Kresta in the Afternoon

When we read or watch the news, we aren’t just informed – we are formed by the stories we hear and the images we see. But St. Paul also instructs us to not be conformed to the world. How can we consume the news in a way that builds virtue and leads to greater flourishing? Jeffrey Bilbro is our guest.

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI has apologized for mistakenly saying that he did not attend a disputed meeting in 1980 while serving as archbishop of Munich and Freising. This follows a report published last week that said he mishandled four abuse cases while he was archbishop. Matthew Bunson shares what we know about the case.

St. Irenaeus of Lyon is one step closer to being the first martyr to be declared a Doctor of the Church. Last week, Pope Francis met with the head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints who told him they had found Irenaeus worthy of the title. What theological contributions did he make to the early Church? We’ll talk with Joe Heschmeyer.

Last spring, it was unveiled that the University of Pittsburgh medical system was using aborted babies for medical research and an independent investigation was launched. The D.C.-based law firm hired to conduct the “regulatory assessment” said they found Pitt’s academic research with human fetal tissue to be “fully compliant with applicable laws.” But a close reading of the 40-page report shows the firm intentionally limited the scope of their investigation, allowing investigators to turn a blind eye to some of the most damning allegations related to fetal tissue research. David Daleiden joins us.

Al received a letter this week claiming we should not honor Martin Luther King as a leader, because he was also a plagiarist and adulterer. It is true that he is guilty of these sins, so should that disqualify him from his place of honor? Al discusses.

Much has been said about the kind of priests we need in these challenging times. But we can't forget the role of our deacons. What does the Church say about the purpose of the diaconate ministry? And what kinds of strategies can we develop to support our deacons? We talk with Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers.

Pope Francis has declared today a day of prayer for peace in Ukraine, where tensions are running high amid fears of a possible Russian invasion. It could mean a matter of life and death for thousands of people in the region and could send millions of refugees into Western Europe. We take a look at what's going on with Archbishop Borys Gudziak.

Today we celebrate the feast of Timothy and Titus, two of the closes followers of the apostle Paul. Al looks at their significance and how they helped bring the Gospel to both Jew and Gentile.

A Catholic adoption agency in Michigan has reached a settlement with the state that will allow the agency to continue to place children in homes in a manner consistent with its Catholic identity. The trouble began in 2019 when the state required agencies to match children with same-sex couples in order to receive state funding. This victory is similar to another from last year in Philadelphia. Lori Windham has more details on the case.

For years, Saul was known as a man fervent in his Jewish faith and a great persecutor of any follower of Christ. But one day, on the road to Damascus, his life was changed forever. We celebrate the feast of that conversion today with Steve Ray.