The latest news on Immigration, Afghanistan, Homelessness, Military Recruiting, Abortion, Iraq, Pakistan, Iran, Israel, South Africa, and Select op-eds.
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Quote of the Day. "Obviously, if you are wiping with 80-proof alcohol, you are probably being about as safe as you can be. Germs don't like ... a high volume of alcohol." Very Rev. Steve Lipscomb, dean of Grace Episcopal Cathedral in Topeka, Kan., which has begun wiping its Communion chalices with vodka-soaked gauze after each parishioner takes a sip in an effort to combat the H1NI virus. (Los Angeles Times)
FAITH IN THE NEWS
The Pastor Who Has Obama's Attention “Seventy miles from Washington's prying eyes, Barack Obama has been attending church from time to time at Camp David, where services are led by a 39-year-old Navy chaplain with a famous last name, a compelling life story and a fervent belief in a God who works miracles.”
UN agency head tells synod that fighting hunger is a matter of faith “The teachings of the Catholic Church and of Islam urge believers to manage resources wisely, providing for the poorest and avoiding all waste and excess, the head of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization told the Synod of Bishops for Africa.”
NEWS AT HOME
Health Care. Finance Committee Passes Bill With One GOP Vote “As the last of five congressional committees completed work Tuesday on a health-care reform package, lawmakers braced for a debate before the full House and Senate about whether Americans are ready to embrace the far-reaching changes necessary to extend coverage to millions of Americans.” Republican’s Vote Lifts a Health Bill, but Hurdles Remain “After months of relentless courting and suspense, Senator Olympia J. Snowe, Republican of Maine, cast her vote with Democrats on Tuesday as the Senate Finance Committee approved legislation to remake the health care system and provide coverage to millions of the uninsured.” Healthcare overhaul bill clears Senate Finance Committee “The 14-9 vote by the Senate Finance Committee sets the stage for the final legislative push amid intense lobbying by healthcare providers, consumer advocates, labor unions and other interest groups.”
Immigration. Immigration Rally Draws Thousands “The event was timed to the unveiling of an immigration bill by Representative Luis V. Gutierrez, Democrat of Illinois and chairman of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.” Tougher rules on policing illegal immigrants “The Wake County Sheriff's Department is one of eight local law enforcement agencies in North Carolina and 66 across the nation authorized by the federal government to identify illegal immigrants and process them for possible deportation under a program known as 287(g).” 'Toughest sheriff' vows face-off with feds over illegals “The sheriff has announced he will defy the U.S. Department of Homeland Security by doing a street sweep for illegal immigrants one day after the expiration of the agreement that has permitted him to conduct such operations for the past three years.”
Afghanistan. Biden No Longer a Lone Voice on Afghanistan “From the moment they took office, Mr. Biden has been Mr. Obama’s in-house pessimist on Afghanistan, the strongest voice against further escalation of American forces there and the leading doubter of the president’s strategy.” Reconciliation Efforts in Afghanistan Flounder “As Washington policymakers debate the U.S. role in Afghanistan, most agree that one element will be important to whatever strategy emerges: the need for reconciliation with insurgents who can be bought off or persuaded to lay down their weapons.” General: we could buy our way to Afghan victory “Afghan insurgents should be offered amnesties and removal from the coalition’s 'wanted' list if they lay down their arms, says the British general charged with coaxing fighters away from their extremist leaders.” UK sends 500 more troops to Afghanistan “Gordon Brown says the UK will send 500 more forces personnel to Afghanistan -- but only if key conditions are met.”
Homelessness. ‘Tent City’ of Homeless Is Rejected in Florida “It was the end, for now, of an emotional dispute between residents fearful of the homeless and advocates who had argued for immediate help in a county with the state’s largest homeless population and where the recession has been especially severe.”
Military Recruiting. In Downturn, Military Reports Historic Recruiting Success “For the first time in more than 35 years, the U.S. military has met all of its annual recruiting goals, as hundreds of thousands of young people have enlisted despite the near-certainty that they will go to war."Droves of recruits to ease burden on troops “The U.S. military Tuesday reported the biggest surge in recruits since the end of the draft -- an increase that likely will relieve pressure on troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan by allowing them to spend more time at home between overseas deployments.”
Nobel Prize. Nobel panel defends Obama choice “In a rare public defence of a process normally shrouded in secrecy, four of the Nobel peace prize jury's five judges have spoken about a selection they said was both merited and unanimous.”
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
Abortion. Global report: abortions decline but unsafe procedures kill many women in developing world “Increased contraceptive use has led to fewer abortions worldwide, but deaths from unsafe abortion remain a severe problem, killing 70,000 women a year, a research institute reported Tuesday in a major global survey.”
Global Hunger. UN warns of worsening hunger “The UN's annual report on global food security confirms that more than one billion people -- a sixth of the world's population -- are undernourished.”
Iraq. Iraq releases new death toll figure “At least 85,000 people have been killed in Iraq by bombs, murders and fighting from 2004 until 2008, Iraq's human rights ministry says.”
Pakistan. U.S. Seeks to Ease Pakistanis' Concerns Before Obama Signs Aid Bill “President Obama plans to sign a bill providing Pakistan $7.5 billion in economic aid Wednesday after Congress issues a statement designed to placate Pakistanis' objections that conditions attached to the legislation violate their sovereignty, U.S. and Pakistani officials said.” US seeks to calm Pakistan aid fears “US senators have been trying to allay fears in Pakistan over conditions attached to $7.5bn worth of non-military aid it has promised for the next five years.” Obama's Pakistan policy rocked by aid package fury “Officials of the two countries were locked in last-minute negotiations on how to salvage the Kerry-Lugar Bill, which triples US civilian aid to Pakistan. It seeks to broaden the campaign against Islamic militancy by fighting poverty in regions along the Afghan border and tries to ensure that military aid is not misspent."
Iran. Iran investigating prominent opposition cleric “Iranian authorities launched a provocative attack on the opposition movement Tuesday by announcing a special investigation of prominent cleric Mehdi Karroubi over his accusations that security forces raped and tortured protesters after the disputed June reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.” Could an Israeli air strike stop Iran's nuclear program? “The short answer is yes, but it's unlikely that Israel could destroy all of Iran's nuclear sites, and it would run the risk of leaving behind an angrier and even more committed enemy.”
Israel. 'Israel abuses detention without trial' “Twenty-eight Palestinians have been held in administrative detention for two to four years, and one has been held for four-and-a-half years, according to a report due to be released early Wednesday morning by two human rights organizations, B'Tselem and Hamoked.”
South Africa. Police fire on S African protests “South African police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators protesting against poor living conditions during a rally in the country's northeast.”
OPINION.
Insurers push back (Editorial, Los Angeles Times) “The push for comprehensive healthcare reform started the year with such strong support from doctors, hospitals and industry groups, it seemed too good to last. And it didn't.”
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.
