Religious Freedom Takes a Blow from DOJ?

June 1st, 2026 - Happy feasts of St. Justin Martyr and St. John Baptist Scalabrini! Major evacuations are underway in southern Beirut as Israel ramps up military actions in Lebanon. The U.S. and Iran have traded strikes while the “ceasefire” officially continues. A potential peace deal is still reportedly in the works, with President Trump still holding off on a final decision. The Washington Nationals president of baseball operations Jason Sinnarajah, himself Catholic, apologized to Catholics during Friday night pregame coverage, stating that the team is "not anti-Catholic" and "horrified by the comments" caught on undercover video. President Donald Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV's meeting with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Saturday, writing in a Truth Social post that "someone should explain to the Pope" that the mayor is "useless" and that "Iran cannot have a Nuclear Weapon!" A federal judge temporarily halted the Trump administration's $1.78 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" from transferring money to victims of government “weaponization.” Pope Leo XIV welcomed representatives of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal to the Vatican, encouraging members to place their spiritual gifts at the service of the whole Church and urging them to pursue communion, charity, and mission rather than "self-promotion, or the pursuit of power or personal prestige." 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