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Pope says Vatican opposed Mideast prayer at first

By WTOP Staff

NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Almost all Vatican officials initially opposed Pope Francis’ idea of bringing the Israeli and Palestinian presidents together for a prayer summit, he said in an interview published Friday.

However, they eventually warmed up to the idea.

Francis hosted Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas on the lawn of the Vatican gardens on June 8 for an evening of Jewish, Christian and Muslim prayers, weeks after the latest round of U.S.-sponsored peace talks collapsed. The meeting wasn’t aimed at restarting talks, but merely to serve as a symbol of mutual coexistence and respect.

In an interview with the Barcelona newspaper “La Vanguardia,” Francis acknowledged the idea was completely novel and wasn’t easy to pull off. But he said he had one aim: “to open a window to the world.”

“Here in the Vatican, 99 percent said we shouldn’t do it, and then later the 1 percent started growing,” he said.

Francis, whose friendship with Jews is well-known, appeared to defend World War II-era Pope Pius XII, accused by some Jews of not speaking out enough against the Holocaust. He noted that Pius sheltered Jews and said even the Allied powers had some explaining to do.

“They knew perfectly well the Nazis’ rail network used to bring Jews to concentration camps. They had the photos. Why didn’t they bomb the tracks?” he asked. “It’d be good that we discuss everything” and not just Pius’ actions.

On current events, Francis said he was concerned about recent secessionist movements in Scotland, Barcelona and Italy’s Padania region. He suggested that the secession that occurred in the former Yugoslavia was understandable since “there are places with cultures that are so different that you can’t keep them together even with glue.”

“The Yugoslav case was very clear, but I ask myself if it’s so clear in other cases,” he said. “You have to study it case by case.”

Asked why he even dared to enter into the Mideast “hurricane,” Francis quipped that the true hurricane came when he visited Brazil last year and was mobbed by millions of well-wishers because he refused the bullet-proof popemobile.

“I couldn’t greet people and tell them I love them from inside a sardine can, even if it was crystal!” he said.

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Follow Nicole Winfield at www.twitter.com/nwinfield

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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