Kresta In The Afternoon

In 1974, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen stated that he intended to write a book about the demonic. But such a book never came to fruition. Now, some fifty years later, Sheen's intended book has finally been compiled, all in his own words.' Fr. Dave Tomaszycki joins us.

Today we celebrate the Feast of Blessed Michael McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus. His feast is today because it falls directly between the anniversaries of his birth and death. We talk more about his life and canonization cause with Brian Caulfield.

For the last several years, the Church has been focusing on “synodality.” But many Catholics are still unsure of what the term even means, as many Church documents on the topic tend to be bogged down by bureaucratic jargon. Carl Olson turns to the clear writings of St Paul to help cut through the mess.

Today is the anniversary of the death of Robin Williams, who died by suicide in 2014. Starring in films like Aladdin, Dead Poets Society, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Good Morning Vietnam, his voice was woven into the cultural memory for millions. Tragically, the man who brought laughter to so many could not overcome his own tears. Marcus has more.

Deaths from opioid overdoses hit record highs in 2021 and 2022, and are now on the decline. But there is still much work to be done. Mike Vasquez has devoted his life to confronting the opioid crisis on a mental, physical, and spiritual front and he joins us with more.

How did Roman Catholics shift from being perceived as un-American to emerging as the standard-bearers for political liberty and economic prosperity? We look at the rise of the American Church during the Cold War with D.G. Hart.

An investor in Germany is offering families 500 euros for every child they have baptized. The local diocese has acknowledged the donorʼs intentions but stressed that, from the Churchʼs point of view, there is no financial barrier to baptism in the first place. We talk more about this and other Church news with Matthew Bunson.

There is a troubling pattern emerging of government officials in America's bluest states punishing religious organizations and individuals for simply living their faith. We talk about it with Andrea Picciotti-Bayer.

The US national debt is hovering around $30 trillion and has hit 100% of the US GDP. How did we end up here and what happens now? James Peregoy joins us.

Dr. Haywood Robinson performed abortions for 14 years before experiencing a radical conversion. He spent the rest of his life spreading the message that “abortion is the greatest injustice of our time.” He recently passed away, and Brian Gibson joins us with a look at his life.

In his timeless work The Screwtape Letters, CS Lewis exposes how subtle distractions, small compromises, spiritual pride, and misplaced fears erode a Christian's faith and trust in God. We take a deep dive with Andrew Swafford.

The schism of the traditionalist Priestly Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), and its aftermath, has highlighted how the unity in the Church that Leo XIV set as the primary goal of his pontificate is still far from being achieved. And as the Vatican signs off on the ordination of state-approved Chinese bishops, many are left asking why followers of the traditional Mass are excommunicated while Chinese bishops are not. Matthew Bunson joins us.

Sarah Morse is an American teacher working at a high school in Scotland. When her students asked her what she thinks about abortion, she said she opposes it as a Catholic but they were free to have their own opinions. She was fired a few hours later. Morse's case unfolded under British employment law, but the question it raises is not a foreign one. American teachers face the same scenario, and the answer for them turns on a body of U.S. case law most people have never had reason to learn. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has more.

Dr. Peter Kreeft recently lost his wife Maria, to whom he was married for 63 years. Shortly after her death, he was asked what advice he had for young married couples, and his response has gone viral. Even in the midst of his grief, he was able to deliver a reflection full of love, wisdom and even humor. Marcus looks at his comments.

It has been a long and winding path to beatification for Fulton Sheen. Msgr. Jason Gray has lead the investigation into his cause, and he joins us with an inside look at the process.

On July 25, 1968, Pope Paul VI published Humane Vitae. And on July 25, 1978, the first test-tube baby was born. It seems fitting that these events would fall on the same day; the culture and even some within the church disregarded the warnings of Humane Vitae when it was published, and we've been paying the price ever since. Rachel Coleman has more.

US Ambassador Brian Burch recently said that when Pope Leo spoke out against the war in Iran, he was not doing so as a leader of the Roman Catholic Church, adding that he was speaking as a world leader of the Holy See. What authority does the pope have in such occasions? Matthew Bunson joins us with more on this and other Church news.

Thousands of Catholics flocked to Detroit today for the Rising from the Ashes revival. Fr. Adam Nowak joins us at the conference to talk about how the Eucharist can revitalize the culture.

Andy Burnham was officially named the leader of Britain's governing Labour Party on July 17, paving the way for him to become the United Kingdom's first prime minister to enter office publicly identifying as a Catholic. Joanna Bogle tells us more about him.

We discuss blood sacrifice and the natural law with Michael Pakaluk.

We unpack the Sunday readings and talk with Peter Laffin about President Trump's speech.

Phillip Munoz discusses what the Founding Fathers believed about the Common Good.

Fr. Raymond de Souza weighs in on Pope Leo's papacy

Jordan Ballor looks at the "two" Constitutions that built America

Fr. Patrick Gonyeau discusses the gift of being in Divine intimacy with Jesus.

Bishop Jerry Vincke discusses spiritual fatherhood and the cost of discipleship.

Dr. Mary Healy joins us at the 2026 Encounter Ministries conference, discussing the power of the Gospel in our lives.

Luke Burgis discusses his book Forging Identity in the Age of Social Contagion.

Father Deacon Robert Klesko explains the importance of Church unity

Marcus looks at the problem with pre-nuptial agreements and Stephen Smith shares Thomas More's advice for dying well.

Rob Corzine unpacks the Sunday readings and Dr. Dylan Pahman celebrates the greatest political experiment in history.

Matthew Bunson has the latest on the SSPX excommunication and Christopher Flannery discusses what the Founding Fathers said about the Revolution.

Marcus discusses the SSPX consecrations and Michael Lucchese looks at the patriotic thought of Winston Churchill.

Dr. Adam MacLeod and Dr. John Pinheiro discuss America's foundings and the intersection of law and liberty.

What would CS Lewis say about politics? Micah Watson joins us.

Rob Corzine unpacks the Sunday readings.

Matthew Bunson looks at the latest from the SSPX.

Andrew Kubick discusses the importance of religious liberty and conscience rights in the medical field.

Dr Jared Pincin discusses the ethics and economics of sports gambling.

EWTN's Mike Romano shares the story of loosing his wife to cancer.

Rob Corzine unpacks the Sunday readings and Marcus reflects on the gift of fatherhood.

Dr John Bergsma joins us to explore the theology of the royal priesthood, rooted in the early chapters of Genesis, and look at how God establishes a covenant of sonship with us.