FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christine Valentine-Owsik (215) 230-8095 [email protected]
Clarification in an Anti-Catholic Culture
HUNTINGTON, Indiana, July 8, 2013 With his finger on the pulse of popular culture, acclaimed radio-show host, Al Kresta, addresses the primary challenges to the Catholic Church right now some from within, others well beyond.
Kresta a former Protestant minister who became Catholic is quick to admit that Catholics tend to be under-informed on the truths of their faith, and not well-primed to flag sophisticated and seemingly well-reasoned assaults on it. With 100 million self-identified U.S. Catholics, less than 20 percent attend weekly Mass.
To assist the Church in telling its story, Kresta puts forth a first-of-its-kind clarification of popular worldviews at odds with Catholicism, unveiling truths and unmasking counterfeits. Dangers to the Faith: Recognizing Catholicisms 21st-Century Opponents (Our Sunday Visitor, 2013) delves into many of the subjects discussed exclusively on Krestas syndicated daily radio show heard on over 200 stations, while maintaining a tone that is fair, accessible and clear as is Krestas singular style.
No other book addresses as many modern-day counters to Cathoicism as this one does, says Kresta. I wanted to give Catholics and others intellectually mature arguments and rationale for identifying and understanding oppositions to the Church, and seeing how everyone is affected by them. To this end, he looks at the thought behind icons like Oprah, Christopher Hitchens, Steve Jobs, Tiger Woods, Stephen Hawking, and Depak Chopra.
Whether clarifying the New Atheism or celebrity spirituality, ancient heresies like Gnosticism, abuses of science or philosophy, trendy consumerism, relativism, progressivism or transhumanism, secular governments, or false concepts of God, Dangers to the Faith addresses their errors and tackles challenges coming from all angles. Clarifying differences in plain language, Kresta allows readers to draw their own conclusions from reading the actual facts, one issue at a time.
With no shortage of hefty endorsements, the book has earned a thumbs-up from bishops, bestselling authors and syndicated writers, TV and radio personalities, major Catholic philanthropists, religious and academia.
Describing in detail the origins and positions of the most significant adversaries to Catholicism, Dangers to the Faith gives readers a roadmap for navigating prevailing viewpoints while maintaining a firm understanding.
Unlike any other, the book identifies opponents to the Church in many forms misconstrued ideas of reality from philanthropists and celebrities; journalistic inaccuracies of history and fact; political rhetoric and its inherent misapplication; competing religious groups distorting Church doctrine; activist groups discrediting Catholic positions; and even professionals and scientists seeking to remake human nature.
Catholics and others will come away with a sharpened cognizance of cultural mindsets, with common doubts assuaged, keener knowledge of Church teaching, and a healthier inclination to defend it.
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Publisher:Our Sunday Visitor
Author:Al Kresta
Release Date: Summer 2013
Length:208 pages, paperback
Price:$ 14.95
ISBN:978-1-59276-725-0
Order:www.osv.com
1-800-348-2440
The worlds largest English-language Catholic publisher, Our Sunday Visitor serves millions of Catholics globally through its publishing, offertory, and communication services. Established in 1912, Our Sunday Visitor publishes a wide range of books including Bibles, biographies of the saints, books by Pope Benedict XVI, childrens books, devotionals, bible studies, inspirational works, and curriculum. Our Sunday Visitor is a not-for-profit organization, returning a portion of net earnings back to the Catholic community through the Our Sunday Visitor Institute. For more information, visit www.osv.com.
Interview Questions
Al Kresta
Dangers to the Faith: Recognizing Catholicisms 21st-Century Opponents
1. What compelled you to compile a book of modern-day pressures on the Church?
2. Do you feel that by having a better idea of what the overt and covert opponents to Catholicism are, people will be more inclined to defend the Churchs teachings and positions?
3. What is it about todays Catholics that renders them ill-prepared to even discuss Catholicism, much less defend or inform others of it?
4. Shouldnt the cultural assaults you mention in the book be identified in religion classes, church groups and even in sermons? What is your take on how the Church at large is doing its job of informing its faithful?
5. Are there any topics left out of the book that you might address either in a subsequent one or perhaps on your radio show?
6. Catholics seem to want to dismiss themselves from discussing religion and politics in any setting, at any cost. Why is that? When did it become acceptable to keep religion and politics out of intelligent discourse and how did that trend come about?
7. But there are positive changes coming about in the Church. Tell us about a few of them.
8. What do you think is the most serious opponent or threat to the faith we are currently facing?
About The Author
Al Kresta
Al Kresta is a broadcaster, journalist, President and CEO of Ave Maria Communication, host of the nationally syndicated Catholic talk show Kresta in the Afternoon
In 1997, Dominos Pizza founder Tom Monaghan recruited Al to launch the media apostolate, Ave Maria Communications. Heard through EWTN on over 220 stations and Sirius Satellite Radio, Kresta in the Afternoon is broadcast each weekday from 4-6 p.m. Eastern Time and looks at all areas of life through the lens of Scripture and the teaching of Christs Church.
Al is the co-author with Nick Thomm of Moments of Grace: Inspiring Stories From Well-Known Catholics, and is the author of Why Do Catholics Genuflect?, Why Are Catholics So Concerned about Sin?, and the newly released Dangers to the Faith: Recognizing Catholicisms 21st-Century Opponents.
Endorsements
The great need today is to love our enemies into the saving power of Jesus Christ.How can we do that unless we know who they are?Many thanks to Al Kresta for showing us the field of our love withDangers to the Faith. --Bishop Earl Boyea, Diocese of Lansing, Michigan
Al Kresta is like a powerful satellite for Catholics in this country. He picks up the signals of cultural trends and he beams us the message we need to take home. --Scott Hahn, Professor of Biblical Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville
In this primer on the intellectual potholes in our increasingly bizarre culture, Al Kresta helpfully scouts some of the roughest terrain on which the New Evangelization must contend for the soul of the West. Fasten your seat belt for a bumpy -- but essential -- ride through the wastelands. --George Weigel, author ofEvangelical Catholicism: Deep Reform in the 21st-Century Church
Al Kresta has saved you about 10,000 hours of study and research with this book. Read it. --Matthew Kelly, founder ofDynamicCatholic.com
Dangers to Faithis for our century what Chesterton'sHereticsand Belloc'sGreat Heresieswas for the last century. It is a damning indictment and demonstrative demolition of the major errors of our age. --Joseph Pearce, literary biographer, writer in residence Thomas More College
Al possesses a unique array of talents: intelligent, articulate, witty and incredibly aware of those issues most pertinent to todays Catholics. If Al takes the time to write it, it is worth reading. --Tom Monaghan, founder of Dominos Pizzaand founder of Ave Maria University
Al Kresta is one of the modern Church's most articulate, thoughtful and authentic minds. His book, Dangers to the Faith, is a superb analysis of the challenges not only to contemporary Catholicism but the whole of global civilization. --Matthew Bunson, authorPope Francis, general editor of theCatholic Almanac
Al Krestas new book offers a tour through todays pretenders to spiritual superiority over Jesus Christ by a warrior who takes our age as a wonderful time to be alive.--Michael Novak, Scholar in Religion, Philosophy, and Public Policy at the American Enterprise Institute
Al Kresta is as fearless as he is comprehensive, covering everything from Islam to New Age, from reincarnation to relativism to consumerism. Through it all, Al Kresta remains well, orthodox. --Paul Kengor, Ph.D., professor of political science, Grove City College
There is no lay person better qualified to address the threats to our Church than Al Kresta, who five days a week, two hours a day for many years has explained, proclaimed, and defended the Catholic faith on his Ave Maria radio broadcast. Kresta, in short, has become our nation's preeminent Catholic apologist. --Deal W. Hudson, founder of Catholic Advocate, former publisherCrisis Magazine
Dangers to the Faithis a serious, substantive, significant work of cultural apologetics. Al Kresta deserves much credit for providing such a long overdue taxonomy of toxicity a guide to what ails the body politic. --Patrick Madrid, host of the Right Here, Right Now radio show
Kresta communicates in an accessible, enjoyable style that edifies any truth-seeking reader. The book has already informed my teaching because it meets people where they are and leads them to the fullness of faith in Christ. --John Love, S.T.D.,Assistant Professor of Theology at Mt. St. Mary's Seminary
WithDangers to Faith, Al Kresta brings his gift for clear-eyed analysis to bear on specifi
