i'm bob abernethy. you can follow us on twitter and facebook, find us on youtube, and watch us anytime, anywhere on smart phones and iphones. there's also much more on our web site. you can comment on all of our stories and share them. audio and video podcasts are also available. join us at pbs.org. & ethics newsweekly" is provided by the lily endowment, an indianapolis-based private family foundation dedicated to its founders' interest in religion, community development, d education. additional funding by mutual of america, designing and customizing individual and group retirement products. that's why we're your retirement company. and the corporation for public broadcasting. u forget it. yourself, so don't fall. u forget it. now he tells us. how far am i off the floor? about twelve inches. twelve whole inches?

i'm bob abernethy. it's good to have you with us. >>> president obama has been meeting with congressional leaders this week, continuing negotiations over raising the debt ceiling and reducing the federal deficit. the president says he wants increased tax revenue in addition to budgets cuts, some of which would affect medicare, medicaid and social security. >>> several religious groups meanwhile are lobbying congress. they say any cuts that hurt the poor are immoral. >>> according to a new report from the united nations, global food production must increase by up to a 100% by 2050 to feed the world's growing population. the u.n. also says that more than 900 million people currently suffer from malnutrition. >>> in east africa, severe drought and rising food prices have led to wide-spread famine. 12 million people are affected and tens of thousands have fled somalia alone in search of food. >>> the dalai lama arrived in washington this week for an 11-day peace festival. the event, called a kalachakra, inc

i'm bob abernethy. it's good to have you with us. with an august 2nd deadline looming for raising the country's debt limit, president obama this week appealed for a solution that would require both big cuts in spending and more revenue. >> so the bottom line is this -- any agreement to reduce our deficit is going to require tough decisions and balanced solutions. the president urged congress to reach a deal now. >> if the united states government, for the first time, cannot pay its bills, if it defaults, then the consequences for the u.s. economy will be significant and unpredictable. and that is not a good thing. >> we have a special report coming up later on the moral arguments in washington's intense debate over debt, spending and taxes. >>> in new york, there were celebrations after that state legalized gay marriage. some religious groups, however, continued to voice their objection to the law. new york's catholic bishops said the law will undermine marriage and family. in a separate statement, the

i'm bob abernethy. you can follow us on twitter and facebook, find us on youtube, and watch us anytime, anywhere on smart phones and iphones. there's also much more on our web site. yocan comment on all of our stories and share them. audiond vid podcasts are also availle -join uat pbs. org. as we leave you, music from the liturgy of lament, for the victims of sex abuse and their families, at dublin's pro-cathedral. ♪ indianapolis-based private family foundation dedicated to its founders' interest in religion, community development, and education. additional funding by mutual of america, designing and customizing individual and group retirement products. that's why we're your retirement company, and also by the public broadcasting company.

i'm tim o'brien, sitting in for bob abernethy. it's good to have you with us. >>> as washington scrambled this week to reach a deal on raising the debt ceiling, faith-based groups continue to urge lawmakers not to cut any programs that help the poor. interfaith leaders held a series of prayer vigils on capitol hill. they said religious teachings support helping the neediest. >> when the prophets first spoke out, it wasn't just to condemn the individuals who are blind to the needs of the poor, but the rulers who had failed the poor as well. >>> religious leaders across the spectrum this week condemned the attacks in norway that killed more than 70 people. the head of the world council of churches called it blasphemy for the attacker, anders behring breivik, to cite christianity as a justification for the violence. breivik, who referred to himself as a "cultural christian," claimed he was retaliating against "multiculturalism" and the increase in muslim immigration to europe. muslim groups in europe and the u.s. asked for increased