Kresta in the Afternoon

Today the Vatican released its Instrumentum Laboris, or Working Tool, for the upcoming Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. The text covers hot-button issues such as women deacons and priestly celibacy and signals the beginning of a new phase of the Synod on Synodality. We examine what is says with Matthew Bunson.

A standard narrative is that Catholics have Protestants have vastly different and even incompatible understandings of the Natural Law and Reason. But are we really that far apart? Frank Beckwith joins us.

This week we are broadcasting from Acton University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Fr. Robert Sirico joins us to discuss the work being done here as well as his own topic, a conversation on religion and journalism.

June 22 is the Feast of St Thomas More, well-known as a lawyer and assistant to King Henry who fought the Reformation and was martyred for his faith. But there's a lesser-known side: Thomas More the Writer. He's the author of twenty books as well as hundreds of letters and poems, many of them written from prison. Gerry Wegemer joins us with a look at some of his best.

In recent years atheism has become ever more visible, acceptable, and influential. Atheist apologists have become increasingly vociferous and confident in their claims: that a morality requiring benevolence towards all and universal human rights need not be grounded in religion; that modern science disproves the existence of God; and that there is nothing innately religious about human beings. Christian Smith responds to these arguments.

Christians, and religious people in general, are often accused of having “blind spots” that warp their view of reality. But secularists have this problem as well – we often see documentaries that completely overlook the religious aspects of a story or event. Al breaks it down.

The writings of John Paul II are almost beyond count, and among them is a recently-discovered series from his years as the Archbishop of Krakow. Based on St. Paul's sermons to the Athenians, he presents a framework for articulating the faith for a skeptical and often unbelieving world. We look at what he says about faith, truth and the human person with Eduardo Echeverria.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart is intimately linked to our response in love to the Eucharist of Christ. It lies at the core of Catholic spiritual life and is the key to effective renewal of individuals, the Church and the world. We talk with Tim O'Donnel about living this devotion more fully.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus warns us "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the son of Man." Have you ever wondered how the people of Noah's day could be so clueless? He warned them of what was coming, and they did nothing to change thier lives. What lessons can we learn from Noah as our own culture descends into madness? Al discusses.

Connecting the apologetics dots with the Eucharist. Tom Nash joins us.