“Here was an almond tree in bloom before me”

Your 5-minute Catholic briefing for busy faithful. Today's sources are the Zeale News, National Catholic Register, EWTN News, The Pillar, Aleteia, and OSV News. (Catholic Nutshell is a subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise the Catholic News Muscle)

Click here to view this email on the Catholic Nutshell News website. Today’s Catholic Nutshell News audio podcast is available on the Substack App.

EWTN News

13,000 gather at Knock in Ireland for ‘All Ireland’ rosary rally

By Patrick J. Passmore, June 10, 2026

In the largest gathering of Catholics in Ireland since Pope Francis’ visit in 2018, the annual All Ireland Rosary brought over 13,000 people to Knock Shrine on June 6 in a joint prayer for peace. Speaking to EWTN News after the rally, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland Eamon Martin said: “It was a very special joy for me to preside at the Eucharist in Knock at the rosary rally. I felt a tremendous sense of joy and hope among the people who were gathered there. And it was especially gratifying to see many young people, including the childrenʼs rosary group, who made a very important and beautiful contribution to the day.” Christine O’Hara, a secondary schoolteacher in Cork, Ireland, said: “The rosary rally was a very blessed and grace-filled day, and thereʼs a number of things that weʼre really hoping people will take away from the event. The first being that people will feel inspired to pray the rosary every day.”

OSV News

Housing crunch turns to crisis for families across the country

By Kimberley Heatherington, May 10, 2026

In recent years, the U.S. housing crunch has turned into a housing crisis, particularly among economically vulnerable Americans, with the U.S. Catholic bishops expressing significant concern about the consequences for families. According to a March 2026 report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, “Only 35 affordable and available rental homes exist for every 100 extremely low-income renter households. Extremely low-income renters face a shortage in every state and major metropolitan area.” Those hoping to buy a house seemingly don’t fare much better, with the National Association of Home Builders sharing data from March 2025 indicating “76.4 million households — 57% out of a total of 134.3 million — are unable to afford a $300,000 home.” Congress nears possible bipartisan passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which is predicted to be signed by President Donald Trump, and includes 56 provisions related to housing supply.

National Catholic Register

VP Vance says ‘soul-searching’ brought him to Catholic Church

By Daniel Payne/EWTN News, June 9, 2026

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said this week that he was drawn to the Catholic faith in part because of its centuries of tradition and because it “felt like home” to him amid his own faith journey. The vice president told Fox News host Jesse Watters on Jesse Watters Primetime on June 8 that he attended Christian churches while growing up but that he “wasnʼt properly formed in my faith” and that he eventually fell away from Christianity. “I had a lot of people who just did not, I think, properly support me in my own faith journey. And so I kind of just lost it,” he told Watters. “I was professionally very successful. I was making a lot of money. Iʼd gone to all the right schools. I realized that American elite culture was forming me to be kind of a bad person.” Watters noted that he himself is Protestant but that his wife is “kind of trying to get me to convert to Catholicism.” He joked with Vance: “Iʼm not there yet. Maybe Iʼll get there one day.” “Weʼll talk,” Vance replied with a laugh.

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Zeale News

EEOC workplace rules pressure employers into race-based hiring

By Elise Winland, June 9, 2026

Federal workplace discrimination guidelines on “disparate impact” violate the Constitution by pushing employers to make race-based hiring decisions, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a June 9 opinion that officials said will allow businesses to rely more heavily on merit-based employment standards. The opinion, issued by the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel, targets the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) approach to “disparate impact” liability under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Disparate impact claims allow employees or job applicants to challenge hiring policies that appear neutral — such as skills tests, background checks, or education requirements — if they lead to unequal outcomes among racial or other protected groups, even without evidence that an employer meant to discriminate. According to the DOJ, the EEOC’s approach can pressure employers to consider race when making hiring or promotion decisions in order to avoid lawsuits.

The PIllar

‘The most beautiful diocese in the world’: Southern Russia

By Luke Coppen, June 9, 2026

For more than two decades, Bishop Clemens Pickel has led a diocese that is larger than Texas and California combined. His Diocese of St. Clement at Saratov covers much of Southern Russia, stretching all the way from the Caucasus to the Ural Mountains. Yet it serves only around 20,000 Catholics. The area in which Pickel served went from being called the Archdiocese of Mohilev in 1990 to the Apostolic Administration of European Russia in 1991 to the Apostolic Administration of Southern European Russia in 1998. Saratov is a major city on the Volga River. Since the 18th century, it has served as the center of the ethnic German community, who settled along the Volga at the invitation of the German-born Russian Empress Catherine the Great. Pickel also has national-level responsibilities within the Catholic Church in Russia. He was first elected president of Russia’s bishops’ conference in 2017.

Related: Migration and Canary Islands: From a port of shame to a port of hope - By Kielce Gussie, Vatican News, 10 June 2026

Vatican News

Brazilian missionaries will help Haitians watch the World Cup

By Eduardo Campos Lima, June 10, 2026

As Haiti prepares to play in the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974, Brazilian missionaries in the Caribbean nation are planning to help local residents watch the matches – something that can be difficult for most Haitians, given that many have no access to electricity. For both Brazilians and Haitians, soccer is not only a sport but also a major cultural force that fosters a sense of community and national identity. In Haiti, soccer is an omnipresent pastime for children, and many boys and girls dream of one day representing their national team – just as they do in Brazil. While many Haitians are excited about the upcoming tournament, which begins on June 11, the catastrophic wave of violence and the lack of basic infrastructure throughout the country will certainly undermine the festive atmosphere that a World Cup typically brings to nations across the Caribbean and Latin America.

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Graphs about Religion

Religion helps folks believe that living standards will get better

By Ryan Burge and Praveen Vissa, June 8, 2026

Economic optimism remains fairly popular, but it has taken a noticeable dip over the last 15 years or so. In the 1990s, two-thirds of Americans agreed they had a good chance of improving their standard of living. Into the early 2000s, three-quarters of Americans believed their economic future would be better. In the last three waves of the General Social Survey (GSS from 2021-2024), that dropped below 50%. The generation closest to retirement is less likely to agree that their standard of living would rise. Gen X feels pretty good about their ability to improve their financial state, and Gen Z even more so (50%). Those with a graduate degree are incredibly optimistic about the future: almost two-thirds believe that they have a good chance of improving their standard of living. Religiosity is linked to higher levels of optimism and expectations that life will improve, with estimates just above 50%. The lowest score was among Catholics at 49%.

The Jerusalem Post

Knesset advances bill to enshrine Torah study into Basic Law

By Keshet Neev, June 10, 2026

Israel’s Knesset passed in its preliminary reading on Wednesday a bill that seeks to enshrine Torah study in Basic Law, as part of a proposal pushed by haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties that seeks to encourage draft evasion and change the status of Yeshiva students who do not serve, enabling them to continue receiving state benefits. The far-right Religious Zionist Party, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, said on Tuesday that it would not support a bill that calls for equality of rights between IDF soldiers who serve and haredim who evade military service. Gafni’s bill seeks to enshrine the status of Torah study in the Basic Law as "a fundamental value in the heritage of the Jewish people." Moving forward with the legislation also comes as the High Court of Justice ordered in April that the state take concrete steps to revoke key financial benefits from draft evaders and to move toward criminal enforcement against haredi men who evade military service.

Keep informed - 6/10/26 news for Catholics

Snippets from Loop, Aleteia, & The Pillar

CatholicVote: Zeale’s LOOP

Read daily news and political impact stories at the “LOOP”

Elections and politics matter. The LOOP gives you daily gems on the news that seek “to renew our country and culture.” CatholicVote’s advertised mission is “To inspire every Catholic in America to live out the truths of our faith in public life.”

• HOUSE PASSES BORDER ENFORCEMENT FUNDING - House Republicans passed the Secure America Act by a 214-212 vote, approving $70 billion over three years for immigration enforcement and border security, including $38 billion for ICE and $26 billion for CBP, with the bill now heading to Trump's desk for his signature. READ

• GALLUP FINDS GROWING DISAPPROVAL OF IMMORAL BEHAVIORS -Americans have become less likely over the past year to view several long-debated social behaviors as morally acceptable, with the sharpest declines on birth control, having a baby outside of marriage, gambling, sex between teenagers, and cloning animals, according to a new Gallup poll. READ

• JURY DEADLOCKS IN CASE AGAINST PRO-LIFE SIDEWALK COUNSELOR - A California jury deadlocked in the case of Anastasia Rogers, a pro-life advocate charged with intimidation under the FACE Act after posting an Instagram video contrasting her sidewalk-counseling efforts with the realities of abortion, with Life Legal reporting that a substantial majority of jurors rejected the prosecution's case. READ

Aleteia News

Aleteia’s headlines — June 10, 2026

Aleteia (aleteia.org) is an online publication distributed in six languages (English, French, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, and Slovenian). Aleteia reaches more than 10 million readers per month.

• Prayer warriors assemble with a new platform - A new web app offers a single place to share prayers, encouragement, and donations. Think of the best features of crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe and CaringBridge, but leading with prayer first — and all with a distinctly Catholic approach.

• Are little white lies okay? - The vast, vast majority of lies are completely unnecessary and can be completely avoided without much effort at all. Awkwardness can easily be tolerated; we simply don’t care for it. Self-aggrandizement is a bad habit that, with some conscious intentionality, can be eliminated entirely from our storytelling. If the job is done correctly and the homework finished, we’ll be far more eager to tell the truth about the success rather than lie (no one lies and tells their mother their homework isn’t done).

• Brilliant way parish welcomes families with young children - Carefully curated “busy bags” at St. Leonard Church in Muskego, Wisconsin, contain an assortment of items to help young children participate in the Mass in their own hands-on way. They are arranged in a “library” that families can check out during Mass and return afterward for cleaning and restocking.

The Pillar

Pillar Stories from the May calendar, 6/10/26

The Pillar offers a news summary and a capsule take on Catholic News. Here are news stories from the past few weeks in the Pillar Post:

• Edgar Beltran has put together a list of the pope’s top moments in the country so far, and the list is worth taking a look at — because everywhere Leo has gone, he’s been more well-received than was expected. The speech he gave on Monday to members of the Spanish legislature will go down in history as one of Leo’s intellectual tentpoles.

• The stories of Major League Baseball chaplains — priests bringing the sacraments to the big leagues. “Most of these guys are in their 20s, early 30s, when a lot of people in the Church tend to step away from their faith,” one clubhouse chaplain told The Pillar.

• A Catholic Charities employee in Charlotte has been charged with embezzlement and money laundering after prosecutors say she used a business credit card for more than $13,000 in personal expenses. It led to questions about hiring practices, after it emerged that the employee was hired to work with vulnerable populations despite having an extensive criminal history

June 10, 2026 - USCCB Daily Mass Readings

You can listen HERE or read HERE:

Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

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Today’s Catholic commentary:

Crisis Magazine

The ‘Wealth Tax’ is a covetous policy, not a reformation

By Auguste Meyra, June 10, 2026

This November, Californians will be voting on the “2026 Billionaire Tax Act,” a new wealth tax that would essentially seize 5% of the accumulated wealth of the state’s billionaires. Unlike a tax on income, sales, or property, this tax would target the non-liquid assets where the ultra-wealthy keep their fortunes. Sheer, unbridled envy is the main thrust of the essay, as the economists apply their calculations to other billionaires and stress just how much money the wealth tax could raise. As for the objection that this would drive away California’s richest residents, they respond that the wealth tax would bring in more revenue now than the current tax rate would over 25 years. Therefore, the short-term revenue boost easily offsets the long-term loss of these residents. However, no one ever bothers to demonstrate how or why such fortunes are immoral or what a “fairer” distribution of wealth would be. Most people seem to see free money for the taking rather than a covetous policy that will cripple their economy and prevent necessary reforms.

The Catholic Weekly

When love feels impossible, choose it anyway

By Francine & Byron Pirola, June 10, 2026

It’s easy to love our spouse when the affection is mutual – when our efforts to love are received, acknowledged, and returned. But what about when it isn’t reciprocated? Marriages generally begin when love and affection are at a peak. They rarely stay there. Sooner or later, the valley arrives fast and deep, leading us to question whether we made a mistake. It’s at this crossroad that we have a choice – protest the situation or lean into our vows and choose love. Knowing the intimacy for which we are created, our heavenly Father watches closely as we struggle in our marriage. Although painful and confusing, these times are an invitation to trust in God, to seek his grace, and to keep showing up in love with him. If we can love a stranger who wronged us, how much more should we love the one to whom we promised our life?

The Obscure, Forgotten, and Undiscovered

The ‘Collect’ at Mass can lead to contemplation

By James K. Hanna, June 9, 2026

I came to appreciate The Collect of the Mass when I began, in 2014, to facilitate online courses (twice weekly) for the University of Notre Dame’s Satellite Theology Education Program. Wanting to open each session with a prayer (and acknowledging my laziness in such matters), I decided to use The Collect from the Mass of the particular day. I soon discovered one way liturgy leads to contemplation. The Collect concludes the Introductory Rites of the Mass and precedes the Liturgy of the Word. It is a prayer spoken by the priest that we make our own by proclaiming “Amen.” It should be preceded by a brief period of silence during which we become aware of God’s presence and call to mind our intentions. By ancient tradition, The Collect is usually addressed to God the Father and concludes with a Trinitarian ending. You can find The Collect for each day at the Catholic Culture website here.

Catholic 365

Ways to spend birthdays with Jesus

By The Catholic Nurse, June 10, 2025

A birthday isn’t just a number or date — it’s a tender time to remember how God knit us in our mother’s womb. It’s a time to review our struggles and triumphs -- and see how God intervened in every scrape. When we imagine a birthday with Jesus, the day becomes less about candles and cake. It is a moment to breathe, to find the grace and growth in our lives, and remember how He has been there every step of the way. God’s fingerprints are everywhere, especially in the hardest places. If Jesus were sitting at our birthday dinner, He’d turn the celebration outward. Happiness grows when we share. Reading Scripture on our birthday is like opening a love letter, written to us before we were born. Verses of purpose, identity, and love take on new meaning when we remember that God made us for this era. Jesus loves gatherings, meals, and laughter. Celebrating with Him also means enjoying the life He gifted us.

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“I’ll pray for thee from my pistachio tree”

Your 5-minute Catholic briefing for busy faithful. Today's sources are OSV News, EWTN, First Things, Big Pulpit, Aleteia, and The Pillars. (Catholic Nutshell is a subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise their Catholic News Muscle)

Click here to view this email on the Catholic Nutshell News website. Today’s Catholic Nutshell News audio podcast is available on the Substack App.

EWTN News

Scientists unethically experiment on the unborn

By Kate Quiñones, June 8, 2026

Genetic researchers are increasing the accuracy of gene editing through experiments on unborn babies that could have been done on animals, one bioethicist says. At Columbia University, researchers have now edited the DNA of human embryos with “unprecedented accuracy,” according to a recent report by the New York Times. Dieter Egli, a professor of developmental cell biology in the Department of Pediatrics at Columbia, led the research, using a technique called base editing to replace individual genetic letters in sequences of DNA, according to the report. Egli’s work did not cause the damage that the gene editing technique “CRISPR,” or Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, usually causes. Potential side effects remain unknown, according to the researcher, and the technique is not ready for clinical implementation. Developing technology comes with its own ethical implications — used to cure disease-causing mutations in the early stages of life, but also used to select traits in unborn children.

CBCP News

SVD community takes legal action over Senate hearing allegations

By CBCP News, June 5, 2026

The Society of the Divine Word, the largest Roman Catholic missionary order, said it has initiated legal action after one of its priests was accused during a Philippines Senate hearing of receiving money allegedly linked to a flood control kickback scheme, calling the claims “false, malicious, and defamatory.” The SVD community categorically denied allegations that Fr. Flaviano Antonio Villanueva received cash in an envelope delivered near a church on Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City. “They are false,” the congregation said. “Legal action has already been initiated. We intend to hold accountable those who have chosen to bear false witness.” The accusations surfaced during a Senate inquiry into alleged irregularities in flood-control projects, in which purported former Marines linked Villanueva to transactions tied to a controversial scheme. According to the congregation, no church matching the witness’s description exists along Mindanao Avenue, and no SVD parish, church, or ministry center is located in that area.

Related: Appeals court in Canada says sexual assault suit against Fr. Rosica can proceed - Michelle La Rosa, The Pillar, June 04, 2026

National Catholic Register

Vatican-ordered probe of Baton Rouge bishop

By Matthew McDonald, June 8, 2026

Investigators conducted three full days of interviews last week in a probe of Bishop Michael Duca, ordered by the Vatican over the Diocese of Baton Rouge’s handling of a report of sexual abuse by a parish priest, two witnesses told the Register. “They’re all about the timing, why it took so long,” the purported victim, a man in his mid-60s, told the Register, on condition of anonymity. “They wanted to connect a lot of dots.” The man told the Register he and his wife spoke with the investigators for about 1 hour and 45 minutes on Wednesday, June 3. The investigators represent the Archdiocese of New Orleans, which is conducting the investigation, but they are lay professionals from out of state, said Luke Zumo, a longtime friend of the purported victim. Zumo filed the initial complaint against Bishop Duca under Vos Estis Lux Mundi, an apostolic letter issued by Pope Francis in May 2019 that established a process for investigating bishops in sexual abuse cases.

Our Sunday Visitor

Pope Leo jokes AI still thinks Francis is pope — there is a lesson

By Paulina Guzik, June 8, 2026

Pope Leo XIV used a light touch of humor to make a point about artificial intelligence and a Christian answer to it while sharing a meal with Spanish bishops in Madrid on June 8. Meeting the country’s prelates over octopus, a staple of Spanish cuisine, Pope Leo made a joke that made a point worthy of the “Magnifica Humanitas” author. OSV News learned from a source close to the bishops’ conference that Pope Leo told the gathering he had “consulted” AI and asked what the pope should say to the Spanish episcopate. The system began its answer with, “Pope Francis would say …,” prompting Pope Leo to cut in: “I think there is another Pope now,” the source recalled to OSV News what the pontiff said. Only then, Pope Leo said, according to the source, did AI correct itself: “Ah, that’s right. Pope Leo is now the pope.” Pope Leo used the story to underline that Christians follow a very different “algorithm.” Unlike digital systems, he said, the Gospel’s algorithm leads believers, including bishops, to love people, to accompany them, and to be servants of the Word.

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Religion News Service (RNS)

Defense Department reduces recognized religions to 30

By Yonat Shimron & Adelle M. Banks, June 8, 2026

The Defense Department under Secretary Pete Hegseth last month pared down the list of recognized religious labels in the military from 211 to a mere 31 — the vast majority of which are various Christian denominations. After eliminating about 180 faith groups from its list of recognized religions, the Department of Defense moved quickly to revise the list once again on Monday (June 8) in response to criticism from various religious groups. The most recent list dropped the word “Christian” from 19 categories after pressure from two Utah senators and others who objected to omitting a “Christian” label beside the name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Defense Department also dropped the category “Christian-Other.” “The Pentagon list included redundant and unnecessary labeling, and the mistake has been fixed,” the DOW Rapid Response X account tweeted, which also listed the updated religious affiliation codes.

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Aleteia

Antonio Banderas on the question that shaped his faith

By Cerith Gardiner, June 8, 2026

Speaking before Pope Leo XIV in Madrid this week, Antonio Banderas offered a surprisingly personal reflection on faith, art, and the question that has accompanied him since childhood. The Spanish actor was taking part in a gathering of cultural, artistic, economic, and sporting figures during the Pope’s visit to Spain. "With only four or five years of age," Banderas told the Pope, "a question was born in me that contained just one word: God," as shared by Cadena SER. The image he described was beautifully simple. Standing in the streets of Málaga during Holy Week, surrounded by what he called a "majestic ritual of art, culture, and devotion," the future Hollywood star watched as his mother fixed her gaze on the Virgin of Hope passing before them in procession. What makes Banderas' faith story particularly interesting is that it has never been presented as a dramatic conversion. Instead, he speaks openly about searching. That search eventually brought him back to the Catholic faith of his childhood.

The Pillar

Catholic clergy used to ‘promote China’s ethnic unity law’

By Luke Coppen, June 4, 2026

The Chinese government is reportedly using state-sanctioned Church bodies to promote a contentious new law aimed at ethnic minorities. The online magazine Bitter Winter published a June 2 article documenting an event in the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia, in which priests reportedly handed out booklets on the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, scheduled to go into effect July 1. Chinese authorities present the law as an effort to strengthen national cohesion and guarantee equality between the country’s 56 officially recognized ethnic groups. But Western governments and human rights activists claim it seeks to subsume minority languages, cultures, and religious practices into a unified Chinese national identity that reflects the norms of the majority Han culture. The new law embeds Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s policies promoting the “Sinicization of ethnic minorities” into the country’s legal framework.

Zenit News

Impressive numbers for the Pope’s second day in Spain

By ZENIT Staff, June 7, 2026

The organizing team for the Pope’s visit to Spain released some of the most relevant and surprising figures for Sunday, June 7.

• 1.5 million people participated in the Corpus Christi Mass and procession with the Pope.

• Approximately 400 million people followed the celebration on television, through the official broadcast distributed by TVE (Spanish Television) to networks worldwide.

• Among many others, a group of influencers with a combined following of nearly 60 million also attended the Mass in person. The content they shared on Sunday, June 7, has garnered millions of views.

• In the last 24 hours, the official website for the visit, conelpapa.es, has received over 13 million visits. Over the past week, the site has registered 68 million visits.

Keep informed - 6/9/26 news for Catholics

Snippets: Pulpit, EWTN, & Aleteia

BIG PULPIT

Tito Edwards’ Catholic blogger site: June 9, 2026

The Big Pulpit website is an intelligent news aggregator offering insights and analysis on the Catholic Church worldwide. Here are Chief Editor Tito Edward’s top recommendations for today.

• Research Finds Parents Play Decisive Role in Children’s Religious Future – Catholic World Report

• Six Extraordinary Eucharistic Miracles That Left Physical Evidence With Pictures – Church Pop

• Spanish Feminists React With Fury After Pope Leo Goes Off – Catholic Arena

• Priests in U.S. Sent to the Funny Farm for Believing Catholic Teachings – Fr. David J. Nix at Pilgrim Priest

EWTN News

EWTN’s top headlines — June 9, 2026

EWTN News provides reliable, free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, emphasizing the words of the Holy Father and the activities of the Holy See, and is available to anyone with internet access.

• 7,000 pilgrims open divine mercy congress in Vilnius, Lithuania - By Bryan Lawrence Gonsalves - Pilgrims from more than 50 countries gathered in the birthplace of the Divine Mercy devotion as Pope Leo XIV urged the faithful to make mercy the foundation of peace.

• Monsignor Vaccari cites rising humanitarian strain as Middle East violence intensifies - By Katherine Matt - Monsignor Peter Vaccari, president of Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), a papal agency that delivers humanitarian aid, described the situation in Jerusalem.

• Meet Jules Rimet: The devout Catholic who helped create the FIFA World Cup - By Francesca Pollio Fenton - The FIFA World Cup, one of the most-watched sporting events, with roughly 5 billion people tuning in to the tournament, has Catholic faith underpinnings.

Aleteia

Aleteia’s global network of experts, journalists, & contributors

Aleteia (aleteia.org) is an online publication distributed in six languages (English, French, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, and Slovenian). Launched in 2013, it is one of the world’s leading news websites. Aleteia offers a Christian vision of the world by providing both general and religious content free from ideological influences.

Why is St. Ephrem called the “Harp of the Holy Spirit”? - St. Ephrem, the "Harp of the Holy Spirit," an influential saint from the 4th century, wrote a number of hymns that are used by many Eastern Christians. Born into a pagan family, he was instructed as a youth in the Christian faith and then baptized at the age of 18.

Beautiful funeral prayer from the 1950s - This month of the Sacred Heart brings to mind a prayer from a funeral held in the 1950s, which calls on St. Joseph as a "friend of the Sacred Heart." It aids us to pray for the souls in Purgatory with insistence and constancy.

Ready in a crisis: Catholic Relief Services gets funding lifeline -After a year of funding cuts for Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. State Department has announced a $240 million grant for emergency relief.

June 9, 2026 - USCCB Daily Mass Readings

You can listen HERE - or read HERE:

Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

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Today’s Catholic commentary:

CRUX News

Pope Leo will tap into the Sagrada Familia’s allure, but first …

By Joseph Wilson, June 9, 2026

Pope Leo XIV will bridge 1,000 years of church history on Wednesday, visiting a medieval mountaintop monastery that local Catholics consider sacred and then celebrating Mass at Barcelona’s famous Sagrada Familia Basilica. Montserrat, a healthy drive from the city, followed by a steep ascent, is dear to many of the Catalan people in northeastern Spain. Annually, 2 million people travel to the complex that includes an 11th-century Benedictine abbey as well as a 16th-century basilica. Its Black Madonna statue, which studies show was originally white but darkened over centuries by smoke and incense before being painted black, is widely revered. But for many Catholics watching from afar — and especially non-Catholics — the highlight of the Chicago-born pope’s seven-day trip to Spain will be his evening Mass at the Sagrada Familia — the Basilica of the Holy Family — commemorating the centennial of the death of its architect, Antoni Gaudí.

Missio Dei Catholic

A scene of God’s inexhaustible grace

By Deacon Michael Halbrook, June 9, 2026

There, at the gate of the city Zarephath, Elijah finds the woman God has designated to provide for him. She has a handful of flour and a little oil. She is preparing what she believes will be the last meal for herself and her son. She tells Elijah this with the flat clarity of someone who has exhausted hope: “When we have eaten it, we shall die.” And Elijah says, “Do not be afraid. Go. Make the cake.” She does. “The jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry.” The miracle is quiet and domestic. Not fire from heaven, not parting waters. Just a jar that, when she reached into it the next morning, still had something in it. And the morning after. And the morning after that. For a year, she reached into the jar, and it was not empty. The abundance was invisible until the moment of need, and then it was simply there. The early Church read this scene as a figure of inexhaustible grace.

The Imaginative Conservative

Plague of plagiarism sweeping through the university system

By Trevor Lipscombe, June 7, 2026

In the First Letter to Timothy (1 Tim. 1:9-10), Saint Paul informs us (RSV CE 2^nd ed.) “The law is not laid down for the righteous but for… immoral persons, sodomites, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine”. Stern words indeed. In the Vulgate, what the RSV renders “kidnappers” is plagis, sharing a root with plagiarist. In the classical world, plagiarius meant a kidnapper, which ultimately became the common phrase we use today when someone kidnaps another's words. Right now, a plague of plagiarism is sweeping through the university system. No less an authority than the Harvard Crimson reports that 47% of undergraduates at that storied Ivy League school have committed plagiarism. It’s plagiarism when students reduce, reuse, or recycle others' words. It’s “borrowing freely” or “leaning on heavily” when scholars do it. At its very marrow, though, it’s theft. The theft of intellectual property, maybe, but theft nonetheless.

First Things

Erroneous outputs by AI can jeopardize the salvation of souls

By Nikolas Prassas, June 9, 2026

The words of a dead man / Are modified in the guts of the living.” Neither W. H. Auden, who wrote these lines in 1939, nor W. B. Yeats, whom they concern, knew that their words would one day end up in the matrices and vector fields that constitute the “guts” of modern AI models. To use Yeats’s preferred language, everything he ever wrote is now being turned around in a virtual “gyre” along with everything else that has ever been written. How his works will be modified in the process is impossible to say. While this may not be an urgent problem for Yeats scholars, it does present a difficulty for an institution with teaching authority, such as the Church. The integrity of doctrine depends on the precision with which it is stated. Hallucinations—the standard euphemism for erroneous outputs by AI models—can, where the word of God is concerned, jeopardize the salvation of souls.

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Catholic Nutshell News is a subscription service hosted by SubStack. Get up to a dozen recent articles from Monday to Saturday to review newsworthy issues. An easy way to browse top Catholic news and information services on the net. Edited by John Pearring.

Listen to an audio podcast of today’s Catholic Nutshell News on the Substack App!

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Unless otherwise noted, the bible references linked in the posts are from the USCCB website online publication of the Books of the Bible.

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National Catholic Register

Young Catholic men and women are struggling to connect

By Gigi Duncan, June 8, 2026

“I’ve been on a lot of first dates, but not a lot of second dates,” said Liz Conway. “It can feel demeaning a lot of the time.”Conway’s experience reflects a broader tension playing out across Catholic dating culture. At a time when young men and women in general find themselves deeply divided — over politics, religion, marriage, gender expectations, and commitment itself — many young Catholics say they are encountering another kind of disconnect within their own faith communities. The divide between Catholic men and women is often less about shared beliefs than interpretation and preference, shaped in part by different Catholic subcultures, online influencers, and exacting expectations about what a future spouse should be like. Women describe feeling scrutinized before they are known. Men describe uncertainty about how they will be received. Both sides talk about pressure, assumptions, and the sense that dating begins with analysis rather than encounter.

EWTN News

Pope Leo XIV tells Spain’s parliament to protect every human life

By Victoria Cardiel, June 8, 2026

Pope Leo XIV made history Monday by becoming the first pope to address Spain’s Congress of Deputies, delivering a forceful appeal to the country’s political class to defend human dignity and protect life “from conception to its natural end.” The June 8 address, delivered before about 700 guests amid tight security, drew a standing ovation lasting nearly seven minutes, with shouts of “Long live the pope!” echoing through the chamber. In his speech, Pope Leo warned lawmakers not to subordinate human dignity to “shifting social consensus or the whims of the majority at any given moment,” insisting that “every truly just society is built upon the recognition of the inviolable dignity of the human person.” “In this sense, if life ceases to be recognized as a fundamental value, what future can our societies have?” the pope asked. “Can a community that casts into the shadows the unborn child, the elderly, the sick, those who suffer in silence, or those who depend entirely on the care of others be called fully just?”

Related: Pope Leo says we are skilled at producing, lost on the why - Aleteia - Daniel Esparza - 06/08/26

Aleteia

How often should my 8-year-old go to confession?

By Philip Kosloski, May 30, 2026

Parents of First Communicants sometimes ask the question, “How often should my child go to confession?” This question is certainly a valid one, as odds are likely your children won’t be begging you to take them in for the sacrament. They might be conscious of sin, but confession is still new to them and certainly isn’t a habit yet. They realize confession is a good thing, but don’t always think of it. Going to confession regularly (every week or month) is a good habit. This instills in your children a habit they might carry for the rest of their lives. It teaches your children that confession is important and a vital part of the Catholic faith. If children aren't brought to confession on a regular basis (or only when they go to Religious Education classes), they will think that confession is something strange and unnecessary. This will only compound if they do not see their parents go to confession.

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The Pillar

Adult victims of sexual misconduct report abuses, need help

By The Pillar, June 7, 2026

A man who alleges sexual misconduct by his parish priest told The Pillar that he hopes a Vatican-ordered investigation in the Diocese of Baton Rouge will lead to more accountability for bishops, and that the Church will do more to help adult victims of sexual misconduct report abuses and find help. “There’s definitely got to be some changes” in diocesan processes, the man told The Pillar, after meeting with investigators dispatched to Louisiana to conduct a Vos estis lux mundi inquiry into Baton Rouge’s Bishop Michael Duca. The Vos estis investigation was ordered last month, over allegations that Duca did not adequately address complaints, and discouraged a whistleblower from calling the police, after a local priest allegedly admitted to sexual contact with minors. The priest denies the allegation against him, while the Baton Rouge diocese has not responded to questions about the case.

Related: Diocese of Austin had allegations against sex offender priest years before arrest, conviction, By Christopher R. Altieri, June 8, 2026

OSV News

Can Catholics date a person whose marriage has not been annulled?

By Jenna Marie Cooper, June 5, 2026

For a few reasons, it’s hard to determine in the abstract whether or not “dating” a divorced person who has yet to receive a declaration of nullity is strictly speaking a sin per se. However, I would say it is generally a bad idea. Even though the Church is willing to tolerate civil divorce in some cases, at the end of the day, we see divorce as essentially a legal fiction. Our belief in the absolute permanence of marriage is rooted in what Jesus himself taught us in St. Matthew’s Gospel (Mt 19:8-9). The Church’s nullity process, conducted through marriage tribunals, exists as a way to determine whether one of these invalidating issues was in fact present at the time of the wedding. In and of itself, it’s not necessarily a sin for a man and a woman — even a man and a woman who are married to other people. At the least, it is venial sin if the couple deliberately places themselves into a situation where they know they will be tempted to be unchaste (a “near occasion of sin”), or if their relationship becomes a source of scandal within the community.

Zeale

US bishops placed friendly wagers on NBA Finals, Stanley Cup

By Mary Rose, June 6, 2026

As basketball and hockey fans across the country gear up for championship matchups, several Catholic bishops are adding a little extra incentive to cheer for their hometown teams. Archbishop Ronald Hicks of New York and Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio, Texas, have placed a friendly wager on the NBA finals, putting up New York bagels against Texas gift boxes as the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs battle for the championship. Meanwhile, a similar wager took shape on the ice. Archbishop George Leo Thomas of Las Vegas and Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama of Raleigh, North Carolina, have agreed to exchange steakhouse specialties and Carolina barbecue as the Golden Knights and Hurricanes compete for the Stanley Cup. Friendly wagers tied to major sporting events have become a tradition among Catholic bishops in the U.S. Rather than money, the stakes typically involve local foods, regional specialties, or charitable donations, allowing church leaders to celebrate civic pride while promoting good sportsmanship.

ZENIT

Why Washington’s archbishop removed a high-profile Exorcist

By ZENIT Staff, June 8, 2026

A controversy has led to an unusually public disciplinary decision within the Catholic Church. On June 3, Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, removed Monsignor Stephen Rossetti from his role as archdiocesan exorcist after the priest publicly suggested that many reported UFO sightings could be manifestations of demonic activity. The Archdiocese of Washington also severed its institutional ties with the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal, the Washington-based ministry directed by Rossetti and known internationally for its work in spiritual healing, formation programs, and assistance to clergy and laity. In a statement announcing the decision, Cardinal McElroy said that Rossetti’s comments linking UFOs to demonic presence, together with aspects of the center’s recent use of social media, seriously undermined accurate Catholic teaching regarding the devil, demons, and the ministry of exorcism. The Church generally requires prudence when interpreting extraordinary phenomena. Catholic doctrine does not identify UFO reports with demonic activity, nor does it provide an official teaching on extraterrestrial life.

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CRUX

Murder of Mozambique bishop highlights Christian persecution

By Charles Collins, June 7, 2026

On Saturday, Pope Leo XIV said he “learned with sorrow” of the murder of Bishop Osório Cîtora Afonso in Quelimane, the city of which he was bishop in Mozambique. According to a statement from the Holy See press office, the pontiff “joins in prayer with the people of the Dioceses and of Mozambique in this hour of bewilderment, so that the Lord may give them consolation, so that he may guard in his love every man and woman and stop the hand of violence.” Cîtora Afonso, 54, was shot dead at his headquarters. He was appointed bishop of Quelimane only in July of 2025. At the time of his death, he was also the Apostolic Administrator of Beira.

Keep informed - 6/8/26 news for Catholics:

Snippets: EWTN News, aciafrica, & Word on Fire

EWTN News

EWTN’s top headlines — June 8, 2026

EWTN News provides reliable, free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, with updates on the Holy Father's words and the Holy See.

• A quarter of Irish Gen Z will have no children, new report says - By Patrick J. Passmore - While current trends show that 1 in 4 young women today will remain childless, Iona Instituteʼs Breda OʼBrien said the huge question is “whether this will be by choice or circumstance.”

• Over 1,000 people process with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist through Washington, D.C. - By Tyler Arnold - The procession offers “public witness to our faith,” Father Charles Trullols said, displaying “the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, body, blood, soul, and divinity” to each person the procession passes by. Dozens of onlookers stopped to watch the procession, with many taking photos and videos.

• ‘You are so loved’: New film reveals enduring power of the Sacred Heart - By Francesca Pollio Fenton - A new movie called “Sacred Heart: His Reign Has No End” will be hitting theaters across the United States this month after experiencing tremendous success in France and other countries.

aciafrica

aciafrica’s top headlines — June 8, 2026

ACI Africa was founded in 2019 to provide free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Catholic Church in Africa, with particular emphasis on the words of the Holy Father and the activities of the Holy See.

• World Environment Day: Caritas Zambia Calls for Climate Justice, Urges Response to “cry of the earth, cry of the poor” - Jun 8, 2026 - By Sabrine Amboka - As the world marked World Environment Day on June 5, Caritas Zambia called for urgent climate action that safeguards both the environment and vulnerable communities

• Catholic Church Leaders Across Africa and Vatican Mourn Slain Mozambican Consolata Bishop, Call for Justice - Jun 8, 2026 - By ACI Africa Staff - The Catholic Church’s grief over the killing of Bishop Osório Citora Afonso of Mozambique’s Quelimane Diocese continued to deepen as Pope Leo XIV, Catholic Bishops in Africa, and elsewhere have spoken out.

• Catholic Sisters from Nine African Countries Trained to Amplify Their Voices Through Storytelling - Jun 7, 2026 - By Jude Atemanke Catholic Sisters from nine African countries have completed a communications training workshop aimed at strengthening their storytelling skills and increasing the visibility of their contributions.

Word on Fire

Fresh insights from the Word on Fire Institute - for June 8, 2026

Word on Fire reaches millions every year by effectively sharing the Gospel via podcasts, videos, books, articles, Scripture studies, and Gospel meditations.

Literary Prizes and the Recovery of the Self in the Age of AI - Daniel Fitzpatrick -June 8, 2026 - The literary world has been abubble these recent days with the news that Jamir Nazir’s “The Serpent in the Grove,” which won the Commonwealth Short Story Prize and has been published in Granta, seems to have been written by AI.

The Alien in All of Us - Jim Kennedy - June 8, 2026 - Fresh on the chemtrails of the US Department of War’s release of new UFO/UAP files, the advent of Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi film, Disclosure Day, is accelerating speculation about aliens into warp drive. One of the most provocative questions is a simple one: Do aliens believe in God?

A New Wave of Anti-Christian Censorship - Dr. Kody W. Cooper - June 6, 2026 - A new wave of anti-Christian censorship is afoot in Europe. The continent and civilization that Hilaire Belloc argued was inextricably linked to the faith has become a principal threat to the faith. While the threat is very real. However, it is not yet time to despair.

June 8, 2026 - USCCB Daily Mass Readings

You can listen HERE — or read HERE:

Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

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Today’s Catholic commentary:

Catholic Stand

Common sense (and Biblical guidance) in choosing kids’ names

By Gene M. Van Son, June 7, 2026

Some parents spend countless hours trying to come up with just the right name for a son or daughter. But for some parents, it’s easier. Dad names the sons and mom names the daughters. Every once in a while, however, you meet someone and can’t help but wonder, “What were that person’s parents thinking when they gave their kid that name?!” Check out “100 of the Weirdest Baby Names in History,” written by a young lady named Emma Bennett. (Note that this is not an endorsement of Bennett’s website.) Some of the names are pretty far out! According to a recent article at Crisis, “Muhammad is now the most popular baby boy’s name in the United Kingdom.” This shows there are now quite a few Muslims in the UK. It also shows that many Muslims take their religion seriously – something Christians might want to think about. Cardinal Dolan remarked recently that naming children after saints is a Catholic custom worth recovering.

The Abbey of Misrule

Three ancient prophecies about the future ‘soul’ of England

By Paul Kingsnorth, April 23, 2026

I don’t know much about the future of England. Who does? But I do know quite a lot about its past. I offer three prophecies from English history, all of which relate to the country’s Christian soul. Just twelve years before the Normans raged across the English Channel, the Great Schism between the Eastern and Western Christian churches had taken place. The Christian tree had been cut in two, and its two halves were carried far away from each other. They have not been reunited yet. from the Greek saint Arsenius of Paros, is a very simple prophecy, and it seems true: “The Church in The British Isles will only begin to grow when she begins to again venerate her own Saints.” Thirdly, England’s true national saint is not George, but Edmund the Martyr. This early medieval Christian king brings us to our final prophecy. When the relics of St Edmund finally return to Bury St. Edmunds, the spiritual regeneration of the English nation will begin. If there is one thing England needs, it is spiritual regeneration. The good news is that the saints are still waiting, quietly, for us to begin.

First Things

When eugenics goes viral

By Jonathon Van Maren, June 8, 2025

On June 3, a debate about the silent genocide of unborn children with Down syndrome exploded on social media. The unlikely catalyst was an X post by YouTube influencer Jesse “McJuggerNuggets” Ridgway. For months, the Ridgways had been producing and posting news of their pregnancy for a massive online audience, including their pregnancy announcement on March 29, a gender reveal (a boy), ultrasounds, and finally, a disturbingly personal video of the grief-stricken couple finding out their baby likely had Down syndrome. The journey culminated in Ridgway’s announcement that the couple had decided to abort the baby at twenty-one weeks. The post has been viewed over 24 million times and has garnered 18,000 mostly negative comments. Many were livid at Ridgway’s openly eugenic justification for having his unborn son destroyed; hundreds posted stories, photos, and videos of their loved ones with Down syndrome, expressing their gratitude for their love, lives, and contributions.

The Catholic Thing/EWTN

The world is the ‘Womb of Divine Love’

By Randall Smith, June 8, 2026

Some people wonder: Why stick around in this life if the next life is so great? In fact, why has God sent us into this world at all if His ultimate goal for us is union with Him? Why not just get us there? Why send us here, risking the possibility that things might turn out badly? It’s as though God was saying: “I am putting you in this very fragile ethical situation where you’ll be pretty much over your heads, and although I want you to succeed, if you screw up, you’re doomed. Good luck!” Everything about the Christian faith tells us that is not what God is doing. So why are we in this world when we’re meant for the next? Perhaps it will help to engage in a little thought experiment. Love must be received and given freely. So God can’t keep these creatures with Him, “under His wing,” so to speak, because that wouldn’t allow them any real freedom, any more than children kept at home, even with very loving parents, have any real freedom to become who they are meant to become.

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“We see through new tender verdant pecan leaves”

Today’s commentary: Catholic doctrine in June readings; Gamblers rooted in classic sin; Bible is relevant to economics; & Weigel’s Ascension Sunday’ absurdity

Your 5-minute Catholic briefing for busy faithful. Today's sources: National Catholic Register, EWTN News, The Pillar, Crux, First Things, Catholic World News, & Aleteia. (Catholic Nutshell is a FREE subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise their Catholic News Muscle)

Please support the following Catholic news services and spiritual support sites. Click here to view this email on the Catholic Nutshell News website. Today’s Catholic Nutshell News audio podcast is available on the Substack App.

National Catholic Register

What does ChatGPT have to do with slavery?

By Jonah McKeown, June 5, 2026

When most people type a question into an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, it may not occur to them that the speedy and friendly responses they receive could have any connection with sweatshop-style dehumanizing labor. Pope Leo XIV is hoping to make this connection clearer. In Magnifica Humanitas, the new papal encyclical on safeguarding human dignity amid the rise of AI, the Pope vividly highlights “new forms of slavery” that AI is already facilitating, writing that the benefits of enhanced efficiency and other innovations are not to be celebrated if they are “built on a chain of exploitation that remains deliberately hidden.” AI-driven exploitation is not only difficult to track but also hard to get people to care about, given that it typically occurs far from where AI products are most in demand. Catholic theologian Léocadie Lushombo has witnessed children and women emerging from cobalt and nickel mines, bathed in toxic dust, doing the backbreaking, invisible labor to supply elements necessary for AI chips.

EWTN News

Immigration bill bishops warn could mislabel migrants

By Katherine Matt, June 5, 2026

The U.S. bishops are urging Congress to reject a bill that would make noncitizens labeled as gang members deportable based on a “reason to believe” standard. The House Judiciary Committee approved the bill, H.R. 175, on June 3. Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of Victoria, Texas, said: “This bill is unjustifiably broad and risks implicating the victims of criminal gangs, as well as Catholics and other people of faith serving immigrants in accordance with our sincerely held religious beliefs.” “In effect, foreign-born religious workers, such as priests and religious sisters, while being compelled as a primary purpose of their vocations to assist with others’ basic needs, could be subjected to the designation under section 2(a) of the bill and its corresponding consequences for individuals,” said Cahill, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration.

Aleteia

Eucharistic adoration didn’t exist until Corpus Christi

By Philip Kosloski, June 6, 2026

In the past 100 years, Eucharistic adoration has become very popular among Roman Catholics, especially since St. John Paul II in the 13th Century highly promoted this devotion during his pontificate. He wrote about it in his encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia, praising it and encouraging Catholics to take part in it and in the processions linked to the feast of Corpus Christi. Historically speaking, Eucharistic adoration was not a popular personal devotion until the feast of Corpus Christi was established in the 13th century. While Eucharistic adoration was not part of the early Church, it does not mean that early Christians did not believe Jesus was truly present in the Eucharist. They believed in his Real Presence under the forms of bread and wine, but focused mainly on his role as "food" and on how consuming the Eucharist led to communion with him. As the Church further developed her understanding of the Eucharist, more and more saints felt a desire to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament rather than simply consume him.

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The Pillar

Bishop’s version of the child protection charter revises little

By The Pillar, June 5, 2026

The U.S. bishops’ conference is set to vote next week on a revised version of their landmark safeguarding document, the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. There have been calls in recent years for a broad overhaul of the document in light of the fallout from clerical sexual abuse scandals beginning in 2018. The changes to the charter will not impact a related canonical policy for the U.S., the “Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons.” Apart from affirming existing training programs, the text does not offer significant suggestions for the roles that should be played in carrying out that work. The text’s substantial modifications include updates to make note of Vatican legislation in recent decades, and new language about the prospect of returning to ministry for clerics who have been accused of abuse when a preliminary investigation “indicates that the accusation does not have the semblance of truth.”

OSV News

Indigenous of Canada and U.S. blame Catholic Church for difficulties

By Cindy Wooden, June 5, 2026

As the Indigenous people of Canada and the United States continue to fight for self-governance and for control of their traditional territories, many of them point to the Catholic Church and the “Doctrine of Discovery” as being a prime cause for the loss of their full rights. The foundations of the “Doctrine of Discovery” usually are traced to papal documents from the 15th century, but also include later philosophical and political positions and legal rulings asserting that ownership of or sovereignty over land passed automatically to European colonizers by virtue of their having “discovered” it, irrespective of the presence of Indigenous occupants. “I have thought of the ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ as gum underneath my shoes — wherever I go, it is there — and I thought one day, I am going to change my shoes and wear our moccasins and, dang it, there is gum there, too,” said Grand Chief Edward John of the Tl’azt’en Nation in British Columbia, a lawyer.

Zeale

FBI fires 5 for controversial 2023 memo on traditionalist Catholics

By Mary Rose, June 5, 2026

The FBI has fired five employees connected with a controversial 2023 intelligence memo that tied white supremacist extremist ideology to traditionalist Catholic communities. FBI Director Kash Patel dismissed the five intelligence analysts involved in producing the document on June 5. As CatholicVote reported at the time, Patel vowed to investigate the memo during his January 2025 confirmation hearings before Senate lawmakers. The firings appear to be the first publicly confirmed terminations of employees directly involved in drafting and approving the memo. The employees were not relieved of duty under former FBI Director Christopher Wray. Instead, they received administrative discipline that affected their performance reviews and pay. The 2023 FBI intelligence memo examined potential links between white supremacist extremists and a small subset of Catholics whom the bureau described as "radical-traditionalist” Catholics, or RTCs.

Related: FBI fires several analysts tied to disputed ‘Catholic ideology’ memo - By Eric Tucker, Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press, Jun 6, 2026

CatholicVote

Palestinian Lutherans decry arrest of Christian student

By Joseph Tulloch, June 6, 2026

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Holy Land has said it is “incredibly disturbed” by the arrest of Christian university student Natalie Abu Dayyeh. Ms. Abu Dayyeh, a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and a student at Birzeit University in the West Bank, was arrested on Tuesday morning along with three other Palestinian women, according to AFP. In a statement, Bishop Imad Haddad, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, said that the church community was “deeply shocked and horrified by this news, as well as by the news that her family does not yet know where [Abu Dayyeh] has been taken.” "This is not an isolated incident", said Palestinian human rights activist Ihab Hassan, manager of the Save West Bank Christians campaign. He pointed to the case of Layan Naser, another Christian student at Birzeit University, who has been arrested three times in recent years.

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CRUX

French Archbishop says suicide bill could still be adopted

By Fionn Shiner, June 6, 2026

Following the second rejection of an assisted suicide bill in the French Senate last month, an archbishop has said that not everything that is presented as progress turns out to be beneficial, and warned that the legislation could still be “definitively adopted.” Speaking to Crux Now, Monsignor Vincent Jordy, Archbishop of Tours and vice president of the country’s bishops’ conference, drew a comparison between the climate crisis and assisted suicide to demonstrate that what was once considered progressive can turn out to be harmful. “Over the past 150 years, we have developed industrial progress that is now turning against humanity and gradually making the earth uninhabitable. What once appeared to be progress is ultimately not as obviously beneficial as it seemed. But it took time to realize this,” he said. “The same applies to moral life and societal choices.”

Keep informed - 6/6/26 matters for Catholics:

Snippets: EWTN News, aciafrica, & Word on Fire

EWTN News

EWTN’s top headlines — June 6, 2026

EWTN News provides reliable, free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, with updates on the Holy Father's words and the Holy See.

• LIVE UPDATES: Pope Leo XIV in Spain — Madrid welcomes a pope after 15 years - By EWTN News Staff - The pope will arrive in a markedly different Spain than the one Pope Benedict XVI encountered during a 2011 visit punctuated by anti-religious protests.

• Students, father killed in southern Lebanon as Tyre’s Christian quarter faces new threat - By Zoe Romanowsky - Family members killed in southern Lebanon, French lawmakers protect the seal of confession, Salesian martyrs to be beatified in Poland, and more in this week’s roundup of Catholic world news.

• Vatican elevates Philippine Padre Pio shrine to international status - By Rommel F. Lopez - Only the second International Shrine in the Philippines, the Batangas sanctuary will mark its new status with a formal declaration on the saintʼs Sept. 23 memorial.

aciafrica

aciafrica’s top headlines — June 6, 2026

ACI Africa was founded in 2019 to provide free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Catholic Church in Africa, with particular emphasis on the words of the Holy Father and the activities of the Holy See.

• Nigeria Church Massacre Convictions Mark “a milestone” for Justice: Christian Solidarity Worldwide - By Silas Isenjia, 05 June, 2026 - Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has welcomed the conviction of four defendants over the 2022 Pentecost Sunday attack on St. Francis Xavier Owo Catholic Parish of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, which left at least 50 people dead

• Africa Liberation Week: Faith Groups Raise “prophetic voice” for Affordable Renewable Energy Across Africa - By Silas Isenjia, 05 June, 2026 - Faith groups, civil society organizations, and climate justice advocates have called for a transition from costly fossil fuels to community-led renewable energy, describing access to affordable energy as a matter of justice and human dignity.

• U.S. Congressman Invokes Uganda Martyrs’ Intercession for Persecuted Christians in Africa - Jun 5, 2026, By Nicholas Waigwa - Riley McGowan Moore, the U.S. Representative of West Virginia’s 2nd congressional district, has invoked the intercession of the Uganda Martyrs for Christians facing persecution.

Word on Fire

Fresh insights from the Word on Fire Institute - for June 6, 2026

Word on Fire reaches millions every year by effectively sharing the Gospel via podcasts, videos, books, articles, Scripture studies, and Gospel meditations.

A New Wave of Anti-Christian Censorship - Dr. Kody W. Cooper, June 6, 2026 - A new wave of anti-Christian censorship is afoot in Europe. The continent and civilization that Hilaire Belloc argued was inextricably linked to the faith has become a principal threat to the faith. While the threat is very real, it is not yet time to despair.

Andy Warhol’s Catholic Pop - Matthew Malone, June 5, 2026 - Andy Warhol is famous for his iconic pop art paintings of Campbell’s soup cans, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley, yet beneath the celebrity veneer was a man of quiet devotion who regularly attended Catholic Mass, volunteered in New York City soup kitchens, and was the son of Byzantine Catholic immigrants.

Why Invoke God in the Declaration of Independence? - Dr. Christopher Kaczor, June 3, 2026 - According to the Declaration of Independence, human beings are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” This claim raises the question: Does God do any real work in the Declaration? Is the Creator language decorative or load-bearing? Arguably, the Declaration’s appeal to God clarifies human status and limits human authority, which should not be concentrated in the hands of a single person.

June 6, 2026 - USCCB Daily Mass Readings

You can listen HERE — or read HERE:

Saturday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

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Catholic Stand

June’s Sunday readings emphasize the truth of Catholic doctrine

By Marty Dybicz, June 5, 2026

The meaning of the Sunday Mass Readings for June 2026 is made clearest by Catholic doctrine because “in the supremely wise arrangement of God, Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium of the Church are so connected and associated that one of them cannot stand without the others” (CCC 95[1]). Catholic doctrine is the unchanging truth about the unchanging reality of God and His Will given only by the Magisterium to clarify God’s Revelation in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. June’s Readings[2] connect with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. One doctrine we should take from June 7th’s brief but profound Second Reading is: “by this sacrament [of the Eucharist] we unite ourselves to Christ, who makes us sharers in his Body and Blood to form a single body” (CCC 1331). The second meaning is that an authentic “Amen” to “The Body of Christ” means even more. It is “Amen” to the Mystical Body of Christ, the Catholic Church (CCC 1396). “No one may take part in [the Eucharist] unless he believes that [Catholic doctrine] is true . . . and lives in keeping with what Christ taught” (CCC 1355).

George Weigel

The fourth day ‘Ascension Sunday’ absurdity

By George Weigel, May 19, 2026

I missed the Ascension again this year, not from any slovenliness or laxity on my part, but because I was in Rome: the center of the Catholic world. Why, you ask? Because in the Borgo district where I stay, the Ascension has been moved to the following Sunday (as in the rest of Italy), while three hundred yards up the Borgo Pio, in Vatican City, the Ascension is celebrated on Thursday, where it belongs. This is, frankly, absurd. It is biblically absurd, for the texts do not affirm that the Lord ascended into heaven “on the forty-third day,” but on the fortieth day. That is a calendrical notation rich with biblical and spiritual meaning, as the forty days between Easter and the Ascension parallel the forty days of the Lord’s fast in the desert before his public ministry, the experience that sets the temporal rhythm of the forty days of Lent, which then sets the stage for Easter.

First Things

The Bible is especially relevant to economics

By Peter J. Leithart, June 5, 2025

We live, writes Italian economist Luigino Bruni in his The Economy of Salvation, in an exhausted age in which “words are tired” and “worn out,” when “old things have passed away... and there is a yearning desire for something new.” In such a time of fatigue and transition, the Bible that “nurtured and inspired our civilization” can revive our language and our souls. The Bible is especially relevant to economics because many of the fundamental concepts of that discipline have theological origins—the invisible hand, debt and debt relief, even the concept of oikonomia itself, which Scripture and the Christian tradition use to describe God’s wise management of the household of creation. An advocate of civil economy, Bruni looks to the Bible to fill out his notions of pact, reciprocity, personal relation, and gratuitousness, all essential to economic health. Bucolic Adam, not violent Cain, was the first man, which implies earth and humanity originate in Edenic goodness and beauty. Genesis thus provides an antidote to cynics and nihilists who believe the fratricide of Cain speaks “the first and last word about humans.”

The Catholic Thing

Gamblers arise from the roots of debasement and sin

By Daniel B. Gallagher, June 6, 2026

Why don’t we gamblers in Dante’s Hell? Well, it depends on where we look. There’s no specific infernal circle in the Divine Comedy set aside for gamblers. That’s because they’re scattered throughout. And that, in turn, is because their true sin doesn’t lie in the wager, but in what prompts it, what feeds it, and what stems from it. Descending into the fourth circle, Dante and Virgil catch sight of the greedy and the prodigal pushing huge boulders in opposite directions around a circle of icy sleet. Each time they run into each other, the greedy shout to the prodigal, “Perché tieni? (Why do you hoard?),” and the prodigal to the greedy, Perché burli? (“Why do you squander?)” (Canto 7) Gamblers are found in both groups, for they can’t imagine anyone not betting big when there’s so much in the jackpot, just as they can’t imagine anyone placing money anywhere but on the table. They hoard money from their families and squander it on slot machines.

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Zeale News

Cardinals to discuss just war tradition at June Consistory

By McKenna Snow, June 4, 2026

The schedule for the June 26-27 Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals — a meeting of cardinals from around the world with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican — includes sessions focusing on the Pontiff’s recent encyclical, debates over what constitutes a just war, and the implementation of the Synod on Synodality. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, wrote that the discussion will raise awareness of the painful reality of these struggles affecting many of the cardinals, especially those in war-torn regions. The discussion, he added, will also challenge the conditions that “are re-emerging that weaken the possibility of reconciliation and coexistence.” “In particular, we shall be invited to reflect on how best to reaffirm today that the “just war” theory, which has all too often been used to justify any kind of war, is now outdated,’” he wrote, quoting paragraph 192 of the encyclical, “and what concrete paths might help peoples and Christian communities to safeguard and build peace.”

OSV News

Nuncio hopes for peace after Zelenskyy calls for talks with Putin

By Junno Arocho Esteves, June 5, 2026

The apostolic nuncio to Ukraine expressed his support for initiatives that will lead to the end of the war following the release of an open letter by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling for peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, who has served as nuncio to the war-torn country since 2021, said that when it comes to war, “the Church’s judgment is clear.” “God has never revoked the Decalogue, and he has not authorized us to kill. Never,” the Lithuanian archbishop said. “Therefore, I appreciate and accompany with prayer every initiative that sincerely and seriously aims to rebuild peace.” In his open letter, Zelenskyy commented on the full-scale invasion that began in 2022, noting that history will remember it as Putin’s “personal choice” and “a war without a real cause.”

Aleteia

Crime-fighting priest: ‘… just another day in the D’

By Theresa Civantos Barber, June 5, 2026

Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear cassocks. Priests are real-life superheroes, but one Detroit priest took that to a whole new level when a crime suspect tried to flee police right in front of his church. Not on this priest’s watch! Rev. Canon Jean-Baptiste Commins took down the suspect and helped police apprehend him. Canon Commins was in his church parking lot Monday evening when he heard tires squeal and a loud crash. A stolen car had crashed into another vehicle with police in pursuit when a young man ran from the scene wearing only one shoe. An onlooker yelled, “Stop him!” and Canon Commins jumped into action. Jumping in to help is “just another day” for Canon Commins, according to his flock. Rebecca has been a parishioner at his parish, St. Joseph Shrine, for six years, and she told Aleteia she’s not surprised to hear of his brave actions. He went right back to his typical routine after the brief stint of crime-fighting. He told the reporter, “Yes, I went and had to do my prayers as usual and have dinner with the community… just another day in the D.”

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National Catholic Register

Is the Church as troubled as the SSPX Claims?

By Larry Chapp, June 4, 2026

There is only so much controversy that one can absorb before our psychological defense mechanisms kick in and we become numb to it all, preferring the silent suffering of an exhausted soul over a constant engagement with things that are seemingly impossible to resolve and therefore disturb the soul all the more with a sense of anguished futility. One of the negative side effects of the entire debate is that we have been forced to focus on the SSPX leadership's claim that the Church is in such a grave crisis of apostasy that the society’s schismatic acts are warranted and, therefore, are not even really schismatic at all. What the debate has done is to focus our eyes on the negative. Does the Church have many problems today? Yes, of course it does, as the Church has always been faced with various crises and problems. But what then of the positive things going on in the Church? Is it really as dark as the SSPX claims? No, it is not, and therefore, the best counterargument that the Church can give to the SSPX is to begin a renewed focus on what is right with the Church.

EWTN News

Illinois diocese: Wants to block law requiring it to hire nonbelievers

By Tyler Arnold, June 5, 2026

The Diocese of Springfield is asking a federal appeals court to strike down a state law that they say would force it to hire workers who disagree with its religious and pro-life missions. Springfield’s diocese filed suit against the state in March 2025 alongside the Pregnancy Care Center of Rockford. Both parties had argued that the Illinois Human Rights Act “dictates how religious employers must speak and act about employees’ voluntary reproductive decisions like abortion, contraception, and sterilization.” That law “prohibits employers from disciplining or refusing to hire employees” regarding their decisions about abortion and further “requires employers to grant employee accommodations” regarding abortion, the lawsuit said. Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki said in the Alliance Defending Freedom press release that the diocese "proclaims, teaches, and encourages Catholics to live out all the teachings of the Church, including the dignity and value of human life.”

The CRUX

Populist right, pro-life Catholics in Europe clashing with bishops

By Fionn Shiner, June 5, 2026

Many of the new far-right parties – or populist right, as some prefer – sweeping across Europe, position themselves as defenders of Christian civilization. Paradoxically, this sometimes puts them in conflict with their countries' bishops, particularly on immigration. Recent polling by the Center for Sociological Research (CIS) found that 75% of Vox voters identify as Catholic — 39% of that group say they are practicing, and 61% non-practicing. Only 6% of Vox voters identify as atheist. In the last four local elections, Vox won 16.9% of the vote in Extremadura, 18.9% in Castile and León, 17.9% in Aragón, and 13.8% in Andalusia. Why are Catholics voting for them? Crux Now spoke with Anna, a 30-year-old Catholic who is a supporter of Vox, who explained that “it is the only Spanish political party that defends the right to life” as opposed to PP, which holds an “ambiguous position.” She added, “As a political party, Vox has quite a few members of parliament, local councilors, and grassroots members who come from pro-life movements and who publicly identify themselves as both Catholic and pro-life.”

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Pope’s Spain visit will run into a lowering numbers of Catholics

By Marie-Lucile Kubacki, June 5, 2026

A survey published by CIS (Survey on Social Trends V, Study No. 3535, December 2025) documents that 15.2% of respondents identify as practicing Catholics. Of all respondents, 11.4% stated that they attend Mass “every Sunday and on holy days of obligation,” while 4.7% attend Mass “several times a week.” In light of this situation, the Spanish Episcopal Conference has been conducting an in-depth reflection of the realities of the country for several years. “The difficulties we encounter in evangelization, coupled with the aging and declining membership of the Christian community—married couples, consecrated persons, pastors, and lay people committed to the Church’s mission—lead to a certain discouragement within the Church, which is further exacerbated by the workload and challenges of evangelization, especially among the ordained clergy,” the document wrote.

Related: Well-traveled Pope Leo knows Spain better than many Spaniards, author says, By Victoria Cardiel, EWTN News, June 5, 2026

Zenit News

Leo XIV reveals ambitious plan for an energy-independent Vatican

By Valentina di Giorgio, June 3, 2026

Through a pontifical decree dated June 1, 2026, Pope Leo XIV has established the “Fratello Sole” Foundation, a new Vatican entity tasked with overseeing a large agrivoltaic project designed to provide the entire Vatican City State with sustainable energy. The initiative marks a new phase in the Holy See’s long-term effort to combine environmental responsibility, technological innovation, and practical stewardship of resources. More than a symbolic ecological gesture, the project seeks to make the Vatican fully self-sufficient in energy production while preserving agricultural activity and protecting the surrounding landscape. Under the new plan, the area will host an agrivoltaic installation capable of generating renewable electricity while allowing agricultural use of the land beneath and around the solar infrastructure. The objective is twofold: to guarantee the energy needs of the Vatican Radio complex and, ultimately, to supply the entire Vatican City State.

Keep informed - 6/5/26 news for Catholics

Snippets from Big Pulpit, EWTN, & the Loop

Big Pulpit

Tito Edwards Catholic site: June 5, 2026

The Big Pulpit website is a news aggregator that gathers quality insights and analysis on the Catholic Church worldwide.

• Leo Links Young People’s Mental Health Issues to Loss of Interior Life, Sense of Meaning – CWN

• Trust in the Church Has Been ‘Destroyed’ for Many in Recent Years – Michael Haynes

• God Showed Up in the Middle of the Mess – Kendra Von Esh at Catholic Stand Magazine

• Three Reasons Gay Marriage Approval is Plummeting – Them Before Us

EWTN News

EWTN’s top headlines — June 5, 2026

EWTN News provides reliable, free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, with updates on the Holy Father's words and the Holy See.

• Catholic law firm offers guidelines to help school districts uphold parental rights - By Tessa Gervasini - Guidelines urge districts to “immediately and expressly adopt a parental notice and opt-out policy,” which provides prominent and regular notice that will reach all parents.

• World’s oldest priest dies at 110 - By CNA Deutsch - Ordained in 1950, Father Bruno Kant served the Diocese of Fulda in Germany for decades. After retiring from active ministry, he remained a confidant, pastor, and spiritual guide for many parishioners.

• Cardinal Koovakad to lead Sanremo meeting on interreligious dialogue - By Angela Ambrogetti - The October gathering follows a pastoral letter by Bishop Antonio Suetta on charity, Christian witness, and the proclamation of the Gospel to Muslims living in the diocese.

Zeale / Loop / CatholicVote

Zeale is CatholicVote, hosting the LOOP

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DETRANSITIONER PLEADS WITH CONGRESS TO PROTECT KIDS - Chloe Cole, a 21-year-old detransitioner, urged Congress during an emotional June 3 hearing to ban the practice of subjecting children to gender “transition” procedures, alleging that doctors lied to her family and left her with irreversible physical and emotional harm. READ

DOWN SYNDROME FAMILIES RESPOND AFTER YOUTUBER ABORTS BABY -Parents of children with Down syndrome took to X June 4 to share stories of love and advocacy, responding to a viral post by YouTuber Jesse Ridgway in which he announced he and his wife aborted their unborn child after learning the baby had Trisomy 21, or Down syndrome. READ

STUDENTS FOR LIFE PUSHES CONGRESS ON PLANNED PARENTHOOD FUNDS - Students for Life Action is calling on Congress to permanently defund Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers by July 4 or face an “F” grade on its Pro-Life Generation Report Card. READ

June 5, 2026 - USCCB Daily Mass Readings

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Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

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Catholic365

UFO’s and aliens: The final deception?

By Gary Sullivan, June 4, 2026

As UFOologists and Alien enthusiasts await the ‘Day of Disclosure’ promised by both the Trump administration and the movie producer Steven Spielberg, where they believe that alien secrets will be revealed including a messianic answer to theological questions regarding the meaning of human existence, solutions or ‘salvation’ from the predicament of the fallenness of the world and the spread of sin and its malignant effects and an overall technological utopia. More than ever, when it comes to UFO’s and aliens we must beware of demonic deception… We don’t need disclosure because we already have Divine Revelation which is complete. We don’t need a messiah because we already have Jesus. We don’t need a utopia because we already have the promise of heaven. Secret knowledge, salvation and paradise derived from alien or UAP disclosure sounds demonic on the surface level.

Catholic Weekly

The strength of Jimmy Lai & the weakness of Emperor Xi

By George Weigel, June 5, 2026

At his May summit in Beijing, President Trump made an effort to convince Chinese leader Xi Jinping to release Jimmy Lai from his imprisonment in Hong Kong. That conviction has no more legal or moral validity than that of the Lord by Pontius Pilate. And I find it deeply moving that, in the prison cell where Jimmy does coloured pencil sketches of religious scenes, many of them depict the Crucifixion. One of those sketches is among my most prized possessions. By conforming himself in prayer to the crucified Lord, Jimmy Lai is living his unjust punishment as an occasion of grace. That, however, doesn’t change the brutal reality of his situation: namely, the virtual certainty that he will die in jail, having never been restored to his family – unless Emperor Xi lets him go into exile. Either Xi lacks the power to resolve the dispute between the prudential diplomats and the security thugocracy, or he fears that coming down on the side of the foreign ministry would jeopardise his firm grip on the internal security apparatus, to his own peril.

Aleteia

St. Anthony and the mule who knelt down before the Eucharist

By Philip Kosloski, May 30, 2026

St. Anthony of Padua lived during the 13th century and possessed a great zeal for the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. One day Saint Anthony heard of a man in Rimini named named Bononillo who did not share the same belief. In fact, Bononillo openly mocked people who believed that Jesus was truly present under the appearances of bread and wine. St. Anthony tried his hardest to convince Bononillo with the proofs of scripture and argument, but discovered that the man was as stubborn as a mule. St. Anthony received an inspiration. He challenged the wealthy merchant, "If the mule you ride adored the Body of Christ in the Eucharist, would you believe in the truth of the Blessed Sacrament?" Given a pile of hay or the Eucharist, what would the mule do? When the mule, starved for 3 days by Bononillo, was close, the animal bent his front legs and kneeled in adoration of the Eucharst. When Bononillo saw this miraculous change of events, he immediately knelt down and professed his belief in the truth of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

Bishop Barron

Recognize Jesus, and let your burdens go

By Bishop Robert Barron, June 5, 2026

Friends, in our Gospel today, Jesus quotes a psalm where David calls him Lord. It calls to mind a question: Do you also recognize Jesus as Lord? Is Christ commanding your life in every detail? Is he the Lord of your family life? Of your recreational life? Of your professional life? Is he the Lord of every room in your house, including the bedroom? Does your sexuality belong to him? Do your friendships serve his purpose? Are you totally given over to him, under his lordship When we surrender to the path of love that he has laid out for us, our lives become infinitely lighter, easier, and more joyful, for we are moving with the divine purpose. We will have moved out of what Paul calls the way of “the flesh” and into the way of “the Spirit.” Flesh refers here not to the body as such but to sin. When you are caught up in patterns of self-regard and self-protection, life becomes a burden, and you find yourself taking up the weapons of war all the time. But when you recognize Jesus as Lord, you can let all of that go.

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Zenit

180 Christian families in India denied water, economic rights

By ZENIT Staff, June 2, 2026

More than 180 Christian families in 32 villages across Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district in India have reportedly been denied access to communal water sources and livelihood opportunities for the past three weeks as punishment for refusing to leave their Christian faith. Many Christian families in the Antagarh region of the district have been barred from using community rivers, ponds, taps, and hand pumps. At the same time, individuals have been denied work under a government employment scheme, and families have been prevented from collecting and selling forest produce. The Kanker district of central India’s Chhattisgarh state is tribal dominated with vast areas of deciduous forests. The primary sources of livelihood for such tribal communities, also known as Adivasis, are subsistence agriculture and the collection of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs).

Our Sunday Visitor

Priest gets life in prison in Texas for sexual abuse of women

By Gina Christian, June 4, 2026

Father Anthony Odiong, a priest of the Diocese of Uyo, Nigeria, who had once served in the Diocese of Austin and other dioceses in the U.S., has been sentenced in a Texas court to life in prison, as well as to two 20-year prison terms plus $30,000 in fines, for sexually abusing several women under his spiritual care — a felony crime in that state. After listening to graphic testimony from several witnesses, the jury found the 57-year-old priest guilty of one charge of sexual assault in the first degree and two in the second degree, in a May 29 verdict delivered at the 19th State District Court in Waco, Texas. The priest had also fathered at least one child with another woman in Louisiana who had been under his spiritual direction. After deliberating for 90 minutes on June 1, the jury recommended its sentence to presiding Judge Thomas West. Father Odiong — who had pleaded not guilty on May 27 — will serve the two 20-year prison terms concurrently. He cannot seek parole until he has been credited with at least 30 years of his sentence.

Crux

Exorcist priest removed after comments on UFOs and demons

By David Crary, June 4, 2026

The Catholic archbishop of Washington, D.C., Cardinal Robert McElroy, on Wednesday removed a well-known priest as an exorcist of the archdiocese after he made public comments suggesting that UFO sightings were the work of demons. McElroy said the archdiocese also was cutting ties with the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal, a Washington-based nonprofit headed by the priest, Monsignor Stephen Rossetti. The archbishop said Rossetti’s statements “linking UFOs to demonic presence and the Center’s recent use of social media gravely undermine the Church’s very precise teaching on the devil, demons and exorcism.” “There’s a danger here,” Rossetti said in a May 29 video posted on his Facebook page, addressing UFO sightings and the existence of aliens. “As an exorcist, I wanted to raise that danger. And that is that demons like to hide. … They don’t want us to know what they’re doing because they’re more effective when we don’t realize it.”

The Pillar

Abortion to be decriminalized in Catholic Andorra

By Edgar Beltrán, June 4, 2026

An Andorran minister said Monday that the decriminalization of abortion in the country will be approved before parliamentary elections are held next year, amid negotiations with the Catholic Church in the principality. The Andorran minister of institutional relations, Ladislau Baró, said in a Jun. 1 interview that the proposal to decriminalize abortion in the country is finished, but “thorny negotiations with the Holy See” might delay the bill. Andorra has an unusual political arrangement, with two co-princes serving as heads of state: the president of France and the Bishop of Urgell. As a result, legalizing any measure contrary to Catholic teaching can involve delicate political and ecclesial tensions, as a change in the law could theoretically involve the bishop. By law only one of the country’s two co-princes must sign legislation for it to become law, a step usually left to the French president — the other Andorran co-prince — on contentious matters.

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Aleteia

Catholic prayer warriors assemble in a new online platform

By Theresa Civantos Barber, June 4, 2025

PleasePray is the new intercessory prayer and charitable giving platform for Catholics. Calling themselves “The Communion of the Saints activated in prayer,” PleasePray makes it easy to share an intention and then invite others to accompany you in prayer, while offering a place for almsgiving to lighten financial burdens with dignity and care when needed. The platform offers a 3-step plan to assemble the prayer warriors in your community around an intention: Create a prayer page for any need — healing, discernment, a loved one, a community cause; Invite friends, family, and your parish to join in prayer; and, When a situation also requires material help, the same page can include fundraising so prayer and charity stay connected in one place. Husband and wife Carlos Espinoza Banegas and Carolyn Madigan Espinoza, cofounders of PleasePray, reported that the platform has logged more than 15,000 prayers so far, along with 1,600 users, since it opened four months ago

National Catholic Register

Are women left out of the AI conversation?

By Solène Tadié, June 4, 2026

Women are significantly underrepresented in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), as official figures have consistently demonstrated over the past decade. The Catholic world, typically less concerned with gender parity and more focused on creative complementarity, has so far shown little interest in this absence. Yet the stakes extend far beyond questions of mere representation. The principles now embedded in the DNA of emerging AI technologies will help shape tomorrow's civilization, with technological development driven predominantly by men. If contributions from the “feminine genius” remain underrepresented, what could this mean for the future of humanity? The legitimization of the human in the age of AI depends in part on who is present when fundamental choices are made — and on whether the voices that have historically most often championed human connection, receptiveness, and empathy are truly heard.

Zeale News

Supreme Court to rule on 2 cases regarding women’s sports

By Elise Winland, June 3, 2026

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue decisions by late June or early July in two major women’s sports cases that could determine whether dozens of states may enforce laws that bar male athletes from competing against women and girls. Both Little v. Hecox (Idaho) and West Virginia v. B.P.J. ask whether such laws violate the Equal Protection Clause, and the West Virginia case also questions the application of Title IX. The court heard oral arguments in January on the set. As Zeale News previously reported, several justices said during the hearing that biological differences between men and women can affect competition, and reports released at the time suggested the court appeared likely to side with the states. Courts have blocked Idaho from enforcing the law since August 2020, shortly after it passed. West Virginia has also been unable to fully enforce its law amid the legal battle.

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EWTN News

Gaza in need of ‘miracles,’ papal agency says

By Tessa Gervasini, June 3, 2026

“With nothing to do, nowhere to go, no schooling, no commerce,” Gaza is “a very still quiet and dark place,” said Michael La Civita, director of communications at the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA). CNEWA is working with numerous Church entities in Gaza, as it is in a “permanent state of waiting,” La Civita told “EWTN News Nightly” on June 2. Pope Pius XI founded CNEWA in 1926 to give pastoral and humanitarian support to northeast Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and India. CNEWA has a worldwide network of people committed to helping those most in need, regardless of where they are. As the conflict in Gaza continues, there are “upwards of 2 million people, most of whom are displaced,” and “their homes have been destroyed,” La Civita said. In Gaza, there is “no school, no shelter,” and “very little … access to food,” he said.

Keep informed - 6/4/26 news for Catholics

Snippets from OSV, EWTN News, & ChurchPOP

OSV News

OSV’s seasoned reporters - June 4, 2026

OSV News — information service and evangelization partner that enables dioceses to connect and boost engagement with the faithful by sharing timely, trustworthy, and accurate content about what is happening in the Church and the world.

• DHS chief pushes for more immigration enforcement funds, as US bishops urge key reforms - by Kate Scanlon - June 2, 2026 - DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin testified before a Senate appropriations subcommittee as the U.S. bishops called for changes to an immigration enforcement bill. Mullin’s testimony came as the Senate prepares to again consider the package, which would provide an additional $72 billion for immigration enforcement.

• Rosary service brings ‘prayerful, peaceful presence’ to NJ immigrant detention facility - by John Touhey & Shania Mosquera | Jersey Catholic - June 2, 2026 - “As we saw the violence escalate at Delaney Hall since Memorial Day, the archdiocese wanted to have a prayerful, peaceful presence there.” Delaney Hall, a privately run, 1,000-bed facility, opened in May 2025. It is the largest immigrant detention facility on the East Coast and is operated by the GEO Group under contract for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

• Pope’s slavery apology ‘proper and just,’ says bishop who heads National Black Catholic Congress - by Gina Christian - June 2, 2026 - The mission is to “treat others the way we want to be treated … because quite honestly, we’re all one in Christ,” Bishop Campbell said. Leo warned against AI’s potential to cause “new forms of slavery” — especially by facilitating human trafficking and exploiting laborers, including children, in mining minerals for the technology.

EWTN News

EWTN’s top headlines — June 4, 2026

EWTN provides reliable, free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, emphasizing the words of the Holy Father and the activities of the Holy See, and is available to anyone with internet access.

• June consistory of cardinals will address synod, war, artificial intelligence - By Andrea Gagliarducci - From reflection on the international situation to a possible “updating” of the doctrine of just war, to discussion of the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, to the steps of the synodal process, the cardinals are called upon for broad discussions in multiple sessions. The plans were reported on Thursday by Vatican News.

• Mexican bishop: Lack of mature faith leads Catholics to fall into esotericism - By David Ramos - “Unfortunately, many of our parishioners who are baptized do not live out their faith in an orthodox manner,” and end up seeking a “solution to their difficulties in other areas,” said Bishop José Trinidad Zapata Ortiz.

• Institute on Religion and Democracy launches ecumenical ‘Christians for Capitalism’ project - By Tyler Arnold - “There was concern among a number of Christians in D.C. in the field of economics that there was no ongoing institutional voice in Washington, D.C., for pro-free market Christians, and there are obviously many Christians in D.C. who are pro-free market,” IRD President Mark Tooley told EWTN News.

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ChurchPOP provides fun, informative, and authentically Catholic news and culture - June 4, 2026

“We publish inspiring daily stories, fun and shareable faith-centered infographics, prayers, Church history, and more.”

Catholic Business Owner Consecrates Major Corporation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus - “The company was transformed from that established foundation,” said Alfonso González Arocha, Chairman of the Board of Qualfon Corporation in the Philippines.

A Catholic Contest, ‘Shark Tank’ Style: David Henrie Invites Influencers to Win $100K & an EWTN Premiere - hundreds of Catholic artists, entertainers, and content creators will come to Napa Valley this summer at the Napa Institute’s Arts Festival from July 20-21, 2026. It’s a one-of-a-kind forum where faithful Catholics can collaborate and build community to take back the arts.

Pope Leo just picked the first millennial ever to run a Vatican department - For the first time ever, a millennial is set to lead a Vatican department—Maria Montserrat Alvarado, president and COO of EWTN News, as prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, with her role beginning November 1.

June 4, 2026 - USCCB Daily Mass Readings

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Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

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Catholic Culture

The Honeymoon Symphony

By Fr. Jerry Pokorsky, June 1, 2026

The Blessed Trinity, as expressed in the Creed, is the foundation of the Catholic faith. The perfect love within the Godhead is an impenetrable mystery. Yet love between a man and a woman and within a family provides us with one of the clearest images of God’s interpersonal love. Jesus, the Divine Psychologist, brings out the best in human love, just as He challenges us to love with the sacrificial love that reflects the life of the Blessed Trinity. We send newlywed lovebirds off to their glorious honeymoons, and before long, they begin building a nest of their own. Moms and dads love their babies. The Church loves babies, too. We need babies. By placing the honeymoon in its proper place after the wedding, the boy and girl grow in self-control and virtue. As they grow in self-control, they learn how—after the wedding—they can give themselves in their entirety during the honeymoon. They do not put the honeymoon before the wedding day. Sometimes a good Confession helps restore the proper order of things.

National Catholic Register

The Theology of Presence

By Andrea M. Picciotti-Bayer, June 4, 2026

I am in my mid-50s, with more days behind me than ahead and a growing conviction that hard-won wisdom is not mine to keep. The trouble is that it has fewer obvious places to go. My older children are grown and scattered. Young parents, meanwhile, are raising families far from their own parents and the aunts and uncles who once filled the gap. Somewhere between those two facts, there is an opportunity. There is a word for this kind of generous, sustained presence in another’s life: accompaniment. Its model is Mary, who, upon learning that her elderly cousin Elizabeth was expecting, did not send congratulations and move on. She went “in haste” to the hill country and stayed three months. What she brought was not a casserole or a gift card. It was herself — her presence, her prayer, her joy. The child in Elizabeth’s womb leaped at her arrival. Something that simple, that ancient, is still available to us.

The Catholic Thing

The absence of repentance, forgiveness, and reform

By Brad Miner, June 2, 2026

If we were to travel to the distant past, say, way back to 1976, I’m pretty sure we’d find nobody advocating for adults having sex with children. Then came the revolution of 1978. What revolution, you ask? I refer to the founding of the homosexual pedophile group, the National Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA). All good reasons to praise the Incarnation, Christ’s ministry, and the birth of the Church. Still, these things – these sins – have gone on, but without the passive toleration, let alone the approbation of society. This is part of what makes the recent clergy sex-abuse crisis so sickening (and costly), even if the majority of those cases involved hebephilia (boys 11-14), ephebophilia (15-19), and just plain old homosexual liaisons with other adult males. Do we say that this last is as sinful as the others? I don’t think that matters, since each is mortally sinful and, therefore, in the absence of repentance, forgiveness, and reform, soul-killing.

Wild at Heart

Truly relish the story of our lives

By John Eldredge, June 4, 2026

Few of us remember the taste of our first ice cream (what flavor was it?), the first book we read ourselves, or our first kiss. We can barely recall that vacation we planned for so many years; it was over in mere weeks. I name this loss because it is loss—tragic, sweeping, and expansive. Your entire life, every dear moment, is currently being swept downstream from you even as you read this sentence. It does such harm to the soul and our life with God. All good things come to an end. I hate that phrase, hate it like the sound of sirens, the sound of dirt falling on a casket. Lest we despair, God has given us “a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT), and to be quite specific, it includes the restoration of every precious day of our lives. Heaven is not a memory wipe. It is the time and capacity to truly relish the story of our lives.

Image of peanuts by Nicole Köhler, from Pixabay

Catholic Nutshell News is a subscription service hosted by SubStack. Get up to a dozen recent articles, Monday through Saturday, to review regarding newsworthy issues. An easy way to browse top Catholic news and information services on the net. Edited by John Pearring.

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Unless otherwise noted, the bible references linked in the posts are from the USCCB website online publication of the Books of the Bible.

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Your 5-minute Catholic briefing for busy faithful. Today's sources are the Zeale News, National Catholic Register, Vatican News, The Pillar, Aleteia, and OSV News. (Catholic Nutshell is a subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise the Catholic News Muscle)

Click here to view this email on the Catholic Nutshell News website. Today’s Catholic Nutshell News audio podcast is available on the Substack App.

Zenit News

Israel expropriates the tomb of the prophet Samuel

By ZENIT Staff, June 3, 2026

The order by Israeli authorities to seize the famous tomb of the prophet Samuel (Nabi Samuel), north of Jerusalem, and the surrounding land has opened a new chapter in the Jewish state’s campaign to expropriate Palestinian property and antiquities. A silent war on Palestinian archaeological and cultural heritage has been launched by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which is also promoting a controversial bill to secure control over it. The prophet Samuel is a figure revered by Jews and Christians, as well as in the Muslim tradition. In recent days, the Israeli Civil Administration issued an expropriation order (H/02/26) “for public utility purposes” for the tomb and the 28 acres surrounding the building, a major tourist and religious center in the West Bank, in the area between Jerusalem and Ramallah, hitherto managed by the Islamic Waqf. A decision that has sparked outrage and protests, with repeated voices of condemnation for what has been described as the latest act of ‘Judaization’ of Palestinian sites.

OSV News

‘Obsession’ film popular, but rated as morally offensive

By John Mulderign, May 15, 2026

“More tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones,” the 16th-century mystic St. Teresa of Avila is famously said to have observed. To judge by the horror film “Obsession” (Focus), something similar — but far more drastic — might be said about fulfilled wishes. In between the unintentional laughs provoked by some of Nikki’s other, less distasteful antics, writer-director Curry Barker’s chiller lapses into long periods of dullness. Since new Nikki eventually goes from daft to deadly, moreover, the plot includes a gruesome climactic murder. The film contains excessive gory violence, grisly images, graphic premarital sexual activity with rear nudity, full nudity in a nonsexual context, cohabitation, occult and suicide themes, a repulsive scatological incident, a few uses of profanity, frequent milder swearing, references to incest, pervasive rough and considerable crude language, and a couple of crass expressions. The OSV News classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association rating is R — restricted.

National Catholic Register

Surprising Catholic convert spike in America’s heartland

By Luke Larson, June 2, 2026

America’s apparent Catholic revival appears strongest among the college-educated but may be leaving working-class people behind. Does this also mean that the number of Catholic converts is highest in major metropolitan areas where the white-collar demographic tends to congregate, while more blue-collar rural dioceses are stagnating? The answer, paradoxically, is No. While some dioceses that include major metros made the top 10 for percentage increase in conversions — St. Petersburg (84%) and Kansas City-St. Joseph (70%) — the list is dominated by more sparsely populated rural dioceses. None of the top three dioceses — Norwich, Connecticut (112%), Pueblo, Colorado (105%), or Rapid City, South Dakota (96%) — has a metro area with more than 300,000 people. And in total, six of the top 10 don’t include a metro area of 1 million people. The data make clear that many rural dioceses are experiencing new life — and should be as much a part of the “Catholic revival” conversation as their big-city counterparts.

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Zeale News

Same-sex attraction apostolate again corrects synod report

By McKenna Snow, June 2, 2026

Father Brian Gannon, the executive director of Courage International, a Catholic apostolate that ministers to persons experiencing same-sex attraction, on June 1 cited the analogy about the Tower of Babel in Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical to once again strongly push back against a synodal document released May 5 about same-sex attraction — a document that Father Gannon says is “intellectually dishonest.” Father Gannon wrote that the Synod study group document “is methodologically deficient and thus intellectually dishonest; it uses only two men who extol sinful relationships as representative of all who experience same sex attraction.” Courage International rejects “the model of Babel,” He said, “That Christ and His Bride, Holy Mother Church, is the foundation for our community of spiritual friendship, chastity, and authentic Christian love. This is why Courage has been able to accomplish so much good, while also getting scorn from a world bent on building new Towers of Babel.”

EWTN News

June, celebrated as ‘Fidelity Month,’ is gaining traction

By Kate Quiñones June 2, 2026

A grassroots movement to celebrate faithfulness to God is being recognized by state leaders in June. Several elected officials are recognizing “Fidelity Month,” including the governors of Arkansas and Utah. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas recently announced her recognition of the month, along with Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah, the Kentucky Senate, and Mayor Jerry Weiers of Glendale, Arizona. Fidelity Month was founded in 2023 by Professor Robert P. George, an American legal scholar and professor of jurisprudence and director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. “We believe that faith in God, our spouses and families, and our country and communities are the sources of America’s unity and strength,” said Christopher Parr, a spokesman for the movement. “Professor George thought that it would be fitting for Americans to take one month of the year to rededicate themselves to these basic values.”

Vatican News

Microsoft: Magnifica humanitas is valuable for AI development

By Devin Watkins, June 3, 2026

Massive advances in consumer-facing artificial intelligence systems in recent years have led the Church to engage more deeply with companies building the technologies of the future. That movement has led to criticism of the Church’s engagement with tech companies to help direct the development of AI, as well as to criticism within the tech world of those who dialogue with the Church. But by pushing religion and theology into an “optional realm,” developers risk missing out on a deeper understanding of how their customers think, according to Taylor Black. Black serves as the Director of AI and Venture Ecosystems in the Office of the Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft and as the inaugural Director of the Leonum Institute for AI and Emerging Technologies at the Catholic University of America. Generative or agentic AI products are probabilistic, guessing the next word in a sequence, and taking every action based on the data that trained it, and the user’s prompt. The result is that users are co-creating their experiences, and products must be based on a good understanding of the user’s way of thinking.

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Aleteia

The stunning Eucharistic miracle of Sokolka

By Aleteia, May 29, 2026

Every day, on the altars of Catholic churches around the world, the greatest miracle possible takes place: the transformation of bread and wine into the true Body and Blood of Christ. The appearances remain and so our faith is challenged, inviting us to believe without seing. What are the implications, then, of the Eucharistic event in Sokolka, Poland? It took place on Sunday, October 12, 2008, two weeks after the beatification of Fr. Michael Sopocko. A priest interrupted the distribution of Communion and picked up a dropped host, and, in accordance with liturgical norms, placed it in a small container of water. The host was expected to dissolve in the water, which would later be disposed of properly. A week later, in the middle of the host—which was still largely intact—a curved, bright red stain, like a blood stain: a living particle of a body. The water was untainted by the color. By mid-January of 2009, the altered fragment of the host had dried out naturally and remained like a blood stain or clot; since then, its appearance has not changed.

Pime Asia News

The rise of ‘modest fashion’ among Muslim women

By Giuseppe Caffulli, June 3, 2026

They call it ‘modest fashion’. A term which, particularly in Europe, is often associated with women’s clothing inspired by Islamic principles, but which today describes a much broader phenomenon: a creative universe that combines elegance, modesty, cultural identity, and new forms of consumption. Among the most talked-about looks was one presented by the French brand Soutoura: a denim dress paired with a crocheted balaclava adorned with crystals, a stylized evocation of the niqab, the full-face veil banned in France since 2010. The organizers of Think Fashion, the company that has been running the international Modest Fashion Week circuit for over a decade, speak openly of a sign of the sector’s maturity: modest fashion is no longer a peripheral niche, but an increasingly visible component of the global industry. Muslim consumer spending on clothing is expected to reach 3 billion by 2028.

Keep informed - 6/3/26 news for Catholics

Snippets from Loop, Aleteia, & Pillar

CatholicVote: Zeale’s LOOP

Read daily news and political impact stories at the “LOOP”

Elections and politics matter. The LOOP gives you daily gems on the news that seek “to renew our country and culture.” CatholicVote’s advertised mission is “To inspire every Catholic in America to live out the truths of our faith in public life.”

• CV THANKS WASHINGTON NATIONALS FOR SWIFT RESPONSE - CatholicVote President Kelsey Reinhardt thanked the Washington Nationals for its public apology over an anti-Catholic scandal, calling it "the right response" in a letter to President of Baseball Operations Jason Sinnarajah. "Anti-Catholicism should be taken seriously wherever it appears, especially in an institution with the public visibility and civic importance of a Major League Baseball franchise in the nation's capital," Reinhardt wrote. READ

• LAWYER DECRIES TRUMP DOJ 'BETRAYAL' OF RELIGIOUS WORKERS - After the Justice Department filed a brief with the Supreme Court urging it not to review a case brought by New York healthcare workers who were fired for refusing to submit to COVID shots because of their religious beliefs, a lawyer familiar with the case accused the Trump administration of “betrayal.” READ

• FIRE AT MEMPHIS CATHEDRAL UNDER INVESTIGATION - A fire broke out inside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Memphis, Tennessee, on May 31, damaging the sanctuary, according to the Catholic Diocese of Memphis. The diocese added that the cause of the fire remains under investigation and thanked local firefighters and emergency responders for their quick response in extinguishing the blaze. READ

Aleteia News

Aleteia’s headlines — June 3, 2026

Aleteia (aleteia.org) is an online publication distributed in six languages (English, French, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, and Slovenian). Aleteia reaches more than 10 million readers per month.

• Relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque arrive in the US today - JoanneMcPortland - 06/02/26 - When 250 Catholic bishops gather in Orlando, Florida, on June 11, they will be in the presence not only of the Shroud of Turin exhibit but also of the relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.

• US Bishops urge refugee protections beyond one group - Daniel Esparza - 05/29/26 - As the U.S. opens refugee admissions to 10,000 South African Afrikaners, the bishop calls for equal refuge for all persecuted people, especially those targeted for their faith.

• 5 June saints you’ve never heard of and why you’ll love them - Theresa Civantos Barber - 06/03/26 - This month, I was shocked to see several saints whose names I’ve never heard, even though I’ve always loved learning about the lives of the saints. Like St. Maria Elizabeth Hesselblad, the extraordinary religious sister risked her life during World War II.

The Pillar

Pillar Stories from the May calendar, 6/3/26

The Pillar offers a news summary and a capsule take on Catholic News. Here are news stories from the past few weeks in the Pillar Post:

• A total of 114 alleged abusers were named by the Independent Commission’s report in Portugal - Filipe d’Avillez - Jun 02, 2026 - The announcement is the latest development in a process that has divided observers over whether the Church has done enough to respond to abuse allegations in the country.

• ‘There is plenty of life’: Bishop Lopes on the Australian ordinariate’s future - Luke Coppen - May 12, 2026 - Pope Leo XIV named Monday a new apostolic administrator to oversee Australia’s ordinariate for groups of former Anglicans, amid questions about its long-term future.

• Why were the UK Marian Franciscans dissolved? - The Pillar - Jun 02, 2026 - The Marian Franciscans announced May 28 that they had taken the unusual step of dissolving their community because they were unable to secure “practical and canonical support” for future priestly ordinations, despite a growth in numbers.

June 3, 2026 - USCCB Daily Mass Readings

You can listen HERE or read HERE:

Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs

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Crisis Magazine

Not just another martyr

By Garrett D. Johnson, June 3, 2026

The Feast of St. Charles Lwanga and Companions comes every year on June 3rd; while many sermons will be heard about their martyrdom on that day, few priests will mention the reason they were killed. There are two types of martyrs in our holy Catholic Church: white martyrs, who achieve a “bloodless” martyrdom through a heroic life of self-denial, ascetical practices, and daily sacrifice for Christ; and red martyrs, those who are killed for their faith in Christ. St. Charles Lwanga and his companions, whose feast day is June 3rd, are red martyrs. They are patron saints of those served by the Courage apostolate, who are called to white martyrdom by striving to live according to the Church’s teachings regarding same-sex attraction. Unlike others, their martyrdom was not merely for general chastity but for resisting a particular demand placed upon them. This distinction is especially relevant in June, observed as the month for celebrating the very behavior they opposed.

National Catholic Register

John Paul II and America

By George Weigel, June 2, 2026

The Cracovian cardinal, Karol Wojtyła, and now St. John Paul II, made two visits to the United States, one during the national bicentennial in 1976, but the majority of his time during these trips was spent with Polish American communities. It’s fair to say that John Paul II began his papacy with an impression of American Catholicism not dissimilar from that of other European intellectuals: The U.S. Church had an enviable network of institutions — ranging from parishes to healthcare and social service facilities to schools, colleges, and universities — but the Church was more wealthy than cultured and lived too comfortably within the American status quo. While the new Pope wasn’t hostile to the Church in the U.S., he didn't, in 1978, see it as a possible template for the Catholic future. That would change dramatically over the next quarter-century, in part because of the renewal that John Paul II helped ignite in American Catholicism and because of his growing understanding that the U.A., while deeply rooted in Europe, was not simply Europe transplanted.

The Obscure, Forgotten, and Undiscovered

First to pay respects to the Unknowns

By James K. Hanna, May 28, 2026

On this date May 28, in 1958, Walter Davis, of Corry, Pennsylvania was first in line to pay respects to the Unknown Soldiers of World War II and Korea. An estimated 28,000 people followed Walter at the Capitol over three days. Another 100,000 lined the streets as the two Unknowns moved from the Capitol to Arlington National Cemetery and The Tomb on Memorial Day, May 30, 1958. The caption of the news photo reads: “Walter Davis, a Pennsylvania farmer who lost an arm fighting in the European theater in the last World War, stands at attention before the flag-draped caskets containing the bodies of Unknowns of World War II and Korea in the Capitol rotunda today. Davis, of Corry, Pa., was the first man in line to pay tribute to the Unknowns. ‘It’s beautiful—it’s beautiful,’ he said.”

Catholic 365

Through the eyes of Autism

By Allison Brown, June 3, 2025

I held my breath, watching my youngest play as a toddler. “Dear Lord, not again,” I silently begged Him. My heart ached at the thought, and I questioned where I had gone wrong. But I knew deep down that another one of my children was showing the classic characteristics of Autism. It was evident throughout my pregnancy that the Lord had His hand on this child of mine from the beginning. His due date fell on the feast day of the same saint who answered my prayers. His father and I chose his name weeks before he was born. I was unexpectedly urgently induced, and he was born on the Feast of our Lady of the Rosary. Our Lady had given the Rosary to the saint whose name we had chosen for our son. Six and a half years later, my beautiful son, diagnosed with Autism and global developmental delays, reaches up and touches my face. “Are you okay, mum? You need a hug.” I was experiencing many trials and couldn’t hold back the tears. By modeling the behaviors for him and showing him love and compassion, my son showed me the same love and compassion despite his diagnosis.

Image of Almonds by Monfocus from Pixabay

Catholic Nutshell News is a subscription service hosted by SubStack. Get up to a dozen recent articles from Monday to Saturday to review regarding newsworthy issues. An easy way to browse top Catholic news and information services on the net. Edited by John Pearring.

Listen to an audio podcast of today’s Catholic Nutshell News on the Substack App!

At the top of your phone, while in the Substack app to read our post, you can press the ▶️ play button and have Catholic Nutshell News read to you daily …

Unless otherwise noted, the bible references linked in the posts are from the USCCB website online publication of the Books of the Bible.

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“I’ll pray for thee from my pistachio tree”

Your 5-minute Catholic briefing for busy faithful. Today's sources are OSV News, EWTN, First Things, Big Pulpit, ACI Africa, RNS, and Angelus News. (Catholic Nutshell is a subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise the Catholic News Muscle)

Click here to view this email on the Catholic Nutshell News website. Today’s Catholic Nutshell News audio podcast is available on the Substack App.

EWTN News

EWTN News president to lead Vatican communications department

By EWTN News Staff, June 2, 2026

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Maria Montserrat Alvarado, president and chief operating officer of EWTN News, as prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. The appointment will take effect Nov. 1. Since 2023, Alvarado has overseen EWTN News’ global and multilingual news operations across television, radio, print, digital, and social media platforms. During her tenure, she helped expand the network’s international news presence and deepen collaboration across its multilingual platforms. Before joining EWTN, Alvarado spent 14 years in leadership roles at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, where she worked extensively on issues related to religious freedom and human dignity. In a statement released following the appointment, Alvarado said she received the news “with deep gratitude, humility, and trust in the Lord,” adding that the faithful witness of the EWTN family strengthened her faith.

ACI Africa

Church in Nigeria launches program to train digital missionaries

By Abah Anthony John, June 2, 2026

The Catholic Church in Nigeria has launched a new initiative to form young people as evangelizers, digital missionaries, and responsible citizens, as Church leaders express growing concern about the decline in moral values among the country’s youth. The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) unveiled the Sharing Hope in the New Evangelization (SHINE) program on May 30. According to National Youth Animator of the CSN, Fr. Idoko Boniface Idoko, the program was born out of concerns about the challenges youth formation faces and the increasing need for the Church to respond to moral and social problems affecting young people. “You see, in our present society, we face a lot of challenges in the formation of the youth. Our youth have become street boys and girls. They throw away values that are learned in schools, in good schools, in families.”

National Catholic Register

Catholicism makes unexpected inroads in secular Estonia

By Solène Tadié, May 29, 2026

Among the countries touched by Europe’s unexpected Catholic revival, few are as intriguing as Estonia. Long considered one of the world’s most irreligious nations, this historically Protestant Baltic country seemed an unlikely place for any Catholic resurgence. Inside the medieval old town of the Estonian capital of Tallinn, Bishop Philippe Jourdan baptized 33 adults at the Easter vigil on April 4. On Easter Sunday, he received 15 more already-baptized Christians into full communion with the Catholic Church. “We had never had so many.” Although the numbers may seem modest by the standards of France, where adult baptisms have surged massively in recent years, in Estonia, a country of just 1.3 million people, where Catholicism was nearly extinguished, they hint at a religious shift few would have predicted. In 2011, Estonia was identified as the world’s least religious country. A decade later, the country’s 2021 census found that only 29% of the population claimed a religious affiliation.

Our Sunday Visitor

First stop for Pope Leo in Spain: Center for the homeless

By Paulina Guzik, June 1, 2026

When Pope Leo XIV lands in Spain on June 6, he will be greeted by King Felipe VI in the Royal Palace — a traditional welcome for a head of state arriving in the country. But more symbolic is the first place Pope Leo has chosen to visit — far from the splendor of Palacio Real and close to the reality of thousands of people in the Spanish capital. A Caritas center called CEDIA 24 Horas Social Project is part of the social ministry of the Church of Madrid for those who are homeless, and that’s where Pope Leo will head right after the meeting with the royals, diplomats, and Spanish authorities — sending a clear message of priorities to Spanish society and the country’s politicians. “It’s a day center where men and women come to receive counseling and psychological support. They can shower, eat, but it also has a night center section, where there are places to sleep,” said María Ángeles Altozano, spokeswoman for Caritas Madrid.

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Religion News Service (RNS)

Vatican is tackling a big problem plaguing global healthcare

By Susan Barnett, June 1, 2026

I’m Jewish and an advocate for water and toilets. I never expected to speak in the shadow of the Vatican. A few weeks ago, I joined more than 100 experts and advocates in Rome for the largest-ever summit on the challenges to provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) at hospitals and clinics around the world, lacking these basic needs. A big part of my message at the event, under the patronage of the Vatican, was this: Those closest to the front lines need to be asked about WASH conditions, and those on the front lines need to speak up and be heard. While it should be unimaginable that healthcare could lack these critical needs, the data say otherwise: In 60 fragile-state countries, 37% of healthcare facilities lacked basic water services in 2023, according to a joint report by WHO and UNICEF. 81% lacked basic sanitation services. Faith-run facilities are no exception. To be a patient in a facility without WASH is to be the most vulnerable of the most vulnerable.

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Aleteia

Ten stunningly colorful Catholic churches around the world

By V. M. Traverso & Aline Iaschine, June 1, 2026

The world’s most famous Catholic churches typically feature light, sober, and luminous tones. The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, the Duomo in Milan, and St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome all showcase shades of light gray, pale beige, ivory, or rosy white. Builders primarily relied on the natural colors of their construction materials to create this traditional palette. However, there are also churches with incredibly vibrant facades. In Europe, bright hues like ruby, ochre, purple, and green emerged during the Gothic period. Initially, artists used these tones mostly in painting and decoration. It wasn’t until several centuries later, during the Neo-Gothic period, that a broader color palette began to influence architecture as well. The 19th-century facade of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence is a perfect example. Here we offer you a selection of Catholic churches with some of the most colorful facades in the world.

The Pillar

US Supreme Court drops the ball on Peter’s Pence lawsuit

By Michelle La Rosa, May 28, 2026

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Tuesday that it will not take up a petition from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which had requested the dismissal of a lawsuit alleging fraud over the conference’s promotion of the Peter’s Pence collection. The lawsuit stretches back to 2020, following media reports indicating that the collection, widely viewed as primarily for supporting the poor and needy across the globe, was actually used to fund the Vatican administration. Portions of the Peter’s Pence collection have been used to support administrative costs in the Roman Curia for decades. The collection became connected with a scandal when 2019 media reporting claimed that only 10% of funds were distributed to charity, and alleged that Peter’s Pence funds had been used in connection with the Vatican’s controversial London property investment, though reporting from The Pillar found this was not the case.

Zenit News

Egypt Grants Legal Status to 191 More Church Buildings

By ZENIT Staff, June 1, 2026

The Egyptian government released an order last week granting legal status to 191 church buildings that previously lacked official recognition. In total, 3,804 churches and related buildings have been approved since the creation of a committee to review churches in 2016, according to media reports and watchdog group Christian Solidarity Worldwide. Thousands of churches and associated buildings have been built in recent decades. Still, Egypt maintains a system for approving Christian places of worship that is separate from — and more difficult than — that for Sunni Muslim places of worship. Other sects of Islam, such as Ahmadi and Shia, face unique difficulties of their own and cannot obtain approval under a 2016 law regulating the construction of such buildings. “It’s not about the churches, it’s about our existence,” said a human rights activist in Egypt. “It’s not about a building, it’s about freedom.”

Keep informed - 6/2/26 news for Catholics

Snippets: Pulpit, EWTN, & Fides News

BIG PULPIT

Tito Edwards’ Catholic blogger site: June 2, 2026

The Big Pulpit website is an intelligent news aggregator offering insights and analysis on the Catholic Church worldwide. Here are Chief Editor Tito Edward’s top recommendations for today.

• St. Joseph’s Power: How His 30-Day Novena Helped Me Launch a Catholic School – Devin Rose

• Curia Infighting? No Latin Encyclical? Vatican-Watcher’s Explanation – Philip F. Lawler, Ph.D.

• The N.Y. Times Worries We’re Re-Entering the Middle Ages, Great! – Creative Minority Report

• Comparing Confraternity, N.A.B., & N.A.B.R.E. in Genesis – Bob Short at Catholic Bible Talk

EWTN News

EWTN’s top headlines — June 2, 2026

EWTN News provides reliable, free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, emphasizing the words of the Holy Father and the activities of the Holy See, and is available to anyone with internet access.

• Pakistan police shooting of Christian driver renews ‘encounter’ concerns - By Kamran Chaudhry - A Christian motorcycle ride-hailing driver is battling for his life after allegedly being shot nine times by members of a police anti-crime patrol, renewing concerns over police conduct and the use of force in Pakistanʼs Punjab province.

• Magnifica Humanitas seen deepening Church-tech ties, former Silicon Valley exec says - By Tessa Gervasini - Magnifica Humanitas has opened the doors for deeper conversations between the Church and the tech industry regarding “how AI is going to affect humanity,” priest and former Silicon Valley executive Father Brendan McGuire said.

• How Christian women are shaping South Asian soccer - By Sumon Corraya - Christian women from tribal and minority communities are increasingly visible at the top of South Asian soccer — and none more so than Maria Manda, a Catholic from Bangladeshʼs Garo Indigenous community who has been named captain of her countryʼs womenʼs national team for the regionʼs premier championship.

Agenzia Fides

Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies - 6/2/26

Fides News Agency (Fides) was established in 1927, at the direction of the Council Superior General of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, as the first Missionary Agency of the Church and among the first agencies in the world.

AFRICA/GHANA - Bishop Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, after xenophobic violence: “No to retaliation against South Africans living in other African countries” - Accra (Fides News Agency) – “Ghanaians will continue to live in South Africa and South Africans will also continue to live in Ghana. Ghanaians have businesses there and South Africans also have businesses here.

ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Unions and Catholic organizations call for the protection of workers' rights in the face of the challenges of artificial intelligence - Manila (Fides News Agency) - A forum of Philippine organizations, including the Catholic-affiliated “Church People-Workers Solidarity” (CWS) and unions such as Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and the National Federation of Labor Unions.

EUROPE/SPAIN - Episcopal delegate of the Diocesan Caritas of Tenerife on migration: “We must not become accustomed to suffering” - Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Fides News Agency) – The upcoming visit of the Holy Father to the Canary Islands on June 11 and 12 focuses on the migratory reality in the Atlantic, one of the most dangerous and deadly routes.

June 2, 2026 - USCCB Daily Mass Readings

You can listen HERE - or read HERE:

Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

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Today’s Catholic commentary:

Angelus News

The danger in living conditions is our comfort

By Father Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, May 28, 2026

It’s easy to rationalize and become addicted to comfort and safety. St. Paul, reflecting upon his own missionary life, once wrote that he was comfortable with whatever was dealt to him, much or little. I like to believe that too for my own life, but, and this is true for most of us, the more we live with plenty, the more we tend to protect ourselves inside that cocoon. As children of our culture, I believe we can easily become addicted to comfort and safety. Once we have grown used to safety, good food, clean water, proper hygiene, access to good doctors and proper medicine, access to constant entertainment, access to instant information, regular connection with our loved ones, boundless educational and recreational opportunities, and wonderful creature comforts of all sorts, the danger looms large that we will not easily, or at all, be able to let go of any of these. We can end up as good people, no big betrayals, though no big self-sacrifices either, good but not great, admiring the greatness of others from the comfort and safety of a snug armchair.

Missio Dei Catholic

Jesus needed to be silenced

By Kaleb Hammond, June 2, 2026

The Pharisees and Herodians were not natural allies. The Pharisees despised Roman taxation as an affront to Jewish sovereignty under God; the Herodians supported it as the practical price of political stability. But they agreed on this: Jesus needed to be silenced. And so they come together, with their flattery carefully prepared: “You are a truthful man, you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion, you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth” - and their trap set beneath it. If he says pay the tax, he offends Jewish religious sensibility. If he says refuse it, he can be handed to Rome. Jesus sees through it immediately: “Why are you testing me?” He does not pretend the flattery is sincere. And then he asks for a coin. “Whose image and inscription is this?” Caesar’s, they say. Of course it is. The coin itself was a small act of imperial theology, a claim about who held ultimate authority over all things. “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

The Imaginative Conservative

One of the most dazzling passages in all of the New Testament

By Brian Sudlow, June 1, 2026

John 17: 1-11 is one of the most mysterious, one of the most dazzling passages in all of the New Testament. In it, we enter into the Sacred Heart, as into some vast cathedral where the soaring vaults carry both the thunder of the organ and the whisper of many prayers. It is hard to condense its content, as we usually do at the start of every reflection. Suffice it to say that we see two things principally: on the one hand, the relationship of the Son to the Father, and on the other, the care of both of them for those they intend to rescue from sin. First, a crucial moment has come in the Incarnation when the Son, who has laid down His glory to become man, will be both humiliated by men and glorified by His Father who is in heaven. Second, we hear then the prayer of Christ interceding for the apostles, his first disciples, and the very stem cell members, as it were, of His Mystical Body, whom He has rescued from the world.

First Things

Last things are ever-present in the here and now

By Brian Patrick Eha, June 2, 2026

In the twentieth century, the messengers shot themselves. Most did so metaphorically, of course, though a few machos—­Ernest Hemingway and ­Hunter S. Thompson come to mind—did literally blow their brains out. Whatever their methods, they took their lives just the same. In the United States, it was a string of troubled poets: Hart Crane, Sylvia Plath, John ­Berryman, Anne ­Sexton, Richard Brautigan. In England, poor neurasthenic Virginia Woolf, weighted with stones, went down in the welcoming water of the River Ouse. Others, amid terror and upheaval, took their lives in foreign lands. In the unedifying roll call of the dead, those who endured historical atrocities or escaped mortal danger only to commit self-slaughter in the end seem especially tragic. As last things, too, are ever-present in the here and now. A great writer loads his grave with resurrections.

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Catholic Nutshell News is a subscription service hosted by SubStack. Get up to a dozen recent articles from Monday to Saturday to review newsworthy issues. An easy way to browse top Catholic news and information services on the net. Edited by John Pearring.

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Zenit

Leo XIV receives Spain’s atheist president amid a political crisis

By Valentina di Giorgio, May 27, 2026

As Spain enters one of its most politically charged moments in recent years, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez arrived at the Vatican. He came amid judicial controversy at home, growing political pressure, and only days before Pope Leo XIV began what is expected to become a closely watched apostolic journey across Spain. The approximately 45-minute private audience between Sánchez and the Pope unfolded against a turbulent domestic backdrop. On the same day, the Spanish political debate was dominated by developments involving investigations into the Socialist Party and the legal scrutiny of former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Yet inside the Apostolic Palace, the conversation appears to have moved onto different terrain: peace, migration, international law, and the relationship between public institutions and civil society.

Religion News Service

Amid protests at Delaney Hall, a Catholic nun’s ‘radical hospitality’

By Fiona Murphy, May 27, 2026

For five days, Delaney Hall, an immigrant detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, has been in the news for large and loud protests over conditions inside the facility. After some 300 detainees began a hunger and labor strike over what they said were inhumane conditions, the protests have grown to include members of Congress, such as Sen. Andy Kim and Rep. Robert Menendez, both Democrats from New Jersey. But for the last year, one woman, Sister Susan Francois, has overseen a “Radical Hospitality” tent outside Delaney Hall, bearing witness and ministering to families and friends visiting detainees. She started coming in May 2025, when there was a major protest over conditions in front of Delaney Hall, and a New Jersey gubernatorial candidate and a member of Congress were arrested. Soon after, Francois started visiting about twice a week and documenting her work on TikTok, hoping to inspire other people to take action and spread hope.

Crux

Silicon Valley priest says big tech is open to Vatican on AI

By Elise Ann Allen, May 27, 2026

A pastor serving in the heart of Silicon Valley has said the Vatican’s efforts to build bridges with major tech giants, while slow-going, are not being ignored, and sees this engagement as key to the future of the artificial intelligence industry. Following the May 25 presentation of Pope Leo’s Magnifica Humanitas on humanity in the era of AI, Father Brendan McGuire said major tech organizations are heeding Vatican warnings in AI, particularly the need to proceed with caution. “I have met with them consistently over many years, and then intensely over this last year, and I will tell you I have seen men and women — and not just Anthropic, of other companies, of AI companies — of genuine goodwill who are trying to do the right thing,” he said. Many involved in developing AI technologies, “see something in what they’re developing that is concerning them. Maybe even frightening them. Maybe even making them in awe because of something brilliant that you have discovered.”

The Pillar

What about the potential excommunication of SSPX laity?

By JD Flynn, May 27, 2026

The most likely scenario for the Switzerland-based Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) over the course of the summer is that its bishops will do what its superior general, Fr. Davide Pagliarani, has said they will do — consecrate bishops despite a papal admonition against the plan. The result will be that the consecrated and consecrators will incur the canonical penalty of excommunication, which Leo has indicated that the Vatican is likely to formally declare — a rare step for the Vatican, but one intended to convey the seriousness of the SSPX’s disobedience, and to call its leadership to return to communion with the successor of St. Peter. In recent weeks, Vatican doctrinal prefect Cardinal Victor Fernandez has suggested the possibility that ordinary priests and even laity could incur and see declared the excommunication likely to be incurred by SSPX leadership. The prospect of declaring that penalty for laity seems unlikely.

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Aleteia

Firefighter finds faith thanks to man he saved

By Anna Ashkova, May 28, 2025

In Lourdes, 532 military personnel received the sacrament of confirmation on Saturday, May 23, during the 66th International Military Pilgrimage (PMI). Among them was Florian, a Paris firefighter. He came to receive the sacrament accompanied by his sponsor, Grégoire. Florian resuscitated Grégoire in the nick of time in 2023 at the Luxembourg Gardens. He had been strolling through the park with his family and friends when he came upon the emergency in progress. “I saved his life, but Grégoire saved me spiritually. In a way, we saved each other.” Three years later, sitting in the Basilica of Saint Pius X in Lourdes, surrounded by thousands of French military personnel attending the pilgrimage, Florian still finds it hard to grasp how far he has come. Two years earlier, this 39-year-old firefighter crossed paths with 43-year-old Grégoire under tragic circumstances. Today, the man he brought back to life is his confirmation sponsor.

National Catholic Register

Churchgoers do hear political & social issues from the pulpit

By Tessa Gervasini/EWTN News, May 27, 2026

A Pew Research Center report found that most Americans who regularly attend religious services hear about political or social issues from their clergy. The May 27 report, “What Political Issues Do Americans Hear About in Church?” found that two-thirds of U.S. adults who regularly attend religious services have heard their clergy speak about at least one political or social issue in the past few months. The data were based on Catholic, white evangelical Protestant, white non-evangelical Protestant, and Black Protestant U.S. adults who reported attending religious services at least once or twice a month. There were not enough respondents from other religious groups, such as Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, or Hindus, who regularly attend religious services. Of the topics Pew asked about, abortion was the most commonly cited issue with 35% reporting they have heard about it in the past few months.

Zeale News

Archaeologists in Turkey find preserved traces of early Christianity

By McKenna Snow, May 27, 2026

Archeologists have discovered the “best-preserved early image of Christ,” ancient Christian messages, and at least a dozen ancient churches in Turkey in recent years, offering a more robust image of the early Church, the Independent reported May 26. A 2025 excavation in Iznik, which is in western Turkey, revealed an image on the wall of an underground family tomb that depicts Christ carrying a sheep while surrounded by several sheep. According to correspondent and historian David Keys, the image, which dates between the early and mid-third century, “is among the five oldest proper images of Christ, as an adult, ever found anywhere in the world.” The image remains of such high quality because the sealed tomb kept oxygen at bay, preventing the paint from deteriorating, Keys explained. “The newly discovered painting gives historians a detailed understanding of how early Christians perceived Jesus — beardless, short-cropped hair and dressed in posh upper-class Roman clothes,” he writes.

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EWTN News

Commission set to tackle $290 million debt at Padre Pio’s hospital

By Andrea Gagliarducci, May 27, 2026

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday created a commission to identify solutions for long-term sustainability at the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, a major hospital complex founded by St. Pio of Pietrelcina and directly overseen by the Vatican Secretariat of State. The Catholic hospital — which is located in the southern Italian region of Puglia — is facing a debt crisis from which “we will emerge together,” Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said during a May 5 visit to the facility. The hospital in San Giovanni Rotondo, where the saint known as Padre Pio lived for most of his life, has debts estimated to run between 250 million and 300 million euros ($290 million to $350 million). The hospital is currently in a dispute with officials from the Puglia region over reimbursements — the regional authority claims it is owed 32 million euros ($37 million) — and is also involved in a conflict over new labor contracts.

Keep informed - 5/28/26 news for Catholics

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OSV News

OSV’s seasoned reporters - May 28, 2026

OSV News — information service and evangelization partner that enables dioceses to connect and boost engagement with the faithful by sharing timely, trustworthy, and accurate content about what is happening in the Church and the world.

• Facing soaring fuel and fertilizer prices, Catholic farmers lean on faith - by Kimberley Heatherington - May 27, 2026 - Farming is a precarious vocation. It’s dangerous work, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration; it’s economically volatile due to high production costs and market price fluctuations; and there are climate risks from droughts, floods, and pests.

• Why Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is a Catholic journey - by Leonard J. DeLorenzo - May 27, 2026 - J.R.R. Tolkien was a serious Catholic; one might assume that religion would be evident in his literary masterpiece. Yet, there is no religion in “The Lord of the Rings,” as Tolkien himself confessed to a (priest-)friend in a letter from 1953. “For the religious element is absorbed into the story and the symbolism.”

• Catholicism in the Lower South: Thriving communities built on French and Spanish foundations - by Father Anthony D. Andreassi - May 5, 2026 - In a continuing series on the origins of Catholicism in the 50 states, the story now turns to the lower South and the states of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. What began as a fragile missionary presence with the Spanish and French would only gradually develop into a more established Church.

EWTN News

EWTN’s top headlines — May 28, 2026

EWTN provides reliable, free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, emphasizing the words of the Holy Father and the activities of the Holy See, and is available to anyone with internet access.

• Antoni Gaudí: A model of holiness and dialogue for Spain - By Ishmael Adibuah and Victoria Cardiel - Before Pope Leo’s visit to Barcelona, an architect and a priest discuss Antoni Gaudíʼs holiness and skill, which enabled him to envision Sagrada Família Basilica and transcend deep divisions in Spain.

• Cubans are coming to parishes saying they haven’t eaten in days, bishop laments - By Eduardo Berdejo - In a country where deprivation is the norm, the situation is exacerbated by deteriorating infrastructure and the U.S. fuel embargo. People are hungry, and the Church is striving to meet their needs.

• Young Catholics drive record crowds for Chartres Pilgrimage in France - By Solène Tadié - Nearly 20,000 people from 22 countries took part in the three-day walk. An internal study of this year's pilgrims examined their faith, practices, and motivations.

ChurchPOP Trending

ChurchPOP provides fun, informative, and authentically Catholic news and culture - May 28, 2026

“We publish inspiring daily stories, fun and shareable faith-centered infographics, prayers, Church history, and more.”

3 Things Pope Leo XIV’s Magnifica Humanitas Is Asking Every Parent to Do Right Now - In his first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” Pope Leo XIV turned directly to parents, and what he said is something every family needs to do, including “Don’t Give Your Child a Phone Too Early.”

Dying Woman Has Vision of Jesus After Man Prays One Hail Mary: ‘You Saved My Life’ - “Jesus said, ‘You were going to die, but because of the prayer of this man, you’re going to live.’”

5 Ways to Celebrate America’s 250th Like a Catholic (Beyond Fireworks and BBQ) - Instead of fireworks and barbecues alone, we can thank God for His blessings, ask forgiveness for our sins as a nation, and pray for a future rooted in Christ.

May 28, 2026 - USCCB Daily Mass Readings

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Thursday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

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Catholic Culture

Atheist comedians: Oh dear …

By Fr. Jerry Pokorsky, May 4, 2026

Reality is often a bitter pill to swallow. A good comedian is very intelligent and has a keen sense of irony. Irony requires the ability to contrast the way things are with the way things should be. Religion has similar qualities. Intelligent irony without faith may be amusing, but often cynical, even vicious. Some comedians challenge the existence of God and His benevolence because of the various difficulties they encounter, particularly in the Old Testament. The brilliant and appropriately censored quips of George Carlin are insightful and hilarious. But he hated the Catholic Church, and his comedic attacks are legendary. Although we continue to encounter many mysterious guardrails of the faith, we have many opportunities to deepen our understanding of the human condition beyond the cynicism of atheist comedians. God rescues us from despair. After the Resurrection, it’s hard for comedians to ridicule the tender words of Jesus that forgive sins and promise everlasting life.

National Catholic Register

After Pakistan mob lynching, Christian Family still seeks justice

By Kamran Chaudhry/EWTN News, May 27, 2026

As Pakistan marks Eid al-Adha, the son of a Christian man killed by a mob over blasphemy allegations says his family has received no compensation and no one has been punished. Nearly 2,000 people attacked Gillʼs family in Sargodha, in northern Punjab province, on May 25, 2024, after allegations emerged that his father, Nazir (Lazar) Masih, had desecrated pages of the Quran. EWTN News covered the attack at the time. The mob ransacked the familyʼs home and shoe factory in Mujahid Colony and later set the business on fire after a mosque announcement reportedly amplified the accusations. Police managed to evacuate nine members of the family, but Masih was caught by the crowd and beaten with stones, bricks, and sticks. The 74-year-old succumbed to his injuries on the night of June 2–3, 2024.

Caeli

A delightful option for early childhood learning

By Maria Mellis, May 28, 2026

I was delighted when I was introduced to a new curriculum, written and illustrated by two Catholic moms, for children ages 3-6: “Consider the Wildflowers: Little Lessons in Language, Nature, and Virtue.” I had to share! This curriculum is a beautiful and intuitive guide to introduce order, intentionality, and learning into life with a little one at home while also allowing for flexibility, whimsy, and space to meet the many other demands of your family’s life. “Consider the Wildflowers” can be used as a homeschool guide for preschool and kindergarten, or by moms sending their children to school who want to add a bit of structured learning to the days at home before official schooling begins. The book is structured into 26 week-long units, with material for four days each week. The content for each week revolves around one letter of the alphabet and includes the following components: an animated alphabet character, the letter-of-the-week in traceable and sign language form, a nursery rhyme, a Scripture verse, a virtue of the week with an accompanying virtue story, and more …

Wild at Heart

Missing the most important thing

By John Eldredge, May 28, 2026

We take folks through a discipleship program whereby they master any number of Christian precepts and miss the most important thing of all, the very thing for which we were created: intimacy with God. There are, after all, those troubling words Jesus spoke to those who were doing all the “right” things: “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you’” (Matthew 7:23). Knowing God. That’s the point. You might recall the old proverb: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” The same holds true here. Teach a man a rule and you help him solve a problem; teach a man to walk with God and you help him solve the rest of his life. Only by walking with God can we hope to find the path that leads to life. That is what it means to be a disciple. After all—aren’t we “followers of Christ”? Then by all means, let’s actually follow him. Not ideas about him. Not just his principles. Him.

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Catholic Nutshell News is a subscription service hosted by SubStack. Get up to a dozen recent articles, Monday through Saturday, to review regarding newsworthy issues. An easy way to browse top Catholic news and information services on the net. Edited by John Pearring.

Listen to an audio podcast of today’s Catholic Nutshell News on the Substack App!

At the top of your phone, while in the Substack app to read our post, you can press the ▶️ play button and have Catholic Nutshell News read to you daily …

Unless otherwise noted, the bible references linked in the posts are from the USCCB website online publication of the Books of the Bible.

{Catholic Nutshell News, LLC is a registered Trade Name in the State of Colorado. Identified as a legal entity with the U.S. Treasury.}

“Here was an almond tree in bloom before me”

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“I’ll pray for thee from my pistachio tree”

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“Worth your weight in walnuts”

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“We see through new tender verdant pecan leaves”

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Fridays, "Living that coconut kinda life."

Your 5-minute Catholic briefing for busy faithful. Today's sources: National Catholic Register, EWTN News, OSV News, Zeale, Bishop Barron, & Aleteia. (Catholic Nutshell is a FREE subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise their Catholic News Muscle)

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“The greatest thing since peanut butter & jelly”

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Please support the following Catholic (and Catholic-friendly) news services and spiritual support sites. Today’s Catholic Nutshell News audio podcast is available on the Substack App.

Zenit

Nigeria: Priest released after three months in captivity

By ZENIT Staff, May 19, 2026

Father Nathaniel Asuwaye was kidnapped on Saturday, 7th February, when gunmen attacked Holy Trinity Parish in Karku, Kaduna State, where he serves as Parish Priest. In a statement shared with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Kafanchan Diocese’s Chancellor, Rev Dr Jacob Shanet, announced Fr Asuwaye’s release from the kidnappers on the 12th May. He said: “With profound gratitude to God and all who supported us… We are pleased to inform you that Fr Nathaniel is now safe and receiving care. He is in a stable condition, remains in good spirits, and appreciates your prayers and support.” Fr Asuwaye was kidnapped alongside 10 other people when terrorists stormed his residence at 3.20 am. Three people were also killed in the attack. Days earlier, on 3rd February, more than 160 people were massacred in Woro, Kwara State, in Nigeria’s Middle Belt. Most victims were Muslim, according to media reports, killed by jihadist militants for refusing to embrace the extremists’ version of Islam.

Religion News Service

Trump allies lead thousands in prayer: ‘Rededicate’ America to God

By Jack Jenkins, Aleja Hertzler-McCain & Adelle M. Banks, May 17, 2026

As House Speaker Mike Johnson stood before a crowd of thousands on the National Mall on Sunday (May 17), he did something not altogether unusual for the outspoken Southern Baptist: He closed his eyes, bowed his head and prayed. “Just as we in the beginning dedicated this land to your most holy name, today, here, Lord, in this 250th year of American independence, we hereby rededicate the United States of America as one nation under God,” said Johnson, a Republican, to cheers. The event featured a video of President Donald Trump reading from 2 Corinthians, which he prepared for a separate event two weeks ago. After the clip ended, Pastor Lou Engle led the crowd in chanting “Revival! Revival! Revival!” The prayers moved Michelle Calhoun of Florida, a Catholic, to tears. “I think they’re bringing on the Holy Spirit over our country, and I’m proud to be an American,” she said, voice shaking.

Related: Bishop Barron calls equality a God-given right at America 250 event, UCA News, By Kate Scanlon, OSV News, May 18, 2026

Crux

Defense of life is a cornerstone of civilization

By Fionn Shiner and Catholic Answers, May 20, 2026

Following the recent failure of the assisted suicide bill in the UK parliament, as well as the rejection of a similar bill in the French Senate, an English archbishop has said that defending life from conception to death is a key marker of a civilized society. Speaking to Crux Now, Archbishop John Wilson of the Southwark archdiocese explained that the Church has a duty to sustain the values that defend every human life. “A primary test of a civilized society is the extent to which it protects its most vulnerable members. The Lord Jesus is clear: ‘as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” In an interview with Catholic Answers recently, Wilson said, “The Archdiocese of Southwark seeks to use social media for evangelization, with a purposeful Christocentric focus and message. The Archdiocese of Southwark covers all of south London and the county of Kent: with 175 parishes and 165 Catholic schools, it includes dense urban communities and also reaches into a more rural county that stretches to the sea.”

The Pillar

Tulsa deacon pleads guilty to stealing $1.4 million

By Michelle La Rosa, May 20, 2026

A 70-year-old deacon in Tulsa pleaded guilty last week to bank fraud and unlawful monetary transactions after stealing nearly $1.5 million while working at a local Catholic parish. Deacon John Sommer, the former business manager and parish manager of Christ the King Parish, accepted a plea deal with federal prosecutors on May 13. Sommer acknowledged that from March to October 2025, he stole more than $1.4 million through more than 70 unauthorized ACH transfers from Christ the King to his own accounts. “I used the funds to advance what I believed to be certain potential romantic interests online and also fund what I believed to be investment opportunities in purported cryptocurrency-based ventures,” he said in the plea agreement. He said he kept all unauthorized ACH transfers under the $30,000 approval limit. “I also altered the Church’s accounting records to make it appear as if transfers were made to legitimate vendors.”

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Aleteia

Catholic Extension Society supports 44% of US dioceses

By Jenny Lark Snarski, May 21, 2025

On Monday, May 18, Pope Leo met with the board of governors of the Catholic Extension Society in a private audience at the Vatican. As the visit took place in the days leading up to Pentecost, the Leo said, “The same zeal that moved the Christians of the early Church to share the news of Jesus Christ and the gift of the Spirit inspired your founder, Father Francis Clement Kelley, over 120 years ago.” The Society’s president, Father Jack Wall, was recognized immediately by the Pope as both men grew up in Dalton, a working-class suburb of Chicago. Laura Bowman, from Catholic Extension’s Public Relations office, told Aleteia, “Catholic Extension Society has helped build and repair more than 13,500 churches." Catholic Extension supports 44% of dioceses in the United States. Economic need is one factor for a diocese to qualify, but other qualifying conditions include Catholics representing a religious minority in the region.

Christian Science Monitor

Democrats’ support for Israel is crumbling, with major implications

By Simon Montlake, May 21, 2026

Abdul El-Sayed is midway through his stump speech, telling a crowd of about 100 in a brick-lined event hall that he won’t take corporate donations and will raise taxes on billionaires. The Democratic candidate then turns to where those tax dollars should – and should not – be spent. Taxpayer money should not go to “a country committing apartheid, at minimum genocide, over the past two years and counting,” he says. He doesn’t name the country. But he doesn’t have to. Dr. El-Sayed, a former county health director running in a competitive primary for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat, is a fierce critic of Israel. Standing firm with what’s considered by some the only true democracy in the Middle East was for decades a bipartisan cause championed in Congress by both hawkish Republicans and left-leaning Democrats, many of them Jewish. That era is over. What began as a drop in support for Israel among younger Democrats has become an across-the-board collapse.

Zeale News

Them Before Us grades all 50 states on child protection

By Elise Winland, May 20, 2026

The children’s rights organization Them Before Us released a new state-by-state scorecard on May 19 that grades every state, plus Washington, D.C., on its protection of children’s fundamental right to their biological mother and father. The group, which advocates for child-centered family policy, said its interactive Children’s Rights Scorecard evaluates states across four major areas: parentage law, surrogacy, donor conception and in-vitro fertilization, and marriage and divorce law. The scorecard reviews 19 criteria and gives states credit for policies that protect children’s rights. “Them Before Us doesn’t care about political party or any other agenda beyond, ‘What does this state do to protect children?’” CatholicVote Director of Government Affairs Tom McClusky said. “The conclusion is that there is a lot of work left to do for legislators, activists, and parents to protect children better.”

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EWTN News

Minnesota bishops praise new child limits on addictive social media

By Amira Abuzeid, May 20, 2026

Minnesota’s Catholic bishops are applauding the passage of a bipartisan bill this week that restricts what critics say are the addictive aspects of social media for children below age 15. The Minnesota Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the Church in Minnesota, issued a statement May 16 saying it is “encouraged” that lawmakers in both legislative houses overwhelmingly passed the Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act. The bill is aimed at curbing the purportedly addictive design of social media for young children by imposing new requirements on large social media platforms earning $1 billion or more in global advertising revenue. It prohibits several features for accounts of children 15 and younger, including infinite scrolling, algorithmic or profile-based feeds, push notifications for new content or likes, autoplay videos, visible engagement metrics such as likes and shares, and usage-based awards, badges, or streaks.

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OSV News

OSV’s seasoned reporters - May 21, 2026

OSV News — information service and evangelization partner that enables dioceses to connect and boost engagement with the faithful by sharing timely, trustworthy, and accurate content about what is happening in the Church and the world.

• Pope Leo tells graduating Villanovans to uphold Augustinian values, recall US guiding principles - May 20, 2026 - by Gina Christian - Along with the core Augustinian values, Pope Leo — noting the nation will soon mark its 250th anniversary — told graduates, “I would invite you to recall in a special way the guiding principles of the foundations of our nation.”

• Border bishops have ‘grave concerns’ about $72 billion immigration enforcement funding package - May 20, 2026 - by Kate Scanlon - “As pastors, we remain troubled by how immigrants, the vast majority of whom have committed no crimes and have built equities in the country, have become targets for enforcement, with their God-given human dignity and human rights being violated on a daily basis,” they wrote.

• Chartres pilgrimage grows as organizers warn against renewed traditionalist divisions - May 20, 2026 - by Caroline de Sury - “This prospect reopens old wounds for us,” Philippe Darantière, president of Notre-Dame de Chrétienté, said the pilgrimage to Chartres split in two years ago, following the first ordinations against Rome’s orders. He said. “We chose to remain faithful to the pope, but some of the organizers then left us.”

EWTN News

EWTN’s top headlines — May 21, 2026

EWTN provides reliable, free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, emphasizing the words of the Holy Father and the activities of the Holy See, and is available to anyone with internet access.

• Leader of Pontifical Academy for Life offers overview of academy a year into his presidency - By Tessa Gervasini - “We realized the last 10 years, to have members that are not Catholic,” Archbishop Renzo Pegoraro said, including two Jewish members, one Muslim member, and two Greek Orthodox members. “But they confirm to agree with the basic values concerning human life, and they agree with the teaching of the Catholic Church about these topics.”

• Church in Mexico calls for combating human trafficking and exploitation during 2026 World Cup - By Diego López Colín - The millions of people coming to Mexico for the World Cup represent an opportunity for human traffickers, prompting the Church in the country to raise awareness and recommend prevention measures.

• Catholic bishops appeal court ruling that would mandate abortion accommodations - By Tyler Arnold - Bishops are asking the appellate court to overturn a ruling that would require employers to offer accommodations to employees who seek to obtain an abortion.

ChurchPOP Trending

ChurchPOP provides fun, informative, and authentically Catholic news and culture - May 21, 2026

“We publish inspiring daily stories, fun and shareable faith-centered infographics, prayers, Church history, and more.”

‘A Man of Great Faith’: Oregon Seminarian Dies Unexpectedly After Medical Complications - “I grieve the passing of our seminarian, Tom Kloucek. Please join me in praying for the repose of his soul, and for all who mourn his loss.”

Lineman Glues Tiny Jesus Figurines on Transmission Tower for Co-Workers to Find - “Leaving Jesus for another lineman to find. Amen.” TikTok user “limitededition135” shared a video of himself carrying out his usual work among electrical wires.

The Great Power of Marian Devotion in the End Times: St. Louis de Montfort’s Striking Prophecy - “They will thunder against sin, they will storm against the world, they will strike down the devil and his followers...”

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Catholic Culture

The importance of Pope Leo’s first encyclical

By Phil Lawler, May 19, 2026

On May 18, the anniversary of Leo’s installation as Roman Pontiff, the Vatican announced that the Pope’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on artificial intelligence (AI), will be released on May 25. An encyclical’s publication is always a major event, and a Pontiff’s first effort deserves special notice. But in this case, particularly so, for several reasons. For the first time, what Pope Leo says will be judged entirely on its own merit, not with reference to what Pope Francis said or did. AI is an enormous topic, with weighty implications for our future. Most of us have barely begun to understand the ways in which AI will change our lives. These are questions on which the Church's moral guidance should be helpful. The timing of this encyclical is excellent; the Pope will weigh in before most people have formed their own opinions on the matter. His guidance could set the “gold standard” for moral analysis of AI.

Related: Vance says Pope Leo’s upcoming AI encyclical will be ‘very, very important’, By Mary Rose, Zeale, May 20, 2026

National Catholic Register

The culture of death loses one — for the moment

By George Weigel, May 20, 2026

On April 24, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill failed to gain passage in the United Kingdom’s House of Lords, thus ending, for now, the efforts to legalize assisted suicide in England and Wales. A month earlier, the Scottish Parliament, by a vote of 69-57, also rejected an “assisted dying” bill. For the moment, then, the culture of death, against which John Paul II cautioned in the 1995 encyclical Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), has suffered a major setback. The struggle, however, is far from over. Lord David Alton wrote to me, “The [House of Lords] scrutiny and especially the recent vote in the Scottish Parliament against euthanasia legislation has been an incredibly important moment. They demonstrated that, when proper consideration is given to the ethical and practical concerns, we can sometimes have the courage to defy the zeitgeist.” Charles Moore, in response to the same e-mail, told me that “the other side overreached,” but warned that “they’ll be back.” Lord Alton did not disagree.

Caeli

My son’s birth changed my relationship with the Advocate

By Ava Frecker, May 20, 2026

I knew the Holy Spirit was the third person of the Trinity. I learned about the gifts and fruits the Spirit bestows on us through the sacramental life. But it was all head knowledge. Unlike the Father and Son, I had no relationship with the Spirit and didn’t know where to start. The Holy Spirit? His symbols are not relational in the traditional sense. Fire. Wind. Water. A dove. How can I have a relationship with that? When in the middle of labor with my first child, I had no worries about my ability to give birth; God had made women to do so, after all. By the time I began active labor, I had shoved my intuition aside. My midwife asked if I would like her to pray for me. I quickly accepted, and she prayed aloud a simple, spontaneous prayer. As soon as she finished praying, I felt a release in my soul. “Come, Holy Spirit,” rushed out of my mouth, and I began repeating this prayer as the contractions surged. My son was born soon after! I wish I had leaned on the presence of the Holy Spirit throughout the process instead of at the very end.

Wild at Heart

What have our Arrows tempted us to do?

By John Eldredge, May 21, 2026

At some point, we all face the same decision—what will we do with the Arrows we’ve known? Maybe a better way to say it is, what have they tempted us to do? However they come to us, whether through a loss we experience as abandonment or some deep violation we feel as abuse, their message is always the same: Kill your heart. Divorce it, neglect it, run from it, or indulge it with some anesthetic (our various addictions). The heart cannot be managed in a detached sort of way. It feels more like an ambush, and our response is at a gut level. We may never put words to it. Our deepest convictions are formed without conscious effort, but the effect is a shift deep in our souls. If you’ll listen carefully to your life, you may begin to see how it has been shaped by the unique Arrows you’ve known and the particular convictions you’ve embraced as a result. The Arrows also taint and partially direct even our spiritual life.

Image of peanuts by Nicole Köhler, from Pixabay

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