LGBT // Rep. Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 Democrat in the House is accusing Army Secretary nominee Mark Green of “homophobia” because of statements Green made against so-called transgenderism. During the debate on transgender use of bathrooms, Green said: “The notion that Mr. Obama thinks he can tell the state of Tennessee who can go into a men’s bathroom or a women’s bathroom is absurd.” http://cvote.it/2oRMOT0
SCHOOL LUNCHES // In a move sure to make school parents happy, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue signed a proclamation to begin to undo federal standards that the Obama administration placed on lunches in public schools and return those decisions to local schools. http://cvote.it/2oRQDri
HEALTH CARE // Republicans struggle to find the necessary votes to pass their bill to replace and repair Obamacare. As it stands, just 1 or 2 more “no” votes from Republican members would sink the bill. http://cvote.it/2oRVw3Q
INDECENCY // Actress Blake Lively spoke passionately about the epidemic of child pornography. “Sexual exploitation of children is something that isn’t happening rarely, it’s not happening worlds away,” she said. “It’s happening right here and right now.” http://cvote.it/2oRLzmR
2020 // In a bit of surprising news, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, said about a possible 2020 run for president: “I’m ruling it out.” http://cvote.it/2oS256y
QUOTE OF THE WEEK // “White House is in chaos. Congress not passing bills. Fox News imploding. Heritage in shatters. Are we having fun yet? When does it get good? Why does it feel like everything in imploding? GOP should be having the time of our lives. Full control. And no one is having any fun.” -conservative columnist Amanda Carpenter.
FRANCE // Polls are getting a bit closer in France. Emmanuel Macron was long thought to automatically win the runoff, but he has made several unforced errors while Marine Le Pen has made clever moves to increase her standings in the polls. http://cvote.it/2oRYMwc
CATHOLIC // Mexican beauty queen makes ‘radical’ move to religious life. http://cvote.it/2oSeS8X
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CATHOLIC // Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI warns of ‘dangerous situation’ with radical atheism and radical Islam. http://cvote.it/2oRNWX7
SAINT // Saint Athanasius – http://cvote.it/dailysaint
DAILY MASS // “Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.” (Ps 31:6) – http://cvote.it/Daily-Readings
MIRACLE // Catholics call survival ‘miraculous’ after tornado hits church. http://cvote.it/2oRSc8R