LOOP: King and Queen of England join Pope Leo for prayer

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24 ENGLISH MONARCHS JOIN POPE LEO FOR ECUMENICAL PRAYER  A historic occasion occurred yesterday when the king and queen of England prayed alongside the Pope in the Sistine Chapel, something that hasn't happened, as one observer put it, "since long before the separation of the Church of England from the Church of Rome."  READ VANCE REBUKES ATTEMPT TO ANNEX THE WEST BANK  Vice President JD Vance said yesterday he was personally insulted by a vote in the Israeli Knesset to advance a measure annexing the West Bank. "The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel," Vance said. "And if people want to take symbolic votes, they can do that. But we certainly weren't happy about it." President Donald Trump has said "Israel would lose all of its support from the United States" if it attempts the annexation.  READ US CONTINUES TO STRIKE SUSPECTED DRUG VESSELS  The Trump administration has continued to strike suspected drug-smuggling vessels near Venezuela and elsewhere, and President Donald Trump now says land-based targets are "next." Asked whether he would ask Congress for a declaration of war, Trump replied, "I don't think we're going to necessarily ask for a declaration of war. I think we're just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. We're going to kill them." Combined reports indicate the operations have so far killed 32 people.  READ POPE LEO: SOME MEASURES TREAT MIGRANTS 'LIKE GARBAGE'  Speaking to participants in the Fifth World Meeting of Popular Movements Oct. 23, Pope Leo decried policies that treat migrants "like garbage" and lamented the deadly trafficking of fentanyl, particularly in the U.S.  READ MORE CATHOLICS, STILL NO UPTICK IN VOCATIONS  The number of Catholics worldwide has increased in recent years, according to the latest data. Vocations to the priesthood and religious life, on the other hand, have continued to decline. Here are the numbers.  READ CATHOLIC CHARITIES LINES TEENS UP WITH TRADE SKILLS  Seven teenagers from at-risk neighborhoods on Oct. 3 became the most recent graduates of Catholic Charities of Philadelphia's Youth Skills Building Program, which taught them trades and professional skills. Their stories are inspiring!  READ SHOULD LOUSY HYMNS BE BANNED FROM MASS? A debate that was sparked last year by a Missouri archbishop has recently gained renewed attention after the prelate offered new remarks about his decision to ban Mass hymns that could communicate poor theology — and the edict's quick reversal. READ AD: SPIRITUAL WARFARE STARTS HERE  "Defend Us in Battle" is your daily Catholic armor—rooted in "Auxilium Christianorum." This 148-page prayer guide equips you with powerful deliverance prayers, daily disciplines, and spiritual weapons for purity and peace. Stand firm, resist evil, and live clothed in God's protection. LEARN MORE STUDENTS ATTACK PRO-LIFE DISPLAY AT YALE  A pro-life group at Yale University held an outdoor demonstration on campus Oct. 21 using pink flags to represent lives lost to abortion and messages written in chalk. In response, some students defaced the messages and attempted to steal flags.  READ WISCONSIN AGAIN DISCRIMINATES AGAINST CATHOLIC CHARITIES The state of Wisconsin is attempting to eliminate a religious tax exemption in defiance of a June ruling from the Supreme Court of the United States, which had ordered the state to consider Catholic Charities a religious organization and provide it with the exemption. READ THE DINNER PARTY COMEBACK  It's time to bring back dinner parties. Let's gather again! Dinner parties aren't about impressing. They're about connection. Whether it's a potluck or a feast, sharing a meal brings joy, friendship, and even a kind of healing that maybe we've needed for a long time.  READ CATHOLIC 101  Is Satan the cause of your leaky faucet? Emily Stimpson Chapman explains why "it is not only wrong to assume that our misfortunes are a direct demonic attack, but also potentially dangerous."  READ SAINT OF THE DAY  Today the Church remembers Saint Anthony Claret (1807-1870), who founded the Claretian order in 1849 after spending 10 years preaching and serving in the Spanish missions in North America. He later served as the archbishop of Santiago, Cuba, before returning to his native Spain. He was exiled during the Spanish Revolution and died at a Cistercian monastery in France. READ DAILY PSALM  "Lord, teach me your statutes." (Psalm 119)  READ DAILY READINGS  Today's Mass readings.  READ THE DEEP  The "No Kings" protests this past weekend were attended by a surprising number of old people. Clips on social media show seniors in walkers lining the streets holding their signs in opposition to Trump. In this episode of The Deep, Erika looks into what is going on and why many of our elderly citizens are so politically disturbed.  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