News and Views

Elections in Italy

They've probably changed the headline by now, but as of 12:44 AM April 15 (my time)- this was the headline at the Guardian:

Berlusconi concedes defeat in Italian elections

The BBC doesn't like it any better

Former President Carter plans to travels to the Middle East. He plans to meet with terrorist leader of Hamas. Obama is among the few public figures in American NOT criticizing him for this.
He's placed a wreath on Arafat's grave and met with people who refuse to renounce violence and refuse to even recognize Israel's right to exist. How do you compromise, hug, and kiss people who call for the utter destruction and annihilation of other human beings, and encourage their children to become murderers?

Here's an interesting map of all the places in the world where food fights are occuring (no fraternities need apply).

The Pope is visiting America, and he wants the world to know he is terribly ashamed and dismayed at the scandals that have so publicly plagued the Catholic church in America. He says it is better to have good priests than many priests, and he does not want pedophiles serving in the priesthood. I use the word publicly there advisedly:


Newsflash- predators go where there is prey. Any institution with a higher than average proportion of 'prey' (children) will have a higher than average proportion of predators (adult criminals). That includes the clergy in all denominations, social services, and teachers- just about any profession with access to children who might be vulnerable. It is not demonstrably worse in the Catholic church than it is anywhere else.

Few of those invested in those institutions have demonstrated a particularly impressive willingness to acknowledge the existence of predators in their midst. That's the nature of institutions.