DIRECTOR CLAIMS FBI WAS JUSTIFIED;SENATE ADVANCES RADICAL ACTIVIST;BRITISH PAPER CELEBRATES PRO-ABORTION ‘CATHOLICS’;STOPPING ATTACKS ON FAITH

 

THURSDAY, JULY 13   DIRECTOR CLAIMS FBI WAS JUSTIFIED  FBI Director Christopher Wray offered no apology for his agency’s controversial decision to target parents who protested radical racial and sexual-based curriculum at school board meetings. “I think the FBI conducted itself the way it should here,” said Wray. The FBI head did admit that there was “no compelling nationwide law enforcement justification” for Attorney General Merrick Garland’s memo calling on the FBI to surveil parents who attended the school board meetings.  READ       FBI: CATHOLICVOTE “NOT ENTITLED” TO RECORDS After nearly three months, the FBI has responded to CatholicVote’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, saying CatholicVote is “not entitled” to records pertaining to the agency’s alleged spying on American Catholics. As previously reported by CatholicVote, a leaked memo in February 2023 revealed that the FBI has been developing sources within Catholic churches to spy on American Catholics, linking them to “white supremacist” groups. In response, CatholicVote requested access to the records, citing the 1996 FOIA.  READ       SENATE ADVANCES RADICAL ACTIVIST  Vice President Kamala Harris cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate to advance the nomination of Kalpana Kotagal to a seat on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. CatholicVote’s Tom McClusky warned: “Based on her record, she will undoubtedly use her new post to attack religious exemptions, especially when it comes to employers’ conscience protections regarding abortion and so-called ‘gender-affirming’ care.” If confirmed, Kotagal would have far-reaching implications for the commission’s enforcement of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.  READ       BRITISH PAPER CELEBRATES PRO-ABORTION ‘CATHOLICS’    The Guardian, a left-leaning British news source, published an article last week highlighting attempts by a so-called pro-abortion Catholic group, Catholics for Choice, to “seize the abortion narrative from the religious right.” The article failed to mention some key facts about the group; namely, that the group is not, in fact, Catholic. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has said that rather than upholding Church teaching, Catholics for Choice works against it.  READ       BIDEN HHS LAUNCHES LGBT TRAINING SERIES An agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has launched a new, taxpayer-funded “learning series” on gender and sexual orientation as part of the Biden administration’s agenda “to better support the LGBTQIA2S+ community.”  READ       AI TECH USED FOR IVF  Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming the future of in-vitro fertilization, doctors and specialists say. AIVF, an Israel-based reproductive technology company, has created an advanced embryo evaluation platform that simplifies embryo selection by using AI to process massive volumes of data. The technology allows doctors to scan embryos for factors such as potential for successful implantation, gender, and even health issues. The U.S. bishops have stated clearly that IVF is immoral because it commodifies children.   READ       PRO-LIFE IDAHO  Several pro-abortion groups are filing suit against Idaho’s Attorney General in an attempt to overturn new abortion trafficking laws that prevent minors from crossing state lines to receive abortions without parental consent. They also cite Justice Brett Kanvanaugh’s opinion in Dobbs which held that states could not prevent their residents from seeking abortions in neighboring states. The opinion does not reference minors, however.  READ       NEWS CLIP  Chairman Jim Jordan, R-OH, grills FBI Director Chris Wray for spying on Catholics.   WATCH         STOPPING ATTACKS ON FAITH The U.N. Human Rights Council approved a resolution calling on member states to be more aggressive in prosecuting acts of anti-religious bigotry. The resolution passed despite opposition from the United States and Western European countries, which claimed the resolution might limit “freedom of expression.”  READ       INSIGHTS ON THE NEW CARDINALS  Once again, Pope Francis has denied the archbishop of Los Angeles the red hat. Here are eight takeaways from the pope’s latest selection of cardinals, from Fr. Raymond de Souza.  READ       (MORE) CUTE KIDS AT MASS  It’s a hit! Back by popular demand, here are YOUR funny and heartwarming stories of taking small children to Mass.  READ       CATHOLIC 101   What is a consecrated virgin, and why don’t they just enter an established religious order? In this CatholicVote exclusive, learn all about this ancient vocation and hear from a modern-day woman living out her vows in Austria.   WATCH       SAINT OF THE DAY  Growing up, St. Henry II discerned the priesthood, but decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and became Duke of Bavaria. He quickly rose through the ranks and was crowned Holy Roman Emperor. Henry ruled decisively, but never harshly and sought to bring about Church reform. Henry never neglected his prayer life and humbly served the poor, even while in a position of power.   READ       DAILY PSALM  “Remember the marvels the Lord has done.” (Psalm 105:5)   READ       DAILY READINGS  Today's Mass readings.  READ     LOOPCAST  The ‘Sound of Freedom’ is the hit of the summer. Is the Synod a Sin-od? Is World Youth Day still Catholic? And while you should let your kids be bored, we’re certain you won’t be with this week’s LOOPcast! (SPOILER: We have Spiderman’s stamp of approval.)  LISTEN              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. 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