Here’s a sample. You can read the complete texts at the links. I’ll be updating this as new statements and responses come in. From Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin, Texas, chairman of the U.S.C.C.B. Committee on Migration: We strongly disagree with the Executive Order’s halting refugee admissions. We believe that now more than ever, welcoming newcomers and refugees is an act of love and hope. We will continue to engage the new administration, as we have all administrations for the... Read more

During my visit this weekend, I was able to walk several blocks from my hotel to the cathedral for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, St. Peter in Chains. Someone last night said, “It looks like a pagan temple that was converted into a church.” But I gotta say: it’s something to see. The outside is fairly traditional and unsurprising. It looks, really, like many of the larger churches you might find in New England. [img attachment=”136689″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”img_0328″ /] [img... Read more

I met this man standing outside my hotel this morning. Something I’ve noticed about downtown Cincinnati: there are a lot of people like him on the streets. You can’t walk a block without passing one or two of them. “Good morning,” I said. “Good morning, sir,” he said. “How you holding up?” “I’m okay.” We chatted about the weather, and the snow flurries, but he told me this winter had been better than the last one. “So tell me,” said.... Read more

From The New York Times:  If Mr. Trump had hoped for Christian leaders to break out in cheers, that is, for the most part, not what he has heard so far. A broad array of clergy members has strongly denounced Mr. Trump’s order as discriminatory, misguided and inhumane. Outrage has also come from some of the evangelical, Roman Catholic and mainstream Protestant leaders who represent the churches most active in trying to aid persecuted Christians. By giving preference to Christians... Read more

The obituary: Ruth Bauer, 92 and William Bauer, 97 passed away together within hours of each other after 70 years of marriage. Ruth Bauer was born and raised in Jamaica, N.Y. She attended Dominican Commercial High School and, after WWII, married her sweetheart Bill Bauer. Later in life, she fulfilled a lifelong dream by graduating from Queens College with a BS in Library Science and earning her MLS from CW Post. Ruth volunteered as, and eventually became, the first professional... Read more

Maybe: Callista Gingrich, the wife of Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker and a friend of Mr. Trump’s, is in the running to be ambassador to the Holy See, according to a person briefed on the discussions. Mr. Gingrich, reached by telephone, said that he was aware that his wife had been on a list for the job, but declined to say where things stood. The former speaker took himself out of the running for a cabinet post after it... Read more

For those who missed it, below is the full text of Vice President Mike Pence’s remarks today at the March for Life. You can watch the video above.  Thank you Karen and Charlotte, and thank all of you on behalf of President Donald Trump, my wife Karen, and my daughter Charlotte. I’d like to welcome you all to Washington DC for the 44th annual March for life. It’s a good day. It’s the best day I’ve ever seen for the... Read more

This is (as my friend Frank Weathers put it) pretty great. From YouTube: Yassin Terou fled Syria with a suitcase and a few hundred dollars. He knew no one in Knoxville, Tennessee, and he spoke no English, but he went there to rebuild his life and pursue his dream of perfect falafel anyway. Every business starts with a dream, and Square exists to serve them—every kind of dream. “Yassin Falafel” is our first short film chronicling our remarkable sellers and... Read more

This is something impressive: a short video bout the March for Life, from Immaculate Heart School of Mary in Still River, Massachusetts. These teenagers are the future of the pro-life movement, and it’s something wonderful to behold. https://www.facebook.com/SistersMICM/posts/695190937330536 The school itself describes its history and mission this way on its website: Immaculate Heart of Mary School was started in 1976 in response to the needs of families who identified a crisis in Catholic education. At IHM traditional education, based on... Read more