Today on “Kresta in the Afternoon” – Mar. 12

Talking about the “things that matter most” on Mar. 12

Guest Hosts Bruce and Kris McGregor

4:00 – Pope Francis Shows The Importance of Spiritual Retreat
Pope Francis is making the traditional Lenten retreat with the members of the Roman Curia this week. In a departure from the practice of his predecessors, the Holy Father has asked participants to gather at a retreat house run by the Pauline Fathers in the small town of Ariccia. St. Igantius advised people to go to a different setting for a retreat. The Holy Father has invited a parish priest of the Rome diocese and well-regarded spiritual director for clergy, Msgr. Angelo De Donatis, to preach and lead reflections on the purification of the heart. We talk to Deacon James Keating about the Pope’s example of spiritual retreat.

4:20 – Senators plan all-nighter to spotlight climate change – What Does Catholic Social Teaching Say?
You could look at it as a filibuster without the bill. After the last round of votes concluded Monday night, 28 senators talked the night away in series of speeches delivered on the chamber floor, focused on climate change. Although some call it a political stunt, the senators insist the event — organized by the Climate Action Task Force — will raise public awareness about global warming and how to stem it. We talk about the environment, and what Catholic Social Teaching has to say about stewardship of the environment. We talk to Omar Gutierrez, Manager of the Office of Mission and Justice in the Archdiocese of Omaha.

5:00 – Everybody chill out about the Noah movie
“So what’s the deal with the Noah movie? Does it replace the message of the Bible story with a message created by Hollywood? Is Russell Crowe’s Noah an environmentalist wacko? Is God a monster out to eradicate humanity entirely? Get a grip, people.” That’s what Catholic film critic Steven Greydanus says about the passion project of filmmaker Darren Aronofsky as chatter has been swirling since it was first announced years ago. Steven joins us to discuss the reaction from people who haven’t even seen the film.

5:20 – A Bishop’s View of Pope Francis’ First Year
One year ago, the See of Peter was vacant – sede vacante – and our Church was without a pope. Then came Pope Francis. Pope Benedict and Pope Francis knew that the mission of the Church is to go into a world which is hurting, which is often empty and alone in the poverty of isolation from God. Pope Benedict called this poverty a desert; Pope Francis calls it the periphery. Often, we hear about the differences between each man who becomes the pope—in 2005, we heard that Pope Benedict was different from Blessed John Paul II; today we hear that Pope Francis is different from Pope Benedict. Bishop James Conley of Omaha wrote recently, “I am struck more deeply by the continuity in the papacy than by the differences. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. And, in thought, and life, and mission, so is the Church.” He is with us to talk about Pope Francis’ first year.