Catholic Nutshell News: Saturday 5/31/25
Topics include: Martyrs of the New Millennium; Revitalizing Church in the Netherlands; Reset between Catholics and Mennonites; & Abortions of Down syndrome babies
“We see through new tender verdant pecan leaves”
Today's news sources are Aleteia, CRUX, Catholic News Agency, Our Sunday Visitor, National Catholic Register, Aleteia, and The Catholic Thing. (Catholic Nutshell is a subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise their Catholic News Muscle)
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National Catholic Register
‘Martyrs of the New Millennium’ from radical Islam & Marxists
By Madalaine Elhabbal/CNA, May 30, 2025
The nature of Christian martyrdom has shifted significantly in the 21st century, according to Robert Royal, founder of the Faith & Reason Institute and Editor-in-Chief of The Catholic Thing. The greatest threat to Christians in the world has shifted from totalitarianism to “radical Islam,” which seeks to create a worldwide caliphate. “That’s the word that they use,” he said, especially radical Islamism, “all across Central Africa, across sub-Saharan Africa.” Since last November, “something on the order of 2,000 and 3,000 Christians have probably been killed by radical Islam.” Marxism is next, Royal said, “organizations that track the martyrdom of priests in particular say that Mexico is the most dangerous country in the world today to be a Catholic priest.” it’s not so much a matter of Marxism as it is a matter of a family wanting to control a country in which the Church is the only effective opposition to their tyranny.” He added Venezuela and China as Marxist successes.
Catholic News Agency
Catholic ‘creative minority’ revitalizing Church in the Netherlands
By Kristina Millare, May 31, 2025
The Church in the Netherlands is gaining momentum thanks to the “creative minority” of young people rediscovering the Catholic faith, Cardinal Willem Eijk said. Though Eijk considers the approximately 3.4 million Catholics as a religious minority in the European country with a total population of 17.9 million people, the Dutch cardinal said he has great hope in the younger generations. “There are young people who belong to families alienated from the Church for generations and they rediscover Christ in his Church and embrace the doctrine of the Church,” he said in an interview with EWTN Vatican News Director Andreas Thonhauser. “They discover the truth concerning Christ and the Gospel through the internet, TikTok, and social media.”
Agenzia Fides
‘Hope’ describes the spirit that prevails in Sri Lanka
By Agenzia Fides, May 28, 2025
"Sri Lanka is going through a period of profound political and democratic renewal. Since November 2024, we have had a new president and a new parliament, with an absolute majority, changing the old power structure linked to a corrupt political class guilty of abuse of power and human rights violations. In a country that has emerged from a serious social and economic crisis, a new hope is emerging," said Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, in an interview with Fides. "Hope," the Cardinal said, is precisely the right word to describe the spirit that prevails in the country today. In the last election, "a change was expected, and it has happened: a socialist-oriented government is now in office, one that appears honest and committed to the welfare of the people and aware of its responsibilities, a government that intends to combat poverty and care for the well-being of the most disadvantaged social classes\."
Aleteia
Leo XIV calls for a reset between Catholics and Mennonites
By I.Media, May 30, 2025
In a message to a gathering of Mennonites on the 500th anniversary of their movement, Pope Leo XIV calls for greater unity and mutual understanding. “Purification of memories” and a “common re-reading of history” can help “heal past wounds.” This Protestant movement, which emerged in the Netherlands in the 16th century, has nearly 2 million followers worldwide. They are commonly referred to as “Mennonites” in reference to their founder, Menno Simons (1496-1561). He was a former Catholic priest, excommunicated for advocating the rebaptism of adults. “‘The courage to love,’ reminds us, above all, of the need for Catholics and Mennonites to make every effort to live out the commandment of love, the call to Christian unity, and the mandate to serve others,” wrote Leo XIV in his message.
CatholicVote
Republican backing for same-sex ‘marriage’ falls to lowest level
By Rachel Quackenbush, May 30, 2025
Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv., of the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, announced May 23 that, effective July 8, the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) will no longer be celebrated in parish churches in the diocese. This comes ahead of the previously granted Vatican permission allowing four parishes to continue the TLM until Oct. 2. “My predecessor, Bishop Peter Jugis, requested and received from the Holy See an extension for the Diocese of Charlotte in order to arrange an orderly transition to the new instructions,” Bishop Martin wrote in a pastoral letter. “That temporary extension expires this year.” The decision completes the diocese’s transition under Traditionis Custodes, Pope Francis’ 2021 directive limiting the availability of the TLM. A chapel at 757 Oakridge Farm Highway in Mooresville, North Carolina, will become the designated location for TLM celebrations.
CRUX
Church must address sexual abuse of Africa’s women religious
By Ngala Killian Chimtom, May 31, 2025
In the face of histories of abuse and cover-up by the Church, a Catholic nun in Zambia has challenged Church leaders to stem the tide of abuse against women religious wherever and whenever it happens. Sister Linah Siabana was speaking during the Symposium and 6th Annual General Meeting of the Conference of Major Superiors of Africa. Sexual violence, she explained, encompasses a range of actions that coerce and pressure individuals into engaging in unwanted sexual activities. “These can manifest in various forms, including physical violence, emotional manipulation, or overarching power dynamics that inhibit a person’s capacity to give informed consent,” she said. She said the tactics used may involve intimidation, threats or grooming behaviors that further complicate the victim’s ability to resist or report the abuse.
The PILLAR
Charlotte bishop shelves Latin Mass manifesto, for now
By The Pillar, May 28, 2025
The Bishop of Charlotte, North Carolina, is expected to release new policies governing the ordinary celebration of the Mass in his diocese, local sources say, but a recently leaked draft policy text has already been spiked internally in the diocese, after widespread pushback against the bishop’s plans. And while Charlotte Bishop Michael Martin has urged Catholics to pray for an end to division in the diocese, some clerics and laity in the diocese say the recent liturgical restrictions are part of a broader pattern of divisive leadership that has emerged during the bishop’s year-long tenure in Charlotte. Martin designated a soon-to-be-established chapel in Mooresville, North Carolina, as the singular locus for Latin Masses. Catholics said the move would cause hardship to families with a devotion to the Traditional Latin Mass, requiring them to make long drives to the Mooresville chapel each Sunday.
Catholic Weekly
Abortions of Down syndrome babies up 82% in Scotland
By Simon Caldwell, May 30, 2025
Scotland’s dramatic rise in abortions involving Down syndrome diagnoses, with government figures showing an 82% increase since 2021, shows 60 babies with Down syndrome were aborted in 2024—almost double the number of the 33 such abortions in 2021. The increase also represents a 15% rise over the 52 abortions of Down syndrome-affected unborn babies in 2023, according to statistics released by Public Health Scotland. Lynn Murray of the Don’t Screen Us Out advocacy group said the increase was largely a result of the rollout of non-invasive prenatal tests, known as NIPT, which made the detection of Down syndrome comparatively easy. “It is deeply concerning that despite the leaps that advocacy groups have made in raising awareness in support of people with Down’s syndrome, abortion in the case of Down’s syndrome is still so commonplace and widespread in the UK,” said Murray.
From CNA & Big Pulpit to Satire for 5/31/25
Catholic News Agency
CNA’s top headlines — May 31, 2025
Catholic News Agency provides reliable, free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, emphasizing the words of the Holy Father and happenings of the Holy See to anyone with access to the internet.
Barefoot and hungry pilgrims keep returning to Ireland’s most grueling pilgrimage - May 31, 2025 - By Patrick J. Passmore - Dr. Lee Casey from Derry has been a frequent pilgrim. “It is the only place on earth that you get the spiritual fix that you get from Lough Derg.”
Trappist monks honor enslaved buried in unmarked graves with garden and Christ sculpture - May 31, 2025 - By Tessa Gervasini - The monks of Mepkin Abbey have unveiled a garden space honoring hundreds of Indigenous and African Americans who were once enslaved and buried there.
French bishops condemn passage of euthanasia bill, call for compassionate alternatives - May 31, 2025 - By Solène Tadié - The amended version of the law was passed on May 27 with 305 votes in favor and 199 against.
The Big Pulpit
Tito Edwards Catholic blogger site: May 31, 2025
The Big Pulpit website is an intelligent news aggregator offering quality insight & analysis on the Catholic Church worldwide. Here are Chief Editor Tito Edward’s top recommendations for today.
‘This is Horror’: Thirty-Six Nigerian Christians Murdered in Three-Day Bloodbath – C Herald
The Unconstitutional Ban on Religious Charter Schools – Nicole Stelle Garnett at First Things
Did Pope Leo Signal Action on the Vatican’s China Deal? – Michael Haynes at Per Mariam
Pope Leo XIV’s Dad Served on D-Day – Full Sheen Ahead
Babylon Bee’s Satire News
Man Got 90% Of His Advanced Vocabulary From 'Calvin And Hobbes'
By Life Staff, May 29, 2024
Local 33-year-old Peter Winstead was stupendously flabbergasted earlier today to find that over 90% of his advanced vocabulary had been acquired from reading Calvin and Hobbes. According to Winstead, the vast majority of words he knows — like ‘gambit,' ‘acme,' and ‘flippant' — were gleaned directly from the pages of the Calvin and Hobbes books he read as a child. "I wouldn't know half as much without Calvin and Hobbes," Winstead thought to himself as he noticed the word ‘vindicate.' "I think that I learned ‘altruism' from Calvin and Hobbes, too. Man, that was such a great comic strip. I should pull out those books again to learn some new words." Winstead had also traced most of his knowledge of Yukon geography, prehistoric history, surrealism, and overall philosophy on life also back to Calvin and Hobbes.
Nutshell reflections for 5/31/25:
USCCB Daily Reflection - AUDIO - May 31, 2025
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Word on Fire
Tolkien’s liturgical imagination
By Andrew Seeley, May 30, 2025
The High Hallow: Tolkien’s Liturgical Imagination, by Ben Reinhard might lead one to suppose it is another specialty entry in the immensely rich and fascinating world of J.R.R. Tolkien studies. But it has a much more ambitious goal—to change how serious readers of Tolkien relate to that great author and his greatest works. The subtitle is really the key to answering the central question of the text: “Is the Lord of the Rings simply a story, to be read and enjoyed entirely on its own, with no reference to external realities, or do its characters and actions point toward higher things?” He effectively models how to read higher connections out of Tolkien’s works rather than into them. He argues carefully, beginning most of his chapters with paradoxes and seeming contradictions, often arising from Tolkien’s own claims.
The Catholic Thing
Elizabeth’s first five months: Truly the first ‘novena’
By Michael Pakaluk & John M. Grondelski, May 31, 2025
Mary travelled “with haste” to visit Elizabeth. A 90-mile trip can be completed in under four days by a fit person walking quickly. Conception takes place in the fallopian tube, and after that, for about six days, the embryo travels down the tube to implant in the uterus. Therefore, the Lord was an embryo in the blastula stage in one of Mary’s fallopian tubes, not even implanted, when Mary greeted Elizabeth. Elizabeth, five months earlier, when she had discovered she was pregnant, had placed herself in seclusion. She would not go to the market and share her joy with her neighbors. Apparently, she was overwhelmed by God’s mercy and wished to devote the time of her pregnancy, silently, to prayer and contemplation. This was truly the first “novena,” the first nine-unit time of prayer.
Bishop Barron
Find your place in God’s story
By Bishop Robert Barron, May 31, 2025
Why did she go with such speed and purpose? Because she had found her mission, her role in the theo-drama. We are dominated today by the ego-drama in all of its ramifications and implications. The ego-drama is the play that I’m writing, I’m producing, I’m directing, and I’m starring in. We see this absolutely everywhere in our culture. Freedom of choice reigns supreme: I become the person that I choose to be. The theo-drama is the great story being told by God, the great play being directed by God. What makes life thrilling is to discover your role in it. This is precisely what has happened to Mary. She has found her role—indeed a climactic role—in the theo-drama, and she wants to conspire with Elizabeth, who has also discovered her role in the same drama. Like Mary, we have to find our place in God’s story.
First Things
The apolitical politics of Christendom
By Peter J. Leithart, May 30, 2025
In my little corner of the Christian world, everyone’s talking about politics, especially the permutations and implications of Christian nationalism. All is political theology and punditry. My little corner isn’t unique. Christians of every stripe obsess over politics, especially in the U.S. Witness the childish instinct to locate Pope Leo XIV on the left-right political spectrum, as if climate change, gun control, immigration, and approval of Trump-Vance were new tests of orthodoxy. This fixation on politics is shortsighted, even politically. Over the centuries, the church’s most penetrating and lasting political achievements have depended less on overt political commentary or theory than on adherence to basic credal affirmations and liturgical practices.
Image of Pecans by tseiu from Pixabay
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