The LOOP
The Friday Loop - April 25, 2025
JUDGE BLOCKS ADMIN EFFORT TO RID SCHOOLS OF DEI
A federal judge in New Hampshire issued a temporary injunction Thursday, blocking the Trump administration’s directive aimed at curbing race-based diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in K-12 schools.
COURT STOPS NORTH CAROLINA ELECTION SECURITY EFFORT
A federal appeals court blocked election officials from verifying ballots in North Carolina's Supreme Court race. Democratic incumbent candidate Justice Allison Riggs requested the order after lower courts, including the state Supreme Court, ruled that Republican candidate Justice Jefferson Griffin could request that ballots be cured.
TRUMP BRINGS 'TRANS' MILITARY POLICY TO SCOTUS
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court Thursday to lift lower court injunctions and reinstate its ban on “transgender” military personnel, arguing the rulings undermine executive authority and endanger national security.
MELINDA GATES: 'LIBERAL PRIEST' HELPED HER REJECT CHURCH TEACHING
Melinda French Gates said she experienced “almost a crisis of faith” before embracing a pro-contraception stance, citing a “very liberal” priest as a key influence in her decision to diverge from Catholic teaching.
MOST AMERICAN CATHOLICS VIEWED POPE FRANCIS FAVORABLY
More than three-quarters of US Catholics viewed Pope Francis favorably in early 2025 and consistently gave him positive ratings across his papacy, a Pew Research Center survey discovered.
HOMESCHOOLERS VICTORIOUS AT SCIENCE COMPETITION
A Colorado homeschool group won the state title of a Science Olympiad tournament April 5, with both middle and high school divisions taking first place in the competition at the University of Colorado Springs.
NOTORIOUS LATE-TERM ABORTION FACILITY CLOSES
Boulder Abortion Clinic, one of the last facilities in the country aborting third-trimester babies, closed its doors last week. The Colorado facility’s abortionist Warren Hern stated: “I must now leave this sacred commitment to others.”
SO MUCH NEWS
Here are the stories we couldn’t fit in today’s LOOP: • A homeschooler was denied his medal after winning first place. • Political ads work overtime to cover for suspect abortion facilities. • LA's archbishop today will offer a memorial Mass for Pope Francis.
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CARLO ACUTIS FILM KEEPS RELEASE SCHEDULE
The film “Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality” will proceed with its release date following Pope Francis’ death. The release date was planned to fall on April 27, the day Blessed Carlo Acutis was scheduled to be canonized. After the pope’s death, the Vatican postponed the canonization.
SECOND IRISH CATHOLIC CHURCH BURNS
On Easter Monday, a fire broke out at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Dublin — the second Catholic church in Ireland to be affected by fire during the holiday weekend, following a serious incident in Derrybeg, County Donegal.
KIDS AND FRIENDSHIP
Here are three thoughts then on how couples can make raising children the cause and context of deepening their own friendship.
CATHOLIC 101
“God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven," states the Baltimore Catechism. That's a good introduction to this excellent answer to the question, "Why do we go to Mass?"
SAINT OF THE DAY
Today is the feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist, the author of the second Gospel. He wrote the Gospel in Greek for the Gentile converts to Christianity. Saint Mark is often depicted as a winged lion in religious art.
DAILY PSALM
“The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone." (Psalm 118:22)
DAILY READINGS
Today's Mass readings.
HEARTWARMING
French-Argentine nun Sister Geneviève Jeanningros was granted a rare exception to protocol at St. Peter’s Basilica, allowing her to enter a space typically reserved for clergy to quietly pay her respects at the coffin of Pope Francis.