KIRBY: ABORTION IS A 'SACRED OBLIGATION' National Security Council spokesman John Kirby called promoting abortion a “sacred obligation” of the government in a recent White House press conference.

 

THURSDAY, JULY 20   KIRBY: ABORTION IS A 'SACRED OBLIGATION'  National Security Council spokesman John Kirby called promoting abortion a “sacred obligation” of the government in a recent White House press conference. Kirby said he had met with female military service members and spouses and claimed the majority communicated to him that pro-life laws “are absolutely having an effect on their willingness to continue serving." He added: “That means we lose talent, important talent."  READ       DOD OFFERS PERKS FOR ‘TRANS’ MILITARY MEMBERS  A recently-released Department of Defense (DOD) memo lists perks for “trans” service members granted by the Biden administration, including taxpayer-funded “gender affirmation care.” Such service members receive services such as speech and hormone therapy, laser hair removal, vocal surgery, plastic surgery, mastectomies, genital surgeries, and psychological counseling.  READ       HHS OFFICIAL: KIDS GO THROUGH ‘WRONG PUBERTY’  In an interview with ABC News, Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine, a man who calls himself a woman, argued that subjecting minors to so-called "gender-affirming care" is necessary for suicide prevention. When asked how he would respond to those who argue “transgender medicine” should at least be disallowed until a patient is 18, Levine said: “What if you’re going through the wrong puberty? What if you inside feel that you are female, but now you’re going through a male puberty?”  READ       BILL ATTEMPTS TO ERASE ‘GENDERED’ WORDS FROM FEDERAL LAW  Democrats in the House are attempting to pass legislation that would erase all “gendered” terms from federal law, replacing words like “wife” with “gender-neutral” language. Rep. Julie Brownley, D-CA, has headed efforts to pass the bill, entitled the Amend the Code for Marriage Equality Act. The bill would “replace references to ‘wives’ and ‘husbands’ in Federal law with references to ‘spouses,’” she said.  READ       REPORTERS SOUND ALARM OVER NEW WHITE HOUSE PRESS RULES The White House Press Office will implement new rules on July 31 “that limit the number of journalists who are eligible for a White House hard pass and give Biden’s press team greater power to expel journalists it doesn’t like,” The Daily Signal reports. The new rules require reporters to act in a “professional manner,” “respecting their colleagues, White House employees, and guests,” and “not impeding events or briefings.”  READ       U OF MINNESOTA DROPS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION  The University of Minnesota has dropped affirmative action in accordance with the Supreme Court’s recent decision on the topic. Information on applicants’ races “will not be provided to application reviewers and will not be considered at any point during the University of Minnesota admissions decision process,” the university stated.  READ       ANALYSIS: PARENTS OF ‘TRANS’ KIDS PERPETUATE MOVEMENT  Best-selling author and human rights activist Helen Joyce is speaking out about parents who facilitate their children’s irreversibly damaging medical “transitions.” “You can’t talk truth in front of that person,” Joyce said. “And you know you can’t because what you're saying is: ‘You as a parent have done a truly, like, a human-rights-abuse level of awful thing to your own child that can not be fixed.”  READ       LOOPCAST  Tucker Carlson is asking the REAL questions with the Republican candidates; learn how they responded, and which big name didn’t even show up! Bishop Barron goes to bat for Catholics, and who is really responsible for politicizing the military? All this and a special guest on the latest LOOPcast!  LISTEN         CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY PAYS FOR ABORTIONS  The University of San Diego, a Catholic school, covers abortions in their student health plan, citing that federal and state mandates require the school to cover abortions. However, USD will not clarify which mandates they are referring to. San Diego’s Bishop, Cardinal Robert McElroy, declined to comment on the university’s healthcare policies. USD falls within his jurisdiction.  READ       YOUNG FRIAR GIVES HIMSELF TO GOD  A 21-year-old Carmelite friar in Spain died on July 15, the eve of the feast day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Friar Pablo María de la Cruz Alonso Hidalgo was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, when he was 16 years old, but he still felt the call to religious life. Read his inspiring story here.  READ       DISTRACTING THOUGHTS  Ever found yourself trying to work, but your mind is all over the place? Maybe you’re battling with the upcoming presentation or dwelling on a misstep in a recent meeting, and these thoughts are just eating away at your productivity. Or perhaps you’re lying in bed, eyes wide open, desperately wanting to sleep, but the hectic thoughts just won’t let you? Read here to learn how to be less distracted!  READ       CATHOLIC 101  We are all encouraged by the Lord to practice the Corporal Works of Mercy. Done with the most noble of intentions, these acts please the Heart of Jesus immensely. However, it is equally important to practice the Spiritual Works of Mercy. What are these and how do we practice them?  READ       SAINT OF THE DAY  St. Margaret of Antioch was sought by the king for her beauty, but when she refused his marriage proposal, he imprisoned her. While in prison she came face-to-face with the devil in the form of a dragon. He attempted to swallow her but the crucifix she was holding irritated his throat and he spat her up. The next day the king attempted to execute her by burning and drowning but she survived both. Finally she died a martyr by being beheaded.  READ       DAILY PSALM  “The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.” (Psalm 105:8)  READ       DAILY READINGS  Today's Mass readings.  READ     BEAUTY  The back altar area of St. Mary Parish in Menasha, WI, has been renovated to bring back some of the building's original 1884 look. This photo was taken by a faithful LOOP reader named Amanda Lauer for The Compass newspaper. She writes: “My husband and I were married there almost 42 years ago and were astonished at the transformation we saw when we went there earlier this year… It’s unbelievable!”  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. 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