Kresta in the Afternoon

Stephen Rasche has dedicated his life to documenting the lives of Christians living in some of the world’s most hostile places to Christianity. His newest project gives faces to the forgotten, faceless victims of persecution in Nigeria and Iraq. Steve joins us.

Earlier this week, Portuguese Bishop Américo Aguiar reportedly said that at World Youth Day, we “Don’t want to convert people to Christ.” He later clarified his statements, but it did get us thinking on the meaning and purpose of conversion and evangelization. We talk with Peter Herbeck.

Today the French are celebrating Bastille Day, which marks the start of a revolution very different from the American one. Remnants of the corruption of the revolution can still be found in Paris, but when Paul Kengor visited recently he sought something else – the Incorrupt St. Catherine Labouré. Paul has more.

Rene de Chateaubriand’s masterpiece The Genius of Christianity was first published in 1802 as a response to the anti-Catholic philosophies of the French Revolution. It’s a classic piece of work that is sadly not well-known today, but with its recent republication we look back on its influence. Jerry Salyer joins us.

Pope Francis has announced he will create 21 new cardinals at a consistory on September 30. We get to know them with Matthew Bunson, who also discusses other church news.

Last Saturday marked 500 days since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Through times of trial, division, repression, and new growth, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church – a particular Church in full communion with the Holy See - has remained faithfully at the foot of the Cross. John Burger sat down recently with Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk to talk more about the Church in Ukraine. John joins us.

In the Gospel this Sunday we hear the Parable of the Sower. But in that parable it seems like most of the seeds fail to produce fruit. Why would God sow seeds He knows will ultimately wither and die? How many of us are like the seeds sown among thorns? Peggy Stanton joins us.

Today the FDA gave approval for the first time to a birth control pill to be sold over the counter. This comes aver a panel of 17 advisers gave the FDA unanimous approval, advising that the benefits of making the Opill available far outweighed the risks. Michael New joins us with more.

Sound of Freedom, the story of one man’s efforts to rescue children from sex traffickers, has been a surprise hit this summer, grossing more than $45 million on a $14 million budget. But there’s another story that’s just as remarkable – the Sisters of Mary, who have rescued thousands of children from some of the most dangerous areas imaginable. Kevin Wells tells us their story.

In the Old Testament, we read of the time Joshua asked God to let the Sun stand still in the sky. That’s the attitude that the Rome Boys have taken – asking God to do great things, and letting Him guide their work. Chris Martin joins us with more – you can meet him on the Good News Cruise.