CP World Report: Santorum, DOMA, Somalia, Apologetics
WELCOME TO WORLD REPORT I'M CHRISTINE WILLIAMS
A new Gallup poll shows that presidential candidate Rick Santorum's recent rise in the polls has come mostly from those who attend religious services weekly. He has a 22% point advantage among that demographic. He is also more popular among those in the Midwest and conservatives. Romney on the other hand does well among those who seldom or never attend religious services and among self-described moderates and liberals.
Federal district court Jeffrey white has ruled that a key provision in the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional because it did not expend health benefits to a same-sex spouse. The case involved an employee of the federal court in San Francisco who married her partner in 2008 during the brief period when same-sex marriages were allowed in California. Health benefits were not extended to her partner and she subsequently took the case to court.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Representatives from 40 countries and international organizations attended a Conference in London on Somalia. Its aim was to galvanize the international community to tackle Somalia's woes . Among the leaders: US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird.
British Prime Minister David Cameron urged the international community to help Somalia's feeble government tackle piracy, militants and hunger; or else…the world will pay a price in the form of terror threats. He outlined his expectations of the conference….
Stephen Harper has been courting business overseas…..He is expected to announce the launch of free trade negotiations with Japan, as well as easing the ban on Canadian beef exports, when he heads to Asia for the Nuclear security summit next month. He intends to stop in Tokyo to meet with the Prime Minister of Japan to negotiate an economic partnership agreement.
MEANWHILE… Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently delivered a pointed message in China from the people back home: that Canada wants to sell you its oil and gas, but won't trade its principles along with it.
And an update on that horrific commuter train crash in Argentina. The country's President has declared a two-day mourning period. At least 50 are dead and over 600 more injured. Although Federal police continue to investigate the cause of the crash, it is believed to be the train's brakes.
The newly elevated Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto says he will continue to work with the Vatican to suggest ways to harness the power of social media. He currently sits on a commission that deals with "social communications." He was just elevated from Archbishop to the new rank of Cardinal, along with 21 others…that all received "the red hat"
The popularity of a college student group---focused on defending their faith in Christ on campuses--has increased dramatically. Even though operating in a mostly secular environment a Christian apologetics alliance called "Ratio Christi" is aggressively seeking and placing apologists on campuses to lead student chapters. Chuck Colson recently praised Ratio Christi in his column for working to reclaim the intellectual battleground on college campuses.
IN HEALTH NEWS…
We all strive for a healthy heart. Here is a look at a plant-based diet proven to fight heart disease.
AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS EDITION OF WR, I'M CW
