Catholic Nutshell News: Thursday 2/12/26
Topics include: Catholic support for Trump agenda; Planned Parenthood’s challenge; Vatican's olive branch to SSPX society; & The Catholic call to keeping calm
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Today's sources include Aleteia, EWTN News, National Catholic Register, The Pillar, CatholicVote, John Eldredge, and ChurchPOP. (Catholic Nutshell is a subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise the Catholic News Muscle)
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OSV News
Dip in Catholic support for Trump agenda
By Kate Scanlon, February 11, 2026
Support for President Donald Trump’s agenda has dipped across Catholic and Protestant groups, even among those where he still enjoys strong overall support, such as white evangelicals, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center. Gregory A. Smith, a senior associate director of research at Pew Research Center and one of the authors of the study, told OSV News that “white evangelicals continue to be among Donald Trump’s strongest supporters.” The study found that 69% of white evangelicals said they approve of how Trump is handling his job as president, while 58% of the same group said they support most or all of his plans and policies. Those numbers mark a much higher share of support for Trump among this group than U.S. adults overall, among whom 37% said they approve of Trump’s job performance overall, and 27% said they support “all/most ofTrump’s plans and policies.”
Related: Catholics’ opinions of Trump, policies relatively unchanged by first year in office (generally consistent with ratings given since April 2025), Hannah Hiester, CatholicVote, February 12, 2026
CatholicVote
Planned Parenthood’s challenge could have a national impact
By Hannah Hiester, February 11, 2026
Planned Parenthood’s ongoing legal challenge to Missouri’s abortion statutes is shaping up to be a high-stakes case that could have far-reaching implications for health and safety regulations on abortion across the nation, according to the legal organization supporting Missouri’s case. The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has called the case the “trial of the century,” warning that a ruling in Planned Parenthood’s favor could eliminate several safeguards intended to protect women — regulations requiring that women receive specific information before an abortion and observe a mandatory waiting period. The lawsuit also targets rules governing who may perform abortions, whether abortions may be performed after fetal viability, and the requirement that providers implement state-approved complication plans for women who take abortion pills, among other measures.
Crux
Vatican extends olive branch to breakaway SSPX society
By Elise Ann Allen, February 12, 2026
In a bid to prevent members of a breakaway traditionalist society from being excommunicated through the illicit ordination of new bishops, the Vatican has offered a path forward through theological dialogue. A Feb. 12 communique published by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and signed by its prefect, Argentine Cardinal Victor Fernandez, said a meeting between Fernandez and the Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X, Father Davide Pagliarani, took place earlier that day, discussing “the question of divine will regarding the plurality of religions.” Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre founded the SSPX in 1970 to train priests in response to what he described as errors that had arisen in the Church following the Second Vatican Council. Its relations with the Holy See were further strained in 1988 when Lefebvre and Bishop Antonio de Castro Mayer consecrated four bishops without the permission of Pope John Paul II.
Related: Lefebvrians (SPXX) at the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican: This Is How the Meeting Went Towards a Canonical Statute for the Fraternity - ZENIT News / Vatican City, 02.12. 2026
UCA News
Catholic Church supplies cash to families in flood-hit Vietnam
By UCA News reporter, February 12, 2026
As Vietnam prepares to welcome the Year of the Horse from Feb. 14–22, thousands in Hue struggle to recover from the devastating floods that claimed 15 lives and caused over 3,272 billion dong (US$128 million) in damage across the ancient city. While the government calls on agencies to ensure even the most marginalized families can experience the warmth of the Lunar New Year, the Catholic Church in Hue has become active in providing them with immediate, personal relief necessary for a dignified holiday. St. Paul de Chartres Sister Rosalia Do Thi Loan said the congregation has provided capital to 50 victims to help restore their livelihoods. For example, 4 million dong ($150) will buy pigs. Daughters of Mary Immaculate Sister Maria Truong Thi Nguyen said that the nuns have assisted 100 people, focusing on replacing household goods and school supplies for children whose education was interrupted by the rising waters.
Aleteia
Basketball: Notre Dame vs Pope Leo’s Villanova will play in Rome
By Rose Bryan, February 12, 2025
In a thrilling fusion of athletic competition and Catholic heritage, the University of Notre Dame and Villanova University are poised to tip off the 2026-27 basketball season with a men's and women's doubleheader in the Eternal City of Rome, inspired by Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate. For Catholics, this game transcends mere athletics; it’s a living testament to the Church’s embrace of sport as a pathway to human flourishing. As Pope Leo XIV stated in his recent letter, Life in Abundance: on the Value of Sport (released February 6, 2026, coinciding with the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics): "Sport, in its deepest essence, is a universal expression of humanity, capable of fostering loyalty, sharing, trust, and community, countering the individualism and solitude that plague our modern world."
Zenit
Venezuela after a month and a half without Maduro
By ZENIT Staff, February 10, 2026
At the close of their 125th Ordinary Plenary Assembly, the Catholic bishops of Venezuela chose neither silence nor alarmism: they turned to Scripture. Drawing from the prophet Isaiah — “Your light shall rise like the dawn” — they issued a pastoral exhortation that interprets Venezuela’s present turbulence through a lens shaped by hope, realism, and moral urgency. The bishops acknowledge that the country's political and social landscape has been profoundly altered by the events of 3 January. Without minimizing the uncertainty and fear that grip large sectors of the population, the bishops deliberately anchor their reading of history in the Gospel image of Christ calming the storm. The message is explicit: the boat may be battered, but it is not abandoned. Jesus remains “God-with-us”, Emmanuel, even amid national upheaval. One of the most striking dimensions of the message is its concrete solidarity.
National Catholic Register
Midst of storms: The Catholic call to keeping calm
By Alyssa Murphy, February 12, 2026
With the gravity of the situation on the ground in Minneapolis still looming large, many Catholics across the country have felt a sense of alarm, left anxious and agitated, spurred on by ongoing social-media conversations that seem to exacerbate these chaotic times. As Catholics, we are called to be calm and to be peacemakers. Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the bishops’ conference, and Bishop Michael Burbidge called all Catholics to offer a “Holy Hour of peace.” Father Kress, one of the co-hosts of the Godsplaining podcast, advised the faithful to seek the peace of Christ, too, pointing again to the apostles gripped with fear on the tempestuous sea. Sister Mary Madeline, who teaches theology at Aquinas College in Nashville, Tennessee, said to use “prudential judgment and discernment. It is important to remember that emotions or passions arise spontaneously, but we are free to choose what might cause them or how to respond in action to them.”
EWTN News
Christians usually the largest group in religiously diverse places
By Tessa Gervasini, February 12, 2026
The Pew Research Center released a report examining the most and least religiously diverse countries and territories worldwide. The Feb. 12 report found that the United States is not among the 10 most religiously diverse countries in the world, but when examining only the 10 most populous nations, the U.S. ranks first in religious diversity. The report, “Religious Diversity Around the World,” describes levels of religious diversity in 201 countries and territories. It measures how evenly each country’s population is distributed across seven groups: Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, adherents of other religions, and people with no religious affiliation. Pew calculated the religious diversity of 201 areas, which together are home to 99.98% of the world’s population, based on the size of seven religious groups, assigning each area a score for religious diversity. In 50 countries and territories, 50% or more of the population belongs to one religious category—predominantly Muslim (25), Christian (17), or Buddhist (1).
Catholic Daily, EWTN & ChurchPOP for 2/12/26
Catholic Daily
Messages of faith and hope throughout the world - February 12, 2026
CatholicDaily.com is an online news website that features faith-based news and Catholic inspiration from around the world. Catholic Daily is operated by Queen of Peace Productions, with support from CatholicShop.com.
French priest hears confessions while riding chairlift in the Alps - February 12, 2026 - Fr. Geoffroy Génin is a 69-year-old French priest whose appearance is sometimes unusual. Tall and slim, he has the look of an athlete. Once a week, he can be seen on the ski slopes, in the heart of a magnificent snow-covered valley in the Alps.
The Bishop Who Predicted Today’s Culture of Death — 50 Years Ago - February 12, 2026 - St. David’s Metropolitan Cathedral in Cardiff, Wales COMMENTARY: Welsh Archbishop John Murphy knew that the secular world places its hope on career, comfort and cash. Life, when it does not fit into these factors, is deemed expendable.
Archdiocese Evaluates Canonical Sanctions After ‘Trans’ Wedding in Argentina - February 12, 2026 - The bill, titled the Respect for Marriage Act, follows the House version that passed earlier in July. The archdiocese announced that going forward, ‘the interview, preparation, and verification procedures
EWTN News
EWTN’s top headlines — February 12, 2026
Formerly known as Catholic News Agency, EWTN provides reliable, free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, emphasizing the words of the Holy Father and the activities of the Holy See, and is available to anyone with internet access.
How urban planning is used to undermine Christian institutions in Turkey - By Bryan Lawrence Gonsalves - Authorities are using zoning laws and urban planning regulations to prevent the construction of Christian institutions, according to a new report documenting restrictions across multiple cities.
Vatican bank launches 2 new equity indexes aligned with Catholic principles - By Amira Abuzeid - The Vatican Bank announced two indexes of 50 companies each that adhere to Catholic social teachings to promote ethical Catholic investing — the Morningstar IOR Eurozone Catholic Principles and the Morningstar IOR US Catholic Principles, are designed to serve as global reference points for investments that adhere to Catholic teaching
Multiple U.S. bishops join call for Notre Dame to rescind appointment of pro-abortion advocate - By Daniel Payne - Several of Rhoades’ fellow prelates subsequently joined the call for Notre Dame to reverse Ostermann’s appointment. Among them was Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila, Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, Bishop Robert Barron similarly offered his “strong support” for Rhoades’ statement, and Fort Worth, Texas, Bishop Michael Olson also offered his support for Rhoades “in his carrying out of his pastoral responsibility.”
ChurchPOP Trending
ChurchPOP provides fun, informative, and authentically Catholic news and culture - February 12, 2026
“We publish inspiring daily stories, fun and shareable faith-centered infographics, prayers, Church history, and more.”
Lenten Resolutions Made Simple: 4 Powerful Ways to Grow in Holiness This Lent - Want to stay truly consistent and pursue holiness this Lent? Here are four great ways to do it!
Valentine’s Day Quiz: Is Your Relationship Leading You to God? 10 Questions for Catholic Couples - Does this relationship help you become a better person? Does it encourage you to study, work hard, and grow in responsibility and discipline? If your relationship helps you grow, that’s a good sign
The First TV Star on the Altars: 12 Things to Know About Soon‑to‑Be Blessed Archbishop Fulton Sheen - The Holy See approved Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s beatification cause. Here are 12 things to know about this soon-to-be Blessed!
Nutshell reflections for 2/12/26:
USCCB Daily Reflection - VIDEO - February 12, 2026
Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Church Life Journal
The price of the common good
By Mark Hoipkemier, February 12, 2026
It is fitting that, when Chicago’s Board of Trade Building became the tallest edifice in the city in 1885, it took the title from Holy Name Cathedral, for the stock exchange and the house of prayer were surprisingly alike. Look past the statuary and stone engravings that adorned both façades, and consider how similar the goings-on were in their vast central halls. The action began with the ringing of a bell. Men in traditional habiliment assembled in a ritually designated spot at the end of a flight of steps: in one building up, in the other down. Both conducted their affairs in a liturgical language that was as rigidly traditional as it was unintelligible to the outsider. We cannot fully understand markets without considering the common good. In a traditional embedded economy, it is not the coordination of anything like a price-centered market but the norms and needs of many other institutions—for example, family, religion, politics—that determine what is made and how it is allocated.
The Pillar
Archbishop Raúl Biord’s ugly relationship with Nicolás Maduro
By Edgar Beltrán, January 30, 2026
Following a string of controversies in the Archdiocese of Caracas, Archbishop Raúl Biord, SDB, is scheduled to meet privately with Pope Leo in the coming days. The meeting comes as the archbishop remains mired in controversy. Biord has consistently refrained from public criticism of the Venezuelan regime and is widely perceived to be close to regime officials, especially former dictator Nicolás Maduro’s son, Nicolás Jr., Biord was recently accused of helping to facilitate the extortion of a political prisoner’s family member. The meeting between Pope Leo and Biord raises questions about what, if anything, the pontiff intends to do about the ecclesial situation in Venezuela. Nearly a month after the U.S. capture of former dictator Nicolás Maduro, the situation in the Latin American country remains delicate. But if the Vatican is contemplating action in the case of the embattled archbishop, a swift move may be the most likely to succeed.
Prison Policy Initiative
The complicated reasons for high numbers of criminals in jail
By Wendy Sawyer and Peter Wagner, March 11, 2025
In 2022, about 469,000 people entered prison, but people were jailed more than 7 million times. Some have just been arrested and will make bail within hours or days, while many others are too poor to make bail and remain in jail until their trial ends. Only a small number (about 105,000 on any given day) have been convicted, and are generally serving misdemeanor sentences of under a year. At least 1 in 4 people who go to jail will be arrested again within the same year — often those dealing with poverty, mental illness, and substance use disorders, whose problems only worsen with incarceration. The overcriminalization of drug use, the use of private prisons, and low-paid or unpaid prison labor are among the most contentious issues in the criminal legal system today because they inspire moral outrage. But they do not answer the question of why most people are incarcerated or how we can dramatically — and safely — reduce our use of confinement.
Wild at Heart
What exactly is that life going to be about?
By John Eldredge, February 12, 2026
I am a big believer in having a vision for where your life is headed before you get engaged. You don’t have to land the Big Job or own a house first, but when you ask a girl to marry you, what are you inviting her into? A proposal is not just, “Hey — we like hanging out together. Let’s do it 24-7!” (Or more often than not, for committed Christians, “We want to have sex — let’s get married!”) A proposal is an invitation into a shared life—so, what exactly is that life going to be about? That girl has a right to know where you are headed before she just up and rides off with you. Mom and I shared in the adventure of the theater company we were starting; we knew this was the city we wanted to be living in, we loved the church we were committed to, and we had a healthy community around us. I don’t think a young man should marry, hoping that once he does, everything else will just sort of fall into place.
Image of peanuts by Nicole Köhler, from Pixabay
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