The LOOP
The Friday Loop - September 19, 2025
SENATE PASSES BILL TO HONOR CHARLIE KIRK WITH 'NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE'
The Senate unanimously voted yesterday to make Oct. 14, 2025, a national day of remembrance for Charlie Kirk. The measure honors the late conservative leader’s contributions to civic life, faith, and public discourse.
AMERICA 250 CIVICS EDUCATION COALITION LAUNCHES
CatholicVote President Kelsey Reinhardt attended the inaugural meeting for the America 250 Civics Education Coalition this week, a nationwide effort to expand civics education. "We need to study basic civics, which teaches that rights and duties go together, and both spring from the dignity of the human person made in the image and likeness of God," Reinhardt said.
JOIN CATHOLICVOTE'S ST MICHAEL NOVENA
CatholicVote is calling the faithful to join its annual St. Michael Novena, urging Catholics across the nation to unite in a spiritual battle for the soul of the country. The novena begins tomorrow with intentions for the protection of the unborn and the vulnerable, and an end to political violence.
TRUMP ADMIN TO END FEDERAL FUNDING OF ABORTED FETAL TISSUE RESEARCH
The Trump administration is aiming to stop the Biden-approved federal funding of aborted fetal tissue research, citing ethical problems with issuing $22 million in grants for the research. A researcher for the National Right to Life said the White House's approach overhauls Biden-era policies that lifted restrictions from President Donald Trump's first term.
TPUSA BOARD UNANIMOUSLY NAMES ERIKA KIRK NEW CEO
Turning Point USA named Erika Kirk, the wife of late founder Charlie Kirk, as its new CEO and board chair, fulfilling her husband's expressed wishes before his death. "In prior discussions, Charlie expressed to multiple executives that this is what he wanted in the event of his death," the organization said.
TEXAS FAMILY WELCOMES FIRST BABY GIRL IN MORE THAN 100 YEARS
Michael and Joacquia Sherman recently found out that they are expecting a baby girl, the first to be born to the family since 1917. To celebrate the news, Joacquia threw a surprise party for her husband when he came home from his shift as a lieutenant firefighter.
MOTHER OF ANNUNCIATION SHOOTING SURVIVOR SPEAKS OUT
A Minneapolis mother whose 4-year-old son survived last month’s deadly shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church is calling for a moral and spiritual reckoning in the aftermath of the tragedy. In an essay this week, Cally Proctor recalled what she described as the most traumatic 15 minutes of her life after a friend's text alerted her to the attack.
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ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS KILL AT LEAST 64 IN CONGO CHURCH ATTACK
Islamic extremists reportedly attacked people in a Catholic church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo earlier this month, leaving at least 64 dead.
PRAY WITH REFINE: ST MICHAEL NOVENA OFFERED FOR FAMILIES
CatholicVote’s lifestyle newsletter Refine is inviting families to join a special novena to St. Michael the Archangel — dedicated especially to children. Running alongside CatholicVote's St. Michael Novena, this prayer journey asks St. Michael’s intercession so America’s children can face the world with courage and confidence.
NOT TO BE MISSED
Here are the stories we couldn’t fit in today’s LOOP: • Here's how three American martyrs live on in South Korea. • Erika Kirk, Trump, Vance, and RFK Jr. will speak at the Charlie Kirk public memorial. • Oregon students staged a walkout to protest a teacher's post celebrating Kirk's death.
MAKING SUNDAYS RESTFUL
Fridays are for, says Leila Lawler at her Substack “School for Housewives.” Sunday rest doesn’t happen on its own — you have to plan ahead for it. Here are her tips.
CATHOLIC 101
It can be difficult for Catholics to talk about IVF. They may be hurting for loved ones struggling with infertility, loving the children born from such interventions, or both. But despite what IVF sometimes achieves, it causes a lot of harm and trauma and is often dishonestly pushed on women as the only answer. Author and blogger Emily Stimpson Chapman shares resources for understanding the complicated and thorny issue of IVF.
SAINT OF THE DAY
Today the Church celebrates Saint Emily de Rodat, who was born in France in 1787. She dedicated her life to teaching the poor and caring for the elderly, prisoners, and orphans before her death in 1852.
DAILY PSALM
"Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!" (Psalm 49)
DAILY READINGS
Today's Mass readings.
THE DEEP
Charlie Kirk's death was violent, deliberate, and born of a divided nation. Yet his martyrdom was the beginning of something bigger. this episode of to understand the depths beneath Charlie's politics and the legacy he is leaving behind.