CP World Report: National Day of Prayer, Romney, Chen Guangcheng, Planned Parenthood
For months, Republican leaders fretted because Mitt Romney's rivals wouldn't leave the playing field. Now the concern is that they won't play ball. Newt Gingrich's long march out of the GOP presidential race ended Wednesday, after a week of in-person and videotaped announcements of his bid's imminent end. Still, he withheld a promised endorsement of Mr. Romney until he can take the stage once more with the presumed nominee at his side. Rick Santorum, has also withheld his endorsement since he dropped out of the race last month.
US diplomats in China say the blind dissident Chen Guang-cheng left the American embassy in Beijing and he admitted he'd been hiding there for nearly a week. He was confined to his home after serving four years in prison, apparently over his legal advocacy for what he called victims of abusive practices such as forced abortions by China's family planning officials.
Today is the U.S. National Day of Prayer, but not to be outdone, two groups of atheists are promoting the National Day of Reason. The American Humanist Association and the Secular Coalition of America, joined forces for atheist Americans to celebrate "reason," as opposed to prayer. Maggie Ardiente, director of Communications for the American Humanist Association said, "The National Day of Prayer demeans millions of Americans who believe that reason, not prayer, is the way to solve the country's problems.," However, the National Day of Prayer website says the day is neither exclusively Christian or political.
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An Israeli-Arab pastor with strong ties to the Palestinian territories believes that for Christians to be involved in the Middle East peace process they "need to learn the Bible." Steven Khoury, a Jerusalem-born pastor is vice president of Holy Land Missions and author of the book Diplomatic Christianity. He says he has firsthand accounts of persecution because he grew up in a predominantly Muslim neighborhood that had extremists. He says it was not uncommon for church services to be interrupted by individuals carrying stones and Molotov cocktails. But he states that it is important to practice Jesus' message of love, acceptance, and forgiveness."
The ever-changing legal battle between women's health providers and the state of Texas takes yet another turn. Alana Rocha tells us funding for Planned Parenthood is once again in immediate jeopardy.
The Most Hated Company on Earth Is Making Investors Rich. And that is a dilemma for ethical investors. Stock Market expert Paul Tracy says that in a year marked by credit downgrades, the European debt crisis, and stagnating growth, cigarette maker Philip Morris International is still making investors rich. And that comes when the broader market has been a roller coaster ride. Despite being hated the stock is up more than 30% this year while the stock market is flat.
Many of us spend half our lives at work, so that's exactly where we need to be practicing healthy habits. But most employees spend their days sitting at a desk. Many companies are realizing that keeping their staff active is key to a productive company, and they're hiring wellness directors to get everyone moving. Susan Hendricks has more in today's Health Minute.
