The latest news on Unemployment, Health Care, International Criminal Court, U.S.-China, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jerusalem, and Select Op-Eds.

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Quote of the Day. “There used to be a lot of racial tension here, but everybody knows that we need each other to survive this recession. People now, they seem to be starting to care for one another.” Eugene Edwards, president of the Henry County (GA) branch of the NAACP, on blacks and whites finding each other in waiting rooms of the welfare office and at the food pantry. (New York Times)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

El Salvador honors 6 slain Jesuits "In a sign of the remarkable changes afoot in El Salvador, the government Monday bestowed the nation's highest award on six Jesuit priests slain by the army exactly 20 years ago." Bishops remember Salvadoran Jesuits on anniversary of 1989 murders "The U.S. bishops added their collective voice to those of others in honoring the memory of the six Salvadoran Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter, all of whom were assassinated 20 years ago by a Salvadoran death squad."

Report: Americans Still Favor Faith-Based Programs "More than eight years after former President George W. Bush launched a program allowing churches and other religious organizations to receive federal funding to perform social services, 69 percent of Americans say they favor the initiative, the Pew Forum reported."

Bishops Assert Moral Duty in Health Care Debate "The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops defended their involvement in the health care debate, saying Monday that church leaders have a duty to the nation and God to raise moral concerns on any issue, including on abortion rights and coverage for the poor." Cardinal: lobbying health reform is duty "Cardinal Francis George, president of the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops, defended the bishops' decision to play an active role in shaping national health care legislation, saying Monday that the church must be the 'leaven' in the country's political debate."

NEWS AT HOME

Hunger in the U.S. Hunger a growing problem in America, USDA reports "The nation's economic crisis has catapulted the number of Americans who lack enough food to the highest level since the government has been keeping track, according to a new federal report, which shows that nearly 50 million people -- including almost one child in four -- struggled last year to get enough to eat." Hunger in U.S. at a 14-Year High "The number of Americans who lived in households that lacked consistent access to adequate food soared last year, to 49 million, the highest since the government began tracking what it calls 'food insecurity' 14 years ago, the Department of Agriculture reported Monday."

Unemployment. N.A.A.C.P. Prods Obama on Job Losses "With unemployment among blacks at more than 15 percent, the N.A.A.C.P. will join several other groups on Tuesday to call on President Obama to do more to create jobs."

Health Care. Poll finds deep divisions on health-care reform "As the Senate prepares to take up legislation aimed at overhauling the nation's health-care system, President Obama and the Democrats are still struggling to win the battle for public opinion."

Mammogram Guidelines. Mammogram guidelines spark heated debate "A government panel's recommendation Monday that women under the age of 50 do not need regular mammograms set off a furious debate about the importance of the routine screening tool, leaving many women confused about how best to protect their health."

International Criminal Court. U.S. to attend conference held by war crimes court "For the first time in nearly eight years, the United States will participate in a conference with members of the International Criminal Court, a decision that signals growing U.S. support for a war crimes tribunal the Bush administration once shunned."

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

U.S.-China. Hu and Obama pledge climate action "The presidents of China and the US have declared their determination to tackle climate change together, promising 'significant mitigation action' but avoiding specifics in terms of emission cuts and other measures." In Beijing, Obama Pushes Need for ‘Strong Dialogue’ "President Obama and President Hu Jintao of China met in private off Tiananmen Square here on a frigid Tuesday morning to discuss issues like trade, climate change and the nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea, in a session that signaled the central role of China on the world stage."

Afganistan. Money talks in Afghanistan, says army counter-insurgency manual "Money can be more important than force. This is one of the messages from the British army in its first counter-insurgency warfare manual to be published for eight years." Afghanistan 'not war without end' "The foreign secretary also said in a Nato speech the UK was 'ready, in the right conditions' to send more troops 'on the basis of an agreed strategy.'"

Iran. Inspectors Fear Iran Is Hiding Nuclear Plants "International inspectors who gained access to Iran’s newly revealed underground nuclear enrichment plant voiced strong suspicions in a report on Monday that the country was concealing other atomic facilities." U.N. seeks assurances that Iran has no other hidden nuclear sites "U.N. nuclear experts who last month were granted a first look at Iran's newly disclosed uranium processing site have acknowledged in a confidential report that the visit raised questions about whether other secret installations exist in the country."U.S., Russia agree on dissatisfaction with Iran over nuclear program "Presenting a united front on Iran's nuclear energy program, President Obama and Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev warned Sunday that they were losing patience with Tehran and wouldn't wait much longer for it to accept a proposal to resolve the dispute."

Iraq. Attacks Threaten Fragile Security Gains in Cradle of Iraq Insurgency "With American forces in a period of transition, Iraqi politicians positioning themselves for the national elections, basic services still in shambles and rampant unemployment, Iraqi security officials say that Qaeda and other militants would like to exploit the moment and derail the fragile security gains."

Jerusalem. Temple Mount, also known as Noble Sanctuary, is a Jerusalem flash point "It is one of the most watched pieces of real estate in the world, 35 acres where an under-the-breath prayer or a whiff of a rumor can rouse warnings of war."

OPINION

Their Future Is Ours (Editorial, New York Times) "There are 16 million children in immigrant families in the United States, one of the fastest-growing segments of the population. It's an old American story made new in the age of globalization, when waves of human displacement in recent decades have led to immigration on a scale not seen since Ellis Island. But a country that has been so good for so long at integrating new Americans is stumbling under the challenge."

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.