African Church Problems + Medical Mischief

July 13th, 2026 - Happy feasts of Emperor St. Henry II & St. Mildred! Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died Saturday after a sudden cardiovascular emergency. Condolences and tributes continue to be issued. Actor Sam Neill, renowned for roles including in the blockbuster film “Jurassic Park”, also passed away suddenly over the weekend, at the age of 78. U.S. forces launched another round of strikes against Iran Sunday, after Saturday's bombardment hit roughly 140 targets in retaliation for an attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran answered with missile and drone attacks on Gulf nations hosting U.S. forces. Israeli media claims “A Western intelligence service intercepted a plot to assassinate President Trump during his visit to the NATO summit in Turkey and alerted U.S. authorities, prompting Trump to switch his return aircraft back to the U.S.” Pope Leo XIV warned after Sunday's Angelus that "the winds of war are blowing once again" across the Middle East, Ukraine, and elsewhere. The Holy Father urged the world not to lose hope and renewed his appeal for dialogue and diplomacy as the only path to a just and lasting peace. Armed Israeli settlers detained Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and his delegation during a West Bank fact-finding visit, surrounding their van with American-made rifles. Khanna said Israeli soldiers initially sided with the masked gunmen before police intervened, deepening tensions between the Netanyahu government and Washington. Republican Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell said Sunday that a fall linked to his post-polio condition left him unconscious and hospitalized, and that he later developed pneumonia. McConnell said he is not ready to return to the Senate floor, and doesn’t know when he will be. British police arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of murder of Conservative lawmaker Ann Widdecombe, a prominent Catholic convert and outspoken defender of Church teaching. Rise Right is a live morning program hosted by Sarah Cain & Jakob Martin Kraft, designed to help Catholics begin their day grounded in faith, clarity, and peace. The goal is simple: help listeners start their day well. Stay rooted in prayer, informed about the world, and able to face each day with joy and reason. RiseRight.org