WEDNESDAY, MAY 23 |
TRUMP AT PRO-LIFE GALA President Trump touts anti-abortion achievements at Susan B. Anthony dinner. “For decades, American taxpayers have been wrongfully forced to subsidize the abortion industry through Title X funding, so today we have kept another promise,” Trump told the SBA List attendees. “My administration has proposed a new rule to prohibit Title X funding from going to any clinic that performs abortions.” READ |
GOP SURGING IN POLLS A new Reuters poll gave Republicans a 6-point lead in the Congressional generic ballot. It’s just one poll, and it’s definitely an outlier. But overall, the direction of polls in the last 7 to 10 days have been in the GOP’s favor. For the first time in a long time, the Cook Political Report shifted the ratings on four House districts — all in the GOP’s direction. Still, they said that the GOP remain “underdogs” for House control. Guy Benson says the spate of good news for the GOP could be the reason why their numbers are up. READ |
HOUSE PASSES ‘RIGHT TO TRY’ BILL The House voted 250-169 to pass a “right-to-try” bill that would allow terminally ill patients access to experimental drugs. The Senate passed the bill last August. READ |
CONGRESS PASSES BANK REFORM The House passed a very-modest reform of the Dodd Frank financial regulation law that will provide relief to regional and small banks. But the bill doesn’t repeal any provision of Dodd-Frank. “I wish it did guy Dodd-Frank. It didn’t,” said Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-TX. The bill, already passed by the Senate, now heads to President Trump’s desk. READ |
DOES GOD MAKE PEOPLE GAY? A Dominican priest and theologian helps make sense of the confusion running rampant in today’s media circus. “Of course God loves all people. This is his defining characteristic: God is love. But he does not love sin, indeed he cannot love sin because sin is not only opposed to God but also opposed to the true good and happiness to which he calls every human person,” said Fr. Thomas Petri, academic dean of the Dominican-run Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. “Inasmuch as all of us has proclivities and disordered desires in our lives, we must be always be vigilant against temptation and repent when we fall.” READ |
TIME TO HAVE MORE BABIES! The birthrate in the United States has fallen to its lowest level since the Center for Disease Control began keeping track of it. Replacement-level fertility is 2.1 children for every woman. We are at slightly less than 1.8. It’s time for Christian men and women to quit their endless quest for Mr. or Mrs. Perfect, says Rob Schwarzwalder: “Marry a committed, emotionally stable and pleasant Christian man or woman and have babies. A bunch of them.” READ |
WHY THEY BACKED TRUMP Some conservative and Republican voters still don’t trust Donald Trump. And they couldn’t understand how Trump won 88-90% of Republican voters — the same percent as McCain in 2008, and Romney in 2012. Victor Davis Hanson offers his explanation for why: “Trump did not run in a vacuum. A presidential vote is not a one-person race for sainthood but, like it or now, often a choice between a bad and worse option.” READ |
REMEMBER KIM DAVIS? Kim Davis was the county clerk who went to jail in 2015 after she refused to sign marriage licenses for couples of the same sex. David Ermold, who is gay, raised $200,000 from 48 states in order to challenge Kim Davis for the seat. But Democratic voters in Kentucky yesterday said no to Ermold and nominated Democrat Elwood Caudill, Jr., instead. Davis and Ermold face each other in November. READ |
A MOVIE THAT GROOMS KIDS FOR ABUSE Do not let your children watch Show Dogs. There’s a central scene in the movie — the inspection of the dog’s private parts. The dog naturally resists, but is told he needs to find his “zen place” where he comfortable with it. Terina Maldonado, a concerned parent and former abuse victim, saw an advance screening of the movie and is sounding the alarm. READ |
CATHOLICISM VS “LOVE IS LOVE” This Catholic mom explains what unfolded when a woman civilly “married” to another woman began volunteering regularly at her child’s Catholic school. READ |
SAINT OF THE DAY Saint Gregory VII, originally known as Hildebrand, was a reformer before and during his papacy (1073-1085). He struggled to gain the Church’s freedom from undue civil influence and paid a price for his efforts. Gregory VII died in exile in 1085. Thirty years after his death, the Church won its struggle. READ |
DAILY MASS READINGS “Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!” (Mt 5:3) READ |
NEAT One of the 10 contestants on America Ninja Warror really stands out. Father Stephen Gadberry hopes that his participation will make the clergy appear more human and available. READ |