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Trump, the pope and the gospel of ‘Pulp Fiction’

Columns

It is hardly surprising that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s explicitly Christian monthly worship services monthly in the Pentagon have raised alarm in some quarters about the separation of church and state. But who expected to find him quoting lines of alleged scripture that were lifted from Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 cult classic “Pulp Fiction?” The flap begins with a prayer. At an April 15 worship service, Hegseth recited a prayer he said was sent to him by the lead mission planner of “Sandy One,” of the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) mission in Iran that saved a ...

Yes, of course, war settles things

Columns

Countless protest signs have informed us over the years that “war is not the answer.” We hear this message, with varying levels of sophistication and differing underlying worldviews, from institutions and people ranging from Code Pink to Pope Leo. “War does not solve problems,” the pontiff said in an Angelus address last year. “On the contrary, it amplifies them and causes deep wounds in the history of peoples — wounds that take generations to heal.” Now, there are many things that can be said about the tragedy of warfare without crediting the blatantly ahistorical ...

Dear Annie: Bitter divorce threatens to break up family

Columns

Dear Annie: My wife and her sister have always had a close but delicate relationship. They can talk for hours, laugh about old family stories and check in on each other several times a week. But every so often, something shifts, and my sister-in-law becomes sharp, angry and deeply hurtful toward my wife. The source of it almost always goes back to her divorce. Even though the marriage ended 15 years ago, she still carries enormous bitterness toward her ex-husband and blames him entirely for the breakup. During their marriage, however, we grew close to him as part of the family. More ...

Prioritize healthcare throughout rural Pennsylvania

Columns

Every April, Grange chapters from the local to national level celebrate Grange Month. This month is an opportunity to highlight one of the most enduring institutions in rural America and recommit ourselves to the communities we have long served. For generations, the Grange has stood for fellowship, advocacy, and practical support for farm families and rural towns. That mission is just as important today, especially when it comes to health care. Colorectal cancer is one of the greatest examples of why this matters. In Pennsylvania this year, an estimated 6,520 people will be diagnosed ...

What is the correct amount of water humans should drink?

Columns

DEAR DR. ROACH: Please write about the correct amount of water that people should drink. There’s so much misinformation! — E.N., MD ANSWER: There is so much misinformation since a simple answer, like “more is always better,” is easier than a nuanced answer. It depends on your age, activity level, the temperature and humidity, any medications you might be taking, and whether your kidneys have any issues. However, the simplest answer, which is true for most people, is that your body has a built-in system, called the thirst reflex, to make sure that you are getting enough fluid. ...

Why Earth Day matters more than ever

Columns

Fifty-seven years ago, Earth Day changed American politics. On April 22, 1970, 20 million American, about 10% of the entire U.S. population, took to the streets, campuses, and town squares in a single day to demand action after 150 years of uncontrolled industrial pollution. The demonstrations were so large and bipartisan that Washington responded almost immediately, probably out of fear but also respect for the intensity and size of the demonstrations. Within just a few years, President Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency and Congress passed 20 landmark laws including the ...