This week, my wife and I made the very difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy due to Trisomy 21. The choice was not made lightly. We really appreciate all of the personal stories that you guys shared with us, especially the unconditional support we received from fans with no matter what we decided. I know some of you may be very disappointed to hear this news. We are devastated. This has been extremely traumatic for both of us, especially Ashley. She underwent the procedure earlier this week and is on the mend. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, but emotionally we are drained. Trisomy 21, also known as Down Syndrome, is caused by an extra chromosome. It is caused by an error in cell division, like a glitch. The odds of a baby having it is 1 in 1000. When I first confronted this news, I was shocked but optimistic. If they’re a little slow intellectually, then we’ll make it work. I signed on to be a parent, come what may…but I just didn’t fully understand what Down Syndrome entailed. Once we made it public, it became clear that MOST people don’t know what Down Syndrome entails (and no, it’s not the same as Autism): 50% of babies with DS have heart defects. 75% will have hearing challenges. Over 50% will have vision problems. Impaired immune function, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, delayed physical development, poor muscle tone, structural issues with face, decreased lifespan, etc…Sadly, the list is long, feel free to look it up…Down Syndome isn’t a “blessing”, it is objectively shitty from a health perspective. I didn’t realize just how rough it is for the child, let alone the family…more often than not, they would be fully dependent on others for the rest of their life. The miscarriage risk is also close to 50%, which made matters worse…they may never see the light of day and it puts Ashley further at risk. We spoke with doctors, friends, family and genetic counselors and learned that up to 90% of women terminate their pregnancy after learning the baby has Trisomy 21. This was WAY higher than I expected, I thought it would be lower given that I hear so many say they kept or would keep the baby. I believe that’s because most terminations happen privately, it feels shameful. A lot of judgment being cast. You never think you’d be in this type of situation until it happens to you and then things change. To all of my fans who have weighed in on this topic who have Autism, Down Syndrome or any other conditions…we appreciate you. You matter a lot and we’re glad you’re here. I commend you and your families for having the strength and courage to push forward. As for us, we made a difficult decision that we believe in the long-run will be beneficial for our family. Thankfully, we had a choice. It will take a little time to move on, but we are excited to try again in the future and hopefully have a better outcome. Love you guys & thank you for understanding. ❤️

Here are all the counties that are >10% Irish and >10% Italian. Most of these counties are in New England and the mid-Atlantic states.

Unfortunately this is going to be the first papal encyclical for which people will publish—within minutes of release—AI summaries and “analysis”, welll before thoughtful readers have had a chance to get very far into the text.

One week from today, God willing, I will ordain these six men to the Holy Priesthood. Let’s keep them in our prayers as they prepare for this Sacred Moment.

One of the greatest honors of my life was leading the dedication of President Donald J. Trump’s statue to the world. What amazes me is how quickly some people have compared this beautiful statue, created and made possible by more than 6,000 patriots, to a golden calf or idol worship. Let me be very clear. We worship the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone. The Word of God says, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3. It also says, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” Matthew 4:10. That is the line. Honor is not worship. Respect is not idolatry. Celebration is not bowing down to a false god. Romans 13:7 says, “Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” Giving honor where honor is due is biblical. Bowing down and worshipping an idol is sinful. There is a major difference. This statue was not created for worship. It was created as a symbol of resilience, patriotism, courage, and gratitude. It was created to honor a man whom many may disagree with, but millions of Americans believe has done extraordinary things to make this nation stronger. People celebrate athletes, musicians, entertainers, and cultural icons while they are still alive. Michael Jordan has a statue in Chicago. Cristiano Ronaldo, Taylor Swift, Shakira, Ed Sheeran, and many others have been honored publicly in different ways. Yet Christians were not screaming “golden calf” over those moments. So why now? You may dislike President Trump. That is your choice. But you are in gross error if you think for one second that I worship this magnificent statue or anything made by human hands. Acts 17:24 says, “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.” My worship belongs to God. My gratitude can still honor people. My faith is in Christ. My respect for a leader does not replace my reverence for the Lord. Before you judge, condemn, or spread false accusations, use spiritual discernment. 1 John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God.” Some of you know the voice of the Holy Spirit. Listen to that voice before you give room to the devil through lies, slander, and false judgment. Ephesians 4:27 says, “Nor give place to the devil.” We can disagree politically and still tell the truth spiritually. This was not idol worship. This was honor. This was gratitude. This was patriotism. And above all, Jesus Christ is still Lord.

Congratulations on your baptism, Leonidas!

My favorite kind of abortion is the kind that's safe, legal, accessible, and none of your damn business to regulate. And no amount of fearmongering by describing what goes on to a half-ounce fetus with no consciousness, self-awareness, or feeling of pain is going to change that.