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| TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13 |
| VATICAN: DELAY VOTE The U.S. bishops meeting in Baltimore was set to vote on a non-binding Code of Conduct for bishops and the creation of a lay-led body to investigate bishops accused of misconduct. But Cardinal Daniel DiNardo told the bishops that the Vatican asked them to delay votes on any reforms until after Pope Francis meets with the presidents of the world’s bishops’ conferences in February to discuss the global sex-abuse crisis. READ |
| ARIZONA SENATE Republican Martha McSally has conceded to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, giving Democrats their second senate seat pick-up. Republicans flipped ND, IN, and MO, but lost Nevada and now Arizona, giving them a net gain of one seat. If Republicans win the recount in Florida, they will increase their majority by two seats to 53-47. (Republicans are expected to win the Senate runoff in Mississippi on Nov. 27). READ |
| MORE ON ARIZONA Arizona’s other senate seat is held by Jon Kyl, who came out of retirement to be appointed to the Senate after the death of John McCain. Kyl agreed to serve during the Kavanaugh confirmation fight and is expected to resign by the new year. There’s speculation that Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey might appoint Martha McSally to the Senate. READ |
| ABOUT FLORIDA’S RECOUNT Of the 4,687 statewide elections across the country between 2000 and 2016, just 26 went to a recount. Of those 26, only three recounts wound up changing the initial result of the race. The average swing of votes in those three elections was about 311 votes. In Florida, Republican senate candidate Rick Scott has a lead of about 12,500 votes over Democrat Sen. Bill Nelson. READ |
| PEACE CROSS WAR MEMORIAL Veterans criticized an atheist group for trying to remove a historic World War I memorial because people were “offended” by the monument’s Christian symbolism. “Americans of all faith backgrounds should be offended,” said Jake Hill, a land corporal from Madison, WI. “Where will this end? Will they begin chiseling the crosses and stars of David off gravestones in Arlington [National Cemetery] next?” READ |
| ANOTHER CHENEY Rep. Liz Cheney, R-WY, is seeking the position of GOP Conference Chair, a leadership post in the House Republican caucus which is focused on strategy. Cheney serves in the same house seat once held by her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney. Like her father, Liz Cheney is considered a strong supporter of military interventions. READ |
| 2020 Ohio has long been a swing state, but it seems to be tilted more red lately. Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown was able to buck this trend and win reelection last week in Ohio. Brown, who says his party needs a blueprint for the industrial Midwest, admits that he’s considering a 2020 presidential run. READ |
| ENDLESS INVESTIGATIONS? House Democrats are preparing a “subpoena cannon” once they take control of the chamber in January. Axios reporter Zach Basu has compiled a list of at least 85 potential Trump-related investigation and subpoena targets for the new majority. READ |
| THE CLERGY CRISIS Jennifer Roback Morse: “Church leadership won’t solve this current crisis unless it confronts homosexual practice among the clergy and especially the networks of homosexually-oriented clergy operating to protect each other.” READ |
| CHINA CRACKS DOWN ON CATHOLICS Cardinal Zen flew to Rome and handed Pope Francis a letter detailing the situation faced by underground Catholics in China. Cardinal Zen has been a strong critic of the recent Vatican-China deal which granted the Communist government power on appointment of bishops. READ |
| SAINT OF THE DAY Although she was born in Italy, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini was the first United States citizen to be canonized. She was sent to the United States by Pope Leo XIII and spent the rest of her life working with the Italian immigrants, particularly in New York City and Chicago. READ |
| DAILY READINGS “The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.” (Ps 24:6) READ |
| WITNESS At this week’s meeting, the U.S. bishops’ conference is considering a vote to approve the opening of the cause for canonization of Sr. Thea Bowman, who served the poor and fought for racial harmony. READ |