HUGE WIN FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY;BISHOPS PRAISE WIN FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY;PRO-LIFE INDIANA; JUDGES REJECT CHILD PROTECTIONS;Is Biden preparing to use HIV funding to pay for abortion in Africa?

 

SATURDAY, JULY 1       HUGE WIN FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY  The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Friday that the state of Colorado cannot compel a Christian website designer to create messages that violate her faith. “Perhaps we will finally see an end to government persecution of Christian florists, bakers, and photographers,” said Brian Burch. “This is why elections matter.”  READ       BISHOPS PRAISE WIN FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY   The U.S. bishops released a statement praising the Supreme Court’s decision on Thursday to protect employees’ religious beliefs in the case of a mail carrier who would not work on the sabbath. “In so many ways today, we see people of faith being told that they can only follow their religious beliefs in private or within the four walls of a church,” said Cardinal Dolan. “But religious freedom means nothing if it does not extend to the public square. And the public square is better off when religion is welcome there.”  READ       PRO-LIFE INDIANA  The Indiana Supreme Court upheld the state’s heartbeat law, which prohibits abortions once a heartbeat can be detected – usually around six weeks. “We celebrate this day — one long in coming, but morally justified. Thank you to all the warriors who have fought for this day that upholds LIFE,” Indiana’s Attorney General Todd Rokita said.  READ        COURT NIXES BIDEN STUDENT LOAN ‘FORGIVENESS’  The court ruled 6-3 that Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona did not have the authority to waive up to $10,000 in student loans for the majority of borrowers. In an opinion delivered by Chief Justice Roberts, the Court ruled that the plan would need congressional approval to be constitutional.  READ       JUDGES REJECT CHILD PROTECTIONS  Republican-led efforts in Kentucky and Tennessee to protect children from puberty blockers and hormonal manipulation were denied by federal judges Wednesday. Child protection bills are among the most recent in a series of at least 20 attempts by conservative states to protect minors from irreversible harm caused by puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, but federal courts continue to partially block the bills. Courts in at least five other states have given similar rulings, favoring “the constitutional right” of families to obtain “trans” treatments for their children.  READ             STATE SAYS MCCARRICK UNFIT TO STAND TRIAL Theodore McCarrick, the former Cardinal accused of sexually assaulting multiple minors, is mentally unfit to stand trial, a Massachusetts state expert informed the Dedham District Court. The expert, hired by the state to judge McCarrick’s competence, informed the court of his analysis in a June 29 hearing. The recommendation does not mean that charges against McCarrick have been dropped. A court hearing on August 30 will determine if the case against McCarrick will proceed.  READ       CATHOLIC FAMILY SUPPORTED AFTER LGBT ATTACK  When a Louisiana farmer lost two-thirds of his business after sharing an Instagram post honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus and questioning the value of “LGBTQ pride,” he received so much support that he is now raising money to build a church. “The experience of the last two and half weeks has certainly been extraordinary, with the action of Divine Providence being very clear and present,” McKnight told CatholicVote.  READ       HISTORY OF THE FLAG  One of the most universal symbols of freedom and patriotism, the American flag, has been around since the country’s founding. However, the true story of the flag’s beginning remains unknown. Many claim that Betsy Ross created the first American flag, and this may be true, but the flag has a more vague history than you were probably taught in school. From its debut on January 1, 1776 to its completion on August 21, 1960, the flag has undergone constant revisions.  READ       IS THE TIDE TURNING?  Jayd Henricks contends that the tide is turning, and that Americans are open to common sense on the most basic truth about the human person: that there are only two genders. “The absurdity of slavery was exposed through a movement that was largely led by people of faith, and now is the moment for people of faith to stand up again. The current absurdity has gone too far, and Americans are beginning to recognize it. We can and must rally them,” he writes.  READ       CATHOLIC BABY NAMES  With the whole Communion of Saints at their disposal, Catholics come up with the best baby names! We asked our LOOPers for the most unique names they’ve selected for their tiny saints in training. The results were a creative array of combinations and derivatives taken from the names of many heavenly heroes.  READ       LOOPCAST  Is Biden preparing to use HIV funding to pay for abortion in Africa? Does Bishop Strickland’s Vatican visit spell corruption in the Church? Is “gender” in Genesis? All this and more on this week’s episode!  WATCH         4TH OF JULY APPS  You probably have an idea of what you’ll make for your 4th of July entree. Burgers and hot dogs? Ribs or brisket? But do you have something to give your hungry self and guests while you’re waiting for food to come off the grill? Appetizers are underrated - kick it up a notch with these mouth-watering and patriotic appetizers.  READ       PHILOSOPHY RUINED ART  Most ordinary people think that the art world is inaccessible and esoteric. That artists are supposed to “see things” that the rest of us cannot see or understand. But these ideas about art did not actually come from the art world. It came from the philosophy world. Carrie Gress, from Theology of Home, explains how modern philosophical ideas ruined art.  READ       WHO WAS THE GREATEST PRESIDENT?  In honor of this Independence Day weekend, we polled CatholicVote employees for their favorite Commanders-in-Chief. What do you think? Did we get it right?  READ       TRUE FREEDOM ON THE 4TH  On Independence Day, we will celebrate freedom, but many will not understand it. Scott Hahn writes here about true freedom - freedom from less obvious kinds of slavery, freedom that comes only from Christ.  READ       LEWIS’ LONG JOURNEY  C.S. Lewis is known for being a great Christian writer, one of the most beloved of the 20th century. But he was not always a Christian, and he did not have any singular moment of conversion. In fact, his conversion was full of dejection and reluctance at first. It was a long journey for Lewis to become the Lewis we know, and fortunately for us, he maps it out in detail.  READ       MERCH  The exclusive 'happy warrior' line from CatholicVote! Look great as you live out your faith in the public square.  CLICK         CATHOLIC 101  Our friends at Catholic Culture provide an overview of the month of July from a Catholic perspective – detailing the saint feast days and the Church’s prayer intentions.  READ       SAINT OF THE DAY  St. Arnulf of Metz was a statesman and bishop in Austria during the sixth and seventh centuries. He enjoyed worldly honors due to his position in the royal court, but never lost sight of his faith or morals. After serving in the king’s court and later as bishop, Arnulf finally retired to a monastery where he could live out his days in prayer.   READ       SATURDAY’S PSALM  “The Lord has remembered his mercy.” (Luke 1:54)  READ       SATURDAY'S READINGS  Saturday's Mass readings  READ       SUNDAY’S PSALM  “For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.” (Psalm 89:1)  READ       SUNDAY’S READINGS  Sunday's Mass readings  READ     ANSWER TO THE TRIVIA  During his 2015 trip to Washington, Pope Francis canonized Junipero Serra, who is known as the Father of California for starting Franciscan mission churches up and down the Pacific coast.           HAVE A TIP?  Send us your news for the Weekend LOOP.  EMAIL          ARTWORK  Angels collecting the Most Precious Blood of Christ at his crucifixion. Raphael, c. 1502.   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. 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