Catholic Nutshell News: Thursday 2/26/26
Topics include: US bishops end lawsuit; New $35M basilica-style church; Assisted suicide increases rates of non-medical suicides; & China’s young women falling in love with AI
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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
US bishops end lawsuit against Trump administration
By Gina Christian, February 25, 2026
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has ended its lawsuit against the Trump administration over the suspension of a long-running refugee resettlement contract, with monies owed to the USCCB now recovered. Court records show that Judge Trevor N. McFadden of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia signed a Jan. 23 order dismissing the case “without prejudice” — allowing the USCCB the option to bring a subsequent suit on the same grounds. The USCCB had filed a Jan. 22 notice of voluntary dismissal, stating that “no defendant has filed either an answer or a motion for summary judgment in this action.” Chieko Noguchi, spokesperson for the USCCB, confirmed to OSV News Feb. 24 that the conference had recovered what it was owed for its refugee resettlement work with the federal government. As of April 2025, those funds — still unpaid at the time — amounted to more than $24 million.
CatholicVote
Utah parish to build new $35M basilica-style church
By Grace Porto, February 25, 2026
In response to its rapidly growing Catholic community in Riverton, Utah, Saint Andrew Parish seeks to build a $35 million basilica-style church. A Feb. 20 article from the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah, explains that the new church’s design was displayed for the first time at St. Andrew’s Mardi Gras fundraiser Feb. 14. The parish’s first Mass took place in 2006, in a rectory with just 15 people in attendance, the article states. Still lacking a church, parishioners currently meet in a Catholic school’s gymnasium. “This has been something that’s been talked of for over 20 years,” said Brianna Hill, the project’s development director. “Everybody is very excited that now we have something concrete that we’re working towards.” The church will seat 800 people, according to the article. The parish announced its plans for the church in 2025 and aims to begin construction within five years, provided it can meet the fundraising goals.
Crux
Assisted suicide increases rates of non-medical suicide
By Charles Collins, February 25, 2026
Two months ago, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the state would make assisted suicide available to terminally ill people determined by doctors to have less than six months to live. Twelve U.S. states already have legalized assisted suicide — Oregon, the first, had a dramatic spike in non-medicalized suicide afterwards that peaked at 41%. “There is a blatant double standard in promoting suicide for some and seeking to prevent the suicide of others,” said Joseph Meaney, the Past President and Senior Ethicist of the National Catholic Bioethics Center. He wrote an article on the rising rates of suicide in states and countries that have legalized medically assisted suicide. “Statistics show that states with legalized assisted suicide also see a rise in general suicide,” Meaney said. “Substance Abuse, particularly addiction to opioids, played a big part in higher suicide rates in the period from 2013 to 2021. The social isolation that came with the COVID-19 Pandemic played a key negative role, particularly for children and young adults.”
UCA News
Jimmy Lai won an appeal today over a 2022 fraud conviction
By AFP, Hong Kong, February 26, 2026
Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai won an appeal on Feb. 26 over a 2022 fraud conviction, days after a court jailed him on separate national security charges. The ruling was a surprise win for Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, who was sentenced to 20 years behind bars this month on collusion charges under a Beijing-imposed national security law. The fraud case arose from a contractual dispute and was unrelated to the charges he faced under the security law. Lai did not appear in court and remains behind bars. “[We] allow the appeals, quash the convictions and set aside the sentences,” High Court Chief Judge Jeremy Poon said, adding that he granted Lai’s application not to show up in court. In 2022, Lai was sentenced to five years and nine months in jail for what the trial judge called a "planned, organised and years-long" scheme.
Aleteia
Leo XIV writes a letter to an atheist in search of God
By Camille Dalmas, February 26, 2025
Since February 22, Pope Leo XIV has been participating in the traditional Lenten retreat at the Vatican with the Curia's main leaders. It’s a time of silence, meditation, and introspection during which the Pope withdraws from public and media life. On Tuesday, February 24, however, Piazza San Pietro, the monthly magazine of St. Peter's Basilica, published a brief correspondence from Leo XIV in which he responds to a letter from a man named Rocco. Rocco had sent him a poem titled “An atheist who loves God.” In it, the Italian acknowledges that he “believes that he does not believe,” but explains that he wonders about “the mystery of harmony” in this world and feels a certain “anxiety” at not being able to find God in his life. In his reply, Leo XIV thanks Rocco for his letter and explains that his poem reminded him of a sentence from St. Augustine's Confessions: “You were within me, but I was outside myself, and there I sought you!”
The Indian Express
China’s young women are falling in love with AI
By New York Times, February 26, 2026
China’s ruling Communist Party wants young women to prioritize getting married and having babies. Instead, many of them are finding romance with chatbots. It is complicating the government’s efforts to reverse the country’s shrinking population and birthrate, now at the lowest level in 75 years. The lightning-fast adoption of AI in China prompted regulators to warn tech companies not to have “design goals to replace social interaction.” The country’s youth were already glued to smartphones and longing for connection when a state-led push last year to adopt AI led to a boom in platforms that let people share their daily routines and private anxieties with virtual companions. Dozens of specialized chatbots sprang up, including many that specifically catered to people seeking romantic partners. Faced with rising unemployment and fewer opportunities, they are rejecting the pressures of marriage and choosing to take less ambitious approaches to their careers and personal lives.
National Catholic Register
Siobhan Hogan podcast, ‘Catholics and Cappuccinos’
By Zelda Caldwell, February 18, 2026
Siobhan Fallon Hogan, whose first name is pronounced “Sha-VAHN,” has been stealing scenes ever since as a character actress known for her memorable roles in blockbuster movies like Forrest Gump, Men in Black, and Holes, as well as on Saturday Night Live and Seinfeld. EWTN invited her to host its new podcast, Catholics and Cappuccinos, which debuted on Feb. 5 on EWTN+, EWTN’s new streaming platform. Hogan, who also writes and produces films and plays, is genuinely funny. She’s a force of nature, too, with improvisational and comic gifts reminiscent of the late Robin Williams. And her faith shines through: heartfelt yet humble, with a self-deprecating humor that draws her guests into frank conversations about their Catholic faith. In the first three episodes, Jonathan Roumie, Kevin James, and Patricia Heaton speak openly about their personal struggles and the impact of faith on their acting careers.
EWTN News
Trump touts transgender shifts, deportations, avoids abortion
By Tyler Arnold, February 25, 2026
President Donald Trump touted his policies related to the gender transitions of minors and his ongoing mass deportations efforts but avoided the subject of abortion during his State of the Union address Tuesday night, Feb. 24. “Our nation’s back: bigger, better, richer, and stronger than ever before,” Trump said, about one year and one month into his second nonconsecutive term in office. The president also asserted there “has been a tremendous renewal in religion, faith, Christianity, and belief in God.” He credited “my great friend Charlie Kirk” with contributing to the trend. Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, was one of the guests in attendance. Mary Rice Hasson, the director of the Person and Identity Project at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, told EWTN after the address that “it was hugely significant for the president to blast this evil aspect of gender ideology, which is much more pervasive than parents realize.”
Angelus News, EWTN & ChurchPOP for 2/26/26
Angelus News
Angelus joins in the great work of evangelization - February 26, 2026
The mission of Angelus is to provide our readers with the best in Catholic news, first-rate analysis of events and trends shaping the Church and the world
Group of ‘border state’ bishops urge immigration reforms before State of the Union - Kate Scanlon - Feb 24 - A group of U.S. bishops, most from the U.S.-Mexico border region, issued a statement Feb. 24 hours before President Donald Trump's first State of the Union address of his second term, urging several reforms to immigration enforcement.
Hundreds attend first-ever Arabic Mass at 2026 RECongress - Mike Cisneros - Feb 23 - for the first time in its history, RECongress hosted an Arabic Mass put on by the Arab American Catholic Community (AACC), from St. Joseph Church in Pomona. Started in 1989, the community of 6,000 families gathers six countries: Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Egypt.
Kevin James’ ‘Solo Mio’ is a rare example of quality Catholic comedy - Joseph Joyce - The new romantic comedy “Solo Mio” (in theaters since Feb. 6) is a throwback film, unique in its focus on middle-aged love, whereas other romantic comedies operate on a “Logan’s Run” theory of romance where you die at 29. Distributed by Angel Studios, behind Roumie’s “The Chosen” and culture war behemoth “The Sound of Freedom,” the producers focus on “values-based entertainment.”
EWTN News
EWTN’s top headlines — February 26, 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.
Bangladesh bishop rejects government stipend, warns of political pressure on Church - By Stephan Uttom Rozario - Bangladesh’s newly elected government has announced a monthly allowance for all religious clergy — the first such initiative in the Muslim-majority nation’s history — but a Catholic bishop says the Church will not accept the money, warning it could invite political pressure.
The polyglot popes: How language builds bridges in the Church - By Romy Haber - The Vatican website offers content in more than 60 languages today, reflecting a commitment to reach people by speaking to them in their mother tongues. Recent popes have been prolific in many languages. Pope John XXIII spoke six languages fluently: Latin, Italian, French, Greek, Turkish, and Bulgarian.
Paul Thigpen, theologian who explored ‘wondrous’ question of extraterrestrial life, dies at 71 - By Daniel Payne - A convert to Catholicism, Thigpen wrote prolifically on saints, the Blessed Mother, and the possibility of intelligent alien life, among other topics. Thigpen was “one of the most respected Catholic authors in our industry” and “a man who never left a conversation without making you a better person,” said Conor Gallagher of TAN Books.
ChurchPOP Trending
ChurchPOP provides fun, informative, and authentically Catholic news and culture - February 26, 2026
“We publish inspiring daily stories, fun and shareable faith-centered infographics, prayers, Church history, and more.”
Why Abstain from Meat on Fridays? 10 Things Every Catholic Should Know - Why do Catholics choose Friday as a day of penance? Here’s everything you need to know about Friday fasting and abstinence. Here’s one: in ancient and medieval times, meat was considered a luxury. It was used for feasting and celebrations, and not for daily consumption.
Facing ‘Sister Death’ Fearlessly: 10 Inspiring Lessons From Saint Francis Assisi’s Final Hours - As Saint Francis of Assisi’s final hour approached, he is said to have exclaimed: “Welcome, my Sister Death!” Saint Francis did not simply die: the Church calls his departure the Transitus, from the Latin word meaning “passage” or “crossing.”
Saint John Paul II Urged Devotion to the Shroud of Turin— Shrine’s Exhibit Now Answers This Call - “The Shroud is thus a truly unique sign that points to Jesus, the true Word of the Father, and invites us to pattern our lives on the life of the One who gave himself for us.”
Nutshell reflections for 2/26/26:
USCCB Daily Reflection - VIDEO - February 26, 2026
Thursday of the First Week in Lent
Church Life Journal
Psalm 51: The Depth of Divine Mercy
By Gary A. Anderson, February 26, 2026
It would be hard to overemphasize the importance of Psalm 51 in the history of Christian spirituality. In Dante’s Divine Comedy, it is referred to by simply citing its first word, miserere (“have mercy on me”). Or consider its place in the Liturgy of Hours. This is the cycle of prayers that is obligatory for priests and religious but is also said by many lay persons. Its basic structure is built around a four-week rotation of Psalms. None of them are repeated except for Psalm 51, which is read every Friday morning. Friday is the day that Christ died on the cross to secure our salvation. And that salvation is not bestowed without our consent and participation in the larger arc of divine love that it represents. This Psalm perfectly suits its Friday morning setting because it invites us to ponder the unfathomable depth of divine mercy and to seek forgiveness for those moments in our own lives where we have fallen short of what living the good life requires.
The Pillar
Moral witness matters
By Daniel Lipinski, February 13, 2026
Bishop Kevin Roades of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese wrote about the recent decision by the University of Notre Dame to appoint a virulent abortion advocate as the next director of an institute housed within the university. Rhoades very forcefully, but carefully, laid out the reasons for his “dismay” and “strong opposition to” the appointment of Susan Ostermann. These include her “disparaging and inflammatory remarks” against those who are pro-life and also against pregnancy resource centers. Bishop Rhoades gets to the crux of the problem when he writes, “Such appointments have profound impact on the integrity of Notre Dame’s public witness as a Catholic university.” Despite the existence of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., for most Americans — particularly Catholics — Notre Dame is the Catholic university in America. It is also one of the most recognized Catholic institutions of any kind in the country — ChatGPT ranked it 3rd in media exposure, behind EWTN and Catholic Charities.
Catholic Gentlemen
No freedom from error except in the Catholic Church
By Phil Lawler, February 24, 2026
A pastor or a bishop might be clear in his own thinking. But before he takes a fateful step—especially on a matter that is hotly disputed—he needs to take the question to prayer: What if I’m wrong? There is no guarantee of freedom from error except in the Catholic Church, guided by the Holy Spirit. Even in the Church, that infallible judgment is guaranteed only to the Roman Pontiff and the bishops in communion with him. So the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) is taking a very dangerous step by threatening to consecrate new bishops without a papal mandate, thereby risking a rupture in its communion with the Holy See. I know the SSPX believes a judgment of schism would be invalid. I realize that they argue their breach of ecclesiastical discipline would be justified on grounds of necessity. But what if they’re wrong? It is no small matter to profess that salvation comes only through the Catholic Church, and then to sever (or at least strain) those attachments.
Wild at Heart
We begin with the cry of the heart
By John Eldredge, February 26, 2026
Of all the prayers that rise from human lips on this troubled planet, the vast majority must be some version of, “Help!” That’s why we began with the Cry of the Heart. But second place of “most often prayed” has to be in the genre of “God — what am I supposed to do?” Guidance, clarity, direction — doesn’t that seem to be one of the main reasons we pray at all? When seeking clarity, we will almost always ask for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Both are needed. Sometimes, wisdom holds the answer. Other times, we need a revelation from God (as did Ananias, when the situation seemed to shout, “Don’t go near Saul!”). The key to receiving answers to prayers for guidance is to let go of our constant attempt to “figure things out.” God has some rather strong feelings about those who choose to walk in the light of their own counsel: “… all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: You will lie down in torment” (Isa. 50:10–11)
Image of peanuts by Nicole Köhler, from Pixabay
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