THURSDAY, JUNE 19

KELSEY REINHARDT NAMED PRESIDENT OF CATHOLICVOTE CatholicVote this morning announced the appointment of Kelsey Reinhardt as its new president. She succeeds former CatholicVote president and co-founder Brian Burch, who has been nominated to serve as President Donald Trump's Vatican ambassador. Here's everything you need to know about Kelsey!  READ

SUPREME COURT PAVES WAY FOR STATES TO PROTECT KIDS FROM 'TRANS'  The Supreme Court yesterday delivered a landmark 6-3 decision upholding Tennessee’s law protecting children from being subjected to "transgender" medical procedures, marking a major victory for child advocate groups and opening the door for other states to enact similar protections.  READ

TRUMP 'MAY' ORDER MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN ISRAEL-IRAN WAR  Trump on Wednesday said he “may” or “may not” pursue US military involvement in the Israel-Iran war as airstrikes between the two nations continued. Early Thursday, Iranian missiles struck the largest hospital in southern Israel, causing extensive damage. The strike came after Israel struck Iran’s heavy water reactor in Arak. READ

UK PARLIAMENT OKAYS INFANTICIDE IN WIDE-MARGIN VOTE  The United Kingdom Parliament voted 379-137 this week to decriminalize abortion up to birth and even during birth, prompting a widespread outcry from pro-life advocates and religious leaders.  READ

GALLUP POLL FINDS PUBLIC BELIEVES RELIGION IS GAINING INFLUENCE  A Gallup poll found that in May, 34% of Americans believed religion's influence on society is growing. The number marks a 14% jump from a year earlier, when only 20% of Americans said the same. READ

ABORTION FACILITIES SHUTTING DOWN ACROSS AMERICA  The Associated Press reported this week that dozens of abortion facilities are shutting down across the nation — and not just in states with pro-life laws, but also in places where abortion remains fully legal.  READ  

POPE LEO PLEADS FOR PEACE AMID ESCALATING CONFLICT  “The Church is brokenhearted at the cry of pain rising from places devastated by war, especially Ukraine, Iran, Israel and Gaza,” Pope Leo said this week. “We must never get used to war! Indeed, the temptation to have recourse to powerful and sophisticated weapons needs to be rejected.”  READ

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FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF POPE LEO'S CHICAGO EVENT  LOOPCast host Tom Pogasic was among the thousands of people who attended last weekend as Pope Leo addressed Chicagoans and White Sox fans in a video message. “Everyone was super excited to be there,” said Pogasic. He interviewed several young people on the scene. Here are the details.  READ

POPE LEO RENEWS LONGSTANDING PAPAL SUMMER CUSTOM  Pope Leo is bringing back a longstanding papal custom (eschewed by the late Pope Francis) of spending part of his summer at the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, the hilltop town southeast of Rome that served for centuries as the summer home of the popes. READ

VACATION: PRACTICE FOR LIFE  Being too serious about lighter things can ruin them. But a certain intentionality is always in order for things that matter. Vacation falls into this category, explains John Cuddeback at LifeCraft. Rest and relaxation are a necessary part of daily life, so the “big relaxation” of vacation (at least in theory, right?) can help us practice for daily rest. Here’s how that works.  READ

CATHOLIC 101  "Must Artificial Intelligence open the door to 'that hideous strength' described by C.S. Lewis?" asks Father Dwight Longenecker. In Lewis' story, the National Institute of Co-ordinated Experiments (NICE) seeks world domination through science and technology, including transhumanist technology. Eighty years later, are we on the brink of such realities?  READ

SAINT OF THE DAY  Today, the Church commemorates the life of Saint Romuald, who founded the Camaldolese order, blending hermit life with community. His ascetic reforms shaped Western monasticism. READ

DAILY PSALM  "Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth." (Psalm 111:7)  READ

DAILY READINGS  Today's Mass readings.  READ

WITNESS  Sergei Bobrovsky, the Russian goaltender for the Florida Panthers, gave glory to God after winning the Stanley Cup. "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit ... I want to thank Him for everything I have!"  WATCH & SHARE