POPE FRANCIS criticized both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump (Wikipedia).

In an unusual move, Pope Francis criticized both major U.S presidential candidates on Friday.

“Both are against life,” said pontiff. “Be it the one who kicks out the one who kicks out migrants, or be it the one who kills babies,” according to the Associated Press.

The pope did not mention Kamala Harris or Donald Trump by name. He made his remarks in response to a question about what counsel he would give to American Catholics.

“One should vote, and choose the lesser evil. Who is the lesser evil, the woman or the man? I don’t know.”

He concluded, “Everyone in their conscience should think and do it.”
President Joe Biden, an observant Catholic, is a strong supporter of abortion rights for women, as is Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate.

Former president Donald Trump appointed the three Supreme Justices responsible for overturning the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that created a national right-to-abortion. However, he supports the rights of states to create their own laws on regulation of the termination of pregnancies.

Decision near on long-range weapons

RUSSIA VS. UKRAINE (Shutterstock).

President Joe Biden consulted on Friday with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on whether to give Ukraine the green light on the use of long-range weapons to strike deep into Russia.

According to The New York Times, Biden is concerned about the implications of such a decision and its possible impact on a widening of the war.

The U.S. has been the leader in providing primarily defensive weapons to Ukraine, but that nation’s leaders have insisted that long-range weapons – missiles and drones – are needed to  keep Russian forces from advancing further.

It’s believed that the proposal being discussed is to allow missiles made by Great Britain and France to be sent to Ukraine to used against Russia.

Bomb threats close Springfield schools

The claims by former president Donald Trump and his vice president candidate J.D. Vance that Haitian immigrants are stealing and eating dogs and cats in Springfield, Ohio has led to death threats and bomb threats in that city.

According to United Press International, three Springfield schools – one middle school and two elementary schools – were evacuated on Friday.

On Thursday, city buildings, a courthouse and a school were evacuated. A e-mail also targeted the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and Ohio License Bureau Southside.

City officials say there is no evidence of pet-eating as claimed.

President Joe Biden said of the threats, “It’s simply wrong. There’s no place [for this] in America. This has to stop.”

Weather: Getting a bit cooler

The forecast for our West Orange County cities is for a cooling trend to continue this weekend and beyond. Saturday’s daytime high should be 77 with an overnight low of 64. Morning clouds with afternoon sun are predicted through Tuesday. Sunday is expected to drop to 74 (64) with Monday down to 71 (60) with a 15 percent chance of rain. Tuesday may warm to 73 (60) with partly cloudy skies.

Great Thoughts

“If you set your goals ridiculously high and it’s a failure, you will fail above everyone else’s success.”  – James Cameron