LOOP: Senate passes major criminal justice bill
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| WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19 |
| PRISON SENTENCING REFORM The Senate overwhelmingly approved a major reform of the criminal justice system in a 87-12 vote. The legislation will likely pass the House this week. President Trump has vowed to sign the bill. The legislation includes several reforms, including home confinement for lower-level offenders, and addressing sentence disparities between crack and powder cocaine. READ |
| BUMP STOCKS BANNED The Trump administration has begun the process of banning the sale of bump stocks — an attachment that allows semiautomatic rifles to fire more rapidly. By late March, possession of bump stocks could be illegal. READ |
| LIFT OFF FOR SPACE FORCE President Trump signed an order to create U.S. Space Command as a separate branch of the military. The move comes as China and Russia are apparently working on ways to disrupt and disable U.S. satellites. READ |
| SHUTDOWN TALKS HIT SNAG Democrats have rejected the latest offer from Congressional Republicans for a two-month spending bill which would avoid a government shutdown over Christmas. The bill would provide $1.6 billion for border security, plus another $1 billion for securing the border — which Democrats called a “slush fund” that President Trump could use toward building a border wall. READ |
| SO WHAT WILL SHUT DOWN? If the government runs out of funding on Friday, it will only be a partial shutdown. After all, 5 of the 12 annual spending bills, including Defense, became law in September. But even if some of those agencies that run out of funding, they will continue to operate partially. READ |
| CONCERNS OVER NIH DIRECTOR Pro-life groups denounced comments by National Institutes for Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins, who defended research using flesh from unborn children. “Collins’ actions are inconsistent with the pro-life policies of this administration,” said March for Life President Jeanne Mancini. READ |
| RNC AND TRUMP 2020 MERGE The Republican National Committee and President Trump’s reelection campaign will be organized into a single entity called Trump Victory with shared office headquarters and field offices and fundraising programs. READ |
| COMMUNION FOR PROTESTANT SPOUSES? Confusion reigns in Germany as pastoral guidelines have been issued which allow for Holy Communion to be received by Protestant spouses of Catholics in some instances. Cardinal Gerhard Muller says this is causing chaos and “great harm” to the Church. READ |
| PAPAL COOK Lidia Bastianich was asked to cook for two different popes during their trips to the United States. For Pope Benedict XVI’s birthday dinner, the Holy Father told Bastianich that the meal was “very good. The flavors of my mother.” READ |
| SAINT OF THE DAY Blessed Pope Urban V was a simple man who never wanted to be pope. He was quite content to remain in his Benedictine monastery. But, when called to serve the Church, Blessed Urban did so with great devotion and wisdom. READ |
| DAILY READINGS “My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!” (Ps 71:8) READ |
| WITNESS A Catholic priest administers the sacrament of reconciliation to a prisoner. SHARE |