March 27, 2008

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Catholic Vote Critical for Dems in Pa.
Associated Press (03/26/2008: ap.google.com)
SCRANTON, Pa. — Understanding Pennsylvania's rich Catholic tradition and responding to it is an article of faith for Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama as the April 22 primary looms in the still unsettled and intense Democratic presidential race.

Obama bounces back - speech seemed to help
Joe Garofoli/San Francisco Chronicle (03/26/2008)
The first major national poll taken since Sen. Barack Obama's speech on race in America shows Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in a virtual tie, reversing Obama's slide in the polls after the wide airing of controversial remarks made by his pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Obama Seeks to Quell Flap Over Pastor
Associated Press (03/27/2008: washingtonpost.com)
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Wednesday sought to quell concerns over anti-American remarks by his former pastor, saying people are paying too much attention to a small number of "stupid" comments. Obama gave a sweeping speech on race last week in which he condemned incendiary remarks by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, but the words of the former pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago continue to dog the candidate.

DOCTRINE AND PRACTICE
Vatican distances Pope from views of baptized Muslim
Phil Stewart/Reuters (03/27/2008)
VATICAN CITY - The Vatican sought on Thursday to put distance between Pope Benedict and the political views of a Muslim whom he baptized over Easter weekend, known in Italy for his stinging attacks on Islam. It also tried to quell Muslim fears about proselytism at Christian schools in Muslim nations, like the one the Egyptian-born convert once attended.

FAITH LEADERS
Q&A with John Thomas, President of the United Church of Christ
Daniel Burke/Religion News Service (03/26/2008: faithinpubliclife.org)
Even by the standards of his frequently controversial church, it's been an eventful few weeks for the Rev. John Thomas, president and general minister of the United Church of Christ.

Born Without Limbs, Refusing Limitations
Bob Brown/ABC News (03/27/2008)
Vujicic was born in Brisbane, Australia, the son of Serbian immigrants. Doctors have never been able to determine why he was born with no limbs and only a small foot with two toes on his left side. His father is pastor of a local church, and because the cause of his condition was unknown, they spent months trying to figure out the reasons why.