Catholic cardinal Joachim Meisner of Germany died yesterday while on vacation. According to the National Catholic Register, the cause of death is currently unknown, but Meisner passed on peacefully in his sleep. The influential man was made a cardinal by Pope Saint John Paul the Second, and presided over Germany’s largest diocese for 25 years. The Cardinal was outspoken on many issues and a strong advocate for life. Meisner is also known for signing the “dubia,” a series of five questions concerning Pope Francis’s apostolic exhortation “The Joy of Love”, asking for clarity on parts of the document. Many are calling Meisner’s death the “end of an era” because of his strong stance on moral issues and close relationships with the previous two popes. ~ Sarah Schutte
Archives for July 6, 2017
Food Stamp Flux
Food stamp rolls are dropping as some states begin instituting work programs. According to Fox News, states such as Maine, Kansas, and Georgia are seeing a significant drop in welfare users as they require adults to seek jobs or work training in exchange for staying in the food stamp programs. A 19-96 welfare reform bill instituted work requirements, but the Obama administration waived those rules, a move resulting in a rapid growth of welfare dependents. In 20-14, Maine governor Paul Le Paige required all able-bodied adults to find work or perform community service, a ruling resulting in a 14 point 5 percent decline in food stamp participation across the state. This model is being used by lawmakers in Ohio and Utah. Their bill calls for welfare use time limits. ~ Sarah Schutte
Putin Criticizes Trump’s Use of Sanctions, Protectionism
Russian President Vladimir Putin wrote an article for a German newspaper that indirectly attacked the Trump’s policy on trade. The article condemned the use of “doomed” policies, such as economic sanctions and trade protectionism, that have been championed by the Trump administration. — Jenna Suchyta