Kresta in the Afternoon

On November 2, 1917, Britain issued the Balfour Declaration, announcing support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish People.” The issue of The Land is central to Jewish self-identity. The Catholic Church certainly acknowledges the covenant between God and the Jewish People, but how does this covenant relate to the land and today’s Jews? We talk with Andre Villanueve

Two major talking points have emerged in the days since Glenn Youngkin’s victory – the impact Donald Trump will have on the future of the GOP, and whether Youngkin rallied “racists” to vote for him. Al examines both.

Back in mid-July, the Atlanta Braves were given a 0.3% chance of winning the World Series. And last night, they did just that – defeating the powerful Houston Astros 7-0 in Game Six. It’s popular to call stories like this a “Miracle.” Just think of the 1980 US Hockey Team’s Miracle on Ice or the Tennessee Titan’s Music City Miracle. But Catholics, of course, have a very different understanding of miracles. What makes a miracle, a miracle? Adam Blai joins us.

Yesterday we saw some of the first major election results since President Biden’s term began. In Minneapolis, voters rejected a “defund the police” bill. In Virginia, Republican Glenn Youngkin defeated Terry McAuliffe, who had tried in vain to brand him as a spiritual successor to Donald Trump. And as of this afternoon, the governor race in New Jersey was much too close to call. What hints do these results give us at the overall political climate in the US? Paul Kengor joins us.

“Remember, remember, the Fifth of November…” On Friday, Britain will celebrate Bonfire Night, commemorating Guy Fawkes’ failed attempt to blow up the House of Lords. Most of us don’t know much about Guy Fawkes other than the mask that has appeared in films and online. Who was he? Joanna Bogle joins us.

For months, Catholic eyes have looked towards the USCCB’s Fall Assembly and its forthcoming document on the Eucharist, especially after last week’s meeting between President Biden and Pope Francis. A draft text of the document made public this week addresses the subject of “Eucharistic Worthiness” but does not include any recommendations for denial of communion. We examine the document with JD Flynn.

Progressives are already blaming "racism" for Terry McAuliffe's defeat in Virginia. How would newly-elected Winsome Sears, the first Black woman to hold statewide office in Virginia, respond? Al discusses.

The communion of saints represents an enormous variety of lives, livelihoods, and personalities. But one thing that unites them is their approach to death - they knew that in the death of a saint, it is death that dies. Thomas Jacobi joins us with a closer look at how saints die.

Scholars such as Robert George who follow the Supreme Court closely think there is a good chance that the Dobbs case will result in a victory for pro-lifers. However, if Roe is overturned and abortion is kicked back to the states, the real work will only be beginning. Al discusses.

Any death of a loved one causes pain and can make us question God “why.” But losing loved ones to suicide is especially traumatic. How can we find hope in such a despairing situation? Fr. Chris Alar joins us.