LOOP: FBI probes Catholic church shooting as hate crime

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28 FBI INVESTIGATING MINNEAPOLIS CHURCH SHOOTING AS 'HATE CRIME'  After a gunman opened fire at Annunciation Parish and School during morning Mass yesterday, killing two children and leaving 17 other victims wounded, FBI Director Kash Patel announced the agency is investigating the shooting as an anti-Catholic "hate crime." Administration officials also confirmed the shooter was a 23-year-old man who identified as a "transgender" woman.  READ POPE LEO BLESSES THOSE AFFECTED BY MASS SHOOTING  Pope Leo sent a message within hours of the deadly shooting in Minneapolis, expressing his condolences and prayers. He also imparted his Apostolic Blessing "as a pledge of peace, fortitude and consolation in the Lord Jesus," according to the telegram, which was signed by the Vatican secretary of state.  READ TRUMP, CARDINAL BURKE, KELSEY REINHARDT, BISHOPS REACT  "CatholicVote unites with the Holy Father in commending the souls of the children who lost their lives to the love of Almighty God, and in prayer for the wounded, for their families, and for the first responders and medical personnel now tending to the victims," stated CatholicVote President Kelsey Reinhardt after the tragedy in Minneapolis. Read her full comment, together with reactions from President Donald Trump and numerous Catholic leaders.  READ POPE LEO CALLS FOR END OF 'COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT' OF GAZANS  Pope Leo yesterday issued an appeal for Gaza, asking for the release of all hostages held by Hamas and for an end to the "collective punishment" of Palestinians in the besieged strip.  READ UN ADVISOR CALLS FOR GLOBAL BAN OF SURROGACY Reem Alsalem, the United Nations special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, has called for a global ban on surrogacy. In her report to the UN, Alsalem cited numerous examples of "exploitative" and "cruel" treatment of women in the context of surrogacy, arguing that UN laws already in place ought to compel governing bodies to halt the controversial practice. READ 'I DON'T HAVE TO PRAY ALONE TONIGHT' For many residents, life in a nursing home might be a time of profound loneliness, confinement, and stress. A Colorado-based ministry is countering this by praying the Rosary every week with them, building community and hope in Christ all along the way. READ COLORADO BISHOPS RALLY CATHOLICS TO DEFEND KIDS The four bishops of Colorado earlier this month urged the faithful to support three initiatives on the 2026 Colorado ballot that protect minors from gender mutilation and sex trafficking. READ AD: PRO-LIFERS, PICK UP THE PHONE  Switch to Charity Mobile, the pro-life phone company!  LEARN MORE POPE APPOINTS NEW AUXILIARY BISHOP OF SAN ANTONIO  Pope Leo has appointed Bishop Jose Cepeda to be auxiliary bishop of San Antonio. Bishop Cepeda, born in Mexico, is known for championing Eucharistic Adoration and for ministering to Hispanic Americans.  READ WOMEN SEEKING ABORTIONS NOW ENCOUNTERING NEW PRO-LIFE RESOURCE  The Sisters of Life have launched a new website offering support and resources for women considering abortions, women whose children have an adverse prenatal diagnosis, and women seeking healing after an abortion.  READ HOSPITALITY MIND-SHIFT  Here's a short but sharp insight from Leila Lawler about hospitality, writing on her Substack "The School for Housewives." In order to take the stress out of having people over, we don't need one practical tip or another as much as we need this little mindset shift. Here, she explains.  READ CATHOLIC 101  Emily Stimpson Chapman shares her thoughts about outspoken exorcists, the Devil, deliverance prayers, and the like. We need to tread cautiously in this area, she says, or risk becoming too obsessed or fascinated with what is evil — unwittingly diminishing our confidence in the power and goodness of God.  READ SAINT OF THE DAY  Today is the feast of Saint Augustine of Hippo, one of the most monumental figures in global history and considered a titanic intellect even among secular thinkers. His works were and remain foundational to the cultural, political, and philosophical heritage of the Western world. READ DAILY PSALM  "Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!" (Psalm 90)  READ DAILY READINGS  Today's Mass readings.  READ PRAY  Please join our whole team here at CatholicVote in praying fervently for all those affected by yesterday's horrific attack.  PRAY & 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