Catholic Nutshell News: Tuesday 10/7/25
Topics include: Congo’s Catholic bishops oppose execution; Too early for optimism or pessimism on Gaza; Court rules against Colorado Catholic parishes; & Why see a saint’s bones?
“I’ll pray for thee from my pistachio tree”
Today's sources are the National Catholic Register, CNA, The Imaginative Conservative, CRUX, The Pillar, OSV, Big Pulpit, and MOM. (Catholic Nutshell is a subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise the Catholic News Muscle)
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ACI Africa
Congo’s Catholic bishops oppose the execution of former president
By Jude Atemanke, October 7, 2025
Catholic Bishops in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have condemned the decision of the High Military Court of Kinshasa to sentence former President Joseph Kabila to death, describing the verdict as a “horrifying” act that contradicts both the Gospel and the nation’s constitutional values. In a statement issued Monday, October 6, members of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) reiterate that God alone is the author of life and that no human institution has the legitimate authority to decide its beginning or end. “We are horrified by the verdict of the High Military Court of Kinshasa, which, following a summary criminal trial against former President Joseph Kabila, has sentenced him to death,” the Congolese Catholic Bishops say in the statement shared with ACI Africa.
The Pillar
Priests assaulted amid ongoing anti-Christian incidents in India
By Luke Coppen, October 8, 2025
The priests, Fr. Dean Thomas Soreng and Fr. Emmanuel Baghwar, were beaten with batons when approximately 12 men stormed St. Joseph Church in Tumdegi, Simdega district, Jharkhand state, in the early hours of Oct. 1. Following the attack, the priests were taken to a health center, where they were reported to be in a stable condition. The assailants, whose identity is unknown, stole around $3,400 in cash stored on the church premises. But local Catholic officials have cast doubt on whether theft was the sole motive for the attack, suggesting that dislike of the Church’s social and educational work could be another factor. Simdega district is an area with a strong Christian presence in Jharkhand state, which has a large Hindu majority. A similar incident took place in the district in June 2025, when armed men assaulted three priests and stole money at St. Teresa Church in Bolbo block.
Times of Israel
Too early for optimism or pessimism on Gaza progress
By ToI Staff, October 7, 2025
Fourth Houthi drone within an hour shot down over Eilat By Emanuel Fabian - Yet another drone launched by the Houthis in Yemen at Israel’s southernmost city of Eilat was shot down by air defenses, the military says. The drone was intercepted outside of the country’s borders, and therefore no sirens were activated “according to protocol,” the IDF says. It marks the fourth Houthi drone shot down in the Eilat area within an hour.
Rubio affirms Israel ties, blasts surging antisemitism on anniversary of Oct. 7 - By Jacob Magid - In a statement marking the two-year anniversary of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Washington “reaffirms its unwavering support for Israel’s right to exist, to defend itself, and to ensure the safety of its people.” The top US diplomat highlights the two US citizens — Omer Neutra and Itay Chen — who are among the 48 hostages still being held in Gaza and touts US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza and advance “generational” peace in the region.
CatholicVote
Court rules against Colorado Catholic parishes, Denver archdiocese
By McKenna Snow, October 6, 2025
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled Sept. 30 against two Colorado Catholic parish preschools seeking to be included in the state’s universal preschool program without having to sign a nondiscrimination requirement that violates their sincerely held religious beliefs. “The government is punishing families who choose to send their kids to Catholic schools,” The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is serving as counsel for the plaintiffs, said. “The State didn’t have to create a program that provides free preschool tuition to families at all private and public schools. But what the government cannot do is use this program to discriminate against families based on their choice of a religious school.” Colorado’s Department of Early Childhood established a universal preschool program (abbreviated UPK) in 2022, and all participating schools must sign a nondiscrimination agreement. According to Becket, the UPK provides all preschoolers with 15 hours of free education per week at a private or public school chosen by the parents.
Catholic News Agency
Ceasefire deal, hostage release a ‘first step’ for peace
By Kate Quiñones, October 6, 2025
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, called the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal brokered by the U.S. a “first step” toward peace. Twenty living hostages and the bodies of 28 dead hostages are believed to remain in Gaza as the second anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack — the largest massacre of Jews since World War II — approaches. Pizzaballa called the ceasefire deal “an important and long-awaited first step” in an Oct. 4 letter to the faithful. “If both sides agree to this proposal, the war will immediately end,” the plan reads. “Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed-upon line to prepare for a hostage release. During this time, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal.”
The Angelus
Protecting refugees from religious persecution a legal responsibility
By Catholic News Agency, October 2, 2025
The international community has a moral and legal responsibility to protect refugees fleeing religious persecution, according to a report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). “While states are responsible for protecting the fundamental human rights of their own citizens, refugees by definition do not receive such protections from their own governments,” the report noted. As the number of refugees has doubled over the last decade, there are growing challenges for neighboring countries to host them. Despite the growing numbers, the USCIRF report noted that it is not just a moral responsibility for countries to welcome refugees but a legal one.
CRUX
Filipino cardinal decries injustices against country’s Muslim minority
By Joseph San Mateo, October 7, 2025
Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, 86, from the southern Philippines, has decried what he describes as continued injustice against Muslim Filipinos who dominate part of this island group, which, for decades, has been stricken by poverty and war. Mindanao is home to the autonomous Muslim region of Bangsamoro, composed of 5.69 million Filipinos. Unlike in the rest of predominantly Catholic Philippines, Muslims comprise 91% of the region’s population. In the Philippine Catholic Church, no one is a more credible voice on the topic than Quevedo, a religious leader revered by Mindanao’s Catholics and Muslims alike. The former archbishop of Cotabato, in Mindanao, from 1998 until his retirement in 2018 at the age of 79, Quevedo is a priest of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), a 209-year-old congregation known for its work in Mindanao.
Our Sunday Visitor
The new school year begins at the parish school in Haiti
By Agenzia Fides, October 2, 2025
“Without quality education, there is no future for Haiti and for our small but resilient mountain community,” said missionary Father Massimo Miraglio of the Order of the Ministers of the Sick (MI). He spoke at the opening of the school year in Pourcine Pic-Macaya, located in the mountainous hinterland of Jeremie, 300 km from Port-au-Prince. “The school year traditionally begins with the Mass of the Holy Spirit.” Father Miraglio expected the school to reach its actual enrollment of 200 children in kindergarten and primary school starting Monday, October 6th. “We have strengthened the teaching staff with two new teachers,” said the Camillian, parish priest of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Pourcine. “A year that begins with many unknowns, but with hope and a strong desire to advance the education of our children.”
From Pulpit & CNA to Fides for 10/7/25
BIG PULPIT
Tito Edwards Catholic blogger site: October 7, 2025
The Big Pulpit website is an intelligent news aggregator offering quality insight & analysis on the Catholic Church worldwide. Here are Chief Editor Tito Edward’s top recommendations for today.
Beautiful Vestments that Pope Leo Wore for the Feast of the Holy Rosary – Fr. Allan J. McDonald
New Papal Directive On Investments Overturns Rules By Pope Francis – Catholic World News
Pope Leo XIV Restores Two Liturgical Traditions for Christmas – Zenit
Have You Got A Nun In Your Family? – Sachin Jose on X
Catholic News Agency
CNA’s top headlines — October 7, 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.
Mother Cabrini Institute aims to change ‘mental pattern’ of associating immigrants with crime - Oct 7, 2025 - By Victoria Cardiel - St. Frances Xavier Cabrini embraced the travails of millions of recently arrived Italian immigrants to the United States. The Villanova University initiative is based on the Augustinian values of “veritas, unitas, and caritas” (truth, unity, and charity).
Vatican approves beatification cause of priest who pioneered monastic life in Korea - Oct 7, 2025 - By Walter Sánchez Silva - Father Leo Bang Yu-ryong (1900–1986) will be recognized as a servant of God. With this permission, the archdiocese will be able to begin the diocesan phase of the process.
Pope Leo XIV to visit Turkey and Lebanon - Oct 7, 2025 - By Kristina Millare - Pope Leo XIV will visit Turkey and Lebanon in the first apostolic journey of his pontificate to take place from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2, the Vatican announced Tuesday.
Agenzia Fides
Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies - 10/7/25
Fides News Agency (Fides) was established in 1927, at the direction of the Council Superior General of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, as the first Missionary Agency of the Church and among the first agencies in the world.
ASIA/INDONESIA - “A beautiful gift for the Church in Indonesia”: new mission of the Salesians in Borneo - Sungai Raya (Agenzia Fides) – On September 1, 2025, three Salesians—Fr. Adi Prinanto, Fr. Tarsisus Trianto, and Fr. John Laba—officially began their mission in Sungai Raya, near Pontianak, on the island of Borneo.
ASIA/AFGHANISTAN - Discrimination against women and violations of rights: an NGO appeals to the Permanent People’s Tribunal - Madrid (Agenzia Fides) – On October 8, the Permanent People’s Tribunal (PPT) will open its hearing to examine the complaint filed by a coalition of Afghan civil society organizations, which denounces the rights violations against Afghan women.
AFRICA/NIGERIA - China also invests in Africa in the healthcare sector - by Cosimo Graziani Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – China in Africa is not just about strategic infrastructure. The country’s presence on the African continent aims to create a partnership that will last for years.
Nutshell reflections for 10/7/25:
USCCB Daily Reflection AUDIO - October 7, 2025
Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
Aleteia
Why would a Catholic want to see a saint’s bones?
By Christine Rousselle, October 7, 2025
On Sunday, October 5, the Vatican announced that for the first time in 800 years, people will be able to view St. Francis of Assisi’s relics — his bones — in 2026. The announcement of the month-long exhibition triggered two reactions online: “Neat!” and “What? Why?” While many of the confused reactions were from non-Catholics, some Catholics admitted they were mystified. There are three types of relics: A first-class relic is a part of the saint’s body, such as St. Francis of Assisi’s bones or St. Maximilian Kolbe’s hair. Items such as a robe, gloves, or other items belonging to a saint are referred to as “second-class relics.” A third-class relic has been touched by a first- or second-class relic. Relics, said Julie Fitts Ritter, executive director of the Padre Pio Foundation of America, “are a physical and tangible connection to the saints and the holy lives they have lived — they inspire faith and can bring a deeper spiritual relationship with the saint and ultimately Jesus.”
Imaginative Conservative
Monastic life is hidden from the world
By The Editors, October 4, 2025
For centuries, Benedictines have safeguarded the soul of civilization. Now, the monks of Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey are stewarding this ancient and vital tradition for our age—right here in America. In every age, God calls souls apart to leave behind the fleeting and to seek what is eternal. To a few, He gives the grace to surrender all for the sake of a life wholly given to Him. Monastic life is hidden from the world, but radiant in the eyes of heaven. It is quiet, but deeply purposeful—offering prayer, work, and hospitality in service to God — a life marked by silence, stability, and sacrifice. To answer such a call does not retreat from the world, but offers one’s life for its sanctification. In an age of ruin and unrest, Benedictine monasteries preserved what the world was losing—sacred texts, learning, craftsmanship, the rhythm of Christian life. They taught by example, tilling the soil, forming the young, welcoming the stranger, and sanctifying the day through labor and prayer.
Catholic Mom
Why call Mary the Co-Redeemer?
By Bonnie Drury, October 7, 2025
A few weeks ago, we had a visitor in our home who went straight for the jugular. “You Catholics are going to hell because you believe in a religion instead of Jesus Christ.” “No,” I said, “that’s not true. The Church is Jesus, here on earth.” She swatted away my answer and said, “And you call Mary the Co-Redeemer!” I was taken aback by the look of horror and disgust on her face. “Because she said yes,” I replied, wondering why this offended her so much. “She allowed Jesus to come to earth through her, as a willing participant to God’s Will.” I called my oldest son, who’d spent a year and a half in the seminary. He said, “Mary showed us what we’re all supposed to do. We should all become Co-Redeemers by saying yes to Jesus and allow him to work through us, for the salvation of others.” When Mary was given the title Co-Redeemer, she was not being made equal to the Holy Trinity. She is not divine, but human, like the rest of us. Yet, she rose to the occasion, though young and fearful.
Catholic Stand
Grave and soul-murdering errors of the modernists
By Ralph A. Capone, October 7, 2025
Pascendi Dominici Gregis (Encyclical of Pope Pius X on the doctrines of the Moderniss) was written in 1907 by Pope Saint Pius X. The Roman Catholic Church is more than a pilgrim Church, which we hear so much about today. It is the Mystical Body of Christ — the Perfect Head, who lives in the Church, His Body, and which represents a divinely-instituted “perfect society” (Pope Leo XIII Immortale Dei -1885). The Church is also a “pilgrim” Church in her faithful, who in their human frailty are on the way to their heavenly home. It is the Church, sanctified through the Perfect Sacrifice and Blood of Christ, which accompanies and empowers them to grow in holiness. By God’s grace, we become more conformed to her Head, Jesus Christ. The modernists, like their ‘rationalist’ predecessors, reject the supernatural and deny religion informed by divine revelation. They disaffirm that God can ever be known by human reason. Pius’ forewarning to the Church and the faithful has gradually come to pass. These grave and soul-murdering errors of the modernists have been sown like weeds among the wheat in the very bosom of the Church.
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