The death of Ron Bean, the first Black village president of Park Forest, closed a significant chapter in the town’s history and elicited tributes from those who knew him.

Janet Muchnik, who was a trustee and later village manager, praised Bean for his ability to see light when others feared darkness.

“He was always a gentleman,” Muchnik said. “He was kind and thoughtful and ready to sit down and talk about ways to make life better.”

Ron Bean

From the time in 1969, when he moved to the village, Bean became a hardworking and conscientious supporter for the community.

In an era where the highest elected officials were called “president” instead of “mayor,” Bean was first elected as village trustee in 1974 and became village president in 1981, succeeding Mayer Singerman.

It was a historic moment as he became the first Black person in Illinois elected to office by a predominantly white population.

Former village Mayor John Ostenburg recalls that when he first became a board member in 1985 “there was a rather vocal group of citizens (who) regularly came to meetings to complain about one thing or another. What most impressed me about Ron was how he managed the tense situations. He never let them get under his skin in the least. It was a great lesson for me.”

It was Bean’s calm leadership that steered the village through hard, often confrontational issues including major infrastructure challenges of aging water, sewer and utility systems which required costly overhauls and upgrades.

Bean also faced the challenge of maintaining the plaza shopping center in the heart of town, which was being threatened and soon surpassed by the then newly built Lincoln Mall in nearby Matteson. Today, some faded signs are all that is left of that enterprise.

A believer in the worth of both the village and the south suburbs, Bean served on numerous regional boards including the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, the building of Garden House a senior living facility in the village, as well as Pizzazz, a food and music festival.

Ron Bean wanted to improve everything he touched, and his accomplishments helped anchor the community to its base, to its people.

Services for Bean will be held at 2 p.m. this Sunday, Dec. 7, at Southland College Prep Charter High School,4601 Sauk Trail, Richton Park.

Closing of a church

Members of Park Forest’s Trinity Lutheran Church closed the books on the church’s history this past Sunday with one last celebration in Scrementi’s Restaurant, ending its 76-year history.

Beginning with worship services in 1949 in an apartment on Western Avenue, the gathering quickly became a church with 43 charter members by December of that year. One year later, the first service was held in its newly built church building at 2901 Western Ave.

Throughout the years, Trinity had a flourishing congregation and became a vital part of the spiritual life of the community. It grew with the community; a new church building was dedicated in 1960. The nursery school started the following year. Stained glass windows were installed in 1972, and through the years, from then until now, 24 pastors served its dedicated community.

In the church’s first 50 years, 343 weddings were celebrated, 1,363 baptisms performed and its congregation numbered some 250 families, giving it a sense of permanence.

It was not to be.

A gradual erosion of community set in. Families moved away. Other churches opened doors and by 2019, after 70 years of celebrations and sadness, of Easter, of Christmas and of everything in between, the church building closed its doors. The Rev. Christopher Wogaman took the church’s cross and along with some 60 church members walked slightly more than a mile to a new sanctuary inside Church of the Holy Family on Orchard Drive.

Members continued to attend, continued to trickle away. After four years, the Trinity community moved again, this time to St. John the Evangelist Church in Flossmoor.

The numbers never increased and recently, the church board voted to become members of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Lansing.

Trinity Lutheran ceased to exist.

Two numbers underlined the plight of the church. In his seven years as pastor, Wogaman presided at 35 funerals and at the end of its religious life, the church was reduced to a mere 48 members.

The church had nearly $228,000 in its coffers and in two meetings in October, the church council voted to donate the money to 17 different organizations. Our Saviour Church received $120,000 with the rest divided up among arts groups, social organizations and shelters of one kind or another.

The name is gone, but the spirit remains.

Jerry Shnay is a freelance columnist for the Daily Southtown.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/01/column-former-park-forest-president-ron-bean/ 

Michigan jumped to No. 3 in the Associated Press Top 25 men’s basketball poll on Monday as rival Michigan State and Iowa State both climbed into the top 10.

No. 1 Purdue and No. 2 Arizona remained atop the rankings. The Boilermakers received 40 first-place votes from a 61-person media panel, Arizona got six and Michigan got 15 after its dominating run through the Players Era Championship.

Duke and UConn held their positions from last week to round out the top five. Louisville remained No. 6, followed by Michigan State, which moved up four spots and No. 8 Houston, which dropped five places after losing to then-No. 17 Tennessee at Players Era.

Michigan made a run to the Sweet 16 in coach Dusty May’s first season a year ago and is looking like a title contender. The Wolverines opened the Las Vegas tournament with a 94-54 win over San Diego State, crushed then-No. 21 Auburn 102-72 and handed Gonzaga coach Mark Few his worst loss in 902 career games with a 101-61 win over the 12th-ranked Zags.

That’s three wins by a combined 110 points and four straight wins by at least 20 points, the last two over ranked teams.

“Today was to put the world on notice that we’re here to be the best team in the nation and we’ll continue to do that,” Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg said after the win over Gonzaga.

Rising

No. 17 Vanderbilt had the biggest jump of the week, moving up seven spots after winning the Battle 4 Atlantis title in the Bahamas.

No. 10 Iowa State climbed five places after winning three games at the Players Era championship.

No. 7 Michigan State moved up four places following lopsided wins over East Carolina and No. 16 North Carolina in the Fort Myers Tip-Off. No. 13 Tennessee also gained four spots after beating Houston and losing to Kansas, which moved back into the poll at No. 21.

Falling

No. 23 St. John’s had the biggest drop among teams still in the poll, losing nine places after wrapping losses to Iowa State and Auburn around a win over Baylor at the Players Era.

Reigning national champion Florida fell five places to No. 15 after losing to TCU in the Rady Children’s Invitational. No. 12 Alabama dropped four places after losing to Gonzaga in its opener of the Players Era.

Illinois fell one spot to No. 14 after a 74-61 loss to UConn at Madison Square Garden on Friday.

In and out

No. 21 Kansas returned to the poll after dropping out last week with three wins at the Players Era.

No. 24 Southern California is ranked for the first time since the 2023-24 season following three wins in three days to take the Maui Invitational title.

UCLA fell out of the poll from No. 18 after losing to California 80-72 in the Empire Classic championship game.

North Carolina State dropped out of the poll from No. 23 and didn’t receive a single vote following a 1-2 run through the Maui Invitational.

Conference watch

The Southeastern Conference had the most teams in the AP Top 25 for the second straight week with seven. The Big 12 matched the Big Ten with six ranked teams, the Big East had two and the West Coast Conference one.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/01/mens-college-basketball-michigan-big-ten/ 

Crown Point High School student journalists recently earned recognition for their work in broadcast journalism, yearbook, newsmagazine writing, and multimedia storytelling.

The students were recognized at the National High School Journalism Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. The event drew more than 5,000 students from 48 states and eight countries, with 1,668 students competing.

Students who received awards for work on the Excalibur yearbook included:

10th Place – sports photo: Madison Duffy; honorable mention – news editing/headline/current events: Duaa Khan; honorable mention – copy/caption: sports: Abby Vester; honorable mention – copy/caption: academics: Alyssa Torres.

The Inklings newsmagazine winners include: excellence in commentary: Ma’Rae Wallace;

Crown Town Media / CPTV winners were:

Excellent – multimedia broadcast: Jayla Miller and honorable mention – broadcast news writing: Cameron Qualls.

Also in November, CPHS broadcast students brought home a National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences student production award for headline news on a segment called “Quick Cut.”

“These awards highlight the extraordinary and continued dedication of our student journalists and teachers,” said Principal Russ Marcinek. “Their work consistently reflects professionalism and a sense of responsibility to their community.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/01/crown-point-student-journalists-rack-up-national-honors/ 

Por ROB MAADDI

La carrera por los títulos de división en la NFL se puso más reñida en la Semana 13.

Los Rams, Colts y Steelers sucumbieron el domingo. Los Eagles y Ravens perdieron el jueves. Los Patriots juegan el lunes por la noche.

Cinco de las ocho divisiones tienen dos equipos empatados en el primer lugar o separados por menos de un juego.

En una semana en la que siete equipos no favoritos ya han ganado, los Panthers de Carolina lograron la mayor sorpresa al vencer 31-28 a los Rams de Los Ángeles.

Bryce Young completó 15 de 20 pases para 206 yardas y tres touchdowns —dos en cuarta oportunidad— para liderar a la ofensiva a 31 puntos contra la defensa más férrea de la liga. Los Rams habían permitido un promedio de 16,3 puntos por juego, el más bajo de la liga.

Matthew Stafford no había lanzado una intercepción desde la Semana 3 antes de que le interceptaran dos pases, uno en la zona roja y otro que fue devuelto para un touchdown. También sufrió un balón suelto con los Rams en posición de intentar un gol de campo que hubiera empatado el marcador al final.

Los Rams, que eran favoritos por diez puntos, fueron el tercer equipo favorecido por al menos un touchdown en perder, uniéndose a Filadelfia y Baltimore.

“No pensé que no estuviéramos listos para jugar. No creo que subestimáramos a este grupo. No lo creo ni por un segundo”, dijo el entrenador de los Rams, Sean McVay. “Esto es la NFL. Esto es demasiado difícil. Hicieron un gran trabajo haciendo jugadas, y las hicieron”.

La victoria de Houston por 20-16 en Indianápolis fijó una puja de tres equipos en el Sur de la AFC con Jacksonville.

Un vistazo a cada división después de los resultados:

NFC Oeste

Los Rams (9-3) llegaron liderando la división y ocupaban el puesto número uno en la conferencia. La derrota ante Carolina los dejó empatados con los Seahawks en la división, aunque Los Ángeles tiene el desempate al ganar el primer enfrentamiento. Los equipos se enfrentarán en Seattle el 18 de diciembre. Los 49ers de San Francisco (9-4) también están en la contienda. Dividieron victorias con los Rams, vencieron a los Seahawks y los recibirán en la Semana 18.

Los Bears de Chicago (9-3) tomaron el primer puesto de la NFC sobre los Rams al tener el criterio de desempate a su favor.

NFC Sur

Los Panthers (7-6) están justo detrás de los Buccaneers de Tampa Bay (7-5) y los dos equipos se enfrentarán dos veces en las últimas tres semanas.

Carolina entra en una semana de descanso mientras que los Buccaneers jugarán dos veces antes de que los Panthers inicien en Nueva Orleans en la Semana 15. Tampa Bay recibirá a los Saints el próximo domingo y a los Falcons el 11 de diciembre.

NFC Este

Los Eagles (8-4) han perdido dos seguidos mientras que los Cowboys (6-5-1) han ganado tres consecutivos.

Ambos equipos tienen difíciles juegos de visitante próximamente. Dallas juega contra Detroit (7-5) el jueves por la noche. Filadelfia visita a los Chargers de Los Angeles (8-4) el próximo lunes.

NFC Norte

El primer lugar está en juego cuando los Bears y Packers (8-3-1) jueguen en Lambeau Field el domingo. Se enfrentarán nuevamente en la Semana 16. Los Lions aún tienen una oportunidad, aunque necesitarán ayuda. Juegan en Chicago en la Semana 18 en un juego que podría tener importantes implicaciones.

AFC Este

Los Patriots (10-2) entran a su juego en casa el lunes por la noche contra los Giants de Nueva York con una ventaja de dos juegos sobre los Bills (8-4). Nueva Inglaterra ya ganó en Buffalo y los equipos se enfrentarán nuevamente el 14 de diciembre.

AFC Sur

Los Texans han recorrido un largo camino desde su inicio de 0-3. El inicio de 7-1 de los Colts es un recuerdo lejano.

C.J. Stroud regresó después de perderse tres juegos, la sofocante defensa de Houston se mantuvo en control y los Texans vencieron a los Colts como visitantes.

Los Jaguars (8-4) aplastaron a Tennessee para empatar a los Colts (8-4) mientras que los Texans (7-5) están un juego detrás. Indianápolis recibe a Jacksonville el próximo domingo en el primero de dos enfrentamientos. Houston recibe a los Colts en la Semana 18.

AFC Norte

Después de que Baltimore (6-6) perdiera ante Cincinnati el jueves por la noche para quedar medio juego detrás de Pittsburgh, los Steelers (6-6) no pudieron hacer nada a la ofensiva en una derrota 26-7 ante Buffalo.

De repente, los Bengals (4-8) están de vuelta en la carrera y tienen a Joe Burrow.

Los Ravens y Steelers se enfrentarán la próxima semana en Baltimore y se encontrarán en Pittsburgh en la Semana 18. Los Bengals dividieron victorias con los Steelers y tendrán la oportunidad de barrer a los Ravens cuando los reciban el 14 de diciembre.

AFC Oeste

Los Broncos se mantuvieron para una victoria de 27-26 en tiempo extra en Washington, ampliando su ventaja sobre los Chargers a dos juegos con su novena victoria consecutiva.

Los Broncos (10-2) también están luchando con Nueva Inglaterra por el puesto número uno. Primero, tienen que ganar la división.

Después de enfrentar a Las Vegas la próxima semana, el calendario de Denver es difícil hacia el final con juegos contra los Packers, Jaguars, Chiefs y Chargers.

Los Chargers también tienen un calendario difícil. Se enfrentarán a Filadelfia, Kansas City, Dallas y Houston antes de cerrar en Denver.

La racha de Kansas City de nueve títulos de división consecutivos está llegando a su fin. Los Chiefs (6-6) probablemente necesiten ganar todos sus juegos para obtener un comodín y se enfrentarán a los Texans, Chargers y Broncos en los últimos cinco juegos.

___

Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/01/las-divisiones-de-la-nfl-se-aprietan-tras-un-fin-de-semana-lleno-de-sorpresas-y-derrotas/ 

Associated Press

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — La estatal Unión Eléctrica de Cuba, que controla la distribución de la corriente en la isla, estimó el lunes en un 59% el déficit del fluido en la hora pico, una cifra récord en medio de la profunda crisis energética que vive la isla y pese a ser la temporada invernal, cuando suele ser baja la demanda.

Un comunicado publicado por el organismo en su cuenta de Facebook indicó que para la franja de máxima demanda sobre las siete de la noche el requerimiento de energía alcanzará los 3.250 megavatios y solo se servirán 1.325.

Ello constituye un poco más de 59% de déficit a nivel nacional, una cifra notable pese a las fuertes cantidades de déficit de los últimos años, en los cuales la isla estuvo sometida a continuos cortes eléctricos por muchas horas que dejan a la población sin fluido para su vida cotidiana y a las industrias con afectaciones.

La nota informativa de la Unión Eléctrica —que se publica diariamente en sus redes sociales— indicó que varias centrales termoeléctricas se encuentran con averías y otras están bajo mantenimiento programado.

Mientras que la falta de combustible para alimentar a pequeñas generadoras distribuidas por todo el país se suma al problema, señaló.

La situación energética en Cuba comenzó a empeorar al tiempo que una crisis golpeó su economía tras una combinación de factores, entre ellos la paralización de actividades por la pandemia del COVID-19 a comienzo de la década, una serie de reformas financieras internas que salieron mal y un incremento dramático de las sanciones de Estados Unidos.

Para el caso específico de la producción de energía, los motivos de los apagones, incluyendo algunos nacionales que dejaron a toda la isla a oscuras, están directamente vinculados a la falta de combustibles —o el dinero para adquirirlo y la persecución por parte de Estados Unidos a los proveedores—y una infraestructura con más de 30 años de uso sin renovación y sin presupuesto para hacerlo.

Las autoridades desarrollan un importante plan de granjas solares para ir transformando la matriz energética, pero su cantidad es aún limitada para las necesidades existentes.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/01/cuba-sufre-rcord-de-dficit-de-energa-elctrica-en-medio-de-su-crisis-energtica/ 

UK Girl Barred From School Over Imprisoned Mother’s ‘Racist’ Tweet

Tyler Durden
Mon, 12/01/2025 – 13:20

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/uk-girl-barred-school-over-imprisoned-mothers-racist-tweet 

NEW YORK — Deals promoted as some of the best of the holiday season are expected to keep people across the United States glued to their computers and smartphones as the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon wraps up on Cyber Monday.

It’s no secret that buying things online is now a staple of many people’s everyday routines. And year after year, those purchases mount during the gift-giving holiday rush. Experts expect consumers to drive record Cyber Monday spending this year, despite wider economic uncertainty.

Adobe Analytics estimates that U.S. shoppers will spend $14.2 billion online Monday, or 6.3% more than in 2024. Spending is expected to peak between the hours of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. local time, when Adobe expects $16 million to pass through online shopping carts every minute nationwide.

U.S. consumers already spent $11.8 billion online for Black Friday, $6.4 billion on Thanksgiving Day and another $11.8 billion over the weekend — exceeding Adobe’s forecasts. Purchases made across Cyber Week — the five major shopping days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday — provides a strong indication of how much shoppers are willing to spend for the holidays.

“Cyber Week is off to a strong start,” Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, said. “Discounts are set to remain elevated through Cyber Monday, which we expect will remain the biggest online shopping day of the season and year.”

Deals on electronics and apparel are expecdted to peak Monday at 30% and 26% off average listed prices, per Adobe’s latest estimates. But other categories will still continue to see deep discounts — including toys, which Adobe expects to reach 27% off listed prices.

Meanwhile, software company Salesforce — which tracks digital spending from a range of retailers, including grocers — estimates Cyber Monday’s online sales will total $13.4 billion in the U.S. and $53.7 billion globally.

While the amount of money going into online shopping carts is expected to reach new heights Monday, rising retail prices also may contribute to any record sales figures that materialize. Consumers may be buying fewer total items. Experts say tighter budgets are causing many to shop with more precision than in years past — such as focusing on a few “big ticket” purchases, for example, and spreading out what they buy over days of promotions in hopes of getting the most bang for their buck.

Businesses and households have watched anxiously for financial impacts from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on foreign imports. Workers in both the public and private sectors are also struggling with anxieties over job security amid both corporate layoffs and the after-effects of the 43-day government shutdown.

For the November-December holiday season overall, the National Retail Federation estimates that U.S. shoppers will spend more than $1 trillion for the first time this year. But the rate of growth is slowing — with an anticipated increase of 3.7% to 4.2% year over year, compared with 4.3% during last year’s holiday season.

At the same time, credit card debt and delinquencies on other short-term loans have been rising. More and more shoppers are turning to “buy now, pay later” plans, which allow them to delay payments on holiday decor, gifts and other items.

Buy now, pay later loans are expected to drive $20.2 billion in online spending this holiday season, according to Adobe, up 11% from last year. The firm predicted that buy now, pay later loans would pass a new $1 billion milestone on Cyber Monday, the vast majority involving purchases made on mobile devices.

Overall, mobile devices have become the dominant shopping platform consumers are turning to for the holidays. Adobe expects smartphones, wearable tech and other handheld electronics to account for 58% of online spending this season.

Five years ago, a majority of online purchases were made on desktops.

Shopping services powered by artificial intelligence are also expected to play a role in what consumers choose to buy. For Black Friday, Salesforce estimated that AI assistants and digital agents contributed to $14.2 billion of the total $79 billion it said was spent online worldwide.

Across the holiday season, “hot sellers” will include gaming consoles such as the Nintendo Switch 2 and toys-turned-fashion statements like Labubu Dolls, Adobe said. The analytics company anticipates the newest editions of popular consumer electronics — including the iPhone 17, Google Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S25 — will also see high demand.

To many, Cyber Monday is billed as the “last call” to take advantage of the deepest discounts in the days following Thanksgiving. But its reach has grown over the years.

Cyber Monday is two decades old now, dating back to when the National Retail Federation first coined the term in 2005. Today, sales continue to bubble up throughout the week — riding on the hype that the industry has built to fuel consumer spending.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/01/cyber-monday-spending/ 

Americans attempting to clear airport security checkpoints without a Real ID or a passport will soon be charged $45, the Transportation Security Administration announced Monday.

The new fee will go into effect on Feb. 1, TSA leaders said. The agency teased a potential $18 fee in federal paperwork last month, but eventually decided on a significantly higher number.

“The fee was necessary because we needed to modernize the system. We needed to make sure that the system is safe,” Steve Lorincz, TSA’s deputy executive assistant administrator for security operations, told ABC News.

After decades of delays, Real ID requirements finally went into effect back in May, but travelers were still allowed to fly without the upgraded identity cards.

However, TSA officials signaled their plans to clamp down last month, when they proposed the $18 fee for travelers without a Real ID or passport.

The fee was designed “to address the government-incurred costs,” the agency said in a notice posted to the Federal Register.

After Feb. 1, anyone without a Real ID or passport will need to confirm their identity on the TSA website or through a series of forms at the airport, according to ABC News. Someone who reaches the front of the security line without a Real ID will be pulled out of line and required to fill out the forms in person.

“We still need to go through the process to make sure that we verify who you are. And for whatever reason, if we can’t do that, then you can’t go through the process,” Lorincz told ABC News.

The Real ID Act was passed in 2005 in response to the 9/11 attacks and was initially supposed to be implemented in 2008. However, years of administrative delays continued until 2025. According to the TSA, 94% of travelers already have a Real ID.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/01/tsa-real-id-fee/ 

If all goes well, the Rev. Gary Graf will soon accomplish his mission of walking from Illinois to the Statue of Liberty in New York City. Some talk the talk. This priest walks the walk.

For Waukeganites, the name Gary Graf may ring a church bell. The 67-year-old priest served for years as pastor at Most Blessed Trinity Parish on Keller Avenue, just north of Belvidere Street.

He was the popular pastor in Waukegan for 14 years before moving on to other pastoral assignments in the Chicago Archdiocese beginning in 2009, mainly in Cook County’s south suburbs. His current journey continues his platform of support for immigrants.

Graf expects to join a multifaith prayer service at Robert F. Wagner Park in Battery Park City at 2 p.m. (EDT) on Tuesday, after first stopping at Ellis Island, which welcomed millions of immigrants to the U.S., including his great-grandparents, when this country fostered immigration.

He began his pilgrimage on Oct. 6, leaving from the childhood home of Pope Leo XIV in Dolton, walking an average of 17 miles a day through rural areas of Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania on his way to New York City. The distance to the Big Apple is some 712 miles, as the crow flies, from Dolton.

Much like the immigration path, his walk hasn’t been a straight line as he marched through mainly the farmlands of the heartland. Even two broken ribs, suffered after a fall from a horse during a visit to an Indiana parish, haven’t slowed him down much.

The walk aims to bring attention to the treatment of immigrants by the administration of President Donald Trump, especially during recent enforcement actions in Chicagoland, including a number in Lake County communities.

“They said they were going after the ‘worst of the worst’ criminals, but this isn’t the case, at least in Chicago,” he told Catholic News Service. “They’re grabbing people first and asking questions later. The violent way many of these people are being treated is amoral and un-American.”

Graf is committed to helping immigrants. During his stint in Waukegan, he was known for fighting for immigrant rights and the downtrodden. He is a longtime member of Priests for Justice for Immigrants.

Ordained in 1984, he spent five years as a priest in Mexico serving a people “with whom I fell deeply in love,” according to the news service. In early 2018, he fasted to protest Trump’s attempt to end the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program begun during the administration of President Barack Obama. Before that, Graf climbed a fence at the southern border in 2013 to call attention to dangers faced by immigrants seeking to illegally enter the U.S.

While in Waukegan, Graf also urged city officials in 2007 not to apprehend law-abiding undocumented immigrants. As pastor of Holy Family Parish on the city’s South Side in 2002, Graf donated half of his liver to a critically ill parishioner.

His current parish, Our Lady of the Heights in south suburban Chicago Heights, where he is head pastor, has seen immigration arrests recently as part of the Trump administration’s “Operation Midway Blitz.” He has documented his trek on social media and online at stepupspeakout.org.

His walk, in a way, may remind some of St. Patrick’s Way in Northern Ireland, an 82-mile walking trail connecting key sites related to St. Patrick’s proselytizing during the early beginnings of Christianity in Ireland. It starts in the island’s religious center, Armagh, and winds through pastoral landscapes to Down Cathedral in Downpatrick, where the saint’s simple grave, with the name “Patric” etched into his stone tomb, rests.

Graf’s crusade began because he “felt a call that was directly from above” after watching immigration raids taking place in the Chicago region. “I look to help people who get up every single morning to work and raise their families,” he said. “If I can do this small gesture on their behalf, what a blessing it is, what a privilege.”

Faith leaders have a responsibility to maintain humanity, he told  Evy Lewis of The Daily Southtown in a Nov. 27 report. “Just reminding the powers that be in terms of the authorities, civil authorities; what is God’s mind and heart in all of this?” Graf said. “We are children of God.”

Apparently, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops agrees with that assessment, calling last month for “a meaningful reform of our nation’s immigration laws and procedures”. They argued, “human dignity and national security are not in conflict.”

At the same time, the pope chastised the Trump administration for treating immigrants with disrespect when they have been taken into custody. There’s been nothing humane in the way those apprehended, including U.S. citizens, have been treated by immigration authorities.

Some believe the roundups by federal agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with the Border Patrol, are on hiatus until the new year begins. If so, Rev. Graf may need to get a new pair of walking shoes to take on the next immigration offensive.

Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor. 

sellenews@gmail.com

X @sellenews

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/01/charles-selle-column-waukegan-priest/ 

Por MARI YAMAGUCHI

TOKIO (AP) — La querida princesa Aiko de Japón con frecuencia es ovacionada como una estrella pop.

Durante una visita a Nagasaki con el emperador Naruhito y la emperatriz Masako, el sonido de su nombre, que gritaban simpatizantes en las calles, eclipsó los vítores a sus padres.

Ahora que cumplió 24 años el lunes, sus partidarios quieren cambiar la ley de sucesión de Japón que es exclusivamente por línea masculina, lo que prohíbe a Aiko, hija única del emperador, convertirse en monarca.

Junto con la frustración porque el debate sobre las normas de sucesión se ha estancado, existe una sensación de urgencia: la menguante monarquía japonesa está al borde de la extinción. El sobrino adolescente de Naruhito es el único heredero elegible de la generación más joven.

Los expertos dicen que la prohibición a que sucedan mujeres debería levantarse antes que la familia real se extinga, pero legisladores conservadores, incluida Sanae Takaichi, la primera ministra del país, se oponen al cambio.

Popularidad de Aiko impulsa demanda de una mujer en el trono

Aiko ha ganado admiradores desde que debutó como miembro adulto de la realeza en 2021, cuando impresionó al público que la calificó de inteligente, amable, cariñosa y simpática.

El apoyo a Aiko como futura monarca aumentó tras su primer viaje oficial sola al extranjero, a Laos, en noviembre, en representación del emperador. Durante la visita de seis días, se reunió con altos funcionarios laosianos, visitó lugares culturales e históricos y se encontró con la población local.

A principios de este año, Aiko acompañó a sus padres a Nagasaki y Okinawa. Ha seguido el ejemplo de su padre, quien da gran importancia a transmitir la tragedia de la Segunda Guerra Mundial a las generaciones más jóvenes.

“Siempre he apoyado la coronación de la princesa Aiko”, expresó Setsuko Matsuo, de 82 años y sobreviviente de las bombas atómicas, quien acudió al Parque de la Paz de Nagasaki horas antes de la llegada prevista de Aiko y sus padres a la zona.

“Me gusta todo de ella, especialmente su sonrisa… tan reconfortante”, dijo entonces a The Associated Press.

Mari Maehira, una oficinista de 58 años quien esperó para vitorear a Aiko en Nagasaki, dijo que la ha visto crecer y “ahora queremos verla convertirse en una futura monarca”.

La popularidad de la princesa ha impulsado a algunos a presionar a los legisladores para que modifiquen la ley.

Yoshinori Kobayashi, artista de manga, ha escrito cómics que impulsan un cambio legal que permita a Aiko convertirse en monarca, y sus simpatizantes los envían constantmente a los parlamentarios para concienciarlos y obtener su apoyo a la causa.

Otros han creado canales de YouTube y distribuido panfletos para llamar la atención del público sobre el tema.

Ikuko Yamazaki, de 62 años, ha utilizado las redes sociales para abogar por la sucesión del primogénito del emperador, independientemente de su sexo. Agrega que no tener a Aiko como sucesora y la insistencia en monarcas exclusivamente masculinos provocarán la desaparición de la monarquía.

“El sistema de sucesión refleja la mentalidad japonesa sobre las cuestiones de género”, añadió Yamazaki. “Creo que tener una monarca mejoraría drásticamente la condición de la mujer en Japón”.

La crianza de Aiko

La popular princesa nació el 1 de diciembre de 2001.

Poco después de dar a luz a Aiko, su madre, Masako, exdiplomática educada en Harvard, desarrolló un trastorno mental inducido por estrés —aparentemente debido a las críticas por no haber producido un heredero varón— del que aún está en recuperación.

Aiko era conocida por ser una niña brillante quien, como aficionada al sumo, memorizaba los nombres completos de los luchadores.

No obstante, ella también enfrentó dificultades: en primaria, faltó a clases brevemente debido a un problema de acoso escolar. En su adolescencia, se le vio extremadamente delgada y faltó a clases durante un mes.

En 2024, Aiko se graduó de la Universidad de Gakushuin, donde estudiaron su padre y muchos otros miembros de la realeza. Desde entonces, ha participado en sus deberes oficiales y rituales palaciegos, además de trabajar en la Sociedad de la Cruz Roja. Los fines de semana disfruta de dar paseos con sus padres y jugar voleibol, tenis y bádminton con funcionarios del palacio.

Monarquía japonesa se encuentra en “estado crítico”

La Ley de la Casa Imperial de 1947 sólo permite la sucesión por línea masculina y obliga a las mujeres de la realeza que se casan con plebeyos a perder su estatus real.

La familia imperial, en rápida disminución, tiene 16 miembros, frente a los 30 de hace tres décadas. Todos son adultos.

Naruhito sólo tiene dos posibles herederos varones más jóvenes: su hermano menor de 60 años, el príncipe heredero Akishino, y el hijo de 19 años de él, el príncipe Hisahito. El príncipe Hitachi, hermano menor del exemperador Akihito y tercero en la línea de sucesión al trono, tiene 90 años.

Akishino reconoció el envejecimiento y la disminución de la población real, “pero no se puede hacer nada bajo el sistema actual”.

“Creo que todo lo que podemos hacer en este momento es reducir nuestros deberes oficiales”, declaró a la prensa antes de su 60mo cumpleaños el domingo.

El año pasado, el príncipe heredero señaló que los miembros de la realeza son “seres humanos” cuyas vidas se ven afectadas por el debate, un comentario matizado pero poco común. Él no ha visto ningún cambio, aunque los funcionarios del palacio han tomado su comentario con sinceridad, dijo Akishino el domingo.

Aiko también había expresado previamente que es consciente de la disminución de la población real, pero no podía hacer comentarios sobre el sistema.

“Bajo las circunstancias, espero cumplir con sinceridad con todos mis deberes oficiales y ayudar al emperador y a la emperatriz, así como a los demás miembros de la familia imperial”, resaltó.

La escasez de sucesores varones es una preocupación importante para la monarquía, que algunos historiadores exponen que se ha prolongado durante 1.500 años. También refleja el problema más general de Japón: el rápido envejecimiento y la disminución de su población.

“Creo que la situación ya es crítica”, dijo Hideya Kawanishi, profesora de la Universidad de Nagoya y experta en la monarquía. Su futuro depende completamente de la capacidad de Hisahito y su futura esposa para tener un hijo varón. “¿Quién querría casarse con él? Si alguien lo hace, deberá soportar una enorme presión para tener un heredero varón mientras desempeña sus funciones oficiales con una capacidad sobrehumana”.

Hisahito debe asumir él solo la carga y el destino de la familia imperial, declaró Shingo Haketa, exjefe de la Agencia de la Casa Imperial, en un artículo del periódico Yomiuri este año. “La cuestión fundamental no es si se debe permitir una línea de sucesión masculina o femenina, sino cómo salvar a la monarquía”.

Sistema de sucesión exclusivamente masculino en Japón es relativamente nuevo

Tradicionalmente, Japón ha tenido emperadores hombres, pero también ha habido ocho mujeres monarcas. La última fue Gosakuramachi, quien gobernó de 1762 a 1770.

La norma de sucesión exclusivamente por línea masculina fue promulgada como ley en 1889 y trasladada a la Ley de la Casa Imperial de 1947, tras el fin de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

Los expertos dicen que previamente el sistema sólo funcionó con ayuda de las concubinas, quienes, hasta hace unos 100 años, dieron a luz a la mitad de los emperadores anteriores.

El gobierno propuso permitir el acenso de una mujer monarca en 2005, pero el nacimiento de Hisahito posibilitó a los nacionalistas descartar la propuesta.

Búsqueda infructuosa de un sucesor masculino

En 2022, un panel de expertos —mayoritariamente conservador— instó al gobierno a mantener la línea de sucesión exclusivamente masculina, pero permitir a las mujeres de la familia conservar su estatus real después de su matrimonio y continuar con sus funciones oficiales. Los conservadores también propusieron adoptar a descendientes varones de ramas distantes y extintas de la familia real para continuar el linaje masculino, una idea considerada poco realista.

El Comité para la Eliminación de la Discriminación contra la Mujer (CEDAW, por sus siglas en inglés), de Naciones Unidas, instó el año pasado al gobierno japonés a permitir el ascenso de una emperatriz, con el argumento de que no hacerlo obstaculizaba la igualdad de género en Japón.

Japón desestimó el informe y lo calificó como “lamentable” e “inapropiado”, y dijo que la sucesión imperial es una cuestión de identidad nacional fundamental.

“Aunque no se explica de manera explícita, lo que dicen claramente está en favor de la superioridad masculina. Esa es su sociedad ideal”, opinó la profesora Kawanishi.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/01/popularidad-de-princesa-aiko-impulsa-llamados-a-cambiar-ley-de-sucesin-slo-masculina-en-japn/