Kresta in the Afternoon

When John Paul II visited Poland in June 1979, the New York Times declared that the visit “does not threaten the political order of the nation or of Eastern Europe.” Needless to say, the take hasn’t aged well. How did the pope do it? George Weigel joins us.

Marcus explores the Catholic Undertones of Lord of the Rings.

Everywhere you look, the culture is twisting truth into lies and lies into truth. How did we get to this bizarre point in history? More importantly, how can we fight the tide of insanity and win reality back? Gary Michuta joins us.

Shortly after the turn of the century, a new style of Atheism started to gain popularity. Dubbed the “New Atheism” and championed by figures like Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, this position asserted that religion was actually harmful to society and was not to be merely tolerated – it should be eradicated. But this New Atheism cannot answer the basic questions about why we are here. We talk more with Dr. Rick Clements.

What can modern and postmodern seekers learn from an epic journey to hell written seven hundred years ago by an Italian poet who was as influenced by Homer, Plato, Aristotle, and Virgil as he was by the Bible? A great deal! Louis Markos tells us why.

In his commentary Marcus examines what God's love means in all its forms.

What did faith mean to Winston Churchill? Churchill was far from transparent about his religious beliefs and never regularly attended church services as an adult, even considering himself “not a pillar of the church but a buttress,” in the sense that he supported it “from the outside.”

Catholics in India have expressed optimism following the Supreme Court’s recent comments that a draconian anti-conversion law may be found to violate the Indian Constitution. Ed Clancy has the details.

This Sunday’s Gospel encompasses, some of the Lord Jesus ‘most famous teachings, such as “a house divided against itself, cannot stand.” And some that are puzzling, as is “whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” Peggy Stanton joins us with more.

It’s the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings. Later in the day, President Roosevelt addressed the nation via radio, asking them to join him in prayer. We’ll play his address, and Marcus shares some additional thoughts.