FRIDAY, MARCH 20

NETANYAHU BLASPHEMES; IRAN STRIKES ENERGY, ISRAEL, AND U.S. JET Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drew backlash from Christians and Catholics for employing blasphemous language. Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure, prompting accusations from the countries' governments of targeting civilian sites. Iran also fired missiles toward Israel, where debris killed four women and one unborn child in the West Bank, and a U.S. F-35 was damaged by suspected Iranian fire, forcing an emergency landing — the first such incident reported in the war. READ

POPE LEO WRITES MESSAGE TO NATIONAL CATHOLIC PRAYER BREAKFAST More than 1,000 Catholics gathered in Washington for the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast. Attendees heard written messages from Pope Leo XIV, who urged Americans to deepen their prayer lives and renew evangelization as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, and President Donald Trump, who described them as "incredible patriots." Guest speaker and Catholic actor Jonathan Roumie led the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and keynote speaker Michael Knowles spoke about what he argued was the "intrinsically Catholic character" of the U.S. READ

PENTAGON TALKS PROGRESS, CASUALTIES, NEXT STEPS IN IRAN Senior U.S. defense officials held a press briefing yesterday as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran entered its third week. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American forces have significantly weakened Iran's military, addressed the deaths of U.S. service members, and indicated the conflict could continue without a clear end date, as the Pentagon weighs a potential multibillion-dollar funding request to sustain operations. READ

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KENT REPORTEDLY UNDER FBI INVESTIGATION Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent, who resigned as President Donald Trump's director of the National Counterterrorism Center on Tuesday because he opposes the U.S. war in Iran, is reportedly under investigation by the FBI over allegations he leaked or improperly shared classified information. READ

POPE LEO ANNOUNCES PLANS TO DISCUSS FUTURE OF FAMILY MINISTRY Pope Leo announced yesterday — 10 years after Pope Francis issued Amoris Laetitia — that he will convene presidents of episcopal conferences in October to discuss how they will proceed to serve families. In his announcement, the Pope described the family, quoting Vatican II, as "the basis of society," a gift from God, and "a school for human enrichment." READ

USCCB ISSUES STATEMENT AGAINST ANTISEMETISM As the Triduum approaches, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) posted a message against antisemitism given by the archbishop of Portland, Oregon, who decried that in the past Easter has been marked by some through "outbursts of hatred and even violence against Jews." READ

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MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY CHURCH VANDALIZED A historic Catholic church at Marquette University in Milwaukee was heavily vandalized March 18, just months after a $10 million renovation, with statues and Stations of the Cross shattered and furnishings damaged, according to parish officials. Police have arrested a suspect not affiliated with the university, and the pastor said the incident appears tied to a mental health crisis. READ

AUSTIN SCHOOLS ASKED TO CELEBRATE GOOD FRIDAY INSTEAD OF ACCUSED SEX OFFENDER Texas Values, an advocacy organization for Christian and family values, called for the Austin Independent School District to cancel its upcoming celebration of civil rights activist César Chávez and replace it with an observance of Good Friday in light of recent claims that Chávez committed rape and child sex abuse. READ

ST JOSEPH'S DAY BREAD Here's a fun recipe to celebrate the feast of St. Joseph. READ

CATHOLIC 101 A philosophy professor recounts running into legendary late Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz in line for confession. READ

SAINT OF THE DAY Saint Herbert was a priest and hermit who lived in solitude on an island in England's Lake Derwentwater. He shared a deep friendship with St. Cuthbert and prayed for the grace to die on the same day as him. His prayer was granted: Herbert died that very day on the island, which is now known as St. Herbert's Island. READ

DAILY PSALM "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted." (Psalm 34) READ

DAILY READINGS Today's Mass readings. READ

THE DEEP They ripped out the altars. Whitewashed the saints. Built "churches" that look like airports. How did we get here? And why did Catholics go along with it? In this episode of The Deep, Erika exposes the shocking, anti-Catholic roots of the Church's "wreckovation" era – and the modernist ideas that gutted sacred beauty. But it's not over. Across America, parishes are rising from the ashes and restoring what was lost. WATCH

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Thursday, 19 March 2026

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