The LOOP
The Friday Loop - November 14, 2025
CV LAUNCHES GUIDE TO IMMIGRATION FOR CATHOLICS
CatholicVote yesterday unveiled "Immigration Enforcement and the Christian Conscience," a new immigration report offering Catholics a centralized resource to navigate Church teaching, U.S. policy, and the moral debates surrounding the nation’s border crisis. "Mercy and justice travel together," wrote CatholicVote President Kelsey Reinhardt. "One without the other distorts both.”
US BISHOPS: NO 'TRANS' WORK AT CATHOLIC HOSPITALS
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) this week officially prohibited Catholic hospitals from providing pro-“transgender” surgical and hormonal procedures. The bishops made the decision in a 206-8 vote with seven abstentions during the USCCB's 2025 Plenary Assembly in Baltimore, Maryland.
TRUMP FACES BACKLASH AFTER REVERSING H-1B POSITION
President Donald Trump defended the H-1B visa program this week, arguing that the U.S. must “bring in talent” from abroad rather than rely solely on American workers. His comments led to an explosion of criticism from the political right, with many commentators pointing out the President's past campaign promises to curtail H-1B and favor workers born in the U.S.
ADMIN DESIGNATES ANTIFA GROUPS 'FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGS'
The State Department is designating as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specifically Designated Global Terrorists four Europe-based groups that the department says are affiliated with Antifa networks. The new designation will require financial institutions to freeze any assets linked to the groups, bar members from entering the country, and open the door to federal prosecutions.
ANALYSIS: UNLESS WAGES RISE, GOP WILL SUFFER IN MIDTERMS
Republicans could lose their edge in the 2026 midterms unless they deliver real wage growth for middle-income Americans, political analyst Jonathan Draeger argued this week in a RealClearPolling piece. Here are the numbers.
KIDS TRIPLE PRO-LIFE ESSAY CONTEST RECORD
American Life League’s pro-life essay contest got a massive number of entries this year from young people. “Each essay is a testament to the passion and influence of these young voices,” said director Katie Brown Xavios, adding that the record participation rate "has filled us with immense hope."
ADMIN OFFICIAL: 'PRO-BIRTH' TALKING POINT IS DEAD
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner said Heartbeat International’s work topples the myth that the pro-life movement cares only for children in the womb — a frequent charge from those supporting abortion. Here's how.
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HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED AT THE USCCB ASSEMBLY
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) advanced the cause of beatification for a Florida-born Jesuit priest, approved the publication of the Catholic American Bible, and added the 2029 National Eucharistic Congress to their calendar this week at their assembly in Baltimore.
CHRISTIAN SCHOOL APOLOGIZES FOR ACCUSING PRO-LIFERS
Texas’ Abilene Christian University (ACU) has apologized after a staff member recently designated a pro-life student group’s sign that “Abortion is murder” as “hate speech.”
NOT TO BE MISSED
Here are the stories we couldn’t fit in today’s LOOP:
MEN: BUILD SOMETHING
Not long ago, a certain trend made waves on TikTok: videos of women asking their men how often they thought about the Roman Empire, with the frequency being hilariously high. While women find this befuddling or amusing, men tend to find it pretty natural. More than fantasizing about some ancient period of macho glory, it reveals a key trait of male psychology that should be encouraged, developed, and channeled toward building things of importance in our own communities.
CATHOLIC 101
Four out of five Americans get their news from digital platforms. But these sources are designed to drive up engagement, which means they're tilted toward outrage, confirmation bias, and division. Add in AI, and the content becomes driven by what SOUNDS true but is really just based on an algorithmic assessment of popular biases. Here's the role that faith must play in this age of digital polarization.
SAINT OF THE DAY
Saint Lawrence O'Toole (1128-1180) was chosen to serve as archbishop of Dublin in 1161. As archbishop, Lawrence was respected for his devotion and his skills as a negotiator. During one trip to England, he was attacked while celebrating Mass. Those present believed he would die, but Lawrence asked for some water and, after blessing it, applied it to his wound, causing it to heal.
DAILY PSALM
"The heavens proclaim the glory of God." (Psalm 19)
DAILY READINGS
Today's Mass readings.
THE DEEP
Zohran Mamdami’s meteoric rise from a seemingly unknown state assemblyman to the next mayor of NYC signals a shift into a new era of politics. In this episode of, Erika breaks down how the age of social media is shaping the world of politics today. Is it dumbing down the electorate? Is it turning politicians into mere influencers whose success is based on their ability to go viral (instead of the quality of their policy ideas)? How should we respond to the "TikTok-ification” of politics?
