Monthly Archives: January 2021

In our latest podcast, Jessica and I discussed the past week in politics and atheism.

We talked about:

Order Elle the Humanist and get a 10% discount with the promo code friendlyatheist!

Former PA Christian Nationalist lawmaker Rick Saccone lost his job after taking part in the Capitol Coup. (10:42)

A Catholic news outlet called out anti-democratic MAGA Catholics by name in an epic smackdown. (25:20)

There are a few surprises when it comes to the religious makeup of the new Congress. (29:30)

The Georgia Senate elections were a bright spot in an otherwise awful week. (35:00)

Meghan McCain finally realized parental leave is a good idea because she had a baby and for no other reason. (40:27)

Republicans flipped out after a House chaplain said A-woman when ending a prayer. (46:22)

This short documentary about Ark Encounter is more of a free ad. (48:51)

A Pakistani court banned used of the awful virginity test for sexual assault cases. (56:08)

The CEO of Whole Foods doesnt think you need affordable health care. (58:35)

Wed love to hear your thoughts on the podcast. If you have any suggestions for people we should chat with, please leave them in the comments, too.

You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Google Play, stream all the episodes on SoundCloud or Stitcher, or just listen to the whole thing below. Our RSS feed is here. And if you like what youre hearing, please consider supporting this site on Patreon and leaving us a positive rating!

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Podcast Ep. 356: Jesus and the Capitol Coup | Hemant Mehta - Friendly Atheist - Patheos

JAMES 'JIM' G. RICE Iowa City

James "Jim" G. Rice, died at 74 years old, in his home on Jan. 2, 2021, by planned self-administered euthanasia. He was born on June 18, 1946, in Columbia Mo. Jim had a B.A. degree from Macalester College, a Master's degree in Library and Information Science from Indiana University, and a Ph.D. degree in Education from the University of Missouri. During his life, he worked in a variety of Jobs, but especially as a social worker, a librarian, and a teacher. During the bulk of his career, he was on the faculty of the School of Library and Information Science at the University of lowa. He published two books and numerous journal articles in his field. He retired in 1997 and did a variety of volunteer work in several agencies. Jim was a pacifist and voluntarily worked for two years as a government social worker during the Vietnam war, earning conscientious objection status. He was an atheist. He held a deep commitment to the belief that extremely fortunate people such as himself should atone for their random and largely unearned preferential place in the universe by living minimally and giving generously to the vast majority of people in the world who are undeservedly far less advantaged. He was proud of his achievements, but he knew that they were almost entirely attributable to the completely accidental good fortune of being a white male born here with fine parents. His pastimes were lifelong learning, reflecting, people watching, avid reading and taking long walks, especially in the woods. He was survived by a sister, Robin Rice; a son, Craig Stephen Rice; and a daughter, Laura Elaine Rice. Jim's body has been donated to The University of lowa Hospitals and Clinics. At Jim's request, there will be no memorial services. To share a thought, memory or condolence with Jim's family, please visit the funeral home website at http://www.gayandciha.com.

Read more from the original source:

James "Jim" G. Rice All Obituaries - The Gazette

I am one of many people who have found both wisdom and wit from the writings of C.S. Lewis. Clive Staples Lewis known always as Jack to his friends was born in Northern Ireland in 1898 and grew up in a house overflowing with books. He was sent to England to be educated where he left his familys formal Christianity to become a professing atheist. After a time on the frontline during the First World War, he began an academic career in English Language at Oxford University which was in effect to last all his life. Even when he was made a Professor at Cambridge, Lewis still returned to Oxford for weekends.

As a young man Lewis found himself increasingly unhappy with his atheism. With a vivid imagination enriched by extensive reading, he found himself longing for something more satisfying than anything atheism could offer. Conversations about God with many Christian friends, including J.R.R. Tolkien, gradually convinced him that religion could be true and, in 1929, Lewis became a reluctant believer in God, moving within months to a full acceptance of Christianity.

Without neglecting his increasingly acclaimed academic career, Lewis started defending and promoting his new-found faith. The result was a wide variety of books which were all brilliantly written, well-argued and thoroughly accessible. The Second World War brought him more attention when he became a popular radio speaker; his talks on the Christian faith were published as _Mere Christianity_, a book widely considered a spiritual classic. Lewis wrote many other books on subjects that he knew people found difficult: miracles, pain, prayer and other issues. He also wrote a range of fiction, all of which involved his

faith: _The Screwtape Letters_, a science fiction trilogy and the seven childrens books of _The Chronicles of Narnia_. Lewiss success came at a cost: his outspoken defence of the Christian faith was resented by his colleagues.

Lewiss social circle in Oxford was almost entirely masculine but, to everyones surprise (including his), in his late fifties he found himself in an unlikely romance with Joy Davidman, an American writer.

Their happy marriage lasted four years before her passing from cancer.

Lewis himself died in 1963 but his books continue to have an extraordinary influence within Christianity and beyond.

Many books have been written about Lewis as a theologian, a writer and a defender of Christianity. Here are some of my favourite C.S. Lewis quotes.

I think that if God forgives us we must forgive ourselves.

Otherwise it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him.

From a devils point of view: The safest road to Hell is

the gradual one the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.

All that is not eternal is eternally out of date.

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.

As an evangelist, what I most appreciate about Lewis is the superb way in which he communicated Christian truth. Somehow, he was able to hold together a number of virtues.

First, Lewis communicated with _both depth and simplicity_. For a man who lived the cloistered life of an Oxford academic, Lewis was profoundly sensitive to the concerns and struggles of ordinary people.

At a time when theologians were discussing questions no one was asking in language no one could understand, Lewis spoke simply and directly to everybody. He had the gift of taking profound and complex theological ideas and, with memorable phrases and relevant illustrations, transforming them into truths that everybody could understand. With his extraordinary knowledge and profound intelligence Lewis could easily have talked down to his readers, yet he had the ability and the humility to put himself alongside them. Theres a lesson there.

Second, Lewis communicated to _both imagination and intellect_.

Lewiss personal road to faith had begun with his imagination. He never forgot that and even in his most reasoned works we find him using sparkling language and evocative imagery. That appeal to the imagination is even stronger in his fiction. Yet at the same time, Lewis knew that appeals to the emotions alone can be dishonest and unhelpful unless they are based on reason. Much of the power of Lewiss writing lies in this simultaneous appeal to head and heart: persuasive claims delivered in gripping prose. There is good sense here. A faith based only on emotions can fail in a time of testing, while one based only on reason can leave the heart barren. Another lesson.

Finally, Lewis communicated with _both focus and breadth_. Lewis was a bold defender of the Christian faith but he was selective in what he defended. So, he was outspoken on the fundamentals of the faith as the deity of Christ, the truth of the Gospels and certainty of heaven:

essentials that he famously termed Mere Christianity. Yet beyond such matters he refused to be drawn. There is no agreement on who originally said, In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity, but Lewis would have agreed with it. I find there is another lesson there.

Lewis speaks powerfully to those on the edge of faith. Yet he also speaks to us Christian believers who are in need of encouragement and direction. C.S. Lewis is a truly outstanding hero of the faith.

Revd Canon J.John

Director: http://www.canonjjohn.com

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Heroes of the Faith: C.S. Lewis - Keep the Faith

One of the more unpleasant aspects of contemporary life is the hyper-tribalisation of every disagreement into a binary choice . On the progressive side of the aisle, they even have a word for it: allyship. If you agree with us on subjects A, B and C, then youd better sign up wholeheartedly for cause D. If you dont, then youre either a traitor or a dupe. Deviation from this rule will not be tolerated.

So when it comes to the recent controversy over a woefully unfunny Waterford Whispers News sketch broadcast by RT on New Years Eve, criticism of the decision to broadcast the skit inevitably came almost exclusively from religious leaders and conservative commentators. And the (much quieter) defence inevitably derived from the secular left. In this instance, the conservatives are (mostly) right and the liberals are (mostly) wrong. So should I send my membership card back or just burn it at home?

If you missed it, the sketch, which took the form of a fake bulletin presented by former newsreader Aengus Mac Grianna, featured God being arrested. In another shocking revelation this year, Mac Grianna told viewers, God became the latest figure to be implicated in ongoing sexual harassment scandals. The five-billion-year-old stood accused of forcing himself on a young middle-eastern migrant and allegedly impregnating her against her will. He was sentenced to two years in prison with the last 24 months suspended.

Watched live, as part of a mainstream flagship entertainment programme in the context of a national lockdown which would have boosted audience numbers well above the norm, the item was crude, jarring and clearly offensive to many viewers. Buried somewhere within the bad writing was a hamfisted attempt to make a point about the Irish court systems treatment of sexual assault by making a rape joke about Christian belief. And a Happy New Year to you too.

In a hanging-out-to-dry process which will be familiar to freelance writers and entertainers everywhere, it was left to poor Mac Grianna to make the most heartfelt apology, even though hes unlikely to have had script approval. Truly I am deeply sorry for the offence, distress and hurt caused, he wrote on Twitter. It was wrong for me. It was wrong of me.

So far, so familiar. A more modern twist to the tale centredon the fact that the offending item was still available on the RT Player, giving rise to inevitable demands for its removal (although, given the shortcomings of the player, that wasprobably the best place to keep it safely hidden).

But when Atheist Ireland, whove never seen a bandwagon they didnt fancy jumping on, correctly pointed out that nobody has the right not to be offended, they also managed to miss the point in a particularly 21st century sort of a way by conflating censorship and editorial decision-making.

Yes, of course RT has the right to broadcast whatever it wants within the limits of the law of the land. It is also, like other media organisations, constrained by its own ethical and editorial guidelines. And it has an internal decision-making team of producers, editors and managers whose job it is to make sure those guidelines are observed, that quality thresholds are met and whatever material is being produced is appropriate for the timeslot and context in which it is being broadcast.

All of this complex machinery is designed, in theory at least, to ensure that media companies may aspire to the publishing equivalent of Tom Waitss definition of a gentleman as someone who can play the accordion but doesnt. Good editorial judgment is often about recognising when to put the bloody accordion down before its too late.

That process clearly failed here, a fact RT acknowledged on Thursday of this week, when it published the findings of its own Editorial Board that the sketch had failed to comply with its own standards as well as with a number of legislative and regulatory requirements. The processes which led to the piece being broadcast will be reviewed, it has been removed from the Player and an apology will be published. To be fair, it's a clear and comprehensive acknowledgment of a serious lapse in standards. But its also legitimate for critics to ask whether such a failure of judgment reflects a lack of respect for that part of the population in this case, presumably, practising Christians most likely to be offended.

There is, of course, a certain wearisome pattern to these things. Everyone has their part to play the TDs railing against godless media types, the calls for unspecified but serious penalties against RT, the outraged letters to the editor so that it feels properly like the relevant Reeling in the Years clip from the 1970. But its four decades now since Ireland banned The Life of Brian, the bishops crozier has long lost its power and, to this atheists eye, the decision to broadcast the sketch looks less like a fearless commitment to satire and more like a gross failure of imagination and empathy.

Note: the print version of this article went to press beforeRT published the findings of its Editorial Board and announced the actions it wouldtake as a result of those findings. Thisdigital version has been amended to reflect those developments.

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RTs Waterford Whispers News sketch was woefully unfunny, crude and offensive - The Irish Times

The DMK leader talks about fighting polls without Karunanidhi, says DMK is at forefront of fighting BJPs polarising tactics in TN, claims Rajinikanth would not have been a factor, and rules out any tension with the Congress over seat-sharing talks. The session was moderated by National Editor (Mumbai) Nirupama Subramanian.

NIRUPAMA SUBRAMANIAN: You have already started campaigning in the western and southern districts of Tamil Nadu. This will be the first Assembly election that the party will contest without your father and former DMK chief M Karunanidhi. How difficult will this election be for the party as you take on the AIADMK that has the BJPs support?

We have already faced the Lok Sabha election without him (M Karunanidhi), under the leadership of M K Stalin. He steered the party to an amazing victory. Except for one seat, Theni, we won everything else. The difference in votes between the winning and the losing candidates was in lakhs. So, I think we have already proven that we can win Our founding leaders have made sure that the core ideology of the party is very firm in the minds of the cadre and all the leaders It is well-established Our present leader has been in the party for many years, he knows how to guide us in these elections. We have faith in his leadership.

Of course, there are going to be challenges. The AIADMK is going to completely depend on money for votes. The BJP, we all know, never shies away from using anything to win an election. So that will be a challenge. They (the BJP) will use their usual techniques of polarising voters, bringing in religion, which has never happened in Tamil Nadu This is not just a challenge in these elections, it is a larger issue that the entire country has to deal with. The DMK will be at the forefront of working against it.

What I have seen during campaigning is that people are quite fed up with the AIADMK. They always give in to what the Centre wants, they never stand up for our rights. Take the farmers issue. Even though there are no protests in Tamil Nadu, when you speak to farmers individually, they feel very let down because of the AIADMK governments support to the farm Bills. People are disillusioned with the AIADMK government, and they believe that a DMK government is the answer Employment is a huge issue in these elections and when the DMK comes back to power we will bring in investments and industry so that there is more employment. Administration will also be much better under a DMK government.

LIZ MATHEW: So far it seems that in the Tamil Nadu elections you are going to follow the Bihar formula, where the DMK will contest together with the Congress and the Left. But giving the Congress more seats in Bihar didnt work very well for the Oppositions alliance. Will you keep that in mind during seat-sharing talks?

I dont think there will be any issue over allocation of seats. There is a good understanding between the leadership of the Congress and the DMK. We will be able to work around it (the seats) to everybodys satisfaction. Everybody understands that it is an important election for the state also.

LIZ MATHEW: The BJP was trying to woo superstar Rajinikanth. Will his decision to exit the poll fray before even entering it affect the BJPs prospects in the state?

Mr Rajinikanth has given a statement saying that he will not enter politics, and why it is not right and fair to do it now and get others involved and then let them down I dont know if they (the BJP) can find anybody on a par with him.

Also, even if he (Rajinikanth) had come into politics, I dont think it would have made a difference in this election.

P VAIDYANATHAN IYER: As somebody who has been a part of Tamil Nadu politics for many years, how do you look at the attempts at polarisation in the state that you mentioned? How does it impact the states secular fabric?

Fortunately, the BJP, at the most, tries to paint the DMK as an anti-Hindu party or something like that They havent been able to say anything against the minorities in Tamil Nadu. And, they also understand that even the Hindus in Tamil Nadu are not like that (communal). I think, even in Kerala, people will not accept divisions on religious lines. We have all lived together comfortably Even caste-wise There have been no issues in living with people from other religions, or a temple being built Its a different kind of culture here. People dont feel threatened. They are very comfortable. I dont think polarisation on religious lines would be a problem here They (the BJP) will not be able to create fear of other religions That is what they play with, and that will not work in Tamil Nadu.

P VAIDYANATHAN IYER: The BJP has found resonance among some sections in Tamil Nadu. Over the next five years, do you see the party emerging as an important player in the state?

They would want to become a prominent party (in Tamil Nadu), and it cannot be denied that they are working towards it. And, I cannot deny the fact that the BJP has more cadres and leaders now in the state. But I dont think it has had a significant growth that should worry us. They are working towards it And, despite all the confusion within the AIADMK, eventually they will be able to sort themselves out.

ARUN JANARDHANAN: The BJP seems to be working to a plan. They are trying to become the main opposition party in Kerala and Tamil Nadu by 2026. Do you see that happening? And, can you say that the DMK will never ally with the BJP in the future?

The DMK is one of the most vocal parties against many of the things that the BJP stands for. I dont see the possibility of an alliance with the BJP because we stand for two different things completely I really believe that in Tamil Nadu and Kerala politics, you cannot divide people on religious lines very easily.

ARUN JANARDHANAN: But do you think the BJP has made parties such as the DMK and the CPM in Kerala more careful while talking about religion?

NIRUPAMA SUBRAMANIAN: Also, how do you respond to the charge by the BJP, and by many others on social media platforms, that the DMK is an atheist party in a state where people are quite religious. They are religious in a non-communal way, but people in Tamil Nadu are religious

Why should someone be charged for being an atheist? Its not a crime. Why should we defend it? I dont think there is a need to defend it. I am an atheist and I am very proud of it. The DMK has atheists, but our leader MKS (Stalin) has said that 90 per cent people in the party are Hindus also. So, it is not like the DMK is against Hindus. We have Muslims, we have Christians, agnostics and atheists. We are not saying that we are a Hindu party or an atheist party. When Anna (C N Annadurai) started the party he said there is one God, that God can be anything to anybody. Or, you dont have to have a God. I dont think we have to defend ourselves for being atheists.

(On being careful) They (the BJP) are saying that the CPM and the DMK are against the majority, so we have to give an explanation. We have to say that we are not against the majority. If we will fight for the Muslims, we will fight for the Hindus too The DMK does not want to take away the right to believe from anybody. But of course, we stand against the caste system, against untouchability, against anybody who takes away others rights on the basis of caste or religion. We believe in social justice. We are not saying everybody should become an atheist. We dont force it on anybody. Being an atheist also is not wrong in our party.

ARUN JANARDHANAN: Where do you place Kamal Haasan in Tamil Nadu politics, given that an alliance with his party doesnt seem likely?

With Kamal Haasan or without him, the DMK is winning this election. If Haasan wants to work with the DMK or the latter with him, it is a decision that the leadership has to make. We did very well in the Lok Sabha elections without any new additions to the alliance. So, who comes in and goes out is the party leaderships decision.

HARISH DAMODARAN: Do you think Tamil politics has gone beyond the Dravidian identity? Periyar (E V Ramaswamy) statue being vandalised would have been unimaginable once. Do you think the politics is now more conservative?

Periyars statue was vandalised because of the weak, backbone-less government that we have. The police should have taken action but they are scared to do so. But in one way, I think, attacking Periyar ideologically and even vandalising his statues it has brought in more youth who are interested in finding out about Periyar and his ideology. You can see on social media platforms that now there is a strong presence of people defending the Dravidian ideology. They are not a part of the AIADMK or DMK. So, I dont think it has become negotiable. People are doing it (defending the ideology) from the comforts of their homes on social media and not on the streets. That is the change. And, Covid-19 also has contributed to it.

Most of the exchange of ideas now happens on social media. And, its political parties like us who still take to the streets and meet people. Nobody is against learning another language, whether it is Hindi, Malayalam, German or anything We are saying dont impose a language on us. Dont take away our right to choose. You dont have to make the choice for us, whether we have to learn Hindi or Sanskrit. If people just want to learn only two languages, they have the right to choose I think we still believe in social justice. That is the core of the Dravidian ideology. I dont think we have moved away from that.

MANOJ CG: Do you think the Congress has failed to provide leadership for the Opposition at the national level?

All the opposition parties have to come together to work towards creating a strong Opposition. We cant expect only one party to do that I think it (the Opposition coming together at the national level) will happen as time passes by because it has not even been two years since the Lok Sabha elections. Parties are also concentrating on state elections. We have elections in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and in West Bengal As time goes by, the Opposition will come together more strongly and work out strategies on how to deal with the issues facing the nation.

AMRITH LAL: Tamil language and culture used to be a very important aspect of the Dravadian movement and Dravadian assertion. Now, increasingly, both the DMK and the AIADMK generally tend to speak more about governance. The emphasis on culture and language has reduced

When the Jallikattu protests happened, everyone asserted that it is an important part of our culture. So, nothing has changed when it comes to protecting our culture and language See, Tamil is not being threatened today. Even if the Central government and the BJP are trying to impose Hindi in different ways, Tamil (language) is in a very comfortable space. Its not being threatened in any way. There is no need to talk about preserving the language as such. If there is a threat to our culture and it has to be protected, its not just political parties the people also react The DMK has to talk about governance and development because we have had zero governance and development in the past 10 years.

VANDITA MISHRA: You said that religion doesnt play the same role in Tamil Nadu as it might in the northern states. But apart from religious mobilisation, the BJP puts a lot of energy into constantly manufacturing some kind of mobilisation among people on different issues. How can regional parties reinvent themselves to face this challenge?

The needs, the problems, the issues, everything changes, and every party has to keep reinventing and adapting to changes. That cannot be denied The DMK is a cadre-based party and we reach out to people directly. Now, of course, with modern technology, and we know that the BJP uses social media we also have to adopt social media to reach out. We have to make it part of our election process This is one thing we have to keep working at. This election, investment and employment are the most important issues in Tamil Nadu. We have to talk to people about it and give them the confidence that Tamil Nadu will be put back on the growth path.

NIRUPAMA SUBRAMANIAN: The DMK is focusing a lot on womens rights in its campaign. After Jayalalithaas death, there is no big woman leader in Tamil Nadu politics. Do you see yourself taking that place?

Ive always taken up womens and human rights issues There is a need for more womens participation in politics, and that is why the DMK has been insisting on 33 per cent reservation for women I dont understand why the BJP, which made it a part of its manifesto, is refusing to bring it in.

I do see women coming in larger numbers for our election campaign because there are a lot of issues which have not been addressed. The self-help groups, for example, had created a solid base for many women, especially in rural areas, and enhanced their social participation. But because the SHGs are not getting loans and support from the government, they are not functioning as before. This has taken away empowerment from these women and they are quite disillusioned. It is a major issue in this election.

P VAIDYANATHAN IYER: In December 2018, Stalin had proposed Rahul Gandhi as the prime minister candidate for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Since then, there has been a lot of confusion about the UPA alliance. Do UPA members meet?

The UPA in Tamil Nadu is very strong and we are working together. We do meet We shared the stage in support of the farmers protesting in Delhi. Our leader had invited leaders from all parties to come and be part of it. As far as Tamil Nadu goes, I dont think theres any confusion. We work together and there are regular meetings. At the national level, in Delhi, leaders meet when there is a need to When Parliament is in session, we have regular meetings about how we are going to respond to a Bill etc.

NIRUPAMA SUBRAMANIAN: Recently, M K Stalins son Udhayanidhi Stalin was elevated to star campaigner. He has also become the secretary of the youth wing of the party. Are these signs of a leadership progression in the DMK?

I dont think we should be discussing leadership right now. We have a leader and everybody is focusing on his leadership. This whole election is about the DMK coming back to power. Our election campaign is completely focused on our CM candidate, M K Stalin.

NIRUPAMA SUBRAMANIAN: The CBI has appealed against the acquittals in the 2G case. Will it become an issue in the election campaign?

We have all been acquitted. Nobody was convicted. The judge has very clearly said that there is no evidence How can they use this against the DMK?

NIRUPAMA SUBRAMANIAN: Following Rajinikanths decision to not enter politics, do you think the space for film stars in politics has reduced?

I will not say that. Who you are, what you stand for, and what you are capable of is what is going to decide what you become in politics. Just because somebody is a popular star If youre talking about somebody like M G Ramachandran, he was not just a star. He came from the Dravidian movement and he worked for the DMK for many years. He had a base and that is what made him what he was. So, I will not say that no other film star can ever make it in politics You can come from any field but you will have to understand the kind of hard work that is needed. This doesnt happen overnight because you are a face which everybody likes or you have been popular in films. People may recognise you more than anybody else, but your face doesnt mean that people will accept you as a leader.

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Kanimozhi: Our culture is different. They (BJP) cant create fear of other religions here. It wont work in TN polls - The Indian Express

by Hannah Brockhaus

Rome Newsroom, Jan 10, 2021 / 02:30 pm MT (CNA).- In the face of political discord and self-interest, we have an obligation to promote unity, peace, and the common good in society and in the Catholic Church, Pope Francis said Sunday.

At this moment, a politician, even a manager, a bishop, a priest, who does not have the ability to say we is not up to par. We, the common good of all, must prevail. Unity is superior to conflict, the pope said in an interview that aired on Italian news program Tg5 Jan. 10.

Conflicts are necessary, but right now they have to go on vacation, he continued, noting that people have a right to different points of view, and political struggle is a noble thing, but what matters is the intention to help the country grow.

If politicians emphasize more self-interest than the common interest, they ruin things, Francis stated. The unity of the country, of the Church, and of society must be emphasized.

The papal interview took place following the storming of the U.S. Capitol Building Jan. 6 by pro-Donald Trump protestors, as Congress was in the process of certifying the presidential election results.

Francis said in a video clip from the interview, released Jan. 9, he was astonished, by the news, because the U.S. is a people so disciplined in democracy, right?

Something isnt working, Francis continued. With people taking a path against the community, against democracy, against the common good. Thanks be to God that this has broken out and there was a chance to see it well so that now you can try and heal it.

In the interview, Pope Francis also commented on the societal tendency to discard anyone who is not productive to society, especially the sick, the elderly, and the unborn.

Abortion, he said, is not primarily a religious issue, but a scientific and human one. The problem of death is not a religious problem, be careful: it is a human, pre-religious problem, it is a problem of human ethics, he said. Then religions follow it, but it is a problem that even an atheist must solve in his conscience.

The pope said he asks two things to the person who questions him on abortion: do I have the right to do this? and is it right to cancel a human life to solve a problem, any problem?

The first question can be answered scientifically, he said, pointing out that by the third or fourth week of gestation, there are all the organs of the new human being in the womb of the mother, it is a human life.

Taking a human life is not okay, he said. Is it okay to hire a hitman to solve a problem? One that kills human life?

Francis condemned the attitude of the throwaway culture: Children do not produce and are discarded. Discard the elderly: the elderly do not produce and are discarded. Discard the sick or hasten death when it is terminal. Discard so that it is more comfortable for us and does not bring us so many problems.

He also spoke about the discarding of migrants: the people who drowned in the Mediterranean because they were not allowed to come, [this] weighs heavily on our conscience How to deal with [immigration] later, that is another problem that states must approach cautiously and wisely, but letting [migrants] drown in order to solve a problem later is wrong. Nobody does it with intention, it is true, but if you dont put in the means of help it is a problem. There is no intention but there is intention, he said.

Encouraging people to avoid selfishness in general, Pope Francis recalled several grave issues affecting the world today, especially war and the lack of education and food for children, which have continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

They are serious problems and these are just two of the problems: children and wars, he said. We must become aware of this tragedy of the world, its not all a party. To get out of this crisis head on and in a better way, we must be realistic.

Asked about how his own life has changed during the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis admitted that at first, he felt like he was caged.

But then I calmed down, I took life as it comes. Praying more, speaking more, using the phone more, taking some meetings to solve problems, he explained.

Papal trips to Papua New Guinea and Indonesia were canceled in 2020. In March this year, Pope Francis is scheduled to travel to Iraq. He said, now I dont know if the next trip to Iraq will take place, but life has changed. Yes, life has changed. Closed. But the Lord always helps us all.

The Vatican will begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine to its residents and employees next week, and Pope Francis said he has booked his appointment to receive it.

I believe that, ethically, everyone has to get the vaccine. It is an ethical option because it concerns your life but also that of others, he stated.

Recalling the introduction of the polio vaccine and other common childhood immunizations, he said, I dont understand why some say this could be a dangerous vaccine. If doctors present it to you as something that can be fine and has no special dangers, why not take it?

See more here:

Pope Francis: We need unity in the Catholic Church, society, and nations - The Catholic Telegraph

KARACHI -- A deadly attack by the Islamic State group in the southwestern region of Pakistan targeting Shiite coal miners has again revived security threats for China's Belt and Road Initiative and increased pressure on Prime Minister Imran Khan to act against the militants.

In the morning of Jan. 3, unidentified assailants abducted 11 coal miners from Mach town, 48 km east of Quetta, the capital of southwestern Balochistan Province. The attackers blindfolded the coal miners and killed them by slitting their throats. All the slain coal miners belonged to the ethnic minority Shiite Hazara community.

Later, Islamic State Khorasan Province -- an IS offshoot with purported hideouts in Pakistan and Afghanistan -- claimed responsibility for the attack via the group's Amaq news agency. The militant group also released pictures of the slaughter.

These brutal killings triggered a protest in Quetta by the Hazara community with the bodies of the slain coal miners. Protesters refused to bury the dead until the Pakistan government took concrete steps to provide security in the future. The protest ended on Saturday at midnight when the regional Balochistan government agreed to form a high-powered investigative commission.

This attack by IS has revived security threats to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC -- the $50 billion Pakistan component of the Belt and Road Initiative.

According to IS ideology, atheist China is an enemy because it has forcibly encroached on Muslims in China's Xinjiang Province by not allowing Uighur Muslims to practice Islam.

Islamic State has previously attacked Chinese nationals in Balochistan. In May 2017, the group kidnapped two Chinese nationals from Quetta, announcing that both had been killed the following month. That incident halted the free movement of Chinese nationals in Quetta city.

According to experts, this attack by IS has left Balochistan unsafe for Belt and Road projects in the future. Bostan, the site chosen for one of the nine Special Economic Zones under the second phase of CPEC, is located 100 km north of Mach where the coal miners were killed.

"The deteriorating situation in Balochistan is only likely to generate more difficulties for the already problematic implementation of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects in the province," Jeremy Garlick, an assistant professor of international relations at the University of Economics in Prague, told Nikkei Asia. He added that this terror incident could also hinder further initiatives to obtain foreign direct investment in Balochistan.

Despite mounting security threats, experts believe that Beijing will not delay projects in Balochistan. "Beijing has long demonstrated a large risk tolerance for deploying capital in unstable areas," said Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia Program at Wilson Center, adding "We see this not only in Pakistan but also in its investments in volatile areas of Africa and Southeast Asia."

But this latest attack will further show Beijing just how precarious the security situation is in Balochistan. "We've already seen recent upsurges in separatist violence, and the additional reality of [Islamic State] means that Chinese projects face the twin threat of separatist and Islamist terror," Kugelman added.

This terror attack and the subsequent protests by the Hazara community have also put huge pressure on Pakistan's government to root out IS militants from Balochistan. Experts believe that the government has been put on the defensive, and the optics have been dreadful.

"This [terror attack] will, at the least, prompt Beijing to pressure Islamabad to provide better security in the region; not a new demand by Beijing, and one that hasn't had its intended effects, given that the violence continues to flare," Kugelman said.

While Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, Pakistani officials still blame India for orchestrating this attack to destabilize Pakistan.

"It's a well-thought-out move and in this gambit, the target is to stir the Shiite-Sunni fault line in the country, which will have negative domestic and foreign policy implications for Pakistan," Senator Anwaar ul Haq Kakar told Nikkei.

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Deadly IS attack threatens China's Belt and Road in Pakistan - Nikkei Asia