Al Kresta's Blog, page 346

Outrageous Statement of the Day

On Wednesday's Hardball Chris Matthews compared former Speaker of the House and possible presidential candidate Newt Gingrich to a terrorist as he screeched "He looks like a car bomber" and even described him in demonic terms, adding: "He's got that crazy Mephistophelian grin of his. He looks like he loves torturing." After all of MSNBC's ranting that conservative rhetoric caused the Tuscon shootings, it didn't take long for Chris to get back into the mode of vile ad hominem attacks and the politics of personal destruction.

Cartoons of the Day - Westboro no-brainers

Today on Kresta - March 4, 2011

Talking about the "things that matter most" on March 4

4:00 – Waging War to Make Peace: U.S. Intervention in Global Conflicts
The controversial principle of a "responsibility to protect" asserts that nations have an obligation to stop genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity beyond their borders, even by the use of force. With the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the current protests spreading all across the Middle East, we once more raise the age-old question of: under what conditions do countries intervene in other country's affairs? Susan Yoshihara , author of Waging War to Make Peace: U.S. Intervention in Global Conflicts, joins us.

4:40 – The Congregation of the Causes of Saints
With the Constitution "Immensa Aeterni Dei" of January 22, 1588, Pope Sixtus V created the Sacred Congregation of Rites and entrusted to it the task of regulating the exercise of divine worship and of dealing with the Causes of Saints. The congregation is now known as the Congregation of the Causes of Saints and prepares each year everything necessary for the Pope to be able to set forth new examples of holiness. After approving results on miracles, martyrdom and heroic virtues of various Servants of God, the Holy Father proceeds to a series of canonizations and beatifications. Msgr. Robert Sarno has been an official with the Congregation for almost 30 years and joins us to discuss his experience.

5:00 – Direct to My Desk
We open the phone lines and let you weigh in on three topics. 1) Is the hate speech of the Westboro "Baptist Church" still free speech? 2) Brigham Young University has dismissed a key player from their #3 ranked basketball team for having sex with his girlfriend. The action violated the Mormon school's honor code and the school has decided that principle trumps a possible national championship. 3) The new translation of the New American Bible (used for the Church's liturgies) has changed the translations of "booty," "Holocaust," and "virgin." Al explains and then we ask if this is a good thing or bad thing.

Outrageous Statement of the Day

As the Ohio Legislature debates a bill that would ban abortion as soon as the first heartbeat can be medically detected, pro-lifers are bringing in two expectant mothers to have their unborn babies "testify" by having an ultrasound in which lawmakers will hear the heartbeats. Opponents of course are outraged, calling it a "stunt" and a "circus" that trivialized women's rights. But MSNBC host Cenk Uygur takes the cake when he argued that unborn babies, given the chance to speak, would say to "get out of my mother's uterus." Actually Cenk, I think it would say "please don't kill me."

Cartoon of the Day - March Budget Madness

Today on Kresta - March 3, 2011

Talking about the "things that matter most" on March 3

4:00 – Same Script / Different Jihadist Terror Attack
Authorities in Europe are calling the shooting at a Frankfurt, Germany, airport that claimed the lives of two U.S. servicemen an act of Islamic terrorism, though U.S. investigators said it is too soon to tell. The gunman, 21-year-old Arid Uka, who was captured immediately after Wednesday's shooting, admitted to the deadly attack and said he acted alone, Uka, an ethnic Albanian from Kosovo who was described as a long-time resident of Germany, had been apparently radicalized over the last few weeks, Rhein said. Uka allegedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" and "jihad jihad" as he opened fire on a bus carrying U.S. airmen, killing two and wounding two others before his gun jammed. Apparently not enough evidence for US officials to declare this Islamic terrorism. Robert Spencer has the analysis.

4:20 – Attic Alone: An Ex-Jehovah's Witness Finds the Church
When smallpox vaccinations were required before entering school, Arlene McGinley's father held her arm down on the table and dropped acid on the upper part of it to painfully burn a hole in her arm. It needed to be deep enough to imitate a real smallpox vaccination. Her Mom comforted her and then took her to the attic to open boxes. They looked for school clothing. She liked being in the attic alone. It was a shelter and hiding place from her family, who were Jehovah's Witnesses. Mentally, she escaped to the attic to be alone when she had to attend services at the Kingdom Hall. She lived in two worlds. There were great differences between these worlds, teaching her to think for herself when great conflicts arose between the two. She is here to tell the story of her journey from the bondage of false beliefs to a real Christian faith.

5:00 – Burst: A Story of God's Grace When Life Falls Apart
When a thick vine of vessels in his brain burst one ordinary evening, Kevin Wells' life took an abrupt, unanticipated turn. After having already navigated past a series of devastating events, the former sportswriter was now forced to push back death. And, miraculously, it was his beloved deceased uncle, Msgr. Tom Wells, who helped spearhead the comeback. In this riveting story, Wells details his reliance on steady humor, persistent faith and the prayers of thousands to win back life. The result is this spiritually-rich memoir, which offers hard-earned encouragement for those struggling through perilous times and looking for a reason to hang on. Readers will come to see what Wells eventually did: that Christ's graces are always hidden in the pain.

5:30 – Music and Morality: Hope & Beauty or Destructive Ugliness
Eric Genuis is a composer, virtuoso pianist and captivating performer. Since 1997, he has been performing his works throughout the world in countries including the United States, Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, and Poland. In addition to performing for millions of people, Genuis has composed and recorded 4 CDs and written music for film, documentaries, television and Internet media. He is here in SE Michigan for a series of talks and performances and joins us in studio today.

New Indiana auxiliary bishop says he would never deny Communion

Indianapolis Bishop-designate Christopher J. Coyne answered questions from The Indianapolis Star on a wide variety of subjects for nearly an hour last week. Here are a few excerpts:

On the priest sexual abuse scandal in Boston, where he was a spokesman for the archdiocese:

"There were a lot of low points. There were plenty of times when you would say, 'It can't get any worse,' and it did. The hardest part was when people in the archdiocese, we turned on each other. The clergy infighting would take place. And in the chancellery, there was backbiting and different things. They were self-inflicted wounds, like when the priests would get up and say things that were just wrong."

On preaching, which he taught at seminary and sees as an area where the Catholic Church needs improvement:

"What I try to do is to have a beginning and an end and not a lot of time in between the two, maybe eight or nine minutes."

On church architecture, which he made a focus of study in Rome and the subject of a CatholicTV series he hosted:

"You can look at it as the house of people or the house of God. What Catholics have done throughout history is find a healthy balance between the two."

On art's connection with the divine:

"When art is created, when beauty is created, it shows forth God's original desire for all creation to be beautiful. And that elevates us higher. What is interesting about that is that it doesn't all have to be sunshine and light. The grotesque or the awful -- in the sense of a bloody crucifix -- can be a beautiful work of art in the sense that it is hard to look at, but it raises us to the higher value of salvation, of the faith."

On denying Communion to politicians whose votes conflict with Church teaching:

"I would never deny someone Communion unless they were absolutely deranged or something like that and it is obvious that they shouldn't be receiving Communion. The Communion line is not the place where you deal with whether or not someone should be receiving Communion."

On whether the University of Notre Dame was right or wrong last year in honoring President Barack Obama, a move that some bishops and other Catholics criticized, given Obama's support of abortion rights:

"That's outside of my purview."

Pakistan: Cabinet minister who defended Christians is assassinated

Shahbaz Bhatti, a lay Catholic who served as Pakistan's federal minister for religious minorities, was assassinated on March 2 while traveling to work. He was 42.

The gunman who ambushed Bhatti's car and shot down the government leader left a note saying that Bhatti was killed "for speaking out against the blasphemy law." The assassin claimed credit for the killing in the name of Tehrik-e-Taliban, a coalition of Islamic extremist groups.

The cabinet minister had received multiple death threats when he questioned the death sentence for blasphemy handed down in the case of Asia Bibi, a Christian housewife whose friends insist that she was convicted on false charges.

"We are in a state of shock and panic: the Catholic community, all Christians, are traumatized by this latest murder," said Peter Jacob, a layman who serves as secretary of bishops' commission for justice and peace. "We feel bewildered and defenseless. This murder means that the country is at the mercy of terrorists, who can afford to kill high-ranking personalities." Bishop Rufin Anthony of Islamabad observed: ""This should be an eye opener for minorities and the government. How much more blood will it take to realise that enough is enough?"

In Rome the director of the Vatican press office, Father Federico Lombardi, released a statement condemning "another terrible episode of violence." He remarked: "It shows how right the Pope is in his persistent remarks concerning violence against Christians and against religious freedom in general." The papal spokesman said that prayers for the victim should be accompanied by "an appeal that everyone many become aware of the urgent importance of defending both religious freedom and Christians who are subject to violence and persecution."

Three weeks before his assassination, Bhatti had predicted that his reappointment as cabinet minister would "create some protests and resentment by many Islamic extremists. But my struggle will continue, despite the difficulties and threats that I have received. My only aim is to defend fundamental rights, religious freedom and the life of Christians and other religious minorities. I am prepared for any sacrifice for this mission, which I carry out with the spirit of a servant of God."

Bhatti is the second prominent Pakistani leader who has been killed after urging changes in the country's blasphemy law. Salman Taseer, the governor of the Punjad province, was murdered in January. Sherry Rehman, a member of parliament who suggested amending the law, withdrew her proposal after receiving death threats.

Highlights of the Pope's new book "Jesus of Nazareth. Holy Week"

We have already recorded an interview with Fr. Joseph Fessio, former student of then-professer Ratzinger and English language publisher of the Pope's new book. Fr. Fessio with be with the Pope in Rome for the release of the book on March 10, and we will air the interview which contains embargoed material that afternoon.

Cartoon of the Day - Waiting for Charlie