By Victor Davis Hanson, American Greatness – Trump’s Iran memorandum is not a surrender or a new beginning—it is the next phase of a strategy built on pressure, deterrence, and avoiding another costly Middle East war… The tentative “memorandum of understanding” with Iran has caused glee on the Left and furor among many on the Right. The Left might welcome “peace,” but surely not as much as it enjoys infighting on the Right over the details… If last week Democrats were calling Trump a fascist warmonger, now they deride his peace efforts as those of a Neville Chamberlain patsy. …

By Edward Pentin, Edward Pentin’s Substack – Pope Leo XIV’s new encyclical Magnifica Humanitas primarily deals with artificial intelligence in the context of human dignity, but one particular passage also addresses the topic of “just war theory” which the document describes as “outdated.”… “Too often,” Leo writes, just war theory has been used to “justify any kind of war” and fails to take account of the speed, destructiveness, and dehumanization of contemporary conflict… At the same time, he explicitly preserves a narrowly understood right to self‑defense ….

By Randall Smith, The Catholic Thing – The next synod might or might not deal with the Church’s “just war” doctrine. So, let me go on record as saying: I don’t like war. It doesn’t represent a great “profile in courage” to say that. I mean, who loves war? I suppose some tyrants do. But that poses a problem. If tyrants pursue wars in order to secure their positions of power, what are others who hate war to do?

By Francesca Pollio Fenton, National Catholic Register – Despite only being a little over a week into the soccer tournament, the name of Jesus has already been made known many times from several of the athletes and teams as they compete on this global stage… Here are five powerful moments of faith we’ve seen at the World Cup so far: 1. Croatian team shares the importance of their Catholic faith… Ahead of Croatia’s first match against England, two members of the team took part in a press conference where they discussed the role their Catholic faith plays in their lives.

Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – Matthew 7:6,12-14 – 6 “Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you. 12 So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. 13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

By Phil Lawler, CatholicCulture – As a matter of fact, Vatican City has its own high, imposing walls, which were built centuries ago to guard against invasion. True, thousands of visitors enter Vatican territory every day. But those who file into St. Peter’s basilica are vetted by security guards and confined to designated areas. The Swiss Guard stop both vehicles and pedestrians at the Porta Santa Anna and check for identification, or ask visitors to state their business. They do not admit curious tourists who simply want to wander around the grounds—much less potential permanent residents who expect to receive free medical care and education for their children.

Fr. Nnamdi Moneme, OMV, Catholic Exchange – The Holy Spirit is rightly called the Sweet Guest of our souls because He is the loving God of power and consolation dwelling within us. Yet He is also called the Great Unknown because we do not know Him as much as we should. He is the powerful guest with us and within us always, yet we often fail to remember Him… Because we do not know the Holy Spirit, our lives cannot be pleasing to God. St. Paul writes to Timothy, “God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control” (2 Tim. 1:7).

By Riaan Van Zyl, Integrity Magazine – Hicks’ desperate episcopacy is just one example of the ‘folksy’ style adopted by some post-Vatican II clergy… Archbishop Ronald Hicks seems determined to “win over New Yorkers” by talking sports rather than preaching sainthood. And to embarrass his office with his effeminate attempts at being “hip.”.. In a post-championship Mass homily at St. Patrick’s Cathedral this past Sunday, Hicks proudly announced, “Even though I’m new to New York, I caught the Knicks fever. I caught the Knicks’ passion … and last night, as the eleventh archbishop … I sat with my number 11 jersey on. I watched every minute until victory.”

By Steven Ertelt, LifeNews – California AG Rob Bonta is seeking more than $20 million in fines against two pro-life organizations for providing information and referrals about Abortion Pill Reversal to women… The pregnancy centers help mothers who regret taking the first pill in a chemical abortion regimen and have saved over 1,000 babies from abortion across the country… In a trial brief filed ahead of a June 24 hearing, Bonta argued that when Heartbeat International and RealOptions offer hope to women seeking to save their babies, it “only underscores the seriousness of their misconduct.” …

By Franklin Camargo, The Federalist – There is one prevailing factor that actually predicts poverty, crime, academic failure, and dependence on government: Growing up without a father in the home… The same party that once had a president tell black men to step and raise their own children now celebrates the dismantling of the family structure that makes that possible… That is why they love talking about race, gender, and grievance culture instead of addressing the real problem. And it is why, instead of demanding more social programs, we should work to ensure more fathers embrace the responsibility of being fathers… Because the government can write checks, and destroy the economy in the process. But it can never replace a father.

By  Raimundo Rojas, LifeNews – One of the greatest spectacles of our times is upon us. The thrill we have all had to wait for four years to relive: The World Cup is on. And I can’t wait to get home this week to live it out with my grandkids for the next month…. I grew up of Catalan descent, which should have made my soccer loyalties simple. It did not. For years, I cheered for Italy because I loved the beauty, the chaotic discipline, and drama of their national program. I cheered them all the way to their World Cup win in 2006.

By  Casey Chalk, The Federalist – Americans don’t read literature much any more. I sense, perhaps, a collective shrug from many — who cares if Americans don’t read fiction? Those who favor republican government should care. Reading is a marker of the relative health of a democratic society… Several years ago, upon recommendation from a learned acquaintance of mine, I ordered a book by acclaimed English Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope. …

By Robert Royal, The Catholic Thing – There’s a strange ferment underway in American education. This week, two promising Catholic initiatives emerged: a gathering at Christendom College on K-12 education that resulted in the Front Royal Principles, and a high-level consultation in Washington D.C. organized by the Cardinal Newman Society, pursuing the renewal of everything from kindergarten to college-level Catholic instruction. …

By S.A. McCarthy, The American Spectator – … it is important to note that the Holy Father’s personal political opinions are not binding upon Catholics. His formal pronunciations on matters of faith and morals are, but “blanket remigration” and mass deportations are political matters; the treatment of others with dignity is a moral matter, of course, but conducting a mass deportation campaign and treating illegal aliens with dignity are not mutually exclusive… With all due respect and deference to the Holy Father and with a deep and filial love for his sacred office… the pontiff’s personal political opinion in this instance is wrong. In fact, “remigration” and mass deportations are “the most Christian response” to the present crises.

By Cassy Cooke, Zeale News – A new undercover investigation and report from Live Action expose Planned Parenthood and its troubling motives surrounding “gender affirming care.”… Previous Live Action investigations found that Planned Parenthood is willing to dispense cross-sex hormones to minors without parental knowledge or consent, and without a mental health evaluation first. … A new undercover investigation featuring detransitioner Chloe Cole found that, while Planned Parenthood is all too happy to help children with so-called “gender affirming care,” it offers no help for those that regret it and wish to ‘detransition’. …