SUPREME COURT // NBC’s Supreme Court analyst says that “a clear majority” of the U.S. Supreme Court seemed inclined to rule in favor of a Missouri Lutheran church in a legal battle over whether state aid to renovate playgrounds should exclude ones owned by a religious school. http://cvote.it/2oRly41
SUPREME COURT // During oral arguments in the religious liberty case, Justice Sonia Sotomayor mentioned that Blaine amendments to state constitutions were an ‘admirable tradition.’ Justice Alito immediately responded to this characterization. http://cvote.it/2oRqlSO
2020 // Sen. Ted Cruz, R-TX, warned that if the GOP doesn’t overcome their divisions, the White House could be lost in 2020. “If we screw this all up, you better believe the American people could elect President Elizabeth Warren.” But he added, “if we deliver on all this, it doesn’t matter who they nominate — we win.” http://cvote.it/2pED8eh
MEDIA // Fox News is cutting ties with Bill O’Reilly, stemming from a New York Times report from April 1 that the TV host had paid $13 million to settle five cases against alleging sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior. O’Reilly denies the charges. http://cvote.it/2pEQabE
MEDIA // Shooting suspect Kori Ali Muhammed repeatedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” in a Fresno shooting that claimed the lives of three people. In a tweet, the Associated Press said the suspect shouted “God is great” — even though the suspect shouted in Arabic, not English. The AP deleted the tweet after significant online criticism. http://cvote.it/2oRcGeB
COLLEGE // Ann Coulter’s speech at Berkeley, a California public university, was canceled because of “security concerns.” She is vowing to speak anyway. “I’ve acceded to all their silly demands, which they thought would end it. When I said, ‘yes, yes, yes,’ they canceled anyway.” http://cvote.it/2oRnEkm
MARRIAGE // Marriage advocates have begun to urge couples to be less extravagant in their nuptial celebrations for the good of their relationships — citing a 2013 survey in which men said the high costs of the wedding was the biggest reason for not marrying. http://cvote.it/2oQV56M
CATHOLIC // Pope Francis prays for persecuted Christian communities, saying that Mary intercedes particularly on behalf of those “Christian communities who are persecuted and oppressed in many parts of the world and are called to a more difficult and courageous witness.” http://cvote.it/2oR86wW
CATHOLIC // The Trump administration is reaching out to the Vatican about a possible meeting with Pope Francis during Trump’s trip to Italy in May for the G8 meeting. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said: “We would be honored to have an audience with his Holiness.” http://cvote.it/2oReRPe
SAINT // Saint Conrad of Parzham – http://cvote.it/dailysaint
DAILY MASS // “O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!” (Ps 8:2) – http://cvote.it/Daily-Readings
INTERESTING // When a pro-abortion comedian inadvertently goes off-script and tells a joke which recognizes the truth of an unborn child’s humanity. http://cvote.it/2pEVtaY