The Periscope Post

The Boston Globe “In abuse cases, church rules aren’t enough — call police”

The Vatican’s new rules on sex abuse do not order church officials to report allegations to the police or establish internal penalties for bishops who cover up cases of abuse. Not good enough, said The Boston Globe. “Until the church adopts a zero-tolerance policy, justice cannot be served, and the worldwide uproar over the church’s handling of such cases will continue.” The paper continued: “The clergy do not operate outside of the criminal law. Likewise, the institutions they work for should enact policies that operate in concert with the legal system, and within the bounds of common sense and decency.”

The New York Times “A promising preventive”

A new vaginal gel could cut a woman’s risk of infection with HIV by almost 40 percent. The New York Times hailed this as “a potentially huge breakthrough” for sub-Saharan Africa. Further tests will need to be done – as well as effective marketing. And more good news comes from a Malawian study showing that “small cash gifts” to families reduces the risk of young girls being exposed to early sex, prostitution and AIDS. “Slowing the spread of H.I.V. will require multiple approaches,” said the paper. “All efforts to support the most promising leads should be pursued.”

The Washington Post “Tearing down firewalls”

“Billions of people live in countries where the Internet is not free,” marvelled The Washington Post. Thankfully, the State Department is collaborating with internet providers and social media companies in public-private partnerships to foster a climate of greater global freedom; and Congress is also putting money to the cause. “A cyberspace without walls or barriers, where people can assemble and express themselves freely, without fear of censorship or imprisonment, will make the world safer for the United States and for democracies everywhere,” said the paper.

The Los Angeles Times “Helping Haitians to help themselves”

55,000 Haitians have been approved for visas by the US Department of Homeland Security – but they may have to wait for many years to be allowed to immigrate. The Los Angeles Times deemed it “both logical and humane to speed this process”. Obama “only has to give the order,” it reminded its readers. Although the administration “has kept its word about sending money to Haiti . . . the country’s recovery cannot progress without the assistance of its diaspora.”