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| THURSDAY, JULY 19 |
| MORE POST-HELSINKI REACTION In a third day of backlash over the Helsinki summit, President Trump said he held Putin responsible for 2016 election interference. “I let him know we can’t have this, we’re not going to have it, and that’s the way it’s going to be,” President Trump told CBS Evening News. READ |
| STATE VS. CHURCH Catholic Social Services is appealing a ruling by a federal judge that they must place children with same-sex couples or be shut down. “Although Catholic Social Services has dozens of open homes available right now, city officials won’t allow any children to be placed in them because they think the agency’s religious beliefs, which drive its mission to help children, are outdated and need to change,” said Becket Law, the legal group representing the Catholic adoption agency. READ |
| RECORD BREAKING CONFIRMATION The Senate confirmed Andrew Oldham to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in a narrow 50-49 vote, making him the 23rd circuit court judge confirmed since President Trump took office. The previous record was set by President George H.W. Bush who had 22 appeals court judges confirmed during his first two years in office. Later this week, the Senate is scheduled to vote on Ryan Bounds for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. READ |
| THE HOUSE BACKS ICE The House passed a resolution supporting the officers of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The resolution had the support of 226 Republicans and 18 Democrats. One Republican joined 34 Democrats in voting no. Another 133 Democrats voted “present.” The resolution comes as several left-wing lawmakers have called to abolish ICE. READ |
| CAMPUS POLITICS Liberal groups at the University of Oregon receive 160 times more funding than conservative organizations. That’s not a typo. Liberal groups received $250,173 in the 2017-2018 school year, compared to conservative groups receiving a paltry $1,540. READ |
| CANON LAW AND THE ENVIRONMENT The Vatican’s former top adviser on canon law wants to insert legal obligations to care for God’s creation in the Church’s universal canon law. His recommendation would change the legal duty not only “not to harm” the environment, but to improve it. READ |
| ST. GILBERT? Could G.K. Chesterton be on the path to sainthood? We should know one way or the other within a few weeks. READ |
| ST. BLACK ELK? A representative from the Vatican is travelling to South Dakota to consider promoting the cause of sainthood for Nicholas Black Elk, a Lakota man who converted 400 people to the Catholic faith. READ |
| SAINT OF THE DAY Australia’s first canonized saint, Saint Mary MacKillop founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, better known as the Josephite Sisters. They addressed the educational and social needs of the poor, especially of the aborigines. Today the Sisters serve throughout Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Peru, East Timor, Scotland, and Brazil. READ |
| DAILY READINGS “From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.” (Ps 102:13) READ |
| TRUTH (click here to see a larger view) |