The LOOP

The Thursday Loop - May 1, 2025

SENATE COMMITTEE ADVANCES VATICAN AMBASSADOR NOMINEE

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted yesterday to advance the nomination of CatholicVote President Brian Burch as US Ambassador to the Holy See. The committee voted 12–10 to approve Burch’s nomination.

UKRAINE SIGNS MINERAL DEAL WITH US

The White House announced Wednesday evening that the US has officially signed a long-anticipated agreement with Ukraine, establishing a joint investment fund focused on natural resource development and reconstruction.

DEM LEADERS TRY TO REIN IN CONTROVERSIAL DEPORTATION STANCE

Democratic lawmakers are urging fellow party members to stop their trips to El Salvador in response to growing backlash over efforts to retrieve Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported illegal immigrant and MS-13 gang member.

SUPREME COURT LEANS IN FAVOR OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

The Supreme Court appears to be leaning in favor of an Oklahoma Catholic school being the nation’s first publicly funded religious charter institution after hearing oral arguments Wednesday in the pivotal religious freedom case.

WHAT YOU NEED: THE PAPACY FOR ALL AGES & NON-CATHOLICS TOO

While the world waits for a new pope, explain what it all means to children, teens, and adults. Dispel 30 myths with Patrick Madrid’s best-selling book “Pope Fiction.” Excite children with the “Glory Story” of the first pope or explain the conclave step-by-step—and much more. Holy Heroes has over a dozen “pope products” to choose from.

TEXAS SENATE UNANIMOUSLY PASSES LIFE OF THE MOTHER ACT

The Texas Senate has unanimously passed the Life of the Mother Act (Senate Bill 31), a bipartisan measure designed to clarify when doctors can legally perform emergency medical interventions during pregnancy.

JUDGE IN SANCTUARY CITIES CASE QUASHED PRO-LIFE EXPOSÉ

An Obama-appointed judge who blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order denying federal funds to "sanctuary cities" also protected the abortion industry by barring the release of undercover videos exposing the sale of aborted baby body parts. Pro-life journalist David Daleiden spoke with CatholicVote about the judge's pro-abortion record.

SO MUCH NEWS

Here are the stories we couldn’t fit in today’s LOOP: • A Texas bill would up penalties for abortion pill trafficking. • The New York assembly passed a controversial death bill. • The latest Mass for Pope Francis featured a special prayer for him.

PRO-LIFERS, PICK UP THE PHONE

Switch to Charity Mobile, the pro-life phone company!

NEW NIGERIAN DIOCESE LAYS OUT MISSION

A new Catholic diocese in Nigeria recently developed a pastoral plan and mission. The Diocese of Katsina includes more than 19,000 Catholics, and the area’s total population is nearly 10 million.

CATHOLIC NATIONAL MARINERS DAY SET FOR MAY 22

The Catholic Church’s apostolate for those who work at sea, Stella Maris, has set May 22 as the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Mariners and People of the Sea in the US.

LOOPcast

One hundred days of Trump have passed, and the writes his report card. Did Trump sabotage the Canadian election? The Amish are amazing, there’s a hetero party in Idaho, and we get the full origin story of Erika, Josh, and Tom right here on the!

CATHOLIC 101

Here's an encouraging reflection on the Apostles' joyful acceptance of suffering for Christ. They considered it an honor to suffer "dishonor" for God, and rejoiced when many of us would be tempted to despair.

SAINT OF THE DAY

Today is the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker. Pope Saint John Paul II once said of Saint Joseph that his "heart ceaselessly perseveres in the readiness to accept the Truth contained in the word of the Living God."

DAILY PSALM

"The Lord hears the cry of the poor." (Psalm 34:7)

DAILY READINGS

Today's Mass readings.

PRAY ALONG WITH CARDINAL BURKE'S CONCLAVE NOVENA

Cardinal Raymond Burke has composed a novena prayer for the selection of our next pope. Let's pray this together every day!