Our Takes Daily

Tragic effect of broken families

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

A 6-year-old boy was beaten to death, then buried. A 2-year-old was killed after being thrown across a room. In each case, the alleged or convicted perpetrator was the boyfriend of the child’s mother. Many scholars and frontline caseworkers see the abusive-boyfriend syndrome as part of a broader trend that deeply worries them. They note an ever-increasing share of America's children grow up in homes without both biological parents, and say the risk of child abuse is markedly higher in the nontraditional family structures. "This is the dark underbelly of cohabitation," said Brad Wilcox, a sociology professor at the University of Virginia. "Cohabitation has become quite common, and most people think, 'What's the harm?' The harm is we're increasing a pattern of relationships that's not good for children." More info>

Jesuits reach settlement, paper reports

The Los Angeles Times

The Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic Church has agreed to pay $50 million to 110 Eskimos to settle claims of sexual abuse by priests and missionaries in some of the world's most remote villages. Attorneys for the plaintiffs announced the settlement Sunday, calling it a record payout by a Catholic religious order. However, officials for the Jesuits — formally called the Society of Jesus — said there were “still many issues that need to be finalized.” An e-mail viewed by the Los Angeles Times indicated a deal was in place, although details need to be worked out. Ken Roosa, the plaintiffs’ lead attorney, said the settlement does not require the order to admit fault. None of the priests was ever criminally charged. More info>

Strike grounds “Angels & Demons”

BBC News

A follow-up to “The Da Vinci Code” has become the first big-screen casualty of the Hollywood writers' strike. “Angels & Demons,” which is based on Dan Brown's novel that features Robert Langdon, protagonist of “The Da Vinci Code,” thwarting a plot to blow up the Vatican, is being delayed by Columbia Pictures because its script needs more work. It had been due for release around Christmas 2008, but has now been penciled in for May 2009. More info>