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| TUESDAY, JULY 31 |
| GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN COMING? President Trump said he is open to partially shutting down the federal government at the end of September to get funding for border security. “Personally, if we don’t get border security, after many many years of talk within the U.S., I would have no problem having a shutdown.” READ |
| SHUTDOWN SPECULATION How would a possible government shutdown affect the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh? Chad Pergram writes: “Let’s say the Senate is on the fast track, and senators confirm Kavanaugh in late September… Republicans would relish a big win just before midterms by confirming Kavanaugh … and then the government shuts down. That’s snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.” READ |
| RELIGIOUS LIBERTY Attorney General Jeff Sessions will chair a new task force in the Justice Department dedicated to protecting religious freedom. Sessions said: “We are also going to remain in contact with religious groups across America to ensure that their rights are being protected.” READ |
| DIGITAL BLACKLISTING Twitter suspends conservative Catholic commentator Kat McKinley for so-called “hateful conduct” but allows tweets from people calling her horribly vulgar swear words. READ |
| ENERGY The State Department says that the new Keystone XL pipeline route would have no significant impact on the environment. READ |
| MEDIA AND CATHOLICISM A writer for Salon magazine is apparently horrified that the Catholic Church is too Catholic — especially her parish’s new pastor. She said that she and her daughter “flinched when he spoke of ‘traditional’ marriage, which can ‘only be between a man and woman.'” READ |
| 159 YEARS Bishop Frederic Baraga dedicated the church of St. Ignatius of Loyola in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on this day in 1859. It’s remained a home for Catholics for over 150 years. READ |
| ABUSE SCANDAL Pope Francis accepts the resignation of an Australian archbishop convicted of not reporting abuse. READ |
| SAINT OF THE DAY Founder of the Society of Jesus, Ignatius of Loyola, like Francis of Assisi, had a conversion experience while recuperating from a serious illness. Being a military man, the Rule of Life that Saint Ignatius wrote for his followers shows the discipline and rigor of a soldier, but a soldier of faith with the mercy and compassion of the Gospel. READ |
| DAILY READINGS “For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.” (Ps 79:8) READ |
| MIRACLE CURE Kansas man returns to Sydney to pray at the tomb of St. Mary MacKillop, in thanksgiving for Parkinson’s cure. READ |