TUESDAY, JULY 21

DEPT OF ED DEFENDS HOMESCHOOLERS FROM LEFT-WING SMEAR The U.S. Department of Education defended homeschooling after "I’ve Had It" hostess Jennifer Welch called it "trickle-down stupidity" and a "crazy Christian problem." In a social media post, the department wrote in part: "The only thing that is stupid is your ignorance." READ

US BISHOPS: RESPECT BOTH IMMIGRANTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT Following two deadly immigration-enforcement encounters, Bishops Daniel Garcia and Brendan Cahill issued a statement reasserting the dignity of immigrants. The statement also affirmed the government’s authority to enforce U.S. law, however, and condemned the "vilification" of law enforcement officers. READ

DARLINE GRAHAM SEEKS FULL TERM IN LATE BROTHER’S SENATE SEAT Darline Graham yesterday announced she is launching a bid for a full six-year Senate term after being appointed to fill the seat of her late brother, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. READ

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POPE URGED TO RETHINK VATICAN-CHINA DEAL AS CRACKDOWN DEEPENS An op-ed urged Pope Leo XIV to review the Vatican’s secretive agreement with Beijing as Chinese authorities intensify pressure on underground Catholics to join the state-controlled Church. Rights advocates say the arrangement has enabled surveillance, detention, disappearances, and Communist Party control over Catholic life. READ

EXCLUSIVE: PLUGGING STUDENTS INTO FAITH BEFORE THEY REACH CAMPUS Newman Connection is fighting the post-high-school exodus from the Church by connecting incoming students by name with campus ministries even before they arrive at college. The nonprofit says it has linked more than 600,000 young Catholics to faith communities since 2009. READ

TRUMP SHUTS DOWN MAMDANI PLAN TO ARREST NETANYAHU President Donald Trump promised that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America" after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he was exploring whether New York could detain Netanyahu. READ

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HAWLEY REFERS ABORTION-PILL GROUP PLAN C TO DOJ Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., sent a criminal referral to the Justice Department alleging that Plan C illegally mailed abortion drugs and conspired to evade federal and state law. CatholicVote’s Tom McClusky praised Hawley and urged the administration to hold the alleged lawbreakers accountable. READ

NIGERIAN PRIEST’S SUICIDE DEVASTATES MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITY Content warning: suicide. Father Benjamin Madu died days before he was required to leave the U.S. amid a visa dispute. Parishioners remember the beloved hospital chaplain and priest for his joy and generosity, while Church officials say they tried every available avenue to help him. READ

EVANGELIZATION ETIQUETTE: WITNESS WITHOUT DRIVING PEOPLE AWAY Everyone knows evangelization is not about winning an argument. It's about helping another person encounter Christ. But how? This practical guide explains why warmth, genuine listening, respect for boundaries, and knowing when to step back can make Catholic witness more fruitful. READ

CATHOLIC 101 Speaking of evangelization and etiquette, young Catholic men can help transform the culture — but not through the rigid, arrogant "traditude" that mistakes gatekeeping for holiness. Real strength begins with humility, joyful witness, and the willingness to guide others toward Christ without making the faith a private club. READ

SAINT OF THE DAY Today the Church remembers St. Lawrence of Brindisi, a Capuchin Franciscan, gifted linguist, missionary, and Doctor of the Church whose preaching and diplomacy carried him throughout Europe. READ