WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

TRUMP ISSUES STARK WARNING TO IRAN IN WIDE-RANGING UN SPEECH President Donald Trump said he is poised to make a “big decision” on the war with Iran, threatening to “annihilate the Islamic Republic” if it rejects a deal. His address to world leaders also targeted Cuba’s communist government, condemned Christian persecution worldwide, and rejected global artificial intelligence regulation. READ

VIRGINIA’S ‘DATA CENTER ALLEY’ AND A CATHOLIC RESPONSE There are more than 250 data centers in Northern Virginia, impacting jobs, parishes, and local residents. Some have weighed in on benefits, and others speak out about concerns brought by the unprecedented concentration of the massive, windowless facilities. An Arlington diocesan official told Zeale News that Catholics can find resources in Catholic Social Teaching and community when engaging in these developments. READ

POLL: MAJORITY OF DEMS REACT POSITIVELY TO 4 PATHS TO TRUMP REMOVAL Nearly six in 10 Democratic voters said they would react positively if military leaders removed President Donald Trump to “safeguard the Constitution,” while more than half said the same about him dying in his sleep. READ

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ATTORNEYS: CALIFORNIA FAILED TO SHOW ABORTION PILL REVERSAL HARM California’s attorney general wants to levy $25 million in fines and institute a gag order against two pregnancy care networks over their efforts to help mothers who change their minds after taking medication for a chemical abortion. Defense attorneys for the pro-life ministries believe the record shows no woman has ever been harmed by abortion pill reversal. READ

SOCIALIST GROUPS MOBILIZE AUSTIN ANTI-ICE PROTEST A demonstration formed within hours of an ICE shooting in Texas as several socialist and communist organizations directed supporters to the scene. One group’s call for what it described as a “spontaneous protest” offers a closer look at how the demonstration came together. READ

HHS LAUNCHES AUTISM RESEARCH PROGRAM The Department of Health and Human Services announced a new research initiative to improve autism diagnosis and individualized care. “Autism is not one-size-fits-all, and our science and care cannot be either,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said. READ

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STATE RECORDS SHED LIGHT ON CATHOLIC FAMILY’S CUSTODY FIGHT FOR DAUGHTER A Massachusetts Catholic couple is continuing the fight to regain custody of their 17-year-old daughter and prevent state officials from administering testosterone to her as part of a gender “transition.” After Democratic Gov. Maura Healey cited criminal charges while disputing the parents’ account, newly reported DCF records revealed the state agency found no reasonable cause to believe the parents had abused their daughter. READ

MAN ACCUSED OF THREATENING 2 SOUTH DAKOTA CATHOLIC CHURCHES A South Dakota man allegedly threatened to bring an AR-15 to a Catholic church and “shoot it up,” months after he was charged in a separate threat involving the state’s Cathedral of St. Joseph. READ

A GIRL'S GUIDE TO SHOPPING FOR A WEARABLE MIRACULOUS MEDAL Nearly 200 years ago, the Blessed Mother appeared to Sister Catherine Labouré in the image now associated with the Miraculous Medal. Here's a roundup of some of our favorite Miraculous Medal pieces to remind you of Mary's endless love. READ

CATHOLIC 101 Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s enduring popularity is not just for Catholics but for broader American culture, partly because of his unique “unapologetic masculine gravitas paired with luminous warmth,” writes Zeale’s William Nardi. READ

SAINT OF THE DAY One of the most beloved saints of the 20th century, St. Padre Pio spent his life drawing souls toward the mercy of God through prayer, suffering, and a priesthood centered on Christ. READ

DAILY PSALM "Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.” (Psalm 119) READ

DAILY READINGS Today's Mass readings. READ

BASILICA OR MOSQUE? Steve Cortes visits Lewiston, Maine, an American city experiencing the damaging effects of massive third-world Muslim migration. Check out the latest from Cortes Investigates, out now on Zeale. WATCH

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