FRIDAY, JULY 3

EDITOR’S NOTE There will be no Weekend LOOP tomorrow in observance of Independence Day. Have a blessed holiday as America celebrates its 250th birthday!

VATICAN EXCOMMUNICATES SSPX BISHOPS, DECLARES SOCIETY IN SCHISM The Vatican formally declared today that the six SSPX bishops involved in yesterday's illicit episcopal ordinations have incurred automatic excommunication, and that all SSPX clergy and lay faithful who formally adhere to the society are in schism. The decree also revoked the faculties previously granted to SSPX priests to hear confessions and assist at marriages, rendering those sacraments invalid. READ

OHIO SENATOR REINTRODUCES 1993 BILL TO END BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP Days after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship and struck down President Donald Trump's executive order seeking to limit it, Ohio Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno announced he will reintroduce a bill originally written by former Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid to eliminate birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants. READ

EXCLUSIVE: CATHOLIC STUDENT WINS INAUGURAL PRESIDENTIAL CIVICS SCHOLARSHIP Miriam Washut, a high school student planning to attend Wyoming Catholic College, spoke with Zeale News after winning the inaugural Presidential 1776 Award for Civics — a $150,000 scholarship from the U.S. Department of Education — at the Kennedy Center on June 9, beating out more than 8,000 students nationwide in a competition testing knowledge of America's founding documents. She told Zeale News she credits her success in part to the intercession of the saints, particularly St. Joseph of Cupertino, the patron of students and test takers. READ

RUSSIA LAUNCHES RECORD STRIKE ON UKRAINE'S CAPITAL Russia fired 74 missiles and nearly 500 drones at Kyiv and surrounding areas overnight into July 2, killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens more — including children and emergency workers — in what the city's mayor called one of the most massive strikes on the capital since the war began. READ

US SOCCER WINS FIRST WORLD CUP KNOCKOUT MATCH SINCE 2002 The U.S. Men's National Team beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 in a tense World Cup knockout round match played in Santa Clara, California — the team's first knockout-stage victory in 24 years — despite finishing the game with only 10 players after star striker Folarin Balogun was issued a controversial red card in the 64th minute. READ

PEW: THE PHILIPPINES IS THE WORLD'S THIRD-LARGEST CATHOLIC COUNTRY A new Pew Research Center survey finds that more than 90 million Filipino adults — 76% of the country's adults — identify as Catholic, making the Philippines home to the world's third-largest Catholic population after Brazil and Mexico. READ

ATLANTA BISHOPS BACK DOMINICAN SISTERS OVER NY GENDER IDENTITY LAW Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer and Atlanta's auxiliary bishops issued a statement of solidarity with the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, who are suing the State of New York over a law requiring long-term care facilities to use preferred pronouns and assign patient rooms based on gender identity — with fines, loss of their nursing home license, and potential imprisonment threatened for non-compliance. READ

AD: 2 MUST HAVE PRAYERS TO PROTECT OUR NATION AND YOUR FAMILY Two powerful prayers. One powerful mission. Beautifully engraved metal prayer cards honoring America’s 250th Anniversary invite you to consecrate your family and our nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Carry them daily and pray for a true renewal of America. LEARN MORE

CARDINAL BURKE: TRUE PATRIOTISM CALLS AMERICA BACK TO GOD In the final episode of his Virtue of Patriotism video series, released ahead of America's 250th Independence Day, Cardinal Raymond Burke reflected on the Declaration of Independence's grounding in "the laws of nature and of Nature's God," arguing that authentic freedom is inseparable from moral truth and that human dignity comes from God rather than the state. READ

FRESH OFF STANLEY CUP WIN, CAROLINA GIFTS POPE LEO CUSTOM JERSEY After the Carolina Hurricanes claimed their second championship in franchise history, North Carolina's Labor Commissioner Luke Farley presented Pope Leo XIV with a personalized championship jersey — complete with "Pope Leo" on the back and No. 14. Farley also presented the Holy Father with the Order of the Tar Heel, one of North Carolina's highest civilian honors. READ

INDEPENDENCE DAY MEALS These three menus, with recipes from Zeale's Calista Boskus, are perfect for your July 4th party! READ

CATHOLIC 101 Fulton Sheen spent decades warning that patriotism without piety is hollow. As America turns 250 and his beatification nears, his words on faith, freedom, and communism read like they were written for today. READ

SAINT OF THE DAY The saint of the day is Saint Thomas the Apostle. He is remembered for declaring, "My Lord and my God," after encountering the risen Christ. Saint Thomas later carried the Gospel as far as India, where tradition holds he was martyred for the faith around 72 A.D. READ

DAILY PSALM "Go out to all the world and tell the Good News." (Psalm 117) READ

DAILY READINGS Today's Mass readings. READ

FIRST FRIDAY DEVOTION As we celebrate First Friday on the eve of America's 250th birthday, let us remember with gratitude the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, to which the month of July is dedicated and to which our nation owes so many blessings. PRAY FOR AMERICA

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THIS MOMENT MATTERS America only celebrates its 250th birthday once, and the choices we make today will help shape the next chapter of our nation's story. Champions provide the steady support CatholicVote needs to respond to today's challenges while building a future where Catholics can live out their faith in public life without fear of being targeted or silenced. Join the Champions Club with a monthly gift of $10 or more. BECOME A CHAMPION