"The Difference God Makes", by Francis Cardinal George of Chicago was front page news for the National Catholic Reporter on Wednesday, which includes an interview with the Cardinal, done on Tuesday in Rome. Also Wednesday, was a book signing, in which the Cardinal discussed the current political climate in America. Watch below.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Today on Kresta - October, 8, 2009
Talking about the "things that matter most" on Oct. 8
Best of Kresta in the Afternoon
4:00 – The Reformation Project
Reformation - The usual term for the religious movement which made its appearance in Western Europe in the sixteenth century, and which, while ostensibly aiming at an internal renewal of the Church, really led to a great revolt against it, and an abandonment of the principal Christian beliefs. Due to the great amount of ignorance and misconception about the Reformation, Fr. Mitch Pacwa has embarked on a 10-part video series entitled The Reformation Project. We take a look.
5:00 – Embryo Adoption. Why Not?
With the current battle over embryonic stem cell research and a recent flurry of articles on embryo adoption in the National Catholic Register, we take the opportunity to examine the Catholic moral principles at play and look at what the Church has to say on this controversial matter of bioethics. Dr. Monica Miller is our guest.
Best of Kresta in the Afternoon
4:00 – The Reformation Project
Reformation - The usual term for the religious movement which made its appearance in Western Europe in the sixteenth century, and which, while ostensibly aiming at an internal renewal of the Church, really led to a great revolt against it, and an abandonment of the principal Christian beliefs. Due to the great amount of ignorance and misconception about the Reformation, Fr. Mitch Pacwa has embarked on a 10-part video series entitled The Reformation Project. We take a look.
5:00 – Embryo Adoption. Why Not?
With the current battle over embryonic stem cell research and a recent flurry of articles on embryo adoption in the National Catholic Register, we take the opportunity to examine the Catholic moral principles at play and look at what the Church has to say on this controversial matter of bioethics. Dr. Monica Miller is our guest.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
New Translations Forthcoming!!!
Rome Reports has released this short video encapsulating the reasons why a new English translation of the Roman Missal is being prepared.
The new translation is now entering the final stages of approval, and it is expected to be introduced into widespread liturgical use in about two years.
The new translation is now entering the final stages of approval, and it is expected to be introduced into widespread liturgical use in about two years.
Today on Kresta - Oct. 7, 2009
Talking about the "things that matter most" on Oct. 7
4:00 – Kresta Comments
4:20 – Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary
With today’s feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, we turn our attention to the Blessed Mother and the power of the rosary. Fr. Dwight Longenecker is here to help us discover the parallels between our lives and the Mysteries of the Rosary while experiencing the healing graces of Our Lady. Where our lives are characterized by trauma, stress, pain, or sadness, this ancient contemplative prayer can bring acceptance, understanding, and joy.
4:40 – Blessed Damien of Molokai to Become St. Damien on Sunday
Blessed Damien de Veuster, a missionary priest who served patients with Hansen's disease in Hawaii, will be canonized by Pope Benedict XVI this Sunday at the Vatican. The canonizations will take place during the Synod of Bishops for Africa. Born in 1840, Blessed Damien spent the last 16 years of his life caring for patients with Hansen's disease, or leprosy, on the island of Molokai. He died in 1889 and was beatified in 1995. We talk with Matthew Bunson, author of Saint Damien of Molokai: Apostle of the Exiled.
5:00 – Kresta Comments
5:20 – Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College: 2nd Edition
Next, when Pope John Paul II issued Ex Corde Ecclesiae in 1990, he called for Catholic colleges and universities to renew their commitments to the doctrinal teachings and intellectual traditions of the Church. The response has been slow, leaving many Catholic families bewildered as to where to find the best of Catholic education. There are in fact a number of fine Catholic institutions of higher education in America—if one knows where, and how, to look for them. The recently updated Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College: What to Look For and Where to Find It is the first college guide to show students where they can learn and grow in a genuine Catholic environment without the nonsense that has overtaken even some of the most well-known Catholic universities. We discuss it. Patrick Reilly joins us.
5:40 – The Danger of Turning Religion into a “Toy”
Fr. Robert Barron is convinced that a very serious enemy to the Church is a current creeping take-it-or-leave-it indifference to religion. Not so much a hostility to religion as the weary, even bored, bracketing of those questions that, for centuries, have captivated the greatest minds and spirits of the human race. Where did the universe come from? What is the deepest purpose of my life? Where is reality ultimately tending? Is there a meaning inherent in the events of history and the movements of nature? We look at the danger of turning religion into a “toy”.
4:00 – Kresta Comments
4:20 – Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary
With today’s feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, we turn our attention to the Blessed Mother and the power of the rosary. Fr. Dwight Longenecker is here to help us discover the parallels between our lives and the Mysteries of the Rosary while experiencing the healing graces of Our Lady. Where our lives are characterized by trauma, stress, pain, or sadness, this ancient contemplative prayer can bring acceptance, understanding, and joy.
4:40 – Blessed Damien of Molokai to Become St. Damien on Sunday
Blessed Damien de Veuster, a missionary priest who served patients with Hansen's disease in Hawaii, will be canonized by Pope Benedict XVI this Sunday at the Vatican. The canonizations will take place during the Synod of Bishops for Africa. Born in 1840, Blessed Damien spent the last 16 years of his life caring for patients with Hansen's disease, or leprosy, on the island of Molokai. He died in 1889 and was beatified in 1995. We talk with Matthew Bunson, author of Saint Damien of Molokai: Apostle of the Exiled.
5:00 – Kresta Comments
5:20 – Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College: 2nd Edition
Next, when Pope John Paul II issued Ex Corde Ecclesiae in 1990, he called for Catholic colleges and universities to renew their commitments to the doctrinal teachings and intellectual traditions of the Church. The response has been slow, leaving many Catholic families bewildered as to where to find the best of Catholic education. There are in fact a number of fine Catholic institutions of higher education in America—if one knows where, and how, to look for them. The recently updated Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College: What to Look For and Where to Find It is the first college guide to show students where they can learn and grow in a genuine Catholic environment without the nonsense that has overtaken even some of the most well-known Catholic universities. We discuss it. Patrick Reilly joins us.
5:40 – The Danger of Turning Religion into a “Toy”
Fr. Robert Barron is convinced that a very serious enemy to the Church is a current creeping take-it-or-leave-it indifference to religion. Not so much a hostility to religion as the weary, even bored, bracketing of those questions that, for centuries, have captivated the greatest minds and spirits of the human race. Where did the universe come from? What is the deepest purpose of my life? Where is reality ultimately tending? Is there a meaning inherent in the events of history and the movements of nature? We look at the danger of turning religion into a “toy”.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Michael Moore and the Church
Tim Drake has a great summary of the misuse of the Church in Michael Moore's new film on Capitalism.
While many mainstream media types are calling Michael Moore’s new film both moral and “Christian,” others aren’t convinced that Moore’s view is correct.
In the accompanying video, Fox News’ Father Jonathan Morris takes on Moore’s assertions that “the Church is universally against capitalism.”
“Capitalism can help people become more humane,” says Father Morris, who describes Moore as being “disingenuous.” Father Morris goes on to ask, “Who is spreading wealth, under socialism? I haven’t seen the movie because he hasn’t made it free,” said Father Morris.
Father Morris isn’t the only one taking exception with Moore’s portrayal in his film Capitalism: A Love Story.
Deacon Greg Kandra asks, “Are the heroes of Michael Moore’s new movie … priests?”
Paul Raushenbush, writing for Beliefnet, says that the film’s Roman Catholic priests are the “surprising voices of clarity and conviction in Moore’s film.” However, Raushenbush notes that the film profiles only one particular type of Catholic priest —those shaped primarily by a socialist style, liberation theology.
In the end, while Moore characterizes capitalism as evil, he doesn’t seem to offer a system he would prefer in its place.
“Moore’s film isn’t clear what system he is suggesting to replace capitalism,” writes Raushenbush.
Moore might want to check into other options, like John Mackey’s, CEO of Whole Food Market, “conscious capitalism,” or perhaps G.K. Chesterton’s proposal: distributism.
Today on Kresta - Oct. 6, 2009
Talking about the "things that matter most" on Oct. 6
4:00 – U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments Tomorrow on the Memorial Cross in the Mojave Desert
Tomorrow, the U.S. Supreme court will hear oral argument in Salazar v. Buono, an appeal challenging the ACLU’s lawsuit to remove an eight-foot metal cross erected in 1934. The cross was erected on Sunrise Rock in California’s Mojave Desert by Veterans of Foreign Wars. Thus far, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has sided with the ACLU’s anti-cross efforts on the grounds the cross violates the so-called separation of church and state. As an affront to Christians, the cross is now covered by a wooden box to hide it from public view until the appeal is resolved. When the Supreme Court considers the Mojave cross case, it will have in its file a compelling brief supporting the use of crosses in war memorials filed by the Thomas More Law Center. Brian Rooney of the TMLC joins us.
4:20 – Money for Art: The Tangled Web of Art and Politics in American Democracy
Taxpayers jeered when Obama poured $80 million of “stimulus” funds into the National Endowment for the Arts—but wait until you hear where the money is going! NEA grants are funding nude simulated-sex dances and porn films. At the same time, ten Republican senators have written to the NEA Chairman expressing concern that the Obama administration may have violated federal law by trying to use the agency for political purposes. The charges stem from an Aug. 10 teleconference in which the NEA's communications director urged members of the arts community to help Obama's efforts by creating art to support Obama’s various agendas. David Smith is author of a new history of government and art and is here to tell us how the NEA strayed from its original mission of fostering national pride and virtue through art.
4:35 – US Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Religious Liberty Case
The Diocese of Bridgeport, CT. and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have expressed disappointment at the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to extend a stay on the release of personnel files to several major newspapers. They said the refusal marked a “serious threat” to First Amendment rights. Newspapers including the Hartford Courant and the New York Times have reportedly sought access to the personnel files to determine how the recently retired Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Edward Egan, handled sexual abuse cases during his time as Bishop of Bridgeport. The material includes 12,600 pages of depositions, exhibits and legal arguments involving 23 lawsuits against seven priests from the Diocese of Bridgeport. Most of the lawsuits were filed in the mid-1990s and were settled in 2001 for an undisclosed amount with the agreement that the settlements and the documents would remain sealed forever. Bishop William Lori joins us.
4:45 – To Play or Not to Play?: Tigers' Cabrera has domestic dispute in midst of playoff run
Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera had a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit the morning before Saturday night's pivotal game against the Chicago White Sox according to Birmingham, MI Police. No arrests were made when police were called to Cabrera's house in the Detroit suburb Saturday morning after his wife, Rosangel, called 911 at 6:05 a.m. after an altercation with Cabrera. Birmingham Police Chief Richard G. Patterson said officers on the scene decided both were "mutual combatants" since each sustained scratches, although Cabrera was driven to the police station. Should the Tigers allow Cabrera to play? Detroit sports reporter Vic Faust is here.
5:00 – Kresta Comments
5:20 – Italian group claims to debunk Shroud of Turin
Italian scientists claim to have reproduced the Shroud of Turin — revered as the cloth that covered Jesus in the tomb — and say the experiment proves the relic was man-made. The shroud bears the figure of a crucified man, complete with blood seeping out of nailed hands and feet, and believers say Christ's image was recorded on the linen fibers at the time of his resurrection. The scientists have reproduced the shroud using materials and methods that were available in the 14th century, the Italian Committee for Checking Claims on the Paranormal said. Our guest however, says this is not the first time someone has attempted to reproduce the shroud and it won’t be the first time it fails to live up to the hype. Russ Breault, President and founder of the Shroud of Turin Education Project, is with us.
5:40 – Toy Story 3D / Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Fans of Woody and Buzz Lightyear are in for twice the fun and triple the thrills as Walt Disney debuts the Disney Digital 3D versions of Pixar’s beloved animated features – “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2”. We talk with Steven Greydanus about the trends in 3D and we also review “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.”
4:00 – U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments Tomorrow on the Memorial Cross in the Mojave Desert
Tomorrow, the U.S. Supreme court will hear oral argument in Salazar v. Buono, an appeal challenging the ACLU’s lawsuit to remove an eight-foot metal cross erected in 1934. The cross was erected on Sunrise Rock in California’s Mojave Desert by Veterans of Foreign Wars. Thus far, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has sided with the ACLU’s anti-cross efforts on the grounds the cross violates the so-called separation of church and state. As an affront to Christians, the cross is now covered by a wooden box to hide it from public view until the appeal is resolved. When the Supreme Court considers the Mojave cross case, it will have in its file a compelling brief supporting the use of crosses in war memorials filed by the Thomas More Law Center. Brian Rooney of the TMLC joins us.
4:20 – Money for Art: The Tangled Web of Art and Politics in American Democracy
Taxpayers jeered when Obama poured $80 million of “stimulus” funds into the National Endowment for the Arts—but wait until you hear where the money is going! NEA grants are funding nude simulated-sex dances and porn films. At the same time, ten Republican senators have written to the NEA Chairman expressing concern that the Obama administration may have violated federal law by trying to use the agency for political purposes. The charges stem from an Aug. 10 teleconference in which the NEA's communications director urged members of the arts community to help Obama's efforts by creating art to support Obama’s various agendas. David Smith is author of a new history of government and art and is here to tell us how the NEA strayed from its original mission of fostering national pride and virtue through art.
4:35 – US Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Religious Liberty Case
The Diocese of Bridgeport, CT. and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have expressed disappointment at the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to extend a stay on the release of personnel files to several major newspapers. They said the refusal marked a “serious threat” to First Amendment rights. Newspapers including the Hartford Courant and the New York Times have reportedly sought access to the personnel files to determine how the recently retired Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Edward Egan, handled sexual abuse cases during his time as Bishop of Bridgeport. The material includes 12,600 pages of depositions, exhibits and legal arguments involving 23 lawsuits against seven priests from the Diocese of Bridgeport. Most of the lawsuits were filed in the mid-1990s and were settled in 2001 for an undisclosed amount with the agreement that the settlements and the documents would remain sealed forever. Bishop William Lori joins us.
4:45 – To Play or Not to Play?: Tigers' Cabrera has domestic dispute in midst of playoff run
Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera had a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit the morning before Saturday night's pivotal game against the Chicago White Sox according to Birmingham, MI Police. No arrests were made when police were called to Cabrera's house in the Detroit suburb Saturday morning after his wife, Rosangel, called 911 at 6:05 a.m. after an altercation with Cabrera. Birmingham Police Chief Richard G. Patterson said officers on the scene decided both were "mutual combatants" since each sustained scratches, although Cabrera was driven to the police station. Should the Tigers allow Cabrera to play? Detroit sports reporter Vic Faust is here.
5:00 – Kresta Comments
5:20 – Italian group claims to debunk Shroud of Turin
Italian scientists claim to have reproduced the Shroud of Turin — revered as the cloth that covered Jesus in the tomb — and say the experiment proves the relic was man-made. The shroud bears the figure of a crucified man, complete with blood seeping out of nailed hands and feet, and believers say Christ's image was recorded on the linen fibers at the time of his resurrection. The scientists have reproduced the shroud using materials and methods that were available in the 14th century, the Italian Committee for Checking Claims on the Paranormal said. Our guest however, says this is not the first time someone has attempted to reproduce the shroud and it won’t be the first time it fails to live up to the hype. Russ Breault, President and founder of the Shroud of Turin Education Project, is with us.
5:40 – Toy Story 3D / Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Fans of Woody and Buzz Lightyear are in for twice the fun and triple the thrills as Walt Disney debuts the Disney Digital 3D versions of Pixar’s beloved animated features – “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2”. We talk with Steven Greydanus about the trends in 3D and we also review “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.”
Monday, October 5, 2009
Today on Kresta - Oct. 5, 2009
Talking about the "things that matter most" on Oct. 5
4:00 – Kresta Comments
4:20 – When Athens Met Jerusalem
Christian theology shaped and is shaping many places in the world, but it was the Greeks who originally gave a philosophic language to Christianity. John Mark Reynolds's book When Athens Met Jerusalem provides students a well-informed introduction to the intellectual underpinnings (Greek, Roman and Christian) of Western civilization and highlights how certain current intellectual trends are now eroding those very foundations. This work makes a powerful contribution to the ongoing faith versus reason debate, showing that these two dimensions of human knowing are not diametrically opposed, but work together under the direction of revelation.
5:00 – Direct to my Desk
4:00 – Kresta Comments
4:20 – When Athens Met Jerusalem
Christian theology shaped and is shaping many places in the world, but it was the Greeks who originally gave a philosophic language to Christianity. John Mark Reynolds's book When Athens Met Jerusalem provides students a well-informed introduction to the intellectual underpinnings (Greek, Roman and Christian) of Western civilization and highlights how certain current intellectual trends are now eroding those very foundations. This work makes a powerful contribution to the ongoing faith versus reason debate, showing that these two dimensions of human knowing are not diametrically opposed, but work together under the direction of revelation.
5:00 – Direct to my Desk
Friday, October 2, 2009
Men, women differ over whether mothers with young children should work outside the home
A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center has found that fathers are significantly more likely than mothers to believe that it is better for young children when mothers stay at home.When asked “Moms, kids, and jobs-- what’s ideal for young children?”
12% of mothers, and 11% of fathers, responded “mother works full time”
49% of mothers, and 32% of fathers, responded “mother works part time”
36% of mothers, and 54% of fathers, responded “mother doesn’t work outside the home"
12% of mothers, and 11% of fathers, responded “mother works full time”
49% of mothers, and 32% of fathers, responded “mother works part time”
36% of mothers, and 54% of fathers, responded “mother doesn’t work outside the home"
When asked “Moms, kids, and jobs-- what’s ideal for mothers with young children?”
12% of mothers, and 18% of fathers, responded “mother works full time”
44% of mothers, and 36% of fathers, responded “mother works part time”
39% of mothers, and 41% of fathers, responded “mother doesn’t work outside the home"
12% of mothers, and 18% of fathers, responded “mother works full time”
44% of mothers, and 36% of fathers, responded “mother works part time”
39% of mothers, and 41% of fathers, responded “mother doesn’t work outside the home"
The new survey was part of a Pew Center analysis of decades’ worth of surveys on working mothers. According to the most recent survey on daycare, 72% of Americans believe that too many children are in daycare-- a higher figure than 1988.
Today on Kresta - Oct. 2, 2009
Talking about the "things that matter most" on Oct. 2
4:00 – Kresta Comments
4:20 – Born to Love
Many Christians today find it hard to accept that "homosexuality is wrong" based on the Bible or Church authority: it seems to contradict what they know to be obviously OK and normal. Others are convinced that gay-lesbian lifestyle is wrong, but have no answer for those who justify it with Scripture. Fr. John Waiss has a clear, solid presentation of Catholic teaching on homosexuality and related topics. The presentation is well grounded in John Paul II's personalist philosophy and Theology of the Body, making convincing arguments that are accessible to all. He focuses on the intrinsic good of the person and on the true meaning of sexuality as created by God. He is our guest
4:40 – Rembert Weakland’s Oprah Ecclesiology
For many people, the name of Archbishop Rembert Weakland brings to mind only connotations of scandal — the titillating tale of a prominent priest disgraced. But, according to his recently-released autobiography, that whiff of dishonor barely begins to tell the whole story. Russell Shaw has an unvarnished review of the book.
5:00 – Walking with the Guardian Angels
More than half of all adults, including one in five of those who say they are not religious, believe that they have been protected by a guardian angel during their life. With today’s feast of the Guardian Angels upon us, we talk with Joan Wester Anderson, who has collected astonishing first-hand accounts of the presence of angels among us: a dying infant inexplicably recovers after an encounter with a mysterious visitor; a long-lost son suddenly returns home for Christmas; a young man drowning in an icy river unaccountably finds himself on shore; a grieving widow, alone and far from home, receives comfort and counsel from angels in disguise. These stories and dozens of others show ordinary people taking their needs to God. All of them received what they needed from a loving God who responded to their deepest needs. She shares these stories of angels among us.
5:20 – An Interview With St. Francis
The feast of St. Francis Assisi is this Sunday, and we are joined by St. Francis himself!!! Well, he will be mediated by Leonardo DeFilipis, but you are in for a great conversation.
4:00 – Kresta Comments
4:20 – Born to Love
Many Christians today find it hard to accept that "homosexuality is wrong" based on the Bible or Church authority: it seems to contradict what they know to be obviously OK and normal. Others are convinced that gay-lesbian lifestyle is wrong, but have no answer for those who justify it with Scripture. Fr. John Waiss has a clear, solid presentation of Catholic teaching on homosexuality and related topics. The presentation is well grounded in John Paul II's personalist philosophy and Theology of the Body, making convincing arguments that are accessible to all. He focuses on the intrinsic good of the person and on the true meaning of sexuality as created by God. He is our guest
4:40 – Rembert Weakland’s Oprah Ecclesiology
For many people, the name of Archbishop Rembert Weakland brings to mind only connotations of scandal — the titillating tale of a prominent priest disgraced. But, according to his recently-released autobiography, that whiff of dishonor barely begins to tell the whole story. Russell Shaw has an unvarnished review of the book.
5:00 – Walking with the Guardian Angels
More than half of all adults, including one in five of those who say they are not religious, believe that they have been protected by a guardian angel during their life. With today’s feast of the Guardian Angels upon us, we talk with Joan Wester Anderson, who has collected astonishing first-hand accounts of the presence of angels among us: a dying infant inexplicably recovers after an encounter with a mysterious visitor; a long-lost son suddenly returns home for Christmas; a young man drowning in an icy river unaccountably finds himself on shore; a grieving widow, alone and far from home, receives comfort and counsel from angels in disguise. These stories and dozens of others show ordinary people taking their needs to God. All of them received what they needed from a loving God who responded to their deepest needs. She shares these stories of angels among us.
5:20 – An Interview With St. Francis
The feast of St. Francis Assisi is this Sunday, and we are joined by St. Francis himself!!! Well, he will be mediated by Leonardo DeFilipis, but you are in for a great conversation.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Senate Finance Committee Votes Down Amendment Blocking Tax Dollars for Abortion
As a Senate committee considered a range of amendments, bishops representing three committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called on senators to insist that any final health reform bill exclude mandated coverage of abortion, protect conscience rights, safeguard the health of immigrants and protect "the life, dignity and health of all."The letter was signed by Bishop William F. Murphy of Rockville Centre, N.Y., chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities; and Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, chairman of the Committee on Migration.
The bishops made their comments as the Senate Finance Committee continued its markup of the health reform plan proposed by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the committee chairman. By a 13-10 vote Sept. 30, the committee rejected an amendment proposed by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, that would have required women who wanted coverage for abortions to purchase it and pay for it separately. (see video below)
In their letter, the bishops said none of the health reform proposals considered in committee, including the Baucus bill, has "met President (Barack) Obama's challenge of barring use of federal dollars for abortion and maintaining current conscience laws."
"These deficiencies must be corrected," they added.
In his Sept. 9 address to a joint session of Congress on health care reform, Obama said, "Under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place."
Today on Kresta - Oct. 1, 2009
Talking about the "things that matter most" on Oct. 1
4:00 – Kresta Comments
4:20 – Montesquieu and the Logic of Liberty
The western democracies’ muted response to victory in the Cold War signaled the presence of a pervasive discontent, a sense that despite this victory liberal democracy itself was deeply flawed. Paul Rahe argues that to understand this phenomenon we must re-examine—starting with Montesquieu—the nature of liberal democracy, its character, and its propensities. In a brilliant exposition of the works of Montesquieu Rahe identifies the profound sense of uneasiness fostered by the modern republic as a source of weakness and as the principal cause of the present discontents.
5:00 – Kresta Comments – Health Care Debate on Abortion
5:10 – Olivia and the Little Way
Fifth grader Olivia Thomas has moved to a new school in a new state, and is eager to make friends! Her best friend quickly becomes someone she has never seen — St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Follow Olivia's trials as she tries to fit in at St. Michael's School. With the help of her grandmother, she learns about the "Little Way" of serving God and how it can change everything! On this feast of St. Therese, we talk with Nancy Carabio Belanger, author of Olivia and the Little Way.
5:30 – A Catholic View of Literary Classics – Part 2 of 10: Hamlet
We continue our 10-week series examining Classic Literature from a Catholic perspective. Acclaimed literary biographer Joseph Pearce is the editor of the Ignatius Critical Editions and will be our guide. 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 Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Stop Hyding! Abortion and Health Care Reform
Without authentic language to exclude abortion coverage from health care reform, the federal government will be promoting abortion on-demand.
Don't let the pro-abortion politicians get away with claiming the Hyde Amendment prevents this. It's time they Stop Hyding!
More info here.
Don't let the pro-abortion politicians get away with claiming the Hyde Amendment prevents this. It's time they Stop Hyding!
More info here.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Bill Donohue Takes On Moore and Polanski
Few people on earth can craft a press release better than Bill Donohue of the Catholic Leage for Religious and Civil Rights. Below are two of his most recent which are both biting and compelling in their assessment.MICHAEL MOORE’S RELIGIOUS ODYSSEY
If the economic system that Michael Moore has successfully milked is “immoral” and “evil,” then that would suggest that he is an immoral, evil man. But we’ll let someone else make the final decision on that one. What we do know is that he is wearing his religion on his sleeve these days, telling Chris Cuomo how he believes “in the core Christian values.” One wonders why, then, would this Catholic—whose role models are the rogue Berrigan brothers—would give money to an urban terrorist group right after they invaded St. Patrick’s Cathedral during Cardinal O’Connor’s Sunday Mass in 1989; some spat the Host on the floor.
More recently, Moore cited the oil giant Halliburton as emblematic of capitalism’s evilness. What he didn’t mention is that his Halliburton investments helped to make him filthy rich. Oh, yes, he also likes Sunoco.
Capitalism has been kind to Moore. He lives in a waterfront mansion with a private beach, one that is so lily-white that not a single black person lives there. This is not by accident. Though he exclaimed in his film “Stupid White Men” that he plans to “hire only black people,” author Peter Schweizer found that of the 134 producers, editors, cinematographers, composers and production coordinators that Moore hired, only three were black.
Moore says it is anti-Christian not to divide the pie fairly. So what would that make him? Oh, yes, he does contribute to soup kitchens. Too bad he doesn’t actually employ the poor—then he could shelve the Campbell’s. In 2002, his charitable donations amounted to $36,000. Sounds like a lot until we learn that he made eight figures that year. One more thing: he ran his donations through his private foundation, a capitalist-created scheme designed to protect fat cats from paying their fair share of taxes.
The next time a social justice Christian brags about his commitment to the poor, ask him to open his own books. Transparency is so beautiful.
MAD RUSH TO DEFEND POLANSKI
The Catholic League has long suspected that, in many quarters, the outrage over priestly sexual abuse has had more to do with the status of the accused than the crime itself. Now the evidence is indisputable: a child can be drugged, penetrated and sodomized—and the guilty can cut and run—and still maintain hero status. Provided he is a celebrity.
Actress Debra Winger showed up at the Zurich Film Festival “to honor Roman Polanski as a great artist, but under these sudden and arcane circumstances, we can only think of him today as a human being.” Either that or as a child rapist. She was not alone: the Zurich Film Festival jury proudly displayed red badges reading “Free Polanski.” It was also nice to know that Woody Allen, a man who speaks from experience, came to Polanski’s defense.
Whoopi Goldberg showed off her usual brilliance when she declared that Polanski’s crime “wasn’t rape-rape.” No, only priests are guilty of real rape. Noted photographer Otto Weisser agrees: “He made a little mistake 32 years ago.” That’s right—it’s only a big mistake when priests do it. Richard Cohen of the Washington Post also notes that it’s been “over 30 years” since Polanski molested the girl. Similarly, movie critic Tom O’Neil exclaims that it is “mind-boggling why they’re still pursuing this.” Yet there is no statute of limitations afforded priests—men long dead have been accused of crimes extending back to the 1920s.
Harvey Weinstein is so noble: “We’re calling on every film-maker we can to help fix this terrible situation.” The terrible situation, of course, isn’t what Polanski got away with—it’s his pursuit by the authorities. “To put him on trial or keep him in jail does not serve society in general or his victim in particular,” says journalist Anne Applebaum. She, and others, would carry more weight if the “he” included priests.
No wonder so many Americans look upon the celebrity worshippers with utter disdain. Double that for Catholics.
Today on Kresta - Sept. 30, 2009
Talking about the "things that matter most" on Sept. 30
4:00 – How the Mass Shaped Western Culture
The annual Call to Holiness Conference will be held in two weeks at the Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, MI. The theme for the day is “Treasures of the Mass.” Participants will hear topics such as The Sacredness of the Holy Eucharist and the Fathers of the Church, True Active Participation in the Mass, Sacred Music, and more. Dr. Michael Foley will speak on “How the Mass Shaped Western Culture” and is with us today to look at that topic.
4:20 – 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.
5:00 – Abortion in America: A Wide-Ranging In-Studio Interview
The Susan B. Anthony List is a national organization dedicated to advancing, representing and mobilizing pro-life women in politics. Their president is Marjorie Dannenfelser and she joins us in studio to look at abortion and health care, current legislative debates on Capitol Hill, the pro-life cause and the Catholic church, women in politics, as well as her personal pro-life conversion story.
5:40 – 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.
4:00 – How the Mass Shaped Western Culture
The annual Call to Holiness Conference will be held in two weeks at the Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, MI. The theme for the day is “Treasures of the Mass.” Participants will hear topics such as The Sacredness of the Holy Eucharist and the Fathers of the Church, True Active Participation in the Mass, Sacred Music, and more. Dr. Michael Foley will speak on “How the Mass Shaped Western Culture” and is with us today to look at that topic.
4:20 – 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.
5:00 – Abortion in America: A Wide-Ranging In-Studio Interview
The Susan B. Anthony List is a national organization dedicated to advancing, representing and mobilizing pro-life women in politics. Their president is Marjorie Dannenfelser and she joins us in studio to look at abortion and health care, current legislative debates on Capitol Hill, the pro-life cause and the Catholic church, women in politics, as well as her personal pro-life conversion story.
5:40 – 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.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Where Have All the Christians Gone?
A new study shows christianity is plummeting in America, while the number of non-believers is steadily increasing. There is some good news sprinkled in, but some serious "soul-searching" needs to be done if these trends are to be believed - and I see no reason why they shouldn't. A few thoughts below from Bruce Feiler, host of the PBS series on "Walking the Bible" and author of the forthcoming book "America's Prophet: Moses and the American Story."A shocking new study of Americans’ religious beliefs shows the beginnings of a major realignment in Americans’ relationship with God. The American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) reveals that Protestants now represent half of all Americans, down almost 20 percent in the last twenty years. In the coming months, America will become a minority Protestant nation for the first time since the pilgrims.
The number of people who claim no religious affiliation, meanwhile, has doubled since 1990 to fifteen percent, its highest point in history. Non-believers now represent the third-highest group of Americans, after Catholics and Baptists.
Other headlines:
1) The number of Christians has declined 12% since 1990, and is now 76%, the lowest percentage in American history.
2) The growth of non-believers has come largely from men. Twenty percent of men express no religious affiliation; 12% of women.
3) Young people are fleeing faith. Nearly a quarter of Americans in their 20’s profess no organized religion.
4) But these non-believers are not particularly atheist. That number hasn’t budged and stands at less than 1 percent. (Agnostics are similarly less than 1 percent.) Instead, these individuals have a belief in God but no interest in organized religion, or they believe in a personal God but not in a formal faith tradition.
The implications for American society are profound. Americans’ relationship with God, which drove many of the country’s great transformations from the pilgrims to the founding fathers, the Civil War to the civil rights movement, is still intact. Eighty-two percent of Americans believe in God or a higher power.
But at the same time, the study offers yet another wake-up call for religious institutions.
First, catering to older believers is a recipe for failure; younger Americans are tuning out.
Second, Americans are interested in God, but they don’t think existing institutions are helping them draw closer to God.
Finally, Americans’ interest in religion has not always been stable. It dipped following the Revolution and again following Civil War. In both cases it rebounded because religious institutions adapted and found new ways of relating to everyday Americans.
Today, the rise of disaffection is so powerful that different denominations needs to band together to find a shared language of God that can move beyond the fading divisions of the past and begin moving toward a partnership of different-but-equal traditions.
Or risk becoming Europe, where religion is fast becoming an afterthought.
What if Roman Polanski were a Catholic Priest?
That is the question Fr. Thomas Reese has answered in a column on the Newsweek Blog. Here's a taste:"Imagine if the Knight of Columbus decided to give an award to a pedophile priest who had fled the country to avoid prison. The outcry would be universal.
Victim groups would demand the award be withdrawn and that the organization apologize. Religion reporters would be on the case with the encouragement of their editors. Editorial writers and columnist would denounce the knights as another example of the insensitivity of the Catholic Church to sexual abuse.
And they would all be correct. And I would join them.
But why is there not similar outrage directed at the film industry for giving an award to Roman Polanski, who not only confessed to statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl but fled the country prior to sentencing? Why have film critics and the rest of the media ignored this case for 31 years? He even received an Academy award in 2003. Are the high priests of the entertainment industry immune to criticism?
Read more here...
Judge in Case of Arrested Notre Dame Pro-Lifers is Married to Pro-Abortion ND Professor
The attorney representing the pro-lifers arrested while protesting Obama at Notre Dame today repeated his request that the judge in the case, who is married to a pro-abortion Notre Dame professor, be removed from the case.Attorney Tom Dixon's motion provides detailed support for his assertion in a previous recusal motion that there exists sufficient actual and perceived bias that Judge Jenny Pitts Manier, the judge assigned to the "ND 88" case, is required by Indiana state law to recuse herself in the matter. Dixon states that ever since Judge Manier has known her husband, Professor Edward Manier, he has been a well-known and outspoken advocate of the pro-abortion position.
As his views were well-known and have largely defined his identity at Notre Dame, Dixon argues, it seems implausible that Judge Manier could claim to be unaware of his views on the "ND 88" case, which stem from "the single biggest controversy in the history of the University of Notre Dame."
The case surrounds the arrest of 88 pro-lifers from across America who were charged with trespassing after peacefully witnessing against the presence of President Obama at Notre Dame The university awarded Obama with the commencement speech and an honorary law degree on May 17 of this year. Arrestees were singled out for carrying pro-life messages onto campus - including images of aborted children, a large cross, and images of Mary - while several other trespassers with pro-Obama or pro-Notre Dame signage were allowed to roam the campus.
Dixon argues that the career of Judge Manier's husband at Notre Dame was largely defined by the very same controversies which prompted the pro-lifers to travel across America to ultimately land in the St. Joseph County court room. In Indiana, a judge must recuse himself or herself from a case in the event of actual or perceived bias.
In the original recusal motion in August, Dixon says that Judge Manier refused to answer whether her husband had ever written on the topic of abortion, saying only, "I'm not my husband."
Dixon highlights several ways in which actual and perceived bias exists in the "ND 88" case. In addition to several writings revealing his pro-abortion beliefs, the professor donated "a significant sum of money" to Barack Obama's 2008 Presidential campaign, as well as additional donations to other pro-abortion rights candidates in the United States.
Manier, a supporter of the production of "The Vagina Monologues" on Notre Dame's campus, also attacked Pope Paul VI's pro-life encyclical Humanae Vitae as "intellectually stillborn."
"When one analyzes Edward Manier's political contributions to pro abortion candidates and Political Action Committee, when one reads Edward Manier's writings referencing members of the Christian right, calling them 'fundamentalist mullahs' and 'jackleg preachers,'" Dixon writes, "it is hard to comprehend how Judge Manier could derive from her husband's writings the notion that he has no interest in the outcome of these cases."
"When one analyzes Edward Manier's political contributions to pro abortion candidates and Political Action Committee, when one reads Edward Manier's writings referencing members of the Christian right, calling them 'fundamentalist mullahs' and 'jackleg preachers,'" Dixon writes, "it is hard to comprehend how Judge Manier could derive from her husband's writings the notion that he has no interest in the outcome of these cases."
Last week, University of Notre Dame law professor emeritus Charles Rice issued an open letter to University president Fr. John Jenkins, saying that the school's attempts at reconstructing a pro-life image were a "mockery" while yet refusing to request leniency for the 88 pro-lifers awaiting trial.
Today on Kresta - Sept. 29, 2009
Talking about the "things that matter most" on Sept. 29
3:00 – Kresta Comments
3:20 – What Should We Know About the G-20?
The G-20 summit in Pittsburgh took the first tiny steps toward an ambitious reordering of the global economy designed to prevent a repeat of the current financial crisis. For the U.S., that means less credit-fueled shopping. Europe will need to invest more, while consumers in China and other fast-growing nations must open their wallets in ways they never have. However there was also an agreement that there will be no enforcement mechanism to guarantee that member governments actually implement policies agreed upon at G-20 meetings. Instead, they will rely on “moral suasion.” So what can be gained and what is too much to expect from these meetings? Economist Dr. Mark Hendrickson is with us.
3:40 – The Pulpit Initiative – Should Churches be able to endorse candidates without losing their tax-exempt status?
More than 80 pastors nationwide participated in the Alliance Defense Fund’s second annual Pulpit Freedom Sunday this weekend. The pastors preached sermons related to biblical perspectives on the positions of electoral candidates or current government officials, exercising their constitutional right to free religious expression despite a problematic Internal Revenue Service rule that activists groups often use to silence churches. Pulpit Freedom Sunday is an event associated with the ADF Pulpit Initiative, a legal effort designed to secure the First Amendment rights of pastors in the pulpit. We talk to ADF attorney Erik Stanley about the Initiative and some very interesting developments in this Initiatives
4:00 – Kresta Comments
4:20 – TBA
5:00 – 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.
5:40 – UPDATE: EEOC Violates Religious Liberty By Forcing Catholic College to Provide Insurance for Contraceptives
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ruled last month that a small Catholic college must include coverage for artificial contraceptives in its employee health insurance plan, raising new concerns about the need for conscience protections and religious exemptions in America’s health care policies. In December 2007, Belmont Abbey College removed coverage for abortion, contraception and voluntary sterilization after they were accidentally included in the college’s insurance plan. Eight faculty members filed complaints. The EEOC determined that Belmont Abbey has discriminated against women by denying coverage of contraception. We talk with Belmont Abbey President William Thierfelder about the progression of the case.
3:00 – Kresta Comments
3:20 – What Should We Know About the G-20?
The G-20 summit in Pittsburgh took the first tiny steps toward an ambitious reordering of the global economy designed to prevent a repeat of the current financial crisis. For the U.S., that means less credit-fueled shopping. Europe will need to invest more, while consumers in China and other fast-growing nations must open their wallets in ways they never have. However there was also an agreement that there will be no enforcement mechanism to guarantee that member governments actually implement policies agreed upon at G-20 meetings. Instead, they will rely on “moral suasion.” So what can be gained and what is too much to expect from these meetings? Economist Dr. Mark Hendrickson is with us.
3:40 – The Pulpit Initiative – Should Churches be able to endorse candidates without losing their tax-exempt status?
More than 80 pastors nationwide participated in the Alliance Defense Fund’s second annual Pulpit Freedom Sunday this weekend. The pastors preached sermons related to biblical perspectives on the positions of electoral candidates or current government officials, exercising their constitutional right to free religious expression despite a problematic Internal Revenue Service rule that activists groups often use to silence churches. Pulpit Freedom Sunday is an event associated with the ADF Pulpit Initiative, a legal effort designed to secure the First Amendment rights of pastors in the pulpit. We talk to ADF attorney Erik Stanley about the Initiative and some very interesting developments in this Initiatives
4:00 – Kresta Comments
4:20 – TBA
5:00 – 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.
5:40 – UPDATE: EEOC Violates Religious Liberty By Forcing Catholic College to Provide Insurance for Contraceptives
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ruled last month that a small Catholic college must include coverage for artificial contraceptives in its employee health insurance plan, raising new concerns about the need for conscience protections and religious exemptions in America’s health care policies. In December 2007, Belmont Abbey College removed coverage for abortion, contraception and voluntary sterilization after they were accidentally included in the college’s insurance plan. Eight faculty members filed complaints. The EEOC determined that Belmont Abbey has discriminated against women by denying coverage of contraception. We talk with Belmont Abbey President William Thierfelder about the progression of the case.
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