The online editorial staff comprises Betsy Shirley, Jenna Barnett, Josiah R. Daniels, Mitchell Atencio, Heather Brady, Kierra Bennning, and Zachary Lee.
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Voice of the Day: Wendell Berry
Prayer of the Day: Beauty around us
Verse of the Day: Jesus Reads the Prophet
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because [God] has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. [God] has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." - Luke 4:18-19
What is a Conservative?
President Reagan at the 12th Annual Conservative Political Action Conf in 1985. Getty Images.
We're not sure whether they were inspired by Sojourners’ ongoing "What Is An Evangelical" series, but TIME Magazine has published an interesting set of short articles from influential conservatives who answer three separate, but connected questions.
Find out what they are — and offer your answers — inside the blog...
Afternoon News Bytes: Feb. 2, 2012
Obama: Jesus Would Tax The Rich; Pockets Of Prosperity Across USA Escaped Recession; Obama Won't Touch Climate With A Ten-Foot Pole; U.S. Press Freedom Fell 27 Places Last Year To 47th In The World; Gingrich Slams Romney: The Founding Fathers Believed In Equal Opportunity For The Poor; Why Both Parties Are Flying the Anti-Wall Street Banner; Occupy Your Voice; Can Science End War?; Alabama's Immigration Law To Cost State Millions In Lost Taxes, Study Says.
Prayer of the Day: Loving our enemies
Verse of the Day: Face of God
Voice of the Day: Jonathan Safran Foer
FULL TEXT: Obama's National Prayer Breakfast Speech
President Obama holds a copy of a Dietrich Bonhoeffer biography at the National Prayer Breakfast, 2/2/12. Photo by Getty Images
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST, Washington Hilton, Washington, D.C. 9:10 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Please, please, everybody have a seat. Well, good morning, everybody. It is good to be with so many friends united in prayer. And I begin by giving all praise and honor to God for bringing us together here today.
I want to thank our co-chairs Mark and Jeff; to my dear friend, the guy who always has my back, Vice President Biden. (Applause.) All the members of Congress –- Joe deserves a hand –- all the members of Congress and my Cabinet who are here today; all the distinguished guests who’ve traveled a long way to be part of this. I’m not going to be as funny as Eric -- (laughter) -- but I’m grateful that he shared his message with us. Michelle and I feel truly blessed to be here.
Who Did Evangelicals Vote for in the Florida GOP Primary?
“New analysis of the Florida primary by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life based on results from the National Election Pool (NEP) shows that Mitt Romney received strong support from Catholics and from voters who do not describe themselves as white born-again/evangelical Christians. Among the four-in-ten Florida primary voters who described themselves as white evangelical Christians, 38% voted for Gingrich (who is Catholic), while 36% supported Romney (who is Mormon). About one-in-five Florida evangelicals (19%) supported Santorum (a Catholic), while 5% voted for Ron Paul (who is Baptist). Romney was the clear favorite of non-evangelicals, receiving 54% of their support.”
Afternoon News Bytes: Feb. 1, 2012
Searching For The Common Good In Political Discourse; Afghans Fear Downturn As Foreigners Withdraw; Romney: "I'm Not Concerned About The Very Poor"; Reducing Poverty Will Help Bring About The Kingdom Of God, Bishop Says; Introducing The Ifactory; Get Off Our Butts! (OPINION); Saudi Oil Minister Calls Global Warming “Humanity’s Most Pressing Concern”; Linebacker’s Faith Pulls Him Through Tough Spot; National Prayer Breakfast Gets A Rival: The People's Prayer Breakfast.
About Those So-Called "Honor Killings" in Canada
Front Page of Canada's National Post announcing the Shafia Murder Convictions.
According to the Associated Press:
A jury on Sunday found three members of an Afghan family guilty of killing three teenage sisters and another woman in what the judge described as "cold-blooded, shameful murders" resulting from a "twisted concept of honor," ending a case that shocked and riveted Canadians.
Prosecutors said the defendants allegedly killed the three teenage sisters because they dishonored the family by defying its disciplinarian rules on dress, dating, socializing and using the Internet.
The jury took 15 hours to find Mohammad Shafia, 58; his wife Tooba Yahya, 42; and their son Hamed, 21, each guilty of four counts of first-degree murder. First-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.
After the verdict was read, the three defendants again declared their innocence in the killings of sisters Zainab, 19, Sahar 17, and Geeti, 13, as well as Rona Amir Mohammad, 52, Shafia's childless first wife in a polygamous marriage.
Read a roundup of the ongoing coverage of the Shafia trial and the religious, political and social issues related to the so-called "honor killings" inside the blog...
Prayer of the Day: Violence in Senegal
God, we pray today for the country of Senegal as it experiences violence around the elections. May peace and understanding prevail against violence and distrust. Amen.
Voice of the Day: John Scotus Eriugena
“Christ wears ‘two shoes’ in the world: Scripture and nature. Both are necessary to understand the Lord, and at no stage can creation be seen as a separation of things from God.” - John Scotus Eriugena
Verse of the Day: Longing for Fulfilment
"For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God." - Romans 8:19-21
Afternoon News Bytes: Jan. 31, 2012
The End Of 'Compassionate Conservatism'?; Tunisia Faces A Balancing Act Of Democracy And Religion; Occupy D.C. Protest Stays Peaceful As No-Camping Deadline Passes; The Republicans' Hispanic Problem; What Does The Future Hold For Iran?; The End Of Health Insurance Companies (OPINION); Syria Unrest: Clinton And Hague Back Arab League Plan At UN; Inequality, The Middle Class, And Growth; Number Of Asset-Poor Americans Rising.
Homeless Veteran to President Obama: "Why Are We Sending Money to Pakistan?"
During the first-ever all-virtual interview conducted by Americans via Google+'s "hangout" group video chat feature, a young, homeless veteran in Boston asked President Obama why the United States still gives money to countries such as Pakistan, that are known to fund terrorism — especially when there are so many veterans living on the streets after returning from the war. The session was broadcast live via YouTube.
Watch the video of their conversation inside the blog...
Voice of the Day: Flannery O'Connor
“When there is a tendency to compartmentalize the spiritual and make it resident in a certain type of life only, the spiritual is apt gradually to be lost.” - Flannery O'Connor, from Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose
Prayer of the Day: State Legislatures
God, we pray for each state's legislature, that they make just and humane choices to help underrepresented communities. We pray that their decisions be sincerely driven by the needs of those they serve, not by greed. Amen.