>> welcome to" here on dw-tv. the irish prime minister announces 15 billion euros in the cuts in tax cuts intended to restore the nation's financial stability. and south koreans survey the damage as the u.s. promises its support against any possible loss korean attacks. -- any possible north korean attacks. the irish government has unveiled a four-year austerity plan of spending cuts and new

taxes required to qualify for a bailout package of some 85 billion euros. ireland called for aid from the european union and international monetary fund to overcome the debt crisis triggered by massive bank losses and a drain on the government funds. the plan was described as a road map for the stone age. >> demonstrators took to the streets of dublin to protest spending cuts in -- and tax hikes. meanwhile, the prime minister held a press conference to outline the government's new strategy for ireland's struggling economy, concerning what many in the country had expected. dublin needs to save 15 billion euros, and plans to achieve that through cutting spending and raising taxes. new levies on property and drinking water are also in the pipeline as well as cuts to

social welfare and the minimum- wage. >> and of course, central to all of this is not just the cuts in spending or the increase in taxes, but it is about growing the economies, identifying those sectors of our economy which are proving to be competitive, which are insuring that we are learning our way in the world as we move to a balance of payments next year. >> but confidence in the ability to leave ireland through its economic woes has plummeted. >> the present government has proven itself to be totally incompetent. >> meanwhile, many irish are loath to see their country dependent on aid from other eu members and are still getting used to ireland's transition from california to tiger to -- celtic tiger to beckett -- economy in crisis.

>> not really any surprises. most of it had already filtered through through the past days. only slight surprise as the disputed corporation tax of 12.5% stays at the same level, against the will of big eu countries like germany and france who wanted it raised. it is safe to say the irish have been a bit stubborn about that. >> how confident is the government of getting this plan through parliament? >> they seem very confident, but i think it is a bit of a showpiece. he is really in trouble. he is a lame duck at the moment. his government has only a majority of three votes. his coalition partners have already said they might walk out of the coalition. two independent members of parliament have already withdrawn their support. also, his own party yesterday in

their parliamentary party meeting came close to mutiny. the only thing sure at the moment is that brian: -- brian cohen is not going to be the man to lead his party through the economic crisis. measures have been hammered out in cooperation with the imf. the imf people of the year for a couple of days now and had apparently a major influence on this recovery plan. >> thank you so very much. austerity measures in portugal have led to that country's first general strike since 2007. with transportation's shut down, schools closed and services curtailed in much of the country, with unemployment at a record high, protesters are calling for more government spending on jobs instead of more job cuts.

>> the 24-hour general strike left planes grounded and rubbish piled up. the country's two biggest unions called the strike, but many portuguese think their economy is too weak to recover by itself. >> i think most portuguese people are aware that it would be better to accept help. >> if we continue like last year, the indecisiveness is bound to have a negative impact on portugal. it will drive unemployment up. >> but there are fears that the country's sovereignty will be undermined if it does accept an emergency loan from brussels. it is very likely ireland's fate will be closely watched here. >> in britain, the government stripling of university fees has led to student protests -- the

government's tripling of university fees. students took to the streets to protest the raising of fees to some 11,000 years. police say at least 15 people were arrested. two people were injured. student leaders say new protests are being planned. meanwhile, german chancellor angela merkel has repeated her call for a permanent mechanism to resolve the eurozone debt crisis. she faced some strong criticism. social democrats and greens have called her planned cuts to services antisocial. >> germany appears to have the -- emerged smoothly from the crisis, and although the economy appears to have bounced back, merkel is keeping the economy titan, speaking to a strict diet of budget cuts and targeted

investments. >> we are not saving at the expense of the future. instead, this budget shows we are saving for our future. our budget is for more child care places for education and research, and for more investment. that is what our budget is about. alabama but the opposition are critical of the chancellor's government. they accused the conservative liberal coalition of facing in the wrong places, but fitting industry and the well-off instead of protecting the socially vulnerable. >> these policies are not made in the public interest but are instead policies, proposals, and ultimately laws that will deepen the divisions in this society. >> merkel has also garnered criticism for the top line she has taken over ireland's economic woes. critics say her policies are creating a divided europe.

>> these are not the easiest times for europe. but i still say our support for europe's core values should never be doubted. >> but whether the voting public are convinced by the government's policies we will know when they go to the polls early next year. >> the feeling among businesses in germany is that the future is looking pretty bright. >> rising optimism indeed. business sentiment here in germany has continued to rise. the closely watched business climates index was unveiled on wednesday and showed the reading for november soaring to the highest levels since the german reunification 20 years ago. the index rose to 109.3, showing that the upswing in the german economy is gaining more and more strength. the index is based on our around 7000 monthly survey responses from managers in the

manufacturing, construction, and resell manufacturers. >> earlier, we spoke with the president of the eagle institute and asked why german managers continue to be so confident about the future. >> it comes from germany's exports. we participate in the rise of the emerging countries, and surprisingly for some, it comes from the economy. investment is very strong. this is the largest contributor to the growth in germany this year. actually stronger than germany's exports. the reason for it has to do with the crisis. this is a turnaround of the world development. after many years where germany's savings were exported

by the banking system to other countries and made it possible to have a time of soft budget constraints where money was available for each and every thing, now, there is a reconsideration. the banks do not dare to go to north america to buy structured securities or decrease to buy government bonds. they seek safer investment opportunities, and they seem to find them in germany. the mortgage rates in germany are the lowest in history, and the result is that people use the loans which are offered to them to build houses. so we are in the beginning of a construction boom and firms invest also the construction of factory buildings is shooting up. these things contributed demand inside germany. in the second place, they would increase the capacity of german

industry and lay the foundations for sustained long-term growth process. >> shares in german software giant s.a.p. fell about 1% after a federal jury in the united states ordered them to pay $1.3 million to its american rivals oracle for copyright infringement. oracle had argued they owed as much as $3 billion because one of its former business units illegally downloaded oracle software in documents, thereby infringing on dozens of copyrights. s.a.p. admitted liability for the actions but argued the copyright damages should be no more than $41 million. they say they will not pursue all available legal options to reduce the financial liability. investors were disappointed in the verdict. for more on that and news that sent shares higher this wednesday, we have this summary

from frankfurt. >> people on the trading floor do not believe that the money s.a.p. set aside for eventual damage payments will be enough. the stocks were among the biggest losers this wednesday. the dax itself instead climbed significantly, to a stronger than expected -- thanks to a stronger than expected business climate index and also thanks to a expected american economic data, which gives hope that this upcoming thanksgiving weekend, many americans will start to go shopping and spend a lot of money. >> in frankfurt, where we can stay for a closer look at market numbers, and the dax index clawed back some of the gains it made in recent days, finishing nearly 1% higher. the euro stocks 50 index lock in a more modest gains, but finished higher as well. in new york, shares their traded

higher on positive jobs data. the dow trading at this hour and 11,186 points. you're treating just a tad lower at a value of one u.s. dollar -- $1.3324. the court-appointed trustee for the recovery of assets stolen by bernie madoff is suing ubs, accusing the swiss financial firm in participating in his bond scheme. ubs faces 23 counts of financial fraud and misconduct. ubs actively assisted the ponzi scheme by administrating so- called feeder funds, which allowed madoff to be the only source of information for valuing his financial products. madoff pleaded guilty in 2009 to running the most massive ponzi scheme in history and is currently serving a 150-year prison sentence. that is your business update. >> the u.s. aircraft carrier

group has left the naval base in japan heading for korean waters, the u.s. forces say the joint exercise with the south korean military had been planned well before the shelling of the south korean island by the north on tuesday. the nuclear-power u.s.s. george washington is carrying several planes. on wednesday, the bodies of two civilians were found on the island. two south korean marines were also killed when dozens of artillery shells hit the island, most of the striking military base. >> angry south koreans at this demonstration in the capital took to the streets to demand retribution for the north korean attack. >> this is the first attack on civilians since the korean war. was clearly an invading action against the republic of korea and our people. >> in communist north korea, authorities appear to be playing down the attack. wednesday's editions of the

state-run newspaper led with headlines of a visit by state dictator kim jong il to a factory. a report toward the back of the newspaper blamed the skirmish on the south. >> the south korea profit regime should well know that the korean army response to provocative buyer with a merciless shower of fire. >> these people experienced that shower a fire firsthand. they live on the small island. they fled to the mainland in the wake of the shelling. some say they will never go back. 03 and fired more than 50 artillery shells at the island -- north korea. the south korean military says it will increase military presence in the area. the south has also suspended deliveries of humanitarian aid to the impoverished north. >> hundreds of egyptian christians have clashed with police over government plans to halt the construction of a church. at least one person was killed. dozens were injured. police fired tear gas at

christians protesting work at the site, which had previously been approved by authorities. the official egyptian state news agency said some 3000 people took part in that demonstration. christians make up about 10% of egypt's population and say they are increasingly being subjected to government persecution and mob violence. now this -- the united states is getting ready to celebrate thanksgiving on thursday. each and every year, the highlight of that holiday is gathering around the family dinner table, but for millions of turkeys, it means ending up on the table. their only hope -- a presidential pardon straight from the white house. this year, president obama saved two lucky turkeys from the chopping block, just one day before the big national holiday. the annual pardon has been a white house tradition now for decades. there he is. i will be right back. the situation in the age of

austerity in europe. more on that coming up in one minute. >> sustainable protection for the birth. new ideas for climate change are coming from all over the world. a major series on global 3000 pioneers for energy and climate protection projects. global 3000 on dw-tv. >> state of the art. fast. reliable.

just like us. dw-tv -- quality first. >> welcome back. europeans are increasingly angry about the deep spending cuts that are part of what is being called the age of austerity. wednesday sought a general strike i of portugal, for example. greece has been seeing regular anti-government strikes. also on wednesday, greece was joined by ireland as the second eurozone nation to announce deep spending cuts and taxes. then, of course, there is spain, a country on the edge, but being labeled too big to fail because it is too big to be bailed out. rich nations like germany want to help for now to ensure that the euro remains a solid currency and that the eu remains

a politically stable union. >> the crisis surrounding the euro seems to become sickle. markets get jittery, prompting politicians to step in until the next crisis triggers the process again from the start. ireland has accepted a bailout from brussels. the money will come from the european stability facility. the 750 billion euro fund set up by leaders as a safety net for euro countries running out of cash. the existence of the luxembourg- based facility was meant to send a signal that disaster can be avoided when it comes to the crunch, but such political window dressing was not enough to save ireland. its deficit level at 32% of gdp is unprecedented in europe. dublin was pushed so far into the red by the huge costs of bailing out its failing banks. now, the irish finance minister must save 6 billion euros in the

coming year alone. >> we are working on the budgets. we need to pass this budget. >> but the crisis has pushed the irish government over the edge, and passing the budget is likely to be one of its last major actions. many fear ireland could go the way of greece. it was the first country to be rescued with eu-guaranteed loans. grieg's directed their protests to budget watchdog's from the international monetary fund and the eu. while dublin was dragged down by its banks, greece simply lived beyond its means. greece's rescued millions are being paid out in installments. recently, athens had to admit it had not reached predicted revenue targets. >> if greece fails to fulfil certain retirement or reach certain targets, we will need to talk about it. >> we are starting from a higher point that what we really

wanted, but we fully respect the targets and intend to take any measures that are necessary. >> the talk is getting tougher with in the european union, but politicians also want to preempt further crises by radically reforming the eurozone. the german chancellor wants to cap the claims in times of crisis. >> we decided to keep in mind certain points for our crisis response mechanism. one of those is the role and responsibility of private bondholders. >> that set alarm bells ringing in the portuguese capital where the interest rates on state bonds raised. if investing in states brings added risk, investors will demand an enhanced return on their investment.

>> of portugal's 24-hour general strike against the government's austerity policies largely paralyzed the country on wednesday. trains and bus services were canceled. factories came to a halt. rubbish went uncollected. even soldiers who have no legal right to stage work stoppages organized a day of reflection. while many take to the streets, others are simply taking their chances overseas. >> the dream of faraway places. that means just one special place in lisbon -- commerce square. it was once the commercial center of portugals empire, and it is where explorers set out on their journeys. like those explores, these young women see their future elsewhere. >> they want to conquer the world. now young people -- we feel that we have to conquer our own

world, going to other countries and choosing other types of possibilities. i of portugal, it is so difficult to get a good job. >> the brain drain has become a subject for portugal's modern artists with the country portrayed as a leaking swimming hole. some see little alternative to immigration. >> that does not mean we cannot come back, but our main concern is how we can manage to make ends meet. >> tried to raise a family, doing grownup things, and we will not be able to because we cannot pay for education of the child. we cannot pay a house. we cannot pay anything. >> sarah is a journalist. until a few weeks ago, she was producing articles and films in new york. she was there for two years and only returned because her visa ran out. she has a job in lisbon but

wants to return to new york as soon as possible. >> i used to have an amazing life. i lived very well. every time i go to the offer, to be met, i was there. i really enjoyed the life. >> those are luxuries she can hardly afford in portugal. her friend is just managing to keep her head above water with temporary jobs running up to 700 euros a month, but usually less. rent alone is 300 euros. >> no, i cannot go on like this. there are no solutions on the horizon. >> many fear the crisis will cause even greater problems for portugal's economy. there is a lot of talk about whether it would be better for the country to accept eu help or even pull out of the common currency.

>> i do not know if it is going to be better if we save ourselves. it is like being on the seas. we are going, going, going, but if there is a bigger boat that can take the little boat and put it inside, maybe we are going to travel quicker. i do not know. that is what might happen with portugal. >> sera hopes that ireland's accepting a bailout could remove some of the pressure on portugal. but the country will not skate austerity measures aimed at reining in its budget deficit. >> people are buying only the bare essentials, but it is going to get worse. soon, value-added tax will be at 23%, even for the most basic essentials like milk. >> in the traditional bars in their neighborhood, sara and ana teresa often hear about the good

old days. there was a lot of immigration from portugal in the past, too, but many believe the situation is much worse now. many in the older generation believe accepting economic help would damage their national pride. >> i do not think portugal needs help from other countries. we can manage alone if we all work together. >> the euro is a prison. a prison. most young people have a different view, but many agree that traditions can help the country deal with the problems of the present. >> it is a way to remember the old times, and some people believe that the old times were the good ones. some people believe that remembering the old times make us believe that the new times are going to be also good. >> that hope, regardless of whether their future is in

portugal or elsewhere. >> that is all for in -- for our "in depth." thanks so much for joining us.

>> fingers in the dike. there is a well-known fable of the dutch boy holding back title waters with the seawall with his finger. the fable has it parallel in debate on modern values. this time it is america that is trying to put its finger in the dike. to hold back the tide the tide of liberal values spilling over from europe especially from that same small country north sea with his 16 million dutch citizens. practitioners of a secular values called quote-unquote personal autonomy. the netherlands was the first country to legalize the right to die known as u euthanasia. and dutch has same sex marriage

soft drugs, prostitution, and coffee shops that serve hashish. question, are americans destined to take our values cues from the dutch. well jew deyo christian be pushed aside for personal autonomy. is the jesus of bethlehem destined to be side lined by the doctrine and practice of personal autonomy. are we all going dutch? >> we'll ask these experts. paul sar bin, and steven plo ploerow. rabin, and steven

ploerow. ploerow. >> plott row. if. for such a small word it packs a wallop. if i live to a hundred. if social security isn't enough. if my heart gets broken. if she says yes. we believe if should never hold you back. if should be managed with a plan that builds on what you already have. together we can create a personal safety net, a launching pad, for all those brilliant ifs in the middle of life. you can call on our expertise and get guarantees for the if in life. after all, we're metlife. this program has been occasione journal of february 28th, 2004 called going dutch in legalizing prostitution, and soft drugs. >> are we discontinued to do the same. why do you those are the kind of

issues that you select. that is a basic recap of your proposition of the peace. do you want to talk about the global pipeline the global pipeline of values that's coming across. most people in the united states we make up our mine. we don't follow europe. >> right. well i think that's a popular myth and misconception. i lived overseas and russia until recently. one the things that occurred lot a things you see in europe are things that are ahead in some sense what you see in america. the article sit elf was prompted by the whole debate over same sex gay marriage in massachusetts that americans boy this is sort of a fau naphenomew to us. in fact the dutch had legalized gay marriage in 2001. and so in america is really kind

of sense catching up so absolutely there's a valts pipeline >> you think that this values globalization is going to change the culture. >> it's already changing the culture. >> how so? >> i think that the gay marriage is another issue. yoit anyways yeah through science and technology the so-called abortion pill r uchu t was pioneered in france. there was a great deal of hostility and opposition to it. now it's come over and now it's easily available from doctor or from a clinic. there's no question we're all sort of this mainstream of western values. >> you think that this force emanating from europe particularly amsterdam seems to have codified it more than anyone else is irresistible. i think it's a condition of modern life and in that sense is streak liamly powerful force.

there are and there can be count counterveiling issues in the society. i think it's complex. how are you impressed by this point of viview, steven? >> well, i think you have to take religion seriously in the united states and i think that's the huge difference in united states and the netherlands. you've got the one most religious and secular countries in europe in the e netherlands. if you look at some basic and rntion kes do you believe the bible is the word of god or do you believe in heaven or do you believe in hell, do you believe in miracles? i think that matters when it comes to all these issues. >> the expansion of secular rights not only in the netherlands else why in europe that you speak of, and you see that expansion taking place in

the united states. again going back to this core issue, what's cash dash is there any additional evidence of that? we have a church state wall between the two. doesn't that function pretty effectively to keep out influences which may diminish yew bumper sticker watty and force of our religious moraliub religious morality. but generally i think to look at a little bit of a paradox or a contribution what people believe and actual behavior. professing in religious values we also look what the fastest

city over the last decades las vegas. the most popular one of the popular television programs right now is "desperate housewives." i mean there's you can make an argument that america has more hypocrisy on these issues that the europeans did that our behavior is not fend mentally different. >> we just finished an election. in 11 states was a referendum rejected it. does that give a lie to the irresistible values. >> backlash. i think in the political system we often see a backlash to what is happening in the cultural arena. gay marriage was not in the table as a political issue five or 10 years ago. we're having a backlash that the culture has brought front and center.

do you see any any influence in the jurisprudence in the united states for example, in the court rulings in massachusetts in same sex mayor usualing. was that in any sense derivitive of or from europe or elsewhere? >> sloochlt the mast followed on the lines of the supreme court decision which ruled against the bowers earlier supreme court decision that basically found that laws on sodomy were okay. the supreme court basically threw out these laws and in doing so it cited opinions by among a european court of human rights in strauss burg, and the people arguing this case it is been a tradition of the united states to pay a decent respect to the opinions of others. >> who is the chief justice in massachusetts >> it was margaret marshamarsha. >> originally from south africa

>> an antiapartheid been marrieo the former new york city tony lewis. >> not only the echo and the language of the courts ruling didn't she a peel separation of the human rights she. >> she talked about canada. >> the appeals of some canada ontario. >> yes. so you feel that willy-nilly -- and it's going to seep into our institutions. i think what he's saying steven into our institutions notably the supreme court the massachusetts and even the supreme court itself on the reversal on sodomy. >> absolutely. i don't think it's willy-nilly. i think activists at the yale university law school who're very consciously doing this. they are tied to activists in

europe, and they are developing this whole body of law that the social conservatives are very worried about it >> let's take euthanasia or doctor assisted suicide is okay. in the netherlands. do you know that i believe it's 65% of americans support allowing a doctor to fu fulfill terminally ill patient's right to end life >> that's one where americans are relatively close to other in need lund. 59% of americans oppose gay marriage even though of them are for civil unions. but i think this notion that there's a pipeline that's running somehow from europe and from the netherland to the united states i think that's the wrong metaphor. there is a battle that's going on between a culture of duty and culture of freedom or however

you want to refer to or religious or secular culture. surely one of the lessons of legislation we're not taking our laws from massachusetts of supreme court or from europe that the religion matters that the religion informs that the people think about public life. they informed about the way they think about political life. the lesson the election is just the opposite. >> which is just front and center >> you want to put any kind of gloss on those statistics about the general ration null this next on the gay marriage the 14%. 65 and older between the 18 and 29 support it. this exist that generational changes looming >> i think it is. if you look at the early marsh juries, s

harbingers, sand i think that te question of gay marriage is on the table. it's a controversial one. it will work itself in the system i think. >> is there a historical for the clash between personal autonomy, and religious values. >> john i think this has been clash is as old as our country. we are a religious abiding country. have always been so. the autonomous with his zone of privacy is profound kind of libertarian idea. it results in sort of a clash and sometimes that the clash is not just between different parts of the culture in people themselves. >> but the turn of the 19th century the church represented traditional views and tried to impose its will through its

church. >> and some regards between personal autonomy and this country and the combination of politicians, and values modes seems to some to be eerily similar. do you think it's eerily similar? >> well, i think there's always been a battle between the religious values and secular values and i think one thing that distinguishes united states from the europe the religious values really matter mere and we can ignore them at certain points. we can aspiration null politics where we hope or fear that say that the gay marriage issue is going to powerfully to the u.s. but i think in terms of description now you don't want to take these port cities and these blue counties as probleming sees for to the united states. there's regions and religions that matter. do you reject or accept the idea of american exceptional meaning we're different from europe. >> i think we are very different

from europe in many different ways. you can't found ooh county in the united states that approaches not one county. you believe europe is venus, and america is mars. >> i think do think there's a tremendous difference. i think the culture badges are being won in europe in the enlightenment and personal autonomy, and personal freedom and there being one in the united states on the adjudicate christ judeo christian. with cal vun in his um. you're an individual be

calvinist that and the we're in something together with god that we have sort of a contract between human beings and god and the american still think this way. you think this rhetoric out of the white house with democratic, and republican presidents. it's not going away. >> you want to comment on that. >> i think that we have that doctrine and it's held up as an ideal in america it become somewhat attenuated. the other thing about cal vunism. this is of the for and religion it became gradually what happened after the review formation that the netherlands becaformation that the netherlands became

>> legalizing prostitution, and legal i guess doctor assisted suicide. religious authorities from the wide cross section of churches stand in opposition. why do you contend they are able to testimony the tide. they are misaligned with their faithful. >> i think there's some of that. i'm not catholic but aren't there polling that suggests that a lot of the people even though who go to catholic church are not observing church teaching on issues like consequent septiotr. there's a lot of cafeteria thinking. >> i think picking and choosing a good way to put it. i think there is a satisfy tiara

mentality. that can apply to even religious beliefs. you think that religion is in the climb in the united states. >> no, i don't. i've vested a intt i teach at religion at boston college. it's not a commercial anything. religion is powerful. there's people i don't think it's true that we're in the middle of another great awa awakening. >> let me grijalva you some statistics. look at marriage. in 19 snrirtss. the number of unwed couples shot up 1 50%. >> marriage ins decline. i think that's true. i think that's true. maybe paul and i agree on there is a battle going on here between these two ways of thinking about the world. one more can you have n nent.

>> the church authorities cannot keep marriage which is a centerpiece as ovenant. >> the church authorities cannot keep marriage which is a centerpiece as we that this force is irresistible sooner or later we're going to be am stu amsterdam over here. the question are we going to be -- what can they say that they can't save marriage >> how soon are the 40% much measures goer on agriculture gnawings particulars or in atheists >> when it comes to bedroom issues there is a very powerful impulse. but that impulse isn't winning in the republican party. it's getting 84% of adult

american identify themselves at christian. 82% of americans believe jesus is god or the son of god. 79% of americans believe in the virgin birth of jesus. how can anyone think that americans's religious faith cannot shunted aside by a dutch flo philosophy pushed aside by personal autonomy. wife edie two daughters apits kaw pale 81. politics yale university american studies with an emphasis on religious and politics. ba some come law day. harvard university ph.d. religioum cum laude.

harvard university ph.d. religion. "new york times" magazine. new york book review the "wall street journal" "l.a. times" the washington post. so on.com. three books on white buddhists, recently american jesus, how the son of god became a national icon. red sox die fan and ken u.s. richard plotherow. >> bangor maine 47 years of age. wife na g i sa. jewish. politics independence. wesley 81. london school of economics ms international relations. business week magazine moscow

burro chief 4 years. the atlantic contributing editor one year and currently. national journal staff correspondent with five cover stories this year. the french were right kerry is a worldly der the rise of nationalism. rethinking that zionism and going dutch one year the new york and washington post, "los angeles times" contributed to. the real state of the union essays on united states the angry american our commentary on social rage. hobbies, travel in the form of ussr, the mideast and europe. paul, jeffrey sarrabin. >> the statistics that i gave from this quite remarkable 5,500

were recapped. do you believe that the historical account as given by at least two of the gospel writers of the christmas the angels announcing to mary. >> no, i'm not a theologian. >> do you think it's not treating as historical jesus' true history? >> well, i'm a histo historian t know how much historical evidence there is for this. we don't know the historical evidence his yuns go by. >> well,, the row monocatholic church council said you don't have to accept it in it full littoral teerality.

>> sure i do. these statistics are from your article. it's on the question of is religion very important to you. 60% of americans say religion is very important to them. 30% that of the irish, 30%, 27% of italians, 20% of germans, and 10% of french say that religion is very important to them. does that kiss appoint disappoi? >> it's welsh. in the netherlands that figure is 17%, and this is another huge disparate between them and the united states. people think about politics or wish they didn't and sometimes it's a bad thing. but the fact is that that's how americans go about thinking about these big moral questions. they think in light of god, jesus in light of the christmas

story in light of the teach of the catholic church or the teaching of local preacher. >> how do you feel what he just said >> i think religion does matter here. i'm not sure it matters as search to pat ushes of behavior as you might be implied by those figures with the number of unmarried people living together. with the abortion pill becoming available. with the mainstreaming of the pornography through the internet. all of these things seem to allow people more and lessor their autonomous actors and that is under mining in a basic way of religious ethos. >> do you know that oregon physician assisted suicide is okay >> the one state. >> it is tacitly done in hospitals all the time but under the legal range.

>> we have to be careful with the distinction here, and that is the removal of a lifeline, and the actual injection with a needle or some positive direct a act. >> that's true. >> the catholic church for example, which is quite clear on this and quite studious about it there's no requirement to maintain extraordinary means to stay alive. there's no requirement. so what is an extraordinary means. extraordinary could be heart surgery. so how do you you see that balance there? >> so doctor assisted suicide may not always be in the instance of the 4,000 who have it done out of 5,000 who requested it. in other words is it different between the right and the practice of it in the netherlands? >> it's active euthanasia that's being discussed in need 0

netherlands. >> atnetherlands. >> a thenetherlands. >> athe netherlands. >> and they give them a pill. people do make a disstainings between these two thing. in a way it seems natural. god thought it was their time. and other intervention science and medicine. do you think that religion as we know today will endure in the united states. >> absolutely. there's a paradox here. there's an element of hypocrisy here. how many of those people went to las vegas or sitting at home watching "desperate housewives." or participate in a reality show. >> it's the consumer society. >> so you feel that the religion is here to stay. >> religion is absolutely here to stay. the fact that sinners this is no news to christian people across

the country. >> thanks so much for being my guest. our time has expired, sand merr ?o