The LOOP
The Tuesday Loop - February 4, 2025
POPE FRANCIS CONDEMNS ‘MURDEROUS PRACTICE OF ABORTION’
“Nothing is worth more than the life of a child,” Pope Francis told world leaders at the first International Summit on Children’s Rights yesterday in Rome. Due to a “throwaway mentality” in which “the human being becomes all-powerful,” he said, “unborn life is sacrificed through the murderous practice of abortion.”
TRUDEAU COMMITS TO TACKLING BORDER, FENTANYL AFTER TARIFFS
President Donald Trump made a deal Monday requiring Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to provide choppers, nearly 10,000 border personnel, and other resources to tackle illegal immigration and fentanyl on his side of the United States’ northern border. Trump will lift his tariffs against Canada for 30 days as part of the agreement.
MEXICO COMMITS 10K TROOPS TO HELP CONTROL BORDER, FENTANYL
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed Monday to provide 10,000 troops at the Mexico-United States border to help stop illegal migration and tackle the deadly fentanyl drug trade. In exchange, Trump agreed to pause a 25% tariff he had imposed on Mexico Saturday.
ARCHBISHOP CELEBRATES END OF BIDEN MILITARY ABORTION POLICY
Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese of Military Services celebrated the Trump administration’s move to end taxpayer-funded abortion travel in the military, and called for abortion to be prohibited in Veterans’ Affairs hospitals as well. Archbishop Broglio is president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
TRUMP ADMIN CAPTURES FOREIGN AID AGENCY
Trump, together with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, closed down the headquarters of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Monday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has now been handed the reins to USAID, which is responsible for distributing foreign aid.
CILLIZZA APOLOGIZES FOR FAULTY COVID REPORTING
Journalist Chris Cillizza recently apologized for the assumptions he made in his 2020 CNN coverage of the origin of COVID-19. His apology came after the CIA under Trump revealed that the virus likely originated in the Wuhan lab in China. Trump “was right,” Cillizza wrote. “And Anthony Fauci was wrong.”
LOOPcast
Trump said the magic word, tariffs, and the other countries jumped to comply. Does this mean no more avocados? He also froze foreign aid. Cruelty or capability? The DNC met to vote on their chair – all that DEI talk and two white men take the throne? And during black history month too! All this and more on the!
MERCH
Check out CatholicVote's American saints shirts, hoodies, tote bags, blankets, and more! Each of these items features a list of all the American saints (as of right now!). A perfect way to show off your Catholic American pride.
DOCTOR INDICTED FOR MAILING ABORTION PILLS TO LOUISIANA
A Louisiana grand jury has indicted a New York physician for mailing abortion pills into the state in violation of a pro-life state law that classifies abortion drugs as Schedule IV controlled substances. The doctor reportedly mailed the abortion pills at the request of a Louisiana woman, who then coerced her pregnant minor daughter into taking them against her will.
HEAD OF DALLAS CATHOLIC SCHOOLS BACKS SCHOOL CHOICE BILL
Diocese of Dallas Catholic schools Superintendent Rebecca Hammel has indicated that the diocese backs Texas’ school choice legislation. It “is a game-changer” for parents to be able to choose where each of their children goes to school, Hammel said.
UNHAPPY AI SOCIETY
Robotizing certain jobs saves money and time and ultimately makes us all richer and therefore happier, right? Plus, it’s going to happen anyway, and we have to adapt with progress, right? Actually, current AI trends could mean human beings interact less and therefore become unhappier. Here’s a suggestion for another way.
CATHOLIC 101
The Carmelite nuns of Fairfield, Pennsylvania, offer a reflection on the role of the cloistered, contemplative life in the Church. this inspirational video and catch some rare glimpses of the inner life of a monastery.
SAINT OF THE DAY
St. Joseph of Leonessa (1556-1612) became a Capuchin Franciscan friar at 17. He soon became renowned for his preaching, his ceaseless prayer, and his devotion to the poor. Joseph served as a chaplain to thousands of Christian slaves in Muslim-controlled Constantinople. There, he was later arrested and miraculously survived hanging on the gallows for three days.
DAILY PSALM
“They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.” (Psalm 22:27)
DAILY READINGS
Today's Mass readings.
BEAUTY
Discover the breathtaking majesty of Gothic architecture in these 22 incredible churches, from Paris’ Sainte-Chapelle to Vienna’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Scroll through this X thread to see the unbelievably intricate work human hands have wrought to glorify our Creator.