The Pope today saying that the greatest threat to the Catholic Church comes not from external forces - meaning, we presume, the media and sex abuse victims - but from "sins inside the church."
"The greatest persecution of the church does not come from the enemies outside," he told reporters on his plane, "but is born from the sin in the church."
This Pope surprised many when he met with victims of priest pedophilia during his U.S. visit two years ago. And he has taken political arrows for his role in the church during the height of the child sex abuse allegations.
But now he's taking a more aggressive stance. The church, he said, has to relearn "conversion, prayer, penance."
We'll see, and we'll have the latest, at 11.
Also at 11, and speaking of trying to deflect allegations, the stuff was flying before Congress today during hearings looking into the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. BP blamed its vendor-partners, the vendor-partners blamed BP, and somehow the federal government has blamed hardly anyone.
Is it shocking that these corporations are trying to finger point each other? Hardly. What's shocking is that federal regulators who should know better have put so much stock in the word of these businesses. Trust the company responsible for the explosion and spill to clean up the mess? Hellloooooo?
Meanwhile, support for off-shore oil drilling is, not surprisingly, slipping since the spill. The Pew Research Center's new poll shows support for drilling has dropped from 60% a year ago, to 54% now. That's still a majority of people supporting off-shore drilling, but politicians certainly read the trend - one reason the President's off-shore proposal has been put on hold.
And lots of folks watching what's happening in England today - a remarkable transfer of power. Wham bam just like that. Gordon Brown, whose Labour Party fared poorly in the election, stepped down as Prime Minister, and, moments later, the Conservative Party's David Cameron was named to the post.
Brown went to Buckingham Palace to tell the Queen of his decision, and then left 20 minutes later - left on his own. No police escort, no guards, no nothing. Just him in his sedan, and he got stuck in traffic, just like any other Brit.
Oh one other tidbit - Mr. Cameron's favorite album of all time, although I guess I'm supposed to spell it "favourite," is "The Queen is Dead" by The Smiths. Can't imagine the new P.M. mentioned that to Queen Elizabeth during his meeting with her today.
Meanwhile, Cameron announced he was going to try to form a true coalition government. We'll see.
And finally, for all new parents who are trying unsuccessfully to get their baby on a sleep schedule - and I count myself among them - we have some helpful hints. Our Darla Miles talks to some experts who offer a variety of tried and true, and novel approaches to getting your baby to sleep. (And getting the rest of the household to sleep as well!)
We'll also have any breaking news of the night, plus Lee Goldberg's AccuWeather forecast, and Scott Clark with the night's sports. I hope you can join Liz Cho and me, tonight at 11.
BILL RITTER
