new short book, written for a popular audience by well-known Catholic biblical scholar Dr. Tim Gray, we discover the secret of the saints which can enable us to enter into a lively dialogue with God. Their secret: the ancient art of Lectio Divina (divine, or sacred reading), which is reading, meditating on, and praying the Scriptures. As St. Cyprian notes, Diligently practice prayer and lectio divina. When you pray, you speak with God; when you read [the Scriptures], God speaks to you. Here, we discover that we don t need a mystic gene or divine epiphany to hear God; we simply need to take up the Bible and read.

5:00 – How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization
The world owes a debt to the Catholic Church that it doesn't even realize. The Church built, and sustains, Western Civilization. She has had a pivotal role in shaping Western civilization for the last two thousand years. Tom Woods joins us in studio to discuss how the father of atomic theory, the father of aviation, and the father of Egyptology were all Catholic priests; how Catholic priests developed the idea of free-market economics five hundred years before Adam Smith; how the Church was the great defender of the sanctity of human life and the individual against the state; and how the Church bestowed the most unique gift to the World what we now know as the university

Today on Kresta - June 10, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on June 10

3:00 – What is ‘good’ and ‘evil’? WHO decides?
The laws of morality used to be clearly defined. Then, in the turbulent years of the 1960’s, societal dissent and disruption throughout all walks of life caused confusion and chaos in the moral order. More recently, during the widely reported and televised Mass of the Conclave prior to his election as Pope, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger judiciously directed his homily to an exposition and denunciation of the dictatorship of relativism, which now confronts the world. Unless the concepts of good and evil are clearly defined and the conscience properly formed as a guide--especially among the young generations--relativism will reign supreme and objective morality will lose the right to exist in a society where evil claims right of citizenship. Raymond de Souza's is here tom discuss good and evil in simple yet conclusive terms using Natural Law, the Magisterium of the Church and plain logic in his presentation...Good or Evil: Who Decides.

4:00 – Pro-Life / Pro-Animal
Why aren't vegetarians and pro-lifers more closely aligned? After all, the best writing about ethical vegetarianism—the moral case for refusing meat, as opposed to the more self-interested arguments from health or finance—is good enough to provoke serious reflection, even among nonvegetarians. Yet while this increasingly thoughtful literature flourishes, reflecting the movement of many Americans (especially younger ones) into the varieties of a meat-free diet, it has also proved a one-way street. Vegans and vegetarians do talk to one another, but usually without anyone in the rest of the world talking back—especially those committed to defending human life. Mary Eberstadt has written a thought-provoking article in First Things entitled “Pro-Animal Pro-Life”. She’s here to discuss it.

4:40 – Where Will This Year’s Graduates Find a Model of Manhood?
Brad Miner has a challenge to modern men: recover the oldest and best ideal of manhood—the gentleman. He outlines a manly model who is neither prude nor prig nor fop. The gentleman is a classic combination of strength and selflessness, contemplation, correct action and, yes…cool. He is the aristocrat not of wealth or birth, but of virtue. Miner is too wise in the ways of young men to think they will respond to a lecture or another guidebook on which fork to use or how to keep a bowtie from spinning. Instead he tells a story of an ideal and the men throughout history who have tried—always imperfectly—to live up to it. We look at The Compleat Gentleman: The Modern Man's Guide to Chivalry.

5:00 – What is ‘good’ and ‘evil’? WHO decides?
The laws of morality used to be clearly defined. Then, in the turbulent years of the 1960’s, societal dissent and disruption throughout all walks of life caused confusion and chaos in the moral order. More recently, during the widely reported and televised Mass of the Conclave prior to his election as Pope, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger judiciously directed his homily to an exposition and denunciation of the dictatorship of relativism, which now confronts the world. Unless the concepts of good and evil are clearly defined and the conscience properly formed as a guide--especially among the young generations--relativism will reign supreme and objective morality will lose the right to exist in a society where evil claims right of citizenship. Raymond de Souza's is here tom discuss good and evil in simple yet conclusive terms using Natural Law, the Magisterium of the Church and plain logic in his presentation...Good or Evil: Who Decides.

Penn Jillette acts "beastly" toward Cardinal

In an interview with BBC's Roger Bolton recently, British Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, Archbishop Emeritus of Westminster and former President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales had this to say:



Now view this video response, posted on YouTube, by Penn Jillette, an entertainer whose magic tricks show an intelligence not apparent in his public statements on the Catholic faith. This is his latest profane rant:



Obviously, if human beings are made in the image of God, then a person’s denial of God means that they won’t become all they were created to be. This is a form of poverty. As I keep stressing, a mark of intellectual maturity is the ability to represent one’s opponent’s position in a way that your opponent would recognize as fair and accurate. Until Penn Jillette and others like him learn to do this it will be hard to maintain any serious discussion with them. Choosing adolescent rants over reasonable dialogue really is an impoverishment.

Al responds on youtube.


We encourage our listeners and readers to respectfully engage in the discussions that are developing below these videos on youtube.

Today on Kresta - June 9, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on June 9
Best of Kresta in the Afternoon

3:00 – Muhammad’s Death Day / The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of the World's Most Intolerant Religion

On this anniversary of Muhammad’s death, New York Times bestselling author Robert Spencer, provides a warts-and-all portrait of the Prophet of Islam and draws out what his life implies for reforming Islam and repulsing Islamic terrorists. Spencer relies solely on primary sources considered reliable by Muslims and evaluates modern biographies to show how Muhammad has been changed for Western audiences, lulling them into consoling but false conclusions.

4:00 – Politics for the Greatest Good
With a level-headed voice, leading policy strategist Clarke Forsythe speaks clearly into the fray of political striving. He is here to campaign for a recovery of a rich understanding of the virtue of prudence, and for its application by policymakers and citizens to contemporary public policy. As Forsythe explains, prudence, in its classical sense, is the ability to apply wisdom to right action. In this book he explores the importance of applying the principles of prudence--taking account of limitations in a world of constraints and striving to achieve the greatest measure of justice under current circumstances--to the realm of politics, especially that of bioethics. In particular, Forsythe applies these concepts to the ongoing debate among pro-life advocates regarding gradual versus radical change as the most effective way to achieve political and legislative goals.

5:00 – Diagnosis Critical: The Urgent Threats Confronting Catholic Healthcare

The pressure for Catholic medical institutions and healthcare workers is mounting at an alarming rate as individuals struggle to uphold their faith in an industry that is confronting new bioethical dilemmas in a political and cultural environment that is increasingly hostile to traditional Catholic teachings. The choice to provide or not provide contraception, abortion, controversial fertility procedures, and even euthanasia have now begun to take on legal ramifications, as Catholic facilities seek to maintain their tax-exempt status and their eligibility for federal funding. It is an all too real danger that Catholic medical centers even those in communities where medical care is scarce may be forced to either shut down or provide immoral procedures, while tens of thousands of Catholic doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other medical professionals could be forced to quit their jobs or violate their religious beliefs. Leonard J. Nelson III explores all the relevant topics.

5:40 – Spycraft: The Secret History of the CIA's Spytechs, from Communism to Al-Qaeda

Today's CIA is regularly criticized for emphasizing technology at the expense of human intelligence. In this history of the agency's Office of Technical Services, Robert Wallace, its former head, refutes the charge with exciting content and slam-bang style. From WWII through the Cold War and up to the present, he says, technical equipment—for clandestine audio surveillance, for example—has been an essential element of agent operations. In the post–Cold War information society, technology plays an even more significant role in fighting terrorism. Agents remain important, along with their traditional skills. Increasingly, however, they support clandestine technical operations, especially infiltrating and compromising computer networks. He is here to argue that employing and defending against sophisticated digital technology is the primary challenge facing U.S. intelligence in the 21st century.

Would Martin Luther King Jr. Have Been Responsible for George Tiller's Murder?

The civil rights movement lead by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a non violent movement. Unfortunately, there were violent people who committed deplorable acts in the name of "civil rights". Should Dr. King have been held responsible for those violent acts?




In the above video Fr. Frank Pavone calls attention to Dr. Martin Luther King Junior's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" written on April 16, 1963. (The time stamp in the video where this begins is at 2:07). Below is the actual text that Fr. Frank is referring to. Those who are engaged in the struggle for the rights of the unborn would do well to study and imitate the notable historical figures of similar movements.


"In your statement you assert that our actions, even though peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate violence. But is this a logical assertion? Isn't this like condemning a robbed man because his possession of money precipitated the evil act of robbery? Isn't this like condemning Socrates because his unswerving commitment to truth and his philosophical inquiries precipitated the act by the misguided populace in which they made him drink hemlock? Isn't this like condemning Jesus because his unique God consciousness and never ceasing devotion to God's will precipitated the evil act of crucifixion? We must come to see that, as the federal courts have consistently affirmed, it is wrong to urge an individual to cease his efforts to gain his basic constitutional rights because the quest may precipitate violence. Society must protect the robbed and punish the robber. I had also hoped that the white moderate would reject the myth concerning time in relation to the struggle for freedom. I have just received a letter from a white brother in Texas. He writes: "All Christians know that the colored people will receive equal rights eventually, but it is possible that you are in too great a religious hurry. It has taken Christianity almost two thousand years to accomplish what it has. The teachings of Christ take time to come to earth." Such an attitude stems from a tragic misconception of time, from the strangely irrational notion that there is something in the very flow of time that will inevitably cure all ills. Actually, time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively. More and more I feel that the people of ill will have used time much more effectively than have the people of good will. We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people. Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men willing to be co workers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation. We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right. Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy and transform our pending national elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood. Now is the time to lift our national policy from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of human dignity."
-Martin Luther King jr. April 16, 1963
Source: http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html

The detractors of the pro life movement are using the same techniques as those in the media who tried to spin Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a dangerous black who only incited violence and murder and insurrection. We know that such accusations were only hurled at the civil rights movement in an attempt to slow it down by spreading confusion and doubt. This same agenda is being advanced by people like Keith Olbermann, against the pro-life movement. Mr. Olbermann makes his intent very clear On MSNBC's "Countdown". He also takes aim at Jill Stanek in This Video.

Kresta in the Afternoon would like to encourage our listeners and readers to engage in a 3 fold response to the current accusations being lobbed at the pro life movement by the MSM. First, we want to implore you to be familiar with this excerpt from "A Letter from a Birmingham Jail". Second, we would like you to email this selection to anyone in the media who you see trying to paint the pro life movement as a band of violent, extremist, radicals. Third, we think it helpful to send this excerpt to people like Jill Stanek and Bill O'Reilly who are being attacked for speaking out against abortion. We need to support our brothers and sisters by arming them with true words.

Today on Kresta - June 8, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on June 8

3:00 – Diagnosis Critical: The Urgent Threats Confronting Catholic Healthcare
The pressure for Catholic medical institutions and healthcare workers is mounting at an alarming rate as individuals struggle to uphold their faith in an industry that is confronting new bioethical dilemmas in a political and cultural environment that is increasingly hostile to traditional Catholic teachings. The choice to provide or not provide contraception, abortion, controversial fertility procedures, and even euthanasia have now begun to take on legal ramifications, as Catholic facilities seek to maintain their tax-exempt status and their eligibility for federal funding. It is an all too real danger that Catholic medical centers even those in communities where medical care is scarce may be forced to either shut down or provide immoral procedures, while tens of thousands of Catholic doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other medical professionals could be forced to quit their jobs or violate their religious beliefs. Leonard J. Nelson III explores all the relevant topics.

3:40 – Spycraft: The Secret History of the CIA's Spytechs, from Communism to Al-Qaeda
Today's CIA is regularly criticized for emphasizing technology at the expense of human intelligence. In this history of the agency's Office of Technical Services, Robert Wallace, its former head, refutes the charge with exciting content and slam-bang style. From WWII through the Cold War and up to the present, he says, technical equipment—for clandestine audio surveillance, for example—has been an essential element of agent operations. In the post–Cold War information society, technology plays an even more significant role in fighting terrorism. Agents remain important, along with their traditional skills. Increasingly, however, they support clandestine technical operations, especially infiltrating and compromising computer networks. He is here to argue that employing and defending against sophisticated digital technology is the primary challenge facing U.S. intelligence in the 21st century.

4:00 – Kresta Comments

4:20 – Money, Greed, and God: Why Capitalism Is the Solution and Not the Problem
Does capitalism promote greed? Can a person follow Jesus' call to love others and also support capitalism? Was our recent economic crisis caused by flaws inherent to our free market system? Jay Richards presents a new approach to capitalism, revealing how it's fully consistent with Jesus’ teachings and the Christian tradition, while also showing why this system is our best bet for renewed economic vigor.

5:00 – Muhammad’s Birthday / The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of the World's Most Intolerant Religion
On this anniversary of Muhammad’s death, New York Times bestselling author Robert Spencer, provides a warts-and-all portrait of the Prophet of Islam and draws out what his life implies for reforming Islam and repulsing Islamic terrorists. Spencer relies solely on primary sources considered reliable by Muslims and evaluates modern biographies to show how Muhammad has been changed for Western audiences, lulling them into consoling but false conclusions.

Book List

Watch live video from Kresta In The Afternoon's channel on Justin.tv
Thank you for all of your wonderful suggestions.

-Scripture

http://www.newadvent.org/bible/

-Catechism of the Catholic Church

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/

-Bleak House by Charles Dickens

http://www.amazon.com/Bleak-Penguin-Classics-Charles-Dickens/dp/0141439726

-Christian Self-Mastery by Fr. Basil Maturin.

http://avemariaradio.onlinecatholicstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=9568

-Back to Virtue by Peter Kreeft

http://avemariaradio.onlinecatholicstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2650

-The God Who Loves You by Peter Kreeft.

http://avemariaradio.onlinecatholicstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=9570

-Heretics by G.K. Chesterton

http://avemariaradio.onlinecatholicstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2558

-Crime & Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

http://avemariaradio.onlinecatholicstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=9572

-The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

http://avemariaradio.onlinecatholicstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=9573

-Creative Tension: Essays on Science and Religion by Michael Heller

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Tension-Essays-Science-Religion/dp/1932031340/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244147563&sr=1-1

-Propaganda by Edward Bernays

http://www.amazon.com/Propaganda-Edward-Bernays/dp/0970312598/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244147658&sr=1-1

-Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

http://www.amazon.com/Brideshead-Revisited-Evelyn-Waugh/dp/0316042994/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244147831&sr=1-6

-The Religious Sense by Luigi Giussani

http://www.amazon.com/Religious-Sense-Luigi-Giussani/dp/0773516263/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244148250&sr=1-2

-Great Lion of God by Taylor Caldwell

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Lion-God-Taylor-Caldwell/dp/0449203697/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244135192&sr=1-3

-Dear and Glorious Physician, A Novel about Saint Luke by Taylor Caldwell

http://avemariaradio.onlinecatholicstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=8800

-Hinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard

http://www.amazon.com/Hinds-Feet-Places-Hannah-Hurnard/dp/0739405640/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244135220&sr=1-3

-La Carreta by Rene Marques

http://www.amazon.com/Carreta-Rene-Marques/dp/8428306737/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244135258&sr=1-1

-Thus Saith the Lord: The Revolutionary Moral Vision of Isaiah and Jeremiah by Richard Rubenstein

http://www.amazon.com/Thus-Saith-Lord-Revolutionary-Jeremiah/dp/B002AYT6E0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244135355&sr=1-1

-Beginning Your Marriage by John L. Thomas and Joan Wagner

http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Your-Marriage-John-Thomas/dp/0915388243/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244149157&sr=1-1

-He Leadeth Me by Walter J. Ciszek and Daniel Flaherty

http://www.amazon.com/He-Leadeth-Me-Walter-Ciszek/dp/0898705460/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244149239&sr=1-1

-Christian Courtship in an Oversexed World by Fr.Thomas G. Morrow

http://avemariaradio.onlinecatholicstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3941

-Natural Rights and the Right to Choose by Hadley Arkes

http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Rights-Right-Choose-Hadley/dp/0521604788/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244149468&sr=1-1

-Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

http://www.amazon.com/Lightning-Thief-Percy-Jackson-Olympians/dp/0786838655/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244149705&sr=1-1

-The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis

http://www.amazon.com/Screwtape-Letters-C-S-Lewis/dp/1557481423/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244149859&sr=1-2

-My Grandfather's Son by Clarence Thomas

http://avemariaradio.onlinecatholicstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=7879

-Father Elijah: An Apocalypse. by Michael O'Brien

http://avemariaradio.onlinecatholicstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3407

-30 Ways in 30 Days to Save Your Family by Rebecca Hagelin

http://avemariaradio.onlinecatholicstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=9177

-Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto by Mark Levin

http://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Tyranny-Conservative-Mark-Levin/dp/1416562850/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244150138&sr=1-1

-The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas

http://www.amazon.com/Robe-Lloyd-C-Douglas/dp/0395957753

-Mary, Mother of the Son 3 book set by Mark Shea

http://www.mark-shea.com/books.html

-Prayer by Hans Urs Von Balthasar

http://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Hans-Urs-von-Balthasar/dp/0281027714/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244150641&sr=1-1

-American Babylon by Richard John Neuhaus

http://avemariaradio.onlinecatholicstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=9549

-Theology Of Prayer Father John A Hardon SJ

http://www.amazon.com/Theology-Prayer-John-Hardon/dp/0819873128/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244150786&sr=1-1

-Return to Rome by Francis Beckwith

http://avemariaradio.onlinecatholicstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=8841

-The writings of Elisabeth Leseur

http://avemariaradio.onlinecatholicstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4679

-Above All, Love: Reflections on the Greatest Commandment by Julie Ackerman Link

http://www.amazon.com/Above-All-Love-Reflections-Commandment/dp/1572932619/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244150950&sr=1-1

-Modern Physics and Ancient Faith by Stephen Barr

http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Physics-Ancient-Faith-Stephen/dp/0268021988/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244151005&sr=1-1

-Four Witnesses by Rod Bennett

http://avemariaradio.onlinecatholicstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=743

-Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain

http://www.amazon.com/Life-Mississippi-Signet-Classics-Twain/dp/0451528174/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244151119&sr=1-1

-Roughing It by Mark Twain

http://www.amazon.com/Roughing-Mark-Twain-Library/dp/0520238923/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244151162&sr=1-1

-Ecumenical Jihad by Peter Kreeft

http://www.amazon.com/Ecumenical-Jihad-Ecumenism-Culture-War/dp/0898705797/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244151221&sr=1-1

-Slouching towards Gomorrah by Robert Bork

http://www.amazon.com/Slouching-Towards-Gomorrah-Liberalism-American/dp/0060573112/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244151267&sr=1-1

-Lord, have mercy by Scott Hahn

http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Have-Mercy-Healing-Confession/dp/0385501706/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244151335&sr=1-1

The Enemy at Home by Dinesh D'Souza

http://avemariaradio.onlinecatholicstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=6904

Theology for Beginners by Frank Sheed

http://avemariaradio.onlinecatholicstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=928

Render Unto Ceasar by Chaput The Mystical City of God

http://www.amazon.com/Render-unto-Caesar-Catholic-Political/dp/0385522290/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244151595&sr=1-1

The Mystical City of God by Fiscar Marison
http://www.amazon.com/Mystical-City-God-Divine-History/dp/0895558254/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244662706&sr=8-2

Today on Kresta - June 3, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on June 3

3:00 – Kresta Comments

3:40 – The Foundations of Religious Life: Revisiting the Vision
In keeping with the vision set forth in Vatican II, the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious has maintained a more traditional form of religious life. While most religious orders are now facing marked decline in novitiates and the aging of their members, the communities of the CMSWR are experiencing growth on a worldwide scale. In this visionary manifesto, and on the heels of the Vatican’s Apostolic Visitation of Women’s Religious Orders, Sr. Mary Nika Schaumber is here to articulate a vision for the future of women religious, suggesting that their commitment to a more radical gospel-based life and ministry is what attracts young women to religious life.

4:00 – Pro-Life Movement to Blame for Tiller Killing?
A man has been shot to death -- an act of violence that everyone should abhor. No pro-lifer may kill as a protest against abortion. But in the flood of blame against pro-lifers on the slaying of Dr. Tiller comes one that stands out for its crass stupidity and bumptious irresponsibility. Catholic Democrats, one of the many groups providing Catholic cover for President Barack Obama, is headed by Dr. Patrick Whalen. Catholic Democrats issued a statement about Tiller's death referencing Deal Hudson, Fr. Frank Pavone, and George Weigel; Whelan then makes the following comment: "It is not enough to denounce violence. Any Catholic public figure who insults someone else with the 'pro-abortion' label is actually hurting the anti-abortion cause by obstructing common ground solutions, sowing division within our Church, and contributing to the penchant toward violence that was on display again today. Whalen is here to defend those comments.

4:20 – Arkansas' Lone Jihadist: How Alone Is He?
In an armed attack outside the Army-Navy Career Center which handles recruiting, in Little Rock, AR, Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad, 23, killed one soldier wounded another. Muhammad, an American citizen who is a convert to Islam and previously known as Carlos Bledsoe, already had been under investigation by the FBI at the time of the shootings. He had traveled to Yemen, received indoctrination from radical clerics, according to a watch group, and possessed a false Somali passport. He was charged in the death of Pvt. William Long, 23, while a prosecutor said Muhammad admitted shooting Long and another soldier "because of what they had done to Muslims in the past." Here we have a new case of an individual U.S. citizen who committed an act of terror in the name of his ideology (Government officials have called it inaccurately a "political and religious motive") against U.S. military targets. Do we see a pattern here? Are we witnessing a repeat and copycats? Dr. Walid Phares is with us.

4:40 – Kresta Comments - Ten Terms NOT Useful to Engaging Muslims Worldwide
As President Obama considers his speeches in the Muslim majority Middle East this week, and as the U.S. national security establishment reviews its foreign policy and public diplomacy, we look at words and concepts that are not useful in building relationships with the Muslim world. Obviously, we are not going to throw out all of these terms, nor should we. But we do need to be very careful about how we use them, and in what context.

5:00 – Direct to my Desk - Building a Summer Reading List
As you prepare for vacations, and the dog days of summer, many are looking for that perfect book to take to the beach, the cabin, or the sofa. We ask for your recommendations and Al has some of his own.

Joe Scheidler: Notorious Abortionist Gunned Down in Church

The June 1st interview with Joe Scheidler talking about the murder of abortionist George Tiller was worth highlighting.

-Joe shared a taxi cab with George Tiller on the way to an abortion conference. Joe was going to the conference in order to learn more about how abortionists conducted their practices and George thought that Joe was a fellow abortionist.

-Tiller may have been losing his license to preform abortions within a month.

-There hadn't been any violent acts committed against abortion providers since 1998. Recent polls have shown that more people than ever were considering themselves to be pro life. The murder of George Tiller has become new ammunition for the pro abortion movement to paint the pro life movement as terrorists.

-Tiller had an "abortion liturgy". They would baptize the children that he would abort and even take footprints of the aborted child and give it to the parents.

-Scott Roeder, Tiller's assasin

-Dr. Warren Hern

Hear what Pro Life Leader Joe Scheidler has to say about the events and people connected to this tragedy in the interview below.

Watch live video from Kresta In The Afternoon's channel on Justin.tv

Today on Kresta - June 2, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on June 2

3:00 – Kresta Comments

3:20 – Who Was Adam? A Creation Model Approach to the Origin of Man
Who Was Adam? The authors of this study are distressed that many people, from scientists to judges, define creationism as a religious view rather than a legitimate scientific theory, and they attempt to redeem it as a science. Early on, they state they define a creationist as "anyone who believes in the existence of a supernatural Creator," but it quickly becomes clear that in fact they mean something much narrower. Their model posits that God created the first people, Adam and Eve; that humanity began in a specific geographic location, the Garden of Eden; and that this creation took place between 10,000 and 100,000 years ago. They then marshal evidence from various disciplines, such as archaeology and astronomy, to support their views. We talk to Dr. Fuzz Rana about Adam, creation and evolution.

4:00 – Kresta Comments

4:20 – When the Spirit Comes in Power
One of the most neglected feasts of the Church was this past weekend , and that of course is Pentecost! The release of the Holy Spirit upon His Church. We discuss what happens when the Spirit comes in power. Peter Herbeck is with us.

5:00 – Embryo Adoption. Why Not?
With the current battle over embryonic stem cell research and a recent flurry of articles on embryo adoption in the National Catholic Register, we take the opportunity to examine the Catholic moral principles at play and look at what the Church has to say on this controversial matter of bioethics. Dr. Monica Miller is our guest.

Kmiec, Robert George debate (Re-Post)

This is a re-post of an earlier one that was not working properly. You should be able to view the video now.

In a May 28 debate at the National Press Club, Pepperdine University’s Douglas Kmiec and Princeton University’s Robert George discussed the pro-life movement’s proper response to the Obama administration’s position on abortion. “If President Obama were interested in reducing the numbers of abortions, he would not subsidize abortion by public money,” said Professor George. “He would not oppose parental consent laws, waiting periods and other laws that reduce the number of abortions.”

“Are we as Catholics expected to sit on the sidelines aloof with the truth talking to ourselves,” said Professor Kmiec, “or are we to engage our fellow citizens and offer that faith? The 2008 election was very much a test of that.”

It's over an hour long, but very informative. Certainly worth watching if you have the time.

Due to the length of the video, it takes a few seconds to pre-load.

Today on Kresta - June 1, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on June 1

3:00 – Kresta Comments – Trying to Justify Murder
Years ago, Al debated the defrocked and excommunicated Presbyterian pastor Paul Hill (1954-2003) over the question of whether or not killing abortionists was justifiable homicide. In short, Al argued “Absolutely not.” Hill argued that he was obligated to protect the unborn by killing their murderers and thus preventing further abortions. Paul Hill wasn’t insane or even “mean.” Rather he was in the grip of an abbreviated logic. He reasoned that since abortionists kill children then by killing abortionists we will save children. When it was clear that pro-life people dismissed his argument as grossly inconsistent with the moral law, he went out and killed an abortionist and his escort and wounded the abortionist’s wife. Paul Hill was arrested, convicted and, in September 2003, executed for their murder. Al comments on the Tiller killing.

3:20 – Notorious Abortionist Gunned Down in Church
George Tiller, one of the nation's few providers of late-term abortions despite decades of protests and attacks, was shot and killed Sunday in a church where he was serving as an usher. The gunman fled, but a 51-year-old suspect was detained some 170 miles away in suburban Kansas City three hours after the shooting. We have talked with Joe Scheidler many times about “Tiller the baby killer.” He joins us again.

3:40 – The Hippocratic Oath and the Florence Nightingale Pledge
The Hippocratic Oath is an oath traditionally taken by physicians pertaining to the ethical practice of medicine. It is widely believed that the oath was written by Hippocrates, the father of western medicine, in the 4th century BC. The phrase "Above all, do no harm" is the most famous part of the oath. We talk with Dr. Rusty Chavey about the history and full meaning of the oath.

4:00 – Government Run Motors – Gov’t Now Owns GM
GM filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this morning, marking the humbling of an American icon that once dominated the global car industry and setting up a high-stakes gamble for U.S. taxpayers. The filing marks the climax of a lengthy debate over the auto maker's future after it sought a bailout from the U.S. government in December to stay alive. In the end, GM couldn't complete its restructuring out of court and filed for bankruptcy-court protection to get billions more in aid from U.S. taxpayers. The question now facing 56,000 auto workers, 3,600 GM dealers and the Obama administration: Will it work? The U.S. government has agreed to provide GM with another $30 billion in aid, in addition to the $20 billion the auto maker has already borrowed, to see it through its restructuring and exit from bankruptcy protection. In return, the government will get a controlling stake in the company. George Schwartz is here to analyze.

4:20 – The Darwin Myth: The Life and Lies of Charles Darwin
In the 150 years since the publication of Origin of Species, Charles Darwin's reputation has wavered between two extremes--secular saint or heretic. But the truth is much more complicated than that. While he was by all accounts a kind and virtuous man, Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection has been one of the most destructive ideas in history. So who is Charles Darwin? What did he really believe--and what did his research really prove? In The Darwin Myth: The Life and Lies of Charles Darwin, Benjamin Wiker cuts through the myths and misconceptions and sets the record straight. Taking a "warts and all" approach, Wiker offers a critical examination of Darwin's theories as well as the scientific, social, and religious implications of his life and work.

5:00 – Direct to My Desk

Tiller: A Sampling of Response

Fr. Frank Pavone - National Director of Priests for Life
"I am saddened to hear of the killing of George Tiller this morning. At this point, we do not know the motives of this act, or who is behind it, whether an angry post- abortive man or woman, or a misguided activist, or an enemy within the abortion industry, or a political enemy frustrated with the way Tiller has escaped prosecution. We should not jump to conclusions or rush to judgment." More...

Dr. Monica Miller - Director of Citizens for a Pro-life Society
“It is certainly possible that even those who are unjust may be victims of injustice themselves. There are many non-violent ways to protect unborn children, short of taking the life of the abortionist—and those means must be used. Anyone who kills an abortionist fails to understand the nature of legalized abortion.” More...

President Barak Obama
"I am shocked and outraged by the murder of Dr. George Tiller as he attended church services this morning. However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence."

David Bereit - National Director of 40 Days for Life
"As a nationwide organization dedicated to peaceful and prayerful solutions to the crisis of abortion, 40 Days for Life is shocked and dismayed by the shooting death of Kansas abortion provider George Tiller. Such violence against a fellow human being is never justified, and 40 Days for Life condemns this senseless act. We encourage people of faith to join in prayer for all those affected by this unconscionable action." More...

Cecile Richards - President of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America
"The entire Planned Parenthood family is deeply saddened by the murder of Dr. George Tiller. Dr. Tiller was the epitome of high quality medical care underscored by deep compassion for his patients. He was continually harassed by abortion opponents for much of his career - his clinic was burned down, he was shot by a health center protestor, and he was recently targeted for investigation only to be acquitted by a jury just a few months ago. None of this stopped George Tiller from his commitment to providing women and their families with compassionate care that others were unwilling to offer." More...

Marjorie Dannenfelser - President of the Susan B. Anthony List
"The Susan B. Anthony List condemns this anti-life act in the strongest of terms. The heart of the pro-life movement is one founded in love. Without this driving powerful center no justice can possibly be achieved." More...

Shaun Kenney - Executive Director of American Life League
"Leaders within the pro-life movement often discuss justice in connection with our mission to end the tragedy of abortion. Today, Dr. George Tiller's life ended in an act defying those principles." More...

Dr. Gary Cass - Christian Anti-Defamation Commission.
"The Christian Anti- Defamation Commission will not allow pro- abortionists or their accomplices in the media to exploit the cowardly act of one misguided individual in order to defame millions of peaceful pro-lifers." More...

Kristan Hawkins - National Director of Students for Life
"Students for Life of America is shocked to hear about the murder of George Tiller. SFLA is a peaceful organization, and we do not condone today's unfortunate events. We will keep Mr. Tiller's family in our thoughts and prayers." More...

Walter Hoye - Issues4Life Foundation
"The murder of Dr. George Tiller is reprehensible! There is nothing “Pro-Life” or “Christian” about murder and the hatred that fuels it. We are in mourning." More...

Nancy Keenan - President of NARAL Pro-Choice America
“On behalf of NARAL Pro-Choice America, our prayers and thoughts are with Dr. Tiller’s family and friends at this moment, a moment that fills us with immeasurable shock and deep sadness.
Dr. Tiller’s murder will send a chill down the spines of the brave and courageous providers and other professionals who are part of reproductive-health centers that serve women across this country. We want them to know that they have our support as they move forward in providing these essential services in the aftermath of the shocking news from Wichita." More...