The LOOP
The Saturday Loop - October 10, 2026
USCCB CONDEMNS TRUMP ADMIN’S PLAN TO LIVESTREAM EXECUTION FOR PROMOTING ‘CULTURE OF DEATH’
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) President Archbishop Paul Coakley called the War Department’s plan to publicly livestream Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan’s firing-squad execution a “barbaric promotion of a culture of death” that “must be reconsidered.” He warned that a public execution “will only further undermine the moral fabric of our nation and be a blight on the conscience of its people.”
NEW YORK BISHOPS PRAISE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR FOR OPTING INTO FEDERAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
New York’s Catholic bishops applauded Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to participate in a new federal scholarship tax credit program that will help families cover Catholic school tuition and other educational expenses. The bishops called the decision an act of “political courage,” noting that the program will benefit families without reducing public school funding or increasing state spending.
CHURCHPOP EDITOR-IN-CHIEF NAMED NEW PRESIDENT OF EWTN NEWS
Longtime Catholic journalist Ursula Murua, EWTN News’ director of digital strategy and editor-in-chief of ChurchPOP, will become president of EWTN News on Nov. 1, taking over for Montse Alvarado, who will begin her role as prefect of the Dicastery for Communication on the same day.
REMEMBERING MIKE DITKA’S FOOTBALL LEGACY AND CATHOLIC FAITH
Bears legend Mike Ditka died Oct. 9 at 86, leaving a legacy as a Hall of Fame player and Super Bowl-winning coach. Away from the field, he spoke openly about the Catholic faith his mother instilled in him and the importance of the sacraments in his life.
REPUBLICANS OUTRAISE AND OUTSPEND DEMOCRATS IN FINAL WEEKS BEFORE MIDTERM ELECTIONS
With only weeks to go before November’s midterm elections, Republicans and their allies have raised record funds for their campaigns and are on track to vastly outspend Democrats. The GOP’s significant cash advantage only “narrows the battlefield,” former Federal Election Commission chairman Trey Trainor told Zeale News, but it “does not guarantee the outcome.”
JUDGE BARS CATHOLIC SCHOOL FROM USING RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS
A federal judge in Pittsburgh ruled that a Catholic elementary school operated by the Diocese of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, cannot use Title VII’s religious exemptions to dismiss a gay teacher’s sex-discrimination lawsuit. The ruling leaves a jury to decide whether the teacher's duties qualify him for the ministerial exception, which would allow the diocese to fire him for religious reasons.
ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES SUSPENSION OF MAJOR TECH FIRMS FROM GREEN CARD PROGRAM
Vice President JD Vance announced Oct. 8 that the administration is suspending Microsoft, Adobe, and six other tech companies from a program that allows employers to sponsor H-1B visa holders for green cards, accusing them of undercutting American workers.
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POPE LEO APPROVES NEW DEAN OF COLLEGE OF CARDINALS
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, who celebrated Blessed Fulton Sheen’s beatification Mass in St. Louis last month, will lead the College of Cardinals following Pope Leo XIV’s approval of his election. The former archbishop of Manila takes on a role with key responsibilities when the Church elects a new pope.
CHESTERTON SCHOOLS EXPAND AS FAMILIES SEEK FAITH AND VIRTUE
Seventeen new Chesterton academies are scheduled to open in the U.S. and abroad in 2027. In interviews with Zeale News, co-founder Dale Ahlquist and a founder of the planned Winston-Salem school explain why families are seeking an education that integrates Catholic faith, learning, and virtue.
9 UNIQUE WEDDING GIFTS
When the registry is too impersonal for a child, godchild, or good friend who is tying the knot, check out these ideas for a meaningful gift that assures the bride and groom of your love, support, and joy on their happy day and for the years to come.
SAINT OF THE DAY
The son of one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in Europe, St. Francis Borgia renounced his aristocratic title and wealth to dedicate himself entirely to Christ.
SATURDAY'S PSALM
"The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.” (Psalm 105)
SATURDAY'S READINGS
Today's Mass readings.
SUNDAY'S PSALM
"I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.” (Psalm 23)
SUNDAY'S READINGS
Sunday's Mass readings.
ANSWER TO TRIVIA
The Detection Club. Msgr. Knox was a member of the London-based club for mystery writers, which included G.K. Chesterton, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Agatha Christie.
HEROES & ZEROES
See who stood up for Catholic values in public life last month and who let the side down. Read, part of the Catholic Accountability Project from CatholicVote. HERE
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