Daily Links, Jan. 6: Schools closed and cardinals appointed

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has just announced [1] that it will be closing or merging [2]48 parochial schools within the diocese. Archbishop Chaput says [3] that the schools will move forward with hope and realism.

In other big Catholic news today, the Vatican has appointed 22 new cardinals [4], including Americans Timothy Dolan and Edward O'Brien. However, Bryan Cones points out [5] that the appointments feature a pretty standard cast of characters.

Also on our blog today, Scott Alessi discusses the return to our attention of debates about married priesthood [6].

America discusses workers' wages [7]--an issue the U.S. bishops have worked on for years. Says John Carr, executive director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Department of Justice: “It’s not even a minimum anymore; it’s really a subminimum wage.” And, despite all the income equality in our nation, over half of the people considered to be in the global richest one percent live in the U.S [8].

Faith may have played a big role for Rick Santorum in Iowa, but likely won't be as big of a facto [9]r in New Hampshire. CNN also says that Santorum will need more than faith to win South Carolina [10], as well.

Happy Friday!