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Your 5-minute Catholic briefing for busy faithful. Today's sources: National Catholic Register, EWTN News, The Pillar, First Things, & Aleteia. Please support their ministries and apostolates. (Catholic Nutshell is a FREE subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise their Catholic News Muscle)

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National Catholic Register

EWTN to end shortwave radio operations after 34 years

By Daniel Payne/EWTN, October 24, 2026

EWTN Global Catholic Network (EWTN) will cease the operation of its long-running shortwave radio service this month, EWTN Chairman of the Board and CEO Michael Warsaw announced on Oct. 30. The shortwave service, which has operated under the call sign WEWN since its launch in 1992, will shut down on Oct. 31. EWTN’s board of governors recently confirmed the decision. Warsaw pointed to the decline in shortwave radio consumption as a key driver of the station’s closure. A widely used media source in the 20th century, shortwave’s popularity has decreased in the 21st century amid the rapid global uptake in streaming and digital platforms. Operating costs at the WEWN network have been high relative to the declining number of shortwave listeners, Warsaw said, and the aging facility needs significant, expensive repairs, which he said would not be a “prudent stewardship of our resources.”

EWTN News

Documentary seeks to demystify the rite of exorcism

By Francesca Pollio Fenton, October 31, 2026

A new three-part documentary series will explore the reality of evil, exorcism, demonic oppression, and the spiritual battle for the human soul. “In Jesus’ Name” takes viewers into the world of what an exorcist does and why exorcisms were established, and offers guidance on what the faithful should avoid to keep themselves safe. The docuseries features prominent exorcists, theologians, and survivors of demonic oppression and examines how evil operates, how it enters human lives, and how it can be overcome. Through personal testimonies and expert insight, the docuseries explores the tension between good and evil, biblical teaching on exorcism, the reality of spiritual warfare, and, above all, the hope and power of Jesus Christ. The creators of “In Jesus’ Name” seek to take exorcisms out of the sensational and instead provide an accurate view of how they are conducted and how people have found deliverance.

Aleteia

A new apostolic visitor appointed to Medjugorje

By Kathleen N. Hattrup, October 31, 2026

The Medjugorje site in Bosnia and Herzegovina has had an "apostolic visitor" since 2018, when Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Henryk Hoser, the retired archbishop of Warsaw-Praga, Poland, to that role. Archbishop Hoser first went to the Bosnian town as Francis' personal envoy to study the pastoral needs of the townspeople and the thousands of pilgrims who flock to the site each year. The Medjugorje shrine, whose fame has spread worldwide, has provoked conflicting views within the Catholic hierarchy. Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Francesco Cavina, retired bishop of Carpi, Italy, as Medjugorje’s new Apostolic Visitor. The Catholic Church officially authorized pilgrimages in 2019. The visionaries of Medjugorje say they still receive apparitions of the Mother of Jesus, some daily.

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The Pillar

China’s AI Girl’s Idol group write in a ‘Maternity Leave’ drama

By Ed. Condon, October 23, 2026

The Chinese girlband BABYQUEEN is a wholly digital creation by K-pop fans from Liaoning. The powers behind the program did something… unexpected. One of the bandbots announced on Weibo (Chinese Twitter) that she was pregnant and taking a leave of absence. People went nuts, accusing the band’s creators of “commodifying” a sensitive topic and introducing an utterly ludicrous storyline into the digital drama of the band, since, as one commentator observed, “real idols wouldn’t dare mention pregnancy.” One moral to this story reveals the limits of anthropomorphizing chatbots and computer programs — even the most digitally native demographics will reject an idea. What is interesting to me is what the backlash says about Chinese attitudes to pregnancy, not AI. China’s demographic time bomb is well documented. The BABYQUEEN debacle is an interesting illustration of clearly deeply felt and somewhat conflicted social attitudes about pregnancy

OSV News

Interfaith migration policy summit seeks common ground

By Kate Scanlon, October 30, 2026

An Oct. 29-30 interfaith immigration policy summit hosted by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, also known as CLINIC, brought together faith leaders, legal practitioners, advocates, and scholars from Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish faith traditions to find common ground in their work serving immigrant communities. The summit came during what participants described as a challenging time for their cause. A joint report from the National Association of Evangelicals, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Migration and Refugee Services, the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and World Relief estimated that more than 10 million Christians living in the U.S. would be vulnerable to deportation under Trump administration policies implemented in 2025, and 61% were Catholic.

Zeale

Judge delays giving testosterone to girl taken from Catholic parents

By David Uebbing, October 30, 2026

A Massachusetts juvenile court judge has postponed the state’s plan to give testosterone to a 17-year-old girl in its custody over her parents’ objections and pushed back the start of a trial on whether they can regain custody to March, shortly before her 18th birthday, the parents’ attorney told the Boston Herald. “Thankfully the court continues to demonstrate some good common sense,” Vernadette Broyles, the attorney for Joseph and Arlene Kutzko, told the Herald by phone after an Oct. 29 hearing. She said the parents are grateful to the judge for protecting their daughter, Sophie. The custody trial had been scheduled to begin in November and finish in December, Broyles said. Since Sophie turns 18 in April, Broyles said it “seems like” the state is just “running out the clock” on her time as a minor. The Kutzkos will next appear in court in mid-March, the Herald reported.

Zenit

1.5 million people to attend Pope Leo XIV’s Mass in Lima

By Enrique Villegas, October 29, 2026

Peru is preparing to welcome Pope Leo XIV with an extraordinary combination of popular enthusiasm, military coordination and medical precautions. His six-day visit, scheduled for November 11–16, will take him back to a country where he spent more than two decades as a missionary priest and bishop. The scale of the expected crowds is already evident in the arrangements for the closing Mass in Lima. Organizers anticipate up to 1.2 million people at Las Palmas Air Base in the Surco district on November 16. Admission will be free, but access will require a digital ticket obtained in advance. According to the Archdiocese of Lima, Ticketmaster registration will open from November 5 to 8. Each account can obtain up to eight tickets, and attendees must present the corresponding QR code, either printed or on a mobile device, along with the identity document or passport used during registration.

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Pima Asia News

Russia: Cynicism is the side-effect of propaganda

By Vladimir Rozanskij, October 31, 2026

For the sociologist Anna Kulešova, the main outcome of propaganda is not enthusiasm or support for war. Rather, it ‘constantly distances people from moral judgment’, because this is far more beneficial to the authorities. It is widely believed that the main result of Russian propaganda is support for military action; the most common narrative is that television has allegedly brainwashed millions of people, turning them into aggressive and ideological supporters of the armed conflict. However, a closer look at the actual social situation shows that propaganda's main destructive consequences are quite different, said Kulešova. In 2025, researchers recorded almost equal proportions of ‘staunch supporters of peace’ (21%) and ‘staunch supporters of war’ (18%). Between these two extremes lies a silent majority. The devaluation of human life has led to its cynical reduction to monetization: propaganda skilfully plays on patriarchal notions that a man should be the ‘main breadwinner of the family’, protection primarily through money. Before our very eyes, a terrifying social calculus has emerged.

Keep informed - 10/31/26 matters for Catholics:

Snippets: EWTN News, aciafrica, & Word on Fire

EWTN News

EWTN’s top headlines — October 31, 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.

Cardinal Simoni says faith sustained him through death sentence for Mass honoring President Kennedy - By Emma R.C. Lyons - In 1963, Albanian Cardinal Ernest Simoni was arrested and sentenced to death by Albaniaʼs communist, officially atheist government after celebrating a Mass for the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy for the repose of his soul.
U.S. bishops celebrate pro-life pregnancy centers for Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week - By Tyler Arnold - “We express our sincere gratitude for all those who work to provide necessary resources to women, babies, and families during pregnancy and beyond,” Bishop Daniel Thomas, chair of the bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, said in an Oct. 27 statement.
Catholics can get 8 plenary indulgences during the first week of November - By Daniel Payne - Many Catholics may be unaware that they can obtain not one but eight plenary indulgences for departed souls in the first week of November. For centuries, the Catholic Church widely observed All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) as an octave, extending the holy celebration to eight days.

aciafrica

aciafrica’s top headlines — October 31, 2026

ACI Africa was founded in 2019 to provide free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Catholic Church in Africa, with particular emphasis on the Holy Father's words and the Holy See's activities.

New Report on Persecuted Christians Warns of Expanding Terrorism Across the Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa - Terrorist groups are expanding their reach across borders in the Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa, where they are driving the growing persecution of Christians, a new report by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) UK has established.
Caritas Nairobi Official Highlights Family Conflict, Limited Parental Participation as Challenges to Boys’ Mentorship - Boys participating in a mentorship program run by Caritas Nairobi are reporting conflict and violence at home, while limited parental participation is hampering efforts to address their experiences, the organization’s Gender and Youth Empowerment Program Coordinator has said.
U.S. Congresswoman Concerned Over Media Silence after Over 52,000 Killed in Religious-Based Violence in Nigeria - U.S. lawmaker Nancy Mace has lamented what she describes as the silence of major media outlets amid the ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria. Since 2021, Mace has expressed particular concern over attacks targeting Christian communities in the West African country, including killings (52,000 Christians have been murdered), the burning of churches, and the displacement of families from their homes.

Word on Fire

Fresh insights from the Word on Fire Institute - October 31, 2026

Word on Fire reaches millions each year by sharing the Gospel through podcasts, videos, books, articles, Scripture studies, and Gospel meditations.

‘Defend Us From Evil’: Lessons from the Inklings - Henry T. Edmondson III - The core members of the Inklings were C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, and Owen Barfield. In his upcoming book Tolkien and the Inklings: Men of the West, scholar Bradley J. Birzer notes that, among the four, Williams may have done the most to sharpen his fellow Inklings’ sense of evil, especially C. S. Lewis, although Tolkien’s contributions may be the most elegant and far‑reaching.

What ‘The Conjuring’ Taught Me About the Struggle for Holiness - Carly Kashmanian - For those unfamiliar with the plot, Carolyn, a mother of five, becomes possessed by a demonic spirit that had been haunting the Rhode Island farmhouse she and her family recently purchased. Her lack of faith makes her an easy target.

Should Catholics Reclaim Halloween? - Madeleine Dobrowski - Interestingly, it is not just the secular world that has fallen in love with Halloween. It is the Catholic world too. The idea of reclaiming Halloween is trending right now among many Catholics. Open Instagram in October, and you'll be hit with a slew of educational videos from Catholic influencers and major companies.

October 31, 2026 - USCCB Daily Mass Readings

You can listen HERE — or read HERE:

Saturday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Today’s Catholic commentary:

National Catholic Register

The man behind ‘Padre Pio’s Stairway to Heaven’

By Solène Tadié In, October 30, 2026

Patrick Gabarrou, the famous French mountaineer, knows the irresistible urge to ascend to the earth’s highest peaks — to draw a little closer to the divine. At 75, he has completed more than 300 first ascents — meaning he is the first documented climber to reach the summit of a given mountain route. In 2015, Gabarrou, then 65, set out to open a new route ascending the Matterhorn. A devout Catholic, he named his route “Padre Pio, une Échelle Vers le Ciel” (a “Stairway to Heaven”). A documentary of the same name, which follows his journey to the summit, was screened on the sidelines of the International Zermatt Summit for the Common Good, Sept. 17-19. “This name choice was in response to the prayer that my companions and I often repeated: ‘Padre Pio, lamp of love, intercede for us and for the whole world,’” Gabarrou told the Register.

First Things

The Gospel: Not ‘listening’ is the message

By George Weigel, October 28, 2026

After a recent Roman meeting to discuss the Church’s twenty-first-century mission to marriage and the family, Pope Leo XIV asked the participating bishops to share their reflections on that experience. Bishop Erik Varden, O.C.S.O., of Trondheim posted on his indispensable blog, Coram Fratribus, the most persuasive, pastorally useful, and moving statement on marriage and the family to have come out of the synodal process that began in 2014–15 and eventually led to the Vatican meeting earlier this month. Please take a moment to read it here. With the clarity and wit characteristic of his writing, the Norwegian monk-bishop explains the Church’s understanding of the primordial sacrament and the Christian concept of the family with biblical and theological depth, while leavening his exquisite catechesis with charming bits of popular culture. “The message” of the Church is not “listening.” The Church's message is the gospel.

The Imaginative Conservative

Horror and holiness for Halloween

By Joseph Pearce, October 30, 2026

Should Christians spurn the cult of the dead which seems to possess millions of people in the weeks leading up to Halloween? If so, should they also spurn anything creepy on All Hallows Eve? Should they boycott Halloween altogether, keeping their eyes focused on the great feast of All Hallows on the following day? These are good questions. Perhaps, however, we might ask another question before we rush to hasty answers. What about the older tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas? What about Scrooge's haunting by the ghost of Jacob Marley and the visitations of the three holy ghosts of Christmas, who bring Scrooge to his festive senses? Do we concede that there’s a place for spookiness and perhaps, therefore, a place for creepy stories on Halloween? If so, what sort of spookiness and creepy stories? Can there be any connection between the morbid and macabre fascination for horror and the goodness, truth and beauty of Christian literature?

The Catholic Thing

The crucial questions are anthropological and central to man

By John M. Grondelsk i, October 28, 2026

Kennedy knew that there was a “Catholic vote,” Democrats needed it, and JFK could deliver it. The problem was that the United States had never had a Catholic president. Could a Catholic candidate overcome Protestant prejudice and deliver? Carl Anderson, former Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, said in his book Conscience as a Political Problem that Kennedy believed he could by invoking “conscience” as his guarantee of freedom from papal interference in the nation’s affairs. Anderson argues that, in context, Kennedy was right. Most Protestants who opposed Kennedy did so out of fear that a Catholic president would send an ambassador to the Holy See and push parochial school aid. But as Anderson notes, those were questions of prudential politics: Catholics were not bound to do either.

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Catholic Nutshell News: Saturday 10/31/26