The latest news on Climate Change, Death Penalty, Afghanistan Policy, Pakistan, Palestine, Iran, and Select op-eds.
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Quote of the Day. "Churches are very soft targets and very vulnerable to attack from terrorists and other homegrown, disgruntled individuals. Unfortunately, most religious leaders are living in denial." Pastor Ken Pagano, who resigned last month at the New Bethel Church in Louisville, Ky. to co-found the International Security Coalition of Clergy to focus on Second Amendment and church-security issues. (Washington Times)
FAITH IN THE NEWS
Evangelical Movement at 'Head-Snapping' Moment “The evangelical movement is at a 'head-snapping' generational change with younger evangelicals 'revolting' against the tone of the Christian Right, says a prominent religious scholar.”
Churches that Split over Race to Worship in Philadelphia “More than two centuries after racial divisions sparked the birth of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the black and white congregations at the center of the split will worship together for the first time in late October in Philadelphia.”
Archbishop offers 'nuanced but powerful' criticism of the Iraq war “Dr Rowan Williams' comments came in what has been described as 'a nuanced but powerful sermon' as part of a memorial service he led this weekend for the 179 British personnel who died in the conflict.”
Is God OK With Today's Workload? (Cary McMullen, Lakeland, FL Ledger op ed) “You hear a lot about companies wanting to be 'leaner.' Financial analysts praise corporations for 'high productivity.' Translation: These companies are demanding the same work from fewer employees, working fewer hours, for the same or less pay.”
California Christians worship in a big way “Thanks to good weather, sprawling suburbs and a number of charismatic pastors, the Golden State has more of these megachurches -- defined as those with at least 2,000 congregants -- than any other state.”
Inner-city L.A. hungers for good grocery stores “A coalition of community, faith-based and environmental groups is trying to draw quality supermarkets to neighborhoods in East and South Central L.A., where residents have little access to fresh fruit and vegetables.”
NEWS AT HOME
Health Care. New Bill Would Raise Rates, Says Insurance Group “After months of collaboration on President Obama's attempt to overhaul the nation's health-care system, the insurance industry plans to strike out against the effort on Monday with a report warning that the typical family premium in 2019 could cost $4,000 more than projected.” Insurance Industry Assails Health Care Legislation “In a blistering new attack, the health insurance industry said Sunday that health care legislation drafted by Senate Democrats would drive up premiums, rather than making coverage more affordable, as the White House contends.” Study finds disconnect between healthcare needs and support for reform “A new study points to a political paradox in the long, wrenching debate over revamping the healthcare system: Some members of Congress whose constituents stand to gain the most are nonetheless opposing the bill, while others whose constituents will likely pay more for little reward are some of its most ardent supporters.”
Climate Change. Obama Urged to Intensify Push for Climate Measure “President Obama is coming under renewed pressure internationally and in the United States to throw his weight behind climate-change legislation, which advocates fear has suffered in light of the president's sweeping domestic agenda.”
Death Penalty. Execution Methods Examined “[Ohio Gov. Ted] Strickland's decision to delay two more executions and review the way Ohio has executed 32 prisoners since 1999 could influence the way condemned prisoners elsewhere are put to death, according to experts on the death penalty.”
Gay Rights. At March, Gay Rights Activists Push for Nationwide Equality “Tens of thousands of gay-rights activists marched Sunday in Washington to show President Obama and Congress that they are impatient with what they consider piecemeal progress and are ready to fight at the federal level for across-the-board equality.” Thousands march in Washington for gay rights “Tens of thousands of gays, lesbians and supporters marched through the nation's capital Sunday in a festive, forceful call for equality, culminating in a boisterous rally at the Capitol.”
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
Afghanistan Policy. US and UK 'working closely on Afghan strategy' “[Foreign Secretary David Miliband] hailed the 'shared strategy' on Afghanistan and said the two countries were working closely together to ensure the coalition effort was 'as clear, as effective and as decisive as possible.'"Afghan quits election fraud inquiry “A member of a UN-backed panel set up to investigate complaints of fraud in Afghanistan's presidential election resigned today, blaming the 'interference of foreigners,' in a setback to attempts to restore legitimacy to the electoral process.” Civilian Goals Largely Unmet in Afghanistan “Even as President Obama leads an intense debate over whether to send more troops to Afghanistan, administration officials say the United States is falling far short of his goals to fight the country’s endemic corruption, create a functioning government and legal system and train a police force currently riddled with incompetence.”
Pakistan. Pakistan says latest deadly assault cements plan to strike at Taliban stronghold “Pakistan's government, which for weeks claimed to have broken the back of the Taliban, found itself on Sunday sifting through the aftermath of a highly coordinated 22-hour siege by militants that left at least 19 people dead and deeply embarrassed the country's leadership.” Pakistanis say U.S. hoards intelligence “Despite growing success targeting militants in Pakistan's northwest, the U.S. is refusing to share intelligence with Pakistan about al Qaeda and Afghan Taliban leaders thought to be hiding in the southwest province of Baluchistan, three senior Pakistani officials say.”
Palestine. Palestinian unity hopes dim “A reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas, the rival Palestinian parties, has been delayed, following a bitter dispute over the Palestinian decision not to back a UN report on alleged Israeli war crimes.”
Iran. Diplomacy in the lead on Iran nuclear issue -- for now “Agreement to open Iran's hidden nuclear complex to inspection has reduced talk of military action and put diplomacy back on track -- at least for a while. But even as the U.S. tries to build international pressure, emerging details suggest it might already be too late for an armed strike.” Britain bans trade with two Iranian companies “Britain has stepped up the pressure on Iran over its nuclear weapons programme by banning UK companies from trading with Bank Mellat, a key Iranian bank, and its state-owned shipping fleet.”
Climate Change -- Africa. Africa 'needs climate change cash' “African leaders have said the continent will need $65bn to deal with the effects of global warming and called for the support of rich nations.”
OPINION
Wrong Paths to Immigration Reform (Editorial, New York Times) “The vast majority are those whom President Obama has vowed to help get right with the law, by paying fines and earning citizenship. Treating the majority of illegal immigrants as potential Americans, not a criminal horde, is the right response to the problem.”
Yes We Can (Pass Climate Change Legislation) (John Kerry and Lindsey Graham, New York Times) “… we refuse to accept the argument that the United States cannot lead the world in addressing global climate change. We are also convinced that we have found both a framework for climate legislation to pass Congress and the blueprint for a clean-energy future that will revitalize our economy, protect current jobs and create new ones, safeguard our national security and reduce pollution.”
Sojourners' Daily Digest is a compilation of the top news related to our commitments of life and peace, economic and racial justice, and care of creation, with a special focus on news of the engagement of faith in public life.
