Al Kresta's Blog, page 6
December 26, 2013
Philadelphia Appeals Court Overturns Conviction of Msgr. William Lynn in Abuse Case
By Kathy Schiffer
Monsignor William J. Lynn
A Pennsylvania appeals court ruled December 26 that Monsignor William Lynn, secretary for clergy from for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1992 to 2004, was wrongly convicted in a criminal child endangerment case involving convicted former priest Edward Avery.
In his role as vicar for clergy under the late Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, Monsignor Lynn was responsible for handling clergy abuse cases. When an accusation was made that Father Avery had abused an altar boy, Monsignor Lynn recommended that the priest be sent to a rehabilitation center. Upon completion of treatment, and with the assurance of treatment professionals that the priest was indeed rehabilitated and unlikely to commit further acts of abuse, Father Avery was reassigned to another parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
According to the appeals court ruling, the state's child-endangerment law at the time of Father Avery's transfer clearly applied only to parents and caregivers. The law was only amended in 2007 to include supervisors like Monsignor Lynn.
Monsignor Lynn has already served fifteen months of a three- to six-year sentence for his role in the handling of the case. Today's decision overturns the legal basis for a prosecution that was viewed, according to the New York Times , as a "milestone in holding senior church officials accountable for keeping abuse reports secret in past decades and transferring predatory priests to unwary new parishes."
With the conviction overturned, Lynn will likely be released immediately. Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams has indicated that he plans to appeal; but Thomas A. Bergstrom, a lawyer for Monsignor Lynn, called the ruling “a strong opinion by a unanimous court.” Bergstrom added, “He shouldn’t have been convicted. He shouldn’t have been sentenced.”
“I did not intend any harm to come to him. The fact is, my best was not good enough to stop that harm. I am a parish priest. I should have stayed (one).”
--Monsignor William J. Lynn, speaking at his sentencing
about a victim of clergy abuse
Monsignor William J. Lynn
A Pennsylvania appeals court ruled December 26 that Monsignor William Lynn, secretary for clergy from for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1992 to 2004, was wrongly convicted in a criminal child endangerment case involving convicted former priest Edward Avery.
In his role as vicar for clergy under the late Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, Monsignor Lynn was responsible for handling clergy abuse cases. When an accusation was made that Father Avery had abused an altar boy, Monsignor Lynn recommended that the priest be sent to a rehabilitation center. Upon completion of treatment, and with the assurance of treatment professionals that the priest was indeed rehabilitated and unlikely to commit further acts of abuse, Father Avery was reassigned to another parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
According to the appeals court ruling, the state's child-endangerment law at the time of Father Avery's transfer clearly applied only to parents and caregivers. The law was only amended in 2007 to include supervisors like Monsignor Lynn.
Monsignor Lynn has already served fifteen months of a three- to six-year sentence for his role in the handling of the case. Today's decision overturns the legal basis for a prosecution that was viewed, according to the New York Times , as a "milestone in holding senior church officials accountable for keeping abuse reports secret in past decades and transferring predatory priests to unwary new parishes."
With the conviction overturned, Lynn will likely be released immediately. Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams has indicated that he plans to appeal; but Thomas A. Bergstrom, a lawyer for Monsignor Lynn, called the ruling “a strong opinion by a unanimous court.” Bergstrom added, “He shouldn’t have been convicted. He shouldn’t have been sentenced.”
Today on "Kresta in the Afternoon" - December 26. 2013
Talking About “The Things That Matter Most” on December 26
COUNTDOWN OF THE TOP 40 INTERVIEWS OF 2013
4:00 - #27 – What to Expect When No One's Expecting: America's Coming Demographic Disaster Look around you and think for a minute: Is America too crowded? For years, we have been warned about the looming danger of overpopulation: people jostling for space on a planet that’s busting at the seams and running out of oil and food and land and everything else. It’s all bunk. The “population bomb” never exploded. Instead, statistics from around the world make clear that since the 1970s, we’ve been facing exactly the opposite problem: people are having too few babies. Jonathan Last is here to explain why the population implosion happened and how it is remaking culture, the economy, and politics both at home and around the world. Because if America wants to continue to lead the world, we need to have more babies.
Show more Show less 4:40 – #26 - Things Continue to Go Downhill With the LCWRIn his first address to representatives of U.S. Catholic sisters since his appointment in April 2012, the archbishop tasked by the Vatican to oversee their leadership group reportedly had little to offer regarding the reason for Vatican concern or how the process goes forward. Leaving last Thursday’s closed-door meeting between Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), several sisters said they felt frustration at the lack of detail given by the prelate nearly 19 months into his mandate. Sartain met Thursday afternoon with some 825 LCWR members, who are representatives of orders of Catholic sisters around the country. The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has named the prelate the group’s “apostolic delegate” and given him wide power to revise its statutes and programs. A n n Carey , author of “Sisters in Crisis,” joins us.
5:00 - #25 - The Global Public Square: Religious Freedom and the Making of a World Safe for DiversityHow do we live with our deepest differences? In a world torn by religious conflict, the threats to human dignity are terrifyingly real. Some societies face harsh government repression and brutal sectarian violence, while others are divided by bitter conflicts over religion's place in public life. Is there any hope for living together peacefully? Os Guinness argues that the way forward for the world lies in promoting freedom of religion and belief for people of all faiths and none. He sets out a vision of a civil and cosmopolitan global public square, and how it can be established by championing the freedom of the soul—the inviolable freedom of thought, conscience and religion. In particular he calls for leadership that has the courage to act on behalf of the common good. Far from utopian, this constructive vision charts a course for the future of the world. Soul freedom is not only a shining ideal but a dire necessity and an eminently practical solution to the predicaments of our time. We can indeed maximize freedom and justice and learn to negotiate deep differences in public life. For a world desperate for hope at a critical juncture of human history, here is a way forward, for the good of all
5:40 – #24 - What Are Church Leaders From the Pope to Nuns on the Ground Saying About Possible International Intervention in Syria?Pope Francis has renewed his call for peace in Syria, urging international leaders to “find a solution to a war that sows destruction and death.” The secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace said that “the conflict in Syria has all the ingredients to explode into a war of global dimensions.” The Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch emphasized in a joint statement that they are “opposed to any foreign armed intervention in Syria.” Also Pope Francis has called upon all the faithful worldwide to join in a day of prayer and fasting of September 7 for peace in the Middle East, and especially in Syria. We talk with Matthew Bunson about what the Universal Church is saying about military intervention in Syria.
COUNTDOWN OF THE TOP 40 INTERVIEWS OF 2013
4:00 - #27 – What to Expect When No One's Expecting: America's Coming Demographic Disaster Look around you and think for a minute: Is America too crowded? For years, we have been warned about the looming danger of overpopulation: people jostling for space on a planet that’s busting at the seams and running out of oil and food and land and everything else. It’s all bunk. The “population bomb” never exploded. Instead, statistics from around the world make clear that since the 1970s, we’ve been facing exactly the opposite problem: people are having too few babies. Jonathan Last is here to explain why the population implosion happened and how it is remaking culture, the economy, and politics both at home and around the world. Because if America wants to continue to lead the world, we need to have more babies.
Show more Show less 4:40 – #26 - Things Continue to Go Downhill With the LCWRIn his first address to representatives of U.S. Catholic sisters since his appointment in April 2012, the archbishop tasked by the Vatican to oversee their leadership group reportedly had little to offer regarding the reason for Vatican concern or how the process goes forward. Leaving last Thursday’s closed-door meeting between Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), several sisters said they felt frustration at the lack of detail given by the prelate nearly 19 months into his mandate. Sartain met Thursday afternoon with some 825 LCWR members, who are representatives of orders of Catholic sisters around the country. The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has named the prelate the group’s “apostolic delegate” and given him wide power to revise its statutes and programs. A n n Carey , author of “Sisters in Crisis,” joins us.
5:00 - #25 - The Global Public Square: Religious Freedom and the Making of a World Safe for DiversityHow do we live with our deepest differences? In a world torn by religious conflict, the threats to human dignity are terrifyingly real. Some societies face harsh government repression and brutal sectarian violence, while others are divided by bitter conflicts over religion's place in public life. Is there any hope for living together peacefully? Os Guinness argues that the way forward for the world lies in promoting freedom of religion and belief for people of all faiths and none. He sets out a vision of a civil and cosmopolitan global public square, and how it can be established by championing the freedom of the soul—the inviolable freedom of thought, conscience and religion. In particular he calls for leadership that has the courage to act on behalf of the common good. Far from utopian, this constructive vision charts a course for the future of the world. Soul freedom is not only a shining ideal but a dire necessity and an eminently practical solution to the predicaments of our time. We can indeed maximize freedom and justice and learn to negotiate deep differences in public life. For a world desperate for hope at a critical juncture of human history, here is a way forward, for the good of all
5:40 – #24 - What Are Church Leaders From the Pope to Nuns on the Ground Saying About Possible International Intervention in Syria?Pope Francis has renewed his call for peace in Syria, urging international leaders to “find a solution to a war that sows destruction and death.” The secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace said that “the conflict in Syria has all the ingredients to explode into a war of global dimensions.” The Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch emphasized in a joint statement that they are “opposed to any foreign armed intervention in Syria.” Also Pope Francis has called upon all the faithful worldwide to join in a day of prayer and fasting of September 7 for peace in the Middle East, and especially in Syria. We talk with Matthew Bunson about what the Universal Church is saying about military intervention in Syria.
December 24, 2013
Today on "Kresta in the Afternoon" - December 24, 2013
Talking about the “Things That Matter Most” on December 24
Christmas Eve Special
4:00 – A Dramatic Reading of Dylan Thomas' "A Child's Christmas in Wales"A Child's Christmas in Wales is a prose work by the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. Originally emerging from a piece written for radio, the poem was recorded by Thomas in 1952. The story is an anecdotal retelling of a Christmas from the view of a young child and is a romanticized version of Christmases past, portraying a nostalgic and simpler time. It is one of Thomas' most popular works. Deal Hudson and Al present their dramatic reading of the piece.
4:20 – Must Watch Christmas FilmsDeal Hudson and Al discuss the most memorable, funniest, most touching and most edifying Christmas films of all time. Watch the Kresta Guest Archives after the show for the list!!
5:00 – Must Watch Christmas FilmsDeal Hudson and Al discuss the most memorable, funniest, most touching and most edifying Christmas films of all time. Watch the Kresta Guest Archives after the show for the list!!
Christmas Eve Special
4:00 – A Dramatic Reading of Dylan Thomas' "A Child's Christmas in Wales"A Child's Christmas in Wales is a prose work by the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. Originally emerging from a piece written for radio, the poem was recorded by Thomas in 1952. The story is an anecdotal retelling of a Christmas from the view of a young child and is a romanticized version of Christmases past, portraying a nostalgic and simpler time. It is one of Thomas' most popular works. Deal Hudson and Al present their dramatic reading of the piece.
4:20 – Must Watch Christmas FilmsDeal Hudson and Al discuss the most memorable, funniest, most touching and most edifying Christmas films of all time. Watch the Kresta Guest Archives after the show for the list!!
5:00 – Must Watch Christmas FilmsDeal Hudson and Al discuss the most memorable, funniest, most touching and most edifying Christmas films of all time. Watch the Kresta Guest Archives after the show for the list!!
December 19, 2013
Today on "Kresta in the Afternoon" - December 19, 2013
Talking About the Things That Matter Most on December 19
COUNTDOWN OF THE TOP 40 INTERVIEWS OF 2013
#40 -- 10 Honorable Mentions Angela Franks Contraception and Catholicism Teresa Tomeo Bucket List Michael Coren The Future of Catholicism Sarah Reinhard Catholic Apps Michael Novak Writing from Left to Right Gary Muchuta Making Sense of Mary Mark Shea By What Authority? Conor Gallagher If Aristotle had an IPod Elizabeth Scalia Strange Gods Mary Eberstadt How the West Really Lost God
4:00 - #39 – Pope Benedict XVI ResignsIt was a shock to the world – even the head of the Vatican Press Office. On Feb. 11 Pope Benedict XVI resigned the office of Pope. It triggered an amazing series of events that, of course, brought us to Pope Francis. That afternoon we compiled some of the great minds and analysts of Church affairs for a roundtable discussion: Matthew Bunson, Jimmy Akin, Ralph Martin and more.
5:00- The Charismatic Renewal, the Pope, and the Church When the newly elected Pope Francis appeared at the window before the cheering crowd in St Peter’s Square, and promptly bowed down asking the people to pray for him, most of the public at large was charmed, but puzzled. Pope Benedict too had asked the people to pray for him from the outset, but without the bowed head. To some spectators, however—including the members of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and their counterparts in the Protestant and Orthodox worlds—the gesture came as something surprisingly familiar. In the “charismatic” galaxy, prayer is offered and asked for in this way by people of all levels—specifically, prayer for a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We talk to Dr. Mary Healy, head of the Doctrinal Commission of the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services
5:40 – Innocence: A Novel
He lives in solitude beneath the city, an exile from society, which will destroy him if he is ever seen. She dwells in seclusion, a fugitive from enemies who will do her harm if she is ever found. But the bond between them runs deeper than the tragedies that have scarred their lives. Something more than chance—and nothing less than destiny—has brought them together in a world whose hour of reckoning is fast approaching. It’s the latest novel from the Catholic bestselling author Dean Koontz who blends mystery, suspense, and acute insight into the human soul in a masterfully told tale that will resonate with readers forever. He joins us.
COUNTDOWN OF THE TOP 40 INTERVIEWS OF 2013
#40 -- 10 Honorable Mentions Angela Franks Contraception and Catholicism Teresa Tomeo Bucket List Michael Coren The Future of Catholicism Sarah Reinhard Catholic Apps Michael Novak Writing from Left to Right Gary Muchuta Making Sense of Mary Mark Shea By What Authority? Conor Gallagher If Aristotle had an IPod Elizabeth Scalia Strange Gods Mary Eberstadt How the West Really Lost God
4:00 - #39 – Pope Benedict XVI ResignsIt was a shock to the world – even the head of the Vatican Press Office. On Feb. 11 Pope Benedict XVI resigned the office of Pope. It triggered an amazing series of events that, of course, brought us to Pope Francis. That afternoon we compiled some of the great minds and analysts of Church affairs for a roundtable discussion: Matthew Bunson, Jimmy Akin, Ralph Martin and more.
5:00- The Charismatic Renewal, the Pope, and the Church When the newly elected Pope Francis appeared at the window before the cheering crowd in St Peter’s Square, and promptly bowed down asking the people to pray for him, most of the public at large was charmed, but puzzled. Pope Benedict too had asked the people to pray for him from the outset, but without the bowed head. To some spectators, however—including the members of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and their counterparts in the Protestant and Orthodox worlds—the gesture came as something surprisingly familiar. In the “charismatic” galaxy, prayer is offered and asked for in this way by people of all levels—specifically, prayer for a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We talk to Dr. Mary Healy, head of the Doctrinal Commission of the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services
5:40 – Innocence: A Novel
He lives in solitude beneath the city, an exile from society, which will destroy him if he is ever seen. She dwells in seclusion, a fugitive from enemies who will do her harm if she is ever found. But the bond between them runs deeper than the tragedies that have scarred their lives. Something more than chance—and nothing less than destiny—has brought them together in a world whose hour of reckoning is fast approaching. It’s the latest novel from the Catholic bestselling author Dean Koontz who blends mystery, suspense, and acute insight into the human soul in a masterfully told tale that will resonate with readers forever. He joins us.
Prayer Need: Man Sets Himself on Fire in St. Peter’s Square
This morning in St. Peter’s Square, a man doused himself with gasoline and set himself on fire.A Jesuit priest standing nearby attempted to smother the flames with a jacket, before police officers stepped in with fire extinguishers. The two police officers were successful in extinguishing the flames, but they suffered smoke inhalation and burns to their hands and are now hospitalized for treatment.The 51-year-old man was treated at a nearby hospital, then transported to a larger one. He is reported to be suffering from serious burns to his upper body.In his pocket was a note with his daughter’s contact information; but there has been no explanation for why he set himself afire.This is not the first time an individual has self-immolated in St. Peter’s Square. On January 13, 1998, an Italian writer by the name of Alfredo Ormando set himself on fire in the Square to protest the Catholic Church’s opposition to the homosexual lifestyle. He was rushed to Sant’Eugenio hospital in critical condition, but died eleven days later.Catholic League Supports Archbishop Nienstedt, Seeks Information
Following Archbishop Nienstedt's decision yesterday to step down from his post as Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis during an investigation into a scurrilous allegation of sexual impropriety, Bill Donohue at the Catholic League has published a statement praising the Archbishop, and asking for anyone with information about the case to contact him personally.
Here is the full statement.
December 18, 2013
ARCHBISHOP NIENSTEDT DESERVES JUSTICE
Bill Donohue comments on the decision by Saint Paul and Minneapolis Archbishop John C. Nienstedt to temporarily step down:
Archbishop Nienstedt has been the subject of a non-stop crusade orchestrated by ex-Catholics, and Catholics in rebellion against the Church, simply because he stands for everything they are not: he is a loyal son of the Catholic Church.
Now—out of the blue—comes an unidentified male who claims he was touched on his buttocks in 2009 by the archbishop while posing for a group photo. Nienstedt denies the charge, adding that he has never inappropriately touched anyone. Moreover, he has not been told the identity of his accuser.
The Catholic League is asking those who were there to share with us any information they have. Specifically, we are interested in obtaining a tape recording, or set of photos, of any Confirmation ceremony in 2009 where Archbishop Nienstedt was present; presumably, the alleged victim was standing next to the archbishop. Also, we are asking anyone who knows anything about the accuser (someone knows who he is) to come forward. Please email us at pr@catholicleague.org .
I know of no other leader, religious or secular, who would step down pending an investigation because some guy says he was touched on his behind four years ago in a group photo. It's time the bishops revised their "zero tolerance" policy. Too often, it means zero justice for the accused, thus undermining the legal principle of innocent until proven guilty.
When it comes to "zero tolerance" in the schools, every teachers union, as well as the New York Times, has counseled against it. With good reason: it does not allow for the nuances that color so many cases. The bishops ought to follow suit and junk this policy before it becomes the weapon of choice against them.
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights
450 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10123
Phone: 212-371-3191
Fax: 212-371-3394Email: pr@catholicleague.org
Here is the full statement.
December 18, 2013
ARCHBISHOP NIENSTEDT DESERVES JUSTICE
Bill Donohue comments on the decision by Saint Paul and Minneapolis Archbishop John C. Nienstedt to temporarily step down:
Archbishop Nienstedt has been the subject of a non-stop crusade orchestrated by ex-Catholics, and Catholics in rebellion against the Church, simply because he stands for everything they are not: he is a loyal son of the Catholic Church.
Now—out of the blue—comes an unidentified male who claims he was touched on his buttocks in 2009 by the archbishop while posing for a group photo. Nienstedt denies the charge, adding that he has never inappropriately touched anyone. Moreover, he has not been told the identity of his accuser.
The Catholic League is asking those who were there to share with us any information they have. Specifically, we are interested in obtaining a tape recording, or set of photos, of any Confirmation ceremony in 2009 where Archbishop Nienstedt was present; presumably, the alleged victim was standing next to the archbishop. Also, we are asking anyone who knows anything about the accuser (someone knows who he is) to come forward. Please email us at pr@catholicleague.org .
I know of no other leader, religious or secular, who would step down pending an investigation because some guy says he was touched on his behind four years ago in a group photo. It's time the bishops revised their "zero tolerance" policy. Too often, it means zero justice for the accused, thus undermining the legal principle of innocent until proven guilty.
When it comes to "zero tolerance" in the schools, every teachers union, as well as the New York Times, has counseled against it. With good reason: it does not allow for the nuances that color so many cases. The bishops ought to follow suit and junk this policy before it becomes the weapon of choice against them.
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights
450 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10123
Phone: 212-371-3191
Fax: 212-371-3394Email: pr@catholicleague.org
December 18, 2013
Today on "Kresta in the Afternoon" - December 18, 2013
Talking about the "things that matter most" on December 18
4:00 – Reflections on the Christian Life: How Our Story is
God’s Story
In our hearts, we know that every event in our lives is providential and that each of us plays a critical role in the unfolding of the story God has written. We believe that God's will is anchored deep within our soul, and so too is the desire to know it and to live it. Acclaimed Catholic author Anthony Esolen claims that the story of your life has already been written and can be discovered by considering the life and person of Jesus. Only in God does the world possess meaning, and therefore, only in relation to God, are our lives genuine stories. He is here to discuss his proposition.
5:00 – Kresta Comments
5:20 – Having an Incredible Impact on the Poor This Christmas
In Kenya, the Sacred Mercy Schools are located in the thick of abject poverty, where children beg on the streets and where a generation of parents has been virtually wiped out by AIDS. This is work done “in the trenches” where hunger, illiteracy and despair must be battled by the Catholic Church for hope to prevail. But Cross Catholic International Outreach is there to welcome children off the streets and provide them with a quality education, daily nutritious lunches and a firm grounding in Catholic moral values. Jim Cavnar of is here to talk about their partnership with Ave Maria Radio to provide scholarships for Kenyan children. And other practical ways to serve the poor this Christmas season with their catalogue of need. You select an item on the catalog and that item gets shipped to a poor family in need overseas. Shoes, powdered milk, Catholic children’s books, vitamins, seeds and more. Things we take for granted that they are overjoyed to receive for Christmas.
5:00 – Kresta Comments
4:00 – Reflections on the Christian Life: How Our Story is
God’s Story
In our hearts, we know that every event in our lives is providential and that each of us plays a critical role in the unfolding of the story God has written. We believe that God's will is anchored deep within our soul, and so too is the desire to know it and to live it. Acclaimed Catholic author Anthony Esolen claims that the story of your life has already been written and can be discovered by considering the life and person of Jesus. Only in God does the world possess meaning, and therefore, only in relation to God, are our lives genuine stories. He is here to discuss his proposition.
5:00 – Kresta Comments
5:20 – Having an Incredible Impact on the Poor This Christmas
In Kenya, the Sacred Mercy Schools are located in the thick of abject poverty, where children beg on the streets and where a generation of parents has been virtually wiped out by AIDS. This is work done “in the trenches” where hunger, illiteracy and despair must be battled by the Catholic Church for hope to prevail. But Cross Catholic International Outreach is there to welcome children off the streets and provide them with a quality education, daily nutritious lunches and a firm grounding in Catholic moral values. Jim Cavnar of is here to talk about their partnership with Ave Maria Radio to provide scholarships for Kenyan children. And other practical ways to serve the poor this Christmas season with their catalogue of need. You select an item on the catalog and that item gets shipped to a poor family in need overseas. Shoes, powdered milk, Catholic children’s books, vitamins, seeds and more. Things we take for granted that they are overjoyed to receive for Christmas.
5:00 – Kresta Comments
December 17, 2013
For the Pope's Birthday, the Vatican Releases a Photo Album
Just in time for Pope Francis’ birthday, the Vatican Internet Office created this special photo album.Click here to see the entire 32-page album, featuring some of L’Osservatore Romano‘s best shots of the Holy Father at prayer, with children, waving to crowds…. in short, doing what he does every day. Happy Birthday, Papa Francesco!
Today on "Kresta in the Afternoon" - Dec. 17, 2013
Talking about the "things that matter most" on December 17
4:00 – Kresta Comments – Will Dissident Theologians and Cultural Leftists Regret Claiming Pope Francis as Their Own?
4:20 – “Christian privilege” Out – “Christian Bigots” In
It's settled, then: Christian conservatives use religion as a justification for their discriminatory behavior, and Americans will only enjoy true religious freedom when their so-called "religious liberty" claims are defeated. That was the consensus at a panel discussion recently sponsored by the Center for American Progress. We talk about how we got here and what can be done about it with Joel Gehrke of the Washington Examiner.
4:40 – What happened to Catholic & Protestant literature?With much of the world’s attention focused on Pope Francis, matters concerning the Catholic Church and its teachings are attracting increased interest. Overlooked, however, is the decline of Christian influence on American culture, especially its literature. This, says Dana Gioia, a celebrated poet and former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, is not only a demographic paradox -- Catholics constitute the largest religious group in America -- but it also marks a major historical change. “Sixty years ago,” says Gioia, Catholics played a prominent, prestigious, and irreplaceable part in American literary culture. Today, however, the only ones with significant influence are lapsed Catholics or ex-Catholics hostile to their former Church. Dana is here to discuss it.
5:00 – Kresta Comments – Will Dissident Theologians and Cultural Leftists Regret Claiming Pope Francis as Their Own?
5:20 – The Catholic “Hobbit”
Before you visit theatres for the second installment of the film based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved “The Hobbit,” brush up on your elvish and pack your “Baggins,” because Tolkien Scholar Joseph Pearce is here to take you on an extensive tour of the Catholic themes found in “the Hobbit” and in the life of JRR Tolkien
4:00 – Kresta Comments – Will Dissident Theologians and Cultural Leftists Regret Claiming Pope Francis as Their Own?
4:20 – “Christian privilege” Out – “Christian Bigots” In
It's settled, then: Christian conservatives use religion as a justification for their discriminatory behavior, and Americans will only enjoy true religious freedom when their so-called "religious liberty" claims are defeated. That was the consensus at a panel discussion recently sponsored by the Center for American Progress. We talk about how we got here and what can be done about it with Joel Gehrke of the Washington Examiner.
4:40 – What happened to Catholic & Protestant literature?With much of the world’s attention focused on Pope Francis, matters concerning the Catholic Church and its teachings are attracting increased interest. Overlooked, however, is the decline of Christian influence on American culture, especially its literature. This, says Dana Gioia, a celebrated poet and former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, is not only a demographic paradox -- Catholics constitute the largest religious group in America -- but it also marks a major historical change. “Sixty years ago,” says Gioia, Catholics played a prominent, prestigious, and irreplaceable part in American literary culture. Today, however, the only ones with significant influence are lapsed Catholics or ex-Catholics hostile to their former Church. Dana is here to discuss it.
5:00 – Kresta Comments – Will Dissident Theologians and Cultural Leftists Regret Claiming Pope Francis as Their Own?
5:20 – The Catholic “Hobbit”
Before you visit theatres for the second installment of the film based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved “The Hobbit,” brush up on your elvish and pack your “Baggins,” because Tolkien Scholar Joseph Pearce is here to take you on an extensive tour of the Catholic themes found in “the Hobbit” and in the life of JRR Tolkien
December 16, 2013
Church of the Nativity Gets a Facelift for Christmas
Pilgrims visiting the Holy Land this Christmas season will encounter an unfamiliar sight: The historic Church of the Nativity, wrapped in scaffolding. The church was erected by St. Helena over a cave which is believed to have been the place where Mary gave birth to the Christ Child. The Emperor Justinian I, Byzantine emperor who ruled from 527 to 565 AD, constructed most of the church as it is visible today. Parts of the Church of the Nativity date back more than 1,500 years; the last significant repair was in 1478, when Venetian carpenters painstakingly restored the ceiling. Today, after 600 years of wind and weather, the rooftop is leaking—threatening the priceless mosaics and other artwork and sacred items in the church, as well as the plaster, floors and frescoes.
First on the “To Do” list, according to the Palestinian engineering consultants hired to develop a plan for the repairs, are the rooftop and windows. Once the building is protected from the elements, work can begin on the external facade, internal plastering, wall mosaics and paintings and wooden works.The budget for the first phase of the project is expected to reach $3 million. Of that, the Palestinian government has agreed to cover $1 million, with another $800,000 raised by private donors. The rest will come from European nations including France, Hungary, Russia and Greece. According to a report in the Deseret News:The first phase, expected to last one year, is being carried out by "Piacenti," an Italian firm that specializes in the renovation of historical sites. One by one, experts will repair the hundreds of wooden beams in the roof.
Company president Giammarco Piacenti said the rooftop was masterfully restored by Venetian carpenters in 1478. He said the project would be conservative and seek to keep as many original pieces as possible.
"We'll save as many parts, even those in bad conditions, as we can," he said. "We'll only replace pieces that are no longer functional and can no longer help hold the roof. They will be as few as possible and will be made of a compatible wood, of aged wood of the same type and quality.
Aside from the roof and windows, other elements that will need repair in the future are the external facade, internal plastering, wall mosaics and paintings and wooden works. If funding is secured, the work could take four to five years.
Not included in the restoration project is the area under the altar crypt. On that spot, the highlight of the pilgrims’ visit to Bethlehem, a 14-point silver star marks the spot where, according to long tradition, the Baby Jesus was born. Al Kresta's Blog
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