LOOP: Trump hikes tariffs on India amid Russia aid allegations

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5 TRUMP UPS TARIFFS ON INDIA AMID RUSSIA AID ALLEGATIONS President Donald Trump announced yesterday that the US will "substantially" raise tariffs on India over its continued purchase of Russian oil, an announcement that comes amid accusations from the White House Deputy Chief of Staff that India is financing Russia's war in Ukraine. "They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine," Trump said.  READ HEAD OF US BISHOPS THANKS VA FOR DROPPING ABORTIONS  Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, stated this week that he is "deeply grateful" to the Trump administration for undoing a Biden-era Veterans Affairs policy that allowed taxpayer funding for abortions. "It is only fitting that an agency established to care for those who so often put their lives on the line to defend the innocent is freed from participation in procedures that do not support innocent life," the archbishop stated.  READ TRUMP TO REFUSE DISASTER FUNDS TO STATES BOYCOTTING ISRAEL  The Trump administration said states and cities boycotting Israel will be cut off from federal disaster preparedness funding under new grant conditions published Aug. 1. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) now requires applicants for disaster aid programs to first certify they will not cut off trade with Israeli companies.  READ NETANYAHU REPORTEDLY PLANS FULL OCCUPATION OF GAZA  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to instruct his war cabinet to authorize a full military occupation of the Gaza Strip, according to multiple reports. The prime minister has reportedly demanded that dissenters either comply or resign, including the Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces. READ UCLA LOSES GRANT MONEY OVER ALLEGED VIOLATIONS  The Trump administration has frozen $339 million in research grants to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The move comes amid claims that the school broke the law by practicing affirmative action, enabling antisemitic behavior, and allowing male athletes to compete on women's sports teams. READ CATHOLIC NFL STAR TOUTS NEW FITNESS PUSH IN SCHOOLS  Trump signed an executive order July 31 reviving the Presidential Fitness Test and reinstating the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, as part of his push to "make America healthy again." Outspoken Catholic NFL star Harrison Butker stood alongside Trump for the announcement. "I think you have to be strong in mind, in body, and soul," Butker said of the move. READ FACT CHECK: IS THE VATICAN BEING 'SECRETIVE' ABOUT ABUSE?  The Chicago Sun-Times published an article warning of "a new era of secrecy over child sex abuse." The article based its argument on a Vatican document released in February that directed dioceses not to publicly list the names of priests credibly accused of abuse but not yet found guilty or innocent. CatholicVote's Felix Miller explains the truth of the matter.  READ AD: NEW – CARLO'S '8 HABITS' TO BECOME A SAINT!  Did you know Carlo Acutis taught First Communion catechism class? And he told children the eight habits to become a saint—which certainly worked for him! Now you can get a beautiful prayer card with his eight habits to inspire you every day. Get enough for your parish, school, homeschool co-op, and everyone in your family. Stock up now for his canonization on Sept. 7!  ORDER NOW WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! PROTESTANT: WE NEED TO STOP THESE CATHOLIC CONVERSIONS!  An Anglican archdeacon recently sounded the alarm about a growing wave of high-profile conversions to the Catholic Church, urging Protestants to do more to stop the trend. The main "cultprit?" Catholic Eucharistic theology.  READ UK CATHOLICS CELEBRATE SAINT TO BE NAMED CHURCH DOCTOR  The Vatican's decision to name Saint John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church has been met with enthusiasm and gratitude from Catholics across the United Kingdom. The president of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales called the move "a huge encouragement to all who appreciate not only his great learning but also his heroic sanctity in following the call of God in his journey of faith." Newman was a convert from Anglicanism.  READ BONUS NEWS...  Here are the stories we couldn't fit in today's LOOP: •    A Colorado court will now allow pro-lifers to provide abortion pill reversals! READ •    A pro-lifer jailed for praying at an abortion facility has asked the Supreme Court to intervene. READ •    Catholic GOP Rep. Chris Smith, R-NJ, lauded the VA's reversal on abortions.  READ BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS  The adjustment from summer freedom to school routine can come as a shock for the whole family. To avoid frantic scrambling, crabby snapping, or potential meltdowns, try these back-to-school adjustment tips to help everyone ease into the new season with peace and confidence.  READ CATHOLIC 101  Again and again, we fall into the trap of thinking of prayer as a rattling off of formulas, or perhaps even worse, a superstitious set of magic words. We have to bring ourselves again and again to the real meaning of prayer. Father Paul Scalia takes us back to the basics so we can have authenticity, presence, and relationship in our communication with God.  READ SAINT OF THE DAY  Today the Church honors Saint Emygdius, a second-century bishop and martyr who boldly preached the Gospel, destroyed pagan idols, and was beheaded around 303 AD. He is venerated as a patron against earthquakes. READ DAILY PSALM  "Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned." (Psalm 51:3)  READ DAILY READINGS  Today's Mass readings.  READ UNOFFICIAL HONORS  Who was the first African-American priest? While many attribute this honor to Venerable Augustine Tolton, that title truly belongs to Bishop James Healy, though he never publicly admitted to it. Born to an Irish American father and mixed race mother in Georgia, Healy was sent to study in the north as a child to avoid being enslaved. He became a priest in 1854, serving in the diocese of Boston. Due to the racial pressures of the time, Healy rose through the clerical ranks, passing as an Irish priest, with few knowing of his true heritage.  READ 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