MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25
SEX ABUSE SUMMIT Pope Francis concluded a Vatican summit on sex abuse by outlining an 8-point plan for an “all out battle” against sexual abuse. https://cvote.it/2SnZuek
NEW PRO-LIFE RULE The Trump administration announced a major rule change that will prohibit organizations receiving Title X family planning funds from performing abortions. The rule could remove $60 million of federal funding from Planned Parenthood, which has already vowed to fight the rule in federal court. President Reagan instituted a similar policy in 1988, which the Supreme Court eventually allowed to continue, but it was reversed by President Clinton before it could be implemented. https://cvote.it/2SoJdpF
PRO-LIFE OKLAHOMA Republican lawmakers in Oklahoma are working on ‘trigger’ legislation that would outlaw abortion in the state, if the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. “When Roe v. Wade is overturned, which is all of our hope and desire in the Republican caucus, the law that was in place pre-1973 that made abortion a felony in Oklahoma would be reinstituted,” said state lawmaker Greg Treat. https://cvote.it/2SnZKtV
MILITARY DRAFT FOR WOMEN? A federal judge in Texas has ruled that the male-only military draft is unconstitutional. The ruling comes as an 11-member commission is studying the future of the draft, and whether or not women should be included. https://cvote.it/2SpsN06
2020 Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren joins fellow candidate Kamala Harris in backing reparations for black Americans “impacted by slavery.” https://cvote.it/2Spmo50
IMMIGRANTION AND RULE OF LAW Every person is created in the image of God. How should this understanding affect our immigration laws and enforcement? Deal Hudson examines this question at the CV Blog. https://cvote.it/2Xo35wz
PRO-FAMILY PLATFORM Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban has outlined an ambitious program to encourage Hungarians to have more children. “What could be closer to Catholic Social Teaching than the formation of marriage, family and the raising of children, and on human solidarity?” writes Austin Ruse at the CV Blog. https://cvote.it/2SlC9tH
QUOTE OF THE DAY “Funny how some folks attack the church and want to revoke its tax exempt status when we speak out against the evil of abortion or gay marriage. The same people recruit us as allies though on issues like immigration, gun control, and the environment.” -Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence
HOLLYWOOD VS THE HEARTLAND Entertainer Bill Maher mocked red state voters, saying that they envy rich people in blue states. “We have chef Wolfgang Puck, they have Chef Boyardee,” he said. “Our roofs have solar panels, theirs have last year’s Christmas lights.” https://cvote.it/2SnW6Qz
HOLLYWOOD VS. CHRISTIANS Chris Pratt is a Christian actor in a town totally hostile to Christianity. https://cvote.it/2SorL4G
R RATING Unplanned is a movie about former abortion clinic director Abby Johnson who became a pro-life activist. Unexpectedly, the movie has received an “R” rating. Co-director Cary Soloman said: “We’ve made a pro-life film in a pro-choice town. We’re very aware of that.” https://cvote.it/2Slz7pj
PLAGIARISM Fr. Thomas Rosica, a long-time Vatican spokesman, has apologized for plagiarism. https://cvote.it/2Slzwbj
SAINT OF THE DAY Some holy people have a rather full life spread over a couple of vocations. Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio is such a person having been married twice before becoming a Franciscan. https://cvote.it/2SrPeC4
DAILY READINGS “The Lord is king; he is roped in majesty.” (Ps 93:1) https://cvote.it/2Sox3wI