LOOP: Covington family sues newspaper for $250 million

COVINGTON LAWSUIT The family of the Covington Catholic teen has sued the Washington Post for $250 million, claiming that the newspaper “ignored basic journalist standards.” The lawsuit is the first in a series of planned lawsuits, said attorneys Lin Wood and Todd McMurtry. https://cvote.it/2Xd5n1F

SUPREME COURT AND ABORTION The Supreme Court rejected a suit from an abortion clinic which wanted internal financial documents from the Catholic Church. The Catholic bishops of Texas had offered to front the costs associated with providing funeral services for aborted children after a now-defunct Texas law required abortion clinics to bur or cremate remains. The abortion clinic in Texas sued the bishops to make them prove that they are capable of paying for the funeral services. https://cvote.it/2XdSSmG

JUDGE ATTACKED FOR HIS FAITH A state supreme court candidate is being attacked for his role in co-founding a Christian school. “I expected to be attacked here because that’s what’s happening all across the country-you know, ‘Are you now or have you ever been associated with the Knights of Columbus?'” said Judge Brian Hagedorn, chuckling. “Interrogating people [nominated for office] if they went to a Bible study or the Knights of Columbus, that’s where we are as a country.” https://cvote.it/2XbSWDf

BERNIE 2020 Sen. Bernie Sanders announced he’s running for president, and he raised more than $4 million in the first 12 hours of his campaign. https://cvote.it/2XlIeKC

GINSBURG RETURNS Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg returned to the Supreme Court yesterday to hear arguments for the first time since her treatment for lung cancer in December 2018. “Though she is usually a subdued presence-and sometimes almost inaudible-Ginsburg advanced her question Tuesday with strength and clarity. All told, Ginsburg’s demeanor strongly suggested that she is aware of untoward speculation as to her health in recent weeks,” reports Kevin Daley. https://cvote.it/2X8TdXL

BANNON IN ROME Former White House adviser Steve Bannon will be in Rome during the three-day summit on clergy sex abuse. And the reporters over at The Daily Beast don’t seem to happy about that. https://cvote.it/2Xb4oz4

SUMMIT PREVIEW What can the Vatican sex abuse summit deliver? Canon lawyer Ed Condon previews the three-day event, which starts tomorrow. https://cvote.it/2Xbt2iZ

DEATH PENALTY The U.S. Bishop ask the Supreme Court to hear case on the potential effects of racism in death sentencing. https://cvote.it/2XfyL7g

PENALTY LIFTED Pope Francis has lifted the canonical penalties imposed 34 years ago on Fr. Ernesto Cardenal, 94. When Pope John Paul II visited Nicaragua in 1983, he shook his finger at Cardenal for his involvement in the Marxist-influenced Sandinista government in Nicaragua. In 1997, Cardenal was readmitted to the Jesuits, four years after renouncing his membership in the Sandinistas. https://cvote.it/2XelHPx

SAINT OF THE DAY Two young children who died early in life, Jacinta and Francisco Marto, gained the attention of the Church and world when Mary appeared to them at Fatima. Without being martyred, they became witnesses and messengers of God’s goodness. https://cvote.it/2XcLaZV

DAILY READINGS “To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.” (Ps 116:17) https://cvote.it/2X8verw