BIDEN DEFIES COURT, FORGIVES FED LOANS The U.S. Department of Education announced in a press release Friday that more than 804,000 Americans will be automatically forgiven over $39 billion in student loan debt in the next few weeks.

 

SATURDAY, JULY 15      MASS ALLOWED IN ALASKA PRISONS AGAIN  Just one day after a media backlash, the Alaska Department of Corrections has revoked an interim policy prohibiting the use of altar wine in prisons in the state. “Alaska Department of Corrections acknowledges the recent concern surrounding the June 6, 2023 Interim Policy and Procedures Memorandum (816.01),” the agency announced Friday.  READ       PRO-LIFE IOWA  Gov. Kim Reynolds, R-IA, signed a “heartbeat bill” into law which bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, or after six weeks. Iowa is now the 13th state to have a heartbeat law on the books. “Not only will I continue to fight against the inhumanity of abortion, but I will also remain committed to supporting women in planning for motherhood, promoting fatherhood and parenting, and continuing policies that encourage strong families,” Reynolds said.   READ       TUCKER VS. PENCE  During a political conference in Iowa, conservative commentator Tucker Carlson interviewed several Republican presidential candidates. The most contentious was with former Vice President Mike Pence. Carlson asked whether Pence thought the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, was an “insurrection” as media outlets claim. “All I know for sure having lived through it at the capitol is that it was a tragic day. I’ve never used the word ‘insurrection,’ Tucker, over the last two years. It was a riot that took place at the capitol that day,” said Pence.  READ        COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF ARCHDIOCESE  An Indiana court ruled in favor of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in a case surrounding a guidance counselor who was dismissed from her position at Roncalli, a Catholic high school, because her 2018 same-sex “marriage” in violation of her contract and Catholic teaching. Shelly Fitzgerald, who appealed the decision, was responsible for communicating the Catholic faith to students and families, and advising students both practically and spiritually as they discerned their vocational path at and after Roncalli.  READ       BIDEN DEFIES COURT, FORGIVES FED LOANS  The U.S. Department of Education announced in a press release Friday that more than 804,000 Americans will be automatically forgiven over $39 billion in student loan debt in the next few weeks. The new debt forgiveness plan comes only weeks after the Supreme Court rejected Biden’s more expensive forgiveness plan, which was ruled as illegal under federal law.  READ             FEDERAL COURT CONSIDERS E.R. ABORTIONS  The state of Texas and seven national Catholic healthcare organizations are asking the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold an injunction against a 2022 Biden administration directive that requires doctors to perform abortions in emergency rooms. The HHS mandate reinterpreted the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act to assert that ER doctors at hospitals participating in Medicare are required to perform abortions on patients.  READ       3,000 TROOPS ORDERED TO EUROPE  President Biden issued an order to allow the Pentagon to call up 3,000 reservists for deployment to Europe. The president’s order came shortly after a NATO summit in Vilnius, where Biden said the U.S. and its allies are “doing everything we can” to support Ukraine.  READ       WILL DEI DIE?  The Financial Times reports that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) officers in companies across the nation have been vacating their positions over the past year. Disney, Netflix, Twitter, Amazon, and Nike were named among the corporations named in the study.  READ       IS EVANGELIZATION A BAD THING?  The auxiliary bishop of Lisbon caused a stir when he suggested that World Youth Day should not be about evangelization. Bishop Barron responded: “I’m scheduled to give five presentations at World Youth Day in Lisbon, and I would like to assure Bishop Aguiar that every single one of them is designed to evangelize.”  READ       IMPORTANT BATTLE IN OHIO  Out-of-state abortion advocates are relying on Ohio’s loose requirements to pass an amendment to the state constitution that would codify into the state constitution abortion-on-demand and the genital mutilation of children without parental consent or notification. Many conservative groups are lobbying to vote “yes” on the August 8th special election in Ohio, however, many pro-lifer and conservative voters of all ages seem to be confused.  READ       INTERVIEW ON OHIO  Urgent message for Ohioans: Planned Parenthood and the ACLU are pouring millions into this obscure August 8th election in hopes to achieve a right to abortion in the Ohio constitution. CatholicVote Political Director Logan Church joins Erika to explain how Catholics in Ohio can stop it, before it spreads to other states.  WATCH         EUCHARISTIC DONKEYS  That’s a funny term, but it means a lot. The Bible’s word for donkey literally means “burden-bearer.” And it pretty well describes us. Human beings have many burdens to bear. And while Jesus compares us to donkeys (thanks, Jesus), saying, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy-laden,” he offers us rest. He acknowledges our “yoke,” but he says that the yoke he gives us is easy and light. How do we reconcile these two contrary ideas: heavy-laden and rest, yoke and easy? This article helps us think through.  READ       BBQ EVOLUTION  Barbecue is classic American food, and you’re probably enjoying a good bit of it this summer. But do you know the history of barbecue? This article describes its roots in the Caribbean and its evolution into the four major traditions we know today: Carolina, Memphis, Kansas City, and Texas.  READ       SINCERITY WITH SELF  “Sincerity is the life blood of a robust spiritual life,” writes Russell Shaw. In the struggle with our sins, we must be honest with God and honest with others, but that means we must first be honest with ourselves. In order to experience God’s power and love, you must know your own weakness and need. Shaw provides a great reflection on the fundamental importance of sincerity with self.  READ       FEELINGS ARE IMPORTANT  Some of us may consider ourselves “not very emotional.” And we may even be proud of that. We are rational, we say, or spiritual. Mind over matter. But emotions are an essential aspect of human nature, and if we don’t express or understand our emotions, there’s a good chance they have an even greater control over us. While feelings should never replace intellect, they are much too important to ignore. Check out this insight into the world of feelings, from Fr. Michael Rennier and Alice von Hildegard’s.  READ       LOOPCAST  Have you heard The Sound of Freedom looks great too? There’s been a lot of talk, is the Synod a Sin-od? World Youth Day is not supposed to help convert the youth? While your kids should be bored this summer - you won’t be with this week’s LOOPcast! (We have Spider-man’s stamp of approval!)  WATCH         CATHOLIC 101  Pope St. Pius X dubbed modernism as “… the synthesis of all heresies.” So it’s pretty scary yet terrifyingly easy for us to fall into this grave error, which actually plagues modern society. What is modernism, and are you a subscriber to its lies? Read here to find out.  READ       SAINT OF THE DAY  Saint Bonaventure is sometimes known as the second founder of the Franciscans for helping reform and rewrite the order’s rule to end much of the corruption happening within the order at the time. In his childhood, Bonaventure suffered from a bowel disease and was miraculously healed through the intercession of St. Francis. Bonaventure is known for his many writings and for his work to reconcile theology and philosophy with the call to poverty.   READ       SATURDAY’S PSALM  “Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad!” (Psalm 69:33)  READ       SATURDAY'S READINGS  Saturday's Mass readings  READ       SUNDAY’S PSALM  “The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.” (Luke 8:8)  READ       SUNDAY’S READINGS  Sunday's Mass readings  READ       ANSWER TO THE TRIVIA  French Captain Pierre-François Bouchard discovered the Rosetta Stone on this day in 1799. (Though some claim it was discovered in August). Bouchard was in Egypt as a part of Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign. After the French surrender of Egypt in 1801, the Rosetta Stone passed into British hands and it is now in the British Museum in London. The inscriptions on the Rosetta Stone enabled the translation of Egyptian hieroglyphic writings.           HAVE A TIP?  Send us your news for the Weekend LOOP.  EMAIL          ARTWORK  Christ Wearing the Crown of Thorns, Supported by Angels, by Annibale Carracci, c 1585.  SHARE         The LOOP is a publication of the CatholicVote Education Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization. The LOOP is organized, funded, and published by faithful Catholic laity. We do not claim to speak for any individual bishop or the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.   CATHOLICVOTE  |  PO Box 3310  |  Carmel, IN 46082  |  (317) 669-6127