SCOTUS denies Trump’s emergency request to enforce mail-in ballot restrictions; States, cities sue Trump to block immigration rule on public benefits; Mitch McConnell resurfaces after months of missed votes; Virginia bishop urges Catholics to vote NO this fall on threats to sacredness of human life and sanctity of marriage; More moral mayhem in Massachusetts: Catholic family fights state for custody of teenage daughter following school’s gender transition; Swedish government swings Left in tight race, immigrant vote decisive; Catholic theologian who defended Trump’s immigration policies takes job at DHS; Latest Leftist move by Hungary’s new government shutters Victims of Communism Museum; Pope Leo’s “Freedom Under Grace’ hits bookshelves today; Today Catholics honor the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows; and more —
SCOTUS denies Trump’s request to enforce mail-in ballot restrictions
The Supreme Court denied President Donald Trump’s emergency request to enforce mail-in ballot restrictions, the latest setback in his legal efforts. Though the court decided in the Trump administration’s favor regarding mail-in ballot restrictions, it won’t enforce them for the midterm elections. The administration had filed an emergency measure to try to enforce the restrictions before the pivotal elections.
See @dcexaminer
Mamdani, Letitia James sue to block Trump admin from refusing immigrants over welfare status
Several major cities and counties across the country are joining New York’s lawsuit, including Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Santa Clara County and King County, Mamdani said.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is suing President Donald Trump’s administration over plans to expand federal authority to deny visa and green card applications based on welfare status.
The lawsuit, filed jointly with NY Attorney General Letitia James, targets the Trump administration’s plan to expand the “public charge” rule, which allows the federal government to deny visa applications based on the likelihood that the applicant will receive public benefits. Trump’s administration seeks to expand the list of benefits that apply under the rule, with the change taking effect Sept. 18.
“If you are a citizen, or an individual seeking humanitarian relief like asylum, these changes will not affect you,” Mamdani said at a press conference Monday. “The new public charge rule not only sweeps aside more than a century of established law, it is intentionally vague as a means of creating uncertainty and fear to isolate immigrant New Yorkers.”
“Make no mistake, this is an undisguised effort to strip New Yorkers of the services they rely on, the public benefits they are entitled to,” he continued.
Mamdani claimed that up to 4 million people could be forced to unenroll from their healthcare under the new rule out of fear their immigration applications could be denied.
Read more at FOX NEWS
Mitch McConnell resurfaces after months of missed votes
Sen. Mitch McConnell votes for the first time in three months, voting to advance nomination of Matthew R. Byrne, Trump’s nominee for US District Judge/Southern District of Ohio.
Watch @OKCFOX
Catholic Massachusetts Family Battling state authorities to get Daughter back after School began to secretly transition her without their knowledge and Removed Her from home
… Devout Catholic parents are fighting in court to regain custody of their 17-year-old daughter, Sophie, and stop Massachusetts authorities from medically transitioning her with high-dose testosterone. In December 2024, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) removed the then 15-year-old from her home because her parents, Joseph and Arlene Kutzko, would not recognize their daughter as a boy due to their faith–an identity change they allege staff at Algonquin Regional High School initiated in secret. Although physical abuse claims against Joseph were deemed unfounded, a permanent restraining order was issued against the family, and DCF cut off contact after the Kutzkos would not call Sophie by a male name or pronouns.
Appearing on the Lighthouse Faith podcast alongside attorney Vernadette Broyles, the devastated parents exposed how DCF has housed their daughter in a boys’ dormitory, stripped away her Catholic faith by denying her Sunday Mass, and put her on birth control and psychiatric drugs. As the family fights DCF’s court attempt to administer testosterone and demands a full psychological evaluation for Sophie, Broyles is pushing Congress to ensure no loving parent’s refusal to transition a child is ever branded as “child abuse.”
Listen/read more at FOX NEWS radio
More about the Catholic family’s legal fight with Massachusetts over the gendering transitionong of their daughter
Watch @approject
A Rare Move by a Virginia Bishop Ahead of Election Day
Catholic Bishop Michael Burbidge says he has never before asked every priest in his diocese to do what he requested this weekend: read a letter at Mass urging Catholics to oppose two Virginia constitutional amendments on abortion and marriage.
Across 70 parishes serving more than 430,000 Catholics in Northern Virginia, worshippers heard Burbidge warn against what he called “two dangerous ballot initiatives”—proposed constitutional amendments that Virginians will decide Nov. 3. Early voting begins Friday. …
“Ballot Question 1 fails to protect the life of the unborn, the health of women, and even fails to respect the rights of parents in the lives of their children. Ballot Question 2 fails to respect the sanctity of marriage as Jesus taught, the sacred union of one man and one woman,” Burbidge told parishioners. “We must vote no to those questions and say yes to truth.” …
“We’re not telling anyone which party to join,” he said. “As matters concerning faith and morals, though, the church speaks clearly, consistently, on human life and marriage, because these are gifts from God.”
Burbidge emphasized that the church’s opposition to the amendments is not tied to a political party, writing in his letter: “The church is not partisan. The church never advocates for or against specific candidates or parties.”
Read more at the Daily Signal
Video: Bishop Burbidge: Catholics Vote No
See @VANewsVanguard
Péter Magyar’s government closing anti-communist museum
Budapest’s iconic House of Terror museum – at a historic site used by both fascist and communist regimes to detain, torture and interrogate supposed enemies of the system, including Church leaders like Cardinal Mindszenty – now closed by Hungary’s new government
See BalazsOrban_HU; see also @AxiomaHungary
Swedish government swings Left in tight race
‘Open borders prevented the right from winning the election‘
Watch @EvaVlaar; read ‘Sweden’s Most Immigrant-Heavy Districts Vote More than 90 Per Cent for Left Bloc’ at the Hungarian Conservative
Catholic theologian takes job in Trump’s Department of Homeland Security
Chad Pecknold, a longtime professor at The Catholic University of America, has begun working for the government agency that oversees immigration enforcement.
A prominent Catholic theologian who has previously defended the Trump administration’s immigration policies on theological grounds has joined the Department of Homeland Security, the agency confirmed.
Chad Pecknold, who has taught theology at The Catholic University of America (Catholic University) since 2008, is now the principal director of public outreach for the department’s Office of Public Engagement.
In a statement provided to the National Catholic Register, the sister news partner of EWTN News, Pecknold said he was “excited” to confirm he had taken the position.
“It is truly an honor to serve my country in this capacity,” he added.
Read more at EWTN NEWS
US bishops urge Trump administration to end mass deportations of Haitians
A few weeks after Temporary Protected Status for Haiti was terminated, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, urged the Trump administration to end mass deportations to Haiti.
In a letter to President Donald Trump dated Sept. 8, Archbishop Coakley wrote, “I implore you to avoid further endangering innocent human life by ceasing the deportation of large numbers of people to Haiti at this time, particularly while there is not an adequate system in place to provide for their safe and orderly reception and reintegration.”
“The current approach will only contribute to the country’s already deepening crisis, undermining your own strategic objectives for the Western Hemisphere,” he said. “Please exercise your authority under the U.S. Constitution to provide deferred enforced departure for Haitians peacefully residing in the United States.”
Read more at Our Sunday Visitor
Pope Leo’s “Freedom Under Grace’ hits bookshelves today
“Freedom Under Grace” brings together the Holy Father’s reflections on the legacy of Saint Augustine that have shaped his spirituality and vision for the world.
See @VaticanNews
Today is the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
The Seven Sorrows: The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34-35). The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15). The loss of the child Jesus in Jerusalem (Luke 2:41-50). Mary meeting Jesus on the way to the Cross (John 19:17). The Crucifixion and death of Jesus (John 19:25-30). The taking down of Jesus’ body from the Cross (John 19:38-40). The burial of Jesus (John 19:41-42).
See at FriarMario; see also @father_rmv
The Seven Sorrows of Mary according to Venerable Bishop Sheen
Listen/watch at Solatium Miserorum
The Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary
Pray at The Catholic Crusade
