Pope Francis found his way into US politics again with comments aboard his jet on its way home from Mexico today with comments about "building a wall" and contraception; a new MIT study looks at the origins of loneliness and discussing the "Rolling Papers" documentary with its film maker.
WWJD? Pope questions Donald Trump's Christianity due to Mexico wall proposal
Pope Francis found his way into US politics again with comments aboard his jet on its way home from Mexico.
A reporter asked the Pope what he thought about Donald Trump. Francis responded, "A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian."
The implication that Trump isn't Christian brought a quick response from the presidential candidate, who essentially said the Pope is a “pawn” of the Mexican government.
We’ll debate the Pope's judgement of Trump, and what it means to be Christian.
Guests:
Thomas Reese, S.J., Jesuit Catholic Priest, Senior Analyst, National Catholic Reporter and author of "Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church"
Christopher Kaczor, a professor of philosophy at Loyola Marymount University, in Los Angeles, and a corresponding member of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life
Jeffrey Volkmer, Assistant Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies, Biola University
Weighing impact of Pope's comments that contraception can be condoned in Zika crisis
Speaking on a flight en route from Mexico to Vatican City today, Pope Francis has suggested that women threatened with the Zika virus could use artificial contraception to prevent pregnancy.
As the National Catholic Reporter writes, "The pope's remarks on contraception may be seen by some as a significant opening from the highest levels of the church, as Paul VI banned the use of artificial contraceptives in his 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae."
The Roman Catholic church teaches that abstinence, including between married couples, is the only morally acceptable way to prevent the spread of disease.
The church has been criticized for counselling against use of condoms in countries with high rates of HIV transmission. In the past, Pope Francis and his recent predecessors have been questioned about whether there should be an exception to the ban in such regions. Francis has avoided a specific answer on that matter. How could the pope's comments on contraceptives influence Catholics around the world?
Guests:
Thomas Reese, S.J., Jesuit Catholic Priest, Senior Analyst, National Catholic Reporter. Author of "Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church"
Christopher Kaczor, a professor of philosophy at Loyola Marymount University, in Los Angeles, and a corresponding member of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life
Jeffrey Volkmer, Assistant Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies, Biola University
Can bullet train funds help solve California’s water crisis?
California’s bullet train bond funds could be used instead to fund water conservation efforts if one initiative is on November’s voter ballot.
George Runner, Board of Equalization board member, and Sen. Bob Huff (R-San Dimas), co-authored an initiative that would repurpose $8 billion into building new water storage projects and aiding cities in dealing with storm water runoff. Runner argues that “California needs water, not bullet trains.” Some $2 million have been spent to get enough signatures to ensure the initiative will be on November’s ballot.
Supporters of the initiative include the state’s agriculture industry, while opposers include environmentalist groups.
Do you think reallocating the bullet train funds with help alleviate the drought?
Guests:
Aubrey Bettencourt, the Executive Director of the California Water Alliance
Doug Obegi, a senior attorney with NRDC's water program
New study finds neurological origin of loneliness
Researchers at MIT have zeroed in on an area in the brain where the neurological origin of loneliness resides.
The team launched a mice study where each mouse was isolated for 24 hours, and found that a particular region of its brain experienced increased activation. That part, made up of a group of cells, is called the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and is located near the back of the brain.
Joining Larry to talk about the study and the implications of its findings is senior author of the study Kay Tye.
MIT Study on the Origin of Loneliness
Guest:
Kay Tye, senior author of the study, “Dorsal Raphe Dopamine Neurons Represent the Experience of Social Isolation” published in the February issue of the Journal Cell. She is also an assistant professor of neuroscience at MIT
'Rolling Papers' documentary looks at Denver Post's marijuana beat
In cinemas this weekend, a new documentary, "Rolling Papers," follows reporters and editors at "The Denver Post" during the first year of legalization of marijuana in Colorado.
The film covers the legalization issue, the impetus behind the marijuana reviews, a controversial column on parenting and pot use, plus the future of the journalism business.
Guest:
Ricardo Baca, Marijuana Editor, "The Denver Post;" Editor, The Cannabist - the Post's marijuana news and culture website