Monday, April 29, 2024

DEM GUV ON DRUGS AT BORDER: ‘LOOK THE OTHER WAY’;BIRTH RATES PLUMMET TO HISTORIC LOWS; PLANNED PARENTHOOD SPENDING MILLIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA;HARVARD PROTESTERS REPLACE AMERICAN FLAG WITH PALESTINE FLAG

MONDAY, APRIL 29 – FEAST OF ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA

DEM GUV ON DRUGS AT BORDER: ‘LOOK THE OTHER WAY’ According to a leaked recording, Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham appeared to slam Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over U.S. Border Patrol’s seizing of marijuana shipments at the border. “They're saying that they are worried about fentanyl so [Border Patrol is] taking all of our cannabis, and they tried to, and they're detaining people,” Lujan Grisham said. “We've never done that,” the governor added. “We just use discretion, and look the other way.” READ

BIRTH RATES PLUMMET TO HISTORIC LOWS Birth and fertility rates in the United States have reportedly plummeted to the lowest levels since they have been recorded. Per Axios: “U.S. fertility rate in 2023 amounted to about 1.62 births per woman — well below the ‘replacement rate’ of 2.1 that would allow a generation to completely replace itself.” City Journal’s Steven Malanga pointed out: “[T]he states with the highest birthrates are overwhelmingly Republican, and those with the lowest are disproportionately Democratic.” READ

CONSERVATIVES SLAM GOV. NOEM OVER KILLING PUPPY Prominent conservatives slammed Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem for killing her puppy – and writing about it in her upcoming memoir. A pro-Trump influencer with over 2 million followers wrote on X “I’m a country boy who lives on a ranch … There’s a huge difference between putting an old horse down who is suffering, than shooting a 18 month dog for being untrainable.” Trump is reportedly considering picking Noem as his running mate. READ

PLANNED PARENTHOOD SPENDING MILLIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA Planned Parenthood and its affiliated organizations are reportedly spending at least $10 million to boost this cycle’s pro-abortion candidates in the state of North Carolina. “Our goal is clear,” said Planned Parenthood Votes spokeswoman Emily Thompson. “To protect abortion access in North Carolina, we must ensure voters know abortion is on the ballot this year.” READ

NEW POLL: TRUMP ENJOYS LARGEST-EVER LEAD OVER BIDEN “Former President Donald Trump has opened his biggest lead ever captured in the CNN poll of the American electorate, enjoying a six-point advantage over incumbent Democrat President Joe Biden,” Breitbart reported. “Trump, at 49 percent, is six percent ahead of Biden’s 43 percent when the two are polled head-to-head.” When the poll listed third-party candidates, Trump’s lead grew to nine points. READ

HARVARD PROTESTERS REPLACE AMERICAN FLAG WITH PALESTINE FLAG Saturday, anti-Israel protesters at Harvard University replaced the American flag outside University Hall with the Palestinian flag. Outkick noted: “Several protesters participated in the act of flying the flag, while others cheered and chanted, ‘Down, down with occupation. Up, up with liberation.’” Harvard Yard Operations eventually removed the flag prompting the protestors to yell, “Shame!” READ

CARDINAL: FRASSATI COULD BE CANONIZED NEXT YEAR “Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, announced at Catholic Action’s national assembly … that [Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati’s] canonization is ‘on the horizon,’” National Catholic Register reported this weekend. The cardinal specified that the canonization may take place during the Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year. Frassati was an early 20th-century Catholic student activist, Dominican tertiary, and mountaineer who died at the age of 24. READ

VIRAL VIDEOS We reached 100,000 subscribers on YouTube. Are you one of them? Subscribe today to make sure you don't miss any new content. SUBSCRIBE

ARCHBISHOP CORDILEONE TO HOLD HOLY HOUR FOR HONG KONG CHRISTIANS The Archdiocese of San Francisco, California, in May is holding a Holy Hour for persecuted Chinese Christians, which will be followed by a presentation about Jimmy Lai, a Catholic human rights activist currently on trial in Hong Kong. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone will be presiding over the Holy Hour and leading a Rosary, praying especially for Cardinal Joseph Zen and Jimmy Lai, on May 8 at St. Patrick’s Seminary and University in Menlo Park, California. READ

‘JESUS THIRSTS’: UPCOMING FILM ABOUT THE EUCHARIST Spirit Filled Hearts Ministry has announced the nationwide theatrical debut of a new film centered on the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist: “Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist.” The feature documentary will be released in theaters across the US on June 4, 5, and 6 in English and Spanish. The Eucharist is “not just a symbol” the film’s director stated. “It is Jesus Himself.” READ

LOOPers SHARE THEIR KIDS’ CRAZY CATHOLIC QUESTIONS We are all called to be more childlike in how we love Christ, but what does that mean? If you’ve spent time around children, you know that often it means considering beautifully simple questions. We asked our LOOPers to share some of their own kids’ questions about Catholicism and here are some of the craziest ones we’ve received! READ

CATHOLIC 101 Throughout the long history of the Church, various saints and blesseds have described what hell is like based on visions and messages they received during their lives. Yikes… While it’s not a pleasant topic or something we want to dwell on inordinately, it might be good to understand just what we are trying to avoid. READ

SAINT OF THE DAY Today the Church celebrates St. Catherine of Siena, a lay Dominican tertiary and one of the four female Doctors of the Church. Catherine died at the young age of 33 but spent her years on earth serving God in her heart and public life. Throughout her life, she experienced both intense spiritual ecstasies and severe spiritual desolation. Through all of this, Catherine remained faithful to what God asked of her and served those around her by calling them to live in line with God’s teachings. READ

DAILY PSALM “Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.” (Psalm 115:1) READ

DAILY READINGS Today's Mass readings READ

BEAUTY “Saint Catherine of Siena” by Italian painter Francesco Vanni (ca. 1566) delicately depicts the great Doctor of the Church in two moments of prayer: quietly meditating in the foreground, while transfixed in mystical ecstasy before the crucifix in the background.