Nearly Twice the Size of the (formerly known as) Sears Tower

For years, Dubai boasted that whatever bling project it embarked upon, from carving its coastline into palm-tree-shaped resorts to building vast ski domes in the sand, it would be the “number one in the world”. After the credit crunch, however, it looked like the only record the Gulf city state would claim is the biggest boom and bust.

Today, though, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al- Maktoum, the emirate’s ruler, celebrated at least one global milestone he can be proud of when he opened the tallest building on the planet.

The over-$1 billion Burj Dubai is at least 2,683ft from its base to the tip of its spire — that’s more than half a mile, the equivalent of three-and-a-half Canary Wharf towers or two Empire State buildings stacked up. Its final height is being kept secret until tomorrow, but architects who have worked on the building have hinted it could break the 2,700ft mark.

The tower is more than 1,000ft higher than its nearest inhabited rival, Taiwan’s 1,671ft Taipei 101.

The steel-ribbed, glass-clad structure looks like a giant hypodermic needle piercing the desert sky. As the 169-floor building rises, it passes through several climatic zones. The temperature at the top is up to 50 degrees cooler than at the bottom.

It has the highest swimming pool in the world, on the 76th floor, and the most elevated place of worship with plans for a mosque on the 158th floor.

The Burj Dubai — “burj” means tower in Arabic — is the culmination of Sheikh Mohammed’s vaulting ambition for the emirate. It is the first time the Arab world has claimed the title of the world’s tallest building since 1311, when Lincoln Cathedral exceeded the height of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

However, after the economic downturn ripped through Dubai — sending property prices plunging 50% and forcing Sheikh Mohammed to go cap in hand to his wealthy neighbour, Abu Dhabi, for a $25 billion bailout — critics are already dismissing the tower as a gaudy memorial to a lost decade of uncontrolled speculation. “It’s the last blast of the Noughties in a city that got too big for its dishdasha [robes],” said one local banker.

The Burj is so tall that architects are calling it not just a skyscraper but a “superscraper”. It is mostly residential. There are 900 studios and one- to four-bedroom flats and 144 apartments, designed by Giorgio Armani. The tower also houses the Italian designer’s first hotel, which means fashionistas can live in a branded home and go on holiday in chic surroundings without leaving the building.

Human rights groups and workers’ organisations say the tower has been built using “slave labour”. Construction workers, mainly from India and Pakistan, toiled round the clock for as little as $5 a day.

Environmentalists have criticised the building’s power consumption. Its air-conditioning system is the equivalent of melting 12,500 tons of ice a day, and it will consume millions of gallons of desalinated water — in a city that already has the world’s highest per capita carbon footprint.

The Chicago-based architects, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, deny the claim. “Tall buildings are inherently energy- efficient because they are high-density,” said Bill Baker, chief structural engineer. He described the Burj as an affirmation of the power and importance of tall buildings following the 9/11 attacks that brought down the World Trade Center in New York. “It’s a symbol of optimism. It says, ‘We believe in the future’.”

Outrageous Statement of the Day

Long-time 'The McLaughlin Group' moderator John McLaughlin says the "Most Overrated" Political Concept of 2009 is "Freedom". Thoses who fought the Revolutionary War may disagree.

Cartoon of the Day - New Year's Debt

The Magi and the Star

During a 2007 BBC radio interview, the archbishop of Canterbury deconstructed elements of the Nativity story. "Stars simply don’t behave like that," Rowan Williams said. Asked about the existence of three wise men, he replied, "It works quite well as legend."

But years ago Father Walter Brandmüller, president of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences, published an essay applying the historical-critical method to the question of the Nativity story. (The essay is reprinted without cumbersome footnotes in Light and Shadows: Church History Amid Faith, Fact, and Legend [Ignatius].) He found that an unbiased examination of the historical evidence for the Nativity does not undermine, but corroborates, Christian Tradition.

Brandmüller cites the Anglican scholar J.A.T. Robinson, whose 1976 study Redating the New Testament challenged the 19th-century "scientific" consensus that the Gospels were written after 70 A.D. The late dating conveniently gave Scripture scholars maximum latitude for their speculations. Robinson points out that the Acts of the Apostles (the sequel to Luke) do not mention the deaths of Peter and Paul (circa 67) or the Roman-Judean war, which started in 66. Based on a careful evaluation of both internal and external evidence, he concludes that all four Gospels were written before 70 A.D.

Brandmüller comments: "The fact that the Gospels not only are based on eyewitness and hearsay reports but also were written for contemporaries made it impossible to include fictional accounts, which could have been exposed at any time as untrue by contemporaries who were still living."

He then presents the documentary and monumental evidence for the census of Caesar Augustus and the archaeological traces of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem. "The mere fact that Emperor Hadrian found it necessary to replace the most popular Christian shrines with pagan temples so as to eradicate all thoughts of Christian salvation history-he even had a grove in honor of Adonis planted over the Grotto of the Nativity-shows that the memory of Jesus’ birth was very much alive at the beginning of the second century." Relying on the local tradition, Emperor Constantine had a church built over the grotto in the fourth century. "The Church of the Nativity is still standing there today."

Continue reading here...

Montana Assisted Suicide Ruling Shifts Fight to Legislature

A New Year’s Eve court ruling gave physician-assisted suicide a boost in the state of Montana, as a New York Times article reported. But the ruling stopped short of finding a constitutional right to the practice.

The court ruled 4-3 that state law protects doctors in Montana from prosecution for helping terminally ill patients die. Though Compassion and Choices, which participated in the case as a plaintiff, had hoped the ruling had gone further, its legal affairs director, Kathryn L. Tucker, said the decision expanded the choices available to the dying in Montana, and extended protection to their doctors.

The case originated when retired truck driver Robert Baxter, who died last year at 76 of complications related to lymphocytic leukemia. He had argued that he had the right to obtaining help from a physician in committing suicide.

The majority in the decision pointed to a 1985 state law which addressed the withdrawal of treatment for terminally ill patients. That legislation created “public policy,” the majority said, that in effect shielded a physician from prosecution for helping hasten the death of a consenting, rational, terminal patient.

The dissenting justices said the majority had misread the intent and meaning of the 1985 law and given it a breadth it was never intended to have.

“The statute provides no support for physicians shifting from idle onlookers of natural death to active participants in their patients’ suicides,” they wrote.

Reacting to the ruling was Jeff Laszloffy of the Montana Family Foundation.

“What the court did, in essence, was to place the issue back into the hands of the legislature, where it should be,” Laszloffy told LifeNews.com. “They said there’s nothing currently in statute that prohibits the practice. It’s now up to us to go into the next legislative session fully armed and ready to pass statutory language that says, once and for all, that physician assisted suicide is illegal in Montana.”

Today on Kresta - January 4, 2010

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Jan. 4

4:00 – The Biggest Vatican Stories of the Decade
'Tis the season for end-of-decade countdowns, like “best baseball comebacks” and “worst fashion blunders.” In that spirit, John Allen recently dedicated his column to the biggest Vatican stories of the decade. Of course, John says, “most covered” and “most important” are hardly equivalent terms, but at least we can say with certainty which Vatican stories of the past decade generated the most buzz in the United States -- making them most likely to shape the perceptions of the average American about what the Vatican and the pope are up to.

4:20 – Nancy Pelosi Explains How Her Conscience Trumps Church Teaching
The rift between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Catholic Church will likely grow thanks to new comments the abortion advocate made. Pelosi said in a new interview that the "free will" of women wanting abortions outweighs pro-life Catholic teachings. Pelosi said "I practically mourn this difference of opinion because I feel what I was raised to believe is consistent with what I profess, and that is that we are all endowed with a free will and a responsibility to answer for our actions," she continues. "And that women should have that opportunity to exercise their free will." J. Budziszewski is here to explain the proper understanding of conscience in moral decision-making.

4:40 – WORLD Magazine: Top 10 stories of 2009
The editors of WORLD Magazine have released their list of the top 10 stories of 2009. WORLD magazine is the nation's most widely-read Christian news magazine. WORLD maintains staff writers in Washington, New York, and other key U.S. cities, and has a network of correspondents around the world. Editor Mindy Belz is here to look at Barak Obama, health care, wars, and triumphs.

5:00 – Sports Faith International: Hall of Fame Induction
The legendary George Halas, the founder of the Chicago Bears and the coach for forty years, referred to God as the Divine Coach. His family described him as a man who didn’t always talk about his faith but lived it very strongly. Today his grandson follows in his traditions and as a board member of the Bears ensures the great traditions of faith and sportsmanship, initiated by George Halas, continues to flourish as part of the very essence of the Bears organization. Pat McCaskey is co-owner of the Bears and Founder & Chairman of Sports Faith International. He is here to tell us about this years’ Sports Faith Hall of Fame inductees and the new Catholic High School Hall of Fame.

5:20 – Pope Attacked / John Paul II and Pius XII Declared “Venerable”
Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Almanac remains the only annual, comprehensive guide to the Catholic Church. It is the essential one-volume reference work for researchers, homilists, writers, media professionals, students, and teachers. Published for more than one hundred years, this is a proven resource that offers solid Catholic teaching and information. Its in-depth index makes finding specific, exact information easy. Editor Matthew Bunson is here to look at the 2010 Catholic Almanac as well as some stories from while we were away, including the attack on Pope Benedict XVI, and the declarations of Pope John Paul the Great and Pope Pius XII as venerable.

Today on Kresta - January 1, 2010

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Dec. 30

Kresta Countdown of the top interviews of 2009

#3 – A Bishop’s Story of Vocation
Bishop Alexander Sample of the Diocese of Marquette, MI has an incredible story of his calling to the priesthood, and he is here to share it. In this year for priests, the Bishops are calling on all Catholics to build up the priesthood, discuss the priesthood, and suggest the priesthood to young men. It is precisely because of this type of encouragement that Bishop Sample is a priest of God.

#2 – St. Damien of Molokai
In November Matthew Bunson joined us in studio at Redeemer Radio in Fort Wayne. He told us all about his trip to Rome for the canonization of Damien of Molokai, his book on St. Damien and much more.

#1 – Al’s Analysis of the Christopher Hitchens Interview
In April, Al sat down for an interview with famed atheist bomb-thrower Christopher Hitchens – author of God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. In typical Hitchens fashion, he made outrageous and odd claims. We aired the interview and the next day we analyzed certain elements of it to expand on Al’s responses to Hitchens and further expose this man as a fraud and outright liar.

Today on Kresta - December 31, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Dec. 31

Kresta Countdown of the top interviews of 2009

#7 - Meltdown
Back in February, Barack Obama’s economic stimulus plan passed both Houses of Congress, but many argued that this tidal wave of spending will sink our economy, not save it. That’s the argument of Thomas Woods, author of Meltdown: A Free-Market Look at Why the Stock Market Collapsed, the Economy Tanked, and Government Bailouts Will Make Things Worse. He says this new bailout is more of the same for America—failed economic stimulus policy that will quickly drive America deeper into recession. In fact, Woods proves in his new book that government interventions in financial crises not only fail but makes matters much worse. He is here to make his case.

#6 – Breathless
Supernatural thriller writer Dean Koontz has written more than 50 novels, 45 of which have been on The New York Times’ best-seller list. While his novels are often filled with darkness (Faith & Family magazine warns, he is animated by his Catholic faith — a faith which has become more evident in his books in recent years. He is here to discuss his latest thriller, Breathless, a novel of suspense and adventure, as the lives of strangers converge around a mystery unfolding high in the Colorado mountains—and the balance of the world begins to tilt….

#5 - The Political Philosophy of George Washington
George Washington is revered as the father of his country, a clever and skilled general, and a man of restrained principle -- but not as a political thinker. Though Washington left little explicit writing on political philosophy, on this 210th anniversary of Washington’s death, Jeffry Morrison is here to examine his key writings, actions, education, and political and professional lives. He finds that Washington held closely to a trinity of foundational principles -- classical republicanism, British liberalism, and Protestant Christianity -- with greater fidelity than many of the other founding fathers. In unearthing Washington's ideological growth, Morrison reveals the intellectual heritage of his political thought and shows how these beliefs motivated him to action.

#4 - 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.

Today on Kresta - December 30, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Dec. 30

Kresta Countdown of the top interviews of 2009

#11 – Secular Sabotage: How Liberals Are Destroying Religion and Culture in America
Secularism. This assault is not happening from accident or whim. It is happening because disaffected liberals have deliberately set out to upend our Judeo-Christian traditions. Indeed, they are determined to tear down the traditional norms, values, and institutions that have been part of American society from its founding. The cultural debris that these saboteurs have created will take decades to clean up. In feisty prose Bill Donohue explores our nation where a college student is threatened with expulsion because she prayed on campus, a civil rights organization protests a statue of Jesus found on the ocean floor and a housewife sues a school district to stop the singing of Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer at a school choral production. These are just a few examples cited that demonstrate a culture descending into madness. He joins us.

#10 – Original “Schindler’s List” Found in Sydney Library
A list of Jews saved by Oskar Schindler that inspired the novel and Oscar-winning film "Schindler's List" has been found in a Sydney library, its co-curator said this week. Workers at the New South Wales State Library found the list, containing the names of 801 Jews saved from the Holocaust by the businessman, as they sifted through boxes of Australian author Thomas Keneally's manuscript material. The 13-page document, a yellowed and fragile carbon typescript copy of the original, was found between research notes and German newspaper clippings in one of the boxes. We talk with the man who wrote the book on Oskar Schindler, David Crowe.

#9 – Word Pictures: Knowing God Through Story & Imagination
At a contentious intersection of faith and contemporary culture, Brian Godawa offers what many have been calling for: balance. In a world (and often a church) torn by imbalanced devotion to either word or image, Godawa joins the two with a needed 'and.' He shows a well-developed literacy for both forms of communication, shows how the Bible incorporates both and challenges us to engage our culture creatively and redemptively on both fronts.

#8 – Fr. Leo Wins the “Throwdown with Bobby Flay”
It's official - Father Leo Patalinghug defeated renowned chef Bobby Flay in a Fusion Fajita cook-off. The episode of “Throwdown with Bobby Flay” took place in June. Flay traveled to the Mount St. Mary’s campus and challenged Father Leo to the “Throwdown” marking the first time the Iron Chef has faced off against a priest. The two prepared Fusion Fajitas for a select group of families, members of the Mount St. Mary’s community and other guests outside University President, Thomas H. Powell’s home. Fr. Leo says “It was a fun day having people come together and enjoy our fajitas…it’s what the concept of Grace Before Meals is all about.” He joins us.

Today on Kresta - December 29, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Dec. 29

Kresta Countdown of the top interviews of 2009

#16 – Kresta Comments - Michael Jackson: A Human Commodity

#15 – Abortion Rites: A Social History of Abortion in America
In a remarkable and controversial work which goes back to 1992, Marvin Olasky wrote an in-depth analysis of the history of abortion in America. Part One describes the three groups of women who were having abortions through the mid-nineteenth century. Part Two examines the failures and limited successes of anti-abortion Americans as they tried to develop a societal mind-set in which abortion was condemned. And Part Three carries the story into the twentieth century, examining the moral transition among physicians and the impact of changing values and economic pressures. It is as relevant today as it ever was, and Marvin joins us to look at the social history of abortion in America.

#14 – Christianity Caused the Crash?
Recently the Atlantic magazine ran an article under the provocative headline “Did Christianity Cause the Crash?” The article itself was much less silly than the headline, but even so, its effort to tie Christian religious movements to the crash was a pretty implausible stretch. However, the topic of Christianity and the market deserves some serious attention, because (the absurdity of the Atlantic notwithstanding) recent shifts in Christian religious attitudes really are related in important ways to the American economy. So—Did Christianity Cause the Crash? Dr. Greg Forster has the answer.

#13 – Climate talks seek calm after “Climategate” fury
For years, Jay Richards says he’s warned fellow Christians not to confuse environmental stewardship with climate change alarmism. His experience is that many Christian environmentalists simply accept the conventional wisdom when it comes to the science, rather than studying it carefully. They place a lot of weight on the credibility of mainstream views. So he is now hoping that “Climategate” will cause many of them to rethink their uncritical embrace of what they learn from the cover of Newsweek. We talk to Jay about how “Climategate” has affected the current Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.

#12 – A. Lincoln: A Biography
Today we celebrate the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln is endlessly chronicled because he is, like the nation he saved, endlessly fascinating. In celebration of the Lincoln’s 200th birthday, Lincoln scholar Ronald White has written a splendid, sprawling biography of a man we can never know too much about. Everyone wants to define the man who signed his name “A. Lincoln.” In his lifetime and ever since, friend and foe have taken it upon themselves to characterize Lincoln according to their own label or libel. In this magnificent book, White offers a fresh and compelling definition of Lincoln as a man of integrity–what today’s commentators would call “authenticity”–whose moral compass holds the key to understanding his life. He joins us.

Today on Kresta - December 28, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Dec. 28

Kresta Countdown of the top interviews of 2009

#20 – The Five Love Languages
Dr. Gary Chapman believes you have a God-given yearning for complete and unconditional love. But you’ll never be able to express it – or receive it – until you learn to speak the right “love” language. The Five Love Languages for Singles reveals how different personalities express love in different ways. In fact, there are five specific languages of love: Quality time, Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. Chapman’s first best-selling book, The Five Love Languages, has already connected with more than 3 million readers. How he tailors that message to meet the unique needs of singles, using real-life examples and anecdotes taken from his 30 years of interaction with single adults. He joins us.

#19 – The Pope, Africa, Condoms, and AIDS
In March, Pope Benedict’s comments on AIDS and condoms during his visit to Africa garnered criticism from editorial pages and health officials. Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass for a congregation of nearly 1 million, underlining his message that Africa, for all its problems is "the continent of hope." In his farewell remarks before board the plane, the Pope said that he was pleased to have "found the Church here to be so alive and full of enthusiasm, despite the difficulties, able to take up its own cross and that of others, bearing witness before everyone to the saving power of the Gospel message." Vatican reporter John Allen was with the Pontiff every step of the way and joined us from Cameroon.

#18 – Augustine and Monica
On Aug. 27th we celebrate the feast of one of the greatest Saints the Church has ever known. Augustine was born in a Roman province and educated at Carthage. As a young man he became interested in philosophy, with little interest in Christianity until a profound experience in his early thirties. By 396 he had become bishop of Hippo, and his sermons and writings gained fame, notably his Confessions and the treatise City of God. His notions of God's grace, free will and Original Sin have had an unmatched influence on Christian theology. Augustinian philosopher Dr. Barry David joins us.

#17 – “The Catholic Church: A History”
The Catholic Church. It began as a small band of supporters following the teachings of an itinerant preacher in an outpost of the Roman Empire. From there, the church expanded both its size and its importance in the grand scheme of Western history. Today, the church is the oldest continuously active organization on Earth and one of the most influential institutions in the world—a force capable of moving armies, inspiring saints, and shaping the lives of a billion members. But how did this powerful institution develop out of the early church community—a loosely associated group of disciples who were inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus? Why do today's Catholics worship the way they do? How has this institution influenced world history far beyond the walls of its churches and monasteries? Dr. William Cook discusses “The Catholic Church: A History.”

Today on Kresta - December 25, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Dec. 25

Kresta Countdown of the top interviews of 2009

#24 – 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 on May 31, 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.

#23 – Bridging the Great Divide : Musings of a Post-Liberal, Post Conservative Evangelical Catholic
Fr. Robert Barron’s book “Bridging the Great Divide: Musings of a Post-Conservative Evangelical Catholic” represents a pivotal moment in the life of the Catholic community. Today's faithful are searching for an expression of Catholic Christianity that is vibrant, colorful, provocative, counter-cultural, deeply rooted in the tradition, and full of the promise of the Good News. In this timely and prophetic book, Fr. Barron--himself a member of the younger generation--has minted a new vernacular and blazed a new way that bridges the great divide and gives voice to the concerns of post-liberal, post-conservative, evangelical believers.

#22 – Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul
On the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, we took a unique look at the two giants of the faith. Because Peter plays such a prominent role in the New Testament and the tradition of the church, he has been the focus of much scholarship over the centuries. One wonders whether there can be anything more to say about Peter. Indeed, there is. Fr. Richard Cassidy takes a look at Peter in the story of each gospel individually, rather than studying Peter via a side-by-side analysis of the gospels. We look at Four Times Peter.

#21 – Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, R.I.P.
Fr. Richard John Neuhaus passed away in January at the age of seventy-two. He never recovered from the weakness that sent him to the hospital the day after Christmas, caused by a series of side effects from the cancer he was suffering. As a priest, as a writer, as a public leader in so many struggles, no one can take his place. He was a giant of an intellectual leader, a prolific writer, a leading voice of authentic ecumenism and so much more. We took time to remember his life and contributions to the Church with Jody Bottum, editor-in-chief of “First Things.”

Today on Kresta - December 24, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Dec. 24

Kresta Countdown of the top interviews of 2009

#27 – Kresta Comments – “Where are the Grown-Ups?”
As the flames grew higher on Capitol Hill earlier this year, eyes bulged, tongues became unhinged, consciences were seared and necks craned so the cameras could show how many veins were popping. Two congressmen suggested that some AIG execs ought to have the decency to commit hari-kari. We all stood by waiting for someone to call for slaughter of the firstborn, lynchings or exile. If the economic meltdown is traced to the subprime housing crisis, then the psychological meltdown these events must be traced to the subprime emotional immaturity of Congress. Al says what we witnessed as the AIG debacle unfolded was that the world is being run by people not much wiser than your Uncle Bob but a whole lot better dressed. He has analysis and commentary. “Where are the Grownups?”

#26 – Dan Brown, Freemasonry, and the Catholic Church
Dan Brown may loathe Catholics, but he just adores the Masons. Brown goes out of his way in his latest book “‘The Lost Symbol” to present the lodge as essentially benign and misunderstood. The Catholic Church, of course, is seen by Brown as essentially wicked and misunderstood only by its followers. “Masons are praised for their religious tolerance,” an AP article says. In the book, Brown defends the Masons against “unfair” portrayals. So kind of him. In real life Brown says he has “enormous respect for the Masons.” Must be their historic anti-Catholicism that won him over. Showing nothing but sweetness and light, the man who has made millions dumping on the Catholic Church says of his new work, “It’s a reverent look at their philosophy. I’m more interested in what they believe than all their rituals and conspiracy theories about them.” Now if only Brown had cut Catholics the same break. We are joined by John Salza, former 32nd degree Freemason in the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and author of Why Catholics Cannot Be Masons and Masonry Unmasked.

#25 – 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.

Today on Kresta - December 23, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Dec. 24

Kresta Countdown of the top interviews of 2009

#30 – The Darwinian Revolution – Darwin Turns 200
Published 150 years ago, Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species—the text that introduced the world to natural selection—is among a handful of books that have changed the world. Born amid a ferment of speculation about evolutionary scenarios in the early 19th century; vilified and later pronounced dead at the turn of the 20th century; and spectacularly confirmed by discovery after discovery in succeeding decades—natural selection ranks with the theories of Copernicus and Newton for its iconic stature in science. But the route to that status has been surprisingly circuitous and uncertain. Darwin's profoundly revolutionary message has often been misunderstood, and so have his own views on evolution, the intellectual background that led to them, and the turbulent history of their reception. We talk to Dr. Frederick Gregory about Darwin, his influence, and how his work should be viewed today.

#29 – The End of Secularism
University scholars have spent decades subjecting religion to critical scrutiny. But what would happen if they turned their focus on secularism? Hunter Baker seeks the answer to that question by putting secularism under the microscope and carefully examining its origins, its context, its claims, and the viability of those claims. He reveals that secularism fails as an instrument designed to create superior social harmony and political rationality to that which is available with theistic alternatives. He also demonstrates that secularism is far from the best or only way to enjoy modernity's fruits of religious liberty, free speech, and democracy. The message is that the marketplace of ideas depends on open and honest discussion rather than on religious content or the lack thereof. He is here to make his case.

#28 – Victory for Prop 8 – Where Does the Fight Go From Here
The California Supreme Court upheld a voter-approved ban on same-sex “marriage” earlier this year but it also decided that the estimated 18,000 gay couples who tied the knot before the law took effect will stay wed. The 6-1 decision rejected an argument by gay rights activists that the ban revised the California constitution's equal protection clause to such a dramatic degree that it first needed the Legislature's approval. The court said the people have a right, through the ballot box, to change their constitution. How big was this victory and where does the battle go from here? Maggie Gallagher has the answers.

Today on Kresta - December 22, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Dec. 22

Kresta Countdown of the top interviews of 2009

#34 - Violence Against Christians in Pakistan Rooted in Long History of Blasphemy Laws
The latest spate of violence against Christians in Pakistan vividly illustrates the difficulty that faces the religious minority in a country where blasphemy laws give Muslims a powerful weapon to use against Christian neighbors. Allegations that Christians have given offense against Islam regularly provoke violence, and create the climate of tolerance for that violence. Two bishops are now – at great risk to themselves - demanding the repeal of the blasphemy laws that encourage the persecution of the nation’s Christians. Meanwhile Church leaders are also speaking out against the imposition of the jizya, a tax on non-Muslims, in remote regions of Pakistan abutting Afghanistan, where the Taliban exercises considerable de facto power. Paul Marshall, America’s foremost expert in religious freedom joins us.

#33 – Sports and the Catholic Family
Participation in athletic activities and playing on sports teams has been viewed as contributing in positive manner to the character development of children. However, a remarkable change has occurred over the past 20 years in regard to the degree of involvement on sports teams by children. Today, many children are under extreme pressures from both coaches and parents to commit themselves to give an unprecedented amount of time and effort to participation in team sports, including those teams which travel regularly on weekends and during the summer. One coach commented that some children now play up to 80 baseball games over the course of a summer, including playing in double headers and in repeated weekend tournaments. This significant change in regard to children's and families’ relationship with sports has damaged marriages, family life and the ability of a large number of children to enjoy sports as a pleasant, relaxing childhood activity. Psychiatrist Rick Fitzgibbons is here to address a number of issues related to this important area of child development and family life.

#32 – The Economy: The Government, Thirty Years of Bad Economic Policy, or Both?
Conventional wisdom in America today holds that high levels of taxes and government spending diminish America’s prosperity. The claim strikes a deep intuitive chord, not only among those on the Right, but also among many on today’s Left. Indeed, the antitax credo has become so obvious to so many over the past thirty years, and rolls off the tongues of policymakers from both parties with such fluency, that one would think evidence needn’t even be gathered to support it. Even Clinton proudly announced that “the era of big government is over.” Michael Miller of the Acton Institute is here to look the economic meltdown: blame the government, free market principles, or both?

#31 – Hiking the Camino: 500 Miles with Jesus
You might reasonably wonder why anyone would shoulder a heavy backpack, grab a walking stick and hike across Spain. Whatever happened to planes, trains and automobiles? But Father Dave Pivonka knew that the Camino—the ancient pilgrim path to the tomb of Saint James the Apostle in Santiago—offered an opportunity to focus on God in the stripped-down environment typical of the religious journey known as a pilgrimage. Fr. Dave takes us along with him, eager to show that God wants to take care of you whether or not you can see down the road or, if tired and sore, you're tempted to quit. His Camino hike holds real lessons for our own life's journey.

Today on Kresta - December 21, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Dec. 21

Kresta Countdown of the top interviews of 2009

#40 - Polygamy and the Courts
From the Mormon Church's public announcement of its sanction of polygamy in 1852 until its formal decision to abandon the practice in 1890, people on both sides of the "Mormon question" debated central questions of constitutional law. Did principles of religious freedom and local self-government protect Mormons' claim to a distinct, religiously based legal order? Or was polygamy, as its opponents claimed, a new form of slavery--this time for white women in Utah? And did constitutional principles dictate that democracy and true liberty were founded on separation of church and state? Sarah Barringer Gordon is here to answer those questions and more.

#39 – John Paul II: Confronting the Language Empowering the Culture of Death
We live not only in a time and place but also in the description of that time and place. William Brennan is here to expose how that description was twisted and deformed, and how John Paul the Great responded by teaching the world the language of the culture of life. He reveals how, through a discourse of truth-telling - calling things by their proper name - Pope John Paul II effectively exposed the corruption of language and thought fueling a death culture that is becoming increasingly embedded in medicine, human experimentation, commerce, law, and ideology.

#38 – A Catholic View of Literary Classics – Part 10 of 10: Uncle Tom’s Cabin
We continue our 10-week series examining Classic Literature from a Catholic perspective. We will ensure that traditional moral readings of the works are given prominence, instead of the feminist or deconstructionist readings that often proliferate in other series of 'critical editions'. As such, they represent a genuine extension of consumer choice, enabling educators, students, and lovers of good literature to buy editions of classic literary works without having to 'buy into' the ideologies of secular fundamentalism. Today, we examine Uncle Tom’s Cabin with Ave Maria University Professor Mark McCullough.

#37 – Descartes' Bones: A Skeletal History of the Conflict Between Faith and Reason
On a brutal winter's day in 1650 in Stockholm, the Frenchman René Descartes, the most influential and controversial thinker of his time, was buried after a cold and lonely death far from home. Sixteen years later, the French Ambassador Hugues de Terlon secretly unearthed Descartes' bones and transported them to France. Why would this devoutly Catholic official care so much about the remains of a philosopher who was hounded from country to country on charges of atheism? Why would Descartes' bones take such a strange, serpentine path over the next 350 years—a path intersecting some of the grandest events imaginable: the birth of science, the rise of democracy, the mind-body problem, the conflict between faith and reason? Their story involves people from all walks of life—Louis XIV, a Swedish casino operator, poets and playwrights, philosophers and physicists, as these people used the bones in scientific studies, stole them, sold them, revered them as relics, fought over them, passed them surreptitiously from hand to hand. Russell Shorto is here to explain.

#36 – The True St. Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas
When most of us hear the name "Saint Nicholas," we immediately think of Santa Claus. But if asked why Santa sometimes goes by this alias, we might be at a loss for a satisfactory answer. Too bad: the real St. Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop who may have attended the famous Council of Nicaea in 325, was a fascinating if elusive figure whose name has been invoked, and selfless deeds recounted, for hundreds of years. Now, in The True St. Nicholas, the bestselling author, radio talk-show host and former Secretary of Education William Bennett brings Saint Nicholas's story to life, and shows why it is still relevant today.

#35 – Who Is My Neighbor?: Personalism And The Foundations Of Human Rights
Over the past half century the language of human rights has gained such dominance in moral, civic, and ecclesiastical discourse that ethical and social questions are increasingly framed in terms of rights. Yet the vast literature dealing with human and civil rights focuses almost exclusively on the juridical and practical ramifications of rights, rather than the philosophical, moral, and foundational aspects. As a result, the proliferation of rights claims and catalogs has not been accompanied by a reasoned case for the existence of human rights or rational criteria for distinguishing true moral entitlement from spurious claims. Fr. Thomas Williams makes an original, compelling case for human rights as moral entitlements grounded in the dignity of the human person.

Annual "Kresta in the Afternoon" Book Recommendation Special

Today we did the annual book show as the last show before we start the "Best of 2009" Countdown. Below are all of the books and links for each. Most are to our online bookstore and should be there by Friday late evening. Enjoy!!!

AL KRESTA RECOMMENDATIONS
The Difference God Makes
By Francis Cardinal George

Breathless: A Novel
By Dean Koontz

The Cold War: A New History
By John Louis Gaddis

Atheist Delusions: The Christian Revolution and Its Fashionable Enemies
By David Bentley Hart

Descartes' Bones: A Skeletal History of the Conflict Between Faith and Reason
By Russell Shorto

A Civilization of Love
By Carl Anderson

Render unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living Our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life
Archbishop Charles Chaput

Sober Inoxication of the Spirit: Filled With the Fullness of God
By Raniero Cantalamessa

God and Man
By Anthony Bloom

The Catholic Church: A History
By William Cook

Heaven and Heresies: A History of the Inquisition
By Thomas Madden


STEVEN GREYDANUS DVD RECOMMENDATIONS
The 13th Day

The Class

Up

Summer Hours

The Informant


STEVE RAY RECOMMENDATIONS
Logos Bible Software

Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture

Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture

Ignatius of Antioch
By Kenneth Howell

Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths: A Source Book for Apologists and Inquirers
By Dave Armstrong

SuperFoods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life
By Steven Pratt


DOUG KECK RECOMMENDATIONS
Prayerfully Expecting: A Nine-Month Novena for Mothers to Be
By Donna Marie Cooper-O’Boyle

All Things Girl
By Teresa Tomeo, Monica Cops, Molly Miller

Diagnosis Critical: The Urgent Threats Confronting Catholic Healthcare
By Leonard Nelson

Embracing Dementia, A Call to Love: Finding Hope, Loving Someone with Alzheimer's or Other Dementias
By Ellen Marie Edmonds

Adoption: Choosing it, Living it, Loving it
By Dr. Ray Guarendi

Everyday Encounters with God: What Our Experiences Teach Us About the Divine
By Bert Ghezzi and Fr. Benedict Groeschel

Arise From Darkness
By Fr. Benedict Groeschel

A Still Small Voice
By Fr. Benedict Groeschel

Christmas Joy: From Christ's Birth to His Baptism
Bishop Robert Baker

The Darwin Myth
By Benjamin Wiker

Moments of Grace
By Al Kresta and Nick Thomm

Anything Written By Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen


DONNA MARIE COOPER-O'BOYLE
Man To Man: A Real Priest Speaks to Real Men About Marriage, Sexuality, and Family Life
By Fr. James Farfaglia

The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Catholic Catechism
By Mary DeTurris Poust

All Things Girl
By Teresa Tomeo, Monica Cops, Molly Miller

The Rosary: Keeping Company with Jesus and Mary
By Karen Edmisten

Angels of God: The Bible, the Church and the Heavenly Hosts
By Mike Aquilina

The Handbook for Catholic Moms: Nurturing Your Heart, Mind, Body, and Soul
By Lisa Hendy


RORI HOIPKEMIER RECOMMENDATIONS
Autobiography of a Hunted Priest
By John Gerard

Home: A Novel
By Marilynne Robinson

The Strangest Way: Walking the Christian Path
By Fr. Robert Barron

Shakespeare
By Bill Bryson

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
By Bill Bryson


CARL OLSEN RECOMMENDATIONS
111 Questions on Islam: Samir Khalil Samir on Islam and the West
By Samir Khalil Samir

The Tyranny of Liberalism: Understanding and Overcoming Administered Freedom, Inquisitorial Tolerance, and Equality by Command
By James Kalb

The Seal: A Priest’s Story
By Fr. Timothy Mockaitis

Chosen: How Christ Sent Twenty-Three Surprised Converts to Replant His Vineyard
By Donna Steichen

The Line Through the Heart: Natural Law as Fact, Theory, and Sign of Contradiction
By J. Budziszewski


TERESA TOMEO RECOMMENDATIONS
The Line Through the Heart: Natural Law as Fact, Theory, and Sign of Contradiction
By J. Budziszewski

The Road to Siena: The Essential Biography of St. Catherine
Edited by Jon Sweeney

Render Unto Ceasar: Serving the Nation by Living Our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life
By Archbishop Charles Chaput

The Difference God Makes
By Cardinal Francis George

Lay Siege to Heaven: A Novel About Saint Catherine of Siena
By Louis DeWohl


MIKE AQUILINA RECOMMENDATIONS
The Crucified Rabbi: Judaism and the Origins of Catholic Christianity
By Taylor Marshall

Signs of Life: 40 Catholic Customs and Their Biblical Roots
By Scott Hahn

When Children Became People: The Birth of Childhood in Early Christianity
By O.M. Bakke

Angels
By Marco Bussagli

We Look for a Kingdom: The Everyday Lives of the Early Christians
By Carl Sommer

Four Witnesses: The Early Church in Her Own Words
By Rod Bennett


DAVE FORSMARK RECOMMENDATIONS
7 Miracles That Saved America
By Chris Stewart and Ted Stewart

The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers
By Thomas Fleming

Heart of the Assassin: A Novel
By Robert Ferrigno

Shop Class as Soulcraft
By Matthew Crawford

The Last Thing I Remember
By Andrew Klavan

The Last Undercover
By Bob Hamer

Evidence
By Jonathan Kellerman

The Seige
By Stephen White

Venerable Pope John Paul II? Pope John Paul Advances on Path to Canonization

Pope Benedict XVI is poised to move his predecessor John Paul II a step closer to sainthood in the coming days by declaring the late pontiff "venerable," it's being widely reported. The decision would pave the way for the late pope to be beatified at a ceremony planned for next year in Rome. And beatification would leave the late pontiff just one step from canonization, and full sainthood.

A beatification ceremony in the capital, which could attract crowds of up to 1 million people, is being planned for October 16, reports say. The date has been chosen to mark the anniversary of John Paul's election to the papacy on October 16, 1978.

The path to sainthood usually takes decades if not centuries, but Benedict launched the beatification process for John Paul just 2 months after his death in April, 2005. If John Paul is beatified in October next year, he will have gone through the process faster than Mother Teresa, the nun remembered for her work with the poor and sick who was beatified six years after her death.

Two stages must still be completed for John Paul to be beatified. First, his "heroic virtues" must be recognised, which the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints last month agreed to approve. Benedict must now agree with this, and John Paul will then be proclaimed "venerable."

The final stage for beatification is providing evidence of a miracle, usually a medical cure with no scientific explanation which is reviewed by several commissions. In John Paul's case, the miracle is said to have taken place when a French nun was cured of Parkinson's disease in 2005. Benedict will once again have to give the final approval on the miracle.

View the video below for a glimpse of just how ground-breaking the John Paul II papacy really was.

Religious Freedom? Not So Much

Nearly 70% of the world’s people live in countries that restrict religious liberty, according to a study by the Pew Forum. The Pew survey found restraints on religious expression in 64 countries, including some of the world’s most populous nations. The Pew study reported:

The highest overall levels of restrictions are found in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran, where both the government and society at large impose numerous limits on religious beliefs and practices. But government policies and social hostilities do not always move in tandem. Vietnam and China, for instance, have high government restrictions on religion but are in the moderate or low range when it comes to social hostilities. Nigeria and Bangladesh follow the opposite pattern: high in social hostilities but moderate in terms of government actions.
Northern Africa and the Middle East are the regions where religious freedom is most heavily circumscribed, the Pew study found; the Americas allow the greatest degree of religious liberty. The survey encountered high degrees of both government regulation and popular hostility to religious minorities in countries such as Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, and India. The large countries with low levels of both regulation and public hostility were Brazil, Japan, the United States, Italy, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Vatican dismisses Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo

Retired Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo of Lusaka, Zambia, who attracted the world's attention in 2001 when he attempted to marry a Korean acupuncturist during a ceremony of Sun Myung Moon's Unificationist Church, has been dismissed from the clerical state.

A communiqué published today by the Vatican press office notes that the "dismissal of a bishop from the clerical state is most extraordinary," and adds that the Church "hopes that Archbishop Milingo will see the error of his way."

Although the scandal of Milingo's attempted marriage -- so noted because the Church doesn't recognize its validity -- garnered much more media attention, the Church didn't take the extreme measure to dismiss him from the clerical state until after he began in September 2006 to ordain bishops without permission from the Vatican. The ordinations are part of an effort to abolish celibacy in the priesthood.

"By so doing," the Vatican statement affirms, "he incurred the penalty of excommunication latae sententiae (Canon 1382) which was declared by the Holy See on 26 September 2006 and is still in force today."

Read the full Vatican Statement here.