WEDNESDAY, JULY 8

HOW THE US EMBASSY PREPARED FOR JULY 4 DINNER WITH POPE LEO The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See shared a behind-the-scenes look at preparations for Pope Leo XIV’s historic July 4 visit to Ambassador Brian Burch’s residence in Rome. READ

CATHOLICVOTE BACKS OMB GRANT REFORMS CatholicVote joined a coalition of leaders in praising proposed OMB grant reforms that would curb taxpayer funding for DEI programs, gender ideology, and pro-abortion spending. CatholicVote's Tom McClusky gave Zeale News some insights into the reforms, which readers can support by submitting comments to the government ahead of the July 13 deadline. READ

JUDGE REJECTS DOJ EFFORT TO GET 2020 ELECTION WORKERS' INFO A federal judge blocked the Justice Department’s subpoena seeking names and personal contact information for every person who worked during the 2020 election in Georgia’s Fulton County. The administration said its effort was a logical next step in its probe of potential criminal activity surrounding the election. READ

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EXCLUSIVE: PRIEST SEES HOPE AFTER STORM-SPLIT ROOF ILLUMINATES CRUCIFIX In an awe-inspiring scene photographed by locals after a violent storm, sunlight illuminated the main crucifix through the weather-damaged roof of St. Mary’s in Highmore, South Dakota. Reached by Zeale News, St. Mary's pastor, Father John Short, explained how the incredible sight became a reminder that God gives hope amid life’s storms. READ

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WHITE HOUSE PROBE FINDS 'IDEOLOGICAL CAPTURE' OF SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM A White House report accused the Smithsonian’s taxpayer-funded National Museum of American History of replacing patriotic education with contentious activist narratives about race, “gender,” immigration, climate change, and “systemic injustice.” READ

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OP-ED: SSPX ORDINATIONS BETRAYED POPE BENEDICT’S BENEVOLENCE In a recent op-ed, Father Raymond de Souza argued that the SSPX’s illicit ordinations were a “towering betrayal” of Pope Benedict XVI’s 2009 act of mercy toward the society. READ

CHRIS SMITH CONDEMNS CHINA’S ‘ETHNIC UNITY’ LAW Rep. Chris Smith introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning China’s new “ethnic unity” law, warning that it gives Beijing legal cover for forced assimilation and religious repression at home and abroad. READ

USING AI THOUGHTFULLY Pope Leo's recent encyclical didn't warn people to never use AI, but he did write that technology must serve human flourishing. Zeale's William Nardi offers a reflection on what this means in our day-to-day lives. READ

CATHOLIC 101 Why is the practice of empathy important in a Christian's life? It helps us to see others through Christ's eyes. READ

SAINT OF THE DAY Today the Church honors Sts. Aquila and Priscilla, a married couple who helped St. Paul build up the early Church. READ

DAILY PSALM "Seek always the face of the Lord." (Psalm 105) READ

DAILY READINGS Today's Mass readings. READ

NEW SERIES Explore Marian apparitions and miracles that have influenced people, places, and even politics over the centuries with our newest podcast, Mother's Mantle. Available now on Zeale. LISTEN