Kresta in the Afternoon

Catholics tend to be ambivalent toward, if not hostile to, the French Revolution, in large part because the assault on the monarchy extended to an assault on the Church. And American Catholics tend to have little to no reservations about celebrating the American Revolution. But what were the motivations of the Revolutionary Catholics, and how do they relate to Catholic Social Teaching? Dr. Chris Shannon joins us.

Examining a country’s National Anthem can be a window into how that nation perceives its own citizens and the citizens relate to the Nation. Some, like France’s La Marseillaise, are rousing songs of war, while others focus on natural grandeur. Al looks at some examples, along with the patriotic balance of our own national anthem.

The Bible has played a decisive role in the shaping of American History, and American History has shaped how we interpret the Bible. From the writings of Tom Paine to the fall of slavery to Teddy Roosevelt, the two are intertwined. Mark Noll joins us looking at the rise and fall of America’s Bible civilization.

When we think of iconic American landmarks, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the Lincoln Memorial, Mt. Rushmore, or the Grand Canyon. But have you ever thought of American Catholic landmarks? Kevin Schmiesing is our guest as we journey through American Catholic history and meet some of the people and places that made our country the place it is today.

In the past, upper-class Americans used to display their social status with luxury goods. Today, they do it with luxury beliefs. These are ideas and opinions that confer status on the rich at very little cost, while taking a toll on the lower class. Al takes a look.

Since Independence Day falls in the middle of next week, many of us will be holding our cookouts and fireworks shows this weekend. What did the signers of the Declaration mean when they referred to the “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God,” and what does that mean for us today? Phillip Munoz joins us.

Today the Supreme Court ruled that President Biden does not have the authority to forgive student loans. In a statement after the ruling, Biden said he will find other ways to deliver debt relief to families. But would his plan help? We talk with Richard Vedder.

The Supreme Court wrapped up its term this week with several highly-anticipated decisions. In a 6-3 ruling yesterday, the Court struck down the use of Affirmative Action in college admissions. Today, it ruled in favor of a Christian web designer who creates wedding websites, and said that President Biden’s student loan forgiveness was unconstitutional. And somewhat lost in the shuffle was another ruling: 9-0 in favor of a postal worker who was forced to work on Sundays. We take a closer look at it all with Dean John Czarnetzky.

Throughout today’s program we’ll be examining Supreme Court rulings that will affect what it means to live in America in 2023. And we’ll also be looking back at the thought of 1776 and what it means for us today. Al looks back at some comments from Abigail Adams and what we mean when we talk about “common sense” laws.

It’s a story straight out of Indiana Jones. When architects told Pope Nicholas V in 1448 that the Basilica of St. Peter needed to be rebuilt, the catacomb of St Peter was paved over and lost to the ages. Centuries later, in 1939, the tomb was accidentally discovered again and Pope Pius XII authorized a secret investigation. We’ll share a discussion with the late Thomas Craughwell about this fascinating story.