All eyes are on Capitol Hill today as the House Committee on Homeland Security opens hearings on homegrown Islamic “radicalization.” The hearings are being live-streamed here, with a handy WaPo guide to the witnesses here. Chairman Peter King (left) opened the show by saying there’s nothing “radical or un-American” about either the hearings or his intent.
NPR offers a wrap-up of the personalities involved. Some interesting chatter out there:
— Columnist Patrick Roberts has an idea: if King (a Catholic) can investigate extremism among Muslims, perhaps Rep. Keith Ellison (a Muslim) should investigate abuse among Catholic priests.
— Muslim feminist writer Asra Nomani thinks the hearings are long overdue.
— Joanna Brooks says Mormons — yes, Mormons — should by troubled by the hearings.
— Muslims say suspicions aren’t limited to Capitol Hill, but extend to U.S. border security agents.
— A 2008 study says mosque attendance doesn’t make Muslims more radical, but actually more American.
— Yale theologian Miroslav Volf says the hearings will alienate, not make allies of, American Muslims. That’s what AG Eric Holder is worried about, too.
— L.A. Sheriff Leroy Baca (one of the witnesses today) says if you want to defeat homegrown extremism, hire a few Muslim officers and engage — not enrage — the local mosques.
— Former Bush aide Suhail Khan wants to know how the GOP went “from the majority of American Muslims supporting Bush in 2000 to the very misguided comments of people like Palin and Gingrich and these King hearings.”
The other big news today: B16‘s second installment of his “Jesus of Nazareth” trilogy is released today, with the pope saying that violence in the name of God is a “favorite instrument” of the Antichrist.
Philly Cardinal Justin Rigali‘s Ash Wednesday apology for covered-up abuse by priests fell flat with victims’ groups. The returning abuse scandal isn’t likely to help the church lure lapsed Catholics back to the pews.
The Do-We-or-Don’t-We dilemma for Catholic foster care/adoption agencies that’s flared up in Boston and D.C. may soon come to Chicago under the state’s new civil union law; it probably won’t happen in Minnesota anytime soon.
The Daily Caller has a roundup of what various GOP candidates are giving up for Lent (Santorum‘s sweets, Gingrich‘s desserts). Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson appears to be giving up Lent for Lent.
Even though he’s a bit of old news by now, retired L.A. Cardinal Roger Mahony is feeling more free to speak his mind, particularly on why he won’t deny Communion to Catholic politicians who support abortion rights: “Well, does that mean that the chief of staff who didn’t stop him or her from voting that way also can’t go to Communion? Does that mean that the secretary who handles their paperwork also can’t go? I mean, where does it end?”
Following up on a story we brought you last week, NPR reports on the 11 University of California students who head to court Friday to fight charges of interrupting a speech last year by Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren.
Remember the nun on the run accused of stealing money from Iona College outside NYC? She admitted embezzling $850,000, and now faces up to 10 years in the clink. The Muslim TV exec found guilty of beheading his wife was sentenced to 25 years to life. A former nurse at a Catholic hospital in San Antonio filed suit, alleging she was fired for blowing the whistle after doctors performed an abortion.
After Muslim-Christian riots in Egypt left 13 people dead yesterday, the U.S. wants “justice” for those responsible.