By Jack Rigert, Crisis Magazine – In The City of God, Augustine defends rulers who protect their people, arguing that legitimate authority restrains chaos and shields the innocent (XIX.17). A society that abandons self-defense does not become more charitable; it becomes more fragile, inviting disorder that ultimately harms the weak most of all. Hospitality that corrodes order does not elevate mercy—it undermines it… St. Thomas Aquinas sharpens this insight with characteristic precision… Prudence, Aquinas teaches, is right reason applied to action—the virtue that governs how universal principles such as charity and justice are embodied in concrete circumstances ….
By Matt Archbold, National Catholic Register – In the bustling, hustling chaos of the modern world, there is a truth as ancient as the stones beneath us: The lions come. That is the raw, unadorned reality etched into the marrow of Christian history. The lions come — silent predators lurking behind the veneer of civility, behind the gleam of modernity, behind the hypocritical smiles of those preaching for tolerance and civility… Throughout time, we’ve seen that the worst thing the world can unleash on the Church, on Christ’s flock, is what it eventually unleashes: its fury, its hatred, its savage hunger. It did this to Christ, pierced by nails and crowned with thorns, abandoned by friends, mocked by foes, and left to bleed in the dust.
By Breccan F. Thies, The Federalist – Far-left agitators in the press and in elected office peddled numerous lies about the confrontation, but the agent’s injuries add further proof that he was acting in self-defense… ICE agent whom Renee Good apparently tried to run over with her car in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 7, suffered internal bleeding, a DHS official confirmed to The Federalist… Good was ultimately fatally shot by agent Jonathan Ross. Video evidence indicates that Ross acted in self-defense …
NEWS
Trump Arrests Maduro, and The Axis of Evil is Crumbling, by Arthur Schaper
By Arthur Schaper, American Greatness – Trump’s arrest of Maduro wasn’t war or nation-building—it was law enforcement abroad, striking narco-communism, curbing migration, and defending American interests without bloodshed… But here’s the truth: The United States military enforced a DOJ indictment, and the United States government has done this before… The United States has resisted evil leaders with similar boldness.
Pelican Brief: Bishop Schneider Appeals to Pope Leo XIV for Apostolic Constitution on the Traditional Mass
By Pelican Brief, Staff – Bishop Athanasius Schneider has asked Pope Leo XIV to publish an Apostolic Constitution liberalizing permission for the traditional Latin Mass… The future of the traditional Mass has been one of the most prominent and controversial questions that many have anticipated Pope Leo XIV might address in the early stages of his pontificate. In a July interview, he professed himself somewhat ignorant of the particulars, but since then has met with key proponents of the traditional Mass, such as Cardinals Raymond Burke and Robert Sarah, along with Bishop Athanasius Schneider.
Trump Admin Was Forced to Restore a Little Planned Parenthood Funding to Win Defunding Lawsuit, by Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell
By Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell, LifeNews – But (DHHS) may have had no choice but to restore funding, according to Tom McClusky, a veteran pro-life operative and director of government affairs at CatholicVote… The agency withheld the funds before amending 42 U.S. Code Part 300, a rule which governs family planning grants… “They were virtually certain to lose the lawsuit, forcing them to repay the full amount plus interest and cover attorneys’ fees,” (said) McClusky… “Even worse, continuing the litigation would have entangled any future funding cuts—which are highly likely under the new regulations—in prolonged court battles before an unsympathetic judge.” ….
Commentary: Beware the Next Zohran Mamdani: Nida Allam’s Radical Run for Congress Imports NYC’s Islamic-Marxist Takeover to North Carolina
By Renee Nal, RAIR Foundation – Nida Allam, North Carolina’s version of the newly sworn-in socialist Muslim mayor Zohran Mamdani, poses a grave threat to the Research Triangle by weaponizing contested hate-crime claims from the 2015 Chapel Hill murders while forging ties to DSA-aligned Marxists, Liberation Road-style communist networks, and Muslim Brotherhood-linked influences… Now launching her 2026 congressional primary challenge in NC-04 – backed by the same progressive machine… that powered Mamdani – she aims to import the perilous Red-Green Axis of revolutionary socialism and Islamic identity politics into the heart of America’s Deep South.
There Is No Virtue Left to Signal, by Scott McKay
By Scott McKay, The American Spectator – You probably saw on Wednesday that Bill Clinton failed to appear before the House Oversight Committee, which had lots of questions for him about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Hillary Clinton was due to appear before the committee Thursday, and it was fairly obvious she was going to refuse the appearance as well… As a result, contempt of Congress proceedings will commence next week… Everybody knows why the Clintons are hiding from the committee. There are no good answers they can provide to a couple of basic and unavoidable questions. …
The Catholic Herald: Cardinal Zen’s Confrontation With Synodality
The Catholic Herald – Cardinal Joseph Zen arrived in Rome this week to take part in the first extraordinary consistory of cardinals convened by Pope Leo XIV, marking a rare public appearance by the 93-year-old bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, whose freedom of movement has been sharply curtailed since his arrest under Hong Kong’s National Security Law… The Holy Father received Cardinal Zen in a private audience on the morning of the consistory, regarded as symbolically significant given the cardinal’s long and often strained relationship with the previous pontificate.
Texas GOP Has 10 Non-Binding Propositions on March Primary Ballot, Including Banning Sharia Law, by Bethany Blankley
By Bethany Blankley, The Center Square contributor, Just the News – One proposition addresses Islamic Sharia law, which Texas has taken a lead on nationally. Gov. Abbott has taken multiple actions, including designating Muslim groups as foreign terrorist organizations… The Republican Party of Texas has added ten non-binding propositions to the March 3 Republican primary ballot… Two propositions address property taxes, which Gov. Greg Abbott has made a campaign priority for his reelection bid …
The Lives of Christian Moms, by Michael Pakaluk
By Michael Pakaluk, The Catholic Thing – When I taught CCD, I used to tell my kids, ‘If everybody else is doing it, it’s probably wrong.’ The Christian life is difficult. The truth is difficult.” So said Kelley (as we may call her) when I interviewed her, in January 1999, a few months after the death of my late wife, Ruth… I interviewed, then, seven of Ruth’s closest friends, homemakers, who used to gather to say the Rosary each week. In those years, I was busy writing books and papers for tenure. I had my professional contacts. But what was Ruth’s circle like? Men typically don’t have a glimpse. I wanted to learn, to make a record.
Making a Choice in the Machine Age, by Constance T. Hull
By Constance T. Hull, Catholic Exchange – I discovered the works of Paul Kingsnorth 2-3 years ago. He confirmed a growing sense I had: that social media and artificial intelligence (AI) are leading us in a dangerous direction. We are being led blindly into a disincarnate world. We recently celebrated the Incarnation, when God took on human flesh and became one of us. This boldly reaffirms the truth that our body-and-soul creaturehood matters. Thus, a world that seeks to divorce us from our incarnate nature is the antithesis of the Christian message.
Louisiana Governor Signs Extradition Request to Prosecute Illegal California Abortionist, by Steven Ertelt
By Steven Ertelt, LifeNews – Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed extradition paperwork Tuesday to seek the prosecution of a California abortionist accused of illegally shipping abortion pills into the state… Landry is vowing to hold accountable those who undermine Louisiana’s pro-life laws and endanger women and unborn children… “I am signing the extradition paperwork to bring this California doctor to justice… Louisiana has a zero tolerance policy for those who subvert our laws, seek to hurt women, and promote abortion.”
Trump Declares Funding Cuts to Sanctuary Cities, States, by Michael Katz
By Michael Katz, Newsmax – President Donald Trump said Tuesday that his administration will halt federal funding to cities and states that have declared themselves sanctuaries for illegal aliens beginning next month… “Starting Feb. 1, we’re not making any payments to sanctuary cities or states having sanctuary cities because they do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens” Trump said… The DOJ has designated 11 states and the District of Columbia, three counties and 18 cities as sanctuary jurisdictions based on policies that impede enforcement of federal immigration statutes and regulations. …
Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations: Jesus Healed Many Who Were Sick
Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – Mark 1:29-39 – 29 And immediately he left the synagogue, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them. 32 That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together about the door. ….
Notre Dame Appoints Abortion Advocate to Lead Asian Studies Institute, by Matthew McDonald
By Matthew McDonald, National Catholic Register – The University of Notre Dame plans to install as director of a university-wide institute a scholar who has described laws prohibiting abortion as “violence,” “sexual abuse” and “trauma” and has linked efforts to end abortion to white supremacy… “Abortion access is freedom-enhancing, in the truest sense of the word,” states a column in Salon co-authored by Susan Ostermann, an associate professor of global affairs at Notre Dame, in May 2022, shortly after a draft decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that overturned Roe v. Wade was leaked. …
Dozens of Charlotte Priests Query Vatican Over Bishop’s Move to Abolish Altar Rails, Kneelers, by Amira Abuzeid
By Amira Abuzeid for EWTN News, (Catholic World Report) – Reacting to Bishop Michael Martin’s Dec. 17, 2025, pastoral letter announcing the impending abolishment of altar rails and kneelers in the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, 31 of the diocese’s priests have signed a letter to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Legislative Texts containing a set of questions, or “dubia,” related to the matter… the priests directly question “whether a diocesan bishop may prohibit the use of kneelers to assist members of the faithful who, of their own accord, wish to receive holy Communion kneeling.”
Trump Administration Moves to End Temporary Protected Status for Somalis, by Mary Rose
By Mary Rose, Catholic Vote – The Trump administration this week announced it will not renew Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals, so they must leave the U.S. by March 17, the expiration date for the extension the Biden administration granted… The decision, confirmed by White House and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials Jan. 13, follows through on President Donald Trump’s signaling in late 2025 that he would end TPS for certain groups as part of a broader effort to scale back humanitarian immigration programs.
Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations: Jesus Healed Many Who Were Sick
Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – Mark 1:29-39 – 29 And immediately he left the synagogue, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them. 32 That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together about the door. ….
Founder’s Quote
Patriot Post – “It should be the highest ambition of every American to extend his views beyond himself, and to bear in mind that his conduct will not only affect himself, his country, and his immediate posterity; but that its influence may be co-extensive with the world, and stamp political happiness or misery on ages yet unborn.” —George Washington (1789)
Saint of the Day for January 14: St. Gregory Nazianzen
Franciscan Media – After his baptism at 30, Gregory gladly accepted his friend Basil’s invitation to join him in a newly founded monastery. The solitude was broken when Gregory’s father, a bishop, needed help in his diocese and estate. It seems that Gregory was ordained a priest practically by force, and only reluctantly accepted the responsibility. He skillfully avoided a schism that threatened when his own father made compromises with Arianism. …
