Wyatt Ciesielka

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.

Secret societies such as the Trilateral Commission, the Bilderbergers, the Illuminati, the Burschenschaft and Opus Dei, are favorite topics of talk radio, Internet sites, books and movies. As evidenced by the popularity of blockbuster movies such as "Enemy of the State" and "Angels and Demons" to "Doomsday 2012: End of Days," as well as that of talk radio hosts like Michael Savage, Glenn Beck and Alex Jones, society is fascinated by conspiracy theories and clandestine organizations supposedly manipulating the masses.