Catholic Nutshell News: Tuesday 4/15/25
Topics include: Way of the Cross blocked, 50 years after Pol Pot, Patients ‘rushed’ into euthanasia, & More people leaving childhood religion
“I’ll pray for thee from my pistachio tree”
Today's sources are the National Catholic Register, CNA, Aleteia, The CatholicVote, The Pillar, OSV, Big Pulpit, and Matt Fradd. (Catholic Nutshell is a subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise the Catholic News Muscle)
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The Pillar
Delhi police block the Way of the Cross
By Luke Coppen, April 14, 2025
Catholics in the Delhi archdiocese of India expressed “deep shock” Sunday after police denied them permission for an annual Way of the Cross procession through the streets of the Indian capital. The Catholic Association of the Archdiocese of Delhi said April 13 that the event, held for more than a decade on Palm Sunday, could not go ahead after the Delhi Police cited “law and order and traffic concerns.” Organizers reportedly sought police permission for the event March 12, but were informed April 12 — on the eve of the procession — that it could not go ahead. Another Palm Sunday procession, led by the Christian Youth League and inaugurated by the Anglican bishop of Delhi, took place as usual in the city.
Related: No action taken against police who assaulted Catholic priests in India, UCA News, by Michael Gonsalves, April 15, 2025
UCA News
50 years after Pol Pot
By Luke Hunt, April 14, 2025
Cambodia to quietly commemorate the beginning of the 'Year Zero' tragedy. Yet, 50 years ago, celebrations heralded a communist takeover of Cambodia on April 17, 1975, which soon turned ugly as the Khmer Rouge imposed their dreaded agrarian-based Year Zero policies that left about a third of the population dead and collapsed a nation in less than four years. Led by Pol Pot and Nuon Chea, the Chinese-backed ultra-Maoists marched into Phnom Penh and immediately ordered the city evacuated under the false pretext that the United States was about to bomb. The Catholic cathedral was torn down, all religions were abandoned, Muslims were forced to eat pork, and policies that ranged from abandoning money to forced marriages and genocides, against the Vietnamese and Muslim Chams, were inflicted. Cambodian-based French historian, Henry Locard, said no other communist country tried to “ruralize” an entire population like in Cambodia.
CatholicVote
Patients ‘rushed’ to euthanasia through MAiD program
By McKenna Snow, April 14, 2025
Canada is “rushing to death” through quick approvals for its euthanasia program, Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD), according to a member of Ontario’s MAiD Death Review Committee. Dr. Ramona Coehlo, a committee member and a family physician, made the warning after the committee released two reports, “Waivers of Final Consent,” and “Navigating Complex Issues within Same Day and Next Day MAiD Provisions,” that share case studies of people who have died by euthanasia through the MAiD regime. “These cases highlight how vulnerable individuals, having lost the capacity to consent, may be coerced or unduly influenced to die—whether through financial abuse, caregiver burnout, or other pressures—reminding us that the stakes are high—life and death, no less,” Coelho wrote for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
Aleteia
More people are leaving their childhood religions
By Daniel Esparza, April 7, 2025
In a sweeping new report, the Pew Research Center has documented the number of millions of people around the world who no longer identify with the religion in which they were raised. Based on surveys conducted in 36 countries, the study reveals a clear global trend: disaffiliation is growing, particularly among those raised as Christians or Buddhists. The phenomenon, called religious switching, doesn’t just include conversions between faiths. More often, it refers to people leaving religion altogether. In countries like Sweden, South Korea, and Japan, the trend is especially visible. Christianity shows the largest net losses in many countries. The appeal of a religiously unaffiliated identity appears to be rising among younger and more educated populations. Religious identities remain notably stable across generations in places like India and Israel.
Vatican News
Pope reforms the Vatican’s ‘school of Nuncios’
By Salvatore Cernuzio, April 15, 2025
In a new chirograph entitled “The Petrine Ministry,” Pope Francis has updated the path of formation for students of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, known as the Accademia, which, for over 300 years, has trained “generations of priests who have placed their vocation at the service of the Petrine ministry by serving in the Papal Representations and the Secretariat of State.” The new academic program aims at providing a “solid” and “ongoing” formation to enable papal representatives to carry out their diplomatic mission to countries around the world and to face the challenges of a constantly changing world, to ensure the “fundamental” qualities of “attentive listening, witness, a fraternal approach, and dialogue,” are ever present in those who serve in the Nunciatures.
Catholic News Agency
Australian groups warn no such thing as ‘harmless’ pornography
By Daniel Payne, April 15, 2025
Catholic advocates in Australia are warning lawmakers there of the risk that pornography exposure poses to children, including the threat of normalizing forms of violent sexual behavior among young people. The Parliament of New South Wales recently began public hearings for its inquiry into the “impacts of harmful pornography on mental, emotional, and physical health.” The Parliament’s Standing Committee on Social Issues says the inquiry will particularly focus on “age of first exposure to pornography and impacts of early exposure to pornography” as well as porn’s “impacts on body image” and “the impact of exposure to violent and/or misogynistic pornography on children, teenagers, and young adults.”
National Catholic Register
Benedictine monks revive their ancient Abbey
By Bénédicte Cedergren, April 14, 2025
Amidst the decline of Catholicism in France, the reconstruction of the Abbey of St. Wandrille emerges as a powerful sign of renewal and hope for the future of the Church in France. In 649, St. Ouen of Rouen allowed Wandrille to settle in the valley of Fontenelle and established the monastery of Fontenelle, or Abbaye Saint-Wandrille (Abbey of St. Wandrille), using the Rule of St. Columbanus. Because of the damages caused by the French Revolution and the Second World War, the abbey started four restoration projects 10 years ago, to restore the cloister — “the only complete Gothic cloister in Normandy.” After preserving the ruins of the old abbey church, the abbey’s fourth and last project is now underway: “to restore the east wing of the monastery, which is slowly but surely collapsing.”
Rocky Mountain Voice
Colorado House Bill, HB25-1312, is designed to silence parents
By Jen Schumann, April 14, 2024
From court-ordered gag rules to the looming threat of custody loss, this isn’t hypothetical — it’s happening now. Colorado families gathered at the Rocky Mountain Summit in early April to share what it means to raise children under a system that increasingly treats concern as abuse. Held April 6 in Englewood, the event brought together medical professionals, whistleblowers, and families. Their message was clear: parents are being sidelined by courts, schools, and legislation that favors affirm-only practices. Proposed legislation (HB25-1312) takes things further, redefining parental objection as emotional abuse under the law. 14-year-old Chloe Lee, who spoke publicly, explained how an afterschool art club introduced her to gender ideology without her parents’ knowledge. “Going to the club offered me instant community if I just called myself transgender or gay.”
From Pulpit & Agency to Satire for 4/15/25
BIG PULPIT
Tito Edwards Catholic blogger site: April 15, 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.
The Chosen: The Last Supper’: So, What About the Eucharist? – Kate O’Hare at Pax Culturi
Michael Hichborn’s Epic Rant On The USCCB – Complicit Clergy
How I Fought Grok & Won on Homosexuality – Austin Ruse at Crisis Magazine
The Sword in the Stone is Real & It Belonged to the First Official Saint – ChurchPOP
Catholic News Agency
CNA’s top headlines — April 15, 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.
Vatican unveils new Timothy Schmalz statue ‘Be Welcoming’ in St. Peter’s Square - Apr 15, 2025 - By Kristina Millare - The statute depicts a man seated on a bench “who appears to be a homeless person” carrying only two possessions:
First-ever ‘clergy convert conference’ to take place in May - Apr 15, 2025 - By Tessa Gervasini - In partnership with the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, the Coming Home Network will hold a weekend-long retreat in May.
Cameroon diocese issues ‘urgent alert’ on human trafficking surge amid regional violence - Apr 15, 2025 - By Silas Isenjia - The Justice and Peace Commission of Kumbo Diocese in Cameroon has issued an “urgent alert” on a surge of human trafficking.
Babylon Bee - Satire News
A Satire Test*: Surprising Findings From Trump's Physical Exam
By U.S., Staff, April 12, 2025
Here are the most shocking findings from Trump's recent physical exam:
Blood type came back USA-positive: The world has never seen anything like it.
Trump's skin actually has an odd orange hue: No one has noticed this before, but the doctors are looking into it.
His regenerated ear has developed super-hearing, like Daredevil: We feel a Netflix series incoming.
Unnecessary appendix has already been removed by DOGE: Those guys are good.
Trump is severely allergic to losing: The only prescription: more winning.
*A Satire Test: You’ll know if you have Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) if you see this satire as unfunny. Also, you know you have Trump Messiah Complex (TMC) if you also see this satire as unfunny. If you laugh, or at least giggle, you’re probably OK.
Nutshell reflections for 4/15/25:
USCCB Daily Reflection AUDIO & VIDEO - April 15, 2025
Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
CRUX
‘The amputation of a sick member of the Catholic Church’
By Religión Digital, April 12, 2025
Peruvian journalist Pedro Salinas recounts in his book, The Truth Sets Us Free, with the rhythm of a thriller, the story of a long struggle in different spheres to bring the truth about the abuses of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV) to light, culminating in an unprecedented and historic event: The suppression of this society of apostolic life of pontifical right. Through testimonies, recently made public prosecutor’s files, and a list of validated and verified facts, Salinas affirms the Sodalitium (and its offshoots — Marian Community of Reconciliation, Servants of the Plan of God, and Christian Life Movement) perpetrated abuses of all kinds for decades, until Pope Francis, decided to suppress it and '“amputate a sick member of the Catholic Church.”
Our Sunday Visitor
A ‘reign’ that will soon be destroyed
By Jenna Marie Cooper, April 7, 2025
Q: Why did God send Lucifer down to earth to live and rule amongst his beloved creations?
A: I don’t think we can say that God truly sent the devil — known as Lucifer and Satan — down to earth in quite the way your question envisions. While the devil was cast out of God’s direct presence in heaven, this did not happen because God actively wanted Satan to have sway over his creatures. In St. Luke’s Gospel, Jesus makes a brief and somewhat mysterious reference to this same event when he says to his disciples: “…I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky” (Luke 10:18). The fall of Lucifer and the other angels was not a backwards evil divine mission, which is why it would not be accurate to describe the devil and the bad angels as being “sent to earth” by God. However, Jesus states: “Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself” (Jn 12:31-32).
Matt Fradd's Terrifying Ruminations
Thomas Aquinas’ on the staggering humility of Christ
By Matt Fradd, April 15, 2025
Christ Shows Himself a True Servant - Aquinas begins: “Christ, in His lowly office, shows Himself truly to be a servant, in keeping with His own words, ‘The Son of Man is not come to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give His life a redemption for many’ (Matt. 20:28).” He then explains, “He (who came from God and goeth to God—John 13:3), as He washes their feet, crushes down forever our swollen, human self-importance.”
Christ’s Humility in Action - “For it was the lowest kind of service of all! The Lord of all majesty bending to wash the feet of his slaves. He did not do it through others, nor even with others helping Him. He did the service Himself.” Aquinas concludes with a line drawn from Scripture: “The greater thou art, the more humble thyself in all things” (Ecclus. 3:20).
The Catholic Weekly
The streets are waiting for the Gospel
By Christina Guzman, April 10, 2025
Recently, after a break from ministry, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and onto the streets of Sydney to evangelise in a way I hadn’t before. At the end of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gives his disciples a directive known as the Great Commission: “to go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” It’s a mandate often quoted in churches, preached from pulpits, and taught in catechism classes. But how often do we live it out? According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), evangelisation is not optional or symbolic. It’s “ultimately grounded in the eternal love of the Most Holy Trinity: ‘The church on earth is by her nature missionary since, according to the plan of the Father, she has as her origin the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit.’
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