Catholic Nutshell News: Saturday 3/21/26
Topics include: The changing spiritual landscape; Trump responds to Pope Leo; Belgian bishop plans to ordain married men; & Bishop Barron slams Carrie Prejean
“We see through new tender verdant pecan leaves”
Today's sources: National Catholic Register, EWTN News, The Pillar, Crux, First Things, Catholic World News, & Aleteia. (Catholic Nutshell is a FREE subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise their Catholic News Muscle)
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Zenit
Religions: Most stay or return in a changing spiritual landscape
By Jorge Enrique Mújica, March 20, 2026
Beneath the surface of headline-grabbing secularization trends lies a more nuanced reality: while more than a third of American adults have left the religion of their upbringing, most have not. The latest data suggest that continuity still outweighs rupture—but the reasons behind both are increasingly complex, personal, and revealing of deeper cultural shifts. According to a comprehensive analysis by the Pew Research Center, drawing on a large-scale Religious Landscape Study conducted between 2023 and 2024 with 36,908 respondents, as well as a follow-up survey of 8,937 adults in May 2025, 56% of Americans continue to identify with the religion in which they were raised. A further 9% report no religious upbringing and maintain no affiliation today. In contrast, 35% have moved away from their childhood faith—either embracing another religion (10%) or abandoning religious identification altogether (20%).
Aleteia
Trump to Pope: You don’t cease fire when you’re ‘obliterating’
By Kathleen N. Hattrup, March 21, 2026
“Pope Leo is calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East and to reopen dialogue. What do you say to the Pope, sir?” This was the question posed to US President Trump by a Catholic media organization on March 20. The president said that “we can have dialogue,” but said he didn’t have the desire for a ceasefire. Pope Leo has, in fact, repeatedly called for an end to war and conflicts, as much in the Middle East as in Ukraine, and many other places suffering war. “We can have dialogue, but I don't wanna do a ceasefire. You know, you don't do a ceasefire when you're literally obliterating the other side,” answered President Trump. “They don't have a navy, they don’t have an air force, they don’t have any equipment to ..., they don’t have any spotters, they don’t have anti-aircraft, they don’t have radar, and their leaders have all been killed at every level. We’re not looking to do [a ceasefire].”
Related: Leo XIV to journalists: War is not a video game; guard against propaganda, verify the news, By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú, EWTN News, March 16, 2026
Related: First arrest of an Islamist leader following US pressure, Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) – The Sudanese government arrested Enagi Abdullah, Monday, 16 March 2026
The Pillar
Belgian bishop announces plan to ordain married men as priests
By Edgar Beltrán, March 20, 2026
Bishop Johan Bonny of the Diocese of Antwerp published a document on March 20 outlining the application of the synod on synodality in his diocese. In it, he said that “the question is no longer whether the Church can ordain married men as priests, but when it will do so, and who will do it.” “It is an illusion to think that a serious synodal-missionary process in the West still has a chance without also ordaining married men as priests,” he added in his letter. Bonny said in the letter that while foreign priests help in filling shortages in many dioceses and “enrich our church life with a healthy dose of universality and catholicity,” they “come to help us, not to replace us. Moreover, it would not be fair to place the burden of our shortages on their shoulders.” While Francis repeatedly allowed for discussion on married clergy, he also made clear his opposition to “optional celibacy.” While Leo hasn’t spoken directly on the issue, he has repeatedly praised celibacy in various public interventions, calling it “undivided love for Christ and His Church.”
EWTN News
Bishop Barron slams Carrie Prejean for ‘absurd’ claims
By Daniel Payne, March 21, 2026
Winona-Rochester Bishop Robert Barron on March 20 criticized what he described as “absurd” claims from Carrie Prejean Boller that she was booted from the Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty because of her Catholic beliefs. Boller, an outspoken Catholic and a former Miss California USA contestant, was removed from the commission in February after repeatedly criticizing “Zionism” at a commission hearing on Feb. 9, which focused on combatting anti-semitism in the U.S. Boller, during the hearing, regularly brought up the subject of Zionism, the movement supporting Jewish self‑determination in a homeland in Israel. In announcing Bollerʼs removal, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick — the chairman of the commission — argued that “no member of the commission has the right to hijack a hearing for their own personal and political agenda on any issue. This is clearly, without question, what happened ... in our hearing on antisemitism in America.”
Jerusalem Post
Board of Peace presents Hamas with new disarmament proposal
By Reuters, Jerusalem Post Staff, March 21, 2026
US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace has presented Hamas with a written proposal on how it could lay down its weapons, two sources said, a step the Palestinian terrorists have thus far refused to take as the US president pushes on with his plan for Gaza’s future. The proposal, first reported by NPR, was submitted to Hamas during meetings in Cairo over the past week, one of the sources said. "The idea itself that Hamas would disarm is not out of the question," Robert Danin, a former senior US State Department and White House official specializing in the Middle East, told NPR at the time. "The question is, when and under what circumstances and at what price?" Trump's Gaza plan, to which Israel and Hamas agreed in October, sees Israeli troops withdrawing from Gaza and reconstruction starting as Hamas lays down its weapons. “In this season of hope, may those responsible make the right choice for the Palestinian people," Mladenov said on X/Twitter in a post for the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr.
CatholicVote
BBC: US pro-life movement is influencing young British people
By Grace Porto, March 20, 2026
More and more young people in the UK are embracing the pro-life cause, and some are attributing the shift to the influence of American activists and a rise in Christianity. According to a recent report published by the BBC, pro-abortion activists “say the nature of anti-abortion campaigning in Britain has changed.” Rachael Clarke, chief of staff at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), the country’s largest abortion provider, told the BBC she has noticed an increase in the number of pro-life advocates gathering outside abortion facilities. Clarke pointed to organized pro-life groups’ efforts as a root cause. “Up until the 2000s, you would see maybe a nun or a priest quietly outside the clinic,” Clarke said, “but since about 2013, we were seeing groups like 40 Days for Life protesting.” Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, launched a chapter in the United Kingdom in 2018. Last year, a coalition of 10 pro-life groups in England founded the Charlie Kirk Young Pro-lifer prize on Oct. 14, which would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday.
CRUX
Vatican campaign to encourage divestment from mining industries
By Nicole Winfield, March 21, 2026
The Vatican on Friday launched a campaign to encourage divestment from mining industries, saying the Catholic Church should invest its money in ways that are consistent with its ecological teachings. The effort, which also involves other Christian organizations, takes as its inspiration Pope Francis’ 2015 environmental encyclical “Praised Be.” The document, and the ecological movement it inspired, railed against the multinational corporations that pillage Earth’s natural resources, often at the expense of poor and Indigenous peoples. The initiative is the brainchild of an existing ecumenical network of Catholic and other Christian denominations, the Churches and Mining Network, which is particularly active in Latin America. The campaign aims to encourage local churches to review their investment strategies and divest where needed, and to share information, especially with Indigenous groups, about the types of extraction occurring on their lands.
Related: The Amazonia is a wounded land, scarred by exploitation and degradation, UCS News, by Antonio Spadaro, SJ, March 20, 2026
National Catholic Register
Priest unafraid of prison for defending teaching on homosexuality
By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú/EWTN News/Aci Prensa, March 20, 2026
Father Jakob Rolland could face imprisonment in Iceland for defending Catholic doctrine regarding homosexuality and for providing support to individuals with the inclination who seek spiritual guidance within the Church. The French-born priest, chancellor of the Diocese of Reykjavík, strongly maintained that his duty is to defend the truth and “fight for the Lord.” He said his aim is to awaken citizens to what he characterizes as an “LGBT dictatorship” against which many are afraid to raise their voices. “If a person has a tendency or inclination toward homosexuality, that’s not a sin. It becomes a sin when such an inclination is lived out in a sinful manner. First, one must undergo conversion, go to confession, and truly consider the possibility of changing one’s life and living in chastity in order to receive Communion,” he explained. He clarified that the Church does not speak of “conversion therapies” but rather of spiritual accompaniment. It was at that point that the controversy erupted.
EWTN News, aciafrica, & CWR for 3/21/26
EWTN News
EWTN’s top headlines — March 21, 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.
Ireland sees modest revival in faith, especially among youth and young adults - By Patrick J. Passmore - A new report examining surveys and research on the practice of the Catholic faith in Ireland: “The report very interestingly points to some type of uptick, as they call it, particularly among young people around the ages of 16 to 30 and the fact that they are taking a new interest in religion and in spirituality.”
106-year-old nun continues serving in the cloister and sharing the Gospel on YouTube - By Diego López Marina - Sister Anna Maria shares her late-in-life vocation, offers wisdom on living a long life, and explains how her advanced age has not stopped the elderly nun from staying active. YouTube posts her talks.
Israeli settlers step up aggressions against Christians in West Bank, Jerusalem bishop says - By Madalaine Elhabbal - Christians in the West Bank continue to face an onslaught of aggressions by Israeli settlers, threatening their presence in the region, according to Auxiliary Bishop William Shomali of Jerusalem. “The aggressions against Christians in the West Bank are multiplying.”
aciafrica
aciafrica’s top headlines — March 21, 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 words of the Holy Father and the activities of the Holy See.
New Report Uncovers Nigeria’s “unfolding catastrophe” as Religious-Based Violence Claims over 52,000 Lives - Mar 14, 2026 - By Nicholas Waigwa - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released a new report calling for tougher measures to address religious violence in Nigeria, warning that the country faces an unfolding catastrophe.
Pope Leo XIV’s Planned Visit to Algeria Symbolizes “a Muslim people welcoming a Christian brother”: Cardinal - Mar 13, 2026 - By Silas Isenjia - The April 13 to 15 Apostolic Journey of Pope Leo XIV to Algeria symbolizes many aspects, key among them ‘a Muslim people welcoming a Christian brother’, said Jean-Paul Cardinal Vesco.
Mathematicians Can Become “signs of hope for the world,” Pope Leo XIV Says - Mar 13, 2026 - By Victoria Cardiel - On the International Day of Mathematics, Pope Leo XIV sent a message inviting reflection on the role good mathematics can play in today’s world.
Catholic World Report
CWR’s Columns, Analysis, & Features - March 21, 2026
Catholic World Report is a free online magazine that examines the news from a faithful Catholic perspective.
The Gift of Down Syndrome - Monica Seeley - March 21, 2026 - Today is the best of all times to be born with Down Syndrome, and the worst of all times. In the United States, some 76% of children are diagnosed with the genetic disorder in utero. 6,000 of the 3.6 million babies born in the United States each year have Down syndrome. But to parents hearing the diagnosis, it can feel like one, searing through expectations and dreams.
An unprecedented papal visit approaches in Saint Augustine’s homeland - R. Cavanaugh - March 19, 2026 - The Vatican has announced that, as part of his upcoming African tour, Pope Leo XIV will visit Algeria on April 13-15. No acting pontiff has ever visited Algeria, a former stronghold of ancient Christianity.
Young Catholic men discuss the state of dating and relationships today - Rob Marco - March 15, 2026, - As a married Gen-Xer with kids who’s been out of the dating world for almost two decades, I wanted to get some insight into how young men are faring in meeting potential mates. Although some young men use or have used dating apps, most want to make connections “in real life” as well.
Nutshell reflections for 3/21/26:
USCCB Daily Reflection: AUDIO - March 21, 2026
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Catholic Stand
An experiment in excellence: Violinist Joshua Bell on the street
By Genesius, March 20, 2026
Over 1,000 people streamed by while the violinist performed. Only six halted more than a minute. No applause erupted. No crowd formed. The music blended with train rumbles and announcements. Indifference ruled the scene. After 43 minutes the violinist put his violin back in its case and walked away with $52.17 in change he collected. Observers filmed the whole event, which was actually an experiment. Excellence was hidden in plain sight. The musician was Grammy award-winning violinist Joshua Bell. He sells out symphony halls with tickets costing hundreds of dollars. And his instrument is a 1713 Stradivarius valued at $3.5 million. Commuters only saw a street musician. What so many miss is that everyone bears God’s image. Genesis 1:27 declares, “God created mankind in his image; in the image of God, he created them; male and female he created them.” Society often measures people by status and labels them by their achievements. Often, excellence is overlooked because of this shallow perception.
National Catholic Register
Putting in a Word for Purgatory
By Regis Martin, March 2, 2026
Who among us can — with complete moral certainty, that is — declare before God and man that he is indeed ready to enter the Kingdom, having definitively established himself in a life of perfect virtue? And that heaven will at once throw open its gates to welcome yet another saint into the precincts of eternal felicity? So let’s concede that there are such people. But surely not so many that the Church would need to schedule canonizations every hour of the day to assign halos for all of them. Which leaves, let us assume, vast numbers of people situated somewhere in the middle, neither good enough to go at once to heaven, nor so wicked that they deserve to be thrown straight into hell. Actually, no one gets thrown anywhere; if you end up in hell, it’s because you’ve freely chosen to go there. Which leaves what exactly? “The great majority of people,” Pope Benedict calls them. He says, “There remains in the depths of their being an ultimate interior openness to truth, to love, to God.” We need a final cleansing, a purifying gaze from God.
First Things
Women are joining the new right; Critics are boringly wrong
By Freya India, March 20, 2025
According to “The Women Leaving the New Right,” a viral piece by Sam Adler-Bell in New York magazine, the movement has “dropped the pretense of protecting women” and gone full mask off, revealing what was always underneath: cruelty, contempt, and, most of all, misogyny. I find this framing frustrating. It’s familiar to me: I’m often accused of only pretending to care about girls and young women because I have conservative instincts. These are incompatible, apparently; any compassion I have for girls must be a front for an evil political agenda. My problem with the piece, then, and with this way of thinking generally, is that it never stops to examine why young women are joining the right in the first place. It just has to be irrational, an error of judgment. We can only be conservative if we have been duped or are desperate for male attention. I’m not interested in an argument implying that all conservative women have been misled, and all conservative men are misogynistic.
The Catholic Thing
The ‘Polar Unity’ of the two forms of the Roman rite
By Anonymous, March 21, 2026
The motu proprio Summorum Pontificum (2007) of Pope Benedict XVI introduced a distinction into the contemporary ecclesial vocabulary that has since become both fruitful and contentious: the “Ordinary Form” and the “Extraordinary Form” of the one Roman Rite. Benedict was at pains to insist that these are not two rites but two usages of the same lex orandi. The Missal promulgated by Pope Paul VI after the Second Vatican Council constitutes the Ordinary Form; the Missal of Pope John XXIII (1962), standing in organic continuity with the Tridentine codification of Pope Pius V, may be celebrated as the Extraordinary Form. Benedict’s claim was juridical and pastoral, but its deeper import is theological. The coexistence of the two forms within one rite can be understood as a “polar unity” in the sense articulated by Hans Urs von Balthasar: a living tension of complementary principles whose unity is not the flattening of difference but its orchestration.
Image of Coconut by Celio Nicoli from Pixabay
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