By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet, Human Life International – On January 1, New York’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, was inaugurated. Mamdani has repeatedly described himself as a “democratic socialist,” and in his inaugural speech he doubled down on this self-identification…. At one point in his speech, Mamdani promised to “replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.” In a sharply worded post on X, Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester and the founder of Word on Fire responded to this line, saying that it “took my breath away.” 

By Pedro Rodriguez, The Daily Signal – Republican officials believe President Donald Trump is close to “freeing the people of Cuba,” as whistleblowers claimed the Trump administration eyes regime change in Cuba by the end of 2026… The administration has allegedly been in search of Cuban insiders who can help execute a regime change on the island… “All signs point to that [end to the communist regime],” Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla… Before communism took hold of Cuba in 1959, the island was home to a thriving economy with dominance in key agricultural industries such as sugar and coffee. In contrast, the Cuban people now earn less than $8 a month.

By Mark Haas, Catholic Exchange – Throughout history, human beings have oriented their prayer toward what is holy. Muslims pray toward Mecca. The ancient Jewish people prayed toward Jerusalem, longing for the restoration of the Temple. Christians, from the earliest centuries, have prayed facing East—ad orientem—toward the rising sun. This ancient practice expresses a profound truth of faith: we are oriented toward the rising Son, Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, the true Temple raised in three days (Jn 2:19). …

Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – Mark 3:13-19 – 13 And he went up on the mountain, and called to him those whom he desired; and they came to him. 4 And he appointed twelve, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons: 16 Simon whom he surnamed Peter; 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, whom he surnamed Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; ….

By Nancy Flanders, Live Action News – On January 22, Live Action presented findings from a video investigation, white paper, and more, all demonstrating the dangers of the abortion pill and calling for HHS and the FDA to take “immediate, corrective action.”… Live Action’s white paper and video investigation show evidence of regulatory noncompliance and patient harm, as the abortion pill is now available via telehealth and through the mail… The video investigation reveals how Planned Parenthood fails to require safety measures, functioning as a drug dispensary instead of providing real care for women. This process puts women at increased risk.

By Dr. R. Jared Staudt, Catholic World Report – Volunteering in the Pro-Life movement in the 1990s, I remember praying for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, as if it would immediately end the abortion problem in the United States. As a high schooler, it seemed like a simple enough solution. Roe v. Wade caused the mess, so getting rid of it should take care of things. But now, after Dobbs v. Jackson, what has actually changed in the last three and a half years?

By Misty Severi, Just the News – The United States is still expected to interact with the organization to effectuate its withdrawal, but all funding for, and staffing of, WHO initiatives have ceased… The DHH Services and the State Dept. announced Thursday that the U.S. has completed its withdrawal from the WHO over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Donald Trump signed the executive order that began the process of withdrawing from the global organization last year, on the first day of his second term.

Franciscan Media – Though leprosy scared off most people in 19th-century Hawaii, that disease sparked great generosity in the woman who came to be known as Mother Marianne of Molokai. Her courage helpd tremendously to improve the lives of its victims in Hawaii, a territory annexed to the United States during her lifetime (1898).

By Zelda Caldwell, National Catholic Register – One the eve of the 53rd March for Life, the Register interviewed Ryan Anderson, president of the Ethics and Public Policy Institute, about where the pro-life movement stands today. One of the nation’s leading thinkers on human dignity and the right to life, Anderson is the author or co-author of five books, including Tearing Us Apart: How Abortion Harms Everything and Solves Nothing… President Donald Trump has faced criticism from pro-life advocates for not using all the tools at his disposable to protect the unborn. What should the movement’s approach be for the remainder of his administration?

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the UNBORN – National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe at Marytown

By Catholic World Report,  CWR Staff Editorial – It is not the job of three Cardinals who cannot get elected to any positions within the USCCB to appoint themselves as the moral voice speaking on behalf of their brother bishops… We should not overlook that these same (3) Cardinals were silent when President Biden did everything in his power to expand abortion and support “gay marriage”. They were silent when the Little Sisters of the Poor were again dragged into court… They were silent when the previous administration permitted numerous violent criminals to enter our country and commit horrific crimes, including murder and rape… They were silent when the borders were opened for the flow of deadly drugs that killed thousands of young people… They were silent when peaceful pro-life protestors were arrested.

By Newsmax Wires – The U.N. Security Council endorsed the creation of a Board of Peace in November, welcoming the U.S.-brokered plan to end the Gaza conflict and authorizing a transitional administration to oversee redevelopment through 2027… But the Trump administration has since portrayed Gaza as only one component of a broader mission that would overlap with the U.N.’s traditional role in maintaining international peace and security… “I wish the UN could do more… I wish we didn’t need a Board of Peace.” Asked whether he envisioned the new body replacing the U.N., Trump said it “might,” while adding that the organization still has significant potential.

Patriot Post – “The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government.” —Thomas Jefferson (1809) – January 22 marks the anniversary of the two most tragic Supreme Court decisions in American history, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. However, in light of the Supreme Court’s June 24, 2022, decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturning Roe and 1992’s Planned Parenthood v. Casey, Sanctity of Life Day has a whole new and far more joyous meaning.

By Mike Flinn, Crisis Magazine – On June 24, 2022, the pro-life movement won. Roe was overturned. Prayers of thanksgiving went up, corks were popped, and the movement finally exhaled. After 50 years, we finally had a victory—the victory we’d been marching for, praying for, and fighting toward for half a century… But while we exhaled, the pro-abortion movement sprang into action in the states. They understood that while they lost the federal court, that defeat meant nothing if they could win the minds of the people. While we attempted to pass strict abortion bans in states, our opponents understood that the average American was not ready to vote for those bans.

By Devin Rose, Catholic Answers – My daughter lived exactly the number of days that God willed her to live, as Christ wanted her to live them… Two years ago during Advent, my eleven-year old daughter, Josephine, breathed her last… She had relapsed eight months prior, around her birthday, from a leukemia that we thought had been eradicated when she was four. But God knew that it was not gone. One or two cells remained in her bone marrow, and they stayed there, hidden, ready to begin dividing again, ultimately uncontrollably, with us oblivious. …