Catholic Nutshell News: Saturday 7/25/26
Catholics should know: Monks and nuns live longer; Abortion count rises; Beatifications in limbo; & Opposition to Israel now a bipartisan issue
“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
Why do monks and nuns live longer?
By Bohumil Petrík/EWTN News, July 25, 2026
The lifespan gap between monks and nuns almost disappears inside the cloister, and community life with a rule of life, scheduled prayer, and purpose contributes to successful aging. These are some of the findings of “The German-Austrian Cloister Study“ conducted by Marc Luy of the Vienna Institute of Demography at the Austrian Academy of Sciences. The research project to study health, aging, and life expectancy investigated the factors of health and longevity that revealed the so-called “successful aging” — that is, a long and healthy life. The research has drawn fresh attention in Europe this month after Benedictine Brother David Steindl-Rast marked his 100th birthday on July 12. Monks and nuns resemble one another in daily regimen, nutrition, living conditions, faith, and many other aspects that influence health and longevity, the study explains.
EWTN News
Abortion count rises as women turn to chemical abortions
By Kate Quiñones, July 24, 2026
The U.S. abortion count continues to rise even as travel abortions decrease, a recent study found. The Guttmacher Institute, a data group that openly supports abortion access, documented a decrease in people leaving their own state to get abortions in other states. Instead, abortion seekers turn toward mail-order abortions, which have seen a surge in recent years. The group tracks abortions monthly, following trends “in the post-Dobbs era” since 2023, according to Guttmacher data scientist and study lead Isaac Maddow-Zimet. “In the first three months of 2026, there were 296,130 abortions as compared to 292,590 in the first three months of 2025,” data scholar Michael New told EWTN News. “This is an increase of just over 1%.” New said this fact has gone underreported.
Aleteia
After 10 years, Father Hamel’s beatification is in limbo
By Cyriac Zeller, July 24, 2026
On July 26, 2016, two Islamist terrorists slit the throat of 85-year-old Father Jacques Hamel at the church of Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray. He had been close to the end of celebrating Mass. The news caused widespread shock. The day after this tragic death, on the papal flight to World Youth Day in Krakow, Pope Francis paid tribute to “this holy priest, who died in the very moment when he was offering prayer for the whole Church.” The process was opened on April 13, 2017, and the first session was held on May 20. A few weeks earlier, Father Hamel had been recognized as a Servant of God, the first stage in the process of canonization before the titles of venerable, blessed, and saint. However, the advanced age of those present during the attack made it necessary to proceed quickly. Within 22 months, the file was completed and sent to Rome. “The Church runs on its own time,” Father Vigouroux says, brushing aside concerns. “We hurried for 22 months; the moment has now come to take our time.” One reason? Aleteia reported that Spain alone has almost 3,500 cases pending.
The Pillar
Prayer app leak latest in Vatican website vulnerabilities
By Michelle La Rosa, July 24, 2026
A popular prayer app connected to the Vatican, “Click to Pray,” has been leaving user information exposed for months, the most recent in a years-long string of vulnerabilities and hacks for Vatican-related websites. The app, which is available on both iOS and Android, suffers from an insecure direct object reference (IDOR) vulnerability, cybersecurity news site Dark Reading reported Friday. As a result, names and email addresses for more than 700,000 users are easily available to any web user, the site said. The app, which is used by hundreds of thousands of people around the world, is run by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, which is a pontifical society entrusted to the Society of Jesus. The vulnerability was first noted in January by a hacker who goes by “BobDaHacker” on his blog. BobDaHacker and Dark Reading both reported reaching out to officials at the app and the group that runs it, but said they received no response. The Vatican’s website has been targeted repeatedly by hackers in recent years, sometimes connected to political issues.
Related: OpenAI rogue incident a call to ‘do more’ as future threats loom, says Catholic AI ethics expert, by Gina Christian, OSV News, July 24, 2026
OSV News
Catholic Scouting America is a partner with Scouting America
By Kimberley Heatherington, July 24, 2026
In June, the National Catholic Committee on Scouting announced it has a new name: Catholic Scouting America, marking the organization’s 100-plus-year commitment to faith, family and adventure through the values-based lessons of Scouting — all grounded in the Catholic faith. Catholic Scouting America is a partner with Scouting America — known as Boy Scouts of America until May 2024 — so boys and girls in Catholic Scouting have access to the activities, programs, and resources that have shaped generations of American Scouts. As of 2024, there were 130,888 active Catholic Scouts and leaders in 194 U.S. dioceses and eparchies with a Catholic Committee on Scouting, and Catholic Scouting service projects provided an estimated value of $52 million in aid. In 2024, 4,575 religious emblems were awarded, including Light of Christ and Parvuli Dei for Cub Scouts, and Ad Altare Dei (for Roman Catholic Scouts), Light is Life (for Eastern rite Catholic Scouts), and Pope Pius XII.
Zeale
Opposition to Israel has become a bipartisan consensus
By Mary Rose, July 24, 2026
Support for Israel, once a rare point of bipartisan agreement in American politics, has flipped into the opposite kind of consensus, according to CNN Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten. Enten, who anchors CNN’s regular deep dives into polling data, made the case in a July 24 segment that Israel’s decline in American public opinion has moved well past its familiar framing as a rift within the Democratic Party. “I think there are a lot of Republicans who will be able to run against these anti-Israeli Democrats once we hit the general election, because the general electorate feels very differently from the Democrat base,” Enten said. “But the general electorate — look at these numbers on Israel. There are some absolutely huge, mammoth changes, generational changes that we're talking about," Enten said. "The general electorate has turned against Israel. This is not just the left issue. It is an American issue when it comes to opinions on Israel."
PME AsiaNews
From tragedy to success: Cambodia’s remarkable HIV turnaround
By Terry Friel, July 20, 2026
Cambodia, once one of Southeast Asia’s most AIDS-ravaged countries, has transformed itself into a model of reform and compassion, becoming the first country in the region – and one of only a handful in the world – to hit every global UN HIV target. Sometimes even ahead of deadline. It is now all but certain to hit the final UN target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 – bringing new infections down to 250 a year or less, from about 25,000 at the mid-1990s peak, in a country of 17.5 million people. It is also only the seventh country in the world – and the first outside Africa – to hit the UN 95-95-95 benchmark of 95% of people with HIV knowing they have it, are on antiretroviral therapy, and are virally suppressed – meaning they cannot spread it by sex. “This reflects the collective action and sustained efforts of Cambodia’s multi-sectoral response to HIV and AIDS, which has been in place since the early years of the epidemic,” said Choub Sok Chamreun, executive director of Cambodia’s Khmer HIV/AIDS NGO Alliance (KHANA).
CRUX
Caritas distributing US humanitarian aid near Havana
By Andrea Rodriguez, July 24, 2026
Hundreds of boxes of humanitarian aid from the U.S. are being distributed in two towns near the Cuban capital, the Catholic Church organization in charge of the distribution said Thursday. The aid arrived this week, and its distribution began on Wednesday. It is shrouded in controversy due to the long-standing political distrust between Cuba and the U.S., and comes amid a crisis on the island exacerbated by an energy embargo imposed in January by U.S. President Donald Trump. Caritas began distributing the boxes to unspecified parishes and religious houses in the municipalities of Bejucal and Alquízar, which border Havana. Images released by the organization showed people unloading brown cardboard boxes donning the U.S. flag, while others wearing white sweatshirts with the Caritas logo handed them out to residents after checking lists and verifying their identification. Caritas could not be immediately reached for comment.
Related: Caritas Remains Active in Somalia: Apostolic Administrator on “forgotten” African Country, By Silas Isenjia - Nairobi, 24 July, 2026, ACI Africa
Keep informed - 7/25/26 matters for Catholics:
Snippets: EWTN News, aciafrica, & Word on Fire
EWTN News
EWTN’s top headlines — July 25, 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.
Pope Leo XIV appoints Lebanese-born archbishop as permanent observer to United Nations - By Daniel Payne - The Vatican is not a full member of the United Nations, but it enjoys permanent observer status. The international organization says permanent observers “have free access to most meetings and relevant documentation.” Archbishop El-Kassis has served as apostolic delegate to the Arabian Peninsula.
New bill would protect mothers with surrogacy contracts from forced abortions - By Kate Quiñones - The ‘‘Preventing Forced Abortions Act of 2026” would prevent federal courts from forcing a woman to have an abortion because of a surrogate contract; the act also requires that surrogate mothers still be compensated.
Catholic parents of Texas flood victims share witness to faith amid grief - By Tessa Gervasini - Blair Harber, 13, and Brooke Harber, 11, were among the victims of the Texas Hill Country flash floods that devastated parts of the state last year. “I would say after a year, itʼs almost more difficult than it has been," RJ Harber said in an interview with host Catherine Hadro on “EWTN News In Depth” alongside his wife, Annie Harber.
aciafrica
aciafrica’s top headlines — July 25, 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.
Improved Security Has Enabled Church’s Pastoral Growth in South Sudan, Bishop Says: “You can move day and night freely” - Jul 24, 2026 - By Jude Atemanke - Improved security in South Sudan has enabled the Catholic Church to expand its pastoral ministry, said Bishop Matthew Remijio Adam of the country’s Catholic Diocese of Wau.
Over 1, 000 Slum Residents in Kenya Receive Medical Support at Catholic Sisters’ Medical Camp - By Agnes Aineah, 23 July, 2026 - Residents of Bangladesh, an impoverished informal settlement in Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa, turned up in large numbers for a two-day medical camp organized by Mother Amadea Mission Hospital, many seeking treatment for ailments that had gone unmanaged for years.
Catholics in the U.S. Target to Double Collections for Church in Africa in Response to Aid Cuts - By Agnes Aineah - 24 July, 2026 - Bishop John Curtis Iffert who represented the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) at the assembly acknowledged that the American landscape has changed, “especially around international assistance”, a situation he said has added to the burdens of local churches in Africa.
Word on Fire
Fresh insights from the Word on Fire Institute - July 25, 2026
Word on Fire reaches millions every year by effectively sharing the Gospel via podcasts, videos, books, articles, Scripture studies, and Gospel meditations.
Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Did Homer Much Honor - Dr. Tod Worner - July 24, 2026 - The Odyssey, to my way of thinking, stands alone. Latter-day epics may imitate or borrow, but it was The Odyssey that first captured the punishing weariness of adventure tempered by the inextinguishable hunger for home.
Boys Will Be Boys: The B. P. J. Supreme Court Decision - Henry T. Edmondson III - July 24, 2026 - Two “consolidated cases” were combined: one involved Lindsay Hecox of Idaho, the other Becky Pepper-Jackson (B. P. J.), of West Virginia. Lindsay Hecox withdrew his complaint. With the support of his mother, B. P. J. declared himself female and began hormone therapy and did not undergo puberty.
The Liturgy of the Hours in the Fabric of Life - Nell O’Leary - July 23, 2026 - If you’re not a priest or religious and curious about why and how lay people would pray the Liturgy of the Hours, welcome to my questions for the early years of our marriage.
July 25, 2026 - USCCB Daily Mass Readings
You can listen HERE — or read HERE:
Feast of Saint James, Apostle
Today’s Catholic commentary:
National Catholic Register
Should exorcists shun the spotlight?
By Jack Figge, July 22, 2026
Among today’s most popular videos and podcasts, for Catholic and secular audiences alike, are those featuring priests discussing demons. Prominent exorcists, such as Father Chad Ripperger, Father Carlos Martins and Father Dan Reehil, have gained widespread attention through frequent media appearances, often garnering millions of views. Some exorcists have even launched their own public-facing deliverance apostolates, including Msgr. Stephen Rossetti’s St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal. But while their online content generates plenty of attention, not everyone approves of these so-called “celebrity exorcists” speaking publicly about their ministry. “My major objection is that I think the traditional role of an exorcist is a very private one,” explained Cardinal Robert McElroy of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. on July 8. “It’s a sacred one.” The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recommends that dioceses keep the identity of their exorcists a secret, “so as not to overwhelm the exorcist with random calls and inquiries.”
First Things
What has happened to all the cat videos?
By Robert Bellafiore, July 23, 2025
In a simpler time, the internet was full of cats. The public that had once tuned out politics became obsessed with it, eager to inject it into everything. Making sense of this transformation from apathy to mandatory hysteria, particularly in its digital manifestations, is the largely successful aim of Anton Jäger’s Hyperpolitics, a concise study of some of the paradoxes of contemporary public life, with its variance between spirited action and helpless indolence, its gap between agitation and all-but-null achievement. Indeed, if anything, Jäger underestimates the wackiness of the political present—a wackiness perhaps always augured by the internet’s feline avatar. As Hunter S. Thompson might have said, when the going gets political, the political turns weird.
The European Conservative
The death of the Irish canon
By Declan Hayes, July 24, 2026
Today, the ‘Wandering Rocks’ episode in James Joyce’s Ulysses is being booted bag and baggage out of Ireland’s entire educational system, and this is even more farcical than were the attempts of the French Revolutionaries to supplant French Catholicism with their own pottage of the Supreme Being and their egalitarian decree to raze all church steeples because it was not egalitarian that a steeple could be higher or more aesthetically appealing than any other building. Because Ireland lacks France’s developed paganism, Irish efforts to replicate this French nightmare are just that bit clumsier and clunkier, and nowhere more obviously than where its Leaving Certificate English, history, religious studies and politics & society courses combine to groom students and teachers into replacing Joyce’s Jesuit-derived critical thinking with doublethink, as Orwell famously put it in 1984.
The Catholic Thing
Groups who broke away insisted they were the true Church
By Randall Smith, July 21, 2026
How many of these can you identify? Marcionites, Montanists, Sabellians, Donatists, Quartodecimans, Pneumatomachians, Apollonarians, Monophysites, Nestorians, Waldensians. These are all groups that broke from the Church, insisting that they were the true Church while others were somehow less pure or less faithful. Even if you could identify some or all of them, where are they now? At one point, they welcomed thousands. Now, they’re just names almost no one knows. Many of them had interesting arguments and complaints. The Donatists, for example, had a rigorous moral code. The Monophysites rejected the notion that in Christ there were two natures, divine and human. Luther was right to complain about the corruption in the Church, the misuse of indulgences, and the priority of grace. The great irony of history is not only that the number of Lutherans is decreasing, but even those who continue to attend Lutheran services have scarce regard for the writings of Luther. Plenty who left the Catholic fold proclaiming sola Scriptura, “Scripture alone,” have no more regard today for the moral authority of the Scriptures than secularists.
Image of Coconut by Celio Nicoli from Pixabay
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