1. The Pope’s Groundbreaking Rejection of the Death Penalty
The Church has underscored its opposition to the destruction of any kind of life, even when that means defying the state. And Francis is willing to alter Church teaching to make that clear.
2. America Still Doesn’t Care About Black and Brown Bodies
“The brutal lethargy of Americans to the plight of black and brown citizens is a bleeding wound without a bandage large enough to heal it. And yet, America still doesn’t give a damn.”
“It seems a new video emerges every week in the burgeoning genre of white people siccing police on nonwhite people for taking part in everyday activities … Now, some of the small but growing numbers of people featured in those videos are using the attention to run for office, become activists, form nonprofits or otherwise enter the fray of race, politics and social change.”
4. Is Neuroscience Getting Closer to Explaining Evil Behavior?
Why some people choose to do evil remains a puzzle, but are we starting to understand how this behavior is triggered?
5. A Hymn for Reclaiming Jesus
“We see how Christ loved the stranger, tore down barriers, opened doors.
We will welcome those in danger; we will love and serve the poor.”
6. How Activists Convinced New York City to Stop Profiting Off Prisoners’ Phone Calls
Currently, In New York City, in-state calls cost 5 cents a minute and out-of-state calls, 21 cents a minute.
7. No, We Didn’t ‘Win’ the War on Poverty. But Here’s How We Can
While the rest of the world focuses on the best solutions to achieve the globally agreed to Sustainable Development Goal to end extreme poverty by 2030, our nation is mired in a debate about whether poverty even exists.
8. What It Means to Need Men Like Stephen Colbert
Colbert used his monologue this week to call out head of his network Les Moonves, who has been accused of multiple incidents of sexual harassment over decades.
9. Regional Immigration, Local Segregation: The Toxic Mix That Triggers White Fears
“Eric Kaufmann of Birkbeck College, University of London, and Matthew Goodwin of the University of Kent report panic and prejudice proliferate when demographic change comes to one's city or county. But the perceived threat actually decreases when it occurs on a neighborhood level—a situation that allows residents to meet and befriend people from various ethnic groups.”
10. Why Is It Still OK to ‘Trash’ Poor White People?
“Poor white people aren't the only ones who bear the brunt of the term. Of course, the phrase is also a backhanded way of demeaning people of color.”
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