February 27, 2007

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Document shows Romney's strategies: Plan addresses faith, rivals, shift on issues
Scott Helman/Boston Globe (02/27/2007)
The 77-slide PowerPoint presentation offers a revealing look at Romney's pursuit of the White House, outlining a plan for branding himself, framing his competitors, and allaying voter concerns about his record, his Mormon faith, and his shifts on key issues like abortion.

Clintons' Charity Not Listed On Senate Disclosure Forms
John Solomon and Matthew Mosk/Washington Post (02/27/2007)
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and former president Bill Clinton have operated a family charity since 2001, but she failed to list it on annual Senate financial disclosure reports on five occasions.

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
National gay marriage opponents switch tactics
Associated Press (02/27/2007: bostonherald.com)
BOSTON - The group that spearheaded the push for a federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage has reset its sights on state legislatures, conceding it has little chance for success in a Democrat-controlled Congress. The Washington-based Alliance for Marriage will try to build a nationwide network of state lawmakers who would support such an amendment, the group’s leaders said in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday, a day before they planned to unveil their new effort.

ABORTION
Backing Abortion Rights While Keeping the Faith
Neela Banerjee/New York Times (02/27/2007)
WASHINGTON — Frances Kissling has been called the “philosopher of the pro-choice movement” by her friends and an “abortion queen” by her critics. But the name Ms. Kissling wears most defiantly, to the consternation of many religious believers, is Roman Catholic. For 25 years, as president of Catholics for a Free Choice, she has angered the church hierarchy and conservative Catholics by criticizing fundamental teachings on sex.

STEM CELLS
Court Upholds Calif. Stem Cell Agency
David Kravets/Associated Press (02/27/2007: baltimoresun.com)
SAN FRANCISCO // California's $3 billion stem cell agency withstood another challenge to its constitutionality when a state appeals court rejected claims by abortion foes and anti-tax advocates that the agency's managers had conflicts of interest.

PHILANTHROPY
Philanthropy hits record as number of $100 million donations increase
Martha T. Moore/USA Today (02/27/2007)
As the rich get richer, they get more generous. Much more generous. The number of individual donations of $100 million or more hit a record in 2006, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, which compiles a yearly list of the biggest givers.

DOCTRINE AND PRACTICE
Nation of Islam's future uncertain as Farrakhan prepares to step down
Amanda Paulson/Christian Science Monitor (02/27/2007)
The fiery leader helped the group become more engaged in US society but didn't groom a successor.

Temple weeds out 'Tree of Life'
Brad A. Greenberg/L.A. Daily News (02/26/2007)
The Rev. Craig X Rubin continues to burn marijuana as a sacrament at Friday night services and preaches on the weekends - Old Testament on Saturdays, New Testament on Sundays, always at 4:20. His defense relies on his insistence that God wants people to enjoy cannabis - for recreation, religion and industry - and his belief that federal and state laws protect his religious practices.

COURTS
Georgia imam who helped Hamas is sentenced
Associated Press (02/27/2007: msnbc.msn.com)
ROME, Ga. - The imam of a Georgia mosque who pleaded guilty to providing support to the militant group Hamas was sentenced Tuesday to more than seven years in prison. Mohamed Shorbagi, 42, could have faced up to 15 years in prison.

ARTS AND MEDIA
Crypt Held Bodies of Jesus and Family, Film Says
Laurie Goodstein/New York Times (02/27/2007)
A documentary by the Discovery Channel claims to provide evidence that a crypt unearthed 27 years ago in Jerusalem contained the bones of Jesus of Nazareth. The claims were met with skepticism by several archaeologists and New Testament scholars, as well as outrage by some Christian leaders.

Raiders of the Lost Tomb
Lisa Miller and Joanna Chen/Newsweek (03/05/2007)
A book and movie allege the final resting place of Mary, Joseph and the King of Kings has been found. Controversy to follow.

'Titanic' find or sacrilege?
Cathleen Falsani/Chicago Sun-Times (02/27/2007)
"Titanic" director James Cameron has produced a new documentary for the Discovery Channel in which archeologists claim to have discovered the tomb of Jesus Christ and his family -- including Mary Magdalene. But the documentary's claims were met with a resounding "baloney!" from scores of scholars who say "The Lost Tomb of Jesus," which is set to air at 8 p.m. Sunday, is little more than far-fetched fiction.