Pope wows Washington but takes on controversial church sex abuse, immigration, climate change

WASHINGTON DC - Pope Francis received a rapturous welcome to Washington on Wednesday but did not shy away from controversy, addressing church sex abuse and urging action on immigration and climate change.

President Barack Obama was clearly delighted to welcome to the White House a pontiff who can lend moral and spiritual force to his own priorities, but others may be left uncomfortable by the pope's stances.

Meeting Catholic bishops in Washington, he praised their handling of the child sex abuse scandal that rocked the US church.

"I realize how much the pain of recent years has weighed upon you," he said.

"And I have supported your generous commitment to bring healing to victims…and to work to ensure such crimes will never be repeated."

The Argentine pontiff waded into another bitter US political debate when he urged the church to embrace new immigrants, speaking "not only as the Bishop of Rome, but also as a pastor from the South."

"Perhaps it will not be easy for you to look into their soul. Perhaps you will be challenged by their diversity. But know that they also possess resources meant to be shared," he said.

He later moved on to conduct his first mass in North America, a ceremony to canonize a Franciscan friar who brought Christianity to California, Junipero Serra -- a figure also shrouded in controversy.

Native Americans hold Serra responsible for the suppression of their centuries-old culture and the death of many thousands of their ancestors.

Consternation over his elevation to sainthood did not overshadow the visit, however, and Francis was cheered by euphoric crowds with breathless wall-to-wall televised coverage as he toured Washington's stately boulevards.

'Welcoming the stranger'

Obama, America's first black president, gave the first Latin American pope an effusive welcome to the White House, praising his moral leadership.

"I believe the excitement around your visit must be attributed not only to your role as pope, but to your unique qualities as a person," Obama said, praising Francis' humility, simplicity, and generosity of spirit.

Though Francis has inveighed against the materialism that the United States seems to embody like no other country, he is also a potential political ally for Obama, sharing many of his progressive goals and bringing along many of America's 70 million Catholics.

Speaking in fluent, if accented, English, the 78-year-old returned the warm blessings of his host.

"As the son of an immigrant family, I am happy to be a guest in this country, which was largely built by such families," he said.

Francis said he would address Congress "to offer words of encouragement to those called to guide the nation's political future in fidelity to its founding principles."

Obama lauded Francis for reminding the world that "the Lord's most powerful message is mercy."

"That means welcoming the stranger with empathy and a truly open heart, from the refugee who flees war-torn lands to the immigrant who leaves home in search of a better life," Obama said.

Their message may also resonate strongly in a Europe convulsed by a refugee crisis.

And, as many US conservatives question the very existence of man-made climate change, Francis and Obama made a de facto joint appeal for action.

"Holy Father, you remind us that we have a sacred obligation to protect our planet, God's magnificent gift to us," Obama said.

Francis took up the call.

"Accepting the urgency, it seems clear to me also that climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation," Francis said.

Pomp and circumstance

The pope was afforded a full ceremonial welcome and a 40-minute one-on-one meeting with Obama in the Oval Office.

But the White House held off a planned 21-gun salute that would not have chimed with the pope's stature as a man of peace.

That was the only expense spared during a historic first visit to Washington -- a political city that shrugs when presidents, queens, and sheikhs roll through.

The visit was a political mirror of Pope Benedict's 2008 visit to George W. Bush's White House. Those two leaders were as conservative as their successors are progressive.

Still, the White House insisted it is not co-opting a holy man in order to batter Republican foes in Congress.

"The goal of the pope's visit, and certainly the goal of the meeting was not to advance anyone's political agenda," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

The Vatican played a crucial role in brokering talks between Cold War foes Havana and Washington that led to the recent restoration of diplomatic ties.

But the pope told reporters that he would not specifically bring up Washington's embargo of Cuba in his speech Thursday before American lawmakers, who largely favor a tough line with Havana.

Republicans are already crying foul.

Congressman Paul Gosar, who is Catholic, declared he would boycott the pontiff's address to protest his "leftist" views.

'The people's pope'

Nevertheless, there is no mistaking the political value of enlisting a popular pope's moral authority.

Seven out of ten Americans have a favorable impression of Francis, according to a Washington Post-ABC poll.

The pontiff will make two speeches during his visit, the address to Congress and another to the United Nations on Friday.

He will wrap up his historic six-day US trip on Saturday and Sunday in Philadelphia at an international festival of Catholic families.

source: interaksyon.com

Obama warns Wall Street over fiscal crisis

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama sent Wall Street a blunt warning Wednesday that it should be very worried about a political crisis that has shut down the government and could trigger a US debt default.

Obama said he was "exasperated" by the budget impasse in Congress, in an interview with CNBC apparently designed to pressure Republicans by targeting the financial community moments after markets closed.
 




The president then met Republican and Democratic leaders for their first talks since the US government money's ran out and it slumped into a shutdown now well into its second day.

But few informed observers held out much hope for a sudden breakthrough.

Obama was asked in the interview whether Washington was simply gripped by just the latest in a series of political and fiscal crises which reliably get solved at the last minute.

In unusually frank comments on issues that could sway markets, Obama warned that investors should be worried.

"This time's different. I think they should be concerned," Obama said, in comments which may roil global markets.

"When you have a situation in which a faction is willing potentially to default on US government obligations, then we are in trouble," Obama said.

Obama said he would not negotiate with Republicans on budget matters until House lawmakers pass a temporary financing bill to reopen federal operations and raised the $16.7-trillion debt ceiling.

If the borrowing limit is not lifted by the middle of the month, the US government could default on its debts for the first time in history.

"If and when ... that vote takes place and the government reopens, and if and when they vote to make sure Congress pays our bills on time so America does not default on costs it's already accrued, then I am prepared to have a reasonable, civil negotiation around a whole slew of issues," Obama said.

The president said he had "bent over backwards" to accommodate Republicans -- a statement his foes would dispute -- but warned it would set a terrible precedent to allow lawmakers of any party to hold a White House to ransom over raising the debt ceiling.

Exasperated

"Absolutely I am exasperated, because this is entirely unnecessary," Obama said.

The government shutdown has sent 800,000 federal workers home, closed museums, national parks and monuments and crippled government services.

Obama wants a straightforward temporary spending bill to end the first shutdown in 17 years, while Tea Party Republicans have repeatedly tied the measure to a dismantling or delay of his signature health care law.

With neither side willing to budge, hopes of an early exit to the shutdown are fading.

"Most of the time you can see an end game," Republican Senator Johnny Isakson told MSNBC. "Right now there's no end game in sight."

Some signs of incremental movement emerged, with Democrats pledging to appoint negotiators to thrash out a long-term budget -- provided that the Republicans agree to an immediate six-week federal spending measure with no anti-Obamacare provisions.

Obama met at the White House with his chief political rival, House Speaker John Boehner, as well as top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell to address the standoff.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi were also there.

Boehner's office said the fact the talks were taking place was a victory in itself and had the potential to lead to "serious talks between the two parties."

A risk if protracted

European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi warned Wednesday that a US shutdown "is a risk if it is protracted."

"It would be a risk not only for the US, but also the world economy," Draghi said.

Obama on Wednesday gathered a group of high flying CEOs, apparently hoping they would pressure Boehner to pass a straight temporary funding bill.

Goldman Sachs boss Lloyd Blankfein warned that America was getting onto dangerous ground by flirting with not raising the debt ceiling. A previous period of brinkmanship on the issue badly hit the US credit rating.

"There's a precedent for a government shutdown, there's no precedent for a default," he said after meeting Obama.

Furious tourists meanwhile are locked out of Washington museums and monuments, as well as national parks and landmarks like the Statue of Liberty in New York. Cancer research and treatment at the world-class National Institutes of Health has ground to a halt.

The fallout has already caused Obama to shorten his long-planned Asia trip, scrapping stops in Malaysia and the Philippines that were due to begin this weekend, so he could attend to the crisis at home.

The president's attendance at regional summits in Indonesia and Brunei was also in doubt.

A no show in Asia would be seen as a blow to Obama's policy of rebalancing US diplomacy and military might towards the fast growing region.

But James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence warned lawmakers that US security was already being compromised.

Seventy percent of the intelligence workforce had been furloughed, potentially offering an opening to foreign recruiters in the field, Clapper said.

"This seriously damages our ability to protect the safety and security of this nation," Clapper said.

source: interaksyon.com

What happens if the US government shuts down?

WASHINGTON -- A US government shutdown is possible on Tuesday, the first day of fiscal 2014, because Congress has so far failed to find a way to pay for it.

A closure would have far-reaching consequences at federal agencies dealing with everything from sending out Social Security checks to collecting admission fees at national parks.








Here is a roundup of how the impact would be felt:  


FEDERAL WORKERS: As many as 1 million US federal employees could face unpaid furloughs or payless paydays, according to the president of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 670,000 union members.

NATIONAL PARKS: National parks would close, meaning a loss of 750,000 daily visitors and an economic loss to gateway communities of as much as $30 million for each day parks are shut, according to the non-profit National Parks Conservation Association.

DEFENSE DEPARTMENT: All military personnel would continue on normal duty status, but many civilian employees would be temporarily furloughed, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said in a memo. He said furlough notices would be issued on Tuesday, October 1, if no agreement to fund the government is reached.

The ratings agency Standard & Poor's said a shutdown of less than two weeks would not materially affect the credit of big defense contractors, though a longer shutdown could weaken smaller defense contractors. Most defense contractors would not be paid, new contracts would not start and orders would be delayed, with service contracts hardest hit, S&P said.

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE: Most of the federal tax agency's 90,000 employees would be furloughed. Taxpayers who requested an extension beyond the April 15 deadline to file their 2012 taxes must do so by October 15, and they will still be able to file these returns even if the IRS is still shut down then.

FEDERAL RESERVE AND OTHER FINANCIAL AGENCIES: The Fed would stay open, since it does not depend on congressional appropriations to operate; so would the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which the Fed funds. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency pay for themselves and would remain open. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has been rushing through approvals for a new, untested type of trading platform ahead of a possible shutdown, its top regulator said.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT: Fewer than 18,000 of the department's 114,486 employees would be furloughed, and if the furlough is prolonged, some of those could be brought back to work. Criminal litigation would continue under a government shutdown, while civil litigation would be curtailed or postponed as much as possible "without compromising to a significant degree the safety of human life or the protection of property," the department said in its contingency plan.

COURTS: The US Supreme Court would probably operate normally, as it has during previous shutdowns, but a spokesman declined to share the high court's plans.

Federal courts would remain open for approximately 10 business days if the government closes on October 1, and would reassess on or about October 15.

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: The agency's research hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, would take no new patients.

US TRADE REPRESENTATIVE'S OFFICE: Already squeezed by automatic spending cuts imposed by so-called sequester, the USTR office has cut back on travel to the 41 countries where there are concerns about intellectual property, Trade Representative Michael Froman said.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY: EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said this week that the agency would effectively shut down with only a core group of individuals available in case of a "significant emergency."

AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT: USDA meat inspectors would stay on the job, industry experts said. Statistical reports would be delayed. An October 1 shutdown would come as the agency is surveying farmers and checking fields for yields and acreage in advance of the October 11 crop report. A government closure of more than a few days could delay the report, relied upon by traders and food manufacturers as the best estimate available of the US food supply.

WASHINGTON DC SIGHTS: Some popular tourist spots in the nation's capital would probably close, including the FDR Memorial, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Library of Congress, the Lincoln Memorial, the National Archives, the National Zoo and all Smithsonian Museums.

source: interaksyon.com

Fil-Am group campaigns for votes to save Jessica Sanchez

MANILA, Philippines – Spread the word: "Vote for Jessica!"

The Washington-based Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC) on Saturday asked Filipinos all over the world to vote for Jessica Sanchez on-line after the Filipino-American born finalist in the ongoing American Idol was almost eliminated from the popular American television show. She was “saved” only because the three judges exercised their one-time vote privilege to retain her in the hotly-contested program last Wednesday.

MHC is a non-profit, service-oriented organization run by Filipino immigrants in the United States based in Washington, D.C.

Miss Grace Valera, MHC executive director, in an urgent e-mail, appealed to all Filipinos here and abroad to cast their votes for Jessica Sanchez for her to win the coveted American Idol 2012.

Valera’s e-mail said:

“Dear Kababayan, family, friends, friends of friends. . . Our dear JESSICA SANCHEZ almost got eliminated from AMERICAN IDOL tonight (THURS.,12 APRIL 2012) had the Judges not saved her… Kababayans, pls vote for her every Wednesday night...right after the show...all of your cellphones (500x), landline (500 x), ONLINE facebook (50x). http://www.americanidol.com/vote/.

“Please help us campaign to everyone ‘to vote for her.’ It’s only a once-a-week sacrifice for a truly deserving, multi-talented kababayan. We cannot be overconfident on just a few votes. It’s NOT the judges deciding on their own. It’s America! Unfortunately, Judges can only save a contestant ‘once’ so this now depends on all of us NOW on how to save her in the coming weeks... VOTE FOR JESSICA SANCHEZ!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKOo_2q4_CM. MARAMING SALAMAT PO.”

In the episode last April 11, Sanchez got the fewest home viewers’ votes from among the seven finalists.

However, Sanchez was allowed to remain in the show when the judges decided to use their one-time “The Judges’ Save” privilege.

"Give me that [microphone]! This is crazy! Yes, we're using 'the save!' You're not going home. Go sit down, go sit down," Idol judge Jennifer Lopez told Sanchez after she ran onstage.

"We are saving Jessica without any doubt," another judge, Randy Jackson, said.

"Let me just say this for myself. This girl (Jessica) is one of the best singers in America -- ever. Are you kidding me?! Please everybody, please vote for the best. It's about finding the best. I mean, come on," the third judge, Steven Tyler, said.

The 16-year-old Sanchez was stunned by the decision of the three judges.

Sanchez blurted out: “I don't expect anything. I just do what I do and whatever happens, happens. I just want people to know I've been working hard my whole life."

With Sanchez remaining in contention, hopes are high she could bag the American Idol and become the first ever Filipino-American to win the prestigious award, although some quarters believe the judges’ “strong show of bias” may turn off the audience and even doom Jessica in further voting.

article source: interaksyon.com

George Clooney Arrested During Protes

George Clooney was arrested on Friday (March 16) in Washington, D.C., after participating in a protest. The Oscar nominee was taken into custody outside the Sudanese embassy.

According to MSNBC, the group was protesting Sudan's blockage of food and aid from entering the Nuba Mountains and aimed to bring attention to the treatment of the people in that area of Sudan. His father, journalist Nick Clooney, was also arrested, according to MSNBC, as well as Martin Luther King III, NAACP President Ben Jealous, Rep. Jim McGovern and Rep. Jim Moran and former Rep. Tom Andrews.

Clooney and the other protesters knew that, because the embassy is private property, they would be arrested if they refused to move. MSNBC reports that the protesters were warned three times before police moved in. The group reportedly held a sign that read, "Sudan: Stop Weapons of Mass Starvation." He told the large crowd at the protest, "We need immediate humanitarian aid into Sudan before it becomes the worst humanitarian crisis in the world."

He asked "the [Sudanese] government in Khartoum to stop randomly killing its own innocent men, women and children. Stop raping them, and stop starving them."

According to People.com, the group was then taken to a Secret Service van.

"He's being charged currently with disorderly crossing of a police line, which is a misdemeanor and he will be transported to the second district of the Metropolitan Police Department for processing," Max Milien, spokesman for the Secret Service, told the site, noting that Clooney was being cooperative.

"They were protesting the violence committed by the government of Sudan on its own innocent men, women and children," Clooney's rep said in a statement. "They were demanding they allow humanitarian aid into the country before it becomes the largest humanitarian crisis in the world."

The actor has been trying to bring change to the area, even meeting with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Secretary Hillary Clinton and President Obama in the Oval Office on Thursday. One day before, he attended the White House state dinner for British Prime Minister David Cameron. He is expected to appear on "Hardball with Chris Matthews" on Friday.

source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1681220/george-clooney-arrested-protest.jhtml