BLACK SMOKE ISSUED FORTH
FROM THE SISTINE CHAPEL
YESTERDAY.
THAT MEANS NO POPE YET.
AND WE'VE ALSO -- HOW TALL
ARE YOU?
Kristi: 5' 7."
Pat: DO YOU BELIEVE
WE'RE GOING TO SHOW SEVEN
FEET OF REGULATIONS FOR THE
OBAMACARE?
THAT'S A FOOT AND A HALF
TALLER THAN YOU ARE.
Kristi: THAT'S PRETTY
TALL.
Pat: WE'LL SHOW
PICTURES OF WHAT IT LOOKS
LIKE.
AND YOU'VE GOT TO READ
THROUGH ALL OF IT TO GET
HEALTH CARE.
Kristi: REMEMBER THAT
WOMAN WHO HAD THAT BOOK, AND
IT WAS THIS LONG, WHO READ
ALL OF IT, AND I THINK SHE
WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO
ACTUALLY READ IT.
Pat: THEY'RE LOOKING
FOR A POPE OVER IN ROME WHO
WILL HAVE TO HANDLE SOME
TOUGH PROBLEMS FACING THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Kristi: THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH IN LOS ANGELES HAS
REACHED A SETTLEMENT IN FOUR
SEX ABUSE CASES, AND IT IS
GOING TO COST THEM NEARLY
$10 MILLION.
IT IS JUST ONE OF THE ISSUES
THE NEXT POPE MUST DEAL
WITH.
HERE IS CHRIS MITCHELL FROM
ROME.
Reporter: EVEN IN THE
DIGITAL AGE, 115 CARDINALS
COMMUNICATE BY BLACK SMOKE.
HERE IN VATICAN CITY, THERE
IS AN AIR OF EXPECTATION OF
WHEN THE CARDINALS WILL
REACH THEIR DECISION, AND
WHO THE NEXT POPE WILL BE.
IF HISTORY IS ANY JUDGE, IT
MAY NOT BE THAT LONG.
I DON'T THINK IT WILL
TAKE MORE THAN TWO OR THREE
DAYS, AT MOST.
WE HAVEN'T HAD A CONCLAVE GO
OVER FIVE DAYS SINCE 1831.
SO IF THEY GO MORE THAN
THAT, THEN WE KNOW THEY HAVE
PROBLEMS, THAT THEY'RE
HAVING A DIFFICULTY.
Reporter: MANY
CATHOLICS WE TALK TO HERE
ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT
OVERALL CHURCH LEADERSHIP
THAN WHO BECOMES POPE.
WE EXPECT A GOOD LEADER
IN THIS AGE, WHERE THERE IS
A CRISIS ABOUT FAITH.
I THINK THEY HAVE LOST A
BIT OF VISION IN THE
FUTURE.
PERHAPS THIS ONE NEEDS TO
GIVE US THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
I THINK THE POPE IS A
REFLECTION OF THE DIRECTION
THE CHURCH IS GOING TO GO
IN, AND WHAT THE CARDINALS
ARE THINKING.
Reporter: DR. THOMAS
REESE, AUTHOR OF "INSIDE THE
VATICAN," SAYS THE CHURCH
NEEDS TO CONFRONT ONE OF ITS
SERIOUS PROBLEMS.
WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE SEX ABUSE CRISIS,
ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHILDREN
THAT WERE HARMED.
THE AMERICAN BISHOPS ARE
VERY CONCERNED THAT ANY POPE
THEY WANT TO SEE ELECTED HAS
TO BE INVOLVED IN ANY SEXUAL
ABUSE.
Reporter: HOW THE
CHURCH AND THE NEXT POPE
CONFRONTS THIS ISSUE AND THE
OTHER CHALLENGES FACING IT
REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
BUT THE WORLD WILL BE
WAGING.
THE PAPAL CONCLAVE IS
ATTRACTING WORLDWIDE
ATTENTION.
THEIR REPORTS WILL REACH
NEARLY EVER PLACE ON THE
GLOBE.
CHRIS MITCHELL, CBN NEWS,
VATICAN CITY, ROME.
Pat: THE POPE IS A
SPIRITUAL LEADER OF NOT ONLY
THE CATHOLICS, BUT MANY
OTHERS.
HIS PRONOUNCEMENTS HAVE
GREAT IMPACT IN THE WORLD.
MANY OF US DEEPLY ADMIRED
POPE JOHN PAUL II.
HE WAS LOVED BY PEOPLE IN
AMERICA, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION.
AND I BELIEVE THE CURRENT
POPE IS A TREMENDOUS GUY.
HE JUST IS A LITTLE MORE
RESERVED THAN JOHN PAUL.
WE LOOK TO THE CATHOLICS TO
GIVE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE
A SYMBOL FOR THE RELIGIOUS
VIEWS OF THE CHRISTIANS
AROUND THE WORLD.
AND WE WISH THEM THE VERY
BEST.
YOU KNOW -- I WON'T SAY
ANYTHING MORE ABOUT THE SEX
ABUSE.
THEY'VE GOT THEIR PROBLEMS
AND THEY NEED TO DEAL WITH
IT.
THEY NEED TO DEAL WITH IT IN
THE SEMINARIES.
IT IS A TOUGH THING WHEN
YOU'VE GOT SOME OF THE
PROBLEMS THEY HAVE.
WELL, HERE IS SOME OTHER
GROUPS THAT HAVE PROBLEMS.
HERE AT HOME, THE BOY SCOUTS
ARE TAKING ON A MAJOR MORAL
DECISION.
LEE WEBB HAS THAT STORY FROM
THE CBN NEWS ROOM.
HERE IS LEE.
Lee: PAT, THE BOY
SCOUTS OF AMERICA IS
SURVEYING ITS MEMBERS TO
DETERMINE THEIR VIEWS ON
HOMOSEXUALITY.
THE 13-QUESTION SURVEY WAS
SENT TO MORE THAN A MILLION
ADULTS INVOLVED IN
SCOUTING.
IT ASKED HIM TO SHARE THEIR
VIEWS ON THE IMPACT OF
ALLOWING GAY SCOUT LEADERS
AND MEMBERS.
AND IT ALSO INCLUDES
HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS LIKE
THIS ONE: BOB IS 15 YEARS
OLD AND THE ONLY OPENLY GAY
IN A BOY SCOUT TROOP.
IT IS ACCEPTABLE OR
UNACCEPTABLE FOR THE TROOP
LEADER TO ALLOW BOB TO TENT
WITH ANOTHER BOY, WHO IS
HETEROSEXUAL.
DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE HAVE
FINALLY PUT TOGETHER THEIR
FIRST BUDGET IN FOUR YEARS.
IT INCLUDES NEARLY A
TRILLION DOLLARS IN NEW
TAXES, BUT IT STILL DOESN'T
BALANCE THE BUDGET.
AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF
EXAMPLES OF GOVERNMENT
WASTE.
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF
HEALTH, FOR EXAMPLE, IS
GIVING GRANTS OF
$1.5 MILLION TO FIND OUT WHY
THREE-QUARTERS OF LES
LESBIANSS ARE OBESE, BUT GAY
MALES ARE NOT.
AND THEY'RE SPENDING A
QUARTER OF A MILLION OF
DOLLARS TO STUDY PICTURES OF
ANIMALS IN NATIONAL
GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE.
AND DESPITE BUDGET CUTS, THE
GOVERNMENT HAS ADVERTISED
FOR 2600 NEW JOBS IN THE
LAST WEEK AND A HALF.
Pat: IT IS A TOTAL
FRAUD, WHAT HAS BEEN PUT
OUT, AND THE PRESIDENT HAS
GOT EGG ALL OVER HIS FACE.
AND THESE THINGS -- THEY'RE
GOING TO SPEND HOW MUCH
MONEY TO FIND OUT WHY
LESBIANS ARE FAT?
PLEASE.
I MEAN, THAT'S YOUR TAX
DOLLARS AT WORK.
YOU GO THROUGH A LIST OF THE
HORRIBLES OF WHAT GOES ON AT
THE GOVERNMENT, AND YOU SAY,
ARE THESE PEOPLE OUT OF
THEIR MIND?
AND YET THEY'RE BORROWING
MONEY FROM CHINA TO STUDY,
FOR EXAMPLE, THE IMPACT OF
ALCOHOL ON CHINESE
PROSTITUTES.
I MEAN, LIKE, WHO CARES?
MAYBE THE CHINESE CARE, BUT
WE SHOULDN'T BE PAYING OUR
TAX MONEY, NOR SHOULD WE BE
BORROWING FROM CHINA TO
STUDY THEIR PROBLEM.
WHEW!
DON'T GET ME STARTED.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, LEE, LET'S
LOOK AT SOMETHING ELSE.
Lee: PAT, PRESIDENT
OBAMA'S NEW POLICY GROUP,
ORGANIZING FOR ACTION, IS
HOLDING A SUMMIT IN
WASHINGTON, AND THE
PRESIDENT IS A FEATURED
SPEAKER.
THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS O.F.A.
IS DESIGNED TO HELP THE
MIDDLE CLASS.
BUT CRITICS FROM THE LEFT
AND THE RIGHT ARGUE IT LOOKS
MORE LIKE A LOBBYING GROUP
TO PUSH THE PRESIDENT'S
AGENDA.
JENNIFER WISHON EXPLAINS.
Reporter:
SOME WATCHDOG
GROUPS CALL IT A SCANDAL
WAITING TO HAPPEN, AND
THEY'RE ASKING PRESIDENT
OBAMA TO SHUT DOWN WHAT THEY
CALL A NEW DANGEROUS ARM OF
HIS PRESIDENCY.
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT
"ORGANIZING FOR ACTION," THE
NON-PROFIT CREATED OUT OF
THE PRESIDENT'S RE-ELECTION
MACHINE, OBAMA FOR AMERICA.
IT IS DESIGNED TO REDIRECT
THE POWER OF HIS POLITICAL
CAMPAIGN TO BACK HIS POLICY
AGENDA,
DEPLOYING
RESOURCES
TO PROMOTE ITEMS LIKE GUN
CONTROL, IMMIGRATION REFORM,
AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
IT IS RUN BY FORMER TOP
OBAMA ADVISORS.
EVEN THE GROUP'S WEBSITE
LOOKS AN AWFUL LOT LIKE THE
PRESIDENT'S CAMPAIGN.
RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT
WHERE THE GOVERNMENT AND THE
WHITE HOUSE ENDS, AND THE
POLITICAL ACTIVITIES BEGAN.
MICHELLE OBAMA HELPED
LAUNCHED IT.
THIS IS YOUR MOVEMENT.
GOING FORWARD, IT COULD BE
WHATEVER YOU MAKE OF IT.
Reporter: TONIGHT
O.F.A., AS IT IS KNOWN, IS
HOLDING ITS FOUNDER SUMMIT.
DONORS HAVE ACCESS TO THE
COMMANDER IN CHIEF HIMSELF.
THE COST FOR A SEAT AT THE
TABLE, $50,000 PER PERSON.
I JUST THINK THAT IS
WRONG.
Reporter: BOB EDGAR IS
PRESIDENT OF "COMMON CAUSE,"
A GROUP DEDICATED TO OPEN
AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT.
HE SAYS THE PRESIDENT IS
BLOWING HIS CHANCE TO PROVE
HE IS SERIOUS ABOUT CAMPAIGN
FINANCE REFORM AND
MINIMIZING THE MONEY THAT
MONEY PLAYS IN POLITICS.
ONCE THE PRESIDENT WON
RE-ELECTION, HE SHOULD HAVE
STOPPED, THOUGHT ABOUT THIS
ORGANIZATION, AND ORGANIZED
FROM THE BOTTOM UP, AND NOT
FROM THE TOP DOWN.
Reporter: THE WHITE
HOUSE SAYS O.F.A. IS FOR
AVERAGE AMERICANS, AND IT
DENIES REPORTS THAT MEGA
DONORS WHO BUNDLE $5,000 FOR
MORE FOR O.F.A. WILL GET
THEIR OWN QUARTERLY MEETINGS
WITH THE PRESIDENT.
O.F.A. WAS SET UP TO
PROMOTE THE PRESIDENT'S
PUBLIC POLICY AGENDA.
AND AS ANYONE WOULD EXPECT,
HE WOULD MEET WITH THEM TO
DISCUSS HIS AGENDA.
THERE IS A PRICE SET FOR THE
MEETING FOR THE PRESIDENT IS
ABSURD.
Reporter: THE GROUP
PROMISES TO HELP RAISE
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO
EMPLOY AN ARMY OF POLITICAL
ACTIVISTS TO ADVANCE THE
PRESIDENT'S AGENDA.
JENNIFER WISHON, CBN NEWS,
WASHINGTON.
Lee: IT IS OBVIOUS THAT
CARNEY HAD A PREPARED
STATEMENT TO GO FOR THE
PRESS.
Pat: YOU KNOW HE DID.
$50,000 FOR DINNER.
THAT'S A RIGHT EXPENSIVE
DINNER, EVEN IF THE CHEF AND
THE WHITE HOUSE IS UP TO THE
TOP FORM.
$50,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY
FOR FORS FILET MIGNON.
Lee: THE ASSOCIATED
PRESS REPORTS THAT A DRAFT
OF AN APPLICATION FOR A
THREE-PERSON FAMILY RUNS 15
PAGES.
THE ONLINE VERSION HAS 21
STEPS, SOME WITH ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS.
APPLICATION WILL BE CHECKED
BY THREE FEDERAL AGENCIES,
INCLUDING -- YOU GUESSED
IT -- THE I.R.S.
MORE THAN FOUR MILLION
APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE ARE EXPECTED NEXT
YEAR.
THE NEW COVERAGE STARTS
JANUARY 1st, AND
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY
IT IS BEE REFINED.
BUT THEY SAY PICKING A
HEALTH PROGRAM WILL BE AS
EASY AS SHOPPING ON THE
INTERNET IS NOT TRUE.
REPUBLICAN SENATOR MITCH
McCONNELL SENT OUT THIS
PROPOSAL OF THE 20,000 PAGES
OF THE OBAMACARE
REGULATIONS.
IT IS MORE THAN SEVEN FEET
HIGH.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, ALL OF
THAT PAPER IS WRAPPED UP IN
RED TAPE.
Kristi: WOW!
Pat: THAT'S WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A
WHOLE LOT OF PAID POLITICAL
APPOINTEES MAKING
DECISIONS.
THEY HAVE LOST TOUCH WITH
REALITY.
SEVEN FEET OF REGULATIONS
WRAPPED IN RED TAPE.
Kristi: WOW!
Pat: THAT'S WHAT THEY
HAVE GOT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD TO
SEE THAT THE A.P. IS
STARTING TO TURN RIGHTEOUS.
NOT FULLY RIGHTEOUS, BUT
PARTIALLY RIGHTEOUS.
THEY ARE STARTING TO REPORT
THINGS AS THEY ARE, AND GOOD
FOR THEM.
LET'S HOPE THEY DO MORE OF
THAT.
THIS IS A SWITCH.
BUT, HEY, WE'LL TAKE
EVERYTHING THAT COMES.
KRISTI?
Kristi: ALL I CAN SAY
IS THAT OLD SAYING, A
PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND
WORDS.
Pat: IF YOU WERE
STANDING BESIDE IT, IT WOULD
TOWER OVER YOUR HEAD.
Kristi: RIDICULOUS.
THE COLORADO STATE
LEGISLATURE HAS APPROVED A
MEASURE ALLOWING CIVIL
UNIONS FOR GAY COUPLES IN
THAT STATE.
TWO REPUBLICANS BROKE FROM
PARTY LINES TO PASS THE
BILL.
THE GOVERNOR IS EXPECTED TO
SIGN IT INTO LAW.
THE MOVE MARKS A POLITICAL
SHIFT IN COLORADO.
SEVEN YEARS AGO VOTERS THERE
APPROVED A MEASURE BANNING
GAY MARRIAGE.
WESTMINISTER THEOLOGICAL
SEMINARY IN PENNSYLVANIA HAS
FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE
CONTRACEPTION MANDATE IN
OBAMACARE.
THE SUIT CHALLENGES THE
REQUIREMENT THAT EMPLOYEES
HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE THAT
PROVIDES ABORTION INDUCING
DRUGS.
TWO OTHER INSTITUTIONS HAVE
ALREADY GONE TO COURT
AGAINST THE MANDATE.
YOU CAN ALWAYS GET THE
LATEST FROM CBN NEWS BY
GOING TO OUR WEBSITE AT
CBNNEWS.COM.
