Welcome to Wisdom Wednesday, beginning with analysis / opinion about the Catholic vote of this November. Also, “Know your sources.” Included this week is an article from ZENIT and information about ZENIT to help evaluate its content. As always, inclusion of an item is not an endorsement. The search for wisdom takes us to election perspective from Public Religion Research Institute for 2024 and 2026. Pope Leo makes headlines in South America. Christian evangelicals plan a January 3 march in Washington. Onward!
KNOW YOUR SOURCE
ZENIT states that Aid to the Church in Need, the Italian Episcopal Conference, and the Legion of Christ largely funded it during its first three years. As of 2007, ZENIT stated that donations of its readers account for 75% of its funding and donations of institutions and benefactors for 13%. One 2006 report in Commonweal alleged that Innovative Media Inc. was a “front” for the Legion of Christ.
How Catholics voted
OPINION / ANALYSIS
Catholic political allegiance is increasingly shaped by competing social and economic experiences rather than by a common religious identity. From ZENIT.
Polls: Catholics and Nones did it
In the Democrats’ historic midterm victory, Catholics and the religiously unaffiliated were key players as Republicans lost ground among most major religious groups, according to exit polls from both NBC News and CNN. From Religion News Service.
FEATURE
Waking up in a no-longer-red state
Here in Texas, Republican dominance just collapsed in an evening. The state was also the site of some earlier signs of the national blue wave to come. Benjamin J. Dueholm, in The Christian Century. He says the state was also the site of some earlier signs of the national blue wave to come.
COMMENTARY
Thomas Reese, S.J. writes, The elected now face the challenge of governing. “The good news for those elected on Tuesday is that the election is finally over and they won. The bad news is that they now face the challenges of governing. They prayed they might win; we pray they do a good job.” From National Catholic Reporter.
Democrats’ plans
Religious Democrats prepare to turn election victories into legislative action. Newly elected lawmakers are setting their priorities as progressive faith groups press Congress to act on voting rights, healthcare and economic inequality. From Religion News Service.
OPINION
Treatment of El-Sayed’s faith and his language during midterms was deeply un-Catholic. From National Catholic Reporter.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS from PRRI
For lovers of statistics, PRRI, the Public Religion Research Institute, just days before the election, examined partisanship among Catholic voters. For example, in the last decade, the percentage of white Catholics who identify as Republican has increased by almost 10 percentage points from 29% in 2013 to 38% in 2023. In comparison, just 15% of Hispanic Catholics identify as Republican.
PRRI: Challenges to Democracy in 2024
In mid-October, two years ago, PRRI offered an article ahead of the 2024 Election. The institute found that seven in ten Americans (70%) believe things in the country are going in the wrong direction, including most Republicans (94%) and independents (70%), compared with 41% of Democrats.
‘Blame Christians who didn’t vote for the GOP’
Conservative pro-family groups linked to James Dobson say GOP losses in last Tuesday’s midterm elections are a loss for Christianity. But they’re not blaming Donald Trump, his low approval ratings, war in Iran, costly tariffs or rampant corruption. They’re blaming Christians who didn’t vote Republican. From Baptist News Global.
A record seven Muslims were elected to Congress, six to the House of Representatives and one to the Senate. Early Wednesday (Nov. 4), Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive Michigan Democrat, made history as the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate. From Religion News Service.
For the first time, Jain American elected to Congress. Dr. Amish Shah, a Jain adherent, and Pia Dandiya, the daughter of practicing Jains, were both elected to the House of Representatives, bringing an ancient Indian faith to Congress. From Religion News Service.
Nithya Raman, a practicing Hindu, elected as mayor of Los Angeles. Voters elected Hindu Democratic Socialist Nithya Raman as mayor, giving mayoral offices to Indian American immigrants in the two largest U.S. cities.From Religion News Service.
Pope Leo in South America
Pope Leo XIV calls for universal access to health care in Uruguay.
Opening his Latin America trip in Montevideo, Leo drew on his recent illness and a monument dedicated to Uruguay’s national hero to urge leaders to care for those who need it most. From Religion News Service.
After a successful trip to Uruguay, Pope Leo heads to Argentina. From the Associated Press.
Millions fill Buenos Aires streets to welcome Pope Leo XIV
Video from BBC (with commercials).
Peru gets ready to welcome Pope Leo XIV on his South America tour. Video from France 24, a French public broadcast service in English. Interview with a friend.
Pope Leo comes home
Video feature from Chiclayo and Zana. Youtube video 26+ minutes, published a month before pope’s visit, auto-dubbed to English.
Pope’s arrival in Uruguay
Television coverage of the pope’s arrival after his 13 hour flight, his return after 39 years to Uruguayan soil.
Pope Leo’s Full Speech on the Plane In-Flight to Uruguay | Friday, November 6, 2026. Coverage by EWTN News.
Pope urges International Catholic Migration Commission to care for displaced children
In a video message to participants in the International Catholic Commission for Migration’s Plenary Meeting, Pope Leo XIV encourages them to continue welcoming, protecting, promoting, and integrating migrants and refugees.
From Vatican News.
Pope Leo XIV pays tribute to Pope Francis in Buenos Aires Cathedral. At the end of his second day in Argentina, Pope Leo XIV pauses in prayer before a plaque commemorating Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires for seven years ahead of his election as Pope Francis. From Vatican News.
To explore the latest reports from Pope Leo’s travels, link directly to Vatican News.
BOOK REVIEW
Marketing Lingo does not communicate. At Christianity Today, Taylor Berglund says 30 repetitive chapters of “The Impossible Teachings of Jesus” say less than the Sermon on the Mount does in 3.
Chaplains in Ukraine
The American and Ukrainian Chaplains Traveling to the War’s Frontlines. “I can tell you that in all of my life, I have never felt the type of fear that I have experienced while serving in Ukraine.” From Christianity Today.
IDEAS
Political Turmoil Needs More Than Political Solutions. From Christianity Today. Unrest in Europe and the United States calls out for moral and spiritual renewal.
Thirst for Justice: Faith, Justice, and Water Access. From Black Catholic Messenger. After experiencing water scarcity in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, one Catholic reflects on how a personal encounter with water scarcity became a call to greater stewardship, solidarity, and water justice.
What Vatican II and W.E.B. DuBois Can Teach Us About Racial Justice. From Black Catholic Messenger. Bringing the teachings of Vatican II into conversation with Black Reconstruction, Daryl Grisby argues that understanding the historical roots of racial injustice can help us discern how the Gospel calls us to respond today.
California death sentences commuted
Catholic advocates for abolishing the death penalty praised California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement Thursday (Nov. 5) that he is commuting all 548 death sentences in the state to life in prison without parole. From National Catholic Reporter.
US Congress: Invite Pope Leo to visit
A bipartisan group of lawmakers sent a letter to Republican and Democratic leadership in the House of Representatives encouraging them to formally invite Pope Leo XIV to address a joint session of Congress next year. From National Catholic Register.
Iraqi documents protected, now returned
After safeguarding them for more than half a century, the Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd has returned a collection of historic manuscripts belonging to the former Chaldean Diocese of Akra in northern Iraq to its ecclesiastical authorities. From National Catholic Register.
The next insurrection
“On January 3rd, 2027, Christian Crusaders will descend upon the US Capitol in Washington DC to PROTEST the Certification of the RIGGED Midterms!!!!” Jake Lang declared on X, urging 1 million Christian Crusaders to bring their crosses and “STAND LIKE MEN.” From Baptist News Global.
Trump says he will not forgive enemies, may not go to heaven
On 60 Minutes, Trump again said he could not forgive his political enemies, even in the afterlife, even before the Judgment Throne of God. “I probably cannot do that, no, because I do hate some of my enemies and I always will.” From Baptist News Global.
OPINION
Caring for God’s creation is a chance to move beyond politics. Brendan McClenahan writes at Baptist News Global. “Caring for creation isn’t political. In fact, it’s our chance to build relationships and a sense of life that, critically, go deeper than politics.:
‘Homelessness is climate action’s blind spot’
Less than a sixth of countries’ climate adaptation plans, and less than 2% of national plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions mention homelessness, despite climate change endangering those already experiencing homelessness and putting millions more at risk of losing their homes, new research reveals. From Independent Catholic News.
Bishops urge climate action
U.S. Catholic bishops urge world leaders to take decisive climate action at COP31. The 31st annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), is taking place in Antalya, Turkey, Nov. 9–20. From EWTN News.
Justice Bulletin Board
Barbara Molinari Quinby writes, “As we approach Thanksgiving, let us give special thanks to the farmworkers who toil to bring the produce to market. I give you two prayers for your reflection. (We are thankful for Barbara’s ministry!)
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