Daily Links, March 22: The budget, Trayvon Martin, and cafeteria Catholicism

Today is World Water Day [1]! According to Catholic Relief Services, 884 million people around the world don't have access to clean water.

There's been a lot of talk [2] about Paul Ryan [3]'s newest budget [4]--including a proposal from faith communities [5] suggesting how our leaders can "protect the common good, value each individual and help lift the burden on the poor."

Also gaining a lot of attention in the headlines is the sad case of Trayvon Martin [6], the Florida teenager who was killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer. Here's one take on how this shooting hearkens back to the civil rights era [7]; another asking where the outrage of the white church [8] is; another on the crime "walking while black." [9]The chief of police in the town where the shooting occurred has resigned temporarily [10] due to criticism of how the case has been handled.

The Pew Forum has come out with two new surveys: one discussing religion in prison through the eyes of prison chaplains [11], and one saying 38 percent of Americans say there is too much expression [12] of religious faith and prayer from political leaders.

Speaking of politics, Rick Santorum just might qualify as a "cafeteria Catholic." [13] Notes the Washington Post: "At issue is the myth, perpetuated by religionists on the right (including Santorum himself), that the selective and self-serving observance of religious rules and doctrines is a sin committed exclusively by the left. The practice is known as “cherry picking.” Both sides do it."

And it looks like Obama has given the go-ahead [14] for the southern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline. This comes as a surprise to many given that in January, Obama rejected the application for the entire pipeline.

Though we might have guessed, the truth is out: one man selling rapture pet insurance admits the whole thing was a hoax [15].

And, we all pretty much saw this "story" [16]coming.