LOOP: Israeli police bar cardinal from Jerusalem church

The LOOP, MONDAY, MARCH 30  ISRAELI POLICE BLOCK JERUSALEM PATRIARCH FROM CHURCH  Israeli officials promised to ensure Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa would be allowed access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre after police barred him from saying Palm Sunday Mass yesterday. The initial incident drew condemnations from both Catholic and secular leaders worldwide. CatholicVote President Kelsey Reinhardt stated in part: "The goodwill of the Christian community toward Israel is not automatic. It is earned, and it is fragile." ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

View in browser MONDAY, MARCH 30 - MONDAY OF HOLY WEEK ISRAELI POLICE BLOCK JERUSALEM PATRIARCH FROM CHURCH  Israeli officials promised to ensure Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa would be allowed access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre after police barred him from saying Palm Sunday Mass there yesterday. The initial incident drew condemnations from both Catholic and secular leaders worldwide. CatholicVote President Kelsey Reinhardt stated in part: "The goodwill of the Christian community toward Israel is not automatic. It is earned, and it is fragile."  READ REPORT: PENTAGON PREPARING GROUND OPERATION IN IRAN  The Pentagon is preparing for a ground operation in Iran that could last a few weeks but would fall short of a full invasion, according to a Washington Post report that cited U.S. officials. The report came after President Donald Trump called on his followers to watch a broadcast in which Mark Levin and Marc Thiessen made a case for boots on the ground.  READ POPE LEO: DO NOT USE GOD TO JUSTIFY WAR  In a forceful homily during Palm Sunday Mass yesterday, Pope Leo XIV stated: "Jesus is the King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war." The Holy Father warned that God "does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them," citing the words of the Prophet Isaiah: "Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood."  READ SCOTUS TO WEIGH TRUMP BIRTHRIGHT CASE THIS WEEK  This Wednesday, the Supreme Court will listen to oral arguments in a case that will lead to a decision on Trump's effort to restrict birthright citizenship.  READ MARYLAND BILL COULD THREATEN SCHOOL FREEDOMS  School choice and parental rights advocates are opposing a bill that recently passed the Maryland House of Delegates, raising concerns that it would expand government control over private and religious schools if it becomes law. The bill would ban discrimination on the basis of "gender identity" and facilitate individuals suing noncompliant institutions.  READ  45% OF AMERICANS LISTEN TO RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS  Nearly half of all U.S. adults report having listened to religious audio programs, such as radio and podcasts, with many saying they are drawn by music and a breakdown of news through a religious lens, according to a recent Pew Research Survey report.  READ WHY IS HUMAN-WRITTEN TEXT BEING FLAGGED AS AI?  A viral thread on X has writers and academics sharing their discovery of AI detection tools flagging their original work — some written long before AI even existed — as machine-generated, fueling speculation that their writing was quietly scraped and used to train AI models without their consent.  READ AD: JOIN THE MOVEMENT OF CATHOLIC CAPITAL  Catholics around the world hold billions of dollars in investments. How different would our world look if all Catholics defunded the agendas we don't believe in? Let's find out. LEARN MORE  LEARN MORE SCRIPTURE READING EVENT TO DRAW LEADERS TOGETHER  Nearly 500 Christian leaders will gather April 18-25 in Washington, D.C., for America Reads the Bible, a week-long event spotlighting Scripture's role in the broader "American story" as the U.S. approaches its 250th birthday.  READ STUDY: WILL CATHOLICS WHO SKIP CONFESSION RETURN?  A majority of Catholics do not regularly go to Confession, but many remain open to returning to the sacrament or have said they would like to go more often, according to a new 2026 report from The Catholic Pulse Report.  READ EASTER OUTFITS  Simple coordination through soft spring colors, light fabrics, and classic pieces can help the whole family dress beautifully for Easter while reflecting the joy and renewal of the season.  READ CATHOLIC 101  Healthy self-love isn't just narcissism, but a proper regard for oneself as a child of God.  READ SAINT OF THE DAY  Today the Church honors St. John Climacus, known as "John of the Ladder" due to his authorship of the text "The Ladder of Paradise," a manual on the religious life that is still studied to this day.  READ DAILY PSALM  "The Lord is my light and my salvation." (Psalm 27)  READ DAILY READINGS  Today's Mass readings.  READ HOLY WEEK SPECIAL  They said the Shroud of Turin was debunked. So why does the evidence keep coming back stronger? In this week's episode of The Deep, returning guest Bob Rucker dives into the science, the carbon dating controversy, and the one question no skeptic can fully answer. Premieres Thursday, April 2 at 4 PM ET on YouTube.  SUBSCRIBE & HIT THE NOTIFICATION BELL Have feedback? Click here! Paid for by CatholicVote Civic Action, a 501(c)(4) organization, PO Box 3310, Carmel, IN 46082 (317) 669-6127 Unsubscribe Manage preferences