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* The charge that Israel uses disproportionate force keeps resurfacing whenever it has to defend its citizens from non-state terrorist organizations and the rocket attacks they perpetuate. From a purely legal perspective, Israel's current military actions in Gaza are on solid ground. According to international law, Israel is not required to calibrate its use of force precisely according to the size and range of the weaponry used against it.

Their father, B., informs me that smoke is rising from his neighbor's house and ends the call. An hour later, he tells me that two apartments were hit. One was empty; he does not know who lives there. The other, which suffered casualties, belongs to a member of a rocket-launching cell, but no one senior or important.

December 11, 2008

A United Nations joint statement calling for countries to decriminalize homosexuality and keep LGBT people safe has been backed by nearly every Western nation -- except possibly the United States.

A U.N. spokeswoman for the United States said the government has not shown its support because the statement has not been finalized, but U.K. gay activist Peter Tatchell says it has been put through the final steps.

Run Date: 12/21/08 By Claire Bushey
WeNews correspondent

Catholic reformers hope to restore passages praising Mary and other biblical women to the lectionary used in Sunday Mass. A Vatican synod in October called for a review, providing them hope that women may gain a bigger role in church teachings.

(WOMENSENEWS)--The men and women gathered in a New York Roman Catholic church to hear the biblical song of praise that is never proclaimed on Sunday.

The 60 or so Catholics had come on a Wednesday evening in early December to listen to and meditate on the Magnificat, a canticle sung by Mary, believed by Christians to be the mother of God. In it, Mary praises God for choosing her to do his will.

Is Arizona Proposition 102 about Protecting Religion or Violating Civil Rights?

In the past, paying single employees less than married employees was justified because single people did not have a family to support. In the past, it was legal for a landlord to deny rental to opposite gender couples because they were not married. These practices happened not so long ago. Today these practices are defined as discrimination.

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