LOOP: Senate confirms Gingrich as Vatican ambassador
VATICAN The Senate confirmed Callista Gingrich as U.S. ambassador to the Vatican in a 70-23 vote. Her husband is former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. http://cvote.it/2gnntxA
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY Cardinal Donald Wuerl announced that the federal government finally agreed to settle and allow the Archdiocese of Washington to offer health plans in harmony with Catholic teaching. “This settlement brings to a conclusion our litigation challenging the Health and Human Services’ mandate obliging our institutions to provide support for morally objectionable activities,” said Wuerl. http://cvote.it/2gmHGDw
20-WEEK ABORTION BAN Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the 20-week abortion ban had the support of “virtually all of my members and we expect to have a vote on it.” http://cvote.it/2gm6LOU
TRUMP & McCONNELL President Trump held a press conference with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in which Trump claimed he and McConnell were “closer than ever before.” The friendly press conference came just 48 hours after former White House adviser Steve Bannon renewed a threat to primary any Senate Republican who supports McConnell. http://cvote.it/2go1jLr
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY The California Legislature passed a bill which would have punished any religious organization who fired workers who get an abortion or use birth control. In a pleasant surprise, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed the bill, saying it went too far. http://cvote.it/2gnbQqo
PRO-LIFE POLL A new national poll finds that over half of Americans approve of the HHS mandate rollback and 62% support the 20-week abortion ban. http://cvote.it/2gmarQI
BIRDS OF A FEATHER Don’t tell me you’re shocked. Harvey Weinstein donated the maximum amount of $10,000 to President Bill Clinton’s legal defense fund during his sex scandal with intern Monica Lewinsky. http://cvote.it/2goe9JL
DRUG CZAR President Trump said he will look into a report that his nominee for drug czar championed a bill that actually weakened federal enforcement of drug distributors who apparently profit from the sale of opioids. Next week, Trump is planning a big announcement to tackle the opioid crisis. http://cvote.it/2gnV3n1
DEVOTIONS Why the “centering prayer” is so off-center. http://cvote.it/2goYQk5
ATTACK ON CLERGY Italian Catholic priest kidnapped in Nigeria. http://cvote.it/2go3Sxc
SAINT OF THE DAY Saint Ignatius of Antioch – http://cvote.it/dailysaint
DAILY MASS READINGS “The heavens proclaim the glory of God.” (Ps 19:2) – http://cvote.it/Daily-Readings
AMAZING Remember when Jesus said: “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven.” Well, according to an ancient tradition, the boy that Jesus held as he said those words was St. Ignatius of Antioch. Want to know more? http://cvote.it/2gnvC4Z