EDITOR’S NOTE We will be celebrating the Nativity of Our Lord with our families, so there will be no Loop on December 26. From all of us at the Loop, Merry Christmas!
CATHOLICS DEBATE TAX CUT Nancy Pelosi and Bishop Dewane opposed the recently-passed tax cut. But CV President Brian Burch told Crux: “We believe the provisions of the bill aimed at helping families, in particular, the increase in the child tax credit and the refundable portions of that credit for working class families is of particular importance to Catholics.” http://cvote.it/2BUofuF
$1,000 IS A BIG DEAL Quite a few liberal pundits and reporters have mocked the idea that a $1,000 annual tax cut would be beneficial for families. But David French noted that according to a recent Federal Reserve Board survey, 47% of respondents said they couldn’t pay for a $400 emergency without borrowing money or selling some of their possessions. http://cvote.it/2BVJIDf
VATICAN SCANDAL Cardinal Oscar Maradiaga, one of Pope Francis’ closest advisers, has been accused of serious financial mismanagement and may have accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Catholic university in Honduras. http://cvote.it/2BUDKTj
UNITED NATIONS ATTACKS USA This is insane. The UN voted 128-9 to condemn the United States for moving its embassy to Jerusalem. After the vote, Ambassador Nikki Haley vowed to ‘take names’ and said the United States would consider cutting funding to the international body. Fox News military analyst Ralph Peters was impressed with Haley’s strong performance, noting that she “may end up our first female president.” http://cvote.it/2BXnssN
SHUTDOWN AVERTED Congress passes three-week spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. The bill included funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program until March. http://cvote.it/2BXpfOx
QUOTE OF THE DAY “I’m not opposed to obstruction—I’ve done that myself… But I’m opposed to pointless obstruction. I mean, who cares, with all due respect to the nominee, who the assistant secretary of this department or that department is?” -Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
CULTURE Actor Jim Caviezel goes back to the Bible for the movie “Paul, Apostle of Christ.” He also explained why many pious films are often lame, and why interesting movies are often not family-friendly. http://cvote.it/2BY9mHO
NUNS TO THE RESCUE Each year, some 300,000 minors are victims of sex trafficking in the U.S. alone. A nuns’ home in Louisiana is helping girls freed from sex trafficking. http://cvote.it/2BVUQ2X
MILITARY CHAPLAINS Our troops depend on military chaplains to help them get through very difficult situations. But who helps the chaplains? http://cvote.it/2BZir2K
SAINT OF THE DAY Blessed Jacopone da Todi – http://cvote.it/dailysaint
DAILY MASS READINGS “My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.” (1 Samuel 2:1) – http://cvote.it/Daily-Readings
CATHOLIC VOTE RADIO HOUR Nate Madden talks twitter censorship. Rick Saccone talks religious liberty and his congressional run in PA. Josh Mercer talks Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Lila Rose tells us her vision for a pro-life future. http://cvote.it/2BYd1Fy