Catholic Nutshell News: Saturday 4/12/25
Topics include: Young Europeans reclaiming faith, International Religious Freedom ambassador, Zambia Presbyteral Council speaks up, & Seoul's high number of vocations
“We see through new tender verdant pecan leaves”
Today's news sources are Aleteia, CRUX, Catholic News Agency, Our Sunday Visitor, National Catholic Register, Aleteia, and The Catholic Thing. (Catholic Nutshell is a subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise their Catholic News Muscle)
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National Catholic Register
Young Europeans reclaiming faith and tradition
By Solène Tadié, April 11, 2025
From a societal standpoint, religion is first and foremost an inherited culture. Family culture is the essential matrix for the transmission of faith. In this area, Christians — especially Catholics — are currently the least successful in Europe. A French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies paper shows that the generational transmission rate for Islam is 91%, 84% for Jews, and only 67% for Catholics. Among the most observant Catholic families — especially so-called “Trad Catholics” — transmission rates are significantly higher. This suggests the survival of Christianity in Europe likely depends on families who deliberately nurture, cultivate, and protect their faith. Sweden, Norway, and France — nations that have long led the march toward de-Christianization — are now experiencing a renewed interest in Christianity.
Catholic News Agency
International Religious Freedom ambassador picked by Trump
By Daniel Payne, April 12, 2025
Former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback on Friday praised President Donald Trump's April 9 choice of former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker for the position, hailing the nominee as an "excellent pick" who will advance religious liberty worldwide. Brownback served in the religious freedom role from 2018 until 2021. He was the first Catholic to serve in that role, the governor of Kansas before the appointment, and he served as a U.S. senator. Brownback noted that "a lot" goes into the ambassadorship position, "because religious freedom has become the cornerstone human rights issues for those of us on the right." After his nomination was announced, Walker said that he was "open-eyed to the bad actors and regions committing [atrocities] against people of faith."
Agenzia Fides
Zambia Presbyteral Council objects to constitutional focus
By Agenzia Fides, April 9, 2025
The Archdiocese of Lusaka Presbyteral Council objected to the proposed constitutional amendments announced on September 13 of last year by President Hakainde Hichilema. A letter noted “with dismay and concern the government's persistent strategy to divert the population's attention from important and urgent national issues by using, among other strategies, the proposal of constitutional amendments." "The high cost of living, the crippling energy crisis, food insecurity, youth unemployment, divisive politics, reduced revenues from the mining sector, and more show “constitutional amendment is not a national priority in the current context and time." The Council added, "we are not facing a constitutional crisis, nor a compelling historical opportunity or event that justifies amending the Republican Constitution.”
Aleteia
Seoul maintains high number of vocations to the priesthood
By Caitlin Bootsma, April 12, 2025
It has only been 180 years since the first native priest was ordained in Korea. Today, as the Vocation Support Association celebrates its 50th year, the Archdiocese of Seoul’s priesthood is 1000-strong. The number of Catholics in Seoul, at 1.5 million, puts the faithful-to-priest ratio at 1,385. (By comparison, Milan's average is 2,086; the small diocese of Wichita, Kansas, has the highest rate of new priests in the USA at 933 Catholics per priest.) In 2018, the Vatican recognized the Catholic Pilgrimage Routes in Seoul, wherein pilgrims experience key sites of Korean martyrs’ lives and death. Pope Francis announced that the next World Youth Day will take place in Seoul in 2027.
CatholicVote
Catholic hospital argues 35-week unborn child not a legal person
By Grace Porto, April 11, 2025
A Catholic health care provider, Catholic Health Initiatives-Iowa (CHI), is arguing, in an attempt to limit its financial liability in a medical malpractice case, that a baby who died in the womb at 35 weeks’ gestation should not be considered a “person” under the law. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports that Miranda and Landen Anderson filed a lawsuit after the stillbirth of their daughter, Eloise, in April 2021. When she was 34 weeks pregnant, Miranda came to Pella Regional Health Center with high blood pressure, headaches, and edema, which are all signs of preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication for both mother and child. The Andersons’ lawsuit alleges that CHI and its physicians failed to recommend early delivery, a decision they say would have saved Eloise’s life.
CRUX
Jesuit general on Rupnik: ‘We were blind’ about Rupnik
By Elise Ann Allen, April 12, 2025
In a conversation with the press earlier this week, Venezuelan Jesuit Father General Arturo Sosa confessed that his order had been “blind” to abuses committed by a famed artist who was expelled from the group nearly two years ago. The notorious case involving Slovene Father Marko Rupnik, accused of abusing over 30 adult women, “is not an easy case to speak about, because it caused a lot of pain, for the victims first of all,” Sosa told journalists during an April 10 press conference. These abuses happened “due to our blindness, because it’s true that we didn’t see it,” Sosa said, saying, “this blindness came from not putting the various signs together.”
Related: A John Allen health update, and notes of thanks - CRUX - By John L. Allen Jr., April 12, 2025
The PILLAR
Will Antoni Gaudí, ‘God’s architect,’ be beatified?
By Fionn Shiner, April 11, 2025
Few realize that the man responsible for the design of the Basilica of Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudí, is now a “Servant of God” being considered for sainthood. His cause for canonization is, according to the Archdiocese of Barcelona, in “the final process towards beatification.” Construction of the basilica’s wild, extravagant spires began in 1882, but it is still famously unfinished. In 2023, there were 4.7 million visitors to the basilica. Pope Benedict XVI said at the consecration of the basilica in 2010, that Gaudí, this unique, visionary man, was “nourished” by three books — “the book of nature, the books of Sacred Scripture, and the book of the liturgy.” Which will be completed first — the basilica or his cause for sanctity?
Our Sunday Visitor
France to see a record 17,800 catechumens baptized at Easter
By Caroline de Sury, April 11, 2025
In record-breaking numbers, more than 17,800 catechumens will be baptized during the Easter Vigil on April 19, including 10,384 adults and more than 7,400 young people ages 11 to 17, according to an annual survey by the National Service for Catechumens of the French bishops’ conference. Adult baptisms have skyrocketed, observing a 45% increase compared to 2024. Announced April 10, these figures are the highest since the creation of the survey that has recorded them each year since 2002. It’s not a passing trend, but a real “dynamic,” said Archbishop Olivier de Germay of Lyon, who is responsible for the catechumenate in France.
From CNA & Big Pulpit to Satire for 4/12/25
Catholic News Agency
CNA’s top headlines — April 12, 2025
Catholic News Agency provides reliable, free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, emphasizing the words of the Holy Father and happenings of the Holy See to anyone with access to the internet.
Pope Francis makes prayerful visit to Marian basilica before Holy Week - Apr 12, 2025 - By AC Wimmer - The pontiff's participation in upcoming Easter ceremonies remains uncertain as he gradually returns to public activities.
University of Mary and Diocese of Phoenix launch first-ever Catholic seminary in Arizona - Apr 12, 2025 - By Kate Quiñones - Nazareth Seminary is working with University of Mary’s “Mary College,” a satellite academic institution partnered with Arizona State University.
Gothic Revival cathedral in Nottingham to shine again with historic grant - Apr 12, 2025 - By Andy Drozdziak - Nottingham’s St. Barnabas Cathedral in England has been awarded an approximately $2.2 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Big Pulpit
Tito Edwards Catholic blogger site: April 12, 2025
The Big Pulpit website is an intelligent news aggregator offering quality insight & analysis on the Catholic Church worldwide. Here are Chief Editor Tito Edward’s top recommendations for today.
Ecumenical Councils and their Aftermath – Larry Chapp at The Pillar
‘Do Not Fear; I Am Here’ – Hollywood Catholic
The God-man, Jesus Christ – Father Vincent Bernhard at Our Sunday Visitor
Is It Good for Man to Be Alone Now? – John M. Grondelski at The Catholic Thing
Babylon Bee’s Satire News
'Man, People Are Going To LOVE Reading This One,' Says Moses While Writing Leviticus
By Scripture Staff, April 11, 2025
Hot off the success of Genesis and Exodus, Moses expressed confidence that everyone would love his follow-up work, Leviticus. The leader of the Israelites seemed sure that the warm reception his first two books had received made it a safe bet that the next installment of the series would be a smash hit. "Oh man, people are going to love reading this one," Moses said as he wrote a passage about how the priest was to go about diagnosing mold. "It's my first foray into a more technical, procedural genre. There hasn't been anything like it." Moses did admit that he had been writing under the guidance of the Lord and therefore couldn't take all the credit for Leviticus. Dathan, a Benjamite, said, "It's just a bunch of regulations — basically a rule book. Maybe the Levites will really like it?"
Nutshell reflections for 4/12/25:
USCCB Daily Reflection - AUDIO & VIDEO - April 12, 2025
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Word on Fire
Biblical ‘errors’ arise from various sources
By Dr. Samuel J. Klumpenhouwer, April 8, 2025
In the Basilica of St. Peter in Chains visitors encounter a strange sight: Michelangelo’s sculpted Moses, rendered with two horns protruding conspicuously from his head. Michelangelo’s contemporaries, faithful readers of the Vulgate Bible, would have known that when Moses came down from Mount Sinai, his face was “horned” from talking with the Lord. Modern viewers of the sculpture, however, are quickly told that the horns of Moses come from a faulty translation of the Hebrew text. Moses’s face was not “horned” but “shining.” Latin Christians had suffered for over a millennium from an error in their Bible. Such “errors” arise from various sources: faulty translations, scribal errors, variant manuscript traditions, erroneous historical knowledge, etc. Yet Christians have shown a remarkable ability to read these Bible errors in an entirely orthodox and salutary manner.
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The Catholic Thing
What are the marks of Catholic Fundamentalism?
By Eduardo J. Echeverria, April 8, 2025
In his recent book, Catholic Fundamentalism in America, Mark S. Massa, SJ, claims that five characteristics mark a “fundamentalist.”
A “sectarian [resistance to] dialogue and collaboration.”
Overemphasis on the institutional model of the Church, identifying the Kingdom of God with the institution of the Roman Catholic Church.
An “a-historical understanding” of Church teaching such that “the meaning of Christianity, in which development was not possible because it represented apostasy from faith once delivered.”
Focus on theology and doctrine using “the essentially political monikers of ‘conservative’ and ‘liberal’ to delineate their own position
And “a rhetorical style marked by apocalyptic urgency,” reflecting a “militant tone [in] their denunciations of others, especially fellow Catholics.”
Bishop Barron
‘It is better for you that one man should die instead of the people’
By Bishop Robert Barron, April 12, 2025
The Crucifixion of Jesus is a classic instance of Catholic philosopher René Girard’s scapegoating theory. He held that a society, large or small, that finds itself in conflict comes together through a common act of blaming an individual or group purportedly responsible for the conflict. It is utterly consistent with the Girardian theory that Caiaphas, the leading religious figure of the time, said to his colleagues, “It is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” In any other religious context, this sort of rationalization would be validated. But in the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, this stunning truth is revealed: God is not on the side of the scapegoaters, but rather on the side of the scapegoated victim.
First Things
Opting for nihilism and rejecting the Thomistic hierarchy of charity
By Andreas Lombard, April 10, 2025
The new German state debts alone, which amount to trillions, will burden every German household with at least another €100 per month for the next thirty years. Bishop Gerhard Feige of Magdeburg recently defended continued immigration by rejecting the Thomistic hierarchy of charity. What the German state and its churches are doing is terrible, but what they are not doing is worse: caring for their flock, fostering faith and resilience, encouraging strategies for subsidiarity and self-sufficiency, strengthening families and neighborhoods, giving tax breaks to horticulture, crafts, and agriculture, making the country culturally and economically less dependent on imports, improving education, challenging people intellectually and spiritually—through good sermons and the sacrament of confession—instead of spreading indifference.
Image of Pecans by tseiu from Pixabay
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