at
| EDITOR’S NOTEWe wanted to clarify and correct the way we described Justice Clarence Thomas’ comments on the Supreme Court’s decision to not review Indiana’s law banning abortions on the basis of race, sex, and disability. The Supreme Court decided not to review this law. Justice Thomas did not “dissent” from the Court’s decision to not review the case. From his comments, Justice Thomas believes that the law is in fact constitutional and that the Supreme Court will have to wrestle with this question soon. |
| MUELLER SPEAKS Robert Mueller ended his role as special counsel and made clear he doesn’t want to testify before Congress. “The report is my testimony. I would not provide information beyond that which is already public in any appearance before Congress.” Columnist Philip Klein said Mueller’s decision means Democrats won’t be able to draw out more information from Mueller during hearings. READ |
| MUELLER BACKS BARR Robert Mueller said Attorney General William Barr acted in “good faith” in the handling of his investigative report. The “good faith” comment stands in contrast to Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent remarks that accused Barr of a “cover-up.” READ |
| PRO-LIFE DEMOCRATS Louisiana stands out as a state with a significant number of pro-life Democrats. A bill to ban abortions after the detection of the unborn baby’s heartbeat was authored by a Democrat in the Louisiana State Senate. Now the bill goes to the governor’s desk. And pro-life Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards said: “As I prepare to sign this bill, I call on the overwhelming bipartisan majority of legislators who voted on it to join me in continuing to build a better Louisiana.” READ |
| PRO-ABORTION “CATHOLIC” Democratic presidential candidate Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, identifies as a Catholic but said the Church “is wrong” on abortion, LGBT issues, and the all-male priesthood. READ |
| A SURPRISING FACT CHECK The Washington Post’s Fact Checker, Glenn Kessler, examined the claim by Planned Parenthood CEO Leana Wan that “thousands” of women died every year from back-alley abortions. And the Fact Checker gave the claim Four Pinocchios. “These numbers were debunked in 1969 — 50 years ago — by a statistician celebrated by Planned Parenthood,” said Kessler. READ |
| EDUCATION CHOICE Sen. Ted Cruz, R-TX, successfully amended the 2017 tax cut law to allow parents to use money from 529 college savings accounts for private and religious K-12 schools. Now Cruz wants 529 accounts expanded further to go toward home schooling, apprenticeships, and educational support for students with disabilities. READ |
| NETFLIX VS. GEORGIA Netflix said it will “rethink” its media investments in Georgia after the state passed a law banning abortions after the detection of a heartbeat. READ |
| QUOTE OF THE DAY “If we’re worried about moms and dads not being as involved at home, if we’re worried about rising rates of childhood trauma, if we’re worried about the fact that in this country today, for maybe the first extended period in our country’s history, we’re not even having enough children in this country to replace ourselves. If we’re worried about those problems, then we have to be willing to pursue a politics that actually wants to accomplish something besides just making government smaller.” J.D. Vance, Toward a Pro-Worker, Pro-Family Conservatism. READ |
| FIGHTING BACK IN POLITICS Catholic convert Sohrab Ahmari stirred a robust discussion on conservatism when he pushed back against National Review writer David French—who treats the modern left like a rival party with similar goals instead of one repulsed by traditional Christian viewpoints. “He believes that the institutions of a technocratic market society are neutral zones that should, in theory, accommodate both traditional Christianity and the libertine ways and paganized ideology of the other side… Well, it doesn’t work out that way, and it hasn’t been working that way for a long time,” said Ahmari. READ |
| CHURCH SCANDAL Cardinal George Pell will not ask for a shorter sentence if his appeal fails. His legal team has submitted three grounds for his appeal, including video they claim proved it was impossible for the assault to have occurred as described. Pell was sentenced to six years in prison in March. READ |
| RELIGIOUS FREEDOM A Catholic school has dropped its lawsuit against the city of South Euclid, Ohio, after the government made clear that a new ordinance on sexual orientation would not be used against the school. READ |
| SAINT OF THE DAY Saint Joan of Arc has been the subject of many plays and books, and her life is riddled with legend. But we know that she was a very spiritual young woman who led the French in battle against the English. In a politically motivated trial, Joan was condemned to death and burned at the stake. READ |
| DAILY READINGS If today is Ascension Thursday in your diocese: READ If it’s the Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter: READ |
| POWERFUL A statue of Our Lady remained in tact as a tornado caused major damage to Queen of Martyrs Parish in Dayton, Ohio. SHARE |
