The LOOP

The Thursday Loop - August 13, 2026

CATHOLICVOTE ASKS BISHOPS TO CONSIDER MASSACHUSETTS GOV'S EXCOMMUNICATION

CatholicVote President Kelsey Reinhardt is calling on Massachusetts' Catholic bishops to publicly state that Gov. Maura Healey incurred automatic excommunication by signing legislation that expands legal protections for abortion until the moment of birth, arguing that the Church must respond more forcefully to what the bishops have described as a radical expansion of late-term abortion access.

KAROLINE LEAVITT STEPPING DOWN TO FOCUS ON FAMILY

Karoline Leavitt is leaving her role as White House press secretary at the end of August to spend more time with her children and family. Leavitt called the move a "bittersweet decision," saying that since returning to the White House after the birth of her second child, she has felt "that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary."

BOSTON ARCHBISHOP CONDEMNS MASSACHUSETTS ABORTION BILL

Boston Archbishop Richard Henning condemned Massachusetts’ newly enacted law allowing abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy and urged the faithful to continue defending unborn life. “The passage and signing of a bill radically expanding abortion in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” he said, “is a grave offense against the sanctity and dignity of every person.”

WISCONSIN DEM DEFEATS SOCIALIST RIVAL, THEN JOINS HER ON 'UNITY TOUR'

After narrowly defeating democratic socialist Francesca Hong in Wisconsin's Aug. 11 Democratic gubernatorial primary, nominee David Crowley said he would campaign alongside his former rival on a statewide “unity tour” aimed at reuniting the party's progressive and establishment wings. Crowley won by slightly more than 3,000 votes, interrupting a string of Democratic primary victories by progressive candidates.

TRUMP ADMIN REVOKES MORE THAN 175,000 VISAS

The State Department announced Aug. 10 that it has revoked more than 175,000 visas from foreign nationals under President Donald Trump, citing criminal activity, calls for violence against Americans, fraud, abuse of the immigration system, and threats to national security.

PRIEST LEADS SIGN OF PEACE DURING WHITE SOX GAME

During the fifth inning of the Aug. 11 White Sox baseball game in Chicago, a local Catholic priest led the fans in offering each other a sign of peace, capturing a moment inspired by the Mass part and in harmony with the Chicago native Pope’s first words of his pontificate, “Peace be with you!”

SPLC DIRECTOR ARRESTED ON FRAUD CHARGES

Former Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) intelligence director Heidi Beirich was arrested Aug. 12 in California on federal fraud and money laundering charges stemming from allegations that she helped oversee secret payments to informants inside white supremacist groups, including one with whom she allegedly lived and had a romantic relationship, according to CNN.

O JESUS, I SURRENDER MYSELF TO YOU, TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING!

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POPE LEO: REDISCOVER SUNDAY AS THE 'WEEKLY EASTER'

Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics during his General Audience yesterday to reclaim Sunday as the Lord’s Day, emphasizing that the Eucharist draws the faithful into Christ’s Resurrection and directs them toward the hope of his return. “Springing from the Resurrection,” the Pope said, Sunday “cuts through human time, the months, the years, the centuries, like a directional arrow which points them towards their target: Christ’s Second Coming.”

OAKLAND CATHOLIC SCHOOL DISPLAYS NEW LGBT SYMBOL

After the Diocese of Oakland asked one of its Catholic high schools to remove pride flags displayed on campus, the school replaced them with a new rainbow-colored "Inclusive O" symbol meant to affirm its “LGBTQ+” community.

WHAT PARTNER DANCING CAN TEACH YOU ABOUT MARRIAGE

“In many ways, a good dance reflects a beautiful marriage,” Zeale’s Grace Porto writes. “The man must lead without dominating. The woman must follow without being listless or inactive. The man and woman create something more beautiful than either of them could achieve on their own; the dancing couple is more than the sum of its parts.” Here’s what couples can learn from the dance floor.

CATHOLIC 101

We may sometimes feel tempted to lump prayer together with wellness or health, as if it were a baptized version of mindfulness, but, as Pope Leo reminds us, prayer is about a relationship, not just about ourselves.

SAINT OF THE DAY

Once divided by schism, Saints Pontian and Hippolytus reconciled under Roman persecution in the third century and endured exile together, ultimately giving their lives for Christ as martyrs.

DAILY PSALM

"Do not forget the works of the Lord!" (Psalm 78)

DAILY READINGS

Today's Mass readings.

NEW EPISODE

David Crowley defeats Francesca Hong in a stunning Democratic gubernatorial primary upset. Meanwhile, AOC laughs off the insanity of “Woke 1.0.” And finally, newly revealed Fauci texts raise serious concerns about the COVID vaccination during pregnancy. All this and more on the LOOPcast! WATCH ON ZEALE

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