DC ATTORNEY GENERAL TARGETS LEONARD LEO The Democratic Attorney General of Washington D.C. is targeting Leonard Leo, a Catholic lawyer who was instrumental in setting the stage for the overthrow of Roe v. Wade.

 

TUESDAY, AUGUST 29 - MEMORIAL OF THE PASSION OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST DC ATTORNEY GENERAL TARGETS LEONARD LEO  The Democratic Attorney General of Washington D.C. is targeting Leonard Leo, a Catholic lawyer who was instrumental in setting the stage for the overthrow of Roe v. Wade. Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced last week that he is investigating Leo and a few of the many conservative non-profit organizations he has worked with for alleged financial improprieties.  READ OPPONENTS TRY TO REMOVE TRUMP FROM 2024 BALLOT Lawyer Bryant “Corky” Messner, once a Trump-backed Republican Senate candidate, is trying to disqualify the former president from appearing on the 2024 GOP primary ballot in New Hampshire. Messner argues that Trump should be barred from seeking office because he “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the” United States. Similar efforts are underway in other states as well. READ DeSANTIS, JACKSONVILLE SHERIFF DENOUNCE RACIST SHOOTER  A racially motivated shooting in Jacksonville, FL left three dead and dozens more injured. The massacre occurred outside of a Dollar General store Saturday afternoon in a predominately black neighborhood of the city. The Daily Wire reported that the assailant, “a white male in his early 20s, left behind manifestos that made it clear that he was specifically targeting black people.” The perpetrator committed suicide following the murders.  READ CHICAGO SUES CAR MANUFACTURERS OVER CAR THEFTS  The City of Chicago is suing car manufacturers over a sharp rise in car thefts. “The failure of Kia and Hyundai to install basic auto-theft prevention technology in these models is sheer negligence,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, “and as a result, a citywide and nationwide crime spree around automobile theft has been unfolding right before our eyes.”  READ POPE WRITING SECOND PART OF CLIMATE ENCYCLICAL  Pope Francis is writing a second part to his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si, adding new climate-related concerns to the original document. Francis has written that Christians must “put an end to the senseless war against creation,” adding: “The unrestrained burning of fossil fuels and the destruction of forests are pushing temperatures higher and leading to massive droughts. Alarming water shortages increasingly affect both small rural communities and large metropolises.”  READ HUGE COALITION OF SCIENTISTS DENY ‘CLIMATE EMERGENCY’  A coalition of more than 1,600 scientists released a declaration this week entitled “There is No Climate Emergency,” denouncing politically-driven narratives about “imminent” climate crises. “Scientists should openly address uncertainties and exaggerations in their predictions of global warming,” the statement reads, “while politicians should dispassionately count the real costs as well as the imagined benefits of their policy measures.”  READ LOCAL WOMEN SPEAK UP AGAINST OHIO YMCAs  “Small-town YMCAs in suburban Ohio have launched themselves headfirst into the transgender debate by allowing men who ‘identify’ as women to access women’s locker rooms,” reports Mary Margaret Olohan. “And women who have belonged to these supposedly family-friendly YMCAs for years are discovering, to their shock, that management considers their safety and privacy inferior to the feelings of men.”  READ INTERVIEW  John Edwards thought his life was over after his drug addiction brought him to rock bottom. However, he discovered that his story was all too common with men struggling in his church community. By sharing his story with others, he started building a group of men that transformed his local church, and he is just getting started.  WATCH POPE CRITICIZES ‘REACTIONARY’ AMERICAN CATHOLICS  In a recent discussion with Jesuits in Portugal, Pope Francis talked about “LGBTQ” issues and criticized American Catholics. "You have seen that in the United States the situation is not easy; there is a very strong reactionary attitude,” he said in part. “[Ideology] replaces faith, and membership in a sector of the Church replaces membership in the Church."  READ A ‘REFLECTION’ ON THE MEANING OF PRIESTHOOD  A priest was vesting for Mass when he noticed his reflection in a framed image of Jesus. The reflection lined up with the image of Christ, and the priest found the coincidence useful in his preparation for Mass. He snapped a photo of the striking moment. Read here for a worthwhile “reflection” on the incident, and to see the photo for yourself!  READ THE ULTIMATE AUDIOBOOK  Did you know there's an ultimate Catholic audiobook? St. Augustine of Hippo introduces us to this perpetually streaming opportunity for listening, no earbuds required. All it takes is an open heart and a step outdoors.  READ CATHOLIC 101  Catholic pilgrims can often travel to the graves or martyrdom sites of their favorite saints. But where is the final resting place of Mary, the Queen of Saints? Spoiler alert: she has no tomb because her body is in heaven. Find out what this great dogma tells us about Mary and, more importantly, about God himself.  READ SAINT OF THE DAY  Today, the Church celebrates the memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist. Herod was initially hesitant to listen to his niece’s wish to have John beheaded because he feared what John’s followers might do. But Herod gave in and ordered John’s death. As a result, we now remember John not only for his holy life pointing to the Messiah but also for his defense of the sanctity of marriage.  READ DAILY PSALM  “You have searched me and you know me, Lord.” (Psalm 139:1)  READ DAILY READINGS  Today's Mass readings  READ EDIFY PODCAST  Brian Echevarria explains how CRT twists history, why he and his wife decided to homeschool their kids, and why he ran for office. Listen now!  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