Pope Francis’ Extraordinary Leadership, a Time of Discernment

President Obama Welcomes Pope Francis  to the White House
Photo credit: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Perhaps Pope Francis’ leadership will have sufficient impact to motivate others to follow his commitment to building a better world. This week he made a historic visit to the United States, a country that sorely needs to hear and embrace his message (no pope in the history of the church has addressed the U.S. Congress).

Iran Nuclear Deal: Headed For Implementation, Here’s What’s Going On

Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif Speaks to the Media
P5+1 Talks With Iran in Geneva, Switzerland.
 November 24, 2013. Wikimedia

President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran will move forward. The deal cleared the Senate. The House of Representatives rejected it, but the bottom line is that the deal will move forward to implementation. All that was required under the Corker-Cardin process of Congressional review is the approval of one house of Congress.

Trust Is Slippery Republican Language to Use in U.S.-Iran Relations

Image credit: Storm is Coming

This graphic clearly reflects why the Iran accord (the Iran Nuclear deal) is better than Republican belligerence. We will never achieve peace through diplomacy if instead we first choose war.

In fact, if anything can persuade Iran to pursue nuclear weapons, it’s the Republican hawk’s lust for war.

America’s Significant Gun Problem, Trump ‘Nailed It’

Kids with Guns, YouTube screenshot

Regarding the Virginia shooter who last week killed two journalists during a live interview, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told CNN that the U.S. has a mental health problem, not a gun problem. A typical response across social media implies that Trump’s conclusion is a new revelation. They say Trump “nailed it.”