LOOP: Shooter hoax locks down Pope's alma mater

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22 SHOOTER HOAX LOCKS DOWN POPE'S ALMA MATER, VILLANOVA  A report of an active shooter at Pope Leo XIV's alma mater, Villanova University in Pennsylvania, was only "a cruel hoax," University President Father Peter Donohue confirmed yesterday afternoon. "We are safe, there is no shooter on campus, there is no evidence of any firearms, there's no evidence of any person that is causing us any harm," he added.  READ COURT NIXES HUGE PENALTY IN LETITIA JAMES CASE  A New York appeals court yesterday overturned a $500 million penalty in Attorney General Letitia James' fraud case against President Donald Trump. Trump quickly declared the decision a "TOTAL VICTORY" in a lengthy Truth Social post, adding that James' lawsuit was a "Political Witch Hunt."  READ NYTIMES: DEMS FACE DEEP VOTER REGISTRATION CRISIS  The New York Times this week reported that the Democratic Party is drastically behind the GOP in voter registration ahead of the looming midterm elections. According to author Shane Goldmacher, "fewer and fewer voters are choosing to become Democrats."  READ JUDGE BLOCKS TEXAS SCHOOLS FROM DISPLAYING 10 COMMANDMENTS  A federal judge this week blocked 11 Texas school districts from displaying the Ten Commandments in their schools, temporarily freezing a new state law set to go into effect Sept. 1. US District Judge Fred Biery's ruling claimed the law "crosses the line from exposure to coercion." Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton immediately announced plans to appeal the ruling.  READ HURRICANE ERIN BRINGS DANGEROUS TIDES TO NORTH CAROLINA Hurricane Erin sent a powerful tide surging into North Carolina's Outer Banks this week, prompting road closures and dozens of water rescues. A spokesperson for Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, said rescue crews carried out nearly 60 water rescues Aug. 18 and another 20 the following day as rip currents intensified. READ JIMMY LAI STANDS TRIAL FOR STANDING UP TO CHINESE REGIME  Amid mounting health concerns, pro-democracy advocate and Catholic convert Jimmy Lai appeared before a Hong Kong court this week wearing a heart monitor. The 77-year-old anti-communism champion, revered by Catholics worldwide, was reportedly "visibly" weakened after spending nearly 1,700 days in prison. Parts of the trial were delayed when Lai's lawyer said his client was suffering heart palpitations. READ ADMIN TOUTS 200 DAYS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WINS  The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission this week marked 200 days of defending religious freedom in the workplace under the Trump administration, highlighting a series of recent victories in a press release. Here's how religious freedom has fared under Trump, according to his administration. READ AD: LOOP EXCLUSIVE: 60 DAYS OF HOME TITLE PROTECTION FOR $1  LOOPers, did you know a criminal can steal your home with just a forged signature? Protect your home, equity, and future with this exclusive LOOP offer: 60 days of Home Title Lock's TripleLock® Protection—24/7 monitoring, urgent fraud alerts, and up to $1M in title restoration—for only $1. Don't wait until it's too late.  GET PROTECTED ASAP HEAD OF US BISHOPS: US CATHOLICS SHOULD SUPPORT GAZA RELIEF  Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, called on his brother bishops in the US to take up a collection to support humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza. "The situation in Gaza and across the Middle East cries out for the assistance of the Catholic community of the United States," Archbishop Broglio stated.  READ JAMES DOBSON, REST IN PEACE  James Dobson, a Christian psychologist and longtime pro-family advocate who advised numerous US presidents' administrations, died yesterday at age 89 following a brief illness.  READ BONUS NEWS...  Here are the stories we couldn't fit in today's LOOP: •    An infamous late-term abortionist in DC is now reportedly even more dangerous as he suffers debilitating handicaps. READ •    Catholic Judge Frank Caprio, known as the "nicest judge in the world," has passed away. READ •    A Bangladeshi Catholic college is calling out pro-Islamist teachers on campus.  READ HOW TO PRAY & FAST FOR PEACE TODAY  Want to answer Pope Leo's call for us to spend today praying and fasting for peace? Here is a quick explainer on exactly what you can do to be part of this global day of prayer without having to search around the internet for prayers and fasting instructions.  READ CATHOLIC 101  In his "Confessions," Saint Augustine famously recalled praying to God: "Make me chaste, but not yet." He delayed again and again, even when faced with blindingly obvious opportunities for self-improvement. He was, in other words, a procrastinator. But what is procrastination? Laziness? Sometimes. But for Augustine, and perhaps for you, it's actually fear. Let Augustine be your guide to ridding yourself of procrastination and the fear that underlies it.  READ SAINT OF THE DAY  Today the Church celebrates Mary's queenship, honoring her as Queen of Heaven and Earth. Pope Pius XII said of this holy day: "We commend that on the festival there be renewed the consecration of the human race to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Upon this there is founded a great hope that there may arise an era of happiness that will rejoice in the triumph of religion and in Christian peace." READ DAILY PSALM  "Praise the Lord, my soul!" (Psalm 146)  READ DAILY READINGS  Today's Mass readings.  READ THE DEEP  "Designer" babies have arrived: hair color, eye color, no diseases and a high IQ... these babies are advertised as a parent's dream come true. But what actually happens is much more sinister: embryo squid games. Erika breaks it down on this episode of the Deep!  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