Here is the message Benedict XVI sent to Mary Ann Glendon, president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, on the occasion of the plenary session of the academy on "Charity and Justice in the Relations Among Peoples and Nations". The Vatican calls a verbal attack on the Pope by a comedian "terrorism" (and more). In his first Latin American visit, Pope Benedict XVI will find a less divided church facing stronger rivals.
A review of God's Continent: Christianity, Islam, and Europe's Religious Crisis. From Prospect, an interview with Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, on Dostoevsky, "personalism" and how the story of Christ reminds him of Russian ideals. The Real Secret of the Universe: Why we disdain feel-good spirituality but shouldn't. Why the Church is important: An excerpt from Letters to a Young Evangelical. A review of Rediscovering God in America by Newt Gingrich. The Crusaders : A look at how the Christian Taliban is running the Department of Defense.
A review of The Deserter’s Tale: The Story of an Ordinary Soldier Who Walked Away from the War In Iraq by Joshua Key. Could civil war in Iraq spread? Historian Niall Ferguson weighs the evidence. From Asia Times, Pepe Escobar on what Muqtada wants; and a portrait of a jihadi leader, Hamid bin Abdallah al-Ali. An al Qaeda in Iraq militant believed to be involved in last year's kidnapping of journalist Jill Carroll has been killed. The bad guys keep on coming: The capture of 172 terrorist suspects in Saudi Arabia suggests that many more are at large. Waiting for al-Qaeda's next bomb: A group plotting to bomb Britain has been successfully prosecuted. But the danger of al-Qaeda is growing, and the intelligence services are struggling to cope. Al Qaeda finds its rock star: An article on Trent Reznor's audio valentine to Islamism.
John McWhorter on Hating Whitey Worldwide. Obama reaches out with tough love: Candidate says criticism of Black America reflects its private concerns. A review of The Devil & Dave Chappelle. A strategic view on class, race and women’s equality: An excerpt from The Nature, Role and Work of the Communist Party. Wimps, wussies and W: How Americans' infatuation with masculinity has perilous consequences.
From Reason, an optimist's view on Post-Kelo America: Reforms are making progress. Look Who's Taxing: Weary of tax cuts for the rich, state politicians are rethinking their aversion to tax-and-spend. Thomas Palley on The Flaws in Rubinomics: Economic policy centered on a balanced budget will destroy what's left of FDR's New Deal. The opposite of Wal-Mart: Publix is a thriving grocery chain provides a telling contrast with Wal-Mart. The rest of the world's major economies no longer depend on America's. Neither do America's own largest corporations. Has the term "public service" lost meaning for our private corporations?
Hedge funds and private equity operators are driving the wrong brand of capitalism, and pursuing ever-riskier deals that threaten the financial system. Fake free trade versus small farmers: An article on how agribusiness corporations get special privileges. John B. Judis on his battle with the telecom industry. Will the digital age bring equality? And a review of Inequality.Com: Power, poverty and the digital divide
