Thomas Griffin 8/20/25
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“Faith in the Headlines” is a monthly post seeking to connect current events in the culture (sports, politics, media, movies, literature, etc.) with the human need for God and the call by God to be upfront about our relationship with Him being the priority of our lives. Nothing present serves as an allegiance to any famous figure, group or politician. The motivation is to simply reflect on how the headlines ought to challenge us to make God more of a priority in our lives.
God is always present. He is more present to us than we are to ourselves. Even in a broken culture, God can be seen. At times it is explicit, and at other moments He can be seen in the background. At times, he is being promoted and at other times He is being rejected and cast to the side. Recently there have been two important stories in the headlines where the intersection of faith and culture are critical to digest.
Little Sisters of the Poor
For over 12 years, the Little Sisters of the Poor have refused to offer contraception to their employees. For that entire span they have faced trials and courtrooms for simply living out the religious freedom they are due by country and by God.
Little Sisters v. Pennsylvania was decided in 2020 and the ruling was in favor of the sisters. As the National Review reported, “this month, a district judge in Pennsylvania concurred and struck down the rule…Once again — twelve years after their case was opened — the Little Sisters of the Poor were informed that they must choose between their consciences and the law.”
The Becket Fund for Religious Freedom for All provides the details of the court cases involved and provides updates on the recent proceedings. Unfortunately, this case continues to serve as a reminder to Catholics that the culture of life is a battle we most continue to fight. While contraception is widely used in American society, its increased use and prevalence, decades ago, coincides with the rising rates of divorce as well as an increased comfortability with abortion. Once children are separated from the sexual act, the culture becomes less interested in children and more interested in selfish love.
Contraception is wrong because it separates the purpose of sex from the act itself. It leads to using the other person as a means to an end (a way to gain pleasure) rather than serving as an expression of the overflowing love of husband and wife. Love must always be total. The use of contraception holds back one’s capacity to be mother or father from the other. In this way, it violates love.
That is why the Little Sisters of the Poor will never provide contraception to their employees. Because they work for God. They serve Jeesus Christ, the savior of the world who most perfectly reveals that love requires everything of us. In light of the fight of the sisters, how can we be more motivated to stand in the truth – especially when it is challenging? Reflecting on how we can do so at work or at home can enable us to be united to the sisters and to become men and women who live their faith in the public square.
Trump is Seeking Heaven
President Zelensky of Ukraine and several other European leaders met at the White House this week. A large item on the agenda for President Trump continues to be instituting peace between Russia and Ukraine. That was his mission in his meeting in Alaska with Vladimir Putin as well.
In an interview on Fox and Friends on August 19th, Trump said, “I want to try to get to heaven if possible.” He then joked that he hears he is not doing the greatest in his odds in getting to heaven. “I am really at the bottom of the totem pole,” Trump noted. “But if I can get to heaven, this (achieving peace) will be one of the reasons,” he added.
“If I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed, I think that’s pretty,” Trump said. He also noted that the lives being lost are not Americans – they are Russians and Ukrainians, but they are still being killed in large quantities and he desires to stop it.
There are many aspects of the Trump administration that are in line with Catholic teaching. There are also imperfections in his approaches and policies. History reminds us that there is no perfect Catholic candidate. However, having the president of the United States speak about God and heaven is something that we can all unify ourselves around.
Later in the day on the 19th, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked about the president’s remarks and the journalist wanted to know if Trump was joking wit his remarks. Leavitt noted that she thought the president was serious. “I think the president wants to get to heaven as I hope we all do in this room,” she answered.
Whether we love President Trump or have a hard time liking him. Whether we voted for him or not. Could it be that a major news headline like the leader of the free world desiring peace and heaven could be an opportunity for us to reflect on if we can intentionally pursue peace in our families and jobs? Do we ask ourselves often: am I living for heaven? Is it the priority of my life to serve God and do good?
What other purpose for life could possibly be more important than that?
Thomas Griffin is the chairperson of the religion department at a Catholic high school on Long Island where he lives with his wife and children. He has a masters degree in theology and is a masters candidate in philosophy. Thomas is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Empty Tomb Project: The Magazine. He is the author of Let Us Begin: Saint Francis’s Way of Becoming Like Christ and Renewing the World.
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