July 2024
HEROES
50,000 Catholics who went to Indy
This July, 50,000 Catholics attended the National Eucharistic Congress in Indiana. Traveling from across the country on a 6,000-mile trek, processing with the Eucharist through the streets, and signing hymns to the Eucharistic Lord, Catholic Americans came together to pray and worship Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
Not only that, but the conference was fully attended, despite the ongoing Republican National Convention (RNC). “Rather than politicizing the Eucharist, the congress’ overlap with partisan events like the Republican National Convention represented a powerful opportunity to reaffirm the preeminence of eternal things over temporal politics,” National Catholic Register Senior Editor Jonathan Liedl stated.
Religion trumps politics, and “Catholic” comes before “Vote!” Through their attendance and devotion, Catholic Americans proved that it is truly the Eucharist that is the source and summit of our lives!
Senator J.D. Vance, R-OH, nominee for Vice President
Another historic moment in July 2024 came during the Republican National Convention, when Donald Trump named Catholic Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate. A father, veteran, and convert to the Catholic faith, Vance is running on a platform of traditional American values: freedom, family, and faith.
In his convention speech, Vance told anecdotes about his childhood, promoted affordable housing, and made it clear that he puts family first, thinking always about what kind of country we will leave to our children.
“Now I pledge to every American, no matter your party, I will give you everything I have,” he said. “To serve you and to make this country a place where every dream you have for yourself, your family and your country will be possible once again.”
Vance’s commitment to family and the future of our nation is what makes him one of our heroes for this month! May we see much more of him in this section in the years to come!
Bishops Standing Up to Olympics Blasphemy
The opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games shocked Christians around the world. Drag queens performed and posed in a scandalous representation of the Last Supper. Catholic bishops didn’t shy away from condemning the mockery of Christ.
Three American bishops were standouts.
Bishop Andrew Cozzens issued a statement calling U.S. Catholics to make reparations.
“Jesus experienced his Passion anew Friday night in Paris when his Last Supper was publicly defamed,” Cozzens wrote:
As his living body, we are invited to enter into this moment of passion with him, this moment of public shame, mockery, and persecution. We do this through prayer and fasting. And our greatest prayer—in season and out of season—is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Bishop Robert Barron also made an incredible statement, saying Catholics should reject the “half-apology” issued by the Olympic Committee. And Bishop James D. Conley of Lincoln issued a moving letter expressing deep hurt and sorrow.
Good shepherds of their flocks and heroes for us all!
ZEROES
John James, Bellarmine College
July 2024 really was one for the history books. People will forever remember where they were when Donald Trump was nearly assassinated.
Some, however, including John James, wished that the shooter hadn’t missed.
A Catholic English professor at Bellarmine College, John James posted: “If you’re gonna shoot, man, don’t miss.”
As a Catholic professor at a Catholic school, James failed to represent the dignity of human life to his students. Regardless of political beliefs, wishing death on another person is the antithesis of Catholic teaching. James was promptly removed from his position, but not before he became one of CatholicVote’s zeroes for the month.
New Ways Ministry
Many Catholics were deeply hurt after the scandalous opening ceremony of the Olympics, in which the Catholic faith was openly mocked and adult genitalia put on display. New Ways Ministry (NWM), however, seemed less concerned about the blatant mockery of their religion, and more concerned about bishops’ calls for reparation.
“I am not concerned about the #Olympics performance, but I am greatly concerned with how bishops have reacted—and what it means for LGBTQ+ Catholics,” NWM wrote on social media.
This is not the first time NWM has come under scrutiny. In fact, CatholicVote’s Catholic Accountability Project has an exposé about the ministry’s outright rejection of Church doctrine. In the wake of such mockery, NWM’s comments seem more like salt in the wound than salt of the earth.
Katie Collins Scott at National Catholic Reporter
Now this is just poor journalism. Many people have heard the rumors about the supposed graves of children found near a Catholic school in Canada. Three years, $7.9 million, and at least 85 destroyed churches later, no human remains were ever discovered. Catholic churches were pillaged and burned because of poor journalism – now the anti-Catholic trend continues with Katie Collins Scott of the National Catholic Reporter.
In July, Collins Scott wrote an article citing the deaths of 113 children – a story that has already been investigated and disproved. Not only was her piece an example of irresponsible journalism, it was also a case of a Catholic feeding into the modern anti-Catholic libel which is already dangerously prevalent. So many have been wounded by this lie, and Collins Scott is a zero in our book for perpetuating it.
