The LOOP
The Wednesday Loop - July 23, 2025
'THE CHURCH WILL NEVER ABANDON GAZA'
At a press conference yesterday after visiting Gaza, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III joined their voices to Pope Leo's in condemning the violence and forced starvation against civilians there. “Christ is not absent from Gaza,” the Cardinal said. “He is there — crucified in the wounded, buried under rubble, and yet present in every act of mercy.”
REPORT: CHILD MIGRANT HOTLINE FAILED TO ACT ON 65K CALLS
A special Biden-Harris administration “hotline” for the protection of migrant children failed to respond to 65,000 calls, anti-trafficking expert Ali Hopper told House lawmakers this month. The calls included reports of neglect and abuse. In one case, "a child’s call was reporting that grown men were coming into his room at night and they were touching him," Hopper testified. "Nothing happened with that call.”
HOUSE JUDICIARY: FBI SPIED ON CATHOLIC PRIEST
The FBI spied on a Catholic priest, investigating his background, monitoring his travel plans, and looking into his credit card information, after he refused to share details of a parishioner’s conversion, according to a new House Judiciary report. The new revelation about the FBI Richmond office raises more concerns about religious freedom violations in connection to the agency's memo targeting what it called "radical" Catholics.
HHS LAUNCHES REFORMS AFTER ORGANS HARVESTED FROM LIVING PATIENTS
The US Health Department is launching reforms after finding a federally funded organ agency allowed organ harvesting from donors showing signs of life.
UNKNOWN VANDAL DEFACES PENNSYLVANIA CHURCH
The Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has released photos of vandalism perpetrated earlier this month at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church. The images show spray-painted symbols on a statue of the Blessed Mother and buildings at the property defaced.
HOW TO WATCH JUBILEE OF YOUNG PEOPLE
As more than 3,500 young adults prepare to travel from the US to Rome for the Jubilee of Young People July 30, the US Bishops are offering online resources for people to participate in the events from afar.
GAZA CHURCH PASTOR RECALLS DETAILS OF ATTACK
Father Gabriel Rominelli, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church, gave his perspective on Israel's July 17 attack. The strike killed three and seriously wounded others. Fr. Rominelli shelters hundreds of Gazans whose homes have been destroyed, and he is calling for aid to the wounded. "Most of the hospitals in the strip have been destroyed," he said.
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NEW SEX ABUSE SUITS BROUGHT IN TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO DIOCESES
Two Catholic dioceses along the Texas-New Mexico border are facing legal complaints linked to allegations of child sexual abuse involving several priests and parishes between 1956 and 1990.
UK ARCHBISHOP SOUNDS ALARM OVER GROWING ABORTION RATE
After a recent report revealed that nearly 30% of all conceptions in England and Wales ended in abortion in 2022, the archbishop of Liverpool this month called for efforts to create a culture that protects unborn children and supports parents in need.
WHEN SOMEONE LETS YOU DOWN
Did someone let you down? Jesus gets it. You don't have to pretend it doesn't hurt, but there is a healthy Christian way forward. Here's what it looks like.
CATHOLIC 101
Saint Augustine was not the first or the last to chart the cycle of lust. He struggled with it immensely and wrote about it powerfully. Here, Regis Martin revisits Augustine’s lifelong war with sin — not to despair, but to show how grace chases us even in failure.
SAINT OF THE DAY
Since she was a child, Saint Bridget of Sweden had a deep devotion to the Passion of Christ. She later married and had eight children, including Saint Catherine of Sweden. In one of Bridget’s visions, she received a powerful series of fifteen prayers meditating on Christ’s Passion. In another, Our Lady gave Bridget seven promises for Christians who are devoted to the Seven Sorrows of Mary.
DAILY PSALM
"The Lord gave them bread from heaven." (Psalm 78:24)
DAILY READINGS
Today's Mass readings.
LOOPcast
Is the Babylon Bee anti-Catholic? Tulsi Gabbard reveals the details of the Obama-Russia hoax, while Trump picks a fight with the Wall Street Journal’s most recent Epstein article. Scottie Scheffler has an adorable kid, Confession is cool, and Josh takes a stand in defense of home decor. All this and more on the!