Question 4 on the Maryland ballot focuses on Maryland's version of the DREAM Act. It provides undocumented immigrants the opportunity to pay in-state tuition at Maryland colleges under very specific circumstances.
Dan Rodricks in a Baltimore Sun column highlights some significant data that illustrate the economic impact of the act and how it will benefit all Marylanders.
David Lampo makes an excellent case for Republicans to support same-sex marriage in his recent editorial in TheBaltimore Sun. It is interesting how his arguments parallel the arguments of more left-leaning writers.
With the election just two weeks away, Americans are still faced with the choice of what kind of government we want. The addition of Paul Ryan to the Republican ticket has resulted in questions about greed, tax policy, and the fate of highly popular entitlements and programs for the poor.
I can't let the passing of George McGovern go by without saying a few words about him. He was one of my heroes.
Heroes are not very popular these days, but in my day, I had many. My heroes included such greats as Superman and the Lone Ranger. Ted Kluszewski, first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds, was one of my early childhood heroes. Later, I gravitated to favorites such as Socrates, Confucius and Martin Luther King Jr. I always considered Dr. King to be in the tradition of an Old Testament prophet.
About three months ago, we were trying to decide where we were going to take a one-week vacation. I somehow managed to decide on a week at Virginia Beach during Hurricane Sandy. I think such careful planning requires special talent.
The United States is today one of the more religious countries in the world. Even recent surveys that show a diminution of religious sentiment do not diminish the religious fervor in this country as compared to other countries, such as those in Europe. Americans have a strong belief in God and a belief that religion should play a major role in their individual lives. But what is the proper positive role for religion in public life?
Americans woke up Wednesday to a significantly changed country. No, it was not because we elected an African-American president. We did that four years ago. On the other hand, it was not a status quo election either. Yes, maybe the Senate and presidency is still Democratic and the House is still Republican with a strong tea party contingent. But something has changed.
The recent election has pushed a lot of important issues to a back-burner. One issue that generated some significant new data a couple of weeks ago is related to gun violence and deserves a hearing.
Johns Hopkins has released a study illustrating how specific changes to our laws regarding guns could contribute to the safety of all of us.
Who Are the Takers?
The answer to that question is that all Americans are takers in relation to the federal government. Thomas Schaller writes a powerful article for the Baltimore Sun that highlights those receiving assistance from our federal government.
The Catholic bishops at their meeting in Baltimore unanimously voted to promote the canonization of the founder of the Catholic Worker movement, Dorothy Day. As David Gibson in this Religion News Service article points out, though they were unable to agree on a statement regarding the economy, the bishops did agree to support sainthood for this controversial figure. A number of bishops spoke up to endorse her candidacy.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has rightly said that no country would tolerate a constant barrage of missiles being directed at it. The United States agrees that Israel has a right to defend itself. A shaky cease-fire has been brokered especially through the efforts of Egypt and the United States. We can all be thankful for this baby step toward peace.
Faithful America references a story from The Associated Press about a Minnesota priest who withheld the sacraments for an entire family because of their 17-year-old son's support for same-sex marriage legislation. He posted a picture of himself on Facebook with a sign indicating his support for a same-sex marriage amendment that was on the Minnesota ballot.
Initial hopes that there would be a quick deal to end the "fiscal cliff" crisis are fading fast as positions harden. The plan now seems to be to go over the fiscal cliff and then pick up the pieces. We are told that this fiscal cliff is actually a curb or a slope. The damage will not be so bad, and it can be fixed with a retroactive deal.
An interesting article in the Catholic Herald notes that both traditionalists and progressives are guilty of heresy when it comes to the Second Vatican Council.
It has become all too predictable and all too frequent. An incident of gun violence occurs -- in this case, Kansas City Chiefs player Jovan Belcher shooting his girlfriend then himself -- and some express their concern. Immediately, there is an outcry from gun enthusiasts to remind us that guns don't kill people. Bob Costas experienced some of that in his comments on his "Sunday Night Football" telecast, and conservatives were quick to pounce.
NCR Today: Supreme Court justices Antonin Scalia and Anthony Kennedy are both Catholics. So why do their judicial philosophies differ so vastly?
I find myself speechless at the Friday shooting in Newtown, Conn., that ended the lives of 20 small children and six adults. This event, coming on the heels of the mall shooting in Oregon only a couple of days earlier, is beyond comprehension. A column by Dan Rodricks from TheBaltimore Sun says much of what I would like to say.
Let me just add a couple of random thoughts.
The Catholic bishops in the United States seem determined to hitch their wagon to the star of religious liberty. This is quite ironic in that the 2000-year history of the church is in no way a demonstration of acceptance or support for this democratic concept. The inquisitions, the burning of heretics, and the establishment of the church as the absolute authority throughout the Middle Ages were not events particularly evocative of the notion of religious liberty. Even today, we see the church determined to impose its will on governments in countries like Ireland and the Philippines.
In the summer of 2011, President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner almost reached a $4 trillion deal that fell apart at the last minute. All the king's horses and all the king's men were unable to put the deal back together again.
A decision was made to create a terrible scenario that would force politicians to agree to a deal because the alternative was unthinkable and would occur on Jan. 1. It was called the "fiscal cliff."
There is a wide variety of ideas and attitudes regarding gun violence within our country, just as there is on a number of other issues. However, protecting our children and reducing the number of ongoing incidents of gun violence is such a critical life issue that we must find a way forward. To many of us on the left, it seems so obvious. There is no reason for individuals to be in possession of military assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.
