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| MONDAY, OCTOBER 8 – COLUMBUS DAY OBSERVED |
| JUSTICE KAVANAUGH SWORN IN After the Senate confirmed him 50-48, Brett Kavanaugh was sworn in as the 114th Supreme Court justice. He starts at the Supreme Court tomorrow and his first cases will include immigration, firearms, and asbestos exposure. Kavanaugh will not vote in a few cases which were heard last week before his confirmation. READ |
| EMOTIONAL TERRORISM Sen. Cory Gardner’s wife received a graphic text of beheading after her Republican husband voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. In addition, someone publicly posted the names and addresses of his family members. READ |
| McCONNELL NEVER WAVERED In the run-up to the confirmation vote, President Trump asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell if he had the guts to get Kavanaugh through. McConnell’s answer was a definite, if also a little crass. READ |
| UNEMPLOYMENT The economy added 134,000 jobs in September and unemployment fell to 3.7% — the lowest rate since 1969. “The acceleration in job gains this year is extraordinary in an environment where firms are having great difficulty finding qualified candidates,” said Stephen Stanley, chief economist at Amherst Pierpont Securities. READ |
| MANUFACTURING CONFIDENCE Despite a workforce shortage, manufacturing confidence is at an all-time high. Nearly 93% of manufacturers are projecting further expansion for their business. READ |
| CNN NOTES TRUMP’S ‘WINNING STREAK’ CNN’s Stephen Collinson says President Trump might be an unconventional commander in chief but he just got his second Supreme Court justice confirmed, and unemployment is down to 3.7%. “While his 2016 election campaign was most notable for swirling chaos and shattered norms, Trump’s vows to nominate conservative judges to the Supreme Court and to fire up the economy were the glue for his winning coalition… So he has every right to return to voters in the next four weeks ahead of the midterm elections to argue he has done exactly what he said he would do,” said Collinson. READ |
| SENATE 2018 The Supreme Court confirmation battle has helped Republican Senate candidates in Texas and Tennessee. Republican Marsha Blackburn has opened up a 50-42% lead in Tennessee over Democrat Phil Bredersen in a CBS News poll. Over in Texas, Ted Cruz leads Beto O’Rourke 50-44%. If Democrats cannot win in Texas or Tennessee, their path to a majority becomes very slim — especially with incumbent Democrat Senator Heidi Heitkamp trailing by double digits in North Dakota. READ |
| POPE ORDERS REVIEW Pope Francis orders a review of Vatican files regarding Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, but not an apostolic visitation as was requested by the U.S. bishops. READ |
| CARDINAL OUELLET SLAMS VIGANO Cardinal Marc Ouellet wrote an open letter to Archbishop Vigano claiming that he was in “open and scandalous rebellion” against Pope Francis. Cardinal Ouellet’s letter comes just over a week after a second letter by Archbishop Vigano asserting widespread corruption in the Vatican. READ |
| BISHOP PENS “CALL TO BATTLE” FOR MEN Phoenix Bishop Thomas Olmsted has written “a bold wake-up call to Catholic men” that features catechesis, prayers, papal teachings, and writing about the saints. READ |
| SAINT QUOTE “Be kind to all and severe to thyself.” –St. Teresa of Avila |
| SAINT OF THE DAY Saint John Leonardi was a priest and founder of the Clerks Regular of the Mother of God. He also formed the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. Father Leonardi and his priests became a great power for good in 16th century Italy. READ |
| DAILY READINGS “The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.” (Ps 111:5) READ |
| COLUMBUS DAY Celebrating Columbus Day has become controversial in some places recently. What should Catholics think? Stephen Beale tackles that topic head on. READ |