Catholic Nutshell News: Thursday 7/3/25
Topics include: Leo's first Latin Mass exemption; Permanent school choice credit; Latin American bishops criticized; & 'Sisters are writing themselves out of history'
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Today's sources include Aleteia, OSV, CNA, National Catholic Register, The Pillar, CatholicVote, John Eldredge, and The Babylon Bee. (Catholic Nutshell is a subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise the Catholic News Muscle)
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Catholic News Agency
First Latin Mass exemption under Pope Leo allowed in Texas
By Madalaine Elhabbal, July 3, 2025
The Vatican has granted a parish in Texas an exemption from restrictions to the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) imposed by Pope Francis’ decree Traditionis Custodes. The exemption, requested by Bishop Michael Sis on Feb. 6, was granted to St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas. No other such exemption by Pope Leo XIV has been reported since the start of his pontificate. “The Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments informed me in a decree of May 28, 2025, that my request has been granted for a further two years for a dispensation from article 3§2 of the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, so that Mass according to the ‘Missale Romanum’ of 1962 may be celebrated in the parish church of St. Margaret of Scotland in San Angelo,” Sis, who previously served as a member of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine, said in a statement he shared with CNA.
Related: Debate over Latin Mass heats up after apparent leak of Vatican documents that undermine Pope Francis, By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press, Jul 2, 2025
CatholicVote
Senate’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ has permanent school choice credit
By Elise DeGeeter, July 2, 2025
A historic federal school choice provision is now one step closer to law after the Senate narrowly passed the “Big Beautiful Bill” on July 1. The legislation establishes a new federal tax credit aimed at expanding school choice by incentivizing donations to nonprofits that assist families in covering the costs of private or alternative K-12 education. If a state opts into the program, individual taxpayers may claim up to $1,700 per year in non-refundable tax credits for donations to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). These organizations offer scholarships that can be applied toward tuition, transportation, school supplies, and other educational expenses. “School choice is the civil rights issue of the 21st century,” Cruz said on the Senate floor ahead of the vote. “Every child, regardless of race or wealth or ethnicity, deserves access to an excellent education.”
Crux
‘Excess’ of social issues by Latin American bishops criticized
By Eduardo Campos Lima, July 2, 2025
An open letter to the bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Latin America (known by the Spanish acronym CELAM) released in June by Father Clodovis Boff spurred controversy among clergy members and theologians in Brazil. In the document, Clodovis Boff – once a major leader of the Liberation Theology movement in Latin America, along with his brother Leonardo Boff, and now a frequent critic of such a theological school – accuses the bishops of prioritizing social issues to the detriment of Jes’ good news. The leaders of the Latin American and Caribbean church gathered at the end of May in Rio de Janeiro for their general assembly. In their final message, they stressed the need to build a synodal Church, one that can give a testimony of unity amid the politically polarized societies in the region.
National Catholic Reporter
'Sisters are writing themselves out of history'
By Dan Stockman, July 2, 2025
After fleeing the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s, the congregation that would become the Poor Clares of Brenham, Texas, found themselves free to carry out their mission but nearly penniless. However, by 2010, the congregation had dwindled to just three sisters. As congregations in the United States see their numbers declining, many are realizing the need to preserve their history and are turning to professional archivists. Without archival material, stories such as the Cowboy Nuns of Cuba would be lost. If they don't tell their story, "sisters are writing themselves out of history," said Michele Levandoski, president of the Archivists for Congregations of Women Religious. The vast majority of women's congregations have an archive staff of one; 60% have no digitization, and more than one-third are not open to the public, said Veronica Buchanan, executive secretary of ACWR.
National Catholic Register
Community centers ready as Planned Parenthood faces defunding
By Zelda Caldwell, July 3, 2025
If Congress successfully stops federal funding from going to Planned Parenthood, the abortion provider said, as many as 200 of its facilities may be forced to close. A fundraising plea on its website warns that women’s health will be compromised due to decreased access to services. However, a study conducted by the Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI) mapped women’s health providers across the U.S. and found that there are 15 community health centers for every Planned Parenthood facility. The key difference between these health clinics and Planned Parenthood’s centers is the services they offer, according to Tessa Cox, senior research associate at CLI. She said that women can access comprehensive health care at community-based clinics, but Planned Parenthood is primarily focused on abortion.
The Pillar
Cardinal Fernández announces Rupnik judges have been chosen
By Edgar Beltrán, July 3, 2025
Vatican doctrinal chief Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández announced Thursday that a panel of judges for the canonical trial of mosaic artist Fr. Marko Rupnik has been chosen — a panel “made up of judges who are all independent and external to our dicastery.” “People were chosen who would not give rise to any suspicion." Rupnik, a former Jesuit from Slovenia, is the creator of mosaics installed in dozens of high-profile chapels in Europe — including the Vatican — Latin America, and the U.S. With regards to the Rupnik case, Fernández said the dicastery finished the stage of gathering information, which was in very different places, and conducted a first analysis. “Now, we are working to constitute an independent tribunal that goes to the last stage through a penal judicial procedure.”
Our Sunday Visitor
Can a Catholic attend an Eastern Orthodox church?
By Jenna Marie Cooper, July 2, 2025
The Orthodox and the Eastern Catholics are not the same. While the Orthodox have valid sacraments and very similar doctrinal teachings as Catholics — and even similar liturgies to many Eastern Catholic churches — the Orthodox are not Catholic and do not acknowledge the authority of the pope in Rome. The Orthodox churches came into being as a result of the “Great Schism” that occurred in the year 1054, when Pope St. Leo IX and the Patriarch of Constantinople excommunicated each other. There are many complex historical reasons for this. Still, this division arose due to theological differences regarding the Nicene Creed, as well as a fundamental disagreement over the nature of the pope’s authority within the universal church. However, the Orthodox churches have and continue to have Apostolic succession. Orthodox priests and bishops have been validly ordained since the time of the apostles, forming an unbroken chain.
The Times of Israel
After years of cooperation, Gaza clans rise up against Hamas
By Nurit Yohanan, July 2, 2025
For the first time in nearly two decades of Hamas rule in Gaza, large, heavily armed clans are openly defying the terror group, through both public statements and armed confrontations. The opposition marks a serious challenge to Hamas’s ability to maintain local control, and comes amid the group’s declining military strength and waning popularity among Gazans as the nearly 21-month-old war with Israel drags on. Israel has suggested that the clans could supplant Hamas rule in Gaza, but this is not necessarily a positive prospect: Even as they’ve begun to publicly counter Hamas, the families have continued to criticize Israel and distance themselves. “I still see Hamas as the dominant force in Gaza,” said Michael Milshtein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum at Tel Aviv University. “In the south, where the IDF has more control, we’re seeing more of these clan-related phenomena.”
CatholicVote, CNA & Satire for 7/3/2025
CatholicVote - The Loop
Read daily news and political impact stories at the “LOOP”
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DOJ UNVEILS MASSIVE MEDICAL FRAUD TAKEDOWN - The Department of Justice yesterday charged 324 people in what officials called the department’s largest healthcare fraud operation in history — a sprawling, international scheme that siphoned billions from taxpayer-funded medical programs.
4TH OF JULY WITH JOHN ADAMS - The Fourth of July is not only about hot dogs and fireworks, but also devotion, gratitude, and freedom’s price. John Adams understood this well. Here’s what he, who basically invented the Fourth of July spirit, has to teach us this Independence Day.
CATHOLIC 101 - We are all fighting a civil war with ourselves. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote that the battle between good and evil takes place in each individual human heart. To be, or not to be. To be a saint, or not to be a saint. To answer the call, or to refuse it. Fatherhood, says Joseph Pearce, is the path that leads men to this sanctity.
Catholic News Agency
CNA’s top headlines — July 3, 2025
The Catholic News Agency provides reliable, free, and up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, emphasizing the words of the Holy Father and the happenings of the Holy See to anyone with internet access.
Notre Dame Law School recognizes scholars for religious liberty work - Jul 3, 2025 - By Tessa Gervasini - At its fifth annual Religious Liberty Summit, Notre Dame Law School recognized two scholars for their contributions to the promotion and protection of religious liberty around the world.
UN delegation makes surprise visit to Catholic parish in Gaza - Jul 2, 2025 - By Junno Arocho Esteves - A United Nations delegation made a surprise visit on Tuesday to Holy Family Parish, the only Latin-rite Catholic Church in the Gaza strip.
Young European Catholics release manifesto: ‘The revolution has begun’ - Jul 2, 2025 - By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú - A project conceived as a true “spiritual revolution” was presented at the Vatican on July 2, promoted by young Christians.
Babylon Bee’s (Satire) News
Jesus Delights Crowd By Miraculously Turning Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Into Chocolate Chip
By Theology Staff, July 1, 2024
The amazing reputation built by a Galilean carpenter-turned-traveling rabbi grew even more impressive this week. Jesus of Nazareth miraculously turned a plate of disgusting oatmeal raisin cookies into chocolate chip. A multitude of men, women, and children were faint in the heat of the day and were asking for a sweet treat. Though a small boy volunteered his snack bag, the crowd was thrown into despair when it was discovered that he only had oatmeal raisin cookies. Jesus then reportedly saved the day by turning them into something more edible. "We were all starving, but this dumb kid only had oatmeal raisin cookies. Nobody was going to touch those things,” said Judah, a man from Capernaum. Jesus' disciples rejoiced at 12 baskets of leftover chocolate chip cookies to take with them on the road.
Nutshell reflections for 7/3/25:
USCCB Daily Reflection - AUDIO - July 3, 2025
Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle
Aleteia
American Catholics need to get weird again
By Theresa Civantos Barber, July 3, 2025
We Catholics are odd ducks in all kinds of ways, from our love for saints’ relics to our Saturday evening Mass “counting” for Sunday. But in today’s America, it’s all too easy to forget that we aren’t supposed to fit in. We used to be a lot weirder, and it’s time to reclaim that as a badge of honor. There was a time when being Catholic in America meant being really, really different. We knew we were children of a God who said, “You do not belong to the world. I have chosen you out of the world” (John 15:19). Our grandparents' ultimate allegiance wasn't to American political machinery, but to something far more important and longer-lasting: the universal Church and her teachings. Somewhere along the way, we lost our nerve.
Catholic Gentlemen
Males need rites of passage
By Jason Craig, December 17, 2024
Some transitions in life are so radical that the old form of life simply cannot continue into the new form; the old form must give way and the new form be embraced. A man cannot be both married and unmarried, ordained and lay, or dead and alive. This transition, when one state of life “dies” and another is “born,” is the more universal understanding of a rite of passage: the passing of one state that allows for the embrace of a new one. This pattern of separation, initiation, and incorporation is discernible in other realms as well, most notably in the Church, since the new life in Christ is, as St. Paul said, incompatible with the “old man.” Paternity — the heart of authentic masculinity — is something a man must choose and embrace. “What a woman receives from her experience of her physical female nature, a man must receive from his culture,” explains Dr. Leon J. Podles, “because he will not receive it simply by living out the logic of his male body.”
The Obscure, Forgotten, and Undiscovered
Cadillac’s Catholic connection
By James K. Hanna, June 25, 2025
Known as “the wreath and crest,” it is based on Sieur de Cadillac’s family coat of arms, reflecting the iconography of a European heraldic tradition. The emblem has been redesigned nearly 30 times over the past 100 years. Each element of the Cadillac crest has a different meaning. The original logo, introduced in 1905, featured several elements that are no longer present, including the coronet studded with pearls and the merlettes. According to Motor Trend magazine (February 2023), the merlettes, mythical small birds without beaks or feet that never touch the ground, always in flight, represent constant striving for excellence, and when presented as a trio, reference the Holy Trinity. Cadillac's own history of the crest notes that several elements indicate various virtues such as purity, charity, and knightly valor—honorable service by Sieur de Cadillac’s ancestral families during the Crusades.
Wild at Heart
Satan is hoping to secure an agreement from us
By John Eldredge, July 3, 2025
Satan is a liar, “the father of lies” (John 8:44), so utterly convincing he deceived a glorious man and woman to betray God, whom they walked with every day. I think we tend to dismiss Adam and Eve as the idiots who got us all into this mess in the first place. But they had not yet sinned; they had experienced no wounding; they were man and woman in their glory. And they were deceived. It ought to give us all a healthy respect for what the enemy is capable of. Even the best of us can be taken in. What Satan is hoping to secure from us is an agreement — that often very subtle but momentous shift in us where we believe the spin, we go with the feeling, we accept as reality the deception he is presenting.
Image of peanuts by Nicole Köhler, from Pixabay
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