REMINDER: TODAY WE PRAY AND FAST; FEDERAL JUDGE DISMISSES SATANIC TEMPLE SUIT IN INDIANA;EUCHARISTIC MIRACLE? Reports of a Eucharistic Miracle;DRAG EVENT AT NOTRE DAME STILL SCHEDULED

 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27 REMINDER: TODAY WE PRAY AND FAST  Pope Francis asked people throughout the world to make today, October 27, a day of prayer and fasting for peace. A vigil will be held this evening at 6pm in St. Peter’s Square, where the faithful may join the pope in “an hour of prayer in a spirit of penance to implore peace in our time, peace in this world.”  READ MAINE SUSPECT STILL AT LARGE  The suspected gunman who killed 18 people in a Maine mass shooting is a former Army firearms instructor who was recently institutionalized for severe mental health issues. Forty-year-old Robert Card “recently reported mental health issues to include hearing voices and threats to shoot up the National Guard Base,” a State Police bulletin stated. Card is still at large, with law enforcement warning he should be considered armed and dangerous.  READ FEDERAL JUDGE DISMISSES SATANIC TEMPLE SUIT IN INDIANA  A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed a challenge to Indiana’s pro-life law which was filed by The Satanic Temple. “This lawsuit was ridiculous on its face, but this court decision is important because it sustains a pro-life law that is constitutionally and legally sound,” said Republican Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita.  READ ANALYSIS ON SPEAKER JOHNSON  Christopher Bedford has an insightful op-ed about what the election of Speaker Mike Johnson means for social conservatives. Bedford writes: “Christians have long formed a voting bloc essential to Republican victory, but long been forced to take a back seat to Republican power. In Washington, they are an inconvenience at best. Republicans like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell would much rather talk about inflation, block campaign finance reform, and sending more money to foreign wars.”  READ RELIGIOUS SISTER CALLS FOR PEACE IN GAZA A religious sister in Gaza called for peace and humanitarian aid as the war between Israel and Hamas continues to affect Christians and their families. Sister Nabila of the Holy Rosary said there are now over 700 Christians at a Catholic parish compound in Gaza, including 100 children, 50 people with disabilities, and many wounded who require medical treatment and supplies that the compound does not have. READ ‘CATHOLICS FOR CHOICE’ SPENDS MONEY PROMOTING ISSUE 1  “Catholics for Choice” has installed 30 billboards promoting Issue 1 to Catholics in Ohio ahead of the November 7 vote on the pro-abortion amendment. The billboards state, among other things, “Pro-Choice Catholics: You Are Not Alone. Vote YES on Issue 1.” The signs appeared in major Ohio cities such as Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton, Akron, Toledo, and Youngstown.  READ INTERVIEW: WHAT SHOULD CATHOLICS EXPECT FROM JOHNSON?  What does Mike Johnson’s election as speaker mean for American Catholics? “Speaker Johnson shows that no longer will social conservatives be sent to the back of the bus. We will be a part of the conversation,” says CatholicVote President Brian Burch. “It starts with having a seat at the table again, which unfortunately has not been the case for years, if not decades.”  READ COVID AND THE KIDS  Part 3 is here! Read the Catholic Accountability Project's latest installment in its in-depth COVID-19 lookback. Catholic schools came out on top in both enrollment and national test scores after the lockdowns – but still struggled with issues like masking kids.  READ EUCHARISTIC MIRACLE?  Reports of a Eucharistic miracle at the sixth Marian Conference in California spread after an attendee shared an image on social media that appears to clearly show Our Lady on a consecrated Host. Fewer than 10 people witnessed the reported miracle, which occurred at overnight adoration. The theme of the conference was “With Mary, We Transform the World Through the Eucharist.”  READ DRAG EVENT AT NOTRE DAME STILL SCHEDULED  Several University of Notre Dame departments are slated to host a drag queen event on November 3 as part of a credited course. Faithful Catholic students have voiced objections to Vice President of Student Affairs Fr. ​​Gerry Olinger and others. The students argue that the event will “defile femininity” and “promote the disordered ideology that gender and sexuality are fluid — in direct contradiction to the Catholic Church’s teaching.”  READ 17 WAYS TO SHINE A LIGHT  A heavy news cycle can leave us feeling overwhelmed by the darkness in the world. One good thing to remember is that the world has always been dark. This is nothing new. But when evil rears its head, it’s an opportunity… to shine a light. Here are 17 small, practical ways you can do that.  READ SYNOD COVERAGE POPE BLASTS ‘CLERICALISM’ IN SYNOD SPEECH  Pope Francis excoriated what he called “institutional clericalism” during an off-the-cuff address at the synod on Wednesday. The “faithful holy people of God” endure “contempt” and “mistreatment” and “marginalization” due to this clericalism, Francis said. To find a “sad and scandalous” example, he said, “it is enough to go to ecclesiastical tailor shops in Rome to see the scandal of young priests trying on cassocks and hats or albs and laced rochets.”  READ INHERENT PROBLEMS WITH SYNODAL METHODS  George Weigel explains why the synod’s forthcoming synthesis document will likely be “a mélange of what-was-felt and what-was-said, not a reflection of any consensus reached after deep reflection and crisp debate among people with the competence to make serious judgments about the teaching and practice of the Church.”  READ CATHOLIC 101  Do Protestants really believe that all Jews must return to Israel in order to jump-start the Rapture? It's a little more complicated than that. But this article by Carl Olson can help you to understand how many Evangelicals view the State of Israel – in light of salvation history – and why Catholics think differently about it.  READ SAINT OF THE DAY  St. Frumentius was born in Lebanon and lost much of his family in a shipwreck while he was young. He then became a member of the court of the king of Ethiopia, and when the king died Frumentius became one of the queen’s vassals. Through this relationship he was able to bring missionaries to Ethiopia and convert much of the population, eventually becoming a bishop there.  READ DAILY PSALM  “Lord, teach me your statutes.” (Psalm 119:68)  READ DAILY READINGS  Today's Mass readings  READ WITNESS  Sister John Marie grew up in a Lutheran home and always felt a call to live closely united with God. Learning from a young age that Lutherans don't have nuns, she decided to become a Lutheran minister and went to college to make that dream come true. It wasn't long before she realized that wasn't her call. God showed her through many twists and turns where he wanted her to be. Now, she has found true joy and peace in being a Poor Clare Sister in a cloistered convent in St. Cloud, MN.  WATCH 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