Human rights dominate our search for wisdom this week: How ICE uses crowd control weapons; how teachers have First Amendment rights, how Islamophobia roiled a Texas election; and the SSPX seeks canonical rights. Before the ICE stories we begin with a call to end the silence about Gaza from Father John Heagle.
Breaking the silence
Fr John Heagle, coordinator of Priests Against Genocide USA, writes: “Silence is not always golden. Often, it is simply complicity with injustice. This is certainly the case for Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, a prisoner of conscience near death in an Israeli prison. . . . With this reflection, I want to join others in breaking the silence.” Published by Independent Catholic News.
A reminder: God’s justice is ’tilted’
Barbara Molinari Quinby examines the preferential option for the poor in this week’s Justice Bulletin Board.
Protestors blinded, suffer brain injury
Misuse of crowd control weapons on ICE protesters led to blindings and traumatic brain injuries, a report finds. Doctors and human rights experts documented hundreds of incidents from June 2025 through May 2026 and estimate the true number is ‘far greater.’ From the Guardian.
Another ICE killing
The second fatal shooting by ICE in less than a week has renewed calls for investigations, protests and demands that immigration officers stop terrorizing American communities. The latest action occurred July 13 in Maine, against a 26-year-old Colombian immigrant initially identified as a target for immigration enforcement. From Baptist News Global.
First Amendment Rights for teachers
Remember September last year when hundreds of educators were facing firing or disciplinary actions for posting personal comments about Charlie Kirk? The rash and reactionary decisions by leaders have come back to bite many of them. It turns out, most of those teachers did have First Amendment rights to free speech after all. From Baptist News Global.
Lefebvrists appeal, claim canonical rights
An SSPX statement, published July 13, says that “through this appeal, the society wishes to exercise the right that the Church recognizes for any person who considers himself harmed by an administrative act to request its rectification, in a spirit of respect toward ecclesiastical authority and of faithful adherence to justice, truth, and the good of the Church.” From the National Catholic Register.
Islamophobia roils a Texas election
A mayoral election in Frisco, Texas, turned into a referendum on who belongs, with Islamophobic and anti-Hindu rhetoric dominating. From Religion News Service.
Candidate highlights his Muslim faith
James Talarico isn’t the only Democratic candidate making faith a calling card of his campaign this year. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed will face Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Aug. 4. In a fundraising letter this week, he highlighted his Muslim faith. From Baptist News Global.
Protecting children and workers
Pope Leo calls for government action to protect children and workers from AI. “Catholic social teaching has always emphasized the protection of workers, so it is no surprise that Leo gives space in his encyclical to the impact of robots and AI on workers,” writes Thomas Reese for the National Catholic Reporter.
Independence Day Solidarity
Father Jim Bacik’s column is regularly featured as an AUSCP blog. In case you missed it, here is his spiritual perspective on Independence Day, hoping you find it “uplifting and hopeful.”
‘Incarnational Spirituality’
Magnifica Humanitas “draws from and supports a more fundamental Christian doctrine: the inherent goodness of creation generally and our own materiality in particular,” writes Daniel P. Horan at National Catholic Reporter.
‘Being rooted, not being stuck’
“I believe that St. Agnes is an example where the different forms of Latin Mass, and English, peacefully coexist, and, in many ways, I think it’s a model for how the church can respect various liturgical traditions and do so in full charity,” Ubel said in last Sunday’s homilies.
Vatican-Washington relations
Did the Vatican take a jab at Trump’s ambassador? In the National Catholic Reporter, Justin McLellan has the details.
At Castel Gandolfo
The first day of the Global Nobel Laureates Assembly on Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear War kicked off in Borgo Laudato Si’ in Castel Gandolfo on July 14, prompting Nobel winners, experts, university representatives and more to reflect on the biggest challenges affecting our world. From Vatican News.
During a special “Lunch with the Pope” at Castel Gandolfo with some 200 poor and socially vulnerable people, Pope Leo XIV says he came with “hunger for justice” and “hunger for genuine charity,” as he invited everyone to build a Church of justice, peace, and love. From Vatican News.
A religion too wild to nationalize
ESSAY: After 250 years, US Christianity remains too diverse, splintered, and strange to be conscripted into any one political project, writes Benjamin Dueholm for the Christian Century.
Beyond the End Times
OPINION: What evangelical support for Israel really reveals. For many evangelicals, Israel is not just a sign of the End Times. It is also the homeland of a people they believe God has chosen and whom Christians are called to love. Published by Religion News Service.
What is a Zionist?
From the editors of Christian Century. “There are many answers to this question, so using the term without explanation can be confusing—and even dangerous.”
New Bible podcast for families
“We don’t have to wait till we’re old to be a saint”: Bible in a Year: Family Edition to launch with Father Josh Johnson. The new podcast from Ascension Press is set to launch in 2027 with one of the nation’s most prominent young Black Catholic priests. From Black Catholic Messenger.
Vatican News for all
Pope Leo XIV sent a message to Bishops around the world, inviting them to use Vatican News’ new video widget. Dioceses, parishes, and Catholic associations and organizations will be able to embed this tool on their websites, in order to feature videos and news for free about the Pope and the Holy See. From Vatican News.
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