LOOP: PUTIN HINTS AT DEAL AHEAD OF TRUMP MEETING IN ALASKA

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15 PUTIN HINTS AT DEAL AHEAD OF TRUMP MEETING IN ALASKA Ahead of today's highly anticipated meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Putin has expressed an openness to making a deal that could lead to peace. Trump has made "sincere efforts" to end the war in Ukraine, Putin said Thursday.  READ CATHOLIC GROUP IN GAZA: ISRAEL BOMBED 4,000+ BABY FORMULA CANS, KILLED 2 WORKERS  The head of a US-based Catholic apostolate reported that the Israeli military bombed a warehouse in Gaza where the group was storing over 4,000 cans of baby formula slated to be distributed later in the week. Two humanitarian workers were killed in the reported bombing. "We will not be deterred," the group told CatholicVote, vowing to deliver new formula to starving infants in Gaza.  READ SHOCK STUDY: MAJORITY OF KIDS' FOOD IS 'ULTRA-PROCESSED'  Ultra-processed foods associated with obesity and chronic illness account for 62% of the calories consumed by American children, according to a study released last week by the CDC.  READ UKRAINE STRIKES AT RUSSIA HOURS BEFORE PEACE TALKS  "Ukraine hit multiple southern Russian cities in a drone attack on Thursday, killing at least one person and wounding 16 more, just hours before President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a potential ceasefire," The Daily Wire reports. READ BOTCHED ABORTION VICTIMS FIGHTS FOR ANONYMITY IN SUIT  An Illinois circuit court judge heard oral arguments yesterday regarding whether a woman who sued after an abortionist allegedly left more than half of her unborn baby inside her after a botched abortion can remain anonymous during a malpractice case. READ A SURPRISE VISIT REMINDS NURSES OF LIFE'S SANCTITY Nearly 40 years ago, three nurses in England rushed to an intensive care unit to help a premature baby fight for his life. There was no knowing whether he'd make it. Those nurses recently had a surprise visitor. A police officer and father of two. Why did he come? To say "Thank you" for saving his life. READ WHAT PLUMMETING 'CONSCIENTIOUSNESS' COULD LEAD TO  A reporter recently analyzed disturbing new data showing that young people in America, "long the most extroverted group in society," are now "the most introverted." Young people are also the ones most rapidly losing a key characteristic typically found in successful, thriving people: "conscientiousness." Here's what these trends could lead to in the near future.  READ HOW TO CELEBRATE THE ASSUMPTION   Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary! Known as the Feast of the Dormition in the Byzantine Rite and among Orthodox Christians, today is a holy day of obligation for Roman Catholics. But how might we celebrate that God brought Mary's uncorrupted body into Heaven? CatholicVote's Grace Porto has some great suggestions!  READ WATCH PLANNED PARENTHOOD SHRINK IN LIVE MAP  A national pro-life political group has launched an interactive map that shows every one of the Planned Parenthood facilities shutting down across the country. The abortion giant, recently raising concerns for its additional embrace of pushing "transgender" drugs on youth, has been seeing more and more losses under the Trump administration.  READ UK PRO-LIFER FACES CHARGES YET AGAIN FOR SILENT PRAYER  English police are yet again investigating pro-life advocate Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, accusing her for a third time of violating "buffer zones" outside an abortion facility by silently praying. Vaughan-Spruce has already been acquitted twice of the same charges.   READ GUIDANCE FOR A RESTLESS AGE  In a culture often fixated on productivity and performance, we need more ways to become still, to listen, and to receive. Three modern writers, Thomas Merton, Caryll Houselander, and Henri Nouwen, are profound voices for such a time. And not only because of their great intellects, but because of their ability to draw us into deep encounters with ourselves and God.  READ CATHOLIC 101  "Anxiety. Even the saints struggled with its effects," reads the description of a recent book. "From excessive worry about the future to ruminating about the past, anxiety can steal your joy, impact your health, and negatively affect your spiritual life." Here's why, according to the book, Catholics have access to the best tools to fight these ailments.  READ SAINT OF THE DAY  Catholics have celebrated Mary's Assumption for centuries, but Venerable Pope Pius XII confirmed it as the perennial teaching of the Church in 1950, invoking papal infallibility to proclaim "that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever-Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory." READ DAILY PSALM  "The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold." (Psalm 45)  READ DAILY READINGS  Today's Mass readings.  READ MALE FRIENDSHIP ISN'T 'GAY'  Every pair of male friends, in history or fiction, has at some point in recent times been labeled "gay." Sherlock and Watson? Gay. Frodo and Sam? Gay. Joey and Chandler? Gay. When did we go from bros to bromance? In this episode, Erika explores the "gayification" of friendships, its effect on society, and, most importantly, what we can do to fix it.  WATCH 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