Daily News Digest

The latest news on New Sanctuary Movement, Dem rules, Climate change, Foreclosures, Army suicides, Food crisis, Iraq, Burma, China, Gaza, Zimbabwe, Latin America, Feature, and Op-Ed.

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New Sanctuary Movement

Part 1. Safety under the steeple "A new movement seeks to involve American churches as "sanctuaries" for illegal immigrants. In the original "sanctuary movement" of the 1980s, Central American refugees camped out in churches across the country."

Part 2. Because the Bible tells them so "On a rainy evening last September in a Kansas City park, a group of 76 Presbyterians, Methodists, Mennonites, Roman Catholics and Disciples of Christ were clustered in a circle, trying to keep their candles from going out."

Part 3. Northwest passage for jobs "When a coalition of pro-immigrant church groups kicked off the "new sanctuary" movement on May 9, 2007, Seattle was one of five cities chosen to host a kickoff press conference."

Part 4. California's safe-house soldiers "One of the most dramatic stories in America's immigration saga occurs here every Sunday morning on Royal Avenue outside Simi Valley United Church of Christ."

Dem rules. The Democrats' Michigan-Florida mess "Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama renew their skirmishing Saturday in a hotel ballroom in Washington, D.C. -- this time over votes that have already been cast." Democratic panel ready for delegate showdown "The 30 committee members must reach a decision on how many delegates to seat from the two states, which are being punished for having held their primaries in January, earlier than the party-set primary election schedule allowed, as well as how to allocate the delegates between the two candidates."

Climate change. White House report backs climate change warnings "President Bush's top science advisors issued a comprehensive report Thursday that for the first time endorses what most scientific experts have long asserted: that greenhouse gases from fossil fuel combustion "are very likely the single largest cause" of Earth's warming."

Foreclosures. Clergy tackling home-loss crisis "A focus group sponsored by the Columbus Housing Partnership showed that people trust their faith leaders. That's why the nonprofit agency, which works to prevent foreclosures, is asking the churches for help."

Army suicides. Army tallies record number of suicides among soldiers "The Army recorded 115 soldiers' suicides in 2007, the highest total since it started counting in 1980," Army suicides rise again despite new focus by military "The number of U.S. soldiers committing suicide rose again last year, according to a U.S. Army report released Thursday, despite the military's heightened efforts to encourage troops to seek care."

Food crisis. World leaders to tackle food crisis at Rome summit "the food price crisis will be tackled by world leaders who meet in Rome next week to seek ways of reducing the suffering for the world's poorest people and ensure the Earth can produce more food to sustain an ever growing population." UN: Food prices to stay high "Soaring world food prices may dip in coming months, but steadily rising demand means higher food costs are probably here to stay over the coming decade. That could fuel growing hunger and unrest in the world's poorest and most vulnerable nations,"

Al-Qaeda. U.S. Cites Big Gains Against Al-Qaeda "Less than a year after his agency warned of new threats from a resurgent al-Qaeda, CIA Director Michael V. Hayden now portrays the terrorist movement as essentially defeated in Iraq and Saudi Arabia and on the defensive throughout much of the rest of the world," Al-Qaeda in retreat - CIA chief "Michael Hayden's remarks, which correspondents describe as strikingly upbeat, come less than a year after the CIA warned of a resurgent al-Qaeda."

Iraq. Iraq set for anti-US protests "Protests are expected to get under way in Iraq against a deal between Baghdad and Washington over the US's long-term military role in the country." Marine in Iraq Suspended Over Coins Quoting Gospel "The U.S. military suspended a Marine for distributing coins quoting the Gospel to Sunni Muslims, an incident that has enraged Iraqis who view it as the latest example of American disrespect for Islam."

Burma . Myanmar cyclone victims die waiting for help "The government estimates that the cyclone killed 78,000 people, and that an additional 56,000 are missing. The number of injured survivors isn't known yet. Many survivors are only now being reached as civilian relief workers push farther into isolated areas.Gaza students lose US scholarships "Tom Casey, a state department spokesman, said the scholarships would instead be given to Palestinians from the West Bank, who can travel abroad more easily."

Zimbabwe. Church turns to UN for Zimbabwe "The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has issued a powerful challenge to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to intervene in Zimbabwe. He is asking for effective action to protect Christians from what he says is the brutality being used against them."

Latin America. Latin America's economies spared - for now "When the U.S. economy sneezes, Latin American economies catch colds, according to an old saying. Not this time - at least for now. The U.S. crisis triggered by subprime mortgages and rising energy costs will spare most economies in Latin America,"

Feature. Incoming Chicago Theological Seminary president hoping to tackle tough issues "Rev. Alice Hunt has been crossing borders, clearing hurdles and defying labels through many professional incarnations. In her latest role as the 12th president of Chicago Theological Seminary - the city's oldest training ground for Protestant clergy and one of seven United Church of Christ seminaries in the U.S. - she follows in a long line of leaders who have made Hyde Park a destination for aspiring clergy seeking social justice in the name of Jesus."

Op-Ed. The Libertarian Jesus (Michael Gerson, Washington Post) "For millennia, artists, thinkers and politicians have shaped their image of Jesus, often into a mirror image of themselves. But the goal of Christianity is to allow Him to shape us, not the other way around. And just as Jesus the leftist revolutionary is a distortion, so is Jesus the libertarian."