LOOP: Mormon church attack leaves at least four dead

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 DEADLY ATTACK ON MORMON CHURCH  A gunman drove into a Mormon church in Grand Blanc, Michigan, yesterday and opened fire on hundreds gathered, killing four people and injuring at least eight before police fatally shot him. Investigators believe the suspect also intentionally set fire to the church.  READ TRUMP TO SEND TROOPS TO PORTLAND  President Donald Trump said Saturday he will deploy troops to Portland, Oregon, with "full force if necessary" as anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protests intensify in the sanctuary city.  READ POPE SETS DATE TO NAME SAINT NEWMAN CHURCH DOCTOR  During his Sunday Angelus address in Saint Peter's Square, Pope Leo XIV announced he will confer the title of Doctor of the Church on Saint John Henry Newman on Nov. 1.  READ AD: SAVE UNBORN LIVES AND SAVE MONEY WITH CHARITY MOBILE!  When you switch your cell phone service to Charity Mobile, 5% of your monthly plan price supports the life-saving work of your favorite Pro-Life charity. All monthly plans are under $50 before taxes and surcharges, including Unlimited, and you can save even more with every line you add! Plus, every new line gets a free phone offer with promo code LOOP.  LEARN MORE NYC MAYOR ERIC ADAMS DROPS OUT OF MAYORAL RACE  New York City Mayor Eric Adams ended his re-election bid on Sunday, five weeks before Election Day. His exit comes as the city faces the potential election of 33-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani whose rise has drawn national attention.  READ ALLENTOWN CATHOLIC STUDENTS OUTPACE NATIONAL AVERAGES Students at Catholic schools in the Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania, are academically outperforming state and national averages. Parents are praising both the strong academics and the faith-centered community. READ GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL TEAM FORFEITS OVER A MALE PLAYER A California high school forfeited its girls' volleyball match rather than face a team with a "transgender" identifying male athlete, marking the eighth such cancellation this season. READ AD: JOIN NOW IN PRAYING TO TURN HEARTS BACK TO GOD IN OUR WORLD!  Our Lady says we can conquer the darkness with prayer AND fasting! Join The International Week of Prayer & Fasting (IWOPF) Conference Nov 15-23 to turn people's hearts back to God. Remember, Pope St. John Paul II told us: "Jesus Himself has shown us by His own example that prayer AND fasting are the first and most effective weapons against the forces of evil." JOIN NOW CATHOLIC SCHOOL PLACES TEACHER ON LEAVE FOR SURROGACY  A Catholic school in New Jersey placed a kindergarten teacher on leave after she revealed she is serving as a gestational surrogate, citing conflict with Catholic teaching. "It has been our hope to meet with her to help her fully understand the Catholic Church's teaching on surrogacy, but that has not happened as of yet," the school's principal said.  READ STUDENTS FOR LIFE URGES CARDINAL CUPICH TO DROP DURBIN AWARD  Students for Life of America is calling on the Archdiocese of Chicago to withdraw plans to honor Sen. Dick Durbin with a lifetime achievement award, pointing to his long record of support for abortion policies.  READ NOT TO BE MISSED...  Here are the stories we couldn't fit in today's LOOP: •    Wisconsin Planned Parenthood is halting all abortions. READ •    Church in Ireland reports "small but steady" growth in seminarians. READ •    Missouri First Lady leads change to repeal the state's pro-abortion amendment.  READ DISCERNING MARRIAGE  Discerning a person to marry can be confusing. What if they check the right boxes, but you're not totally excited? Do certain things matter more than feelings? Can you trust yourself when it comes to what "feels right"? Here's some advice from our own Refine contributor Emily Lindberg.  READ CATHOLIC 101  Saint John Henry Newman is known for many things, most especially for his conversion from Anglicanism. But one area that should not be overlooked is his involvement in education at the university level. And as Catholic Americans, we need this sort of doctor. Here's how Newman helps us return to the purpose and rich breadth of higher education.  READ SAINT OF THE DAY  Today the Church celebrates the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, the only angels named in Scripture. Saint Michael, "Prince of the Heavenly Host," is invoked for protection against evil; Saint Gabriel, whose name means "God's strength," announced Christ's Incarnation; and Saint Raphael, "God has healed," is remembered for curing Tobias' blindness in the Book of Tobit. READ DAILY PSALM  "In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord." (Psalm 138)  READ DAILY READINGS  Today's Mass readings.  READ MEDITATION  "The Three Archangels and Tobias" (c.1470) by Italian painter Francesco Botticini, depicts the powerful angelic trio carrying out their special functions. Michael leads with sword drawn in defense, Raphael carries a healing balm, and Gabriel with a lily bears God's message to the pure in heart.  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