HOUSE COMMITTEE REPORT: FBI TARGETS CATHOLICS;FDA PLANS TO TEST ‘TRANS’ TREATMENT ON CHILDREN;AUDIT FINDS DISNEY CORRUPTION IN FLORIDA;BIDEN ADMIN’S LATEST CRACKDOWN ON GAS

 

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5 HOUSE COMMITTEE REPORT: FBI TARGETS CATHOLICS  The FBI interviewed a priest and a parish choir director before compiling its anti-Catholic “Richmond memo” early this year, according to a Monday report from House lawmakers. The FBI “abused its counterterrorism tools to target Catholic Americans as potential domestic terrorists,” the report stated.  READ FDA PLANS TO TEST ‘TRANS’ TREATMENT ON CHILDREN  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly interested in conducting a study of so-called “gender-affirming” drugs on minors as young as 13. A pro-“trans” nonprofit initially proposed testing the regimen on adults, but the Biden administration’s FDA “suggested the company broaden its study to include children,” POLITICO reported.  READ VATICAN: BURKE MUST PAY FOR APARTMENT OR LEAVE  The Vatican has reportedly given Cardinal Raymond Burke an ultimatum: start paying rent on his Church-issued apartment or vacate the premises. The Apostolic See sent a letter to the cardinal in late November telling him he must “begin paying market rate rents for his Vatican apartment, effective Dec. 1” or “surrender the apartment by Feb. 29, 2024.”  READ AUDIT FINDS DISNEY CORRUPTION IN FLORIDA  According to a recent audit of Walt Disney World’s special taxing district, the media and entertainment conglomerate dominated the local government of a sizeable swath of central Florida. The report characterized The Walt Disney Company’s operation as a “bait and switch” operation and “a mousetrap.”  READ BIDEN ADMIN’S LATEST CRACKDOWN ON GAS The Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled new standards to “sharply reduce methane and other harmful air pollutants from the oil and natural gas industry.” American Petroleum Institute Vice-President Frank Macchiarola said the move “could create barriers to innovation and hamper U.S. energy production, which could lead to higher energy costs.” READ MAN ARRESTED FOR TERRORISTIC THREATS AGAINST ELON MUSK  A man was arrested late last week for planning a “mass casualty event” at Tesla’s headquarters in Texas during an event where Elon Musk would be in attendance. The suspect reportedly told arresting officers: “I was going to shoot up Elon Musk and the plant.”  READ THE CASE AGAINST SURROGACY  When homosexual men on the political right announce they are “having a baby” via surrogacy, many otherwise conservative leaders often express uncritical congratulations. The surrogacy industry certainly violates Catholic teachings, but Katy Faust has written a thoroughgoing piece on how the practice of surrogacy flies in the face of even the most broadly agreed-upon ethics.  READ LOOPcast INTERVIEW  Young men are in crisis, and a new trade school in Michigan offers a radical remedy. Meet David Phelps of Harmel Academy. He and Erika discuss education, the meaning of work, and the role of community in forming strong men.  WATCH ISLAMIC STATE TAKES CREDIT FOR BOMBING AT MASS  The Islamic State reportedly claimed responsibility for a deadly bombing on Sunday during a Catholic Mass in the Philippines. The attack occurred in the southern city of Marawi during a Catholic Mass in the gymnasium of Mindanao State University, injuring at least 54 and killing four.  READ RADICALS DISRUPT MASS TO QUOTE POPE ON CLIMATE CHANGE  Radical activists with the climate group Extinction Rebellion disrupted a Mass celebrated by Turin Archbishop Roberto Repole in Italy. The protesters read passages from Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ as well as his apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum. Both of the controversial writings by Francis are about climate change.  READ WHEN GOD DOESN'T ANSWER  When we need to make a choice, what’s better than to go to God and ask for His guidance? But it can be pretty disorienting when we don’t get an answer from God. Why is He ignoring us? Here, Scarlett Rose Ford describes how a tiny book you may never have heard of gave her the answer.  READ CATHOLIC 101  Fasts, wreaths, prophets. Advent is sometimes called “a little Lent,” but there are important differences between the two.  READ SAINT OF THE DAY  St. Gerald of Mayo was an English monk who lived in the 600s. Though he was born in England, he followed St. Colman to Ireland where he founded the monastery of Mayo. Gerald served there as abbot for years, and his monastery was known far and wide as a community of exemplary poverty, chastity, obedience, and labor for the greater good.  READ DAILY PSALM  “Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.” (Psalm 72:7)  READ DAILY READINGS  Today's Mass readings  READ PREPARATION  Ask for Mary’s help to receive Jesus with an immaculate heart.  SHARE Paid for by CatholicVote Civic Action, a 501(c)(4) organization. CATHOLICVOTE  |  PO Box 3310  |  Carmel, IN 46082  |  (317) 669-6127