Catholic Nutshell News: Friday 10/31/25
Topics include: Mary as ‘Co-Redeemer’; Vatican’s Chief Investment Officer; Scotland proposes criminalizing suicide prevention speech; & Ghosts exist, says Catholic apologist
Fridays, "Living that coconut kinda life."
Today's sources: National Catholic Register, Catholic News Agency, Word on Fire, Our Sunday Visitor, ChurchPOP, & Aleteia. (Catholic Nutshell is a FREE subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise their Catholic News Muscle)
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Catholic News Agency
Mary as ‘Co-Redeemer’ will be subject of new Vatican document
By Hannah Brockhaus, October 30, 2025
The Vatican’s doctrine office announced Thursday it will release a document on Nov. 4 about titles of Mary that refer to her “cooperation in the work of salvation,” called “Mater Populi Fidelis” (“Faithful Mother of the People”). Mary’s contribution to human salvation, specifically the title of “Co-Redemptrix” (“Co-Redeemer”) has been a point of theological debate for decades, with proponents calling for Mary’s role in redemption to be declared a dogma. Critics say co-redeemer exaggerates her importance and could damage efforts for unity with other Christian denominations. Pope Francis expressed his reservations on more than one occasion during his pontificate. St. John Paul II, instead, publicly used the word “Co-Redemptrix” at least six times during his pontificate, renewing hopes in an imminent declaration of the dogma in the 1990s.
The Pillar
The cardinal at the center of Vatican investments up for retirement
By Ed. Condon, October 29, 2025
One of the quietly less appreciated but significant decisions facing Pope Leo will be when and how to replace 78-year-old Cardinal Kevin Farrell. He is prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, plus the Cardinal “Camerlengo,” placing him in charge of organizing the conclave which elected Leo. In 2022, Pope Francis established a Committee for Investments, with Farrell appointed as its head. In November last year, the pope appointed Farrell as the sole director of the Vatican’s pension fund, dismissing the fund’s board in the process. Francis informed the College of Cardinals that the fund faced “a serious prospective imbalance.” The cumulative effect of his many appointments has made Farrell one of the least known and quietly powerful men in the realm of curial finances. Pope Leo will have to consider how to replace the man who has become, effectively, the Vatican’s Chief Investment Officer.
CatholicVote
Scottish politician proposes criminalizing suicide prevention speech
By McKenna Snow, October 30, 2025
Pro-life and free speech advocates are concerned over a Scottish parliamentarian’s proposed amendment to the nation’s “assisted suicide” bill that criminalizes discussion of suicide prevention near buildings where assisted suicides might take place. Health Committee member and parliamentarian Patrick Harvie MSP proposed the amendment — described by Lois McLatchie Miller, legal counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom International (ADF) as a “vague proposal” — that public spaces are “surrounding any building where an assisted suicide might take place.” The amendment would criminalize “influencing” another person — whether through a suicide prevention poster display or a conversation with a family member — from changing their mind on undergoing an assisted suicide. “Once the principle of a censorial ‘buffer zone’ is approved for one issue, it can easily multiply to more and more issues,” Miller, citing Scotland’s existing censure of anti-abortion speech.
National Catholic Register
Ghosts exist, says Catholic apologist
By Zelda Caldwell, October 31, 2025
Jimmy Akin is the senior apologist at Catholic Answers, with more than 30 years of experience defending and explaining the faith, and co-host of the Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World podcast. “The Church teaches the existence of human spirits, and the term “ghost” means the same thing as “spirit,” which is why the Holy Spirit is also called the Holy Ghost. Since human spirits exist, ghosts exist,” Akin explained. He cited Matthew 14:26 and Mark 6:49, where the disciples see Jesus walking on the water and mistake him for a ghost. In Luke 24:37, they believe the Risen Jesus is a ghost. In none of these passages does Jesus tell them ghosts do not exist; in fact, in Luke 24:39, he tells them that “a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.” He added, “The historical Catholic understanding has been that ghosts are souls experiencing purgatory. They may have various forms of unfinished business, including matters that concern themselves directly.
The Times of Israel
Return of last Nir Oz hostage’s remains brings closure
By ToI Staff, October 31, 2025
Amiram Cooper, 84, is the 76th and final member of the hard-hit Gaza border kibbutz to be repatriated; the community vows to support the families of 11 other slain hostages still held in the Strip. The 400-strong kibbutz, about a quarter of whose members were abducted or murdered, announced on social media that “755 days after the massacre, there are no more hostages from Nir Oz in captivity in Gaza.” “Alongside our painful closure, there are still 11 families waiting for their loved ones,” said the kibbutz, vowing to work with the families of the slain hostages still in Gaza “to bring everyone home, until the last hostage.” Among the Nir Oz members killed in captivity was the youngest hostage, one-year-old baby boy Kfir Bibas, who was abducted and slain alongside his mother Shiri and brother Ariel, 4. Father Yarden Bibas was released in February as part of the previous Gaza ceasefire.
Catholic World Report
A Catholic defense of trick-or-treating
By Rachel Hoover Canto, October 30, 2025
All Hallows’ Eve (or Hallows’ Even, or Halloween) and All Hallows’ Day (also known as All Saints’ Day) are ancient Jewish feasts began at sundown the evening before, and even today, the Church universally shows that Sundays and major feasts begin at Vespers the evening prior. To trick-or-treat after dark on October 31 is, therefore, meet and just. In fact, to trick-or-treat, or do any other Halloweeny thing on any day besides October 31, would be utterly nonsensical. The feast of All Saints is an immovable one, so it would take a formal act of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops even to allow your local bishop to move the feast to a different day, let alone a layperson. Arguing that Halloween is pagan is the same as arguing that Christmas is pagan. Humans have a deep-seated attraction for the gruesome and creepy and violent, especially in the martyrology. I do shy away from having children portray real persons who are evil, the opposite of the martyrs and souls we celebrate.
CRUX
The Vatican should embrace English
By Charles Collins, October 31, 2025
Pope Leo is the first pontiff from the United States. Everyone knows that, except the Vatican. At least when it comes to language. I worked for Vatican Radio for 15 years, serving under three popes, and it was made clear that the rise of the English language was to be resisted at every level. It still is. Pope St. John Paul II spoke perfect English, but when he spoke to groups of ambassadors, he spoke in French. French is still considered the quasi-official language of diplomacy. At least, this was the claim of Vatican officials (and my French colleagues). Yet, English has been the lingua franca for nearly 100 years. It is the official language of air travel, science, and most international meetings. English is very commonly spoken in Chinese-speaking countries. The Vatican, being more English-speaking, has its obstacles. Most employees are from Italy, which has few fluent English speakers.
Vatican News
Pope to students: Do not let technology use you
By Kielce Gussie, October 30, 2025
Continuing the week-long series of events for the Jubilee of the World of Education, Pope Leo XIV met with students in the Paul VI Audience Hall on Thursday. He began his address by expressing his joy and anticipation for this event. It reminded him of the time he spent teaching mathematics to young students. He stressed that they should not settle for fads, appearances, or fleeting pleasures. Instead, the Holy Father challenged them to “long for something greater.” This is the desire of young people who hope and plan for a better society. Therefore, he urged them to strive “toward the heights” as a beacon of hope. The Pope urged caution. We live in a digital world, yet we should not let technology write our story or use us. We must “learn to humanize the digital, building it as a space of fraternity and creativity – not a case where you lock yourselves in, not an addiction or an escape.”
Big Pulpit, CNA & ChurchPOP for 10/31/25
Big Pulpit
Tito Edwards Catholic site: October 31, 2025
The Big Pulpit website is a news aggregator that gathers quality insights and analysis on the Catholic Church worldwide.
The Vatican’s Timid Defense Of Persecuted Christians – Philip F. Lawler, Ph.D., at Catholic Culture
Yet Another Sermon by Knoxville’s Fr. David Carter: The 3rd Time’s Not the Charm – Fr. Z’s Blog
Dialogue Between a Sheep & a Wolf Always Ends the Same Way – The American Catholic
Is Our Growing Fascination with Halloween Dangerous? – John F. Doherty at Public Discourse
Catholic News Agency
CNA’s top headlines — October 31, 2025
Catholic News Agency provides reliable and free up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, with updates on the words of the Holy Father and the Holy See.
Meet the nun who writes Catholic vampire books - Oct 31, 2025 - By Kate Quiñones - When a religious sister felt inspired to write a Catholic vampire trilogy, she knew the inspiration came from Jesus.
4 ways to celebrate ‘Holywins’ with your family on the eve of All Saints - Oct 31, 2025 - By ACI Prensa - The celebration of “Holywins” is an initiative that originated in Paris in 2002 with the aim of celebrating the eve.
CPAC Summit focuses on ending Christian persecution - Oct 30, 2025 - By Madalaine Elhabbal - CPAC hosted a Summit on Ending Christian Persecution at the Kennedy Center on Oct. 30.
ChurchPOP Trending
ChurchPOP provides fun, informative, and authentically Catholic news and culture - October 31, 2025
Exorcist Warns Against Ouija Boards: ‘You’re Talking to a Demon’ - Using Ouija boards is both mortally sinful and dangerous! Exorcist Fr. Dan Reehil explains why they are “unhealthy for your soul.”
New Jersey College Student Who Sacrificed His Life for His Parents May Become a Saint - Daniel Mark Anderl, who died at age 20 while protecting his parents from an armed attacker, could become a saint for his heroic sacrifice.
‘Triumph Over Evil’: New Catholic Film Unmasks Exorcists’ Powerful Work Against Satanic Forces - The new film, “Triumph Over Evil: Battle of the Exorcists,” will hit theaters for one day only on October 30, 2025 - just in time for Halloween.
Nutshell reflections for 10/31/25:
USCCB Daily Reflection: AUDIO - October 31, 2025
Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Catholic Weekly
Catholic and Jewish schools unite at antisemitism forum
By Michael Kenny, October 30, 2025
On the 60th anniversary of the release of a landmark Vatican II document that helped re-shape relations between Christians and other faiths, senior Catholic and Jewish school students from across Sydney have united at a forum aimed at drawing lessons from the document on countering antisemitism. The forum was hosted by the Australian Catholic University at its North Sydney campus, under the auspices of Catholic Schools NSW and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. The forum, attended by 125 students from 15 schools, featured a panel discussion led by Catholic and Jewish leaders on the enduring legacy of the document, Nostra Aetate, and its relevance in contemporary society.
Aleteia
Halloween is a ‘holy evening’ for Catholics
By Philip Kosloski, October 31, 2025
The commercial success of Halloween has nearly stamped out the reality that it is a day that precedes an important holy day in the Church’s calendar. In the Church’s view, Halloween remains the vigil of All Saints Day, a fact that is still hidden in the name itself. The word “Halloween” is a Scottish shortening of the phrase “Allhallow-even,” literally meaning “All Holy Evening” and dates to the 18th century. The English have a similar phrase, “All Hallows’ Eve,” with the same meaning. Both phrases denote the night before All Saints Day, November 1, and refer to the celebration of the holy men and women who are recognized in the Catholic Church as residing in Heaven. For the Church, with a nod to our roots in Judaism, where the Sabbath starts with sundown of the night before, the vigil is the beginning of a feast. Think, for example, of Christmas Eve.
Word on Fire
Disenchantment dilemma in today’s culture
By Dr. Richard Clements, October 30, 2025
Life is beautiful, wonderful, even seemingly magical at times. At least, it can be. However, for many people these days, life seems to have lost its magic, if it ever had any for them. For many people, life and the world itself have become disenchanted. Their lives no longer seem as meaningful as they once did (if they ever did). Life seems empty, devoid of any real purpose and bereft of any genuine and lasting hope—a brief interlude consisting primarily of pain and suffering and ending in inevitable death. Disenchantment with the world is not an entirely new phenomenon. Max Weber, the German sociologist, is often credited with being the first person to notice and comment on the disenchantment of modern life. “The fate of our times is characterized by rationalization and intellectualization and, above all, by the disenchantment of the world. Precisely the ultimate and most sublime values have retreated from public life.”
Catholic365
Are you always trying to please others?
By Janet Cassidy, October 30, 2025
Do you put too much emphasis on what other people think of your work, or maybe your ideas? Does this lead you to doubt yourself? I started listening to Fr. Mike Schmitz reading through “The Imitation of Christ.” It is offered free online through Ascension. In Chapter 7 of Book 1: “. . . the judgments of God are different from the judgments of man; and oftentimes that displeaseth Him which pleaseth men.” If you get stuck in worrying about what other people think, this little insight is invaluable. We can place so much importance on what other people think that it stifles what we do. If somebody is critical, or if enough people do not respond positively as we think they ought, it can cause us to stop doing what we may be called to do. Our goal should not be to please others, but God.
Image of Coconut by Celio Nicoli from Pixabay
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