The latest news on Health Care, Financial Reform, State Budgets, Racial Disparities in Sentencing, Education, Haiti, Pakistan, Iraq, Darfur, and Select Op-Eds.
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Quote of the Day. “Knowledge doesn’t equal behavior. A lot of people just can’t be bothered, which is extremely disheartening. They take the path of least resistance. So if it’s easier to throw it away, they’ll throw it away.’’ Claire Sullivan, director of the South Shore Recycling Cooperative south of Boston, commenting on state statistics showing just over one-quarter of all residential trash was recycled in 2008, roughly the same percentage as 10 years ago. (Boston Globe)
FAITH IN THE NEWS
Evangelical leader takes on Beck for assailing social justice churches “The Rev. Jim Wallis, president of Sojourners, a network of progressive Christians, says Beck perverted Jesus' message when he urged Christians last week to leave churches that preach social and economic justice.”
State Dept. Highlights Religious Freedom Violations “The State Department issued its annual human rights report Thursday (March 11), noting religious freedom violations in countries ranging from China to Iraq to Saudi Arabia.”
Immigration system's glaring flaws must be fixed (Rich Nathan, Columbus (OH) Dispatch) “In my 23 years of ministry in Columbus, I've built close relationships with people from all walks of life and ideological backgrounds. Over time, I've come to realize that while we might not all agree on every issue, we are united by core values of family, fairness, opportunity and love for our neighbors. I also have seen that no one thinks our immigration system reflects these values. It is broken and needs to be fixed.”
NEWS AT HOME
Health Care. Democratic leaders say health bill will pass “Democratic leaders scrambled Sunday to pull together enough support in the House for a make-or-break decision on health-care reform later this week, expressing optimism that a package will soon be signed into law by President Obama despite a lack of firm votes for passage.” Obama officials confident health bill will pass House this week “Senior White House officials predicted Sunday that President Obama's healthcare initiative would pass the House this week and warned Republicans that if they made it an issue in November elections, they did so at their own political peril.” Obama's health care legacy hangs on 216 House votes “The looming vote for final passage of the historic health-care bill is the stiffest challenge House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn has faced in his three-plus years as the lawmaker responsible for counting heads and ensuring passage of major legislation. 'I need 216 votes to pass this bill,' Clyburn told McClatchy. 'All I want is 216 votes.'"
Financial Reform. Sen. Dodd to introduce plan to overhaul financial regulatory system “Senate banking Chairman Sen. Christopher J. Dodd will try to strike a delicate balance Monday as he introduces a new measure to overhaul the nation's financial regulatory system, including provisions aimed at shoring up support among fellow Democrats but also incorporating compromises he reached with Republicans.” With Financial Reform Bill, a Test for Congress “The bill that Christopher J. Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, will introduce on Monday appears written with the goal of forging a consensus that can overcome partisan division, with provisions that incorporate ideas from both Democrats and Republicans.”
State Budgets. States streamline, reorganize amid fiscal crisis “States facing tough times are eliminating commissions, merging departments and centralizing operations to stave off budget cuts and tax hikes.”
Racial Disparities in Sentencing. Racial disparities in sentencing rise after guidelines loosened “Black and Hispanic men are more likely to receive longer prison sentences than their white counterparts since the Supreme Court loosened federal sentencing rules, a government study has concluded. “
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
Mexico. Two Drug Slayings in Mexico Rock U.S. Consulate “Gunmen believed to be linked to drug traffickers shot a pregnant American consulate worker and her husband to death in the violence-racked border town of Ciudad Juárez over the weekend, leaving their baby wailing in the back seat of their car, the authorities said Sunday. The gunmen also killed the husband of another consular employee and wounded his two young children.” US consulate workers killed in Mexico “While a number of US citizens have been killed in Mexico's increasingly bloody drug wars between rival cartels, it is the first time an American government employee has been killed.”
Israel-US. Israel-US ties at 'historic low' “Israel's ambassador to the US has said that relations between the two countries are at their lowest point for 35 years, Israeli media have reported.” Israel's Netanyahu seeks to ease tension after Biden's Mideast trip “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried Sunday to move beyond a diplomatic rift with the U.S. even as Obama administration officials reiterated their displeasure with a controversial housing project in East Jerusalem.” Netanyahu faces 'moment of truth' after US slams Israel 'insult' “Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to calm the nation after a series of US officials have called last week's announcement to allow Israelis to build 1,600 homes in East Jerusalem an 'insult' to the US. US steps up pressure on Israel The United States has stepped up pressure on Israel over its plans to build more settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem, despite an apology from the Israeli prime minister over the timing of the announcement.”
Haiti. Haitians who fled capital strain impoverished towns in countryside “The earthquake that struck Haiti's capital city has also jarred the impoverished countryside, sending 600,000 people into the provinces -- where locals are now overwhelmed with the task of feeding and sheltering desperate newcomers.”
Thailand. Thai PM rejects protest ultimatum “Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has rejected a demand from protesters to resign and call elections.” Thai protesters converge on Bangkok “Swelling crowds of anti-government protesters swarming in central Bangkok cheered and rattled their plastic clappers this afternoon as one of their leaders told the Thai Government to dissolve parliament within 24 hours or face the consequences.”
Pakistan. Pakistan bombs 'Taliban positions' “Pakistani fighter jets have killed at least 11 people at Taliban positions in Pakistan's northwest, officials say.”
Iraq. Frustration Grows in Iraq at Slow Pace of Vote Tally “With results still trickling in slowly from Iraq’s parliamentary elections last week and no clear winners likely to emerge anytime soon, public frustration here seems to be growing. American officials have privately expressed concern that even a fair election might be made to appear unfair.” Iraq's Nouri al-Maliki already wooing allies to try to form governing coalition “Buoyed by preliminary results from last week's parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is courting allies in hopes of forming a new governing coalition that will allow him to keep his job.”
Darfur. Darfur rebel row jeopardises Sudan peace deal “A row between Darfur rebel groups has thrown into doubt a peace deal between the rebels and Sudan's government.”
OPINION
More Than Onerous (Editorial, New York Times) “After a year of national debate, a handful of House Democrats who oppose abortion may be the ones to decide whether health care reform goes forward or not.”
Netanyahu's rhetoric over policy is jeopardizing Israel (Editorial, Haaretz) “The Israeli prime minister apparently believed that by conducting two-track negotiations he could make things coalition-friendly: to both espouse the slogan "two states for two peoples" and sabotage the Palestinians' ability to set up their state; to both embrace Vice President Joe Biden and give the U.S. administration the finger; to both ask the administration to get Mahmoud Abbas back to the negotiating table and put thumbtacks on his seat once he's there.”
The deadly current toward nuclear arms (James Carroll, Boston Globe) “Think of Niagara Falls. Think of the onrushing current as the river pours itself toward the massive cascade. Imagine a lone swimmer a hundred yards or so upstream, desperately stroking against the current to keep from being swept over the precipice. That swimmer is President Obama, the river is the world, and the falls is the threat of unchecked nuclear weapons.”
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.
