Ave Maria in the Afternoon – December 9, 2024 – Hour 1

Author: Bryant Schoenle Published on: December 9, 2024 Published in: Ave Maria in the Afternoon

Marcus compares how Jean Valjean and Javert understand Justice in Les Miserables and talks with Wes Smith about a push to grant personhood rights to whales. We also discuss Pope Benedict and the historical truth of Jesus with Matthew Ramage.

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Marcus’ Monologue: Justice, Javert and Valjean

This weekend Marcus saw Les Miserables on stage for the first time. One of the most compelling and important narratives in the story is Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert’s competing approaches to justice and mercy. After his encounter with the merciful bishop, Valjean turns his whole life around, while Javert insists to the end that “men can never change.” Marcus has more.

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Now, It’s ‘Whale Rights’

The “nature rights” movement has a new project: whale rights. It goes beyond standard legal protections for whales and seeks to have them recognized as legal persons. We discuss it with Wes Smith.

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Now, It’s ‘Whale Rights’

Wesley J. Smith Smith is the Chair and Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute’s Center on Human Exceptionalism. He’s the author of 13 books including “Culture of Death: The age of Do-Harm Medicine.” Follow him on Twitter @thewesleyjsmith and check out his articles at National Review, First Things and more.

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Pope Benedict and the Historical Truth of Jesus

Pope Benedict’s three-volume Jesus of Nazareth is one of the great works of contemporary theology. Surprisingly, he waited until the final volume to explore the beginning of Jesus’ life. His writings unpack what the Gospels say about Jesus’ infancy and aim to answer two essential questions – who is Jesus, and where does he come from? We look at his writings with Matthew Ramage.