As U.S. Catholic bishops are struggling to adapt to Pope Francis's vision for a more inclusive and welcoming Catholic Church, one Illinois bishop thinks he knows exactly what the pope would want him to do: Blame marriage equality on the devil and schedule an "exorcism" at the same time the governor signs it into law. According to Bishop Thomas Paprocki, the Illinois legislature is "morally complicit as co-operators in facilitating this grave sin … We must pray for deliverance from this evil which has penetrated our state and our church." While other Catholics are working to put service to the poor and broken at the center of the church's ministry, Bishop Paprocki is embarrassing the church with a pointless political stunt, staging what he's calling "prayers of supplication and exorcism in reparation for the sin of same-sex marriage."

Many states across America have pre-registration for young people. But others don't. In my home state of North Carolina, the opportunity for teen pre-registration was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in 2009--and was enacted in 2010. But just three years later, pre-registration was taken away from us with the passage of a 56 page law that attacked voting rights in my home state. I’m determined to get this opportunity back by the time I turn 16 in four years--not just for myself, but for young people across America. The best way to make that happen is a federal pre-registration law for 16 and 17 year olds. But I can’t do this without the help of the current leaders in my government.

I am starting this petition because it just not right that same sex couple are denied the right that everyone else has. I am personally affected by this because I cannot make myself love a man when it does not feel right. My mother always told me you can not help who you are in love with and we should not be punished because we love the same sex. I love my girlfriend and we have a wonderful four year old together and i would love the right to become her step mom and be a wife to my girlfriend.

I am an Ethiopian.

As an American citizen I am complicit in our government's unspeakable abuse of this human being. He was imprisoned in order to intimidate those trying to provide for the elemental human needs of Palestinian refugees; people our government has defined as inconvenient at best, expendable at worst. Mr Abu Baker's imprisonment constitutes an all out war on freedom of speech.

Times are changing and everyone deserves equality. Sign the petition to move wisconsin forward and allow marriage equality. Let people love and get married to those they love.

It's wrong to force your interpretation of what is considered marriage and what is not on individuals who only want to be treated just like everyone else and be happy.

The "R" Word is the Same as the "N" Word and the "K" word We Jews are appalled that fellow Jew Dan Snyder is blind to the fact that the name of the Washington football team that he owns is racist and deeply offensive to Indian peoples. As Indian leader Clyde Bellecourt said recently the “R” word is no different than the “N” word. We’d add that it’s also no different than the “K” word that has been used to taunt Jews for centuries. Words matter. They can hurt and humiliate. They can help turn people into targets of hate. The name of the team has led to other practices that promote humiliating stereotypes like fans wearing “headdresses” of chicken feathers or the mass tomahawk chop or cries to “scalp” opposing teams. It is especially wrong to be shaming Indians, who have suffered so enormously from mass killing, land theft, treaty breaking and attempts to eradicate their cultures. Dan Snyder may live in a luxurious bubble, but he can research the slurs said about Jews over the ages, about our physical appearance, our financial practices and he can read about the absurd lies about supposed uses of Christian blood in Jewish rituals. We call on all Jewish organizations to speak out on this issue. We call on companies to stop making any products for the Washington football team Dan Snyder has said he would "never" change the Washington team name. If this is true we call on the NFL commissioners to seize ownership of the team from Snyder and sell it to the city of Washington or to a group of non-bigoted owners. Initial Signers Jan Bauman, San Rafael, CA retired Medea Benjamin, Washington DC, Code Pink Phyllis Bennis, Director, New Internationalism Project, Institute for Policy Studies, Washington, DC Stanley Heller, Connecticut, host of “The Struggle” Video News Judith Kolokoff, Seattle WA, member of JVP and AJJP Steve Krevisky, Congress of Conn. Community Colleges-4C's/SEIU Robert Naiman, Policy Director, Just Foreign Policy, Washington, DC Joseph Levine, Massachusetts, professor of philosophy Paula Friedland Panzarella, New Haven, CT poet and peace activist Josh Ruebner, author, Washington, DC Abraham Weizfeld, Administrative Secretary, Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians, Alliance de Canadienn-e-s juives-fs consterné-e-s

The list of grievances that I have with Richard Cohen would be a mile long. Today's column, however, takes the cake. Gawker documents the atrocity quite nicely here: http://goo.gl/j8aUlK. For the more adventurous, here is the link to Cohen's original column, http://goo.gl/9vLmRv. It's time to send Richard Cohen packing!

Unarmed 19-year-old Detroit-area resident Renisha McBride was fatally shot while she went looking for help after surviving a car crash. The man who shot Renisha has yet to be arrested, charged, or publicly identified. And he may never be held accountable because of Michigan's deadly so-called "Stand Your Ground" or "Shoot First" law. More than a week after Renisha's death the shooter has not been arrested and he may not face proper prosecution because of Michigan's so-called "Stand Your Ground" or "Shoot First" law. The law could shield Renisha's shooter from criminal prosecution if he believes that he was in danger, even if his belief is wrong and rooted in racial bias. We cannot let another Black teenager's death go unpunished. Please join us in demanding Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy and Dearborn Heights Police Chief Lee Gavin conduct a full investigation and bring the shooter to justice.

Because of the violence and inhuman act against immigrants particularly Ethiopian immigrants in Saudi Arabia.

Currently, there are no federal laws or legislation that directly addresses bullying or anti-bullying prevention programs in our nation's schools. Federal bullying prevention legislation has not received enough support in the past to be passed by Congress. In February 2013, the Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2013 (S.403) was introduced into the Senate for consideration but, has continued to remain stagnant. This is the time to act and voice our concerns to get the Safe Schools Improvement Act (S.403) passed! All children are entitled to have a safe and nurturing environment in their schools where the opportunity for learning and growth is fostered. Too many suicides have been committed among children of all ages due to the detrimental effects of bullying! Take a stand and let your senators know why passing this legislation is so important. Our children's' safety is in our hands and we must get this legislation passed because children are also the future of this country. www.facebook.com/sayyestoS403