Judging Justices, Catholic and otherwise

June 17th, 2009 by George Weigel

When Samuel Alito was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Bush in 2005, there was a great and frequently uncivil hoo-rah to the effect that Alito would give the Supremes a “Catholic majority.” In this case, “Catholic” was code for “anti-Roe v. Wade ”—and if you doubt that, consider that there was precious little noise out of the folks who fretted about Alito and the Catholic “majority” when President Obama nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor, of Puerto Rican and Catholic ancestry, to fill the slot on the Court being vacated by Justice David Souter.

From what little was disclosed about Judge Sotomayor’s religious convictions and practice immediately after her nomination, it seems fair to say, at a minimum, that she’s not been particularly ardent in the practice of the faith. But that’s entirely beside the point when considering what her accession to the Court would mean—as it should have been entirely beside the point with Sam Alito, who by all accounts is a seriously practicing Catholic. To grasp what counts, think back to the Winter Olympics during the heyday of the Cold War.

Read more...

Today on Kresta - June 17, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on June 17
Live from Acton University in Grand Rapids, MI

3:00 – Sotomayor, Catholic Supremacy, and Protestant Approaches to Law
The nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court raises the prospect that for the first time in history there will be a supermajority of justices on the same court affiliated to one degree or another with the Catholic Church. Indeed, if her nomination is successful—as most experts believe it will be—half of the Catholics who have ever been on the Supreme Court will be serving simultaneously. At the same time the number of Protestants on the court will fall to a historic low—with David Souter’s retirement, John Paul Stevens will be the lone Protestant. With Catholic representation on the land’s highest court at its apex, and Protestant representation at its nadir, the question must be asked whether this reflects a shift in the balance of legal influence reflective of underlying deficiencies in American Protestantism. We talk with Jordan Ballor about Sotomayor, Catholic Supremacy, and Protestant approaches to law.

3:20 – Islam, Markets, and a Free Society
Is Islam compatible with free markets or does it promote collectivism? We take an overview of Islamic sources on the issue of economic freedom and an examination of the newly developing "Islamic capitalism." Also we examine the critical issue of Islam’s ability to take on the challenges of modernity. Mustafa Akyol is our guest.

4:00 – Beyond Contracts / Father’s Day Initiative
Marriage and family play important roles in building and maintaining both a strong society and a market economy. Marriage and family breakdown have short and long term economic costs and myriad externalities. We talk with Jennifer Roback Morse about the family, marriage and going beyond contracts.

4:40 – Is Iran Headed for Revolution?
Before the Iranian election took place, Bridgitte Gabriel said this: “No matter who wins today, it will not make that much of a difference in Iran. All four candidates have been chosen by and approved by the Mullahs out of 450 applicants. Even though some of them are touted as moderates such as Mir Hussein Moussavi, they are all subscribers of the Mullah ideology and philosophy in one form or another. This is the reason why they were chosen to run.” She joins us today and we ask if the unrest in Iran changes her opinion and what this event will mean for Iran and its relationship with the West.

5:00 – America’s Founding and Natural Law
In his book Making Men Moral, Robert George questioned the central doctrines of liberal jurisprudence and political theory. In his next book, In Defense of Natural Law, he extended his critique of liberalism, and also went beyond it to show how contemporary natural law theory provides a superior way of thinking about basic problems of justice and political morality. He joins us today to discuss America’s founding on natural law.

5:30 – The Economic Thought of Augustine and Aquinas
The work of Augustine and Aquinas decisively shaped the early and medieval Christian Church, including its thought about the economic realm of life. Alex Chafuen examines their thought on economic matters, underlines the continuities and distinctions, and illustrates how they contributed to the future direction of economic thinking.

Live From Acton University This Week

Stay with us all week as we broadcast live from Acton University in Grand Rapids, MI this week. The "conference" is sponsored by the Acton Institute, and we will be interviewing many of the speakers such as Robert George, Fr. Robert Sirico, Kishore Jayabalan, Jennifer Roback Morse, Sam Gregg, Mustafa Akyol, Anthony Bradley and many more.

We will post pictures and watch the live webcam every day from 3-6 p.m. Eastern Time. ENJOY!!! We sure will.

Hollywood-Catholic truce broken?

This from the National Catholic Reporter:

Just when we thought that "Angels & Demons" had called a truce in the battle between Catholics and Hollywood, a new front has been established.

Screen Gems, part of Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group and Sony Pictures Entertainment, has announced it is working on "Priest," about a rogue, "warrior" priest in a future world ravaged by centuries of war between humans and vampires. The film is based on the Korean comic book series of the same name created by Hyung Min-woo.

Starring are Paul Bettany (You may remember him as Silas in "The Da Vinci Code." I remember him as Geoffrey Chaucer in "A Knight's Tale.") as warrior priest Ivan Isaacs, and Cam Gigandet (who played a vampire in that other vampire movie, "Twilight") as a half-human, half-vampire sheriff. The two team-up to save Gena (not yet cast), Bettany's niece and Gigandet's girl friend.
The film is in pre-production. A late summer 2010 release is expected. Stay tuned for culture war fall out.

Benedict: Social Encyclical Coming "Soon"

Pope Benedict XVI offered a quick preview of his forthcoming social encyclical, and disclosed that it would be issued "soon," during a June 13 audience with members of the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation.

The Holy Father said that a market economy serves society "only if oriented toward the common good." Moreover, he said, "freedom in the economic sector must be circumscribed within a strong juridical framework which places it at the service of human freedom in its totality."

The Pontiff said that reflections on economics and the common welfare are particularly necessary today in light of the worldwide financial crisis. That crisis, he said, "clearly indicates the need to reconsider certain economic-financial paradigms that have dominated over the last few years."

Pope Benedict said that his encyclical, applying the principles of Catholic social teaching to current economic discussions, will address that need for a new examination of the global economy. The text, he said, will "highlight what, for us as Christians, are the objectives that need to be pursued and what values to be tirelessly promoted and defended in order to create a truly free and united form of human coexistence."

Seems especially appropriate since we are broadcasting this week from the Acton Institute and their "conference" - Acton University.

Another American Takes a Top Post at the Vatican

Pope Benedict XVI has made a key personnel change in the Roman Curia, appointing an American Dominican, Father Augstine DiNoia, as secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship. Father DiNoia-- who will become an archbishop as he assumes his new role-- replaces Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don, who has been named Archbishop of Colombo in his native Sri Lanka.

The replacement of Archbishop Ranjith had been rumored for months. Hand-picked by Pope Benedict to take the #2 spot in the Congregation for Divine Worship in December 2005, the Sri Lankan prelate had become the focus of some controversy in Rome because of his outspoken stand against liturgical abuse and his clear sympathy for traditionalist Catholics. In December 2008 the Holy Father appointed Cardinal Antonio Canizares as prefect of the liturgical congregation. Because the Spanish cardinal is also firmly committed to the Pope's agenda for liturgical reform, that appointment was widely regarded as a sign that Archbishop Ranjith's presence in the Congregation for Divine Worship was no longer essential, and he would soon be moved to a new post.

In Sri Lanka, Archbishop Ranjith will lead the Church in the nation's capital, and face the challenge of restoring unity in the wake of the country's long civil war. Many Vatican-watchers suspect that he will be raised to the College of Cardinals at the next consistory, as a sign of the Pope's support. In Colombo he replaces Archbishop Oswald Gomis, who is retiring at the age of 76.

Archbishop-elect DiNoia, who joins the swelling ranks of American prelates in the top ranks of the Roman Curia, has been the undersecretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The 65-year-old native of New York had been called to Rome after a stint as the chief staff member for the US bishops' committee on doctrine.

Today on Kresta - June 16, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on June 16
Live from Acton University in Grand Rapids, MI

3:00 – The Church and its “Two Lungs”
The Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma was established in 1969 and is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month. The Eparchy now includes Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Those organizing the event say that now is the time for the Church of Parma to experience newness: new appreciation of the pioneers who formed the eparchy and forged ahead through its early years, the New Evangelization begun by Pope John Paul II, the new hope in Christ expressed by Pope Benedict XVI on his visit to the United States, new zeal, new excitement, new life. Fr. Deacon Lawrence Hendricks is here to discuss the Byzantine Church and John Paul II’s description of the Church needing two lungs to breathe.

3:20 – Voting Rights…And Wrongs
The 1965 Voting Rights Act is the crown jewel of American civil rights legislation. Its passage marked the death knell of the Jim Crow South. But that was the beginning, not the end, of an important debate on race and representation in American democracy. When is the distribution of political power racially fair? Who counts as a representative of black and Hispanic interests? How we answer such questions shapes our politics and public policy in profound but often unrecognized ways. The act’s original aim was simple: Give African Americans the same political opportunity enjoyed by other citizens—the chance to vote, form political coalitions, and elect the candidates of their choice. Abigail Thernstrom argues that southern resistance to black political power began a process by which the act was radically revised both for good and ill. She makes her case.

4:00 – Kresta Comments

5:00 – Acton University
Acton University is a unique, four-day exploration of the intellectual foundations of a free society. Guided by a distinguished, international faculty, Acton University is an opportunity to deepen your knowledge and integrate rigorous philosophy, Christian theology and sound economics. As we kick off our week-long broadcast from the Acton Institute in Grand Rapids, MI, Acton’s Founder, Fr. Robert Sirico, is with us to look at what the Institute does and what we can expect to encounter as we speak to the presenters at this week’s Acton University.

5:30 – Health Care Reform – A Catholic Look
Reform of the American health care sector is urgent. The current trend of ever increasing health-care spending, superimposed upon technological advancement and an aging demographic, is unsustainable. Approximately 15 percent of Americans lack health insurance and millions are underinsured or struggling with medical bills. Employer based medical care is disintegrating. Well-intentioned leaders often advocate for ‘comprehensive’ or ‘universal’ reform with more government or employer involvement in health care. Yet our government has a record found wanting in the defense of human dignity. Broad mandates threaten those whose consciences are committed to the sanctity of life. Furthermore, approximately 50 percent of medical spending is already government funded and expenses continue to escalate. Medicare faces insolvency by 2019, or earlier. United States firms struggle to compete in the global marketplace against firms not similarly responsible for medical benefits. How ought health care be reformed? We attack that question with Kevin Schmeising of the Acton Institute.

Today on Kresta - June 15, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on June 15
Live from the Acton Institute in Grand Rapids, MI

3:00 – Kresta Comments

3:20 – Talking Jesus: Obama vs. Bush
There’s an important article in the Politico, titled, “Obama Invokes Jesus More Than Bush.” President Barack Obama, says the article, has mentioned Jesus Christ “in a number of high-profile public speeches,” more so than did President George W. Bush, and in much less “innocuous contexts.” Obama has done so in order to promote certain policies, especially his economic policies, and “to connect with a broader base of supporters.” He does this via various “targeted messages.” Most remarkable, the article considers whether Obama is using the bully pulpit to pursue “an even larger goal” of resurrecting the Christian left, of appealing to disillusioned conservative evangelicals, and to attract “swing Protestants” and “swing Catholics.” In other words, Obama is doing the things, faith-wise, that Bush was angrily accused of doing. Is it true, and if so, what does it mean. Political scientist Paul Kengor has the analysis.

3:40 – Archbishop Burke and Catholic Media Responsibilities
In the Decree on the Media of Social Communications, Inter Mirifica , the Second Vatican Council Fathers spoke of the need for “A truly Catholic press with the clear purpose of forming, supporting and advancing public opinion in accord with natural law and Catholic teaching and precepts.” Enter Catholic News Service (CNS) — an agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that was created more than forty years before the Council specifically for the purpose of carrying out this very mission. Today, CNS is the world’s largest Catholic news organization of its kind, generating news items and editorial pieces that are reprinted in more than 200 Catholic publications worldwide. Mission accomplished, right? Well, not exactly. CNS’ failure to consistently apply reliably Catholic editorial standards had become so problematic that Archbishop Raymond Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura at the Vatican, has taken the extraordinarily bold step of criticizing CNS from Rome. “The bishops need to look at our Catholic News Service; they need to review their coverage of the Church’s moral and social teachings and give some new direction,” he said. We look at it with a man who has written extensively on the subject, Louis Verricchio.

4:00 – Walking Across America for the Conversion of Youth
It was in the heart of Iowa, where Jon Leonetti was born and raised, that he fell in love with his Catholic faith. As the host of the Catholic radio show, Martyrs of the Third Millennium, Jon was ready to take the message of the New Evangelization from the air waves to the streets. Inspired through reading the lives of the saints Jon has realized that in order to live his Catholic faith to the fullest, he has to give it all. That is why he has chosen to walk, over 3,500 miles, asking young people to take on a new way of living, one where they are lost in the love of Jesus Christ. Through this journey in faith, Jon and his friend Jesse are encouraging young people to live their lives as a Martyr of the Third Millennium, one who continually dies to self and lives for something greater, our God. We catch up with them in IL.

4:20 – Were the Iranian Elections Fixed?
Defeated Iranian presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi appeared in public today for the first time since an election that has divided the nation, joining hundreds of thousands of supporters who defied a ban to stage a mass rally in Tehran. "God willing, we will take back our rights," Mousavi shouted from the roof of a car amid a vast sea of Iranians, young and old, who packed into central Tehran to protest Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election.Iran , battling one of its worst political crises since the Islamic revolution three decades ago, faced a growing international backlash over the validity of the election and the subsequent crackdown on opposition protests. Iran's supreme leader ordered a probe into allegations of vote-rigging in the election that returned Ahmandinejad to power, denting Western hopes of a change in domestic and foreign policy of the oil-rich Shiite-dominated nation. Ahmadinejad has defended the results of an election that gave the combative hardliner another four years in power. We talk with Ali Alfoneh of the American Enterprise Institute

4:40 – Acton University
Acton University is a unique, four-day exploration of the intellectual foundations of a free society. Guided by a distinguished, international faculty, Acton University is an opportunity to deepen your knowledge and integrate rigorous philosophy, Christian theology and sound economics. As we kick off our week-long broadcast from the Acton Institute in Grand Rapids, MI, Acton’s Communication Director, John Couretas, is with us to look at what the Institute does and what we can expect to encounter as we speak to the presenters at this week’s Acton University.

5:00 – NY: Cash for Eggs
New York’s Empire State Stem Cell Board (ESSCB) has approved a plan that would pay women to provide human eggs for research purposes. Bucking a national trend seen in states like California and Massachusetts, which prohibit payment for eggs for research, the ESSCB Ethics Committee voted for state research funds to be provided to researchers who pay women for their eggs, making New York the only state in the union to tacitly endorse a cash-for-eggs scheme. At its meeting on June 11, the ESSCB approved providing state money for direct payments to women to try to obtain human eggs for research. Fr. Thomas Berg of the Westchester Bioethics Institute is our guest.

5:00 – Concluding the Year of St. Paul
Zealous for the God of Israel, Saul of Tarsus pursued murderous threats against the disciples of Jesus. But Saul's zeal was turned upside down when he was knocked from his "high horse" and humbled by the hand of God. As we conclude this year of St. Paul, we are joined by Steve Ray, who will take you on the road with St. Paul through Israel, Syria, Turkey, Greece and Italy. Fall from a horse in the desert and dangle over the Damascus Wall in a basket. Cling to driftwood in the sea and stride along ancient Roman roads. You'll better understand the life, ministry, and sufferings of Paul the Apostle.

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.