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Quote of the Day. “With the reality of 78 million baby boomers coming into an aging demographic, we need more housing choices for caregiving. It can be a great opportunity for connectedness across generations, but also an opportunity for conflict if family members don’t keep communications lines open.’’ Elinor Ginzler, AARP’s senior vice president for livable communities, on a new study showing that about 6.6 million U.S. households in 2009 were “multigenerational,” with at least three generations in the household. (Boston Globe/AP)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

Second group of nuns backs bishops’ position on health-care reform “A coalition of U.S. women religious representing more than 100 communities said March 17 that the position on health-care reform and abortion articulated by the U.S. bishops is ‘the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church" and should be followed.’”

Tony Blair Seeks to Bridge Religious Divides “The Tony Blair Faith Foundation launched a global film competition on Thursday in an effort to increase understanding between people of different faiths.”

Row over election of lesbian bishop "The Archbishop of Canterbury’s office yesterday described the election of an openly lesbian bishop in the United States as ‘regrettable’ and warned that it could further threaten the unity of the Anglican Communion.”

Whose vision of social justice? (Colleen Carroll Campbell, St. Louis Post-Dispatch) “Talk-show host Glenn Beck recently struck a nerve – and ratings gold – when he urged his audience to abandon any church that espouses social justice.”

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Health Care. House leaders announce $940 billion health-care compromise bill “Pushing toward a Sunday vote that could transform the nation’s health-insurance system, House leaders announced a $940 billion compromise Thursday that would extend coverage to the vast majority of Americans, cut billions of dollars from Medicare, and impose new taxes on the wealthy and the well-insured.” Budget report gives healthcare bill a boost “Buoyed by estimates that their healthcare overhaul would cut the deficit by $138 billion over the next decade, congressional Democrats unveiled their final blueprint Thursday to extend insurance coverage to an additional 32 million Americans, setting the stage for a dramatic House vote Sunday.” Democrats Say Health Bill Will Pay for Itself in the Long Run “House Democrats initiated a 72-hour countdown Thursday on their yearlong effort to overhaul the health care system, unveiling a nearly final version of the legislation that promptly won additional support with a promise that the bill would more than pay for itself over the next decade.” Cracks appear in abortion front against healthcare reform  “A widening split among opponents of abortion could help pave the way to passage for President Obama’s health-care reform legislation.”

Children’s Health Insurance Eliminated. Arizona Drops Children’s Health Program  “Arizona on Thursday became the first state to eliminate its Children’s Health Insurance Program when Gov. Jan Brewer signed an austere budget that will leave nearly 47,000 low-income children without coverage.”

College Loans. Bill Proposes Increased Aid to the Needy for College “The federal government would provide $36 billion in new financing for Pell grants to needy students over the next 10 years under legislation announced Thursday by Congressional Democrats.” Student loan plan advances with health bill “President Obama moved closer to achieving one of his top policy goals Thursday as congressional Democrats joined forces behind legislation that would cut funding to private student lenders and redirect billions of dollars in expected savings into grants to needy students.”

Immigration. 2 Senators Offer Immigration Overhaul “Two senators, a Democrat and a Republican, unveiled the outlines on Thursday of a proposal to overhaul the immigration system, which would require illegal immigrants to admit they broke the law before they could gain legal status and require all workers in the United States to carry a biometric identity card to prove that they are eligible to work.”

Financial Reform. Bankers take up lobbying with gusto “If not for the sea of navy business suits and the hotel ballroom’s chandeliers, the gathering Wednesday morning might have seemed more like a pep rally than a meeting of the American Bankers Association. But the 900 bankers were preparing to storm Capitol Hill, and they were getting revved up.”

NEWS AROUND WORLD

Mideast. U.S. to send envoy back to Mideast as Israel moves to smooth relations “In an effort to defuse a bitter spat with the United States, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday night to propose confidence-building measures to get Middle East peace talks back on track.” As tempers cool, U.S. and Israel ready to restart peace talks “Israel and the U.S. Thursday backed away from a week-old confrontation over Israel’s plans to build 1,600 new apartments for Jewish residents in East Jerusalem, which Israel captured from the Arabs in 1967.” Netanyahu responds to U.S.: No freeze in J’lem, but we will make gestures to PA in West Bank “Netanyahu did, however, present a series of goodwill gestures that Israel was willing to make to the Palestinians in the West Bank, and it apparently includes releasing Fatah security prisoners, removing road blocks, and perhaps even transfering additional West Bank territory to Palestinian Authority control.” Quartet condemns Israel over settlements “The Middle East Quartet set a deadline today for a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians after condemning plans to build new Jewish homes in Jerusalem.”

Gaza. Hamas fails to rein in Gaza rocket attacks, prompting Israel strike “After Gaza rocket attacks resulted in the first fatality since last year’s war, Israeli warplanes carried out retaliatory air strikes on at least six targets overnight. Hamas is struggling to contain unaffiliated militants in Gaza.”

U.S.-Russia Arms Talks. U.S., Russian negotiators ‘at the finish line’ on new START nuclear pact “U.S. and Russian negotiators are ‘at the finish line’ in negotiating a major agreement to cut the number of nuclear warheads each side has deployed against the other, with just one or two issues left to resolve, officials said Thursday.” New US-Russia nuclear deal ’soon’ says Hillary Clinton “U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says there has been ’substantial’ progress on a new nuclear disarmament deal with Russia.”

Iran. Iran couple demand ‘year of resistance’ “The First Couple of the Iranian opposition movement have marked the start of the Persian New Year this weekend by demanding a ‘year of resistance’ against a despotic regime.” Iran Dispute Becomes Focus of Clinton’s Russia Trip “Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russia’s foreign minister clashed publicly Thursday over an announcement that Russia would complete a nuclear power plant in Iran this summer.”

Afghanistan. Major Afghan offensive ‘under way’ “The US has said a new offensive to drive the Taliban from the southern Afghanistan city of Kandahar is under way and will steadily ‘ramp up’ in the months ahead.” As Taliban makes comeback in Kunduz province, war spreads to northern Afghanistan “For most of the past eight years, this northern province has been relatively peaceful, far removed from the insurgency in the Taliban heartlands of Kandahar and Helmand in the south.”

Pakistan. Pakistan arrests ‘halted Taliban talks’ “Kai Eide, the UN’s special representative to Afghanistan until earlier this month, has attacked Pakistan for having arrested prominent Taliban leaders who were taking part in back-channel peace talks.”

OPINION

A high-tech, low-result border fence (Editorial, Los Angeles Times) “In addition to Bush’s missile shield, Obama aims to kill his predecessor’s misguided mission to put astronauts back on the moon. While he’s at it, he should scrap the border fence too, and focus on real-world policies that would not only secure the borders but deal humanely with the millions of illegal immigrants already in the country.”

The right way to mend immigration (Charles E. Schumer and Lindsey O. Graham, Washington Post) “Last week we met with President Obama to discuss our draft framework for action on immigration. We expressed our belief that America’s security and economic well-being depend on enacting sensible immigration policies.”

Democrats discover the benefits of taking a stand on health reform (Eugene Robinson, Washington Post) “If health-care reform finally staggers across the finish line, it will be because President Obama and congressional Democrats recognized — at long last — the truth that has been staring them in the face for more than a year: They’ll be better off politically if they just try their best to do the right thing.”

The Broken Society (David Brooks, New York Times) “The United States is becoming a broken society. The public has contempt for the political class. Public debt is piling up at an astonishing and unrelenting pace. Middle-class wages have lagged. Unemployment will remain high. It will take years to fully recover from the financial crisis.”

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.

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Quote of the Day. “That’s a low bar. If you can’t graduate two out of five of your student-athletes, how serious are you about the academic part of your mission?” Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, a former college basketball player, proposing that teams with graduation rates of less than 40 percent be banned from the NCAA tournament. A new study shows that this would disqualify 12 teams in this year’s tournament. (USA Today)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

Nuns in U.S. back healthcare bill despite Catholic bishops’ opposition “By sending a letter to Congress in support of the Senate healthcare bill, a wide coalition of nuns took sides against not only the Republican minority but against their own church hierarchy, as represented by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which opposes the bill.”

Episcopalians Confirm a Second Gay Bishop “A majority of bishops and dioceses of the Episcopal Church have approved the election of the church’s second openly gay bishop, the Rev. Mary D. Glasspool, a decision likely to increase the tension with fellow Anglican churches around the world that do not approve of homosexuality.”

Study finds Latinos who leave their churches are choosing no faith “A new analysis of religious identification data finds that contrary to popular belief, U.S. Latinos are not leaving behind Catholicism for Protestant churches, but instead are becoming more secularized, affiliating themselves with no faith at all.”

Gordon Brown sets out ‘Christian’ vision, urges more religion in public life “Gordon Brown has set out his ‘Christian’ vision of politics and said that religion should not just be tolerated, but encouraged in public life.”

Does social justice belong in church? (Manya Brachear, Chicago Tribune “The Seeker” blog) “Where does the pursuit of justice — social justice, economic justice, any kind of justice — it into faith?”

NEWS AT HOME

Health Care. Obama persuades Kucinich to back health-care bill “President Obama claimed his first convert on health-care reform Wednesday, as senior Democrats, labor unions, and an array of interest groups intensified their efforts to sway wavering lawmakers before a climactic vote in the House this weekend.” Democrats Inch Toward Securing Votes for Health Bill “House Democrats are inching toward the majority they need to pass health care legislation, giving them added confidence as they work out the last details of the bill and gird for a showdown as soon as this weekend.” GOP plots Senate health roadblock “Democrats might like to think that health care reform is all but a done deal if it clears the House, but the Senate is where Republicans have been plotting for months to sentence it to a painful procedural death.”

Jobs. Job Bill Passes in Senate With 11 Republican Votes “In a rare bipartisan vote, the Senate approved and sent to President Obama on Wednesday a bill intended to spur employment by providing businesses with incentives to hire new workers – an approach that Congressional Democrats hope to repeat.” Obama set to sign jobs bill “President Obama is expected to sign into law Thursday the first significant job-creation measure passed by Congress since Democrats vowed this year to attack the nation’s high unemployment rate.”

Immigration Reform. Groups mobilize to pressure lawmakers to act on immigration reform “Frustrated at the White House and Congress, immigrant advocates are rolling out a series of pressure tactics to push forward legalization for illegal immigrants and other reforms. Putting feet down at key D.C. march “The last hope for immigration reform. That’s what Sunday’s March for America in Washington will be: a last-ditch massive effort to push hard for the President and Congress to abandon their reluctance and do their duty.”

Nuclear Arms Treaty. Clinton in Russia to Push Arms Talks Toward Deal “With the United States and Russia still haggling over the fine print of a long-delayed arms control pact, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in Moscow on Thursday to meet Russian leaders as the Obama administration tried to push the negotiations across the finish line.” US upbeat on Russia nuclear deal “The US and Russia ‘are making very good progress’ on a nuclear arms reduction pact, a senior US official has said.”

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Haiti. Haiti says it needs $11.5 billion to rebuild after earthquake “Delegations from 28 delegations from various countries and organizations are wrapping up a two-day meeting in the Dominican Republic today. Haiti told its partners it needs $11.5 billion to rebuild from earthquake damage.”

Al-Qaeda in Pakistan. CIA director says secret attacks in Pakistan have hobbled al-Qaeda “Aggressive attacks against al-Qaeda in Pakistan’s tribal region have driven Osama bin Laden and his top deputies deeper into hiding and disrupted their ability to plan sophisticated operations, CIA Director Leon Panetta said Wednesday.”

Afghanistan. Taliban Hit Back in Marja With a Campaign of Intimidation “The Taliban have begun waging a campaign of intimidation in Marja that some local Afghan leaders worry has jeopardized the success of an American-led offensive there meant as an early test of a revised military approach in Afghanistan.” Soaring IED attacks in Afghanistan stymie U.S. counteroffensive “Taliban fighters more than doubled the number of homemade bombs they used against U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan last year, relying on explosives that are often far more primitive than the ones used in Iraq.” Iran accused of arming Taleban “The Iranian Government has been accused by Afghan and Western officials of delivering tonnes of weaponry to the Taleban, including plastic explosives, mortars, grenades and technical manuals.”

Mideast. U.S. Mulls Own Plan for Mideast Talks “The angry exchanges between the United States and the Israeli government have rekindled a White House debate over whether – and when – President Obama should propose an American plan to form the basis of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, senior administration officials said Wednesday.” Palestinians must not stay on the sidelines, official says “Mustafa Barghouti, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s central council and a frequent critic of Abbas, spoke with the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday about what the recent U.S.-Israeli tensions mean for Palestinians.” Israel vows ’strong’ response to deadly rocket “Senior ministers on Thursday vowed that Israel would issue a ’strong’ response after a rocket fired by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip killed a migrant worker in the south earlier in the day.” Tensions persist in West Bank “Clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli police have continued in the occupied West Bank despite the reopening of access to and from the area.”

Iraq. Iraqi election results pointing up the country’s deep divides “The emerging results from last week’s parliamentary elections have made clear that Iraq remains a dangerously polarized nation, with deep regional and sectarian schisms that could widen as the U.S. military draws down.” Even if he wins, Maliki may be out as Iraq’s prime minister “Nearly half a million people voted for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki in Baghdad, making him by far the leading candidate in the province where the most seats are at stake. But Maliki’s chances of retaining his post appear slender, especially now that he’s locked in a neck-and-neck race with rival Ayad Allawi, the man who was Iraq’s first post-war prime minister.”

Darfur. Sudan signs pact with Darfur group “The Sudanese government has signed a framework peace accord with a small Darfur rebel group, officials have said.” Darfur rebel alliance makes peace “Sudan has signed a ceasefire with a major Darfur rebel group, the second deal in recent weeks, leaving just one band of rebels in open conflict.”

Cuba. Cuban police break up protest march “Cuban police have prevented the mothers and wives of detained dissidents from marching on the outskirts of Havana, the capital, forcing them into buses and taking them away, witnesses say.”

Burma. Change Comes to Myanmar, but Only on the Junta’s Terms “There is guarded hope among business people and diplomats that Myanmar, or Burma, as many people still call the country, may be gradually moving away from years of paranoid authoritarianism and Soviet-style economic management that has left the majority of the country’s 55 million people in dire poverty.” Burma releases jailed US activist “Burma’s military authorities have freed and deported a US activist jailed last month for three years.”

OPINION

Listen to the nuns (E.J. Dionne Jr., Washington Post) “One of the tragedies of the viciously politicized battle over health-care reform is the defection of the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops from a cause they have championed for decades.”

Access, Access, Access (Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times) “In short, great health care is often less about breakthrough technologies than it is about access. And for all the disagreements about President Obama’s health care proposal, let’s focus on this: it unquestionably would increase access, while its defeat would diminish access.”

Sheikh Jarrah’s peaceful protests (Seth Freedman, Guardian) “I know plenty of Israelis who shy away from attending the demonstrations at Bil’in and Nil’in precisely because of the anticipated violence of both the army and the protesters. In Sheikh Jarrah, on the other hand, hundreds of Israelis attend solidarity rallies every week thanks to the reputation for peaceful protest attached to the locals’ fight for equality.”

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.

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Quote of the Day. "In Birmingham when I saw the dogs I don’t think anything appalled me more, and I’ve been to Vietnam. I photographed it, and the world rushed in. I realized the power of even one image … What changed was my awareness. I wanted to show how awful, how vulgar, how terrible this whole thing was." Charles Moore, 79, whose searing Life magazine photographs of the civil rights struggle helped change American public opinion about the movement, died March 11 at a nursing home in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (Washington Post)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

Hispanic Churches Push for Immigration Reform “Esperanza, which includes more than 12,000 Hispanic churches and community non-profits, is seeking to mobilize Hispanic communities across the country to contact their elected officials in support of comprehensive immigration reform.”
 
Salvation Army Reports Record Donations Despite Sour Economy “Nickels, dimes and quarters added up quickly last Christmas despite the economic slump as Americans donated a record $139 million to the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign.”
 
NEWS AT HOME
 
Health Care. House Democrats’ tactic for health-care bill is debated “An obscure parliamentary maneuver favored by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) suddenly ignited Tuesday as the latest tinder in the year-long partisan strife over reshaping the nation’s health-care system, triggering debate over the strategy’s legitimacy and political wisdom.” Democrats Consider New Moves for Health Bill “As lawmakers clashed fiercely over major health care legislation on the House floor, Democrats struggled Tuesday to defend procedural shortcuts they might use to win approval for their proposals in the next few days.” Democrats may use shortcut to pass healthcare overhaul “In the face of Republican attacks Tuesday, leading Democrats defended a controversial endgame maneuver that would allow them to pass the Senate version of a healthcare overhaul without taking a direct vote on the legislation’s most divisive provisions.”
 
Health Insurance-States. Big Insurance Rate Increase for Pennsylvania Poor “Facing a sharp rise in costs, Pennsylvania has almost doubled the monthly bill for a state health insurance program for poor people who do not qualify for Medicaid and are on a waiting list for a less costly option.”  Number of Californians without health insurance soars “One in four Californians, or 8.2 million people, now lack health insurance coverage, according to a report by UCLA researchers. The study, released Tuesday, quickly became a talking point in the national debate over health care legislation, which could culminate later this week in a dramatic up-or-down vote on Capitol Hill.”
 
Financial Reform. Financial reform would shift Fed’s authority away from regional banks “In the details of the financial reform legislation introduced this week are fundamental changes to the Federal Reserve that would shift power from the regional Fed banks around the country and concentrate it in Washington and New York.”
 
Immigration. Immigrants vulnerable as recession spurs more bosses to shortchange workers  “On a recent Saturday morning, a group of Latino men wearing paint-spattered jeans and grim expressions strode through Adams Morgan in search of the contractor who had cheated them. He’d hired them to remodel a wine shop in the Northwest neighborhood in November and December but paid a fraction of what he had promised before disappearing.” Budget Cut for Fence on U.S.-Mexico Border “Citing a plague of ‘cost overruns and missed deadlines,’ Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Tuesday that she would cut millions of dollars intended for a high-tech ‘virtual fence’ along the Mexican border that has produced little more than headaches for the federal government.”
 
Corporate Financing in Elections. U.S. Chamber of Commerce sets sights on Democrats ahead of midterm elections "The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, already one of Washington’s largest lobbying groups, is gearing up to play a major role in this year’s midterm elections on a scale that rivals the nation’s two main political parties … The group will target vulnerable Democrats in up to two dozen states with ads, get-out-the-vote operations, and other grass-roots efforts.”
 
Courts and Prisons. Report Finds States Holding Fewer Prisoners “State prison populations, which have grown for nearly four decades, have begun to dip, according to a new report, largely because of recent efforts to keep parolees out of prison and reduce prison time for nonviolent offenders.” Defendants Fresh From War Find Service Counts in Court “Many veterans like Mr. Oldani have returned from Afghanistan and Iraq burdened by post-traumatic stress, drug dependency, and other problems. As veterans find themselves skirmishing with the law, judges are increasingly finding ways to provide them with a measure of leniency.”
 
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
 
Haiti. Rural Haiti Struggles to Absorb Displaced “Since the early 1980s, rural Haitians have moved at a steady clip to Port-au-Prince in search of schools, jobs, and government services. After the earthquake, more than 600,000 returned to the countryside, according to the government, putting a serious strain on desperately poor communities that have received little emergency assistance.”  Haitians scramble for shelter “The United Nations and the Haitian government are poised to begin an intense public awareness campaign in the capital city, part of an urgent effort to move hundreds of thousands of people left homeless by the Jan. 12 earthquake out of harm’s way before the rain and flood season begins next month.”
 
Israel-U.S. US and Israel moving to end row “US and Israeli diplomats are trying to bridge divisions over Israeli building plans in occupied East Jerusalem, as clashes in the city have waned.” With subtle shift in nuance, Hillary Clinton reiterates U.S. stance on Israel “In the face of bipartisan concern over U.S. criticism of Israeli policies, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday reiterated the administration’s demand for a ‘full commitment’ to peace talks from Israel but also ever so slightly bolstered her rhetorical support for the Jewish state.” Israel preparing response to U.S. demands “Tensions ran high in Jerusalem on Tuesday while Washington waits for Israel’s response to demands raised by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that could help defuse the diplomatic crisis with the United States.” Tensions persist in the West Bank “Clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli police have continued in the occupied West Bank despite the reopening of access to and from the area.”
 
Iraq Election. Allawi takes narrow lead over al-Maliki in Iraq “Ayad Allawi, the former Iraqi Prime Minister, took a narrow lead last night in parliamentary elections that seem set to herald months of political deadlock.” Iraq PM’s bloc makes poll complaint “The Iraqi prime minister’s State of Law coalition has called for a recount of all the ballots from the parliamentary elections as the bloc led by his main rival pulled ahead in the count.” Followers of Sadr Emerge Stronger After Iraq Elections “The followers of Moktada al-Sadr, a radical cleric who led the Shiite insurgency against the American occupation, have emerged as Iraq’s equivalent of Lazarus in elections last week, defying ritual predictions of their demise and now threatening to realign the nation’s balance of power.”
 
Afghanistan. Nato commander reins in special forces “The commander of US and Nato troops in Afghanistan has issued new rules to rein in special forces after a spate of botched operations left scores of civilians dead.” Afghan poppy harvest is next challenge for U.S. Marines “The swift American-led military offensive that drove the Taliban from power in this southern Afghan farm belt came at an inopportune time for the area’s poppy farmers. That’s created a quandary for Marjah’s new, U.S.-backed leaders and for the American military as they try to transform this sweltering river valley, whose biggest cash crop is opium poppy, into a tranquil breadbasket.”
 
Mexico. Juarez residents to Mexico President Calderón: Enough is enough “Mexico President Felipe Calderón got an earful from angry residents Tuesday while visiting Cuidad Juarez to tout new social programs aimed easing the rampant drug violence that plagues the border city.”  Mexico urges US help in drug war “Felipe Calderon, Mexico’s president, has called on the U.S. to share responsibility in the fight against drug gangs in his country.”
 
Iran. Iranians Defy a Ban in a Display of Dissent “Iranians defied a ban on events marking a traditional festival on Tuesday, turning an annual celebration into a show of antigovernment sentiment.” Police hold 50 at Iran festival “Iranian police say they have arrested 50 people during clashes between opposition supporters and police in Tehran during a new year festival.”
 
OPINION
 
Immigration reform: Stuck in the shadows (Harold Meyerson, Washington Post) “On Sunday, tens of thousands of Americans who supported Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008 will gather on the Mall to protest the president’s lack of action on a cause to which he had committed himself throughout the campaign: immigration reform.”
 
Let’s Fight Over a Big Plan (Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times) “President Obama was 100 percent right to call out Israel on its settlement expansion, which undermines the opportunities inherent in this moment. But he also needs his own clear strategy to exploit the opportunities inherent in this moment – and that has been lacking up to now from his foreign policy team. If we are going to fight with Israel – or better yet, work with it – let’s do so over a big U.S. strategy that we think can shape a more stable Middle East.”
Palestinians’ destructive veneration of terrorists (Richard Cohen, Washington Post) “Washington’s response to the Israeli government’s announcement of additional housing was both harsh and appropriate — an ‘affront’ and an ‘insult,’ David Axelrod, President Obama’s senior adviser, called it. He might have added ‘unnecessary’ and ‘counterproductive.’ The incessant march of West Bank settlements and housing has to stop if there is to be any chance of reaching the vaunted two-state solution. At the same time, though, one of those states has to stop exalting terrorists.”

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.

Sign up to receive our daily news summary via e-mail »

Quote of the Day. “Our alumni over the years have told me that they’re so proud of the graduation rates. They don’t want to hear about Xavier, or any university, using students athletically and then dumping them without a degree.” Sister Rose Ann Fleming, academic adviser for Xavier University athletics. Since she began the job in 1985, every men’s basketball player who played as a senior has left with a diploma, a record of 77-0. (New York Times)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

CHA backs health bill; bishops reiterate objection to abortion wording “The statement from the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops came soon after the head of the Catholic Health Association called on House members to quickly pass the Senate legislation and make changes later.”Catholic bishops oppose health care plan over abortion language “The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said Monday it opposes the Democratic health care plan heading for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives because of its language on abortion.”

Glenn Beck’s anti-Catholic rants (Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo, Washington Post/On Faith) “With his chalkboard logic, Beck creates conspiracies that almost always make him a savior against anything named ‘Democrat’ or ‘Obama.’ Ordinarily, it is convenient to ignore such prattle as just as empty as Beck’s interpretation of history, but now he is using his lies and distortions to take on my Church.”

Opinion: White House faith council shows its value (David Gushee, Associated Baptist Press) “Last week the White House Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships issued its report to the president, culminating a year of efforts in rethinking the relationship between faith groups and the federal government. Their report is a major contribution to our national life.”

‘Paul, don’t press your luck in Beck’s world!’ (Rev. Martin Marty, Chicago Tribune) “The apostle Paul, writing to people suffering under Nero, also said that civil ‘authority…is God’s servant for your good’ (Romans 13:4). Paul even goes so far in 13:6 to urge believers to ‘pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants.’ Come on, Paul, don’t press your luck in Beck’s world!”

NEWS AT HOME

Health Care. House may try to pass Senate health-care bill without voting on it “After laying the groundwork for a decisive vote this week on the Senate’s health-care bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Monday that she might attempt to pass the measure without having members vote on it.” House plan to pass health care raises constitutional questions “As the battle over health care legislation built Monday toward a weekend crescendo, congressional Democrats considered trying to pass the controversial Senate version without voting for it, a tactic that Republicans and independent analysts warned could be politically treacherous and perhaps unconstitutional.” Obama Tries to Personalize the Health Care Bill “Declaring that ‘every argument has been made’ on his health-care overhaul, President Obama sought to seal the deal with Congress and the American people Monday by focusing on a single patient: a self-employed cleaning woman who dropped her costly insurance plan and just discovered she has leukemia.”

Jobs. Amid Democratic Impatience, Senators Move on a Jobs Bill “The Senate cleared the way on Monday for final Congressional approval of a Democratic plan to spur job creation as Democrats grew impatient with delays in enacting what they hope is the first in a series of economic measures.”

Finance Reform. Concessions on financial reform bill yield few gains in Senate “Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.), chairman of the Senate banking committee, introduced a revised bill on Monday to overhaul financial regulation that included compromises forged with Republicans in recent months but fell short of winning endorsement from conservatives, including members in his own party.” Reform Bill Adds Layers of Oversight “The 1,336-page bill to overhaul financial regulation that Senate Democrats put forward on Monday with the backing of the Obama administration calls for Washington to play a more active role in policing Wall Street.” Dodd unveils slimmed-down financial reform proposal “With memories of the financial crisis already fading, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher J. Dodd tried to jump-start the stalled effort to pass a major regulatory overhaul this year that would protect the public from another economic meltdown.”

Climate Change.Democrats look to industry for help in climate bill “[Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH] is one of a handful of senators trying to line up support for a climate bill that would put new limits on greenhouse gas emissions and spur production of renewable energy.And surprising as it may seem, the heart of those senators’ strategy is to woo special interests — major electric utilities, steel and cement producers, farmers and coal and oil companies.”

Internet Connections. FCC plan would greatly expand broadband Internet connections “The Federal Communications Commission announced on Monday its long-awaited plan to bring broadband Internet connections to every home and business in the United States, part of an ambitious, multibillion-dollar attempt to create a new digital infrastructure for the nation’s economy.”

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Mexico. FBI to investigate Mexico deaths “American FBI agents have been sent to the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez to investigate the deaths of three US citizens. The FBI says it is sending agents to Mexico’s border city of Ciudad Juarez after three people linked to the US consulate were killed.”

Jerusalem. Violent clashes erupt in East Jerusalem as synagogue reopens “Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement, announced a ‘day of rage’ after Monday’s reopening of a synagogue in Jerusalem’s Old City, clearly seeking to focus international attention on the issue.” Clashes break out in east Jerusalem “Palestinians have clashed with Israeli police in two areas of occupied East Jerusalem after Palestinian groups called for a ‘day of rage’ over the reopening of a synagogue in the Old City.”

Israel-U.S. Israel rejects U.S. calls to halt East Jerusalem plan “A day after trying to ease tensions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday rejected U.S. demands to end the construction of new housing units in disputed East Jerusalem, leaving the two allies in the middle of an increasingly uncomfortable diplomatic feud.” Netanyahu affirms settlement project that U.S. considers ‘affront’ “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under pressure from his largely conservative coalition to press on with the project, told his Likud Party Monday that settlement building would continue on land that Israel won from its Arab neighbors in the 1967 Six-Day War.” Israel Feeling Rising Anger From the U.S. “An ill-timed municipal housing announcement in Jerusalem has mutated into one of the most serious conflicts between the United States and Israel in two decades, leaving a politically embarrassed Israeli government scrambling to respond to a tough list of demands by the Obama administration.”

Afghanistan. U.S. Is Reining In Special Forces in Afghanistan “Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top American commander in Afghanistan, has brought most American Special Operations forces under his direct control for the first time, out of concern over continued civilian casualties and disorganization among units in the field.” Afghan women fear loss of hard-won progress “The head-to-toe burqas that made women a faceless symbol of the Taliban’s violently repressive rule are no longer required here. But many Afghan women say they still feel voiceless eight years into a war-torn democracy, and they point to government plans to forge peace with the Taliban as a prime example.” Afghanstan war: Are some Taliban ignoring Mullah Omar’s ethics code? “Last summer, Taliban leader Mullah Omar issued a new ethics code for Taliban fighters. But two killings of Taliban hostages indicate that those moral guidelines for conducting the Afghanistan war are being ignored by some fighters.”

Iran. Iran issue ‘unites’ UK and China “The UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said Britain and China have ‘a shared goal’ in resolving the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme.” Iran Plans to Execute 6 Arrested in Protests “Six people arrested in December protests will be put to death, Iranian authorities announced Monday, in what appeared to be strong warning to the opposition ahead of a traditional annual celebration.”

Thailand. Thai protesters spill blood for cause “Anti-government protesters poured litres of their own blood across the entrances to Government House in Bangkok today in a lurid campaign to secure new elections.” Protesters Dump Blood at Thai Government Site “Blood was spilled on the third day of mass demonstrations in Bangkok on Tuesday, but not in the way that many had feared. One syringe at a time, antigovernment protesters sat in air-conditioned tents and allowed medical staff to suction out their contribution.”

Iraq. Army and police ‘meddled’ in Iraq election “A high-level Iraqi report obtained by The Times details violations across the country and includes evidence of the army and police interfering directly with voting on March 7 .” Iraq Election Results Hint of Political Shift “Partial election results released Monday suggested a sharp and divisive shift in power in Iraq, with a secular candidate challenging Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki and old alliances fracturing against a surge of dissident movements.”

Zimbabwe. Zuma bid to ease Zimbabwe tension “South African President Jacob Zuma is due to land in Zimbabwe for a three-day trip, aiming to ease tensions within the fragile power-sharing government.”

OPINION

Universal health care tends to cut the abortion rate (T.R. Reid, Washington Post) “Countless arguments have been advanced for and against the pending bills to increase health-care coverage. Both sides have valid concerns, which makes the battle tight. But one prominent argument is illogical. The contention that opponents of abortion should oppose the current proposals to expand coverage simply doesn’t make sense.”

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.

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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. “
 
Education. Obama Calls for Sweeping Overhaul in Education Law“The Obama administration on Saturday called for a broad overhaul of President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind law, proposing to reshape divisive provisions that encouraged instructors to teach to tests, narrowed the curriculum, and labeled one in three American schools as failing.”
 
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.

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Quote of the Day. “It will take an expanding worldwide but grassroots culture reaching beyond national borders to fashion a body of Christian peacemakers to be an effective power to block the guns and be part of transforming each impending tragedy of war. Little by little there will be change.” Gene Stoltzfus, founding director of Christian Peacemaker Teams, who died Wednesday at age 70, from his last blog post. (Christian Peacemaker Teams)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

Outraged by Glenn Beck’s Salvo, Christians Fire Back “Last week, the conservative broadcaster Glenn Beck called on Christians to leave their churches if they hear preaching about social or economic justice, saying they were code words for Communism and Nazism.” Jim Wallis urges Christians to turn off Glenn Beck “Jim Wallis, a politically progressive evangelical and longtime advocate for the poor, said Christians should stop watching or listening to broadcaster Glenn Beck for remarks urging people to leave churches that preach ’social justice.’”

Pakistani Churches Condemn Killings at World Vision Office “Churches in Pakistan have deplored the killing of six World Vision staff members as the international Christian humanitarian organization suspended its operations in the country.”

Tea parties stir evangelicals’ fears “A reeling economy and the massive bank bailout and stimulus plan were the triggers for a resurgence in support for the Republican Party and the rise of the tea party movement. But they’ve also banished the social issues that are the focus of many evangelical Christians to the background.” Social conservatives put religious twist on ‘tea party’ message “In news releases, mission statements and interviews, prominent social conservatives increasingly are using the small-government rhetoric popular with the tea party activists and long used by economic conservatives — but with a religious bent.”

NEWS AT HOME

Immigration. Senators give Obama a bipartisan plan on immigration “A pair of influential senators presented President Obama with a three-page blueprint for a bipartisan agreement to overhaul the nation’s immigration system, but the proposal’s viability is threatened by politics surrounding the health-care debate.” Obama Links Immigration Overhaul in 2010 to G.O.P. Backing “President Obama said Thursday that he would proceed with an overhaul of the immigration system this year if he could attract substantial Republican support. But a leading Republican who supports an overhaul said an immigration bill could not go forward if the president used a legislative shortcut sidestepping Republicans to pass his health-care bill.” Groups demand action on immigration “Leaders of grassroots groups want a framework for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws introduced in Congress this month, they told reporters after a meeting with President Obama on Thursday.”

Health Care. Democrats seek healthcare consensus “Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill worked throughout the day Thursday seeking intraparty agreements over abortion, federal insurance subsidies, and other issues in a health-care package they hope to send President Obama before the end of the month.” Democrats move toward grouping health reform with student-aid bill “Democratic leaders said Thursday that they were increasingly inclined to release a final health-care bill that could accomplish two of President Obama’s top domestic priorities: guaranteeing coverage to 30 million uninsured Americans and vastly expanding federal aid for college students.” Democrats Struggle to Finish Health Bill “House and Senate Democratic leaders struggled Thursday to stitch together pieces of a final health-care bill as rank-and-file Democrats demanded more information about the contents of the bill and its cost.”

Financial Reform. Democrats Push Ahead on Finance Bill “Democrats said on Thursday that they would go it alone in an effort to pass an overhaul of financial regulation, increasing the likelihood of a bitter partisan showdown.” Sen. Dodd will take financial regulation bill to committee “Unable to muster bipartisan agreement on key banking provisions, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd said Thursday that he will offer his own version of a sweeping overhaul of financial regulations without Republican support.”

Foreclosures. New round of foreclosures threatens housing market “The housing market is facing swelling ranks of homeowners who are seriously delinquent but have yet to lose their homes, and this is threatening a new wave of foreclosures that could hit just as the real estate market has begun to stabilize.”

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Mideast Peace Talks. Joe Biden makes parting plea for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks “A four-day trip by Joe Biden designed to kick-start faltering peace talks between the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships ended in failure last night despite a parting plea for negotiations to begin with no delay.”  ‘Abbas seeks U.S. pledge for East Jerusalem construction freeze’ “Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday sought guarantees from Washington that it would pressure Israel to cancel its plan for 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem.”

Haiti. Haiti quake response largely a success “Medical care and food supplies arrived quickly, heading off the potential for widespread unrest, officials say. Progress on sanitation and shelter has been slower, posing the threat of a new crisis.” Earthquake’s Burdens Weigh Heavily on Haiti’s Elderly “No strangers to hardship, elderly Haitians find themselves distinctly vulnerable and emotionally burdened these days. They have grown old in a place where so many people die young. With longevity comes survivor’s guilt.”

Taliban-Al Qaeda Rift. Some U.S. officials see a growing Taliban-Al Qaeda rift “A growing number of Taliban militants in the Pakistani border region are refusing to collaborate with Al Qaeda fighters, declining to provide shelter or assist in attacks in Afghanistan even in return for payment, according to U.S. military and counter-terrorism officials.”

Afghanistan. Program aims to rebuild Afghan police force, repair its image “U.S. and Afghan officials are beginning a major overhaul of the Afghan police with the goal of cleaning up a force whose recent history of corruption has undermined confidence in the Kabul government and fueled the insurgency.” U.S. criticizes Afghanistan’s ‘poor’ human rights record “The U.S.-backed government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai has a ‘poor’ human rights record, tarnished by widespread impunity for security forces who commit abuses; violence against women; torture and extra-judicial killings, the State Department said in an annual report released Thursday.” Afghan Tribal Rivalries Bedevil a U.S. Plan “Government officials and elders from other tribes were trying to get the two sides to reconcile, but given the intensity of the fighting, some said they doubted that the effort would work. “

Iraq. Iraq results point to tight race “Early results from Iraq’s election suggest a tight contest may be developing between Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and his main rival Iyad Allawi.”  In Early Tally, Tight Iraq Race Deepens Splits “Iraq’s major coalitions were locked in a surprisingly close race on Thursday, in initial results from elections that deepened divisions across a fractured landscape. Candidates were quick to charge fraud, heightening concerns whether Iraq’s fledgling institutions were strong enough to support a peaceful transfer of power.”

OPINION

The speech of a friend (Editorial, Haaretz) “In his speech at Tel Aviv University yesterday, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden outlined the American approach to the Middle East in its broadest sense, from the Israeli-Arab conflict to the Persian Gulf.”

In Africa, a step backward on human rights (Desmond Tutu, Washington Post) “Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people are part of so many families. They are part of the human family. They are part of God’s family. And of course they are part of the African family. But a wave of hate is spreading across my beloved continent.”

Health Reform Myths (Paul Krugman, New York Times) “Health reform is back from the dead. Many Democrats have realized that their electoral prospects will be better if they can point to a real accomplishment. Polling on reform – which was never as negative as portrayed – shows signs of improving. And I’ve been really impressed by the passion and energy of this guy Barack Obama.”

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Quote of the Day. “A well-crafted carbon surcharge achieves two goals. The first is a drastic reduction in fossil fuel usage for energy, but the second, and more important for Los Angeles, is the creation of thousands of green-collar jobs.” Jay Carson, chief deputy mayor of Los Angeles on the city’s plan to increase electric rates to fund renewable energy programs. (Los Angeles Times)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

Glenn Beck’s Advice on ‘Social Justice’ Churches Sparks Outrage “Anti-poverty Christian groups are up in arms after popular political commentator Glenn Beck urged Christians to leave their church if it talks about social justice.”

Texas Conservatives Seek Deeper Stamp on Texts “Even as a panel of educators laid out a vision Wednesday for national standards for public schools, the Texas school board was going in a different direction, holding hearings on changes to its social studies curriculum that would portray conservatives in a more positive light, emphasize the role of Christianity in American history and include Republican political philosophies in textbooks.”

Faith-Based Advisers: We Found ‘Meaningful Common Ground’ “We have different opinions, admitted the White House faith-based advisers on Tuesday when they presented their recommendations, but we were able to find ‘meaningful common ground.’” White House Religion Panel Gets It Right “Now the White House task force has disbanded, and a new one — along with new issues — has not yet been named. Which of the task force recommendations will be adopted, and when, remains the driving question; if the president delays, he will have squandered considerable goodwill.”

Lost Jewish tribe ‘found in Zimbabwe’ “The Lemba people of Zimbabwe and South Africa may look like their compatriots, but they follow a very different set of customs and traditions … Their oral traditions claim that their ancestors were Jews who fled the Holy Land about 2,500 years ago.”

NEWS AT HOME

Afghanistan Withdrawal Resolution. House Rejects Plan to Leave Afghanistan by Year’s End “In a strong bipartisan endorsement of the Obama administration’s policy in Afghanistan, the House of Representatives on Wednesday soundly rejected a call to withdraw American troops by the end of the year.” House debates resolution to end Afghanistan war “Congressional opponents of the war in Afghanistan forced a debate Wednesday on the floor of the House of Representatives on a resolution to bring U.S. forces home and end the 8-year-old conflict.”

Health Care. In St. Louis area, Obama pounds drum for health-care initiative “President Obama made an impassioned case Wednesday for his health-care proposal, delivering a folksy, partisan argument for reform as industry groups prepare a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign to defeat it.” Obama Gets Tough on Health Care Fraud “President Obama continued his drive for a health care overhaul on Wednesday, ordering a crackdown on Medicare and Medicaid waste and fraud, while in Washington, House leaders said they hoped to have a completed bill to present to rank and file members Thursday morning.”

Unemployment Aid. Senate passes $140 billion in tax breaks, aid to unemployed “The Senate approved a $140 billion package of tax breaks and aid to the unemployed Wednesday, the most substantial effort by the chamber to boost the nation’s economy since it passed the stimulus bill last year.” Senate passes $140 billion package to aid job creation, state budgets “The bill gained bipartisan support and passed Wednesday 62 to 36. Among other things, the measure extends popular tax breaks for companies that take part in high-tech job creation.”

Immigration. Immigrants prep for march on DC “Carrying signs reading ‘Friends make good on their promises,’ thousands will rally in the nation’s capital to demand immigration reform.” Young immigrants declare illegal status “Overcoming their fear of deportation, a group of college-age immigrants publicly admitted their undocumented status at a rally at the Federal Plaza on Wednesday in hopes of putting a face on the need for comprehensive immigration reform.”

Financial Reform. Compromise would shield payday lenders, pawnbrokers and car dealers from oversight “Payday lenders, pawnbrokers, car dealers, and other companies that make loans but do not hold bank charters would be shielded from the scrutiny of a proposed federal consumer protection regulator under the terms of a tentative compromise between senators who are attempting to craft a bipartisan bill.” Senate Bill on Finance to Include Agency That Tracks Financial Risk “Senate Banking Committee members from both parties said on Wednesday that they had agreed to include in their regulatory overhaul bill a new Office of Research and Analysis that would provide early warnings of possible systemic collapses.”

Education Standards. New national math, English standards drafted “Math and English instruction in the United States moved a step closer to uniform — and more rigorous — standards Wednesday as draft new national guidelines were released.” Panel Proposes Single Standard for All Schools “A panel of educators convened by the nation’s governors and state school superintendents proposed a uniform set of academic standards on Wednesday, laying out their vision for what all the nation’s public school children should learn in math and English, year by year, from kindergarten to high school graduation.”

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Israel-Palestine. Biden to Israelis: Mideast status quo unsustainable “Visiting United States Vice President Joe Biden said on Thursday that the status quo in the Middle East was not sustainable, urging both Israelis and the Palestinians look toward direct negotiations to end the long-standing conflict.” Biden tries to ease Mid-East row “US Vice-President Joe Biden says there must be no delay in resuming Mid-East peace talks, despite a row over Israeli plans for new homes in East Jerusalem.” Biden tells Palestinians U.S. won’t be deterred “Vice President Joe Biden told Palestinians on Wednesday that the United States intends to push ahead with its Mideast peacemaking effort, despite a diplomatic blow-up this week over Israel’s plans to build 1,600 housing units in disputed East Jerusalem.”

Haiti. Barack Obama says situation in quake-hit Haiti ‘dire’ “US President Barack Obama has warned of a second disaster in Haiti, saying people should be under no illusion that the crisis there is over.” Haitian president renews call for direct aid from U.S. “Haitian President René Préval pleaded Wednesday for U.S. help plugging a multimillion-dollar budget gap caused by the Jan. 12 earthquake but said he got a cool reception from congressional leaders wary of handing over cash.” As Haiti recovers from massive quake, Obama vows support “President Obama pledged to stand by Haiti as it recovered from its devastating earthquake, assuring the stricken nation’s president today that the U.S. would not turn its back on neighbors in a time of need.”

Chile. Bachelet ends term as Chile’s president two weeks after earthquake “Bachelet had planned to spend the past two weeks doing a victory lap around Chile as she wound down her four-year term. Instead, the Feb. 27 earthquake and tsunamis forced Bachelet into emergency mode.” Chile’s new leader to be sworn in “Mr Pinera not only faces the challenge of reconstruction, but takes over from a highly-popular outgoing leader.”

Afghanistan. Afghan plea for ‘no proxy wars’ “He was speaking following talks with Pakistani leaders in Islamabad, and a day after Iran and the US traded blows over their activities in Afghanistan.” In Kabul, hopelessness weighs on job hunters “As war with the Taliban rattles in the provinces, here in the capital, unemployment, poverty and corruption are regarded as more potent enemies.” Overworked U.S. Embassy in Kabul straining to meet administration’s demands “The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, which may soon overtake its counterpart in Iraq as the world’s biggest diplomatic mission, is overworked, underappreciated, and struggling to meet the demands placed on it by President Obama’s new strategy, according to the State Department’s inspector general.”

Darfur. U.S. envoy pushes for Darfur peace deal before Sudanese elections “The U.S. special envoy to Sudan warned Wednesday that efforts to bring peace to the country’s troubled Darfur region could become less of a priority for the Obama administration if a full-fledged peace agreement is not reached before Sudanese elections scheduled for mid-April.”

OPINION

Shaken to the core (Ariel Dorfman, Los Angeles Times) “The earthquake’s nightmare alerted Chileans to a different face in the mirror, forcing us to recognize that we live in a country forged out of lies and illusions.”

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.

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Quote of the Day. “Crop Mob is not a charity … At its core, it’s about community — farmers helping farmers. And when the ‘agricurious’ come out to help them and learn, well, that’s just icing on the top.” Rob Jones, a founder of “Crop Mob,” which organizes groups of office workers, backyard gardeners, and striving young farmers to dig, weed, mulch, and clear land for farmers across two North Carolina counties. (Los Angeles Times).

FAITH IN THE NEWS

Faith council officially gives Obama its recommendations “After a year of deliberations, the faith council convened by President Obama formally handed over their final report and 60-plus recommendations to the White House today.” WH Faith Council Gives Detailed Recommendations “President Obama’s faith council delivered 64 detailed recommendations to top administration officials, Tuesday, covering a broad range of issues from responsible fatherhood to poverty and interfaith relations.”

World Vision Staff Attacked in Pakistan “World Vision office in Pakistan was attacked by gunmen on Wednesday, leaving at least five staff members dead. The Christian organization said the attack was unprovoked.” Aid workers shot dead in Pakistan “Unidentified assailants have attacked the office of a Western aid agency in Pakistan, killing up to five people and wounding several others, according to police.”

Arizona bishops criticize bills increasing immigration enforcement “The Catholic bishops of Arizona have expressed concern that new legislative proposals requiring greater enforcement of immigration laws by local police could harm public safety and separate families.”

Keeping faith with faith-based initiative (Melissa Rogers, Washington Post/On Faith) “For the past year, however, some on all sides of this debate have devoted a considerable amount of time to a search for common ground. We did so under the auspices of the White House Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.”

NEWS AT HOME

Health Care. Parliamentary Hurdle Could Thwart Latest Health Care Overhaul Strategy “The White House and Democratic Congressional leaders said Tuesday that they were bracing for a key procedural ruling that could complicate their effort to approve major health care legislation, by requiring President Obama to sign the bill into law before Congress could revise it through an expedited budget process.” Democrats’ full-court press on healthcare reform “The steady stream of top Democrats in and out of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office Tuesday was the latest signal of a full-court press to get a majority of Democrats on board healthcare reform.” Thousands rally to support health-care reform in downtown Washington “Organizers with Health Care for America Now, a coalition of labor and other liberal groups, targeted insurance company leaders attending a policy conference held by industry advocates at the Ritz-Carlton hotel at 22nd and M streets NW.” Health care overhaul’s biggest threat? A delay in the vote “Thousands of liberal public-option backers and conservative tea partiers launched last-chance campaigns Tuesday in the nation’s capital to persuade Congress to pass – or reject – sweeping health care legislation.”

Immigration. Graham to Obama: Time to ’step it up’ “President Barack Obama is summoning two key senators to the Oval Office on Thursday for an update on immigration reform efforts – but one of them, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), thinks Obama should be the one giving the update.”

Financial Reform. A Consumer Bill Gives Exemption on Payday Loans “Senator Bob Corker, the Tennessee Republican who is playing a crucial role in bipartisan negotiations over financial regulation, pressed to remove a provision from draft legislation that would have empowered federal authorities to crack down on payday lenders, people involved in the talks said.”

Afghanistan Withdrawal Vote. House liberals force vote on pullout from Afghanistan “House leaders will allow three hours of formal debate, probably Wednesday, on an antiwar resolution written by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio), one of the leading antiwar voices in Congress.”

Education. Governors, state school superintendents to propose common academic standards “The nation’s governors and state school chiefs will propose standards Wednesday for what students should learn in English and math, from kindergarten through high school, a crucial step in President Obama’s campaign to raise academic standards across the country.” Many Nations Passing U.S. in Education, Expert Says “One of the world’s foremost experts on comparing national school systems told lawmakers on Tuesday that many other countries were surpassing the United States in educational attainment, including Canada, where he said 15-year-old students were, on average, more than one school year ahead of American 15-year-olds.”

Nuclear Weapons. Delay on Arms Pact Slows Reset of U.S.- Russia Ties “After months of delay and discord, administration officials said, they have learned that when it comes to deal-making with Moscow, nothing is done until it is done, and rarely will it go as smoothly as anticipated.” Japan-US nuclear pact confirmed “Japan has confirmed the existence of a secret Cold War deal allowing the transit of nuclear-armed US vessels through its ports.” Japan owns up to breaking nuclear taboo “The existence of the pacts, which violate Japan’s vocal opposition to nuclear weapons, has been reported for years, after leaks and the publication in the US of formerly classified documents. This is the first time, however, that the Government has owned up to past deception.”

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Haiti. Haitian president moves to shore up aid, new future “With his country’s economy stalled, crops unplanted and a million people without homes, Haitian President René Préval began a visit to Washington Tuesday to focus on how U.S. and international donors can help the beleaguered nation recover from a devastating earthquake.” Aid agencies fight one another to help Haiti quake victims “At an encampment on the outskirts of Haiti’s capital, physicians from three international aid agencies provide identical services. On a charter flight to Miami, competing doctors get into a shouting match before takeoff. And at a search-and-rescue operation, one international team claiming ownership of the effort asks another to leave — although the departing group has the equipment to do the job.”

Israel. As Biden Visits, Israel Unveils Plan for New Settlements “Hours after Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. vowed unyielding American support for Israel’s security here on Tuesday, Israel’s Interior Ministry announced 1,600 new housing units for Jews in East Jerusalem.” Visiting Biden slams E. J’lem housing plan “With indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians due to start within days, a new crisis is threatening to derail the peace process yesterday: Israel announced it had authorized the construction of 1,600 new homes in East Jerusalem.” US condemns Israeli expansion “But news later on Tuesday that the Israeli government had approved plans to build 1,600 housing units in Ramat Shlomo, a religious Jewish settlement in an area of the West Bank annexed to Jerusalem by Israel, drew condemnation from the US vice-president.”

Iraq Election. Dispute over candidate disqualifications could mar Iraqi vote’s legitimacy “A controversy over the disqualification of candidates threatened Tuesday to undermine the legitimacy of Iraq’s recent elections and inflame supporters of a coalition seeking to topple the alliance led by the prime minister.”

Afghanistan. Black eye for U.S. Embassy in Kabul “The State Department is failing to properly oversee nearly $2 billion in contracts to battle the drug trade, build infrastructure and train police in Afghanistan, according to a bluntly worded internal assessment.” David Miliband to seek Afghanistan political drive “Foreign Secretary David Miliband is to call on the Afghan government to work harder to find a political solution to the conflict with the Taliban.” Iran attacks US over Afghanistan “Mr Ahmadinejad said the U.S. had ‘created terrorists and now say they are fighting them,’ as he appeared with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul.”

Iran. U.S. changing focus of Iran policy “After keeping a careful distance for the last year, the Obama administration has concluded that the Iranian opposition movement has staying power and has embraced it as a central element in the U.S.-led campaign to pressure the country’s clerical government.” Iran blocking foreign, domestic Web sites to curb anti-government activists “Ever since the disputed victory of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the June elections led to wide-scale protests, Iran’s leaders have been cracking down on the tech-savvy opposition movement with the Revolutionary Guard and police blocking millions of foreign and domestic Web sites, including some Google services, CNN and the BBC.”

Somalia. Somalia Food Aid Bypasses Needy, U.N. Study Finds “As much as half the food aid sent to Somalia is diverted to a web of corrupt contractors, Islamist militants and local U.N. staff, according to a report.”

Tibet. Hundreds held in pre-emptive Tibet crackdown “Hundreds of Tibetans were rounded up in Lhasa today and armed paramilitaries patrolled the streets even as Tibetan exiles marked the anniversary of an abortive 1959 uprising against Chinese rule.” Tight security on Tibet anniversary “China has stepped up security in Tibet as the Himalayan region marks the sensitive anniversaries of the failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959 and bloody riots two years ago.”

Climate Change. Climate Goal Is Supported by China and India “China and India formally agreed Tuesday to join the international climate change agreement reached in December in Copenhagen, the last two major economies to sign up.”

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.

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Quote of the Day. “This is like putting on every student’s desk, when you walk into class, five different magazines, several television shows, some shopping opportunities and a phone, and saying, ‘Look, if your mind wanders, feel free to pick any of these up and go with it.’”  David Cole, Georgetown Law professor on why he has banned laptops from his classes. (Washington Post)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

Nigerian massacre victims buried in mass grave “The victims of Sunday’s sectarian massacres were buried in mass graves in central Nigeria on Monday as survivors told horrific stories of Christian villagers being trapped in nets and hacked to death by Muslim herdsmen.”

Bishops of Hiroshima, Nagasaki Seek Nuclear Ban “The Roman Catholic bishops of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are urging world leaders to abolish nuclear weapons.”

Haiti releases US missionary “One of the last two US Baptist missionaries held on kidnapping charges in Haiti was released yesterday, but the group’s leader remained in custody.”

Supreme Court to rule on anti-gay protests at military funerals “The Supreme Court will review whether anti-gay protests at funerals of American soldiers are protected by the First Amendment, taking up the appeal of a Maryland man who won and then had reversed a $10 million verdict against the small Kansas church that conducts the demonstrations.”

Jewish leaders in Dallas to debate, determine advocacy positions “Once a year, hundreds of Jewish leaders from across the country and across Judaism’s branches gather to hear big-name speakers and arrive at advocacy positions on everything from Israel to Darfur to gays in the U.S. military.”

Brian McLaren Proposes a ‘New Kind of Christianity’ “The Christian faith must be born again, says one prominent pastor. And to be born again, Christians must be unlocked from ‘a prison’ of long-held assumptions and have the freedom to ask honest questions.”

NEWS AT HOME

Health Care. Obama launches attack on health insurance companies “The White House is mounting a stinging, sustained broadside against health insurance rate increases as President Obama and his aides enter what they hope will be the final stretch of a year-long political war over health-care reform.” Obama adds fire to healthcare debate “In an impassioned rally that evoked his campaign, President Obama left what he called the Washington ‘echo chamber’ Monday and urged voters to knock on doors and make phone calls.”  Obama Turns Up the Volume in Bid for Health Measure“President Obama challenged wavering members of his party on Monday not to give in to political fears about supporting health care legislation, asserting that the urgency of getting a bill through Congress should trump any concern about the consequences for Democrats in November.”

Abortion and Health Care. Stupak: Health bill abortion fight can be resolved “Prospects are good for resolving a dispute over abortion that has led some House Democrats to threaten to withhold support of President Barack Obama’s health-care overhaul, a key Michigan Democrat said Monday.” Abortion Fight Remains Fierce in Health Care Debate “Republicans and some staunch pro-life Democrats in Congress are threatening to derail current health-care reform efforts over the issue of abortion funding as Congress heads toward a final showdown on the contentious legislation.”

Immigration. Immigrant rights group slam Obama, Democrats for slow action with legalization “Leaders of nearly a dozen grass-roots immigrant rights groups excoriated President Obama and congressional Democrats on Monday, accusing them of moving too slowly to legalize the status of undocumented immigrants and citing a record number of deportations in 2009.” ID Card for Workers Is at Center of Immigration Plan “Lawmakers working to craft a new comprehensive immigration bill have settled on a way to prevent employers from hiring illegal immigrants: a national biometric identification card all American workers would eventually be required to obtain.”

Unemployment. Are unemployment benefits no longer temporary? “Millions of Americans have been forced to rely on unemployment payments for extended periods as the nation struggles through its longest period of high joblessness in a generation, and critics are taking aim, saying that the Depression-era program created as a temporary bridge for laid-off workers is turning into an expensive entitlement.” Jobless recovery likely for Canada: survey “The economy may have revved back to life at the end of last year, but cautious employers are more likely to boost the hours of existing workers, or hire people on a temporary basis, before they take on new full-time staff.”

Angry Americans. Why Americans are so angry “From ‘tea party’ protesters to antiwar advocates, Americans on all sides of the political spectrum seem angry about something. But for all the tumult, the disaffection today is far less than in many periods in the past.”

Pressure to Lend. FDIC chief hits banks for not making loans “Putting political pressure on the nation’s banks, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairwoman Sheila Bair called Monday for borrowers to identify and report banks that aren’t lending to consumers and small businesses.”

Financial Reform. Showdown looms for financial reform “The business community and some influential Republicans are fighting back. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has launched an ad campaign focused on limiting the reach of any new consumer regulatory agency, saying that a far-reaching entity would wreak havoc on a lot of mom and pop businesses that had nothing to do with the financial meltdown in the first place.” U.S. Chamber of Commerce grows into a political force “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is building a large-scale grass-roots political operation that has begun to rival those of the major political parties, funded by record-setting amounts of money raised from corporations and wealthy individuals.”

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Mideast Peace Talks. US eyes chance for Mid-East peace “U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden has said there is a ‘moment of real opportunity’ for peace between the Palestinians and Israel during a visit to the region.” Biden Calls Ties Between U.S. and Israel ‘Unshakable’ “Calling Washington’s ties to Israel ‘unshakable,’ Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. opened talks with Israeli leaders on Tuesday, part of a concerted American effort to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and keep Israel focused on sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program rather than unilateral military action.”  US reassures Israel over security “Joe Biden, the US vice-president, and Benyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, have held talks over the percieved threat posed by Iran and on reviving the Middle East peace process.”

Iraq Election. Iraqi voter turnout estimated at 62% “Participation is nearly 75% in Sunni-dominated Salahuddin province. Turnout in Baghdad is lower, possibly dampened by a morning bombardment by militants.” Iraq vote turnout figures released “More than 60 per cent of Iraqis voted in parliamentary elections despite numerous attempts to disrupt the vote, officials have said.”  Candidates Speculate on Results of Iraq Vote “Some claimed victory, and a few conceded defeat in an election on Sunday that the top American officials here called a milestone that kept the withdrawal of American troops on pace.”

Afghanistan. Gates and Afghan Leader Review Plan for a Kandahar Offensive “Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met here on Monday with President Hamid Karzai and Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal to review plans for a major American-led offensive in the city of Kandahar, the spiritual heart and birthplace of the Taliban, an operation General McChrystal indicated could get under way this summer.” Gates sees momentum in Afghanistan but plays down prospects for reconciliation “Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Monday that recent military offensives against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan had gained momentum but that a reconciliation effort proposed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai was unlikely in the near term to cause senior Taliban leaders to lay down their arms.” Gates warns of Afghan ‘dark days’ “The US defence secretary has cautioned against over-optimism in Afghanistan, despite recent gains on the battlefield for international forces there, warning of more ‘dark days’ ahead.”

Iran. Peres calls for ‘total’ world isolation of Ahmadinejad “President Shimon Peres on Tuesday said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad must face ‘total’ international isolation, adding that his anti-Israel rhetoric was only a cover for his ambitions for Iranian hegemony in the Middle East.” For Iran, Enriching Uranium Only Gets Easier “In the Iranian desert, at a sprawling industrial site ringed by barbed wire and antiaircraft guns, a shift in the enrichment of uranium is producing global jitters because it could shorten Iran’s path to the acquisition of nuclear weapons.”

Cuban Hunger Strike. Cuba draws hard line with hunger striker Farinas “Cuba’s Granma newspaper Monday indicated that dissident Guillermo Farinas will be allowed to die if he continues on his hunger strike, saying it would be unethical to force-feed him and that the government ‘will not accept pressures or blackmails.’” Cuba says will not be ‘blackmailed’ by hunger striker “Communist Party newspaper Granma, which reflects government policy, said it would not bow to pressure. It said Western media were ‘calling attention to a prefabricated lie’ by reporting his case.”

India-Women in Government. Rajya Sabha passes Women’s Reservation Bill “The controversial yet historic Women’s Reservation Bill, ensuring 33% reservation to women in Parliament and state legislative bodies, was passed in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday after two days of high drama that saw suspension of seven members who violently disrupted proceedings.” Indian MPs approve women’s bill “The upper house of India’s parliament has approved a bill to reserve a third of all seats in the national parliament and state legislatures for women.”

OPINION

The Source of Obama’s Trouble (Bob Herbert, New York Times) “The Obama administration and Democrats in general are in trouble because they are not urgently and effectively addressing the issue that most Americans want them to: the frightening economic insecurity that has put a chokehold on millions of American families.”

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.

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Quote of the Day. “At the moment, Haiti is flooded with help — the whole humanitarian circus is here. Most came with no planning horizon and will soon leave. And then what? We’ll try, but it won’t be enough. In that respect, we’ll be back to square one.” Hans van Dillen, head of mission of the Dutch chapter of Doctors Without Borders, which has provided medical services in Haiti for much of the last 15 years, on the impending departure of medical personnel who came in the aftermath of the earthquake. (Los Angeles Times)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

Hundreds killed in Nigerian ‘reprisal’ attacks “Attackers wielding machetes killed hundreds of people as further religious violence hit Nigeria yesterday following pre-dawn clashes between Islamist pastoralists and Christian villagers.” Religious violence kills over 200 in Nigeria “Rioters armed with machetes slaughtered more than 200 people overnight yesterday as religious violence flared anew between Christians and Muslims in central Nigeria, witnesses said. Hundreds of people fled their homes, fearing reprisal attacks.”

Washington Bishop: Religion Is Fault Line in Many Conflicts “Bishop John Bryson Chane was among four religious ‘principal leaders’ at a March 1-3 summit hosted by the Washington National Cathedral to brainstorm on how Christian and Muslim leaders can promote peace and reconciliation worldwide.”

UK Churches Campaign for Nuclear-Free World “The alliance includes the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, the Church in Wales, the Methodist Church, and the Baptist Union of Great Britain.”

Religious prejudice simmers (Eboo Patel, USA Today) “My Muslim nephew is taunted as a ‘towel head’ and ‘terrorist’ at school. We should treat religious bigotry the same as we do racism.”

NEWS AT HOME

Selma to Montgomery March. 45 years after march, some see ways to go “Hundreds of people converged on Selma on Sunday for the 45th commemoration of the bridge crossing. The marchers included foot soldiers who were there in 1965, civil rights leaders, members of Congress, and other dignitaries including Winnie Madikizela-Mandela of South Africa, Jesse Jackson, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.”

Health Care. Obama’s health care pitch to Democrats: Trust me “In private pitches to Democrats, President Barack Obama says he will persuade Congress to pass his health-care overhaul even if it kills him and even if he has to ask deeply distrustful lawmakers to trust him on a promise the White House doesn’t have the power to keep.” Healthcare overhaul comes down to Pelosi and Obama “Obama’s signature ability to inspire fellow Democrats and Pelosi’s well-honed ability to read their parochial needs will be tested as they tackle the job of finding the last stubborn votes for the health-care bill.”

Arkansas Senate Challenge. Liberal activists channel anger into Ark. Senate race “Democratic activists flooding money into a primary challenge against Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) say the race isn’t simply about defeating the incumbent. It is also about rebuking a Democratic-controlled Congress that they say isn’t pursuing an aggressive, populist agenda.”

New Deal Jobs. Nostalgia for New Deal Job Plan “The specter of a long period of high unemployment is reviving interest in an old idea: The Works Progress Administration, which put millions to work during the Great Depression.The United States Conference of Mayors is citing President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs as its members push for more infrastructure money to go directly to local governments.”

Nuclear Review. Obama faces tough decision on nuclear weapons “Does he substantially advance his bold pledge to seek a world free of nuclear weapons by declaring that the ’sole purpose’ of the U.S. arsenal is to deter other nations from using them? Or does he embrace a more modest option, supported by some senior military officials, that deterrence is the ‘primary purpose’?”

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Iraq Election. Votes being counted in Iraq poll “Counting is under way in Iraq’s elections, with preliminary results expected in several days.” In Iraq, a day of votes, violence “On a day that began with the thundering explosion of insurgent mortar rounds and ended with outbursts of celebratory gunfire by hopeful political activists, millions of Iraqis voted Sunday to elect lawmakers who will rule this country for years as U.S. forces withdraw.” Iraqis Defy Blasts in Strong Turnout for Pivotal Election “As Iraq tallied the votes from Sunday’s nationwide elections to choose a new Parliament, the top American military commander in Iraq on Monday praised the Iraqi military’s performance during the vote and said the United States would proceed with plans to withdraw troops from the country.” Iraqi women seek to ensure their ‘voices are heard’ “Female candidates were all over Iraq these last few weeks – shaking hands, making speeches, and handing out campaign literature. In a region of the world where some women are forbidden to drive or required to cover their hair in public, some analysts say Sunday’s election was a model of democracy and inclusiveness for the Middle East.”

Iran. U.S. Enriches Companies Defying Its Policy on Iran “The federal government has awarded more than $107 billion in contract payments, grants and other benefits over the past decade to foreign and multinational American companies while they were doing business in Iran, despite Washington’s efforts to discourage investment there, records show.”

Afghanistan. Karzai pledges to rebuild Marjah “Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan’s president, has pledged to rebuild the southern Afghan town of Marjah following a Nato-led operation to take control of the area from the Taliban.” Letting Women Reach Women in Afghan War “Next month they will begin work as members of the first full-time ‘female engagement teams,’ the military’s name for four- and five-member units that will accompany men on patrols in Helmand Province to try to win over the rural Afghan women who are culturally off limits to outside men.”

India-Women in Government. India women’s bill sparks uproar “The Indian government has reintroduced a bill which would reserve a third of all seats in the national parliament and state legislatures for women. Law Minister Veerappa Moily tabled the bill amid loud protests from opponents.”

Colombia-Land Mines. Land mines take a toll on Colombia’s poor “Colombia may no longer lead the world in land mine victims, but the explosives placed by antigovernment rebels are still sowing tragedy, especially among the poor peasants and ex-combatants recruited to manually eradicate coca plants.”

Israel-Palestine Peace Talks. Vice President Biden on goodwill trip to Israel “Vice President Joe Biden was due to arrive Monday in Israel on a mission to mend relations after a rocky first year for new administrations in both countries.” PLO okays indirect Israel talks “The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) has endorsed US-mediated talks with Israel, after George Mitchell, the US envoy, met the Israeli prime minister to discuss getting those indirect negotiations started.” Barak: Israel would rather hold direct talks with Palestinians “As U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden flew to Israel with the aim of kick-starting U.S.-mediated peace talks, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Monday that he would rather be negotiating with the Palestinians face to face.”

Israeli-Palestinian Understanding. Palestinian Sees Lesson Translating an Israeli’s Work “In memory of a son killed in a terrorist attack, a Palestinian lawyer paid for an Arabic translation of the autobiography of Israel’s most prominent author and dove, Amos Oz.”

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.

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Quote of the Day. “We can live in fear and make bad policy based on fear, or we can have some backbone and make policy based on what really helps our communities. [Still,] I worry about it. I say a rosary every day.” Patricia L. Caruso, director of the Michigan Department of Corrections,on the growing trend by states to reduce prison populations by expanding parole programs and early releases in order to save money, with the risk that some will commit new crimes. (New York Times)

FAITH IN THE NEWS
 
Democratic leaders working to win over abortion opponents for health-care reform “As President Obama makes his final plea for a health-care overhaul, Democratic leaders in Congress are embarking on a delicate strategy to win over abortion opponents, a gambit that could determine whether the legislation becomes law.” Bishops offer help with Senate “The Roman Catholic bishops signaled Thursday that if agreement is reached with House leaders on anti-abortion language, the church would work to get the votes needed to protect the provisions in the Senate – and thereby advance the shared goal with Democrats of health care reform. “
 
Clergy Spread Message of Hope and Blessings for Complete Census Count “Besides spreading the word of God, religious leaders at some local churches will this month begin spreading the word to their parishioners that participation in the Census is important, and that they can trust that the forms they fill out will not be used against them.”
 
Study says blogs a growing but largely untapped influence on religion “Blogs are a growing but still relatively underutilized influence on today’s religious discourse, according to a study of the religious blogosphere by the Social Science Research Council.”
 
Churches Unveil Plan to Ease Plight of Black Men “Three historic black denominations on Wednesday unveiled a new national plan aimed at keeping their young males out of prison and in school and church.”
 
NEWS AT HOME

Unemployment. Jobless rate remained at 9.7 percent in February, stats say “Another 36,000 jobs were lost in February, but manufacturers added jobs for the second straight month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its monthly job report Friday.” Payrolls in U.S. Fell 36,000; Unemployment at 9.7% “The jobless rate in the U.S. held at 9.7 percent in February and employment declined less than forecast, even as severe winter weather forced some employers to temporarily close.”

Jobs. House passes $15 billion jobs bill “After stalling briefly, the Democrats’ jobs agenda regained momentum on Thursday as the House passed one measure designed to boost employment and the Senate pressed forward on a more ambitious bill that is expected to come to a vote next week.” House Adopts $15 Billion Plan to Spur Job Creation “The House on Thursday approved a $15 billion measure intended to spur job creation by granting tax breaks to businesses that hire workers, as Democrats, bracing for new jobless figures, tried to show that Congress was doing something about stubborn unemployment.”
 
Health Care. Obama intensifies health-care efforts “An aide to President Obama urged lawmakers on Thursday to make substantial progress on his health-care plan before he leaves on a foreign trip in mid-March, as Obama summoned wavering House Democrats to the White House for a private sales pitch.” Obama Takes Health Care Deadline to Democrats “President Obama, beginning a full-court press for his health care overhaul, met Thursday with insurance industry executives and House Democrats as party leaders on Capitol Hill struggled to figure out whether they could meet the president’s timetable for enacting legislation within a few weeks.” Pressure mounts for/against healthcare bill “As President Obama pushes for a prompt up or down vote on his health initiative, lobbyists and activist groups on both sides of the issue have launched grass-roots and high-dollar advertising campaigns on the roughly two dozen members of Congress who may be the final swing votes on the controversial issue.”
 
Immigration. Obama looking to give new life to immigration reform “Despite steep odds, the White House has discussed prospects for reviving a major overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws, a commitment that President Obama has postponed once already.”
 
Finance Reform. Senate reins in finance reform “The Senate is scaling back President Obama’s plans to reform the financial system, enraging critics who wanted to see the government do a better job protecting consumers and preventing banks from growing too big to fail.”
 
Education Cuts Protests. Thousands protest California education cuts “A day of passionate protest against education funding cuts attracted thousands of demonstrators Thursday to mostly peaceful rallies, walkouts and teach-ins at universities and high schools throughout California and the nation.” California Students Protest Education Cuts “Angered by increases in tuition and cuts in state financing, thousands of students, parents and faculty members protested across California on Thursday at colleges, universities and even elementary schools to plead for help with the state’s education crisis.”
 
Armenian Genocide. Over Turkish protests, House panel calls killing of Armenians ‘genocide’ “A congressional committee voted Thursday to label as ‘genocide’ the Ottoman-era slaughter of Armenians, shrugging off a last-minute warning from Obama administration officials that it would alienate Turkey, a key U.S. ally.” House panel narrowly passes recognition of Armenian genocide “Sponsors of a long-debated congressional resolution to officially recognize the Armenian genocide cleared a key hurdle by a one-vote margin Thursday, but face a tough battle ahead to bring the measure before the House.” Turkey condemns US ‘genocide’ vote “Turkey has recalled its ambassador from the U.S. and condemned a Washington panel’s move to declare the killing of Armenians by Ottoman forces in the first world war a ‘genocide.’”
 
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
 
Chile. Rebuilding Chile ‘to take years’ “Chile’s reconstruction will take ‘three to four years’ as the country recovers from the earthquake that killed some 800 people, its president has said.” Poor are the last to get aid in Concepción “Class war has broken out in the city that bore the brunt of the Chilean earthquake and tsunami and the wave of looting that followed. Aid has just arrived in Concepción but it is the rich who are being fed first.” Setting Chile’s Past Aside, a City Welcomes Soldiers “They may have arrived a couple of days late, and carrying a painful legacy from Chile’s past, but to an emotional Álvaro Ramírez, the presence of some 6,000 troops here on the streets of Chile’s second largest city was a godsend.”
 
Iraq-UK Commission. Iraq invasion was right decision for right reasons, says Brown “Gordon Brown today defended the invasion of Iraq but said he regretted that he had not been able to persuade the US to take postwar planning ’seriously enough’ to ensure a ‘just peace.’” Iraq war was ‘right’, says Brown “Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the 2003 war was ‘right,’ as he gives evidence to the UK’s Iraq inquiry.”
 
Iraq-Election. In Iraq, Early Vote Is Marred by Attacks “Iraq opened its polls early on Thursday for hundreds of thousands of soldiers and police officers responsible for protecting the country’s electorate, and they came under assault themselves.” Defying bombers, Iraqi security forces vote en masse “The early voting highlighted three mainstays of an Iraqi Election Day: the resilience of voters, in this case the nation’s beleaguered security forces; sectarian-laced allegations of electoral fraud; and the determination of militants to disrupt the process.” Iraq election: Sunnis set to make mark “Religious tolerance and political plurality are not yet selling points in this almost exclusively Sunni province, which feels it has lost more in post-Saddam Iraq than any of the country’s 17 other governorates. But this time around, there is a feeling among Anbaris that they have more to lose by staying home again than they do by turning up to vote.”
 
Afghanistan-Military. US Afghan general gets more power “The commander of US forces in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, is to be given expanded authority over US and Nato forces, officials say.” Afghan mission turning a corner, Petraeus says “General David Petraeus, the head of U.S. Central Command, has suggested that Canada is poised to draw down its forces in Afghanistan just as momentum is building toward a decisive victory over the Taliban.”
 
Afghanistan-Political. Departing U.N. envoy has strong words for Afghan government “The departing U.N. envoy to Afghanistan said Thursday that the nation’s leaders must ‘clean up their own house’ and warned that U.S.-led military operations must not jeopardize political efforts toward reconciliation with the Taliban.” Departing U.N. Envoy Urges Political Solution in Afghanistan “The departing head of the United Nations mission in Afghanistan, Kai Eide, warned Thursday that if negative trends were not reversed, there would be little that could restore peace in the country, and he called for balancing the military strategy with political efforts.”
 
OPINION
 
The power of nonviolence (Ziad AbuZayyad, Haaretz) “Disseminating a culture of passive resistance against the oppression and atrocities of the occupation is the most efficacious method for fighting it: It should be promulgated and its circle expanded. … It must be clearly said that nonviolence is morally superior to force.”
 
Obama risks alienating Latinos with lack of immigration reform (Joshua Hoyt, Washington Post) “I have known Barack Obama since 1986, when we were both community organizers. I am still organizing on the streets of Chicago, and what I see in the Latino community makes me fear that the president is oblivious to the pain wrought by our broken immigration system.”
 
Health reform that won’t break the bank (Peter Orszag and Nancy-Ann DeParle, Washington Post) “The president’s plan represents an important step toward long-term fiscal sustainability: It more than meets the president’s commitments that health-insurance reform not add a dime to the deficit and that it contain measures to reduce the growth rate of health-care costs over time.”
 
Nuclear power — not a green option (Chip Ward, Los Angeles Times) “Here we go again. With the Obama administration’s promise of federal loan guarantees to build two new nuclear power plants at a cost of $8.3 billion, the radioactive monster is rising from a long dormancy, pumped to life by the lobbyists for nuke designers, nuke contractors, nuke operators and nuke consultants and their generous spending.”

 
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.

Sign up to receive our daily news summary via e-mail »

Quote of the Day. “Mislabeling is a real disservice to consumers because people are cheated and are led to believe their food is healthier than it is. We’re delighted that the FDA has issued an unprecedented flock of warning notices to companies big and small to clean up their labels.”  Michael Jacobson of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, on the Food and Drug Administration sending notices to 17 food companies that they have violated federal laws by making false or misleading claims on their product packaging. (Washington Post)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

In Texas, Religious Right loses fight with national curriculum implications “The Religious Right suffered a surprise setback in Texas March 2, when incumbent Don McLeroy — a creationist and outspoken critic of church-state separation — narrowly lost his re-election bid for the powerful State Board of Education to challenger Thomas Ratliff in the Republican primary.”

Anticipation high ahead of Romero anniversary “Published statements from both the church and the government in El Salvador are raising hopes that the 30th anniversary of the death of Archbishop Oscar Romero may occasion an official announcement of his beatification.”

Darwin Foes Add Warming to Targets “Critics of the teaching of evolution in the nation’s classrooms are gaining ground in some states by linking the issue to global warming, arguing that dissenting views on both scientific subjects should be taught in public schools.”

Hutterites Refuse to Comply with Photos on Licenses “Members of a small Hutterite colony say they will flout the law rather than submit to being photographed for their driver’s licenses.”

NEWS AT HOME

Health Care. In Final Push, Obama Urges ‘Up or Down’ Vote on Health “President Obama, beginning his final push for a health-care overhaul, called Wednesday for Congress to allow an ‘up or down vote’ on the measure, and sketched out an ambitious – and, some Democrats said, unrealistic – timetable for his party to pass a bill on its own within weeks.” Obama calls for reconciliation to prevent filibuster on health-care reform “President Obama’s endorsement Wednesday of a risky legislative maneuver to complete health-care legislation sent Democratic leaders scrambling to settle policy disputes and assemble the votes necessary for passage in the coming weeks.”

Rallies for Education. Students rally today for quality education “College students on more than 100 campuses nationwide plan walkouts, rallies and other actions today to protest budget cuts, layoffs and tuition increases, which they say erode quality of education and limit access.” Rallies to focus on cutbacks in education “Thousands of students, teachers and parents in California and across the country are expected to stage rallies, demonstrations, walkouts and other actions Thursday to decry what they say is an assault on public education at all levels.”

Financial Reform. Downgrade of consumer financial protection agency threatens Obama’s overhaul plan “The move this week to downgrade a proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency to lure bipartisan support instead appears to be undermining the Obama administration’s effort to overhaul the nation’s regulation of the entire industry.” Long after Wall Street’s crisis, Congress still arguing over fix “Eighteen months after the near-collapse of the U.S. financial system, lawmakers in the nation’s capital still can’t agree on how to fix what went wrong, despite the abundant evidence of the economic devastation the crisis has caused.”

U.S. Military. Top U.S. military official outlines tempered approach to war “The U.S. military must use measured and precise strikes, not overwhelming force, in the wars it is likely to face in the future, the nation’s top uniformed officer said Wednesday in outlining a revised approach to American security.” Joint Chiefs Chairman Readjusts Principles on Use of Force “The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, laid out new principles Wednesday for how to use the military in meeting contemporary threats, saying that overwhelming force can be counterproductive if used recklessly.” General sounds alarm on U.S. Army training “The Army’s ability to train its forces is ‘increasingly at risk’ because of the nation’s protracted commitments to Iraq and Afghanistan, the general in charge of training has told the Army’s chief of staff.”

Same-Sex Marriage in D.C. Gay Marriage Is Legal in U.S. Capital “It was cold and drizzling outside the City Courthouse just after 6 a.m. on Wednesday, but no one seemed to mind among the same-sex couples waiting for the chance to apply for a marriage license.” D.C. begins licensing same-sex marriages “Just sitting down at a desk at the marriage bureau at D.C. Superior Court on Wednesday was too much for Angelisa Young. She cried so hard that she eventually had to bury her face in her fiancee’s chest.”

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Chile. Aid for Chile quake victims arrives “Shipments of food, water, clothing and other basics finally began pouring in Wednesday to this earthquake-devastated town, where increasingly hungry and frustrated residents have harshly criticized what they term a tardy response by the national government.” Fears of Lawlessness Prompt Show of Force in Chile “At night, residents huddle around bonfires and guard their streets with torches and sticks, ready to repel outsiders who might try to break into their darkened homes.”

Iraq. U.S. failure to neutralize Shiite militia in Iraq threatens to snarl pullout “A failed effort by the United States to neutralize a powerful Shiite militant group in Iraq has left in place a dangerous force whose attacks on American troops threaten to complicate the U.S. drawdown, according to American and Iraqi officials.” U.S. Fears Election Strife in Iraq Could Affect Pullout “The deadly suicide bombings in Iraq on Wednesday highlight the central quandary facing President Obama as he tries to fulfill his campaign pledge to end the war there: Will parliamentary elections, scheduled for Sunday, throw the country back into the sectarian strife that flared in 2004 and delay the planned American withdrawal.”

Pakistan Arms Deal. US agrees arms deal with Pakistan “The United States is to deliver a thousand laser-guided bomb kits to Pakistan this month. The deal, which also includes the delivery of 18 new F16 fighter jets and a dozen surveillance drones later in the year, is an apparent pay-off for greater co-operation against al-Qaeda and the Taleban.”

Afghanistan. US critical of Afghan media ban “The United States has criticised an Afghan government decision to ban live coverage of attacks by domestic and international news organisations.”

Mideast Peace Talks. Mideast peace talks could begin as early as Sunday “U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell will land in Israel on Saturday night, and the American administration is hoping the sides will declare the beginning of indirect talks the following morning, ahead of the arrival of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Monday.” Palestinians are expected to join Israel in indirect peace talks “A U.S.-backed proposal to launch so-called proximity talks moved forward Wednesday when the Arab League gave its blessing for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to join the effort.” Hopes rise for resumption of Middle East peace negotiations “The prospects for the first negotiations involving Israel and the moderate Palestinian leadership for over a year have increased after the nations of the Arab League gave qualified support to a US proposal for indirect talks between both sides.”

Iran Sanctions. Brazil rebuffs US Iran pressure “Brazil will not bow to US pressure to support sanctions against Iran over its nuclear work, the country’s foreign minister says.” Hillary Clinton fails to convince Brazil to support Iran sanctions “Brazil’s Foreign Minister Celso Amorim told Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that Brazil doesn’t support Iran sanctions. He wants more negotiations. The US worries about the growing closeness of Iran and Brazil.” Shirin Ebadi warns against Iranian sanctions “Iranian Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi has warned against imposing sanctions on her country, saying it would harm the population not the government.”

Zimbabwe Sanctions. Brown firm on Zimbabwe sanctions “Gordon Brown has said sanctions against Zimbabwe should not be lifted until human rights and media censorship concerns are addressed.”

Congo Peacekeepers. UN begins talks on withdrawal from Congo “Peacekeepers on world’s biggest mission may leave Democratic Republic of the Congo by mid-2011.”

China Military Budget. China posts unexpectedly low defence budget rise “China has unveiled a 7.5 per cent increase in its military spending for this year, the first time in nearly two decades that the budget has grown by less than double-digit figures.”

OPINION

The Republicans’ big lie about reconciliation (E.J. Dionne Jr., Washington Post) “The underlying “principle” here seems to be that it’s fine to pass tax cuts for the wealthy on narrow votes but an outrage to use reconciliation to help middle-income and poor people get health insurance.”

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.

The recent decision by Goshen (IN) College to begin playing an instrumental version of the U.S. national anthem before some sports events after never having done so has sparked a firestorm of protest.  A Facebook page opposing the decision now has…

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Quote of the Day. “We’re delivering fewer pieces of mail to more and more addresses every year. Something’s gotta give.” Rich Maher, Los Angeles Postal Service spokesman, on the problems facing the Postal Service as e-mail and electronic bill paying cause the volume of traditional stamped mail to decrease. (Los Angeles Times)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

Interfaith Group Urges Renewed Attention on Sudan “Interfaith leaders urged Congress on Tuesday (March 2) to refocus attention on Sudan as the troubled nation in eastern Africa faces a ‘critical juncture’ after being torn by years of conflict.”

Phoenix church fights city to feed homeless “On Saturday mornings, crowds of homeless people gather with other needy people at picnic tables outside a church in an upscale Phoenix neighborhood, listen to sermons and settle in for sausage, pancakes and scrambled eggs. The pastor says it’s the Lord’s work. Neighbors say it should be done elsewhere.”

D.C. archbishop defends Catholic Charities’ stand on health benefits “Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl said Tuesday that the decision by Catholic Charities to change its health coverage to avoid offering benefits to same-sex spouses of its workers is justifiable under Catholic teaching as long as the employees are paid a just wage.”

An indecent, unchristian witch-hunt (Michael Sean Winters, National Catholic Reporter) “The Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the ‘domestic antipoverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic bishops,’ has been the target of attacks from a group of conservative Catholic advocacy and media outfits during the past four months for allegedly doing business with groups that promote abortion and same-sex marriage.”

NEWS AT HOME

Health Care. As Democrats seek to push through health bill, Obama reaches out to Republicans “As Democrats on Capitol Hill prepared a risky effort to muscle sweeping health-care legislation to final passage, President Obama on Tuesday made a last gambit to split Republicans on the issue, proposing to incorporate a handful of GOP ideas into his signature domestic initiative.” Obama expresses interest in four GOP healthcare ideas “With the yearlong struggle over health care moving into its climactic final stage, President Obama on Tuesday made a last-ditch bid to win Republican support, raising the possibility of including a bundle of specific Republican ideas in the Democrats’ legislative package.” Obama Offers to Use Some G.O.P. Health Proposals “President Obama offered Tuesday to address some of the concerns expressed by Republicans in the health care debate as the two parties maneuvered for advantage heading into the legislative end game.”

Unemployment Aid Extension. Senate ends impasse, approves jobless aid extension “Senate leaders Tuesday night resolved an impasse over emergency aid to the jobless that had driven a wedge into Republican ranks and given Democrats a political weapon.” Senator Relents, and Jobless Bill Passes “The Senate ended a politically charged impasse over unemployment pay on Tuesday night, voting to allow jobless Americans in danger of exhausting their benefits another month of aid.”

Poverty Measure. New formula to give fresh look at U.S. poverty “The Obama administration Tuesday embraced an alternative way of defining what it means to be poor, stepping gingerly into a long-running debate over whether to revise the method that has been used to measure poverty for decades.”

Older and Homeless. Recession leaving more over 50 homeless “Although people 50 and older are traditionally a small part of the homeless population, their numbers have grown as the economy has stagnated.”

Financial Reform. Gridlock May Be Ending on Consumer Protection “A proposal to give the Federal Reserve the primary responsibility for protecting consumers from abusive and deceptive financial products emerged on Tuesday as a potential breakthrough after months of partisan gridlock in the Senate over the terms of a broad overhaul of financial regulations.”

Banks’ PR. Banks begin image repair over financial crisis “Some of the biggest U.S. banks are trying to regain the public’s trust through ad campaigns that tentatively confront the question of blame. Only 19% of Americans are confident of bankers’ integrity.”

Unfit for Combat. Army sees sharp rise in unfit soldiers “The percentage of soldiers who are unavailable for combat has risen sharply during the past three years from 11% of each brigade in 2007 to 16% this year, Army records show.”
Gun Ownership. Justices signal they’re ready to make gun ownership a national right “The Supreme Court justices, hearing a 2nd Amendment challenge to Chicago’s ban on handguns, signaled Tuesday that they were ready to extend gun rights nationwide, clearing the way for legal attacks on state and local gun restrictions.” Supreme Court Still Divided on Guns “At least five justices appeared poised to expand the scope of the Second Amendment’s protection of the right to bear arms on Tuesday, judging from comments at an unusually intense Supreme Court argument.”

Unions & Obama. Still With Obama, but Worried “Because unions have been so crucial to the Democrats election after election, political experts say labor’s ambivalence, or worse, toward the Democrats could greatly deepen that party’s woes this fall.”

Broken Government. Poll: 80 percent of Americans think Washington is broken “An overwhelming majority of Americans think that their federal government is gridlocked by partisan infighting and turf battles and can’t accomplish anything, according to a new McClatchy-Ipsos poll.”

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Chile. Pleas for calm amid Chile rubble “Chile’s president has appealed for calm in the earthquake-ravaged city of Concepcion, vowing a stern response to any renewal of looting and violence.” Chile Says Rebuilding May Cost Tens of Billions of Dollars “As the Chilean government employed helicopters and boats to extend aid to earthquake-battered regions, President Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday began to grapple with the enormous cost of rebuilding the country, saying it could extend into the tens of billions of dollars.” For Chile’s Bachelet, decision to call on army was weighty “As a young woman, Bachelet was jailed and tortured by the military dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. Her father, an air force general who opposed the 1973 military coup, died in jail.”

Haiti. U.N. Is Faulted as Lacking Coordination of Aid and Security in Haiti “Humanitarian efforts by the United Nations in Haiti have lacked sufficient coordination with local organizations in delivering aid and establishing security, according to an independent assessment released on Tuesday.”

Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, Karzai’s invitation to Taliban creates discord and confusion “Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s public invitation to the Taliban to attend a peace conference this spring has sparked disagreement and confusion among the many players in Afghanistan over the shape and speed of negotiations and what they should ultimately accomplish.” US puts Taleban fighting strength at 36,000 “The general in charge of persuading Afghan fighters to put down their weapons has estimated that there are as many as 36,000 insurgents, giving a rare appraisal of the fighting force at the command of the Taleban.”

Iraq Election. Maliki’s hold on power uncertain “The prime minister is widely popular among Iraqis but disliked by many fellow politicians, leaving the nation’s leadership structure up for grabs as election day approaches.” Iraq’s Top Cleric Refuses to Influence Elections “No one man in Iraq has more power to change the outcome of the country’s elections on Sunday than a frail cleric who lives in an ascetic house in this holy city. And yet he has refused to wield it, shaping the relationship between Islam and the state at a crucial juncture in Iraq’s history.”

Iran. Clinton seeks Brazil help on Iran “US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to raise the issue of Brazil’s policy towards Iran as she holds talks in Brasilia.” Bluster at UN Human Rights Council, as US and Iran trade barbs “The Obama administration has sought to focus world attention on the Iranian government’s repression of domestic opposition, and now it’s taking that bid to the UN Human Rights Council, the United Nations’ preeminent rights organization that the US joined only last year.”

Darfur. Concern over fresh Darfur fighting “The United States has expressed concern over reports that the Sudanese army launched offensives against rebels in Darfur after signing a peace deal with the main rebel group there last week.”

Israeli-Palestinian Talks Proposed. Arab League backs Middle East talks “The Arab League has agreed to a US proposal for indirect Palestinian-Israeli talks, a senior Palestinian official says.” Arab states back indirect Palestinian-Israeli talks “Israel responded to the Arab League decision on Wednesday, welcoming their endorsement of the U.S.-backed proposal to convene indirect Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.”

U.S. & Indonesian Military. U.S. floats plan to lift ban on training Indonesia’s Kopassus unit “As President Obama prepares to travel to Indonesia, his administration is seeking to reverse a 12-year-old ban on training an elite unit of the Indonesian military whose members have been convicted of beatings, kidnappings and other abuses.”

OPINION

How will the next Palestinian uprising look? (Amira Hass, Haaretz) “Judging from articles written by both Israelis and Palestinians, the next intifada is already in the air. They are predicting it is on the way and the most punctilious know it will be ‘popular.’ Bil’in and Na’alin are perceived as its models.”

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.

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Quote of the Day. “They [terrorists] can’t claim that their suicide bombings are martyrdom operations and that they become the heroes of the Muslim Umma [global brotherhood]. No, they become heroes of hellfire, and they are leading towards hellfire. There is no place for any martyrdom and their act is never, ever to be considered jihad.” Dr Tahir ul-Qadri, a London-based Pakistani Muslim scholar in a fatwa (religious ruling) against terrorism and suicide bombing. (Al Jazeera)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

White House Faith-based Council Adopts Recommendations “After a year’s work, a White House advisory council on faith-based programs adopted dozens of recommendations on Friday (Feb. 26) on everything from church-state separation to fighting poverty and promoting fatherhood.”

Same-sex marriage leads Catholic Charities to adjust benefits “Employees at Catholic Charities were told Monday that the social services organization is changing its health coverage to avoid offering benefits to same-sex partners of its workers — the latest fallout from a bitter debate between District officials trying to legalize same-sex marriage and the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.”

NEWS AT HOME

Health Care. Obama said poised to offer more healthcare changes “President Barack Obama will offer changes to his healthcare overhaul this week, the White House said on Monday, and Democrats said they were working to include more ideas advocated by Republicans.” Battle to Pass Health Bill Heats Up “The White House said Monday the leading tactic to win passage of the health-care bill was nothing extraordinary, rehearsing a key argument in the final public-relations battle over the bill.” Obama to Highlight Cost in New Health Bill Push “President Obama this week will begin a climactic push to rally restive Congressional Democrats to pass major health care legislation by hammering the argument that the costs of failure will be higher insurance premiums and lost coverage for individuals and businesses.”

Financial Reform. Dodd moves to scale back Consumer Financial Protection Agency plan “President Obama may be forced to accept a watered-down version of his proposed consumer protection agency to get a sweeping overhaul of financial regulations approved by Congress” Dodd wants Democratic support for consumer-protection regulator at Fed “The chairman of the Senate banking committee is seeking Democratic support for a Republican proposal to house a new consumer-protection regulator inside the Federal Reserve, a compromise that could clear the way for bipartisan legislation on financial reform.”

Filibustering Unemployment Aid. One-man filibuster draws fire “The federal government Monday began to furlough workers, while hundreds of thousands of jobless Americans nationwide braced for an end of their unemployment checks and health insurance benefits — the result of a one-man roadblock for a Senate spending bill.” Who really gets hurt when GOP’s Bunning blocks this bill? “The Department of Transportation said Monday that Republican Sen. Jim Bunning’s blockage of legislation designed to keep a host of federal programs operating forced the agency to furlough nearly 2,000 employees without pay, temporarily shut down highway reimbursements to states worth hundreds of millions of dollars and stalled multi-million dollar construction projects across the country.”

Coffee Party. Coffee Party, With a Taste for Civic Participation, Is Added to the Political Menu “Fed up with government gridlock, but put off by the flavor of the Tea Party, people in cities across the country are offering an alternative: the Coffee Party.”

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Chile. Chile Calls for Outside Aid as Devastation Sinks In “Chile’s government, after initially waving off outside aid, changed course Monday as the devastation from the powerful earthquake sank in and the nation’s pressing needs became clear.” Chile deploys troops to contain chaos after earthquake “Security forces struggled to contain looting and clashes in this country’s second-largest city on Monday, as tens of thousands of Chileans who lost their homes in Saturday’s earthquake camped out in the streets and waited for relief.”

Afghanistan. McChrystal, others visit Marja, Afghanistan, as offensive enters governing phase “The initial phase of the military offensive in southern Afghanistan to wrest Marja from insurgent control has largely ended, but the more daunting task of building a credible government in the place of Taliban rule has just begun, according to senior U.S. and Afghan officials.” Marjah’s residents wary of U.S. after Taliban ouster “With U.S.-led forces now in control of the one-time insurgent stronghold in southern Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai’s deputy flew from Kabul on Monday to reassure Marjah residents that the Taliban were gone for good – and that things would slowly get better.” In Marja, a Vice President Speaks With Warmth, but Reaps Cool “In the battle-scarred district of Marja, where the open fighting stopped just a few days ago, feelings about the war and the previous period of Taliban control are deeply personal, and the message from local people to the Afghan government on Monday was simple: words are not enough; if you expect us to be loyal, we need to see deeds.”

Iran. Canada pushes G8 nations on Iran sanctions “Canada will press for G8 countries to agree this month on a unified set of new sanctions aimed at Iran’s nuclear-weapons program, at a meeting of the group’s foreign ministers in Gatineau, Que.” China demands Iran nuclear talks, despite US pressure “China says diplomacy should be given further time in the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme, as US officials press for new sanctions on Tehran.” Iran targets opposition media “Iranian authorities have banned a reformist daily newspaper and a moderate weekly magazine run by the family of Mehdi Karroubi, an opposition leader.”

Chad Peacekeeping. Chad gives UN peacekeeping force extra two months “Chad has agreed to extend the stay of UN peacekeepers tasked with protecting Sudanese refugees on the border with Darfur despite hostility to the force.”

OPINION

Reform, on Ice (Editorial, New York Times) “The country needs to confront the issue, to lift the fear that pervades immigrant communities, to better harness the energy of immigrant workers, to protect American workers from off-the-books competition. What’s been happening as the endless wait for reform drags on has been ugly.”

Opinion: For principled and practical immigration reform — now (David Gushee, Associated Baptist Press) “Some may think that, with the apparent gridlock in Washington, this is not an auspicious time to push anything as significant as immigration reform. I would instead argue that this is a solvable problem and one on which bipartisan cooperation is already happening. Bipartisan success on this issue could be translated into good will mobilized for other issues.”

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.

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Quote of the Day. “The positive energy has been incredible. There has been an outpouring of pride [among natives] the likes of which I’ve never seen before.”  Tewanee Joseph, CEO of the Four Host First Nations, on the involvement of native peoples in the Vancouver Olympics. (Globe & Mail, Toronto)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

Iraq’s Christians demand justice “Iraqis in Baghdad and Mosul have protested a recent wave of attacks on their minority religious communities, following the murder of eight Christians in less than two weeks.”

Rashad Hussain, a Muslim and new U.S. envoy, is bridge between two worlds “In his new position, Hussain, who is both a Koran scholar and an ardent North Carolina Tar Heels basketball fan, will be responsible for helping to bridge another cultural divide — the one in U.S. relations with Muslims inside and outside the nation’s borders.”

Where have all the Protestants gone? (Oliver Thomas, USA Today) “So-called mainliners led the fight for social causes such as civil rights, equality for women and other key issues of the day. Now that American society has embraced such norms, liberal Protestant groups have become marginalized. Or have they?”

Haiti and God (James Carroll, Boston Globe) “Therefore, let humans do the works of salvation. In addition to sending money to Haiti, and insisting on unflagging US relief aid, the rest of us can at least keep the people in mind. In Lent, Christians retell the story of the abandoned Jesus, for the sake of its consolation, yes. But also to recall its deeper meaning. If a loving God acts in the world, it is through the loving acts of human beings.”

NEWS AT HOME

Health Care. Pelosi Says She’ll Get Votes Needed for Health Bill “Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she is confident she will be able to get the votes needed to pass sweeping health care legislation in the House, even if it threatens the political careers of some members of her party.” Democrats will have votes for health bill, Obama aide says “Raising the prospect of a ’simple up-or-down vote’ on health-care reform, White House adviser Nancy-Ann DeParle said on Sunday she thinks Democrats will secure enough ayes on the measure and signaled that the administration could be moving toward trying to pass it along party lines.” Is healthcare bipartisanship down the drain? “But more and more, it’s looking like Democrats will have to go it alone on what has become the most contentious issue in Obama’s first year in the White House – at least if anything comprehensive is to result from the debate.” Wary Centrists Posing Challenge in Health Care Vote “The future of President Obama’s health care overhaul now rests largely with two blocs of swing Democrats in the House of Representatives – abortion opponents and fiscal conservatives – whose indecision signals the difficulties Speaker Nancy Pelosi faces in securing the votes necessary to pass the bill.”

Financial Reform. In Senate, a Renewed Effort to Reach a Consensus on Financial Regulation “The most hotly disputed elements – the creation of a consumer protection agency to watch for deceptive and abusive terms on mortgages, credit cards, payday loans, and other financial products – are a reminder of how intense lobbying and partisan gridlock threaten to significantly weaken what the Obama administration has called a top priority.”

Unemployment. GOP’s Kyl vows Senate will pass jobless benefits extension “Congress will pass legislation aimed at keeping certain jobless benefits, highway and transit money, and other government programs funded, Sen. Jon Kyl, the Senate’s number 2 Republican, said Sunday. But several programs still expired at midnight and action to reinstate them won’t come before Tuesday.” Payday lenders giving advances on unemployment checks “The payday loan industry has found a new and lucrative source of business: the unemployed. Payday lenders, which typically provide workers with cash advances on their paychecks, are offering the same service to those covered by unemployment insurance.”

Nuclear Policy. White House Is Rethinking Nuclear Policy “As President Obama begins making final decisions on a broad new nuclear strategy for the United States, senior aides say he will permanently reduce America’s arsenal by thousands of weapons. But the administration has rejected proposals that the United States declare it would never be the first to use nuclear weapons, aides said.”

Heating Assistance. More U.S. households apply for heat help “A record number of U.S. households are applying for help to pay home heating bills with 17 states fielding application requests that are up more than 20% from last year, the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association says.”

Clean Water. Rulings Restrict Clean Water Act, Hampering E.P.A. “Thousands of the nation’s largest water polluters are outside the Clean Water Act’s reach because the Supreme Court has left uncertain which waterways are protected by that law, according to interviews with regulators.”

Campaign Finance. Decision Could Allow Anonymous Political Contributions by Businesses “Experts say the ruling, along with a pair of earlier Supreme Court cases, makes it possible for corporations and unions to donate anonymously to nonprofit civic leagues and trade associations. The groups can then use the money to finance the types of political advertisements that were at the heart of last month’s ruling.”

Gun Ownership. Gun rights case likely to be landmark Supreme Court ruling “When the Supreme Court takes up a challenge this week to Chicago’s strict ban on handguns, it will hear two contrasting visions of how to make the city safer and to protect its residents from gun violence.”  Guns at Starbucks? Pushing the right to bear arms in public “Small groups of armed Californians have been turning up at cafes and coffee shops with handguns holstered to their belts to raise awareness about gun rights and what they call unfair limits on concealed weapon permits.”

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Chile Earthquake. Rescuers search for Chile quake survivors; death toll jumps to 708 “With more than 700 people reported dead, rescuers smashed through fallen walls and sawed into rubble Sunday in an urgent push to find survivors of the massive earthquake that roared through Chile a day earlier. Some 2 million were said to be displaced, injured, or otherwise impaired by the disaster.” Chile reels in aftermath of quake, emergency workers provide aid “After experiencing one of the most powerful earthquakes to strike the earth in more than a century, Chileans accelerated their rescue, aid, and security efforts in damaged regions Sunday but also took pride in the comparatively low death toll, a result widely attributed to the country’s meticulous planning and preparation.” Chile troops tackle quake looters “The Chilean military is attempting to restore order in the country’s second city, Concepcion, amid looting after Saturday’s devastating earthquake.” Frantic Rescue Efforts in Chile as Troops Seek to Keep Order “With frantic rescue efforts under way, a rising death toll and isolated outbreaks of looting, the Chilean president on Sunday issued an order that will send soldiers into the streets in the worst-affected areas to both keep order and speed the distribution of aid.”

Afghanistan. U.S. Marines, Afghan troops to stay in Marja for months “More than 2,000 U.S. Marines and about 1,000 Afghan troops who stormed the town of Marja as part of a major NATO offensive against a resurgent Taliban will stay several months to ensure that insurgents do not return.” With Marja Largely Won, Marines Try to Win Trust “After the declaration this weekend that the battle for the Taliban enclave of Marja had been won, for the Marines standing behind sandbags and walking patrols, the more complicated work has begun.” Afghan soldiers show improvement in Marja assault “The Afghan troops who supported the U.S. Marines in the battle to end Taliban control of this town in Helmand province showed marked improvement over last summer’s performance in a similar fight but still need much more training.”

Iran. Iran opposition leader calls crackdown a wasteful exercise “Iranian opposition leader Mir-Hossein Mousavi on Saturday accused the government of wasting public resources in a massive show of force against the opposition this month, calling the country’s hard-line leadership a ‘dictatorship and distortion of the Islamic Revolution.’” Iran ‘not co-operating’ says IAEA “Iran’s insistence its nuclear programme was peaceful could not be confirmed, Yukiya Amano told the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.” Iran relations with IAEA turn contentious “Iran has dramatically shifted its public tone toward the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, dropping its previous deference while harshly criticizing the agency’s latest report and its new director-general as an incompetent and biased lackey of the West.”

OPINION

Learning From the Sin of Sodom (Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times) “For most of the last century, save-the-worlders were primarily Democrats and liberals. In contrast, many Republicans and religious conservatives denounced government aid programs, with Senator Jesse Helms calling them ‘money down a rat hole.’ Over the last decade, however, that divide has dissolved.”

The ill effects of job loss are climbing the socio-economic ladder (Connie Schultz, Cleveland Plain Dealer) “Our country has seen the most job losses in 25 years. This time it’s not just factory workers getting laid off, or suffering the health consequences.”

Living with partisanship (E.J. Dionne Jr., Washington Post) “If we learn nothing else in 2010, can we please finally acknowledge that our partisan divisions are about authentic principles that lead to very different approaches to governing?”

Financial Reform Endgame (Paul Krugman, New York Times) “So here’s the situation. We’ve been through the second-worst financial crisis in the history of the world, and we’ve barely begun to recover: 29 million Americans either can’t find jobs or can’t find full-time work. Yet all momentum for serious banking reform has been lost.”

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.

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Quote of the day. “This has happened before, and it’ll happen again as long as SeaWorld keeps an angry, frustrated orca in captivity. There’s no way you can safely have contact with a killer whale. They are predators.” Debbie Leahy, director of captive animals for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), after Tilikum, a 12,000-pound killer whale, attacked and drowned one of its primary handlers. (USA Today)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

Chaplains Keep Wary Eye On Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell Repeal ‘As Congress and the Pentagon grapple with a proposal to allow gays to serve openly in the military, some chaplains — especially evangelicals — worry the change will infringe on their religious beliefs.”

Lutheran Church seeing fallout over gay clergy issue “… by most accounts, it has been a confusing and murky time in the nation’s largest Lutheran denomination. Several hundred congregations are moving toward a permanent split with the ELCA and more will likely come, but the number is still a small portion of the 10,000-church denomination.”

NEWS AT HOME

Health care summit. At health-care summit, Obama tells Republicans he’s eager to move ahead “President Obama declared Thursday that the time for debate over health-care reform has come to an end, closing an unusual seven-hour summit with congressional leaders by sending a clear message that Democrats will move forward to pass major legislation with or without Republican support.” President Urges Focus on Common Ground “If there was any question about how deeply divided Republicans and Democrats are about how to reshape the American health care system, consider that they spent the first few hours of President Obama’s much-anticipated health care forum on Thursday arguing over whether they were in fact deeply divided.” Healthcare summit reveals chasm between parties “Facing unbending Republican opposition to a healthcare overhaul, President Obama confronted a stark reality Thursday as his televised summit ended: If he and his Democratic allies in Congress want to reshape the nation’s healthcare system, they will have to do it by themselves.” Health care summit underscores divisions “President Obama and congressional leaders gathered for an extraordinary summit on health care yesterday that offered an extended, free-flowing debate but produced no compromise. It did, however, clarify terms for the next phase of battle on Capitol Hill.” Health summit leaves Obama, Democrats on their own “With Republicans apparently unmoved by a day-long faceoff on live TV, President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress now face the test of whether they can overhaul the nation’s health care system by themselves.”

Advocate for the poor. Prominent Harvard law professor joins Justice Department “Prominent Harvard law professor Laurence H. Tribe will join the Justice Department next week to lead an effort focused on increasing legal access for the poor, two federal sources said Thursday.”

Education reform. Business principles won’t work for school reform, former supporter Ravitch says “For those who believe that performance pay and charter schools pose a threat to public education and that a cult of testing and accountability has hijacked school reform, an unlikely national spokeswoman has emerged.”

NEWS AROUND THE W0RLD

Afghanistan. Taliban say blasts in Kabul meant to force America out “Taliban militants hit the center of Kabul early Friday morning, using a powerful car bomb and attackers with suicide vests to target a prominent hotel and guest houses favored by foreigners.” As Fighting Eases, Afghans Plant Flag and Their Hopes in Marja “The black, red and green flag of Afghanistan was hoisted over the center of this onetime Taliban stronghold on Thursday, as Afghan officials symbolically claimed control after a major American-led military offensive.”  Pakistan to deliver suspected insurgents to Afghanistan “The Afghan government said Thursday that Pakistani authorities have agreed to hand over several suspected insurgents whom Pakistan has taken into custody, including the Taliban’s No. 2 commander.”

Iraq. Sectarian tensions rise before Iraq elections “A popular Sunni political party backtracked on Thursday from plans to boycott Iraq’s parliamentary elections even as rivals threatened to have the party’s leader charged with terrorism.” Iraq to reinstate Saddam’s officers “Iraq says it will reinstate 20,000 army officers who served in the army of the former president, Saddam Hussein.”

Iran-Syria. Iran, Syria mock U.S. policy; Ahmadinejad speaks of Israel’s ‘annihilation’ “The presidents of Iran and Syria on Thursday ridiculed U.S. policy in the region and pledged to create a Middle East ‘without Zionists,’ combining a slap at recent U.S. overtures and a threat to Israel with an endorsement of one of the region’s defining alliances.” Hezbollah chief meets Ahmadinejad “The head of the Lebanese Shia Islamist movement Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, has made a rare public appearance in the Syrian capital, Damascus.” Assad, hosting Ahmadinejad, says Syria and Iran ‘preparing for Israeli aggression’ “Tension remained high on Israel’s northern border yesterday, despite President Shimon Peres’ statement that he did not foresee war with Lebanon in the near future. Syrian President Bashar Assad, who yesterday hosted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Damascus, said Syria was preparing for Israeli aggression.”

Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi appeal rejected “The Supreme Court in Burma has rejected an appeal by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi against an extension of her house arrest.” Court rejects Suu Kyi appeal “Her lawyers had earlier said they were optimistic that the court would rule in their favour, although court judgements in military-ruled Myanmar rarely go in favour of the opposition.”

Iran. Khamenei Rejects Idea of Compromise With Opposition in Iran “Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dismissed the possibility of compromise with opposition leaders on Thursday, saying in harsh language that they had no right to participate in politics,” Unity lacking for U.N. sanctions against Iran “As many as four countries may refuse to support an expected United Nations resolution imposing new sanctions against Iran, threatening a setback for Western efforts to show a unified international effort, according to foreign diplomats close to the issue.” Despite Pressure, China Still Resists Iran Sanctions “Despite intense public and private pressure by the Obama administration, China has not yet shown any sign that it will support tougher sanctions against Iran, leaving a stubborn barrier before President Obama’s efforts to constrain Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

OPINION

The summit’s great divide (Editorial, Washington Post) “Thursday’s Health-Care summit proceeded from a flawed premise: that both sides want many of the same changes in health reform and could find a way to bridge their differences if only they could put politics aside. Early in the conversation, though, it became clear that even if the bipartisan fairy could wave her wand and make all the posturing disappear, the gaps would not be bridged.”

After the Summit (Editorial, New York Times) “The main lesson to draw from Thursday’s health care forum is that differences between Democrats and Republicans are too profound to be bridged. That means that it is up to the Democrats to fix the country’s dysfunctional and hugely costly health care system.”

The best way forward (Editorial, Los Angeles Times) “The televised healthcare reform summit that President Obama convened Thursday didn’t produce any Kumbaya moments or ground-breaking compromises. We hope it will persuade wavering Democrats to push a comprehensive healthcare bill through Congress on their own, because Republicans seem unlikely to change their minds about the measure.

Afflicting the Afflicted (Paul Krugman, New York Times) “But what was nonetheless revealing about the meeting was the fact that Republicans — who had weeks to prepare for this particular event, and have been campaigning against reform for a year — didn’t bother making a case that could withstand even minimal fact-checking.”

Not as Dull as Expected! (David Brooks, New York Times) “Philosophically, it is hard to bring these two sides together. And there were times on Thursday when compromise seemed hopeless. But there were other times, when participants started talking nuts and bolts of the exchanges, when there was overlap: how to create interstate insurance markets without a race to the bottom; how to end insurance company power over those with pre-existing conditions.”

At summit, Republicans prove they aren’t putting America’s health first (Steven Pearlstein, Washington Post) “I’m not sure what else was accomplished at Thursday’s Blair House summit, but surely one result is that we learned what Republican “leaders” really think about health care and health insurance.”

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.

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.

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.

Sign up to receive our daily news summary via e-mail »

Quote of the Day. “The cross is and will forever be the sign of the church. This is the symbol that we have together, the symbol of what we have together, the symbol of what the churches have to give to the world. From the beginning to the end.” Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, in his installation as new general secretary of the World Council of Churches. (Christian Post)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

On eve of summit, people of faith urge health-care reform “On the eve of a bipartisan summit on health-care reform in the nation’s capital, thousands of people of faith signed a letter urging the White House and Congress to ‘complete the task at hand on behalf of the millions who are left out and left behind in our current health-care system.’”

Announcing HuffPost Religion: Believers and Non-Believers Welcome “Whether you are a believer or not, this is an essential conversation to have … which is why I’m delighted to announce that we are launching HuffPost Religion — a section featuring a wide-ranging discussion about religion, spirituality, and the ways they influence our lives.”

NEWS AT HOME

Health Care. Preparing in Great Detail for a Health Debate, and for Its TV Audience “In convening Thursday’s bipartisan health session, President Obama is angling to recreate the kind of spontaneous, unscripted debate that gave him a decided advantage when he took questions on live television at a House Republican retreat in Baltimore last month.” Democrats looking beyond health-care summit to final talks within party “Congressional Democrats are already looking beyond the White House health-care summit, reckoning that Thursday’s session will amount to little more than political theater and focusing instead on a final round of intraparty negotiations that are likely to determine the fate of President Obama’s top domestic priority.” More than healthcare riding on Thursday’s summit “The health-care summit that convenes Thursday in Washington has emerged as a high-stakes gambit for President Obama and opposing Republican lawmakers, carrying risks for both sides that could not only alter the outcome of the health-care debate but also November’s midterm elections.”

Jobs Bill Passed. Senate Approves $15 Billion Jobs Bill “In what Democrats hope is the first in a series of legislative victories, the Senate on Wednesday easily approved a $15 billion plan to spur job creation, a vote that lawmakers hoped would show that they were taking steps to improve the nation’s employment outlook.” Senate easily approves jobs bill; House passes health-insurance antitrust bill “The Senate easily approved a $15 billion jobs bill Wednesday that would give tax breaks to companies for hiring new employees, one of two legislative victories that showcased a new Democratic strategy of winning Republican support by advancing popular measures.” Senate jobs bill a starting point for more legislation “After passing a $15-billion jobs bill Wednesday in a rare bipartisan vote, the Senate plans a flurry of other measures designed to jump-start hiring across the nation.”

Health Insurance Companies. Democrats lead a charge against health insurers “The House voted overwhelmingly yesterday to repeal the health insurance industry’s exemption from federal antitrust oversight, giving Democrats an easy win on health care a day ahead of President Obama’s bipartisan health summit. “

Financial Reform. Obama may compromise on consumer agency to pass financial regulation “The Obama administration is no longer insisting on the creation of a stand-alone consumer protection agency as a central element of the plan to remake regulation of the financial system.”

Unemployment. Construction unemployment still on rise “While most of the job market continued to rebound in January, the construction industry remained mired in its worst downturn since the Great Depression. It lost 75,000 jobs last month, almost single-handedly preventing U.S. employment from showing its second gain in two years.” At Closing Plant, Ordeal Included Heart Attacks “A growing body of research suggests that layoffs can have profound health consequences. One 2006 study by a group of epidemiologists at Yale found that layoffs more than doubled the risk of heart attack and stroke among older workers.”

Same-Sex Marriage-Maryland. Maryland to recognize gay marriages from other places “Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D) declared Wednesday that Maryland will recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere and that its agencies should immediately begin affording gay married couples the same rights as heterosexual ones.”

Environment-Nuclear Power. Vermont Senate Votes to Close Nuclear Plant “In an unusual state foray into nuclear regulation, the Vermont Senate voted 26 to 4 Wednesday to block operation of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant after 2012, citing radioactive leaks, misstatements in testimony by plant officials, and other problems.”

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Afghanistan. Afghan flag flown over Marjah town “Afghan and international forces have handed over control of the southern Afghanistan town of Marjah to civilian authorities, in the wake of a huge military operation to capture the area from Taliban control.” Afghans displaced by Marja offensive fret in a cold limbo “In wind-whipped tents, makeshift shelters and overcrowded family compounds, Afghans who fled the battleground town of Marja are asking themselves and one another: When will it be safe to go home?”

Pakistan-CIA. C.I.A. and Pakistan Work Together, but Do So Warily “The C.I.A. and its Pakistani counterpart, the Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence, have a long and often tormented relationship. And even now, they are moving warily toward conflicting goals, with each maneuvering to protect its influence after the shooting stops in Afghanistan.”

Egypt. Egypt’s Mohamed ElBaradei creates National Front for Change “After a meeting this week with opposition groups, the Egyptian who gained international renown as head of the U.N.’s nuclear agency stepped up pressure on his government by announcing the establishment of the National Front for Change.”

India-Pakistan. India and Pakistan Resume Talks “India and Pakistan took a ‘first step’ toward rebuilding confidence on Thursday after a meeting between high-level diplomats of both countries that included discussions on terrorism, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the disputed border region of Kashmir, and competing water claims.” S Asia rivals ‘to rebuild trust’ “India says it has taken a ‘first step” towards rebuilding trust with Pakistan after their first formal talks since the 2008 Mumbai (Bombay) attacks.”

Dubai Killing. Mystery over Dubai killing of Hamas official deepens “The web of intrigue surrounding the death of a senior Hamas official became more tangled today after Dubai police identified a further 15 members of an alleged Mossad squad who carried out the assassination, including another six who used apparently fake British passports.” Hamas assassination: 10 of the new suspects’ names are shared by Israelis “Dubai said Wednesday that the Hamas assassination investigation yielded 15 more suspects. The Israeli media said 10 of the new names are shared by Israelis. And while most in the region believe the Mossad carried out the hit, some evidence is emerging of ties to Iran.”

Darfur. Regional Shift Helps Darfur, Amid Doubts “The preliminary peace treaty signed Tuesday night between the most powerful rebel movement in Darfur and the Sudanese government is the culmination of a shift in regional politics that could help bring Darfur’s sputtering conflict to an end, Sudan observers say.” Darfur fighting mars peace pact in Sudan “Renewed fighting is reported to have broken out in Darfur despite Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir declaring the war in the western region was over.”

Cuba Prisoner’s Death. Raul Castro expresses regret over Cuban dissident’s death in prison “Cuban President Raul Castro made the rare gesture Wednesday of ‘lamenting’ the death of a political prisoner who succumbed after an 85-day hunger strike, according to international news agencies reporting from Havana.” Raul Castro calls Zapata Tamayo’s hunger strike death ‘lamentable’ “Cuban leader Raul Castro said Wednesday the death of political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo was ‘lamentable,’ while his security forces clamped down on dissidents to avert protests and foreigners condemned the hunger striker’s death.”

Hamas. Hamas founder’s son spied for Israel “The son of one of Hamas’s founding members was a spy in the service of Israel for more than a decade, helping to prevent dozens of Islamist suicide bombers from finding their targets, it emerged yesterday.” Hamas man’s son Mosab Hassan Yousef ‘was Israeli spy’ “The son of a jailed Hamas leader who converted to Christianity and moved to California has gone public to say that he spied for Israel.”

Deal on Darfur (Editorial, Washington Post) “Ravaged By war and genocide, ruled by a dictator who has been indicted for war crimes, Sudan is a prime candidate to become a crisis for the Obama administration. But there is also a small chance for peace and groundbreaking change in the next year.”

On bipartisan health care, a foundation for agreement (Kathleen Sebelius and Nancy-Ann DeParle, Washington Post) “Today, Democrats and Republicans have a chance to come together, share their best ideas and unite behind reforms that will put families and small-business owners back in control of their health care.”

Palestine’s strongest weapon is peace (Ghassan Khatib, The Guardian) “In the view of the Palestinian Authority and of the majority of Palestinians, the weapon of choice is to build the institutions of our state while using all legal and peaceful means to end the occupation.”

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.

Sign up to receive our daily news summary via e-mail »

Quote of the Day. “The American people and the governing class have accepted that war has become a permanent condition. Protracted war has become a widely accepted part of our politics.” Andrew Bacevich, retired Army Col. (and now history professor at Boston University) whose son was killed in Iraq in 2007, on how eight years of war have affected American foreign policy. (Washington Post)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

Catholic leaders urge bipartisan health reform, differ on time frame “As the head of the Catholic Health Association expressed hope that President Barack Obama’s health care summit would ‘move health care reform closer to completion,’ the leaders of a group of Catholic physicians called on Congress to scrap the current legislative proposals and start over.”

‘God gap’ impedes U.S. foreign policy, task force says “American foreign policy is handicapped by a narrow, ill-informed and ‘uncompromising Western secularism’ that feeds religious extremism, threatens traditional cultures and fails to encourage religious groups that promote peace and human rights, according to a two-year study by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.”

Haiti poised to free last two American missionaries “A judge in Haiti has said the last two Christian U.S. missionaries being held on suspicion of abducting children after the earthquake may be freed in days.”

Abortion debaters have agreed to disagree for 10 years “Each semester at UC Berkeley, Malcolm Potts and Raymond Dennehy engage in a rigorous, but gracious, back and forth. And students get a lesson about the art of argumentation.”

NEWS AT HOME

Health Care. Democrats on track to revive healthcare overhaul “On the eve of President Obama’s planned health-care summit, Democratic lawmakers are increasingly confident that they can resurrect their sweeping overhaul legislation after weeks of uncertainty about whether they could overcome the unified opposition of Republicans.” Republicans plan to stress private-sector alternatives to the president’s plan “Republicans are preparing to use Thursday’s White House health-care summit to sell their own ideas for using the private marketplace to expand coverage and reduce costs, but they remain wary of fumbling away what they believe is an advantage on the issue heading into this year’s critical midterm elections.” G.O.P. Expects Little From Obama’s Health Forum “Republican Congressional leaders on Tuesday rejected President Obama’s challenge to come up with a single comprehensive proposal to achieve his goal of guaranteeing health insurance for nearly all Americans.”Gentle White House Nudges Test the Power of Persuasion “Ever since his days as a young community organizer in Chicago, Mr. Obama has held fast to the belief that by listening carefully and appealing to reason he can bring people together to get results, an approach that in Washington has often come up short. He is not showing any signs of changing his style.”

Jobs. Democrats Seek to Push Ahead $15 Billion Jobs Bill, With More Steps to Come “Senior Democrats say the House is preparing to quickly pass a $15 billion job-creating measure once it is approved by the Senate, illustrating new urgency on the part of Democrats to show they are taking steps to improve the national employment picture.” Democrats hope bipartisan vote on jobs bill will be blueprint for future “The Senate headed toward passage Wednesday morning of a $15 billion jobs bill amid hope that the measure could provide a blueprint for other items on President Obama’s agenda.”

Financial Reform. White House in New Push for Changes on Wall St. “The Obama administration redoubled its efforts on Tuesday to overhaul the nation’s financial regulations, saying it would not back down from its efforts to restrict the trading activities of banks and to create a consumer agency to regulate financial products.”

Campaign Finance and Corporations. States weigh campaign-finance changes “State lawmakers around the country are rushing to rewrite campaign-finance laws following the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling that opened the door to unlimited corporate and union money in elections and upended laws in nearly half the states.” Wall Street shifting political contributions to Republicans “Commercial banks and high-flying investment firms have shifted their political contributions toward Republicans in recent months amid harsh rhetoric from Democrats about fat bank profits, generous bonuses, and stingy lending policies on Wall Street.”

Free Speech and Terrorism. Supreme Court weighs anti-terrorism law, free-speech rights “The Supreme Court struggled Tuesday to resolve a conflict between the free-speech rights of a Los Angeles-based advocate for international peace and a broad anti-terrorism law that makes it a crime to advise a foreign terrorist group, even if it means advising its members to seek peace.” Supreme Court: Peace activists challenge US antiterror law “The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on whether an antiterror law violates the Constitution. The US solicitor general calls it ‘a vital weapon.’ A lawyer for international peace activists argues it will send his clients to prison.”

Gun Laws. Fearing Obama Agenda, States Push to Loosen Gun Laws “President Obama has been mostly silent on the issue of guns, but states are engaging in a largely successful push for expanded gun rights, even passing measures that have been rejected before.”

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

European Anti-militarism. Gates Calls European Mood a Danger to Peace “Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who has long called European contributions to NATO inadequate, said Tuesday that public and political opposition to the military had grown so great in Europe that it was directly affecting operations in Afghanistan and impeding the alliance’s broader security goals.” Gates says Europe’s demilitarization has gone too far “In remarks to a forum on rewriting the basic mission plan for the NATO alliance, Gates called for far-reaching changes in an organization that was created 61 years ago as a political and military bulwark against the former Soviet Union and its Red Army.”

Afghanistan. Battle starts to win over Helmand locals and wean them off poppy growing “Afghan civilians will today begin to pour into the district cleared by British troops in a pivotal phase of the operation to banish the Taleban. Teachers and civil servants, together with foreign engineers, will begin to try to cement the military gains of Operation Moshtarak by winning the trust of locals.” Death toll in Afghan war nears 1,000 “More than eight years after the Taliban was toppled from power, the number of U.S. military fatalities in the war in Afghanistan is nearing 1,000, a grim milestone in a resurgent conflict that is claiming the lives of an increasing number of troops who had survived previous combat tours in Iraq.”

Iran. Report: EU drafts tough Iran sanctions “The European Union is preparing to impose stiff sanctions against Iran in the energy and financial sectors, as part of efforts to push Tehran toward a compromise on its nuclear ambitions.” Iran Letter Repeats Nuclear Swap Terms Rejected by West “Iran offered a formal, written response Tuesday to a Western-backed plan to defuse the crisis surrounding its nuclear ambitions, but Tehran’s reply was couched in terms the United States and its allies have already dismissed, according to Iranian accounts and diplomats.”

Cuban Dissident Dies. Cuban dissident dies after 85-day hunger strike “The Cuban political prisoner Orlando Zapata died in hospital yesterday, 85 days after he went on a hunger strike.” Cuba activist dies of hunger strike “A leading Cuban political activist jailed since 2003 has died after a lengthy hunger strike, officials in a Havana hospital have said.”

Darfur-Sudan. Sudan signs ceasefire with Darfur rebels “The Sudanese government and the most powerful rebel group in Darfur have signed a ceasefire intended to lead to a formal peace deal.”  Darfur groups seek common position “A number of Darfur’s armed groups have begun informal talks in Qatar, attempting to find a common platform to engage the Sudanese government in a move towards ending the seven-year conflict.”  

India-Pakistan. Hopes for India-Pakistan peace talks are modest “Reducing those entrenched tensions between the two nuclear-armed rivals is a centerpiece of the Obama administration’s foreign policy amid an expanding war in neighboring Afghanistan.” India troops die in Kashmir clash “India says three of its soldiers have been killed in clashes with militants in Indian-administered Kashmir.”

OPINION

A snapshot of income disparity (Tim Rutten, Los Angeles Times) “On the eve of our worst financial crisis since the Depression, the United States was — from an economic standpoint, at least — a less equal nation than at any time since the Gilded Age. The sputtering recovery now underway is producing few, if any, jobs to replace those that have been lost. Meanwhile, a variety of factors continues to push wages and most salaries lower.”

Bust the Health Care Trusts (Robert B. Reich, New York Times) “Astonishingly, the health insurance industry is exempt from federal antitrust laws, which is why a handful of insurers have become so dominant in their markets that their customers simply have nowhere else to go. But that protection could soon end: President Obama on Tuesday announced his support of a House bill that would repeal health insurers’ antitrust exemption, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaled that she would put it toward an immediate vote.”

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.

Sign up to receive our daily news summary via e-mail »

Quote of the Day. “Oh God, what happens if the staff for these members finally wakes up, realizes what they are doing and makes them stop? A lot of them have aides follow them around so they won’t say something stupid in the hallway.” Mike Madden, Salon.com Washington correspondent, on the more than one-third of members of Congress who regularly tweet. To follow Congress, see TweetCongress. (Los Angeles Times)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

Iran Arrests Evangelical Leader; Shuts Down Church “Iranian authorities recently arrested a ‘low-keyed’ evangelical pastor and shut down his church, a news agency specializing in Iranian Christians reported.”

Group tries to lift veil on mystery in D.C. “In a move to shine light on one of Washington’s most secretive and perhaps most powerful organizations, a group of Columbus pastors is challenging the tax-exempt status of a boardinghouse for Congress members known as the C Street Center.”

NEWS AT HOME

Health Care. Obama offers new health-care reform proposal “President Obama signaled his determination to forge ahead with a Democratic vision of comprehensive health-care reform as he unveiled on Monday an ambitious proposal that would extend coverage to 31 million people, raise taxes on the wealthy and ratchet up regulations on insurers.” Obama’s Health Bill Plan Largely Follows Senate Version “President Obama on Monday issued his own blueprint for a health care overhaul, challenged Republicans to come forward with their ideas and laid the groundwork for an aggressive parliamentary maneuver to pass the legislation using only Democratic votes if this week brings no progress toward a bipartisan solution.” Obama lays out goals on healthcare “In an 11th-hour bid to rally Democrats behind a sweeping healthcare overhaul, President Obama offered his own detailed plan Monday that would expand coverage, tighten regulation of the insurance industry and seek greater efficiencies in the nation’s medical system.”

Jobs. Senate advances job-creation bill with GOP help “Aided by a handful of Republicans, Senate Democratic leaders on Monday kept alive a $15 billion job-creation measure and are poised to pass the measure later this week.” Brown, 4 others in GOP break ranks to advance jobs bill “Senator Scott Brown came into office as someone who could deliver the pivotal vote for the GOP to halt Democratic initiatives. But yesterday, Brown delivered for the Democrats, helping them advance a jobs bill President Obama and his party seek.” In Passage of Jobs Measure, a Glimpse of Bipartisanship “Five Republican senators broke ranks with their party on Monday to advance a $15 billion job-creation measure put forward by Democrats, a rare bipartisan breakthrough after months in which Republicans had held together to a remarkable degree in an effort to thwart President Obama’s agenda.”

State Budgets. Recession Tightens Grip on State Tax Revenues “The recession can now claim another troublesome record: state tax collections shrank at the end of 2009 for a fifth consecutive quarter, the longest period of continuing state revenue declines since at least the Great Depression.”

Education. U.S. students need to play catch-up, Obama says “Decrying shortcomings of the No Child Left Behind Act, President Obama on Monday pledged to make American students more competitive in the global economy by encouraging higher state standards for primary and secondary education.”

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Haiti. Opposition leaders say they want to work with government in rebuilding Haiti “Faced with a disaster of overwhelming proportions, Haiti’s fractious political opposition is trying to set aside its differences and work with President René Préval to reach a consensus on how to rebuild the devastated country.” Haiti orphans facing neglect “There are mounting concerns in Haiti’s earthquake-hit capital over the welfare of thousands of orphans suffering amid the devastation.”

Colombia. Colombia becomes new hub for human smuggling into US “Colombia – long a starting point for much of the cocaine smuggled into the U.S. – has now become a major hub for smuggling people from Africa and Asia to the U.S. via Mexico.”

Iraq. Spike in Iraq Violence as Vote Nears “A series of bombings, beheadings and shootings rippled through Iraq on Monday, leaving at least 23 people dead, including 9 children, and intensifying concern about a spike in violence with less than two weeks until national elections.” U.S. plans for possible delay in Iraq withdrawal “The U.S. military has prepared contingency plans to delay the planned withdrawal of all combat forces in Iraq, citing the prospects for political instability and increased violence as Iraqis hold national elections next month.”

Afghanistan-Marja. Afghan official who will govern Marja pays first visit, makes plea to residents “The Afghan official responsible for governing Marja paid his first visit to this strife-torn community Monday, imploring residents to forsake the Taliban and promising employment programs as an inducement for local men to put down their weapons.” Afghanistan: A different kind of war “These are just some of the different pieces that make Afghanistan a muddle – and a very different kind of war for America.”

Afghanistan-Civilian Deaths. US vows probe into Afghan deaths “The U.S. defence secretary has said that NATO forces are doing their best to avoid civilian casualties in Afghanistan, after an air raid killed 27 people, including women and a child.” Afghans want Nato out after civilian death toll “Relatives of 27 people killed when NATO aircraft bombed a civilian convoy in southern Afghanistan have demanded that foreign forces leave the country.” Gen. McChrystal apologizes for new Afghan civilian deaths “American-led efforts to avert civilian deaths in the war against the Taliban suffered a new blow over the weekend when a NATO airstrike in southern Afghanistan killed about two dozen civilians. NATO officials said that coalition forces targeted the vehicles because they thought they were filled with Taliban preparing to attack NATO and Afghan forces.”

Pakistan. Pakistani Reports Capture of Taliban Inner Circle “In another blow to the Taliban senior leadership, Pakistani authorities have captured Mullah Abdul Kabir, a member of the group’s inner circle and a leading military commander against American forces in eastern Afghanistan.”

Israel-Palestine. Palestinians, UN voice protest over inclusion of West Bank tombs in list of Israeli heritage sites “The inclusion of two controversial holy places in a list of ‘national heritage sites’ which Israel wants to restore and preserve set Palestinian protesters hurling rocks and earned a statement of ‘concern’ from the United Nations yesterday.” West Bank strike over Israeli tomb heritage claim “A strike has been called by the Palestinian Authority in Bethlehem in protest at Israel’s move to claim two West Bank shrines as heritage sites.”

Iran. Iran to Build More Enrichment Plants “Iran will build 10 more nuclear-fuel enrichment plants – two within the next year – and has identified ‘close to’ 20 sites for such facilities, a senior Iranian official said Monday.”

Darfur. Sudan to sign Darfur ceasefire deal “Sudan’s largest opposition group is set to sign a peace deal with the government that could end the conflict in Darfur.”

North Korea. North Korea census reveals high mortality “Life expectancy in North Korea has declined over the past 15 years, with an increase in infant mortality and more mothers dying in childbirth, according to new census figures.”

OPINION

The President’s Plan (Editorial, New York Times) “The president was right to invite Republican leaders to a health care summit this week. He should hear them out but also challenge them – directly – to come up with credible ideas that would both expand coverage for tens of millions of uninsured Americans and begin to rein in out-of-control medical costs. For too long they have been allowed to obstruct and demagogue.”

Democrats: Find your spines and pass health reform (Eugene Robinson, Washington Post) “Better late than never. Now that President Obama has finally put a health-care proposal on the table, the Democratic leadership in Congress has only one rational course of action: Pass the thing, and quickly, or risk becoming the loyal minority.”

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.