Kresta in the Afternoon

Oral arguments have begun in the case of a Christian wedding website designer who has refused to design a wedding website for a same-sex couple. Much like the bakers cases of years past, she says that forcing her to do so is a violation of her free speech, since her work is an artistic expression. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer joins us.

This time of year, many of us are setting up Nativity scenes or other artistic depictions of Christ’s birth. How has this art evolved over the years? We talk with Liz Lev.

In reading the New Testament, it quickly becomes obvious that the events occurred in a world that is much different from ours today. What were the attitudes and values of the people at the time? How was it influenced by the Greeks, Romans and other cultures?  And how does the universal message of the New Testament apply to that audience and to ours? We talk with NT Wright.

“Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” So goes one of St. Francis’ most popular sayings. But wait – he never said it! And while the saying can be well-intentioned, it’s not even faithful to what Christ taught about evangelization. We’ll talk with Trent Horn about other popular misquotes from the saints.

Al looks at the sacrifice of a priest who gave his life saving others during the Pearl Harbor attacks. We'll also look at the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who died on December 5, 1791.

When most people think of Maria von Trapp, they think of the character from the Sound of Music. But her story extends far beyond the film. As a mother, she developed traditions for her family that created a warm and inviting Catholic atmosphere for all.  Karen McClelland joins us with a look at the traditions and little ways your family can get the most out of Advent and other liturgical seasons

What lessons can we learn about the modern church from a short story written before the Civil War? Al looks at Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Birthmark to explain.

Advent is an ideal time to study and reflect on how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies. In his Gospel, Matthew declares Christ to be Emmanuel, linking him to passages throughout Isaiah and other Old Testament books. We’ll talk about it with Dr Leroy Huizenga.

While social norms and political movements are rapidly changing, the truth of the Catholic faith stands firm. Fr Carter Griffin helps us defend these truths by addressing their most common objections.

A Federal Appeals Court has blocked a Biden admin mandate that could have forced Christian doctors to perform abortions, even if it meant violating their conscience. Clare Kosmalski has this story and other pro-life news.