MONDAY, JANUARY 8

LEADERS ANNOUNCE CONTROVERSIAL SPENDING DEAL Leaders in Congress announced on Sunday a $1.59-trillion spending deal to avert another government shutdown in less than two weeks. Rep. Chip Roy, R-TX, of the House Freedom Caucus decried the deal. The “topline in spending is terrible & gives away the leverage accomplished in the (already not great) caps deal,” Roy stated. READ

BIDEN ADMIN TO TEAR DOWN WILLIAM PENN STATUE The Biden administration’s National Park Service intends to tear down a statue of William Penn from a historic park in Philadelphia to make the park a more "welcoming, accurate, and inclusive experience for visitors." READ

BOEING AIRPLANE LOSES PANEL, DEPRESSURIZES An Alaska Airlines flight on its way to California suffered an emergency depressurizing situation when a chunk of the plane’s body blew out. No passengers were seriously injured. The Federal Aviation Administration responded to the incident by ordering all U.S. airlines to temporarily stop using some Boeing 737 Max 9 planes. READ

CALIFORNIA TO COVER ‘SEX CHANGES’ FOR ILLEGAL MIGRANTS California is expanding its massive healthcare system this year, and according to a recent memo, the state’s insurance program will cover “sex-change” surgeries for non-citizens. READ

VATICAN DEFROCKS RUNAWAY ALABAMA PRIEST The Vatican has removed an Alabama priest from the clerical state after he fled to Italy and subsequently married a teenage girl just months after she graduated high school. "The Archdiocese of Mobile has received notice that the laicization of Alex Crow is complete, effective immediately,” stated the office of Archbishop Thomas Rodi. READ

RECORD NUMBER OF POLICE SHOT IN 2023 A record-breaking number of law enforcement officers were shot in the line of duty in 2023. “It is no wonder that our profession is facing a recruitment and retention crisis,” said Patrick Yoes of the Fraternal Order of Police. READ

HOW FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID HURTS FAMILIES “The old federal formula for higher education financial aid is dead. The new formula creates winners and losers,” writes Tim Carney for The Washington Examiner. “Specifically, the new formula harms middle-class families with more than one child in college at a time.” Read Carney’s excellent analysis here. READ

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U.S. DIOCESES TO HOLD ‘LISTENING SESSIONS’ THIS LENT The synodal process promoted by Pope Francis is coming to dioceses across the United States, each of which is being asked to hold “listening sessions” throughout Lent about the structure and organization of the Church. READ

‘CONSTANT’ KIDNAPPING OF MIGRANTS IN MEXICO Fr. Francisco Gallardo López, who heads a migrant ministry for the Diocese of Matamoros located in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, decried the fact that migrants are being kidnapped in the country’s north “on a constant basis.” READ

BEAUTIFUL NEW RELIGIOUS ART When we think of contemporary Catholic art, too often we think of cubist-style horrors from the 60s and 70s. But there have been newer waves of religious art that are both modern and beautiful. Here is a look at one artist: Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs from St. Louis. Check out her story here, as well as her portrayals of Mary "Bright as the Sun, Fair as the Moon," the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and a few of the saints. READ

CATHOLIC 101 Scripture records a number of stories about Jesus exorcizing demons during his public ministry. What’s the difference between the real deal and Hollywood’s sensationalized portrayals of exorcism? READ

SAINT OF THE DAY Made bishop of Ravenna by St. Peter himself, not much is known about the early Church martyr St. Apollinaris. Tradition holds that Peter ordained Apollinaris to his episcopacy and sent him to Ravenna. While in Ravenna, Apollinaris converted many with miracles and preaching. He is one of the first bishops, and consequently one of the first martyrs, of the Church. READ

DAILY PSALM “The Lord will bless his people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11) READ

DAILY READINGS Today's Mass readings READ

PATRIOTISM The American players sang the national anthem together after winning Gold at the World Juniors hockey tournament. ESPN refused to air this video of our athletes singing, but thankfully Canada’s top sports network shared it. WATCH