POPE SLAMS TRUMP // Pope Francis criticized President Trump’s decision to repeal Obama’s unconstitutional DACA order. “I have heard the president of the United States speak. He presents himself as a pro-life man. If he is a good pro-lifer, he should understand that the family is the cradle of life, and you must defend its unity.” Pro-abortion group NARAL pounced on the remarks by tweeting: “You know it’s bad when even the Pope blasts you on ‘pro-life’ hypocrisy.” President Trump, for his part, has routinely expressed an openness to provide relief for DACA children — so long as the solution is approved by Congress. http://cvote.it/2eSqhOt
POPE CONDEMNS CLIMATE SKEPTICS // The Holy Father also made news by criticizing skeptics of climate change — and his remarks are also seen as a “thinly-veiled” dig on President Trump. “If we don’t go back we will go down. That is true. You can see the effects of climate change with your own eyes and scientists tell us clearly the way forward,” said Pope Francis. Then he quoted a phrase from the Old Testament: “Man is stupid, a stubborn, blind man.” http://cvote.it/2eS3kLC
JUDGES, JUDGES, JUDGES // This would be an excellent development: Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley has signaled he might end the tradition that gives senators a de facto veto power over judicial nominees — especially if both senators from a state are from the opposite party of the President. http://cvote.it/2eRSO6P
DIGITAL BLACK LISTING // The Southern Poverty Law Center’s reckless decision to include pro-family organizations on their “hate map” continues to have major unjust ramifications. Vanco Payment Solutions told the pro-family Ruth Institute that they would no longer process credit card donations for their organization because they were placed on the SPLC’s hate map. We are quickly seeing the day when Christians are going to need to create their own digital infrastructure — just to keep operating. http://cvote.it/2eRGPX0
DEMS TO ROLL OUT SOCIALIZED MEDICINE // Tomorrow, Sens. Cory Booker, D-NJ, and Jeff Merkley, D-OR, plan to introduce Bernie Sanders’ single-payer socialist health care plan. But here’s a question: Why are these Democrats proposing the single-payer system? Don’t they think Obamacare is working just fine? http://cvote.it/2eR4Hda
OBAMACARE ARCHITECT FLIPS // Former Sen. Max Baucus, D-MT, was a critical architect of Obamacare in 2010. But he’s also abandoned his support for Obamacare for — you guessed — government-run “single-payer” health care. http://cvote.it/2eR6WNC
IVANKA: DOUBLE CHILD TAX CREDIT // Ivanka Trump is pitching conservatives on doubling the child tax credit from the current level of $1000 to at least $2000 — with the extra money allowing taxpayers to reduce the amount of payroll taxes they pay. Currently, the tax credit applies only to income taxes. The plan was pitched as populist move for middle class families. http://cvote.it/2eROHrB
LGBT // Susan Collins of Maine is one of the few pro-abortion Republicans in the Senate. Sadly she’s teaming up with Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, in an attempt to block President Trump’s ban on transgender members in the military. http://cvote.it/2eS45Eh
ANTI-CHRISTIAN BIGOTRY // This past week we saw an attack on a judicial nominee for her Catholic faith and a Christian baker having to go to court for his religious freedom. Amanda Prestigiacomo says it’s time to fight back: “Do not be timid about your religious beliefs. State them openly and often. Never concede policy ground. Instead of sitting back on your heels in a defensive stance, lean forward and demand legislative changes to promote religious liberty. And, most importantly, mock anti-Christian bigotry. They don’t take kindly to mockery.” http://cvote.it/2eS7mmW
HUMANAE VITAE UNDER FIRE? // Recent development in Rome indicate a campaign is underway to challenge Pope Paul VI’s encyclical prohibiting contraception, says Rome-based journalist Edward Pentin. http://cvote.it/2eRVjpL
SAINT // The Most Holy Name of The Blessed Virgin Mary – http://cvote.it/dailysaint
DAILY MASS // “The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.” (Ps 145:1) – http://cvote.it/Daily-Readings
DISCOVERY // Bones attributed to Saint Peter were found by chance in a 1,000-year-old church in Rome. http://cvote.it/2eROG6W