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| WEDNESDAY, JULY 25 – 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HUMANAE VITAE |
| DEMOCRATS WON’T MEET KAVANAUGH Only two Senate Democrats (Joe Manchin, WV, and Joe Donnelly, IN) have scheduled a meeting with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Other Senate Democrats have said they won’t meet with Kavanaugh unless all of the documents are released from his time working for President George W. Bush. READ |
| TAX CUT 2.0 House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady outlined his plan for phase two of tax cuts that House Republicans hope to vote on right before the midterm elections. The plan would make the individual tax cuts from last year’s bill permanent (including the doubling of the child tax credit). Other items include creating universal savings accounts, expanding 529 accounts for home-school expenses and student debt, and allowing businesses to write off more start-up costs. READ |
| McCARRICK SCANDAL In his retirement, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick is reported to have lived alongside a Maryland house of formation for members of a religious order whose founder also faced charges of sexual misconduct. Cardinal McCarrick has been accused of sexual abuse of minors as well as seminarians. READ |
| McCARRICK SCANDAL Philip Lawler writes: “The failure of Church leaders to take action against McCarrick when they first heard of his offenses, perhaps twenty years ago, is evidence of the need for reform within the hierarchy. The fact that many prelates took action for McCarrick—making him their spokesman, enlisting his help, following his lead—speaks to the urgency of the crisis.” READ |
| EMINENT DOMAIN REFORM The House unanimously passed legislation which cut economic development funding from any state or locality which uses eminent domain solely for “economic development.” The legislation comes 13 years after the Supreme Court, in the Kelo v. City of New London case, upheld the use of eminent domain not just for public use (like roads and bridges) but also for private economic development. READ |
| THE 9TH CIRCUIT? A three-judge panel on the 9th Circuit Court ruled that the Second Amendment guarantees a right to openly carry a gun in public for self-defense. The ruling is a bit of a surprise as the 9th Circuit is the most liberal of the circuit courts, but it should be noted that this ruling was made by a panel of three judges and not the entire 9th Circuit. READ |
| CHARGES DROPPED The National Abortion Federation has dropped seven of eleven claims against Daleiden and his organization, the Center for Medical Progress. Lawyers for the pro-life journalist Daleiden continue to fight the remaining charges. READ |
| GOSNELL MOVIE ‘Superman’ actor Dean Cain portrays the Philadelphia investigator who brought serial killer Dr. Kermit Gosnell, an abortionist, to justice. The movie was backed by $2 million in crowdfunding. READ |
| HUMANAE VITAE AT 50 “Much of what we see around us in the culture today, 50 years later, is actually the result of not following God’s plan for sexuality and marriage. This is the direct result of the breaking down of the sacredness of sexuality,” said Bishop Andrew Cozzens, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis. READ |
| READ THE DOCUMENT Have you ever read Humanae Vitae? You can read it for free online. READ |
| SAINT OF THE DAY Saint James the Apostle, brother of Saint John and one of the three who spent time with the Lord on significant occasions, was a fisherman called by Jesus to follow him. Most likely, he was the first to be martyred, and witness to the faith with his blood. He and Saint John were nicknamed “Sons of Thunder” by Jesus. READ |
| DAILY READINGS “Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.” (Ps 126:5) READ |
| THE LAST 50 YEARS After Paul VI released Humanae Vitae 50 years ago, Catholics split into warring tribes. Some called 1968 the year “the church fell apart.” Others called it the “Vietnam War of the Catholic Church.” READ |