The LOOP
The Friday Loop - February 7, 2025
TRUMP SPEAKS AT NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST
Speaking to political and religious leaders at the National Prayer Breakfast yesterday, President Donald Trump said that "faith in God has always been the ultimate source of the strength that beats in the hearts of our nation," and made the case that America must "bring religion back." He also shared that his near-assassination in July “changed” him. “I believed in God [before], but I feel much more strongly about it,” he said. “Let’s bring God back into our lives.”
TRUMP COMMENTS ON GAZA PLAN
Trump Thursday morning clarified his Tuesday announcement that the United States “will take over the Gaza Strip” – explaining that he intends to give Gazans “a chance to be happy, safe, and free.”
TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER AGAINST TARGETING OF CHRISTIANS
Trump signed an executive order yesterday directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead a task force “to immediately halt all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government,” the president said, “including at the DOJ – which was absolutely terrible – the IRS, the FBI – terrible.”
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DEMS DELAY FBI NOMINEE PATEL’S CONFIRMATION VOTE
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday delayed the committee’s vote to advance the confirmation bid of Kash Patel by one week. At his recent confirmation hearing, the FBI nominee vowed to probe and root out anti-Catholic intelligence operations at the Bureau.
VOUGHT CONFIRMED AS TRUMP’S BUDGET CHIEF
The Senate confirmed Russell Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) by a party-line vote of 53-47 yesterday. Senate Democrats had vehemently protested the conservative Christian's confirmation, taking the floor for 30 hours to criticize him as the “architect” of Trump’s ambitious plans to shrink the government and dismantle what he calls the Deep State.
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES A TOP USAID FUNDING RECIPIENT
Forbes recently reported that Catholic Relief Services (CRS) was the top recipient of funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Forbes reported that CRS, a nonprofit, received $4.6 billion from 2013 to 2022. CRS has been the subject of controversy in the past for supporting pro-abortion aid programs.
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MONTANA LEGISLATORS STOP BILL DEMANDING PRIESTS BREAK SEAL
The Montana Senate Judiciary Committee on Jan. 29 tabled a bill that would have required priests to break the seal of Confession. One of the bill’s Democratic cosponsors joined Republicans in stopping the proposal. It would have removed priests’ exemption from mandatory reporting of abuse if such information were disclosed during the Sacrament of Confession.
BIPARTISAN BILL WOULD CAP CREDIT CARD INTEREST RATES AT 10%
Sens. Josh Hawley, R-MO, and Bernie Sanders, I-VT, introduced a bipartisan bill Tuesday that would cap credit card interest rates at 10%. Trump first said he backed a 10% cap while campaigning for president last year, attracting support for the idea from Republicans and Democrats alike. The average rate is now 28.61%.
MOTIVATE YOUR TEEN
Getting teenagers to do their homework every night can be an ongoing battle – prying phones out of their hands, dragging them off of couches, snapping them out of daydreaming stupors… If this sounds like the state of your home, here are 10 tips for motivating your teen to get homework done.
CATHOLIC 101
A spiritual director or confessor recommends that you do some spiritual reading. Okay, but what qualifies as spiritual reading? And what if you’re very busy and sitting down with a book doesn’t seem realistic? Here is Fr. John Bartunek’s advice.
SAINT OF THE DAY
Orphaned at a young age, St. Richard (1197–1253), though born to wealth, preferred a life of study and prayer. He was eventually elected bishop. Richard was also the father of three saints: Willibald, Winnebald, and Walburga.
DAILY PSALM
“The Lord is my light and my salvation.” (Psalm 27:1)
DAILY READINGS
Today's Mass readings.
ARTWORK
“The Virgin as Intercessor” (1628-29) by Sir Anthony van Dyck is a vibrant yet delicate depiction of Our Lady’s Assumption into Heaven. The Blessed Mother is surrounded by angels bearing the instruments of her Divine Son’s passion (cross, crown of thorns, burial veil) and a wreath of roses symbolizing the Holy Rosary. VIEW