Alessandra Tarantino/Associated Press
Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday. He appears to have acknowledged a “gay lobby” vying for Vatican influence.
Published: June 12, 2013
Re “Pope Is Quoted Referring to a Vatican ‘Gay Lobby’ ” (news article, June 13): Coming at a time when American attitudes toward gay people are developing apace, a Vatican announcement concerning the presence of a “gay lobby” within the Vatican needs to be considered in the context of an acknowledged need for institutional reform.
The main issue has been less the possibility of blackmail than of what an unnamed Vatican official referred to as “collusion or internal cooperation” among members of the lobby. These are practices that observers have long understood to inform some promotions, certain administrative interactions and access to power; the official found it necessary to state that he had “not been aware” of them.
Let’s hope that along with the promised investigation and hoped-for reform may come a consideration of the larger issue, and a newly charitable outreach to all.
JOHN C. HIRSH
Washington, June 13, 2013
Washington, June 13, 2013
The writer is a professor of English at Georgetown.
Reddit
As holidays go, Flag Day doesn't get much respect. It doesn't get the fireworks of July 4 or the solemn fanfare of Memorial Day. Heck, chances are you don't even get Flag Day off.
In that sense, Flag Day is kind of like Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, and the litany of other small territories and possessions that the good ol' US hasn't graced with full statehood.
But what if one of them did finally squeak through? Well, for one thing, America would suddenly need to reconfigure the stars and stripes.
The possibilities for a 51-star flag aren't exactly endless, but they sure are weird. Just in time for Flag Day, here's a look at 10 proposals that would probably make Betsy Ross give up needlepoint.
5:43 p.m.
Nueva York - El exsenador estatal de Nueva York Pedro Espada fue condenado hoy a cinco años de cárcel por un juez federal de Brooklyn por usar en beneficio propio fondos de una entidad sin ánimo de lucro que él mismo había creado.
Espada, de 59 años y nacido en Puerto Rico, quien había sido declarado culpable en mayo pasado de cuatro cargos y también se declaró culpable en octubre de otro cargo de fraude fiscal, fue condenado también a pagar $118,000 dólares al Servicio de Rentas Internas, a la confiscación de $368,000 y a una indemnización a sus víctimas que aún debe ser determinada, según un comunicado de la fiscalía federal de Brooklyn.
El político, que llegó a ser líder de la mayoría demócrata en el Senado estatal, y el latino de más alto rango en esa cámara, fue senador representando a una sección de El Bronx durante varios períodos en las últimas dos décadas.
Espada lideró en 2009 un movimiento que paralizó el Senado estatal y la Cámara Baja en la peor crisis política que ha enfrentado la legislatura de Nueva York, cuando él y el entonces senador Hiram Monserrate se aliaron con los republicanos para destituir al presidente del Senado, el demócrata Malcolm Smith, y nombrar a un republicano.
Voice of America
Pope Francis and the head of the Anglican church, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, have met for the first time since both were installed in March. The two church leaders held a private meeting Friday at the Vatican. The pope made remarks to Welby in...
Pope and archbishop of Canterbury find common ground at talks in RomeThe Guardian
Pope Wades Diplomatically Into Gay Marriage Debate ABC News
Pope praises Welby over gay marriage stanceTelegraph.co.uk
Reuters-Zee News
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G8 Leaders Meet on Economy, Syria
Voice of America LONDON — Leaders from eight of the world's leading industrialized countries meet in Britain next week for their G8 annual summit on the economy and world affairs. The leaders will meet at this isolated lakeside resort in Northern Ireland. They will have two ... and more » |
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USA TODAY
BERLIN -- John F. Kennedy's "ich bin ein Berliner" speech in 1963 was one of the most powerful of the Cold War, even if a humorous twist on the German phrase implies a comparison to a jelly doughnut. Now a Dunkin' Donuts shop just steps from historic...
Merkel tells young Europeans to move to find workBBC News
Obama-Merkel Cool as Leaders Together Standing Since 2009Bloomberg
Merkel Calls For Cutting Subsidies For Green EnergyWall Street Journal
ABC News-Expatica Germany-Daily Mail
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