How undiplomatic of you, Wikileaks | Food safety gets a boost | Making a federal case of deficit reduction | Can’t wait for Christmas? | Smithsonian exhibit draws fire--or just a lot of smoke?
“All the nations” have reason to proclaim the happiness of the Lord, says the psalmist this Sunday. Yet nations around the world are proclaiming their unhappiness this week after the unauthorized leak . . .
The Sunday reading from the Book of Isaiah promises that the long awaited redeemer who will come from the lineage of Jesse will judge wisely and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. The desire for right judgment is behind the U.S. Senate’s long-awaited legislation . . .
In this Sunday’s gospel John the Baptist warns listeners that as he speaks “the ax lies at the root of the trees.” Citing the urgency of cutting the huge federal deficit, President Obama Monday proposed a two-year freeze on the salaries of federal workers. . . .
In this Sunday’s gospel John the Baptist comes heralding the kingdom of heaven for those who repent. But as December 25 approaches, the pressure increases to skip the repenting part and move to the heralding. . . .
The Sunday gospel describes John the Baptist’s dramatic appearance in the desert clothed in camel’s hair and eating locusts and wild honey. Such untamed earthiness, however, is often unwelcome. . . .
Presidents of 30 colleges in the U.S. made more than $1 million in 2008. None had in 2004. Meanwhile, 7 percent of student loan borrowers as of 2008 fell behind on repayment within the first two years, an increase from 6.7 percent in 2007.