The latest news on Funding Bill, Afghanistan Funding, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Sudan, and Select Op-eds.

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Quote of the Day. "We love this. It stays fresh, the cleanup is minimal because it doesn't drop anything, and it goes away and comes back next year. It's kind of like having a little pet." Megan Arquette, Manhattan Beach, CA, on a new business that rents Christmas trees in pots, then returns them, alive, to the nursery after the season. (New York Times)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

U.S. religious groups square off over bill imposing new Iran sanctions "With a key vote looming in the House of Representatives, religious leaders weighed in on both sides of the debate over new sanctions against Iran."

New face of evangelism: 1 church, multiple sites "This form of high-efficiency evangelism allows thousands of worshipers to hear the same message from a lead pastor or a member of his team, in person or by video at three, five, even a dozen or more locations." USA's 10 biggest churches "All but one of the USA's 10 largest churches have services at multiple sites."

Air Force Academy calls its religious climate improved "The Air Force Academy says religious tolerance has improved dramatically since allegations five years ago that evangelical Christians harassed cadets who did not share their faith. Even the school's most vocal critic agrees."

New Danforth Center Will Blend Religion and Politics "With the support of a $30 million endowment, Washington University in St. Louis announced Wednesday (Dec. 16) it will open a religion and politics center named for former Sen. John C. Danforth."

NEWS AT HOME

Health Care. Senate Republicans vow to delay health-care vote "Senate Republicans vowed Wednesday to use every available tactic to delay voting on the health-care bill as Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) scrambled to unify Democrats in support of the legislation." In Senate Health Showdown, Round Goes to G.O.P. "On the 17th day of Senate debate on health legislation, it came down to this: A rock-ribbed conservative physician from Oklahoma squared off against a self-described democratic socialist from Vermont who was hoping for a full-throated debate on his proposal to establish a system of "Medicare for all." Health bill held up by single Democrat and GOP tactics "New obstacles slowed Senate action on the healthcare bill Wednesday, as the hunt for supporters narrowed to a lone Democrat -- Ben Nelson of Nebraska -- and Republican delaying tactics brought debate to a temporary standstill."

Funding Bill. Bills Pass on Debt and War Funds "The House on Wednesday narrowly approved a short-term, $290 billion increase in federal borrowing power, setting the stage for a major fight over national fiscal policy in 2010." House approves war funding, extension of jobless benefits "The House voted Wednesday to pay for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and ensure the jobless don't lose their benefits, spearheading a flurry of legislative activity as lawmakers hurried to finish their work for the year."

Afghanistan Funding. Pelosi says rallying votes for troop surge in Afghanistan will be Obama's job "President Obama will have to argue his own case to House Democrats as he seeks support for a planned surge of 30,000 troops into Afghanistan, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Wednesday, adding that she is finished asking her colleagues to back wars that they do not support." Pelosi: Obama's on his own to win money for Afghan buildup "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday that it's up to President Barack Obama to persuade reluctant Democrats to fund his Afghanistan troop buildup -- his most important foreign policy initiative -- because she has no plans to do so herself."

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Climate Change. New climate deal may have to wait "The Danish presidency of the climate summit in Copenhagen has sought to play down expectations of a comprehensive deal emerging from the meeting." At Copenhagen, both rich and developing nations offer concessions "As President Obama prepared to visit the historic climate conference here, there were signs Wednesday of a break in the impasse between rich and developing nations." Poor and Emerging States Stall Climate Negotiations "If the United Nations climate talks here are entering their final two days in virtual deadlock, it is in large measure because of delays and diversions created by a group of poor and emerging nations intent on making their dissatisfaction clear."

Afghanistan. Eikenberry signals strong military presence in Afghanistan beyond 2011 "U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry Thursday further signaled that a strong American military presence will remain in Afghanistan long after July 2011, when President Obama plans to end his troop surge." U.S. tries to thin Taliban with jobs, cash offers "The United States and its allies are stepping up efforts to persuade Afghan insurgents to put down their arms by negotiating with representatives of Mullah Mohammed Omar and other Taliban commanders and offering cash and jobs to low-level fighters."

Pakistan. Pakistan Reported to Be Harassing U.S. Diplomats "Parts of the Pakistani military and intelligence services are mounting what American officials here describe as a campaign to harass American diplomats, fraying relations at a critical moment when the Obama administration is demanding more help to fight the Taliban and Al Qaeda." Pakistan declares amnesty law unconstitutional "Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down an amnesty that had shielded President Asif Ali Zardari from graft charges, a decision that could imperil the political future of a leader regarded by the U.S. as a key ally in the war on terrorism."

Iran. Pentagon condemns Iran missile test "The US and its allies today branded as provocative Iran's test-firing of an upgraded version of its most advanced missile, one claimed to be capable of hitting parts of Europe." Sanctions calls grow after Iran missile test "Western governments united to denounce Iran's test-firing of a long-range ballistic missile yesterday, warning that it would only increase international determination to press for more sanctions on Tehran if it refused to negotiate over its nuclear programme." Obama told China he can't hold back Israeli strike on Iran for long "U.S. President Barack Obama has warned his Chinese counterpart that the United States would not be able to keep Israel from attacking Iranian nuclear installations for much longer, senior officials in Jerusalem told Haaretz."

Burma. Burmese Dissident Meets With Party "The military junta in Myanmar allowed the opposition leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, to meet with senior members of her party on Wednesday, the latest in a recent series of signals that suggest the junta might be responding to diplomatic overtures from the West."

Sudan. Deadly faultline threatens to reignite civil war in Sudan "As Sudan approaches its fifth anniversary of peace, the fragile accord which has held the north and the south together is unravelling and Africa's biggest country is sliding back dangerously towards what was the continent's longest war."

OPINION

Core values (Editorial, Los Angeles Times) "The core of the healthcare reform effort remains intact. Either the House or the Senate version of the bill would bring about a historic improvement in our healthcare system. The bills aren't perfect; each has shortcomings, some of them serious. But the legislation is getting better in important ways as it inches toward the finish line."

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.