June 17 - Big Brother alert: Cameras in the cable box to monitor TV viewers
 Article: One World Government

It hardly gets more Orwellian than this. New technology would allow cable companies to peer directly into television watchers' homes and monitor viewing habits and reactions to product advertisements.

The technology would come via the cable box, and at least one lawmaker on Capitol Hill is standing in opposition. Mass. Democratic Rep. Michael Capuano has introduced a bill, the We Are Watching You Act, to prohibit the technology on boxes and collection of information absent consumer permission. The bill would also require companies that do use the data to show "we are watching you" messages on the screen and to explain just what kinds of information is being captured and for what reasons, AdWeek reported.

The technology includes cameras and microphones that are installed on DVRs or cable boxes and analyzes viewers' responses, behaviors and statements to various ads - and then provides advertisements that are targeted to the particular household.

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 June 25 - Catholics, Baptists come together over conscience rights bill
 Article: Social Gospel

Catholic and Baptist leaders are collaborating to ask national legislators to support a bill that would offer conscience protections to healthcare workers across the country.

"While Catholics and Southern Baptists espouse different theological views, we are united by the belief that Congress must act to help preserve our freedom of religion and conscience," Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore and Russell Moore of the Southern Baptist Convention wrote in a June 21 letter to members of Congress.

The letter was released on the first day of the 2013 Fortnight for Freedom, a two-week period of prayer, education and action leading up to the Fourth of July, which encourages greater respect for religious liberty both in America and abroad. The religious leaders explained that the proposed legislation "would address threats to religious freedom and rights of conscience that have become particularly grave in the field of healthcare."

"As many people are being forced - and many others will soon be forced - to either follow what the government compels or suffer for their faith, now is the time to pass legislation that protects our God-given freedom," they stressed.

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 June 22 - Diverse faith leaders unite over religious freedom concerns
 Article: Ecumenical Movement - Miscellaneous

Religious leaders from a variety of faith backgrounds are speaking out against the declining role of religion in society, as well as threats to religious freedom for all faith groups.

"Our biggest challenge is coming from those who want to challenge the role of religion in society," said Rabbi Abba Cohen, vice president for federal affairs and Washington director of Agudath Israel of America. "We live in a world now where threats to one religion could certainly affect others," he told EWTN News.

Rabbi Cohen was one of numerous religious leaders to attend the 2013 National Religious Freedom Conference in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by the Ethics and Public Policy Center's American Religious Freedom Program, the event featured presentations and discussions by Catholic, evangelical Christian, mainline Protestant, Latter-day Saint, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish Orthodox, Seventh-day Adventist, Muslim and Sikh speakers.

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 June 24 - Fight against secularism unites Jews, Catholics, Pope says
 Article: Ecumenical Movement - Roman Catholics Uniting With Other Religions

Christians and Jews can work together to challenge the contemporary problems of secularism and disrespect for the human person, Pope Francis told representatives of Judaism in a Vatican audience.

"Humanity needs our joint witness in favor of respect for the dignity of man and woman created in the image and likeness of God, and in favor of peace which is above all God's gift," the Bishop of Rome told members of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations June 24. "Friendly relations are in a way the basis for the development of a more official dialogue," he added.

The audience with the Jewish leaders was also attended by Cardinal Kurt Koch, who is president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, as well as head of the Vatican's Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, and members of that office. The Committee has held 21 meetings with Catholics so far, and Pope Francis said this has "certainly helped to reinforce mutual understanding and the links of friendship" between them. He welcomed their next meeting, which will be held in October in Madrid, which will consider challenges to faith in contemporary society.

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