THURSDAY, MARCH 22 |
SEX TRAFFICKING BILL PASSES The Senate voted 97-2 to approve a bill to crack down on sex trafficking. The legislation makes it a crime to operate a facility such as an internet platform with the intent to promote prostitution. The bill now heads to President Trump for his signature. READ |
ABORTION IN WASHINGTON Washington Gov. Jay Inslee just signed the so-called “Reproductive Parity Act” which mandates insurance coverage for abortion. The insidious legislation links abortion to maternity care. Archbishop Peter Sartain of Seattle decried the legislation: “It would require contraception and abortion coverage while violating the constitutionally protected conscious rights of individuals, churches, businesses and others. Maintaining the state’s commitment to religious freedom is vital.” READ |
NATURAL PROGRESSION? The former president of Planned Parenthood of Middle Tennessee is now executive director of the Tennessee Democratic Party. During his 17-year tenure at Planned Parenthood, Jeff Teague fought against pro-life legislation including Tennessee’s 20-week abortion ban. READ |
BUDGET SHOWDOWN House and Senate lawmakers introduced a $1.3 trillion fiscal 2018 spending bill late last night. The budget is expected to pass before a Friday budget deadline. The bill does not contain the Conscience Protection Act, which pro-lifers wanted included. It also does not include Obamacare subsidies that Democrats want. READ |
SENATE APPOINTMENT Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant announced that he will appoint Agriculture Commissioner Cindy Hyde-Smith to the United States Senate when longtime Senator Thad Cochran steps down on April 1 over health issues. In her press conference, Hyde-Smith emphasized her support for the Second Amendment and her pro-life views. READ |
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY Sweden’s Social Democratic Party proposes a ban on religious schools. Some critics say that the proposal is meant to deal with the problem in Muslim schools, but they are too “cowardly” to admit it. READ |
CRONYISM Because of the efforts of conservative reformers in Congress, the Export-Import Bank hasn’t been able to make taxpayer-supported loans to companies like Boeing for 1,000 days now. And guess what? The private sector has stepped in to provide “robust” financing. Imagine that… READ |
CATHOLIC UNIV AGAINST GUNS? Anita Britt, the chief financial officer at St. Thomas University in Florida, was sent packing after she refused to resign from serving on the Board of Directors for American Outdoor Brands, parent company of gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson. Ave Maria Law professor Brian Scarnecchia defended Britt: “A Catholic can work for a firearms company in good faith.” READ |
PRO-LIFE DEMOCRAT WINS Pro-life advocates celebrate the win of a longtime pro-life Democrat in Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District. EWTN’s Jason Calvi spoke with CatholicVote’s Brian Burch and also with Rep. Dan Lipinski at his victory party outside Chicago and reports on the national significance of this race. WATCH |
VATICAN PRESS OFFICE The top Vatican communications officer resigns after ‘Lettergate’ fiasco. READ |
HOW NOT TO REACH THE YOUTH Who on Earth thought this was a good idea? A magazine for three French dioceses apparently doctored a photo of a priest in a cassock to make it look as if he was wearing jeans. READ |
SAINT OF THE DAY Saint Nicholas Owen was a creative builder who helped the persecuted Catholic priests of England find hiding places. Because of his important work, the fact that he joined the Jesuits was held secret. Arrested a final time in 1606, Saint Nicholas Owen was tortured and killed. READ |
DAILY MASS READINGS “The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.” (Ps 105:8) READ |
WALKOUT FOR LIFE Last week, thousands of students walked out of school to protest gun violence — and weren’t punished for missing class. Well, now student Brandon Gillespie wants to see if there’s a double standard. He’s organizing a walkout to protest abortion violence “to honor all the lives of aborted babies.” READ |