Catholic Nutshell News: Saturday 6/27/26
Catholics should know: White House Religious Liberty Commission; We need to understand Eastern Christianity; Four new U.S. archbishops; & The college ‘faith-Abandonment’ crisis
“We see through new tender verdant pecan leaves”
Your 5-minute Catholic briefing for busy faithful. Today's sources: National Catholic Register, EWTN News, The Pillar, Crux, First Things, OSV 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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National Catholic Register
White House Religious Liberty Commission releases report
By Tessa Gervasini/EWTN News, June 26, 2026
The White House Religious Liberty Commission released its final report offering its recommendations to strengthen religious freedom in the United States. During a June 26 presentation in the Oval Office, members of the Commission, led by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, delivered their final report to President Donald Trump. The report includes detailed recommendations for religious leaders and institutions, educators, teachers, coaches and administrators, parents, the military, religious healthcare workers and institutions, and the private sector. It also includes calls for action on efforts to combat antisemitism. Established by executive order in May 2025, the commission was “formed to finally advise the president as to legislation, or executive orders, or other moves he could make to foster religious liberty,” Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, a member of the commission, told EWTN News Nightly’s Veronica Dudo.
EWTN News
Failure to understand Eastern Christianity impoverishes Church
By Ishmael Adibuah, June 18, 2026
“It is good for us to delve deeper into these treasures together with millions of our Eastern Catholic brothers and sisters, as we look forward to progress toward full unity with all the Eastern Churches.” In a private audience with members of the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches on June 18, Leo highlighted the great gift of the Eastern Churches in communion with Rome. He also explained that these Churches offer Catholics a rich diversity, often unknown to the wider Church. “Yes, the Eastern Catholic Churches have a great gift to offer the entire Catholic community, which is often unaware of the diverse ecclesial traditions within its ranks,” the pope said. “The Christian East can only be preserved if it is understood: to lose that understanding is to impoverish the Church.” Leo also stressed the importance of seminary formation for Eastern Catholics preparing for the clergy. He stated that this can help Catholics appreciate not only their own heritage but also that of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Aleteia
Cardinals survey global suffering at Vatican consistory
By I.Media, June 27, 2026
Gathering on Friday morning, June 26, the 178 cardinals from around the world attended the first session of the consistory convened by Pope Leo XIV. Polish Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś introduced the first session, titled “In what kind of world are we called to proclaim the Gospel?” The archbishop of Krakow mentioned the “32 wars” currently being fought worldwide. He also cited numerous social wounds, including a “tsunami of loneliness” in the West. On this first day, they assessed humanity's current state. According to a summary of the discussions published by the Holy See Press Office, the exchanges converged on the observation that the world is marked by social, cultural, and spiritual fractures. During the subsequent group discussions, participants outlined a panorama of the sufferings experienced by contemporary humanity. Words such as “polarization,” “violence,” “loss of values,” and “fatalism” returned like a refrain.
The Pillar
Armenians angered at the Vatican over Azerbaijan ties
By Filipe d’Avillez, June 26, 2026
Armenians from the region of Nagorno-Karabakh are “disappointed” and “frustrated” with the Catholic Church over its ties to Azerbaijan and a foundation that has funded hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of restoration projects in the Vatican, a leading activist told The Pillar. “Azerbaijan has been successful in preventing the Vatican from supporting the protection of our rights and especially our cultural heritage,” said Beglaryan Artak, former human rights ombudsman and chief minister in the Republic of Artsakh. “Azerbaijan has fully instrumentalized the Islamic world’s solidarity, even using ISIS terrorists and mercenaries from Syria and Libya in 2020, to fight against us,” he said. “We are quite respectful of the Catholic Church, but we are disappointed with its silence regarding cultural heritage and the rights of the Christian people, because we have been ethnically cleansed also because we are Christians.”
OSV News
Four new U.S. archbishops in Rome to meet with Pope Leo
By Courtney Mares, June 26, 2026
Four American archbishops have traveled to Rome to receive the pallium from Pope Leo XIV on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, joining newly appointed metropolitan archbishops from around the world in a centuries-old tradition. The pallium, a 3-inch-wide woolen band with 14-inch strips hanging down the front and back, is a liturgical vestment symbolizing both unity with the pope and service to the people of God. The pallium, a 3-inch-wide woolen band with 14-inch strips hanging down the front and back, is a liturgical vestment symbolizing both unity with the pope and service to the people of God. Archbishop James F. Checchio, 60, was appointed coadjutor archbishop of New Orleans by Pope Leo XIV in September and installed as archbishop on Feb. 11. Archbishop James R. Golka, 59, was installed as metropolitan archbishop of Denver on March 25. And, Archbishop Mark S. Rivituso, 64, was installed as archbishop of Mobile in September 2025.
Zeale
Bishops’ migration chairman worried about TPS terminations
By Elise Winland, June 26, 2026
Bishop Brendan Cahill, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration, criticized the Trump administration’s effort to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Haiti and Syria, arguing that removal could place some families in unsafe conditions. “Revoking the legal status of hundreds of thousands of people residing in our country creates a moral crisis when returning to their country of origin is not a safe or reasonable option,” Bishop Cahill said in a June 26 statement. “If we are truly to affirm the God-given dignity of every human person, we as a nation cannot turn a blind eye to such an injustice and the impossible choices it will create for families and communities. The statement came one day after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to allow the administration to proceed with terminating TPS designations for Haiti and Syria, reversing lower court orders that had blocked the move.
PME AsiaNews
Jordan is cataloging and promoting its 34 Christian sites
By Giuseppe Caffulli, June 27, 2026
Jordan aims to significantly strengthen its position as a destination for religious tourism in the Middle East, with 34 sites linked to Christian history (or of biblical interest) that have been surveyed, cataloged, and included in a comprehensive development project. The strategy was launched several years ago and is directly supported by the Hashemite monarchy, which regards the biblical heritage as one of the country’s most important assets for international promotion. The heart of the project is Al-Maghtas, identified by Christian tradition as the ‘Bethany beyond the Jordan’ mentioned in the Gospels, where tradition places the baptism of Jesus. Recognized by UNESCO and visited by popes and religious leaders from all over the world, the site is now the main center of Christian pilgrimage in Jordan. Around it, the government is developing infrastructure, services for pilgrims, and a comprehensive hospitality plan in the run-up to 2030, the year in which the two-thousandth anniversary of Christ’s baptism will be celebrated.
CRUX
JD Vance wants better US-Vatican relations
By Christopher R. Altieri June 25, 2026
U.S. Vice President JD Vance wants the United States and the Holy See to have a different sort of relationship (and a better one than they have now), more like the one the parties enjoyed during the Reagan era. That’s a lofty goal, and a very tall order. Vance’s desire for a better relationship with the Holy See was evident in some remarks he made in his recent conversion memoir, Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith. Pope St. John Paul II and Ronald Reagan were towering figures whose personal charisma and institutional canniness famously worked in concert to bring down the Soviet empire. John Paul yields to no one in his advocacy for peace, but he also understood global political reality. He and Reagan did not always agree perfectly – or at all – on the ways and means to achieve their common goals. Whether Vance is the fellow to foster such a relationship, well, that is another question. Trump has taken a wrecking ball to institutions at home and abroad, both figuratively and literally, and his anti-papal social media tirades certainly haven’t helped bilateral relations with the Vatican.
Keep informed - 6/27/26 matters for Catholics:
Snippets: EWTN News, aciafrica, & Word on Fire
EWTN News
EWTN’s top headlines — June 27, 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.
Catholic peace group to honor victims of nuclear weapons with lantern ceremonies - By Kate Quiñones - The group, Pax Christi International, is encouraging communities around the world to honor victims of nuclear weapons through lantern float ceremonies this summer.
Major abortion group calls for abortion until birth - By Kate Quiñones - The National Abortion Federation, a professional association of abortion providers, publicly updated its policy to support abortion throughout all stages of pregnancy earlier this week. Live Action spokesman Noah Brandt condemned the policy for dehumanizing unborn babies.
After 20 years in religious life, social media influencer priest leaves ministry - By Nicolás de Cárdenas - Damián María Montes, a Spaniard, has left the ministry after two decades of religious life, becoming one of several high-profile religious figures to do so in recent years. He “decided to permanently withdraw from priestly ministry.”
aciafrica
aciafrica’s top headlines — June 27, 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.
Catholic Archbishop Urges Kenyans to Register as Voters “as a matter of urgency” ahead of 2027 General Election - Jun 27, 2026 - By Nicholas Waigwa - He said, "Voter registration is to have power in your hand. Do you understand? To register as a voter is to have power in your hand."
Entrepreneurial Mission: Catholic Archbishop in Senegal Urges Christians in Business to Restore Hope for Youths - Jun 26, 2026
By Jude Atemanke - Archbishop André Guèye of Senegal’s Catholic Archdiocese of Dakar has challenged Christian business leaders in the country to place young people at the heart of their entrepreneurial mission.
The Sudanese Have Endured “far too much suffering”: Irish Catholic Agency on Protracted War - Jun 26, 2026 - By Silas Isenjia - The overseas development agency of the Catholic Bishops of Ireland, Trócaire, has urged the parties involved in the conflict in Sudan to embrace dialogue to resolve the country’s protracted war.
Word on Fire
Fresh insights from the Word on Fire Institute - June 27, 2026
Word on Fire reaches millions every year by effectively sharing the Gospel via podcasts, videos, books, articles, Scripture studies, and Gospel meditations.
The Sacramental Imagination: The Lifeblood of Catholic Education - Dr. Ryan Messmore - June 26, 2026 - Most Catholic schools agree that the task of education is more than producing college and career readiness. The true goal is to form whole persons, created in the image of God, through the sacramental imagination.
Against the Methuselist Heresy - Chad Mizelle - June 25, 2026 - The best-known proponent of “longevity” optimism, Bryan Johnson, has spent tens of millions of dollars to achieve his goal: to be the first generation that never dies. He will find that living forever is really quite unsatisfying.
The Weather on D‑Day: Providence and mercy - Dr. Larry P. Arnn - June 17, 2026 - It is strange to consider that something as mundane as the weather could have an effect on the largest amphibious invasion in history. And yet, the Allied invasion of Normandy depended on the weather.
June 27, 2026 - USCCB Daily Mass Readings
You can listen HERE — or read HERE:
Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s Catholic commentary:
National Catholic Register
The U.S. must remember our constitutional republic is fragile
By Zelda Caldwell, June 26, 2026
Robert George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University and founder of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions, is widely recognized as one of the nation’s foremost Catholic intellectuals. He said, “‘Experiment’ is the right word. Our founders knew that the constitutional republic they proposed to establish would be an experiment — and that experiments can fail. Indeed, over the course of history, attempt after attempt to establish systems of self-government had failed.” Framing. The maintenance of a republican form of government for two and a half centuries as certainly something worth celebrating, he said the 250 anniversary “is an occasion to remind ourselves that the experiment is ongoing, and could yet be lost, and to rededicate ourselves to fulfilling the promise contained in our founders’ declaration that ‘all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights’.”
First Things
The college ‘faith-Abandonment’ crisis
By Jillian Parks, June 26, 2025
A 2007 Lifeway study found that 70% of young American adults who regularly attended a Protestant church in high school stopped attending upon entering college. Unhappy with the trend, Trace Hamiter founded The Oaks Collaborative in 2012, an interdenominational nonprofit that helps college students build faith communities through retreats. When Lifeway repeated the study in 2017, it found similar results, but participant testimonies and The Oaks’ growing footprint—reaching nearly 15,000 freshmen and 7,000 student leaders—suggest that the 2027 findings could be more encouraging. According to Hamiter, the reason students fall away from faith in college is less about the Big Bad Atheist professor who tells his students that God is dead than social dynamics. “They say yes to things they never thought they’d say yes to in those first couple weeks, and that leads them down a path they never thought they’d go down,” Hamiter said.
The European Conservative
Canada’s Anglican Church' has official liturgy for assisted suicide
By Javier Villamor, June 20, 2026
The Anglican Church of Canada has taken a step that, until just a few years ago, would have been difficult to imagine even within the most progressive Christian denominations. Its General Synod has authorized for “trial use” a specific liturgy intended to accompany people who have chosen euthanasia, known in Canada as Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). The document includes prayers to be read immediately before the fatal drugs are administered, as well as prayers after the patient’s death. The 66-page text goes far beyond offering pastoral guidance for terminally ill patients. It establishes a complete set of religious rites adapted to the moments before and after euthanasia: confession, the laying on of hands, anointing with oil, Holy Communion, blessings, and specific prayers for those who have chosen to end their lives through medical intervention.
The Catholic Thing
Saintly relics are more than mementos
By Stephen P. White, June 25, 2026
Relics are a powerful reminder that we are all, as it were, in the same story. Any ancient artifact can, on a natural level, remind us that we are all carried along in the same stream of time: you, me, George Washington, Cleopatra, and Nebuchadnezzar. We can throw in the mastodons and the dinosaurs while we’re at it. But saintly relics are more than mementos, more than fossils or museum pieces – as fascinating as those objects may be. Relics remind us both of our mortality and of precious exemplars of holiness and devotion. And they remind us of the promise of resurrection. Relics remind us that the workings of grace are neither sporadic nor sparse, but suffuse all of human experience across time and space. Relics remind us that we are bound together in the same great drama that has been unfolding, under God’s providence, through all of history.
Image of Coconut by Celio Nicoli from Pixabay
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