THURSDAY, JANUARY 18

FEDS FLAGGED TERMS LIKE ‘TRUMP,’ ‘MAGA’ IN BANK INFO Federal officials instructed banks to comb through customer data if terms like “TRUMP” or “MAGA” were used in transactions, according to documents obtained by the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. READ

NYC MAYOR IMPOSES CURFEW ON MIGRANTS New York City’s Democratic Mayor Eric Adams is imposing a curfew on several migrant shelters in the city. He made the move after complaints from the nearby communities about the newcomers’ behavior, including panhandling. READ

JPMORGAN CHASE CEO CRITICIZES DEMS FOR DISMISSING TRUMP VOTERS JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon gave former President Donald Trump credit on a number of issues and urged Democrats to "be a little more respectful" of the voters who back him. "He's kind of right about NATO. Kind of right about immigration," the CEO said. "He grew the economy quite well. Tax reform worked. He was right about some of China." READ

MORE CHILDREN LIVING WITH BOTH PARENTS Newly published data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that the proportion of American children living in two-parent families increased to 71.1% in 2023, continuing a slight upward trajectory since 2015. READ

RUBIO LAYS OUT PRO-LIFE STRATEGY FOR GOP “Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida has a plan for a Republican Party struggling to message on abortion post-Roe v. Wade,” reports Mary Margaret Olohan. Read her full report on Rubio’s pro-life strategy for the Republican Party moving into the election cycle. READ

JERUSALEM PATRIARCH ADVOCATES FOR GAZA’S CATHOLICS The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa met with Pope Francis this week in Rome, according to Vatican News, to discuss “the humanitarian situation of the Christian community in Gaza and in the Holy Land more generally,” and “the state of dialogue in the region and the prospects for peace.” READ

POWERFUL: LGBTQ MINISTRY AND THE HARD TRUTH Recent Catholic convert Nancy Charles gives a powerful testimony about a dark time when only one person – her brother Joshua Charles – would give her the saving truth. Nancy struggles with same-sex attraction, and she believes the no-nonsense five-page letter her brother sent her during her lowest point represents exactly what pro-LGBTQ “ministries” are missing. READ

FREE EBOOK Roe vs. Wade may be history, but the fight to end abortion continues! Check out EDIFY's FREE eBook covering all things pro-life. Together, we can end abortion. YOUR COPY

ADMIN FACES MOUNTING PRESSURE OVER NIGERIAN PERSECUTION A group of international religious freedom experts are calling for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to testify before a congressional hearing about the State Department’s decision to exclude Nigeria and India from a list of nations with severe violations of religious freedom. READ

FRANCIS WRITES TO KLAUS SCHWAB On the occasion of the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Pope Francis sent a letter to WEF Chairman Klaus Schwab. Echoing Schwab’s controversial slogan “Build Back Better,” Francis wrote that he hopes the meeting will be an opportunity to find “ways to build a better world.” READ

HOW TO BE SAD Upon announcements, obituaries, and ceremonial programs at a person’s death, you may notice the language of “funeral” and “mourning” omitted in favor of “celebration of life” and similar terms. Many of us try not to be sad, to be too sad, or to be sad for too long. We think the tears and the depression are signs of selfishness or a lack of faith, a lack of hope in eternal life. But this Dominican friar explains the goodness of Christian mourning. READ

CATHOLIC 101 The smell of incense and the sight of the smoke curling and diffusing into the air evoke thoughts of holiness and solemnity. Does the Church use these signs for optics or do they have a deeper purpose? Everything in Catholic liturgies symbolizes a theological truth, and nothing is superfluous or “just for show.” So what does incense symbolize? READ

SAINT OF THE DAY St. Charles of Sezze was born into a pious Italian family in 1613. He joined the Franciscan Order as a lay brother, working humbly as a gardener, porter, beggar, and cook. He was not the perfect brother, once starting a fire in the kitchen with onions. Nevertheless, he had a reputation for fearless service to plague victims. READ

DAILY PSALM “In God I trust; I shall not fear.” (Psalm 56:5) READ

DAILY READINGS Today's Mass readings READ

BEAUTY The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis – known as the “Rome of the West” – was consecrated in 1926 but took over 80 years to complete. With its lofty vaults and radiant mosaics, the sheer scale of beauty is a thing of awe. VIRTUAL TOUR