Catholic Nutshell News: Thursday 5/22/25
Topics include: Pakistan papal delegation had no Christians, Mexico bishops lament assassinations, Rabbi ‘optimistic’ about Catholic Church, & Divided SC rules against Catholic Charter School
“The greatest thing since peanut butter & jelly”
Today's sources are Aleteia, OSV, CNA, National Catholic Register, What We Need Now, The Pillar, John Eldredge, & Babylon Bee. (Catholic Nutshell is a subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise the Catholic News Muscle)
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CatholicVote
Pakistan delegation to papal Mass included no Christians
By McKenna Snow, May 21, 2025
Christians marched at the capital of Pakistan’s Punjab province, May 18, in protest of the government’s decision not to include any Christians in its delegation to Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass, according to UCA News, saying the omission of a Christian representative was “deliberate.” The Pakistani delegation at the May 18 Mass included Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani, who is a Muslim, State Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Kheal Das Kohistani, who is a Hindu, and Minister for Minority Affairs in the Punjab Provincial Government Ramesh Singh Arora, who is a Sikh, the outlet states. Mary James Gill, a Christian, noted that no Christian “has since emerged with the diplomatic stature to represent us internationally” after the 2011 assassination of former Minister and Servant of God Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic critical of the country’s blasphemy laws.
Catholic News Agency
Mexico bishops lament assassination of two senior Mexico officials
By David Ramos, May 21, 2025
The Mexican Bishops’ Conference expressed its “profound consternation” following the assassination of two senior officials of the Mexico City government, which occurred Tuesday in the Mexican capital. The victims of the shooting are Ximena Guzmán, private secretary to Clara Brugada, Mexico City’s mayor, and José Muñoz, adviser to the city government. In their statement, the Mexican bishops lamented that this recent crime “joins a painful chain of violent events that, as we noted in our statement of May 19, following the massacre of seven young people in Guanajuato, ‘is an alarming sign of the weakening of the social fabric, impunity, and the absence of peace in vast regions of our nation.’”
Crux
Rabbi ‘optimistic’ about relations with Catholic Church
By Elise Ann Allen, May 22, 2025
Rabbi Noam Marans, director of interreligious affairs for the American Jewish Committee (AJC), voiced optimism for Catholic-Jewish relations after the election of Pope Leo XIV, saying his pontificate marks an opportunity for renewal given a spike in tensions during the last months of Francis’s papacy. “I am optimistic about Catholic Jewish relations … an American pope bodes well for Catholic Jewish relations. Period,” Marans told journalists during a recent roundtable conversation with press members on Pope Leo XIV's election. He received a personalized letter after Pope Leo’s election which pledged to “continue and strengthen the Church’s dialogue and cooperation with the Jewish people in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council’s declaration, Nostra Aetate.”
The Christian Post
Divided Supreme Court splits on Okla. Catholic charter school
By Michael Gryboski, May 22, 2025
An equally divided United States Supreme Court has affirmed an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling against the creation of what would have been the first taxpayer-funded religious charter school. In a brief per curiam opinion released Thursday morning, the high court ruled 4-4 to affirm the state Supreme Court ruling against the establishment of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. Justice Amy Coney Barrett did not participate in the case, as she had recused herself, reportedly due to having close personal ties to Nicole Stelle Garnett, a professor who was an early adviser for St. Isidore. Alliance Defending Freedom Chief Legal Counsel Jim Campbell argued on behalf of the charter school. A split decision allows another case to be brought on the same subject, and is not set as a precedent.
National Catholic Register
If Leo XIV was a new CEO, he’d be crushing it
By Zelda Caldwell, May 21, 2025
Less than two weeks since Pope Leo XIV was elected, he seems to have pulled off the incredible feat of winning over most Catholics at a time of deep division within the Church. The Catholic Church is a global “corporation” — not in the modern business sense, but in the word's original meaning: a corpus, a body, the Body of Christ. The early reviews from corporate management experts? The Holy Father is crushing it, offering a “master class” on how to move into the top job. The term “servant leadership,” coined in 1970 by Robert Greenleaf, an AT&T executive, describes a leadership philosophy that prioritizes the needs and well-being of others within the organization. The twin points of “authenticity and humility radiate easily from him, and that’s very important,” said Rob Neal, chairman of the board of trustees at The Catholic University of America. “You can’t fake authenticity.”
Related: Eight reasons why I like Leo - Catholic Culture, By Peter Wolfgang, May 17, 2025
The Pillar
Catholic University layoffs ahead of ‘demographic cliff’
By The Pillar, May 21, 2025
The Catholic University of America laid off 66 employees on Monday, as the university aims to address a $30 million deficit announced to university stakeholders in December. While the layoffs come after several years of deficit budgets, the university’s president told The Pillar that Catholic colleges and universities must reconsider their financial and business models to face the severe enrollment crisis reshaping American higher education. “The restructuring process we have completed today is significant. We did not take the easy path, but I am confident that we took the right one,” Kilpatrick added. The letter explained that the layoffs were one component of a multi-tiered approach required to balance the university’s operating budget, with a 10% reduction required to offset the $30 million deficit.
Aleteia
Chicago already preserving history of Pope Leo, the American
By Christine Rousselle, May 22, 2025
Pope Leo’s hometown seeks to purchase his childhood home - published on 05/22/25 - The three-bedroom house in Dolton, Illinois, was pulled off of the market shortly after Pope Leo XIV was elected to the papacy on May 8. The village where Pope Leo XIV grew up intends to purchase his childhood home, which will possibly be turned into a historic site through collaboration with the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Chicago White Sox honor Pope Leo XIV with mural - published on 05/22/25 - The Chicago White Sox unveiled a new graphic mural honoring Pope Leo XIV, located in the section he sat in during the 2005 World Series game he attended.
Chicago Archdiocese announces celebration honoring Pope Leo - published on 05/21/25 - A special Mass will be celebrated on June 14 at Rate Field, home of Pope Leo XIV's beloved Chicago White Sox.
The Times of Israel
Netanyahu sets Gaza relocation plan as condition for ending war
By Lazar Berman & Nava Freiberg, May 22, 2025
During his first press conference in five months, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday named the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s “revolutionary” plan to relocate Gaza’s civilians as a condition for ending the conflict, the first time he has made such a demand. He called Trump’s plan “brilliant,” and said it had the potential to change the face of the Middle East. The fledgling Operation Gideon’s Chariots — the IDF’s expanded ground operation in Gaza that began over the weekend— is meant to “complete the war, the work” in the enclave. Israel has a “very organized” plan to achieve its war aims in Gaza, he insisted, saying its aims are “To defeat Hamas, which carried out the atrocities of October 7 … and to ensure that Gaza does not present a threat to Israel.”
CatholicVote, CNA & Satire for 5/22/2025
CatholicVote - The Loop
Read daily news and political impact stories at the “LOOP”
Elections and politics matter. The LOOP gives you daily gems on the news that seek “to renew our country and culture.” CatholicVote’s advertised mission is “To inspire every Catholic in America to live out the truths of our faith in public life.”
'RAISING CHASTE CATHOLIC MEN' NOW - Book for parents (and grandparents) of boys: how to raise chaste men in our sex-obsessed culture. Wisdom from a mom of eight, plus a powerful chapter from over 20 young men with their experience and advice. NOW has an expanded 2nd edition with forewords by Jason Evert & Father Dwight Longenecker.
CATHOLIC EDUCATION EXPANDS IN LA - A generous donation will provide scholarships and support services for 8,000 underserved students in Los Angeles Catholic schools, while funding teacher development to improve academic outcomes.
NEVADA SENATE COMMITTEE REJECTS ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL - With the help of pro-life advocates, a bill to legalize assisted suicide in Nevada was defeated May 16. This is the fifth time such legislation has failed to pass in the state. The bill also stipulated that the adults must be “mentally capable” to decide.
Catholic News Agency
CNA’s top headlines — May 22, 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.
‘Send a message to the Holy Father’ initiative elicits supportive video messages for new pope - May 22, 2025 - By Tessa Gervasini - Tech company eCatholic is collecting video messages of prayer, encouragement, and support from Catholics across the globe.
Synod undersecretary: Leo XIV ‘doesn’t govern from his office, he goes out to meet people’ - May 22, 2025 - By Victoria Cardiel - The Spanish Augustinian Bishop Luis Marín de San Martín is among those who have collaborated most closely with Pope Leo.
Canada’s lack of disabilities minister criticized by pro-life advocates - May 22, 2025 - By Daniel Payne - Pro-life and disability advocates have criticized the abolishment of the cabinet position that directly provided support for disabled Canadian citizens.
Babylon Bee’s (Satire) News
Oops: Pastor Accidentally Includes ChatGPT Prompts - He Asked It To Write His Sermon
By Church Staff, March 21, 2022
Local Associate Pastor Mark Sullivan took a leave of absence following a disastrous Sunday service in which he presented a message that mistakenly included his prompts to ChatGPT, asking it to write his sermon for him. The sermon, titled "The Power of the Cross," was initially well-received until the second slide, when prompts like "Write three sermon points about 1 John 2:2", "What is universalism?", and "Explain that to me like I'm five" became visible to the congregation.” The church reported that zero souls were saved as a result of the sermon. At publishing time, insiders said the church elders were consulting Grok (Elon Musk’s AI) to see if they should fire Pastor Mark Sullivan or give him a second chance.
Nutshell reflections for 5/22/25:
USCCB Daily Reflection - AUDIO - May 22, 2025
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
What We Need Now
Philadelphia begins an ‘Apprenticeship in the Christian Life’
By Fr. Eric Banecker, May 20, 2025
Under the leadership of Archbishop Nelson Perez, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has embarked on a familiar journey, but with a unique twist. In the last 30 years, our net decrease in active diocesan priests has been around 600. We’ve closed almost 100 parishes and many primary and secondary schools. But all that has been via piecemeal, localized efforts, which often came at the expense of the poor. A new model developed in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is the idea of “hubs,” focused on forming and equipping missionary disciples. The hubs will be planted at parishes throughout the five counties of the Archdiocese. Each pastoral team will focus solely on forming missionary disciples to proclaim Christ, inviting people into intentional discipleship, forming them to understand their Christian dignity and live according to it, and sending them to do the same for others.
Crisis Magazine
The Church is political—inside and out
By Darrick Taylor, May 22, 2025
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a practicing Catholic, explained how he reconciled the teachings of the Catholic Church with the Trump administration’s aggressive stance against illegal and mass migration. Rubio insisted that “the pope is not a political figure.” This is a routine answer that Catholic politicians who take the Faith seriously make, and I understand why Rubio and other Catholics like J.D. Vance use it. There is just one problem with it: it is not true. Politics is intrinsically moral, so it will always have something to do with religion. This ought to be obvious. Faith cannot be reduced to power conflicts, and political loyalties do not replace theology. Still, you cannot avoid taking certain stances that will benefit one side in a conflict over another. To think otherwise is naïve, for neither in Church nor in State can we ever truly dispense with questions of power.
Catholic Culture
The simple truth how Leo XIV was elected
By Phil Lawler, May 13, 2025
Less than a week after the election of a new Pope, Vatican journalists are confident (at least they tell us they are confident) that they know exactly what happened in the conclave. But there’s a problem with that claim. Everyone in the Sistine Chapel who witnessed the conclave swore an oath to keep the proceedings secret. Yet sadly, if experience is any guide, the first published accounts will prove reasonably accurate. Subsequent leaks will, to one degree or another, confirm the earliest reports. Within a month, anyone following Vatican news closely will have at least a rough idea of the vote totals from each “secret” conclave ballot. When they cast their ballots, the cardinal-electors take another solemn oath, testifying that they vote for the man they consider best suited to be Peter’s Successor. That is the simple, straightforward explanation of how Cardinal Prevost became Leo XIV.
Wild at Heart
We shall, finally and fully, be wholehearted
By John Eldredge, May 22, 2025
No more tears. No more pain. No more death. No longer any reason to mourn. Our hearts will be free from grief at the renewal of all things. The joy of this will far surpass our physical relief. Think of it—if God were to offer you today to remove just one of your greatest sources of internal pain from you, what would you ask him to remove? And once it were gone, what would your joy be like? Oh my goodness—I would be a happy maniac, dancing in my underwear like David before the ark, running about the neighborhood like Scrooge on Christmas morning, leaping housetop to housetop like the fiddler on the roof. And if all your brokenness were wholly and finally healed, and all your sin removed from you as far as the east is from the west—what will you no longer face? What will you finally be? We shall, finally and fully, be wholehearted—a wish so deep in my soul I can hardly speak it.
Image of peanuts by Nicole Köhler, from Pixabay
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