To the Point
Sex Abuse, Celibacy and Politics in the Roman Catholic Church
In America, the healthcare debate caused a schism between Roman Catholic bishops and 59,000 nuns. In Europe, the sex-abuse scandal has reached into the Vatican. What's the role of priestly celibacy? Is there a crisis of confidence in all-male authority? Also, President Obama signs healthcare reform into law, and China strikes back at Google's move to Hong Kong.
By Warren Olney • • 50m ListenIn America, the healthcare debate caused a schism between Roman Catholic bishops and 59,000 nuns. In Europe, the sex-abuse scandal has reached into the Vatican. What's the role of priestly celibacy? Is there a crisis of confidence in all-male authority? Also, President Obama signs healthcare reform into law, and Google's move to Hong Kong has not made uncensored content available in China. We get the latest on one of the world's biggest Internet markets.
Banner image: Cardinal Sean Brady (L), Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop hands a copy of the Pope Benedict XVI's pastoral letter to the Catholics of Ireland to a child at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh, Northern Ireland, on March 20, 2010. Photo: Peter Muhly/AFP/Getty Images
In this episode
3 storiesObama Signs Healthcare Reform into Law
In the East Room of the White House, members of Congress today loudly celebrated passage of healthcare reform with President Obama and Vice President Biden. Though much of the measure won't take effect until 2014, the President recited a long list of what will happen before the November elections.
Read the story8 minSex Abuse, Celibacy and Politics in the Roman Catholic Church
Sexual abuse by priests has cost the Roman Catholic Church both members and money in the US. An avalanche of cases in Europe could cost even more. The Church blames the secularization of western culture, but even the Cardinal of Vienna has questioned the issue of priestly celibacy .
Read the story38 minGoogle Defies China, Moves Its Search Engine to Hong Kong
In a move to avoid censorship while not violating Chinese law, Google has directed Chinese Internet users to a search engine in Hong Kong. But uncensored content is not being seen on the mainland. Andrew Lih is Visiting Professor of Media Studies at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
Read the story5 min
