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| MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 |
| KAVANAUGH REJECTS 2ND ACCUSER A second woman, Deborah Ramirez, has accused Brett Kavanaugh of inappropriate sexual behavior, this time in college. (Click the story to read the details of the alleged incident.) Brett Kavanaugh said: “The people who knew me then know that this did not happen, and have said so. This is a smear, plain and simple. I look forward to testifying on Thursday about the truth, and defending my good name.” White House spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said: “This 35-year-old, uncorroborated claim is the latest in a coordinated smear campaign by the Democrats designed to tear down a good man.” READ |
| ABOUT THAT LATEST ACCUSATION There are ten quotes from the New Yorker’s own story that would seem to discredit the accusations made by the second accuser. READ |
| TRUMP STRONGLY BACKING KAVANAUGH President Trump is calm and defiant in his defense of Judge Kavanaugh, according to New York Times White House Correspondent Maggie Haberman. White House spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said: “This 35-year-old, uncorroborated claim is the latest in a coordinated smear campaign by the Democrats designed to tear down a good man.” READ |
| WITNESS NEVER KNEW KAVANAUGH In her letter, Dr. Christine Ford (first accuser) named a female classmate that she said was at the party. But the woman, Leland Keyser, denied any recollection of a party with Brett Kavanaugh. “Simply put, Ms. Keyser does not know Mr. Kavanaugh and she has no recollection of ever being at a party or gathering where he was present, with, or without, Dr. Ford,” her lawyer Howard J. Walsh said in a statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee. READ |
| INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN CONSERVATIVE? CNN’s Jake Tapper asked: “Doesn’t Kavanaugh have the same presumption of innocence as anyone else in America?” Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-HI, responded: “I put his denial in the context of everything that I know about him in terms of how he approaches his cases. His credibility is already very questionable in my mind. … When I say that he’s very outcome-driven, he has an ideological agenda, and I can sit here and talk to you about some of the cases that exemplify his, in my view, inability to be fair.” Sen. Hirono added: “He very much is against women’s reproductive choice.” READ |
| VATICAN-CHINA DEAL The Holy See signed an agreement recognizing eight bishops selected by the Communist government of China. The agreement was not applauded by all. Cardinal Joseph Zen, bishop emeritus of Hong Kong said the consequences of the agreement would be “tragic and long lasting, not only for the Church in China but for the whole Church because it damages the credibility.” READ |
| +DOLAN GETTING ‘IMPATIENT’ Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York says he’s getting “impatient” waiting for an apostolic visitation in response to McCarrick scandal. “Part of my people saying ‘we’re beginning to lose trust in bishops’ is their legitimate question as to how could a man continue to rise in the Church with a background like that?’ And that’s a darn good question, that I share. We have got to get to the bottom of that,” said Cardinal Dolan. READ |
| CONCERNS ABOUT YOUTH SYNOD Archbishop Charles Chaput says that many people have written to him about their serious concerns with the theology of a working document for the upcoming synod on the youth. “Nearly all praise the synod’s intent. And nearly all raise concerns of one sort or another about the synod’s timing and possible content.” READ |
| DEALING WITH REJECTION There is a deep pain resulting from rejection that even death does not seem to rival. Dr. Jim Schroeder says: “While the adjustment from the death of the spouse can be brutal, it seems only superseded by a choice made by one individual to reject another through divorce.” READ |
| SAINT QUOTE “Confession is the soul’s bath. Even a clean and unoccupied room gathers dust; return after a week and you will see that it needs dusting again!” – St. Padre Pio |
| SAINT OF THE DAY Blessed John Henry Newman, the 19th-century’s most important English-speaking Roman Catholic theologian, spent the first half of his life as an Anglican and the second half as a Roman Catholic. He was a priest, popular preacher, writer, and eminent theologian in both Churches. READ |
| DAILY READINGS “The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.” (Ps 15:2) READ |
| FIGHT FOR GOODNESS “When it dawns upon us the extent to which evil has seemingly prevailed in the world and, yes, even in the Church, it can be tremendously disheartening. Nevertheless, I would argue that, despite appearances, there is more good in the Church and in the world than evil. Evil simply gets more attention,” writes Sam Guzman. READ |