LOOP: SCOTUS allows mass Education Department layoffs

TUESDAY, JULY 15 SUPREME COURT OKAYS MASS LAYOFFS AT EDUCATION DEPT The Supreme Court granted an emergency appeal from the Trump administration yesterday, allowing it to move forward with laying off nearly 1,400 Department of Education employees — part of a broader effort to scale down the federal government.  READ BIDEN 'AUTOPEN' SCANDAL WIDENS AS HE ADMITS TO USING IT  Former President Joe Biden admitted in a newly released New York Times interview that he authorized the use of an autopen to sign a sweeping wave of pardons during his last day in office. President Donald Trump yesterday called it "maybe one of the biggest scandals that we've had in 50-100 years," asserting that Biden "knew nothing about what he was signing."  READ TRUMP STRIKES NATO DEAL TO SELL US-MADE WEAPONS  Trump announced a weapons deal with NATO yesterday that will channel US-manufactured arms to Ukraine. The president also warned Russia that it has 50 days to agree to a peace settlement or he will impose steep new economic sanctions. READ 'LIVING MARTYR' CLERIC SPEAKS AT EXORCISM CONFERENCE  Cardinal Ernest Simoni Troshani of Albania, whom Pope Francis dubbed a "living martyr," shared his harrowing testimony this week at a New Jersey conference on exorcism and deliverance. The 96-year-old cardinal was imprisoned by communists for 28 years. At the conference, he also offered a prayer for worldwide deliverance from demonic influence. READ NATION'S LARGEST CHILD 'TRANSGENDER' CLINIC CLOSING DOWN  The Center for Transyouth Health and Development at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) is scheduled to close its doors on July 22, marking the end of the facility's reign as the largest in the US that "promotes subjecting children to the often irreversible impact of drugs and surgeries by luring them with the claim that they can undergo 'gender transitions' in order to become their 'authentic selves,'" Dr. Susan Berry reports for CatholicVote. READ CHURCH LEADERS VISIT, SPEAK UP FOR PERSECUTED TOWN IN HOLY LAND  Church leaders traveled to Taybeh — the last entirely Christian town in the Holy Land — and issued an urgent statement yesterday condemning what they called "an intensifying trend of systemic and targeted attacks" by Jewish settlers against the town's residents.  READ   MINNESOTA SHOOTER DISAVOWS CONSERVATIVE IDEOLOGICAL MOTIVES  The Minnesota man accused of killing State House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark denied in July 11 conversations with the New York Post that his actions were motivated by loyalty to Trump or opposition to abortion, contradicting early reports about his motives.  READ LOOPcast  California is protesting against the immigration raid… that saved trafficked children from abusive conditions. Erika, Josh, and Tom break down ICE's actions, Mexican protests, and Trump's proposed visa. Is healthcare the backbone of our economy? America might have a new saint, Epstein is still making waves, and the State Department fires their theater kids. All this and more on the LOOPcast! WATCH FIRED FLIGHT ATTENDANT TO CONTINUE UNITED AIRLINES SUIT  A former flight attendant for United Airlines who was fired after sharing his Catholic views on marriage and sexuality will be allowed to proceed with his lawsuit against the airline and his union, a judge has ruled. READ SAINT THOMAS MORE'S HEAD MAY BE EXHUMED  Nearly five centuries after King Henry VIII had it parboiled and mounted on a pike, the head of Catholic martyr and statesman Saint Thomas More may soon be exhumed for preservation and display. More is one of the patron saints of CatholicVote. READ BONUS NEWS...  Here are the stories we couldn't fit in today's LOOP: •    A relief campaign inspired by Saint Padre Pio is helping Texas flood victims. READ •    A professor claims the pro-life movement fuels "white nationalism." READ •    China arrested a priest for sharing a hymn book without state approval.  READ WMEN ARE GONE  The sexes have moved into an era when traditional courting has devolved into "directionless orbiting," according to a recent New York Times op-ed, "men circling intimacy but never entering it… 'seeing where it goes' without ever going anywhere." Men are gone, writes the authoress. "We miss you."  READ CATHOLIC 101  Saint Padre Pio recommended regular Confession because he said the soul is like a house that needs to be cleaned once a week. But one young engaged couple who attended his Masses got a jarring (and miraculous!) reminder of just what that meant.  READ SAINT OF THE DAY  Today marks the feast day of Saint Bonaventure, who is called "The Seraphic Doctor" of the Church. Bonaventure is known for his leadership of the Franciscans and his great intellectual contributions to theology and philosophy. READ DAILY PSALM  "Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live." (Psalm 69:33)  READ DAILY READINGS  Today's Mass readings.  READ WITNESS  Former Manchester United player Philip Mulryne once earned over £500,000 a year. Today, he's traded fame for faith and serves as a Catholic priest.  SHARE Paid for by CatholicVote Civic Action, a 501(c)(4) organization. Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here. CATHOLICVOTE  |  PO Box 3310  |  Carmel, IN 46082  |  (317) 669-6127