Catholic Nutshell News: Friday 2/27/26
Topics include: Notre Dame professor declines position; Leo's 11-day visit to Africa; Failure to protect civilians; & Homan wants to ‘explain’ Trump policy to Pope Leo
Fridays, "Living that coconut kinda life."
Today's sources: National Catholic Register, EWTN News, OSV News, ACIAfrica, CatholicVote, Zeale, & Aleteia. (Catholic Nutshell is a FREE subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise their Catholic News Muscle)
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Religion News Service
After backlash, Notre Dame professor declines director position
By Aleja Hertzler-McCain, February 26, 2026
After weeks of backlash from anti-abortion Catholics, the University of Notre Dame associate professor appointed to lead the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies will not be accepting the post, a dean announced in an email Thursday (Feb. 26). Susan Ostermann, a scholar of regulatory compliance in South Asia, contributed to opinion pieces promoting abortion rights and arguing that anti-abortion laws are built on lies and white supremacy. “At present, the focus on my appointment risks overshadowing the vital work the Institute performs, which it should be allowed to pursue without undue distraction,” wrote Ostermann in a statement shared by Mary Gallagher, dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs, in an email announcing the decision. More than a dozen Catholic bishops, as well as Notre Dame students and alumni and other anti-abortion Catholics, had vocally opposed the appointment since it was announced Jan. 8, arguing that the university’s Catholic identity is under threat due to the appointment and other decisions made by the administration.
Related: Abortion Advocate’s Withdrawal Just the First Step at Notre Dame, Pro-Lifers Say, National Catholic Register, by Matthew McDonald, February 26, 2026
Related: Bishop Rhoades ‘grateful’ as pro-abortion professor declines Notre Dame institute post, by Gina Christian, February 26, 2026
aciafrica
Pope Leo XIV’s 11-day visit to four African countries in April
By ACI Africa Staff, February 25, 2026
In a statement released on Wednesday, February 25, the Holy See confirmed that the Holy Father’s 11-day Apostolic Journey (April 13-23) will take him to four African countries: Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. According to Vatican officials, Pope Leo XIV is to visit Algiers and Annaba in Algeria from April 13 to 15; Yaoundé, Bamenda, and Douala in Cameroon from April 15 to 18; Luanda, Muxima, and Saurimo in Angola from April 18 to 21; and Malabo, Mongomo, and Bata in Equatorial Guinea from April 21 to 23. Angolan and Equatorial Guinean authorities had publicly confirmed plans for the Papal visit in official communications weeks before the Vatican’s February 25 announcement. In contrast, at the time of the Holy See’s statement, neither Cameroon nor Algeria had issued their own formal confirmation of the scheduled trip. Bishop Domingo-Beka described the anticipated visit as “a moment of grace and joy for the people of Ecuato Guinean,” noting that it will be the first time in 44 years that a Pontiff sets foot in the country.
CatholicVote
Palestinians are angry over a failure to protect civilians
By Elise Winland, February 26, 2026
The international community’s treatment of Israel’s actions in Gaza and its reaction to Russia’s war in Ukraine amount to double standards, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, said in a Feb. 24 address to Italy’s Emilia-Romagna Regional Legislative Assembly. He said many Palestinians feel deeply hurt and angry over what they see as a failure to protect civilians. “Here, people feel great anger toward the international community: why does the international community not allow Russia what it allows Israel to do in Palestine?” Cardinal Pizzaballa said, according to an unofficial translation of an article from Italian outlet L’Espresso. “We are in a difficult humanitarian phase, and what I see as a believer, and as someone who has lived here for nearly forty years, is that this is not the time to express great confidence in multilateral international political institutions,” Cardinal Pizzaballa said, according to L’Espresso. “This is a tangible reality.”
Related: UK’s anti-Israel Green Party wins special parliamentary election, taking seat long held by Labour, The Times of Israel, By AP and ToI Staff, February 27, 2026
National Catholic Register
Pro-life students on campus are not protesting an ‘ideology’
By Andrea M. Picciotti-Bayer, February 26, 2026
A new kind of radical on college campuses today look nothings like what we have come to expect. They are not barricading buildings, shouting down speakers, or demanding the overthrow of institutions, nor are they vilifying those who disagree with them. Instead, they challenge institutional decisions and the dominant culture of their peers while living according to their deepest Christian beliefs. Besides the result at Notre Dame, largely due to student pressure, the Students for Life chapter at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia faced a different kind of hostility in November 2025 — online threats, repeated removal of their flyers, and vandalism of their messages. The students repainted the message and continued their outreach rather than abandoning their plans. Huskies for Life, a pro-life club at the University of Southern Maine, faced similar harassment when it was established in November 2025. Club member Abby Patenaude captured their resolve: “We’re encouraging respectful dialogue, and we’re here to save babies; we’re here to support moms, and we’re here to create a culture of life on and off the campus.” That is not the language of an ideological campaign.
Related: Pro-abortion academic declines Notre Dame directorship after bishop-led rosary for life, The Catholic Herald, February 26, 2026
EWTN News
Diocese of Syracuse approves $176 million abuse settlement
By Daniel Payne, February 26, 2026
The Diocese of Syracuse, New York, will exit bankruptcy proceedings after the final approval of a massive nine-figure abuse settlement, the diocese said this week. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Wendy Kinsella gave the green light for the $176 million settlement, the diocese said in a press release on Feb. 25, marking the “official conclusion” of the diocese’s effort to provide “reparation and compensation to survivors of sexual abuse.” The diocese had announced the terms of the settlement in August 2025, with Bishop Douglas Lucia revealing that the diocese itself would contribute $50 million of the settlement, while parishes and “other Catholic entities” would contribute an additional $50 million. The remainder will come from diocesan insurance providers, the diocese said. The Archdiocese of New York announced in December 2025 that it would pursue a $300 million payout as part of a “global settlement” with victims.
The Pillar
The secret sauce that keeps parish fish fries afloat
By Jack Figge, February 26, 2026
“There are people who actually think I am a real priest,” said Mike Conrad, the parish “fish friar.” And it’s no surprise – Conrad dons a Franciscan friar costume for the parish’s famous fish fries each Lent. The Lenten fish fries at St. John the Baptist have become legendary. A 30-year-old tradition, they attracted some 500 people a night when they first began. Now, they see an average of 1,200 people per night – in a town of just 1,100 people. The decades-long reputation draws a vibrant crowd. They have fresh ingredients, and it’s affordable (all-you-can-eat for $15). Whatever it is that keeps people coming back, the people running the event – including dinner and a raffle – know it takes a lot of work. The parish itself is small, with only about 200 families. Fish fries have long been a cultural juggernaut in the Midwest. In recent years, they have been growing in popularity across the country as well. “You have to have a dedicated group of volunteers who love it and want to welcome people in,” said Father Stephen Buting, from St. Stephen’s Church, Milwaukee.
CRUX
Border czar Homan wants to ‘explain’ Trump policy to Pope Leo
By Charles Collins, February 27, 2026
President Donald Trump’s “border czar” has publicly rebuked Pope Leo XIV over immigration policy, saying the pontiff fails to grasp “the flip side of illegal immigration.” Speaking to reporters in remarks aired by Breitbart News on the social media platform X, Thomas Homan was responding to criticism from the pope over deportation policies. Admittedly, the question was loaded: “What is your response to Pope Leo for being critical of the Trump administration when it comes to deporting illegals?” On Nov. 4, 2025, Leo urged U.S. authorities to allow pastoral workers access to detainees, saying many migrants have been separated from their families for prolonged periods and face spiritual needs that “should be attended to.” While affirming the right of nations to enforce immigration laws, the pope stressed the need for humane treatment and respect for dignity. “What he doesn’t understand is there’s a flip side to illegal immigration. 31% of women get raped making that journey. Over 4,000 aliens died making that journey under Joe Biden. A quarter million Americans died of fentanyl because of the open border,” Homan said.
OSV News
Inviting pilgrims back is slow going, Holy Land shop owners say
By Judith Sudilovsky, February 26, 2026
As Lent begins in Jerusalem, the usually crowded streets of the Old City remain quiet, with only a small number of international pilgrims returning after years of disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Israel-Hamas war. Christian family businesses that have served pilgrims for centuries are adapting in order to survive. Over 100 years ago, Hagop Karakashian’s grandfather, Magardich Karakashian, was among the first to bring Armenian pottery to Jerusalem after what is widely viewed by scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century — the Turkish genocide of Armenians. Wassim Razzouk’s family, with deep Coptic roots in Egypt, has been tattooing Christian pilgrims for over 700 years, 500 of those years in Jerusalem. “When you start seeing all the Old City open, every door of the Old City shops open, that’s when you know that, OK, things are back to normal,” said Razzouk, who plans to remain in Jerusalem at least until the fall. “But it’s not that I’m pessimistic. I’m just very careful.”
Big Pulpit, EWTN News & Zenit for 2/27/26
Big Pulpit
Tito Edwards Catholic site: February 27, 2026
The Big Pulpit website is a news aggregator that gathers quality insights and analysis on the Catholic Church worldwide.
Is Your Catholic School Being Set Up For Closure? – Dorothy Osanna at Catholic Stand Magazine
Cardinal Brandmüller Calls for Liturgical Truce & Urges Catholics to Stand Down – Niwa Limbu
What Really Happened Inside the Reversal of Ostermann’s Notre Dame Appointment – J. Liedl
Headaches & Hair Shirts: Choose Your Mortifications Wisely – Catholic Spiritual Direction
EWTN News
EWTN’s top headlines — February 27, 2026
EWTN News provides reliable, free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, with updates on the words of the Holy Father and the Holy See.
Doors at the entrance of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre were removed for restoration - By Victoria Cardiel - The work provides an opportunity to look into the fascinating history of the church that encloses the site of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, and the Armenian, Coptic, Syriac Orthodox, and Ethiopian Orthodox Churches share the use of the Holy Sepulchre.
Angels don’t indulge whims, Bishop Varden tells Vatican officials - By Antonio Tarallo - Angels, he added, are not sent to indulge human whims. “Angelic interventions are not always reassuring,” he said. “The angels are not there to humor us in our caprices.” “God alone may invite us to jump from a pinnacle,” Varden said. “His call, however, will be, ‘Jump into my arms,’ not, ‘Throw yourself down.’”
Trump administration urged to act as Armenian government increases pressure on Apostolic Church - By Madalaine Elhabbal - “The reality is that the government’s campaign against the Armenian Apostolic Church, which has been going on for well over a year, continues unabated to this day,” Ambassador Alberto Fernandez said. Advocates called on the Trump administration to caution Armenia’s government against veering into authoritarianism amid increased suppression of the country’s Apostolic Church.
Zeale/Loophttps://zeale.co/theloop/today
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Over half a million people receive the LOOP news rundown six days a week. Zeale is the new home of the LOOP. Zeale is a project of CatholicVote, America’s top Catholic advocacy organization leading the fight for faith, family, and freedom.
'CHRIST IS MY IDENTITY’: NY CATHOLIC SCHOOL ALUM WINS OLYMPIC GOLD Olympic gold medalist Haley Winn helped Team USA capture gold in women’s hockey in Milan, then pointed to her faith as her anchor. “Christ is my identity, my foundation,” the New York Catholic school alum said, crediting prayer, family, and her parish community for carrying her to hockey’s highest stage. READ
STUDENT CALLS ND PROFESSOR’S WITHDRAWAL A ‘CALCULATED PLAY’ In an exclusive statement to Zeale News, Luke Woodyard, a student organizer behind tonight's "March on the Dome" demonstration at the University of Notre Dame, said Susan Ostermann's decision to step back from her appointed directorship is far from a genuine concession. “There is no good faith on this withdrawal,” Woodyard said. “It is a calculated play by Ostermann and her supporters to lower the University outrage and retain her authority at Notre Dame.” READ
SCOTT HAHN ON FAITH AND PUBLIC LIFE In a new interview with Erika Ahern on The Deep, biblical scholar Scott Hahn said Catholics must bring faith into public life through friendship and witness. “Joy is the one thing that is irrefutable,” Hahn said. “People are starving for joy.” READ
Nutshell reflections for 2/27/26:
USCCB Daily Reflection: AUDIO - February 27, 2026
Friday of the First Week of Lent
Catholic365
Humpty Dumpties of the West
By Joseph Daniels, February 26, 2026
“Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,” is the beginning of the famous nursery rhyme, “Humpty Dumpty.” While its origins are unclear and its original meaning uncertain, we can use it to accurately symbolize some of the assembled and squatting ideologies found loitering and harassing the Church. Not that this should be a surprise, but there are and always have been erroneous philosophies that want to tread on the wall of the “Holy City…on the highest point of the temple.” These trespassing follies are the “ideological eggs.” I call the Humpty Dumpties of modern times, whose "unwillingness to attribute the right of ruling to God” are the errors that have declared themselves the truth and ultimately the true salvation as they comfortably place themselves high on the walls for the world to see. Luckily, these movements have not gone unnoticed, and there is an important history, a record of the Church fighting these modern errors.
Catholic Weekly
‘No Other Choice’ movie presents the ‘new normal’
By Fr Peter Kwak, February 27, 2026
No Other Choice, a film up for an Academy Award, begins with an idyllic scene in which the main character, Man-Su, in the presence of his family, happily exclaims, “It is accomplished!” By this, he means he has achieved the Korean equivalent of the American Dream – he has worked hard and risen in socioeconomic status, and now nothing seems beyond his reach in terms of middle-class aspiration. But his euphoria proves short-lived as he discovers that the company he works for has been paving the way for a sudden but premeditated announcement of his redundancy. In the end, the dehumanising logic by which Man-Su justifies deceit, greed, and even murder comes to define him. He finds himself in a workplace operated almost entirely by artificial intelligence, with him as the sole human. And, most importantly, how true was it that, in his warfare to (supposedly) save his family, he really had no other choice?
Aleteia
Stunning new Way of the Cross now in St. Peter’s Basilica
By Camille Dalmas, February 27, 2026
In December 2023, the Holy See launched an international competition for the creation of a 14-station Way of the Cross to be temporarily exhibited in St. Peter's Basilica during Lent. Manuel Andreas Dürr, a 36-year-old Swiss painter from Biel, was working on a Via Crucis at the time. However, he was working in a very different context: that of the Protestant church of the Reformed community “Jahu,” a small local church to which he belongs, with a strong focus on ecumenism. A sign of Providence? To create the 14 planned paintings, Manuel Andreas Dürr first visited St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. His first shock was to discover a “global Church” made up of “people of all ages, all continents, all social classes.” “My own Church at home seemed very provincial to me!” he admits. He drew in particular on Michelangelo, but also on Fra Angelico, a painter he has grown to love over the years and whose work moves him particularly today.
Bishop Barron
How your sense of being treated unjustly will fade away
By Bishop Robert Barron, February 26, 2026
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus commands us to be reconciled with one another. When you are at worship and realize that you need to forgive someone (or be forgiven by someone), go and do it. Go get reconciled, then come back. It’s like a rule of physics. There is something hidden in the deep mystery of God, and I can’t fully explicate it. Somehow, if there is a lack of forgiveness in you, it blocks the movement of God in you. Perhaps it’s simply because God is love, and so whatever is opposed to love in us blocks the flow of God’s power and God’s life. One reason we do not forgive is that we feel that some injustice has been done to us, and we resent it. A good cure for this feeling is to kneel before the cross of Jesus. What do you see there? The innocent Son of God nailed to the cross—the ultimate injustice. What does he do? He forgives his persecutors. Meditate on that, and your sense of being treated unjustly will fade away.
Image of Coconut by Celio Nicoli from Pixabay
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