LOOP: Senate GOP confident Pompeo will be confirmed
LGBT WRATH The Iowa Senate refused to confirm Katherine Asjes, a Catholic mother of six, to the Iowa Board of Medicine because of comments she made at Catholic World Report. The comments that Asjes made were about the connection between contraception and the LGBT community. Asjes had been nominated by Gov. Kim Reynolds to Board, but she had to be confirmed by a two-thirds vote of the Iowa Senate. 18 Democrats voted against Asjes. READ
FEWER ON FOOD STAMPS The U.S. Department of Agriculture noted a reduction of 600,000 people using food stamps. A spokesman for President Trump's reelection campaign noted that there was already a reduction of 2 million people from food stamps in Trump's first year in office. In 2017, 42.2 million people received food stamps. Participation peaked in 2013 at nearly 48 million. READ
GOP PUSHES POMPEO Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY, is a no vote on Mike Pompeo's nomination for Secretary of State. And so far, not a single Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee plans to vote in Pompeo's favor. That means Pompeo might not get a positive recommendation from the committee, but Republican senators are confident that he'll get enough votes on the Senate floor to be confirmed. READ
HOUSE CHAPLAIN TO RETIRE Fr. Patrick J. Conroy, SJ, is stepping down as House chaplain after 7 years in the position. House Speaker Paul Ryan said: "As chaplain, Father Conroy has been a great source of strength and support to our community. He is deeply admired by members and staff. Father Conroy's ministry here has made a difference, and we are all very grateful to him." READ
MEDIA BIAS So how did the media cover the pro-life student walkout vs. the gun control walkout? READ
ORGAN DONATION New legislation introduced by Rep. Bill Posey, R-FL, would give legal U.S. residents preferred status over illegal immigrants when it comes to receiving donated organs. A report from ProPublica last year found that some U.S. hospitals were allowing wealthy foreigners to jump the line and receive donated organs. READ
SCARED OF A SANDWICH New Yorker magazine is petrified of Chik-Fil-A's "infiltration of New York City." It's just another example of how the Left is intolerant of Christianity. READ
CULTURE The latest episode of HBO's "Silicon Valley" admits that the tech world has anti-Christian bigotry. (This article quotes the show's script which contains bad language.) READ
QUOTE OF THE WEEK "On June 28 in 1245, Pope Innocent IV convened an Ecumenical Council in Lyon, France, where he would stay for several years for safety from the emperor Frederick II. He opened the Council with a sermon on the Five Wounds of the Church. They were: 1) public heresy growing out of personal immorality; 2) the persecution of Christians by Muslims; 3) schism in the Church; 4) the invasion of Christian countries by unbelievers; and 5) attempts of civil governments to control the Church. Does this sound familiar?" -Fr. George Rutler READ
BENEDICT AT 91 Benedict XVI celebrated his 91st birthday with his brother Georg "in a calm and familiar climate." Pope Francis offered Mass in the morning for Benedict, and sent him a greeting afterward. READ
CATHOLIC 101 Once upon a time, almost no Christians denied that Mary was perpetually a virgin. Here's some Biblical evidence for the perpetual virginity of Mary. READ
SAINT OF THE DAY Saint Benedict Joseph Labre lived a poor life in the ruins of the Colosseum. To the uneducated eye, he appeared to be a pitiable figure, but the people of Rome saw him as a saint. He was known as the beggar of Rome. READ
DAILY MASS READINGS "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit." (Ps 31:6) READ
WITNESS Cardinal George died three years ago today. Here's a great video on his legacy. Cardinal George, pray for us! WATCH