Wyatt Ciesielka

Before the Haiti earthquake killed more than 150,000 and left thousands more orphaned and injured, it was already a very desperate place.  Unemployment was well above 50%.  Corruption and brutality were common.  And many people in Port au Prince survived on only $200 a year.  That was before the earthquake.  But, as terrible as it is in Haiti, even now – much worse is coming.

Europe is locked in a desperate struggle against growing national debt problems and financial contagion.  Nations from Spain to Italy to France are freezing spending, cutting salaries, reducing welfare programs and cutting operating costs (Reuters, "Austerity measures around the Eurozone," June 8, 2010).  With all that Europe has to worry about, it may be surprising that polygamy may be contributing to Europe's fiscal woes.

Europe is locked in a desperate struggle against growing national debt problems and financial contagion. Nations from Spain to Italy to France are freezing spending, cutting salaries, reducing welfare programs and cutting operating costs (Reuters, "Austerity measures around the Eurozone," June 8, 2010). With all that Europe has to worry about, it may be surprising that polygamy may be contributing to Europe's fiscal woes.

British citizens, Paul and Rachel Chandler have been held hostage in Somalia for more than seven months.  They have endured beatings and solitary confinement for periods of up to 100 days.  Recently, a local Somali journalist was able to interview them for ITN.

As the Vatican reels from scandal, even some Catholic priests are now demanding the Pope's resignation (BostonHerald.com, "W. Mass. priest calls for pope to resign," April 12, 2010).  When scandal or political turmoil reaches a boiling point, what should a church … or a nation do?

Beyond the Roman Catholic sex-abuse scandal, the news is full of additional coups and political intrigue. State and religious governments around the world are in turmoil.