The LOOP
The Saturday Loop - February 1, 2025
PENTAGON ENDS TAXPAYER ABORTION FUNDING IN MILITARY
The Pentagon has officially revoked a policy imposed under the Biden administration that used taxpayer dollars to facilitate abortions in the military. Pro-life Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, who fought the Biden-era rule for nearly a year, celebrated the change, saying “it was all worth it.”
WHITE HOUSE HOLDS ROUNDTABLE TO ADVANCE SCHOOL CHOICE
The White House hosted a school choice roundtable with top state officials Friday to advance education freedom nationwide. A senior Trump administration official told reporter Mary Margaret Olohan that the president “wants parents throughout the nation to be empowered to direct their children’s education.”
HOSPITALS PAUSE CHILD ‘TRANS’ PROCEDURES AFTER TRUMP ORDER
Multiple hospitals, including one in Washington, D.C., have paused so-called “gender-affirming” procedures on children following an executive order President Donald Trump signed this week against the “mutilation” of minors.
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HEROES AND ZEROES
You deserve to know exactly where our Catholic leaders stand – both the heroes who are standing up for the truth and the “zeroes” who cause grave scandal. Here are the Catholic Accountability Project’s “Heroes & Zeroes” of the month of January.
HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: ‘FIGHT THE MAGA AGENDA IN THE STREETS’
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, said Friday that the political left will “fight” the “extreme MAGA Republican agenda” both “in the courts” and “in the streets.” The White House quickly asked the Democratic leader to “apologize for this disgusting threat.”
'GENDER IDEOLOGY' BANISHED FROM FEDERAL WORKPLACES
The Trump administration’s Office of Personnel Management issued a memo this week ordering the end of all federal “programs that use taxpayer money to promote or reflect gender ideology” by 5:00 p.m. EST Friday. Federal workers reported being ordered to remove LGBT “pronouns” from their email signatures.
LOOPcast
Trump blames DEI for the devastating plane crash… is he wrong? RFK, Kash Patel, and Tulsi Gabbard take center stage in confirmation hearings – and JD Vance shows off his Latin. We talk women in combat and what to do with your toddler at Mass. Finally, is “The Little House on the Prairie” about to be wokified? All this and more with the!
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WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR FRIEND IS GRIEVING
“On August 31, 2024, my fiancé unexpectedly died one month before our wedding,” writes Sarah Stark. “Although there were no words from my family or friends that took away the pain, there were moments when God spoke to me through others. In my experience of grief, these four gifts had a genuine impact. Perhaps these are ways by which you can show love to your friend, too.”
RECIPES FOR THE BIG GAME
Now’s the time to think ahead about the snacks for the big game. No need to grab something last-minute that’s second-rate and full of unpronounceable additives. Magnolia’s got all the recipe ideas you could possibly need!
NO MANLINESS WITHOUT RISK
A Cretian shepherd creeps toward his neighbor’s flock to steal a goat. A Comanche warrior stalks a soldier with the objective of touching him with a stick and retreating unharmed. A neurosurgeon stands over an exposed brain with a scalpel in his hand. Through initiation rites, tests, and jobs, men have always taken risks to prove themselves. Why is risk-taking so vital to manliness?
CATHOLIC 101
On February 2, the Catholic Church observes the Feast of Candlemas, when Joseph and Mary presented Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem 40 days after His birth. Here’s all you need to know about this underappreciated – but magnificent! – Catholic holiday.
SAINT OF THE DAY
Though consecrated religious life for women existed before her time, St. Brigid of Ireland (c. 450 - c. 525) is credited as the foundress of communal religious life for women in Ireland. Brigid traveled across Ireland to found new monastic houses and was widely sought after by prominent clergy for advice.
SATURDAY'S PSALM
“Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.” (Luke 1:68)
SATURDAY'S READINGS
Saturday's Mass readings.
SUNDAY’S PSALM
“Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!” (Psalm 24:8)
SUNDAY’S READINGS
Sunday's Mass readings.
ANSWER TO THE TRIVIA
Franciscan University of Steubenville
BEAUTY
Rose Church reflects on a famous fresco of Giotto’s that invites us to be present at the encounter between Simeon and the Christ. Walk through a meditation for today’s feast with this artistic masterpiece!