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| AOC AT THE BORDER Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, apparently screamed at federal law enforcement officers in a “threatening manner” while visiting the U.S.-Mexico border. “She comes out screaming at our agents, right at the beginning [of the tour] … Crying and screaming and yelling,” said an eyewitness. READ |
| BORDER CRISIS It now appears that both political parties recognize that there’s a crisis on the southern border, as the number of illegal crossing attempts have spiked in 2019. But over the past year, many Democratic leaders had insisted that there was no crisis at all on the U.S.-Mexico border. In January, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer had said that President Trump was “manufacturing a crisis.” READ |
| KAMALA HARRIS SURGES A new CNN poll shows Sen. Kamala Harris, D-CA, rising quickly in a Democratic presidential primary poll. Frontrunner Joe Biden had only a 5-point lead in the poll. The results of the poll: Joe Biden 22%, Kamala Harris 17%, Elizabeth Warren 15%, Bernie Sanders 14%. No one else above 5%. READ |
| AFGHANISTAN In an interview with Tucker Carlson, President Trump signaled that he would prefer “to just get out” of Afghanistan, but he is reluctant because it is a “lab for terrorists.” Trump said it would be hard to ignore the advice of generals who say “it’s better to attack them over there than attack them in our land.” READ |
| CONSCIENCE RULE DELAYED The Department of Health and Human Services said a new rule to protect the conscience rights of health care workers will be delayed until November 1. The rule was previously set to take effect July 22, but “significant litigation” challenging the policy has caused a delay in its implementation. READ |
| NICK SANDMANN IN COURT Nick Sandmann, the Covington Catholic student suing several media companies, appeared in court for the first time. The judge did not rule on a motion by the Washington Post to dismiss the case. READ |
| BIG TECH AND POLITICS Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg announced that she would be making a personal (not corporate) gift of $1 million to Planned Parenthood, in reaction to recently-passed pro-life laws. READ |
| SHOES PULLEDNike dropped a Betsy Ross flag sneaker after complaints from Colin Kaepernick, the football player who started protesting the National Anthem by kneeling during NFL games. READ |
| CANONIZATION UPDATE Blessed John Henry Newman and four other blesseds will be canonized October 13 in St. Peter’s Square. READ |
| SEAL OF THE CONFESSIONAL The Vatican reaffirmed the inviolability of the seal of the confession as governments in Australia and California consider legislation to undermine the sacramental seal. “It concerns the protection of the same sacrament, instituted by Christ to be a safe haven of salvation for sinners. Should the trust in the seal fail, the faithful would be discouraged from accessing the sacrament of Reconciliation, and this, obviously, with serious harm to souls,” said Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, who signed the Vatican document. READ |
| SAINT OF THE DAY Saint Oliver Plunkett may not be a household name in the United States but he certainly is well known in the British Isles. The Archbishop of Armagh, Saint Oliver Plunkett led his archdiocese through the rough days of persecution of Catholics. Finally apprehended, Saint Oliver was hanged, drawn, and quartered July 1, 1681. READ |
| DAILY READINGS “O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.” (Ps 26:2) READ |
