LOOP: Dems stand by Jones despite vile texts

MONDAY, OCTOBER 6 VIRGINIA DEMS STAND BY JAY JONES DESPITE MURDEROUS TEXTS  Virginia Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones stated he would repeatedly shoot a Republican politician in the head and expressed a wish for another Republican opponent's children to be killed in newly revealed texts from 2022. Despite the scandal, Jones remains in the race, and Democratic leaders have not joined Republicans in calling for him to drop out.  READ TRUMP SHARES TEL-AVIV PROTEST PRESSURING NETANYAHU  President Donald Trump on Saturday twice posted images of protests in Tel-Aviv, where tens of thousands of Israeli demonstrators rallied to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to thwart the Trump-backed peace deal that could lead to the return of hostages and end the bloodshed in Gaza. The posts came amid reports of continued airstrikes in Gaza in the two days after Trump called on Israel to stop bombing "immediately."  READ POPE LEO URGES ALL TO SUPPORT GAZA PEACE PLAN  Pope Leo XIV yesterday condemned antisemitism and also decried "the immense suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza." Alluding to the U.S.-backed peace plan for Gaza, which he recently praised, the Holy Father said, "I ask all those in positions of responsibility to commit themselves to this path, to bring about a ceasefire and to release the hostages."  READ MAN ARRESTED AT DC CATHEDRAL WITH MOLOTOV COCKTAIL  A New Jersey man was arrested early Sunday on the steps of St. Matthew's Cathedral in Northwest Washington, DC, hours before the city's annual Red Mass. The suspect was charged with unlawful entry, threats to kidnap or injure a person, and possession of a Molotov cocktail. The Red Mass marks the beginning of the Supreme Court's judicial year.  READ AMERICA FIRST POLICY INSTITUTE CONFRONTS FDA  The America First Policy Institute issued a statement against the Food and Drug Administration's controversial approval of a generic version of the abortion drug mifepristone, stating the firm is "disappointed" and "concerned" by the move, "especially considering the FDA's promised re-review of the safety data has not been completed."  READ SOMETHING YOU DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE ROSARY Theologian Scott Hahn recently offered a reflection on the value and importance of praying the Rosary, which Pope Leo has asked us all to do daily during the month of October for the intention of peace. Reciting the Rosary is not only an extraordinary prayer, Hahn explained, but a fulfillment of a prophecy found in Scripture. READ CARDINAL ZEN EXPLAINS CONDITION OF CHURCH IN CHINA Cardinal Joseph Zen, the 93-year-old bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, recently offered a harrowing account of the relationship between the Catholic Church and the officially atheistic Chinese Communist Party. His explanation deeply challenged the controversial deal between the Chinese regime and the Vatican. READ AD: ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A SMALL CATHOLIC TOWN TO LIVE?  Beloit is a small town in Kansas. It's a thriving Catholic community and hosts its own PreK-12 th grade Catholic school. Families and kids walk and ride their bikes around town. The favorite feature is the gorgeous 120 year old Romanesque-Gothic Catholic Church filled with young families, offers 24/7 Eucharistic adoration, and has daily Mass and Confession. EXPLORE NOW POPE LEO'S SPECIAL MASS SCHEDULE PUBLISHED  The Holy See Press Office has released a calendar of Masses Pope Leo will celebrate from November to January, including for the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe in Saint Peter's Basilica Dec. 12. This was not a papal ceremony until Pope Francis introduced it, so the recent calendar confirms that Pope Leo will be continuing this tradition.  READ ADVOCATES PRESS FOR ACTION ON NIGERIAN PERSECUTION  An organization that works to raise awareness of Christian persecution around the world has urged the federal government to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern due to extreme levels of violence against Christians in the country.  READ BRIDGING THE POLITICAL RIFT  They say political vitriol these days is the worst it's been in recent memory. How much of this is caused by social media? While we have free speech in this country and the internet is a platform for expressing it, the psychological aspects of posting online almost always degrade the conversation in some way. Here is a case for bridging the political rift one face-to-face conversation at a time.  READ CATHOLIC 101  Matt Fradd wants to suggest a powerful and practical method for spiritual warfare — one that could be a game-changer in your everyday life. The key is announcing what is true and renouncing what is false. Here's how to do it.  READ SAINT OF THE DAY  Today the Church remembers Saint Bruno, born in 1030, who fled scandal to the Chartreuse mountains, later founding the Carthusian Order in Italy. READ DAILY PSALM  "You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord." (Jonah 2)  READ DAILY READINGS  Today's Mass readings.  READ WITNESS  In a powerful reminder that the Church's care for souls transcends politics, Archbishop Timothy Broglio has directed Catholic military chaplains to continue offering Mass and the sacraments during the federal shutdown. Especially in hospitals and end-of-life care, no Catholic service member will be left without the sacraments.  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