Kresta in the Afternoon

Jim Blum knows firsthand the struggles men face when they are paroled from prison. That’s what led him to found My Father’s House, which offers a place for men on parole to find help and support. He shares his work with us.

Daniel Gallagher served under two popes during his ten years at the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, and he’s never forget the surprise news he received in February 2013 – Pope Benedict was resigning. Nearly a decade later, the rumors still swirl – was his resignation legitimate? Was there a secret war between the two papacies? Having worked for both, Dan says it’s nonsense. He joins us to explain why.

It’s common for Christians to wax nostalgic about the “good old days.” We’ll see a display of public faith from the past and lament that it would never happen today. But since NFL safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field on Monday Night Football, we’ve seen everyone from the NFL to ESPN broadcasters publicly calling for prayer. And back in 1965, CBS executives were very hesitant to sign off on the Charlie Brown Christmas special, fearing it was “too religious.” Were the “good old days” so good? Al discusses.

Pro-Lifers in the US will always remember 2022 as the year Roe v Wade was finally overturned. But that victory was simply the first step, and since then there have been victories and defeats across the country. Michael New has more.

We spent much of 2022 discussing the German Synod, which will continue to be a major story in Church News. We get a recap of what has been happening with Matthew Bunson, who also reminds us of other important Church stories from the year.

When Star Trek’s William Shatner traveled into space last year, he lamented that “all he saw was death.” But we got plenty of other looks into space this year thanks to the new James Webb Telescope, which gave us jaw-dropping looks at the far reaches of our universe. There were also plenty of discoveries that to the average person seem important, but they aren’t quite sure why. Stacy Trasancos helps us out.

Activists in the US continue to push for gender-affirming treatment for kids with gender dysphoria, and the Biden administration has been happy to comply. But in Europe we have seen several countries pulling back from this trend. The Tavistock Gender Clinic in the UK shut down this fall, and Sweden’s national board of health is now urging “caution” when treating kids. Wes Smith recaps this and other stories, including the increase of euthanasia in Canada.

According to reporting by Aid to the Church in Need, More than 100 priests and women religious were kidnapped, arrested or killed in 2022. The most dangerous country was Nigeria, where at least four priests were murdered. Religious leaders have also suffered immensely at the hands of the Ortega regime in Nicaragua. Ed Clancy joins us with more.

When Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope in 2005, he found himself with incredible shoes to fill. Over the last quarter-century, his predecessor had become a spiritual father to millions. What part did Pope Benedict play in leading the Church into the new millennium? George Weigel joins us.

Marcus Peter is part of what many call the “John Paul II Generation,” but he did not embrace his Catholic faith until the papacy of Pope Benedict, whose teachings were instrumental in his life. Marcus shares more.