Sunday law news from "Advent Messenger e-mail Newsletter"

[Asia Joe]

President Trump Welcomes Archbishop Coakley, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, to the White House

On January 12, 2026, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), met privately with President Donald J. Trump at the White House. The meeting was closed to the press, and no official details were released regarding the substance of the discussion. The USCCB—the national governing body of Catholic bishops in the United States that provides guidance to American Catholics and engages policymakers on public issues—later acknowledged the meeting in a brief statement, releasing the following:

• “Archbishop Coakley, had the opportunity for introductory meetings with President Trump, Vice President Vance, and other Administration officials, in which they discussed areas of mutual concern, as well as areas for further dialogue. Archbishop Coakley is grateful for the engagement and looks forward to ongoing discussions.” [1]

When Archbishop Paul Coakley met with Donald Trump, Vice President Vance, and other White House officials to talk about shared concerns and future cooperation, it may have seemed like a normal government matter. However, history shows that moments like this deserve careful attention. More than 1,600 years ago, Constantine the Great faced a divided and crisis-plagued Roman Empire. Instead of keeping politics out of religion, he aligned himself with the church and used it to help restore order and national unity to the empire. That decision gave the government moral legitimacy and the church political power, but it also eliminated the line between church and state, paving the way for the establishment of Sunday laws.

[Asia Joe]

National Catholic Authority: The Loss of Sunday Has Led to a Decline in Gender Equality, Family Cohesion, and the Public Good—It’s Time to Free This Day Up The Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) is the permanent governing body of the Catholic Church in Italy, composed of the country’s Catholic bishops. It is responsible for promoting and coordinating the Church’s mission and pastoral life at the national level. Based in Rome, its president and general secretary are appointed by the Pope. The CEI also owns the newspaper Avvenire, which serves as a principal national voice of the Church, communicating the Catholic Church’s positions on a wide range of social, moral, and public issues. On January 26, 2026, Avvenire published a very concerning article written by Elisabeth Cara, a professor at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan. The article, titled “Not Just Rest: Sunday Is a Social Resource and It’s Time to Free It Up,” presents Sunday not only as a necessary religious imperative but also as a matter of social justice that should be protected by public authorities. In her argument, the erosion of Sunday rest—and the expectation that people must work on that day—is portrayed as contributing to gender inequality and social discrimination. Rome, through its official national publication, is advancing a narrative that will help secure the necessary legislation needed to end the so-called injustice of forcing people to work on Sunday.....

[Asia Joe]

Cardinal Timothy Dolan: “It’s Time to Get Back to No Unnecessary Work on Sunday”

On February 5, 2026, Roman Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan posted a video calling for a revival of Sunday sacredness, urging a return to the days when no unnecessary work was done on that day. He called for Sunday to be set apart as a day dedicated to worshiping God and resting from ordinary labor. [1]

From a biblical and prophetic perspective, this is not a new call. History shows that in 321 A.D., civil authority was used to elevate Sunday observance, and Daniel 7:25 foretold a power that would “think to change times and law.” The issue is not merely about rest—it is about authority. Who has the authority to define the day of worship: God, who sanctified the seventh day at Creation, or human tradition, which exalted the first day of the week?

This call is not isolated. Across various religious circles—especially among many Protestants here in America—similar appeals are being made to restore Sunday as society’s uniform day of rest. While presented as spiritual renewal or family restoration, the larger prophetic question remains: What does Scripture say?

As God’s people, we are called to uphold “the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). The First Angel’s Message calls the world to “worship Him that made heaven, and earth”—a direct reference to the Creator and the Sabbath commandment. The true biblical Sabbath, the seventh day, stands as a sign of God’s creative power and His authority.

The Third Angel’s Message warns against receiving the mark of the beast, highlighting a coming test of worship and allegiance. In contrast to movements seeking to restore Sunday as a sacred institution, God’s people are called to be restorers of the breach—uplifting the law of God and proclaiming the everlasting gospel.

[Asia Joe]

The Economic Times: Sunday is the Lord’s Day and the Universal Pause Button The Economic Times is one of the world’s most prominent business and financial news outlets, attracting tens of millions of monthly visitors. Its primary audience includes business leaders, corporate executives, finance professionals, economists, and policymakers. [1] On February 15, 2026, the publication ran an article describing Sunday as a “universal pause button” for both churchgoers and non-churchgoers alike, asserting that for Christians, Sunday serves as the day of rest. The article made the following statement: •, “There’s much to love about Sundays, a kind of universal pause button that invites us to slow down, savor small moments, and maybe linger a little longer before starting the day. For many Christians, Sunday is also the “Lord’s Day,” a time of worship and quiet reflection. Even for those who don’t attend church, the day often becomes a natural moment to look back on the week’s highs and lows and think ahead to what lies ahead. In that reflective space, the idea of simply doing one’s duty, acting with sincerity rather than chasing perfection, resonates deeply, reminding us that honest effort and integrity matter more than flawless outcomes as a new week begins.” [2] Statements like this—especially when coming from a prominent global financial publication—reflect how deeply embedded Sunday has become in Western religious and business thinking. They even go so far as to refer to it as the so-called “Lord’s Day.” Such coverage demonstrates how society increasingly views Sunday as the obvious choice for providing rest and serving as the moral and spiritual day of the week....

[Asia Joe]

Andy Romans website: https://adventmessenger.org/

 

[Asia Joe]

The United States will be Entrusted to the Virgin Mary During Donald Trump’s 250th Anniversary Celebration

Roman Catholic Cardinal Raymond Burke composed a special prayer for the United States’ 250th anniversary, entrusting the nation to the Sacred Heart of Christ and to the protection of the Virgin Mary. This prayer forms part of the Trump administration’s “America Prays” initiative [1] and the “Year of Celebration and Rededication.” [2] These White House nationwide initiatives call on Americans to pray regularly for the country in the lead-up to the 250th anniversary of independence. The events are expected to culminate in the “Rededication of America Celebration,” a large worship gathering on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., scheduled for Sunday, May 17, 2026. Organizers describe these events as a time for national prayer, worship, thanksgiving, and a formal rededication of the nation and its people to God.

The Trump administration is not organizing these efforts alone. Faith-based participation in the 250th anniversary and “Rededication of America” programs includes Catholic organizations, evangelical Protestant churches, and groups often identified as Christian nationalists. Collectively, these groups are helping mobilize support by organizing prayer gatherings, distributing devotional resources, hosting worship services, utilizing media platforms to amplify the message, and encouraging churches and local communities to take part in coordinated prayer and patriotic observances connected to the 250th anniversary celebration.

Cardinal Raymond Burke has written a special prayer for America’s 250th birthday. It’s meant to be prayed daily as part of the national “rededication” effort. The prayer follows traditional Catholic beliefs, asking Jesus to bless the United States and asking the Virgin Mary to watch over and protect the nation. It’s being shared as a simple way for Christians to take part spiritually in the anniversary year and pray for the country’s future.

The “Daily Prayer for America 250” says in part:

• “Under the mantle of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, and through the intercession of her Immaculate Heart, bless my homeland anew, purify her from sin, and guide her leaders in truth, justice, and peace, so that she may safeguard all human life, respect the integrity of marriage and the family, and honor the practice of religion.” [3]

Vatican-based news correspondent Michael Haynes reports that Cardinal Burke “penned” this prayer for “this year’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence” and claims that it “form part of the ‘American Prays’ program with the White House.” [4]