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Slip-sliding away

01 Mar 2009 - Preaching the News for Sunday

God promises Noah that "the waters shall never again become a flood." But scientists studying global warming in the Antarctic warn that worldwide sea levels may rise much more quickly than previously projected, causing widespread flooding. Antarctic glaciers are melting faster across a much wider area than previously thought, they said Wednesday. Previously most of the warming was thought to occur on the narrow stretch pointing toward South America, said Colin Summerhayes, executive director of the Britain-based Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research. But satellite data and automated weather stations indicate otherwise. "The warming we see in the peninsula also extends all the way down to what is called west Antarctica," Summerhayes said. "That's unusual and unexpected." The biggest west Antarctic glacier, the Pine Island Glacier, is moving 40 percent faster than it was in the 1970s, discharging water and ice more rapidly into the ocean, said Summerhayes. The Smith Glacier, also in west Antarctica, is moving 83 percent faster than it did in 1992, he said. All the glaciers in the area together are losing a total of around 114 billion tons per year. "That's equivalent to the current mass loss from the whole of the Greenland ice sheet," said Summerhayes. Source: An article by Eliane Engeler for the Associated Press

global warming flooding antarctica glaciers colin summerhayes scientific committee on antarctic research pine island glacier smith glacier
Don’t repeat yourself

15 Mar 2009 - Preaching the News for Sunday

This Sunday's reading from the Book of Exodus admonishes the people of Israel not to make images for themselves of "anything in the sky above or on the earth below." Monday, before signing an order to lift restrictions on federal funding for research on existing lines of embryonic stem cells, President Obama promised that he would ensure the government never "opens the door" to human cloning. Obama said he was ending what he believed was "a false choice between sound science and moral values," adding that the research shows great potential and that "with proper guidelines and strict oversight, the perils can be avoided." The U.S. Catholic Bishops' Conference criticized the move and the Vatican's L'Osservatore Romano newspaper ran an article on Tuesday reiterating the Catholic Church's position, which holds that embryos must be considered human beings. The article did not directly mention Obama's decision but said that protecting embryos should be "the basis of a real democracy, capable of recognizing the equality of all men and of avoiding any unjust discrimination based on their development or health." The president's support of embryonic stem cell research comes at a time when advances have been made with other sorts of stem cells that may soon overshadow embryonic stem cell research. The Japanese biologist Shinya Yamanaka found in 2007 that adult cells could be reprogrammed to an embryonic state with surprising ease. This technology "may eventually eclipse the embryonic stem cell lines for therapeutic as well as diagnostic applications," a commentator said. For researchers, reprogramming an adult cell can be much more convenient, and there have never been any restrictions on working with adult stem cells. Source: Articles by Nicholas Wade for the New York Times and the Associated Press

barack obama federal funding embryonic stem cells research us catholic bishops' conference l'osservatore romano shinya yamanaka
Some Fighting Irish are fighting mad over Obama invitation

05 Apr 2009 - Preaching the News for Sunday

President Obama is widely acknowledged to be an eloquent speaker--to possess "a well-trained tongue," as the author of the Book of Isaiah puts it in this Sunday's reading. Some Catholics are not pleased, however, that he has been invited to deliver the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame graduation ceremonies this May. Notre Dame's decision to invite Obama to speak has sparked protest from some Catholics because his stances on abortion and stem cell research are at odds with Catholic Church teachings. Notre Dame's overture to Obama is in keeping with the university's record of seeking newly elected presidents from both political parties as commencement speakers. Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush spoke to Notre Dame graduates months after taking office."This has sparked something beyond the usual right-left controversy," said David Gibson, a Catholic author of books on Pope Benedict XVI and the U.S. church. "Whether you're for or against the decision to invite him is morphing into kind of an X-ray of where everybody stands in the Catholic Church." Rev. Hugh W. Cleary, superior general of the Congregation of Holy Cross, which founded Notre Dame, wrote a letter to Obama on March 22 asking him to rethink--through "prayerful wrestling" with his conscience--his positions on abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research in the weeks leading up to his speech. Cleary said the decision to invite Obama wasn't his but said the visit should be a "teachable moment" for all. Rev. John Jenkins, Notre Dame's president, said Obama is being honored as an "inspiring leader" facing challenges from the economy, two wars, health care, and immigration and health care reform.Jenkins also singled out Obama, the first black president, as a healer of racial wounds. That is of special significance at Notre Dame because retired university president Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, 91, linked arms with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and served on the first U.S. Civil Rights Commission.The Obama invitation, Jenkins emphasized, does not condone or endorse Obama's positions on stem cells or abortion but the visit is "a basis for further positive engagement." Past Notre Dame invitations have drawn protests as well, said Douglas Kmiec, a Catholic law professor and former Reagan administration lawyer whose endorsement of Obama last year was controversial. Kmiec, who taught at Notre Dame for 20 years and supports the invitation to Obama, called it a sign of a mature university and further evidence that religion is now firmly part of the public discourse."Religion has been invited into the public square," Kmiec said. "Our voice is being heard. But we now will presume to exclude from the religious venue the public voices that have the duty and responsibility to people of many different faiths and no faith at all? That seems to be an ironic way to return a favor." Source: Articles by Eric Gorski and Tom Coyne for the Associated Press

barack obama theodore hesburgh john jenkins congregation holy cross hugh w cleary david gibson stem cell research abortion commencement notre dame university of notre dame douglas kmiec
Vocation study reveals changing face and habits of new entrants

16 Aug 2009 - Preaching the News for Sunday

This Sunday's psalm seems ready-made for those who in recent years have chosen to "taste and see" for themselves what Catholic religious life is like. In keeping with the psalmist's desire to bless and praise the Lord at all times, a landmark vocations study reveals that newer recruits place a high priority on shared prayer and worship, communal living, and Catholic identity. The newest generation of religious priests, brothers, sisters, and nuns are more ethnically diverse than their predecessors and also drawn to more traditional expressions of piety, according to the "Study of Recent Vocations to Religious Life" conducted by Georgetown University's Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) for the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC). "We've heard anecdotally that the youngest people coming to religious life are distinctive, and they really are," said Sister Mary Bendyna, executive director of CARA. "They're more attracted to a traditional style of religious life, where there is community living, common prayer, having Mass together, praying the Liturgy of the Hours together. They are much more likely to say fidelity to the church is important to them. And they really are looking for communities where members wear habits," said Bendyna. "This younger generation is seeking an identity, a religious identity as well as a Catholic identity," said Brother Paul Bednarczyk, executive director of the Chicago-based NRVC, a professional organization of Catholic religious vocation directors. "Symbolism, images, and ritual are all very important to this generation, and they want to give witness to their faith." The study also found that non-Hispanic whites account for 94 percent of current nuns and priests but only 58 percent of those in the process of joining orders, including 21 percent who are Hispanic, 14 percent Asian or Pacific Islander, and 6 percent African or African American. In addition, the study revealed that the graying of American religious is more pronounced than many Catholics might have realized. Ninety-one percent of nuns and 75 percent of priests are 60 or older, and most of the rest are at least 50. And finding new members remains a struggle for many orders. Thirty-four percent of women's orders and 22 percent of men's orders surveyed had no candidates. Almost half the orders that do have someone on the early path toward his or her vows have no more than one or two in the pipeline. Bednarczyk drew reason to hope from the fact that 43 percent of those in the early stages of joining an order are under 30. "Younger people are re-looking at religious life as a viable life option," he said. "It does speak of a future." A full summary and review of study results, as well as a list of best practices that foster vocations, can be found at the NRVC's website, www.nrvc.net. Source: Articles by Eric Gorksi for the Associated Press and Laurie Goodstein for the New York Times

vocations cara studies national religious vocation conference nrvc mary bendyna religious orders study of recent vocations to religious life paul bednarczyk religious life center for applied research in the apostolate
Wall Street playing Stall Street on reforms

20 Sep 2009 - Preaching the News for Sunday

This Sunday's reading from the Letter of James offers what many would consider an apt description of what led Wall Street to near collapse this past year: "Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice." On the one-year anniversary of Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy filing, which sparked the meltdown, President Barack Obama traveled to New York Monday to deliver a stern message to Congress and the financial community to follow through on stalled regulatory reforms. Speaking at Federal Hall, steps from the New York Stock Exchange, Obama warned that "normalcy cannot lead to complacency." "There are some in the financial industry who are misreading this moment," Obama said of the improving economy. "Instead of learning the lessons of Lehman and the crisis from which we are still recovering, they are choosing to ignore them." "Hear my words," Obama said. "We will not go back to the days of reckless behavior and unchecked excess at the heart of this crisis, where too many were motivated only by the appetite for quick kills and bloated bonuses." Public opinion would seem to validate the president's concern. According to a new Associated Press-KfK poll, seven out of 10 Americans lack confidence the federal government has taken safeguards to prevent another financial industry meltdown. A British think tank also echoed Obama's message, concluding this week that the lessons of the financial crisis have not been learned. The Institute for Public Policy Research said the rapid return to the financial community's bonus culture shows that real reform has been "very limited." The report warned that unless urgent action was taken, the banking crisis might not be the last of its type. Source: Articles by Alexi Mostrous and Neil Irwin for the Washington Post Staff, Ben Feller and Jim Kuhnhenn for Associated Press, and BBC News

barack obama wall street financial system lehman brothers institute for public policy research
Spice curries favor with cancer researchers

01 Nov 2009 - Preaching the News for Sunday

There is much still to be revealed to us, the author of the First Letter of John suggests this Sunday. Scientists say a spice in curry powder has revealed itself to be an effective anti-cancer treatment. Researchers at the Cork Cancer Research Center in Ireland treated esophageal cancer cells with curcumin--a chemical found in the spice turmeric, which gives curries a distinctive yellow color--and found it started to kill cancer cells within 24 hours. The cells also began to digest themselves, they said in a study published in the British Journal of Cancer. Previous scientific studies have suggested curcumin can suppress tumors and that people who eat lots of curry may be less prone to the disease, although curcumin loses its anti-cancer attributes quickly when ingested. Sharon McKenna, lead author of the Irish study, said her research suggested a potential for scientists to develop curcumin as an anti-cancer drug to treat esophageal cancer. Cancers of the esophagus kill more than 500,000 people across the world each year. The tumors are especially deadly, with five-year survival rates of only 12 to 31 percent. Source: An article by Kate Kelland and Janet Lawrence for Reuters

cork cancer research center esophageal cancer curcumin turmeric curry sharon mckenna anti-cancer
Speech at Notre Dame provokes scrimmage

27 Dec 2009 - Preaching the News for Sunday

During the January 1 Mass of the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the gospel reading from Luke tells us that when the newborn savior was eight days old, "he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb." Debate over matters related to the womb, particularly the issue of abortion, was the key flash point in a big story for the Catholic Church as well as the general media this past year: the University of Notre Dame's decision to honor President Obama with an honorary law degree and invitation to deliver a commencement address. Holy Cross Father John I. Jenkins, Notre Dame's president, faced criticism for inviting the president. Some 70 U.S. bishops and others said Obama's support of legal abortion and embryonic stem-cell research made him an inappropriate choice to be commencement speaker at a Catholic university. Critics called for the invitation to be rescinded and some said Jenkins should resign or be fired. But he and other university officials stood firm, saying Notre Dame was not condoning Obama's stand on abortion or embryonic stem-cell research by inviting him but rather engaging in the kind of dialogue needed to move beyond differences. The controversy hit the airwaves and the blogsphere as some commentators accused Notre Dame of forsaking its Catholic identity while others accused bishops and others who opposed Obama's appearance on campus of participating in partisan politics at the expense of the free exchange of ideas on Catholic campuses. Obama delivered the May 17 commencement address, in which he discussed Catholic social teachings and called for dialogue and mutual respect for differences of opinions on complex moral and political issues. Later in the year Jenkins was elected to a second five-year term by the university's board of trustees.

barack obama embryonic stem cells university of notre dame abortion stem cell research john i jenkins
Stamp out hunger?

10 Jan 2010 - Preaching the News for Sunday

"Like a shepherd" God "feeds his flock," the first reading option from Isaiah 40 says. For a growing number of people in the United States, food stamps and little else serve a similar purpose. According to an analysis done by the New York Times, about 6 million Americans receiving food stamps report they have no other income. The number of people who describe themselves as unemployed and receiving no cash assistance—no welfare, unemployment insurance, pensions, child support, or disability pay—was rising before the recession as tougher welfare laws made it harder for poor people to get cash aid, but it has soared over 50 percent the past two years. About one in 50 Americans now lives in a household with a reported income that consists of nothing but a food-stamp card. "The food-stamp program is being asked to do too much," said James Weill, president of the Food Research and Action Center, a Washington advocacy group. "People need income support." Even with food stamps, 14.6 percent of American households—49 million people—reported feeling "food insecure" at some point during 2008, according to a recent USDA study. "49 percent of all U.S. children will be in a household that uses food stamps at some point during their childhood," said Mark R. Rank, poverty expert at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. "Food stamp use is a clear sign of poverty and food insecurity, two of the most detrimental economic conditions affecting a child's health." Source: Articles by Jason Deparle and Robert M. Begeloff for the New York Times, Sandy Stonesifer for Slate.com, Jessica Martin for the Washington University in St. Louis News & Information Service, Judy Keen for USA TODAY, and Karen E. Cunnyngham, Laura Caster, and Allen L. Schirm for Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

Children poverty food insecurity food stamps james weill food research and action center mark r rank
China sentencing of geologist rocks international business

11 Jul 2010 - Preaching the News for Sunday

The law of the Lord is perfect, Psalm 69 says this Sunday. The laws of China came in for international criticism this week after a Chinese court sentenced an American geologist to eight years in prison for trying to buy public data about the Chinese oil industry. The heavy penalty is seen by legal experts as a warning to foreign businesses and a rebuke to the United States. Xue Feng's lawyer called the sentence "harsh" and said few details of the allegations against Xue were made public. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing said Washington is "dismayed" at Monday's sentence, announced during the U.S. Independence Day holiday weekend. The embassy called for Xue's humanitarian release and deportation. For foreign companies, Xue's case is the latest to highlight stark questions about the legality of conducting market research in China. Unlike more celebrated allegations involving Chinese secrets, Xue's case stems purely from his attempt to purchase commercially available data on the oil industry, according to people involved in his defense. Monday's sentence "sends a very bad signal to the foreign business community if they care to examine what happened," said John Kamm, executive director of the Dui Hua Foundation, a San Francisco group focused on helping those detained in China that was involved in Xue's case. Though a U.S. citizen, Xue was born in China, a reminder that ethnic Chinese may be more vulnerable to pitfalls of the country's legal system than other foreigners. Chinese security agents initially denied Xue the right to contact the U.S. Embassy, and his whereabouts were unknown for weeks, while his extended detention, quick trial, and alleged actions were likewise cloaked in secrecy. "One notable aspect of this case was the Chinese government's thumbing its nose at the [U.S. government's] efforts to support Xue," said Jerome A. Cohen, a New York University law professor and authority on China's legal system. Source: Articles by James T. Areddy for the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.com

china united states market research xue feng
Ruling on embryonic cell research highlights differences of opinion

29 Aug 2010 - Preaching the News for Sunday

The reading this Sunday from the Book of Sirach advises us on how to conduct ourselves in order to find favor with God. On the question of how to conduct stem cell research, a federal judge and the Obama administration differ sharply. Guidelines issued by the administration last year to expand the scope of stem cell research did not find favor with U.S. federal district judge Royce C. Lamberth, who struck them down Monday. Lamberth blocked President Obama’s 2009 executive order that expanded embryonic stem cell research, ruling all embryonic stem cell research by nature requires the destruction of embryos and therefore violates a Congressional ban on federal funding of such research. Administraiton officials are considering an appeal. Monday’s ruling involved a lawsuit against the National Health Institute filed by researchers opposed to the use of embryonic stem cells; a group that seeks adoptive parents for human embryos created through in-vitro fertilization; the non-profit Christian Medical Association; and other groups. From the other side, Dr. Irving L. Weissman, director of the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, said the ruling was “devastating to the hopes of researchers and patients who have been waiting so long for the promise of stem cell therapies.” Weissman said he hoped that the judge’s ruling would be overturned. In the gospel this Sunday, Jesus encourages us to embrace and serve those who suffer; we are instructed to invite “the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind” to our banquets. Some scientists believe embryonic stem cells could help treat many otherwise incurable diseases and disabilities because of their potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. But the field of embryonic stem cells has been highly controversial because the research process involves destroying the embryo, typically four or five days old, after removing stem cells. For those who believe that life begins at conception, as the Catholic Church teaches, such a procedure amounts to the taking of human life. As with many of the day’s most difficult moral and ethical questions, embryonic stem cell research brings into conflict two important values—protecting innocent life on the one hand, while on the other, doing all we can to alleviate the suffering of those around us. Source: Articles by Shelby Lin Erdman for CNN and Gardiner Harris for the New York Times

embryonic stem cells stem cell research obama administration irving l weissman royce c lamberth

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