Catholic Nutshell News: Monday 7/20/26
Catholics should know: SSPX ignoring excommunication; 97-year-old ‘Living Martyr’; 465 deaths in Malaysian immigration detention; & Hospitals may be forced to kill patients
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Your 5-minute daily Catholic briefing. Today's sources: National Catholic Register, EWTN News, The Pillar, Crux, First Things, Zenit, & Aleteia. (Catholic Nutshell is a FREE subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise their Catholic News Muscle)
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CRUX
SSPX Latin Mass folks appear to be ignoring excommunication
By Holly Meyer, July 12, 2026
For traditionalist Catholics who worship at churches affiliated with the breakaway Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), Sunday Mass now comes with an extraordinary question. Their priests and bishops have been excommunicated after the fringe movement on the Catholic right committed what the Vatican considers one of the faith’s gravest crimes: rupturing church unity by consecrating bishops without the pope’s consent. The Vatican says Catholics should stop going to the breakaway group’s worship services and activities, and that some sacraments administered by the society’s priests are illicit and invalid. Yet inside the society’s churches, normal life has largely carried on. Service in the old Latin Mass is still being celebrated, baptisms performed, camps and pilgrimages are moving forward, and some faithful say they have no intention of leaving. Several bishops in the U.S. are echoing the Holy See’s warning to the society’s faithful, urging them to switch to churches aligned with Rome.
Related: The SSPX’s unappealing canonical prospects for recourse, Ed. Condon, The Pillar, Jul 14, 2026
National Catholic Register
97-year-old ‘Living Martyr’ cardinal forgives his torturers
By Edward Pentin, July 17, 2026
Albanian Cardinal Ernest Simoni, who spent 18 years in jail for the faith, shared his advice for those facing persecution and grave suffering today, and offered encouragement to young people: “With Jesus everything is beautiful.” Arrested on Christmas Eve 1963 after celebrating a Mass for the repose of the soul of slain President John F. Kennedy, he was condemned to death by Albania’s communist regime simply for exercising his priesthood. He spent 18 years in prison. During his time in jail, he endured torture and harsh conditions, but he continued to offer the sacraments in secret and refused every attempt to make him renounce his faith or denounce the Church in what became in 1967 the world’s first “atheist state.” After his release in 1981, he was still considered an “enemy of the people” and was forced to work in mines and sewers, but he continued to exercise his priestly ministry clandestinely until the fall of the communist regime in 1990.
EWTN News
Sigrid Undset still speaks to the Church — where to start reading
By Kate Quiñones, July 19, 2026
The canonization cause for celebrated novelist and Catholic convert Sigrid Undset is expected to open its diocesan phase this fall. One of Norway’s most celebrated writers, she still speaks powerfully to the Church in a secular age through her life of faith, suffering, and intellectual depth. Undset’s life was marked by personal challenges, public controversy, and choices that drew social scandal, giving complexity to her witness to the faith. Literary historians have noted that her life was unconventional for a woman of her time: She smoked, drank, swore, and was known for a sharp tongue and strong personality. Her work reflects the suffering and turmoil she encountered in her own life as well as the transcendent faith she discovered in Christ. She became Catholic at 42 after being raised an atheist. See a list of several of Undset’s books — fiction and nonfiction — each a starting point for discovering more about the work and life of this renowned writer and possible saint.
PIMA asia news
465 deaths in Malaysian immigration detention centers since 2021
by Steve Suwannarat, July 18, 2026
465 people have died in Malaysian immigration detention centres between 2021 and 2025, including 393 men, 60 women, and 12 minors, this according to data provided in early July to the Malaysian parliament by Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. “Horrific conditions in detention camps are responsible for needless deaths in custody. Malaysia has a legal responsibility to treat people in its custody humanely, and to provide them with prompt and adequate medical care when needed,” said Peter Bouckaert, Senior Director at Fortify Rights. Overall, since 2024, the year the campaign to control irregular immigration began, 140 deaths have been recorded in the facilities, 31 in the first six months of this year. The ministry cited deaths due to sepsis, leptospirosis, and meningitis – conditions that can be caused or aggravated by untreated infections, contaminated water, poor sanitation, and overcrowding, and which are potentially preventable or curable.
The Pillar
Ontario police investigating $600,000 in missing parish funds
By Michelle La Rosa, July 16, 2026
Father David Collins, O.F.M. Conv., has served as pastor at St. John Parish in the Archdiocese of Kingston since at least 2017. On June 13, the archdiocese announced that “[a] financial issue has come to light regarding Friar David’s use of the accounts of St. John Parish.” Archbishop Michael Mulhall of Kingston said an investigation had been launched into “significant financial irregularities” that had been discovered in the parish’s accounts. A July 10 letter from the archbishop was sent to local members of the Franciscan community, with updates on the situation. “A review of all parish accounts extending back to 2019 has determined that over $630,000.00 has been taken from the parish accounts through the issuing of irregular cheques,” said the letter, which was obtained by The Pillar.
Zeale
Pro-life groups appeal ruling on ‘Black Pre-Born Lives Matter’
By Elizabeth Ervin, July 17, 2026
Two pro-life organizations are asking a federal appeals court to uphold their First Amendment right to chalk a pro-life message on a Washington, D.C., sidewalk after two advocates were arrested for doing so in 2020. The Frederick Douglass Foundation and Students for Life of America (SFLA) are asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to reverse a district court ruling in favor of the city and remand the case for a jury trial. The lawsuit stems from the August 2020 arrest of two pro-life advocates who wrote "Black Pre-Born Lives Matter" in chalk outside a Planned Parenthood facility. According to the release, the organizations contend city officials violated the First Amendment by prosecuting the advocates while allowing other political messages, including “Black Lives Matter” street murals, on public property. "Washington officials can't censor messages they disagree with,” said John Bursch, ADF senior counsel. “The right to free speech is for everyone.”
Aleteia
‘Bible in a Year for kids’ to begin January 1, 2027
By Theresa Civantos Barber, July 19, 2026
You’ve probably heard of Fr. Mike Schmitz’s incredibly popular The Bible in a Year podcast, which quickly vaulted to the top of “most listened” podcast charts since it premiered in 2021. Now, fans of the podcast — and Catholic parents, grandparents, and educators everywhere — can rejoice in some fantastic news. Ascension is working on a new version of the Bible in a Year podcast just for kids — and this time, each episode comes with a video. Fr. Josh Johnson will host The Bible in a Year: Family Edition, launching January 1, 2027. Designed for families with children ages 7 to 12, The Bible in a Year: Family Edition tells the story of salvation through Scripture in a way that is engaging, age-appropriate, and deeply rooted in the Catholic faith. Much like the original podcast, each episode includes a Scripture reading, an age-appropriate reflection from host and Catholic priest Fr. Josh Johnson, answers to common Bible questions from children, and prayer.
ZENIT
France legalizes euthanasia: Hospitals may be forced to kill patients
By Covadonga Asturias, July 17, 2026
France has taken a decisive step toward legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide, but the country’s most consequential debate over the end of life is not yet over. The Senate rejected the measure three times, but a constitutional mechanism allowed the National Assembly to give the bill final approval without securing the Senate’s agreement. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has now referred the legislation to the Constitutional Council, which will examine several of its most controversial provisions before the law can be promulgated. Its final passage, at 291 to 241, came after years of opposition from senators, doctors, healthcare professionals, civil society groups, and religious leaders. The legislation deliberately avoids the words “euthanasia” and “assisted suicide,” opting instead for the more politically acceptable expression “assistance to die.” Father Andrea Ciucci, of the Pontifical Academy for Life, insists that helping people to live fully through the final stage of life is vital, and caretakers should not deliberately cause death.
Related: French bishops decry vote legalizing ‘assisted dying’ as ‘turning point’ in nation’s history - by Caroline de Sury, Our Sunday Visitor, July 16, 2026
Keep informed - 7/20/26 news for Catholics:
Snippets: EWTN News, Catholic World Report, & Catholic World News
EWTN News
EWTN’s top headlines — July 20, 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.
9 tips to combat pornography during summer vacation - By Nicolás de Cárdenas - Free time during summer vacation can increase the risk of falling into pornography use, but a change in routine can also become an opportunity to leave the habit behind.
Bishops embrace proposed grant rules to restrict gender ideology, oppose migrant provisions - By Tyler Arnold - The bishops support grant rules that restrict funding for gender ideology and call for strengthening rules on abortion and religious freedom. They oppose restrictions related to migrants.
Steubenville Youth Conference marks 50 years, reaching over a million young people - By Francesca Pollio Fenton - In 1976, Franciscan University of Steubenville held its first youth conference on its campus in Steubenville, Ohio. This summer, the Catholic university celebrates 50 years of a conference that has changed many lives.
Catholic World Report
CWR’s Columns, Analysis, & Features
Catholic World Report is a free online magazine that examines the news from a faithful Catholic perspective.
“This constant sword hanging over”: Life as a religious minority in Pakistan - R. Cavanaugh July 19, 2026 - Blasphemy accusations in Pakistan have been a longstanding problem — one that became far worse in recent years. In 2024, there were reportedly more than 40 times as many cases as there were in 2020.
Why the Center Cannot Hold - Deacon David H. Delaney, Ph.D. July 16, 2026 - Christendom and the moral order of nations G.K. Chesterton once remarked that “it is impossible to have a nation without Christendom; as it is impossible to have a citizen without a city.”
Small Catholic liberal arts colleges are doomed. Unless… - Dr. Randall B. Smith - July 13, 2026 - Trouble is brewing on several fronts. A prolonged drop in fertility rates and a projected 15% decline in high school graduates between 2025 and 2037 mean a shrinking pool of traditional college-aged students. Plus, increasing skepticism among parents and students about the value of a college degree, given rising costs and rising underemployment rates among graduates.
Catholic World News
CatholicCulture.org from Trinity Communications
Catholic World News (CWN) is an independent Catholic news service staffed by lay Catholic journalists, dedicated to providing accurate global news from a distinctly Catholic perspective.
Russia attacks Kyiv neighborhood during Vatican archbishop’s stay - Russian military launched heavy missile strikes on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, on July 19. Missiles and drones struck the neighborhood of the apostolic nunciature, where Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, and members of his delegation were spending the night. “The blasts caused the building’s glass doors to shake and forced much of its staff—as well as the author of this report—to spend the night in a designated shelter.”
God favors smallness and acts in a hidden way, Pope tells pilgrims - Pope Leo XIV told pilgrims today that “God favors smallness, a sign of his discreet love, by which he leaves us free to accept or reject him.” The Pontiff made his remarks during his midday Angelus address (video), delivered at Liberty Square in Castel Gandolfo.
Be leaven that transforms society, Cardinal Czerny tells African Catholic youth - “It is not a matter of making a flashy show of ourselves, but rather of living daily lives, quietly transforming the world from within in deep communion with God and with others,” Cardinal Czerny added. “A prudent and patient approach, characteristic of God’s Kingdom, should lead us, disciples of Jesus, to develop an everyday diplomacy, building bridges among ourselves and with everyone, both within the Church and in society.”
July 20, 2026 - USCCB Daily Mass Readings
You can listen HERE — or read HERE:
Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s Catholic commentary:
First Things
Sudden death of the African Church
By D. P. Curtin, July 20, 2025
Total civilizational collapse is unusual. In the West, continuity exists between the Roman past and our contemporary states, despite the invasions of “barbarian” groups. Roman North Africa, a high civilization, distinctive but immersed in the broader Roman world, was the heartbeat of this civilization. The African Church today has no living descendant. The African Church was among the most intellectually formidable of early Christianity. The early Church found it fertile soil. Carthage gave us Tertullian and St. Cyprian, intellectual giants who helped define the orthodoxy of the emerging Church. In the time of Augustine, North Africa was a densely Christian civilization. It boasted hundreds of bishoprics, frequent synods, and a strong sense of ecclesial discipline. Vandal Arianism hollowed out the African Church from within, by targeting its leadership and the vitality of its sacramental life. The coup de grâce took place in the late seventh century with the rise of the Arab armies, which spilled out of the Arabian plains and into Egypt and Syria.
Aleteia
Why the prophet Elijah is celebrated on July 20
By Philip Kosloski, July 11, 2026
The prophet Elijah is celebrated by members of the Carmelite Order and many Eastern Christians on July 20. It is a feast that honors the life of the Old Testament prophet and his fiery ascent into Heaven. Elijah is revered as a saint by both Carmelites and Eastern Christians, recognizing his extraordinary holiness and faithfulness to God. Even though he lived before the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, he is still seen as a model for all Christians. Carmelites in particular look to Elijah as the official founder of their order. It is believed that a group of monks lived on Mt. Carmel after Elijah's ascent into Heaven and continued in a life of prayer following the death and resurrection of Jesus. July 20 is an ancient commemoration, likely selected because it is outside of the Lenten and Easter season, as the date of Elijah's ascent into Heaven on a fiery chariot (see 2 Kings 2:1-18).
Our Sunday Visitor
Appeal for help in ending Israeli settler violence against Christians
By Junno Arocho Esteves, July 15, 2026
Franciscans in the United States urged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to help stop increased attacks against Christians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. According to a statement released July 9, the 12 provincial ministers representing the U.S. Franciscan provinces said they received a response to their June 16 letter following the latest attack on Palestinian Christians in the village of Taybeh. “The State Department responded on June 24th, stating, ‘Our office continues to track issues of violence against Christians in Israel and the West Bank, and we take it very seriously. We appreciate the work you do to highlight these concerns,’” the Franciscans said. “Violence continues to grow unabated. The world cannot be blind to the atrocities, and we hope the release of our letter can bring greater attention and advocacy for peace to this tragedy,” said Franciscan Father Lawrence Hayes, provincial minister of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The Catholic Thing
Christianity is foolproof against nothingness
By Michael Pakaluk, July 16, 2026
Without God, all the persons in our lives, and all our goods, have no cosmic importance. Life would be “a tale, told by an idiot.” Nihilism would be justified. A hundred years from now, your spouse will be of no importance. Go out two hundred, and your child is not. Go out a thousand, and your country is not. Everything valuable is carried downward by the flood and “flies forgotten as a dream.” We know that in Christ we’re promised eternal life. But what about immunity from the loss of any good? It would be like so many other things in Christianity: with almost no effort, we can acquire great good, and all we need to do is not neglect the proffered means. Each day in Christian life, we face a situation like that of Naaman, a general of the King of Aram, who was looking to be cured of his leprosy, and all he needed to do was bathe in the river seven times. (2 Kings 5)
Image of Coconut by Celio Nicoli from Pixabay
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