Catholic Nutshell News: Tuesday 4/7/26
Topics include: Chile’s new President is openly religious; Aliens and UFOs still fascinate the public; Easter is resistant to commercialization; & Push to make Easter Monday a federal holiday
“I’ll pray for thee from my pistachio tree”
Today's sources are OSV News, EWTN, First Things, Big Pulpit, Zenit, and CatholicVote. (Catholic Nutshell is a subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise the Catholic News Muscle)
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EWTN News
DNA research sheds new light on the Shroud of Turin
By Ishmael Adibuah, April 3, 2026
A new study found that the Shroud of Turin — the cloth believed to have been used to bury Jesus Christ after his crucifixion — contains traces from multiple geographic regions spanning several centuries. As originally reported by the official Vatican News outlet, the recent study, now available as a preprint, was made by several geneticists, including Dr. Gianni Barcaccia of the University of Padua. In their study, researchers explained that DNA testing could not definitively date the Shroud of Turin but revealed its extensive handling by many individuals over its centuries-long existence. They described it as a “diverse mosaic of genetic traces,” including those from the Mediterranean, India, and even from North America. “In brief, a reappraisal of those outcomes from the analysis of the DNA traces found on the Shroud of Turin suggests the potentially extensive exposure of the cloth in the Mediterranean region,” the researchers wrote. “DNA traces from various species and regions, including the Middle East, Mediterranean, Europe, America, and Asia, indicate that the shroud was exposed to different environments and peoples.”
Related: New study claims bloodstains on Shroud of Turin consistent with torture of Christ, EWTN News, By Tyler Arnold, Aug 27, 2024
ACI Africa
Chile’s new President José Antonio Kast is openly religious
By María Teresa Hernández, Nayara Batschke, AP, April 7, 2026
Chile’s new president, José Antonio Kast, has joined a growing list of right-leaning Latin American leaders. Not only is he conservative — he’s openly religious as well. Kast — who took office on March 11 — is a practicing Catholic and a member of the Schoenstatt movement, an international community devoted to the Virgin Mary. As a staunchly conservative former lawmaker, the 60-year-old father of nine opposed the sale of the emergency contraceptive pills in 2009. He has also spoken out against same-sex marriage and abortion, positions he emphasized during his 2021 presidential bid. “We are inviting you on a journey to recover values for a proper and healthy life,” Kast said on election night last December. “It requires everyone’s commitment.” Supporters of abortion rights and LGBTQ+ rights are wary as Kast takes office. Kast won 58 percent of the vote after pledging to crack down on crime and deport immigrants without legal status.
Christian Science Monitor
Aliens and UFOs still fascinate the public
By Stephen Humphries, March 19, 2026
In February, Steven Spielberg’s secretive summer sci-fi movie was unveiled. “Disclosure Day” is about humans discovering that they are not alone in the universe. “Movies have definitely opened us up – even more than print science fiction – to the idea that something is out there,” says Fraser Sherman, author of “The Aliens Are Here: Extraterrestrial Visitors in American Cinema and Television.” “There has always been a feedback loop between popular interest in the subject and movies.” During the early 20th century, science fiction flourished through new mediums. In 1902, the visually lavish movie “Le Voyage dans la Lune” (“A Trip to the Moon”) depicted intelligent, bipedal, insect-like lunar inhabitants. “It will appear as if God had more than one child, so to speak, and I don’t see any problem with that,” says Avi Loeb, author of “Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth.” “If you believe in God being capable of creating the universe, definitely creating other siblings in our family would make a lot of sense.”
Related: Aliens and the Catholic Church - Catholic Answers - Paul Thigpen, 12/4/2024
Related: What to Make of Catholic JD Vance’s Belief That UFOs and Space Aliens Are Demons - PJ Media, Scott Pinsker , 3:42 PM on March 29, 2026
Zenit
Two interpretations of the empty tomb, only one to choose
By ZENIT Staff, April 6, 2026
Pope’s Easter message: “Today’s Gospel (Mt 28:8–15) calls us to choose between two accounts: that of the women who encountered the risen Lord (vv. 9–11), and that of the guards who were bribed by the leaders of the Sanhedrin (vv. 11–14). The former proclaim Christ’s victory over death; the latter assert that death prevails always and in every circumstance. According to their version, Jesus has not risen; instead, his body was stolen. From the same fact — the empty tomb — two interpretations arise: one a source of new and eternal life, the other of certain and definitive death. This contrast invites us to reflect on the value of Christian witness and the integrity of human communication. Often, the proclamation of truth is obscured by what we today call “fake news” — lies, insinuations, and unfounded accusations. Yet, in the face of such obstacles, the truth does not remain hidden; rather, it comes forth to meet us, living and radiant, illuminating even the deepest darkness.”
CatholicVote
Easter is resistant to commercialization due to ‘awe’ & ‘mystery’
By Grace Porto, April 3, 2026
What makes Easter resistant to the commercialization that can so easily corrupt Christmas? I think it is because the beautiful, awful mystery of Christ’s victory over death — the Paschal Mystery — is too mysterious to be reduced to consumerism, and even the secular world knows this intuitively. The Paschal Mystery refers to the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord, the central mysteries of our faith. In the Christian tradition, mystery takes on a more specific meaning. The Catholic Encyclopedia explains: “Theologians give the name mystery to revealed truths that surpass the powers of natural reason … A mystery is a supernatural truth, one that of its very nature lies above the finite intelligence.” The celebration of Easter carries a certain somber awe, as Christ descended into Hell before the glory of His Resurrection. While the pagans marked their mysteries with frenzy, drunkenness, and orgies, Christians mark their sacred mystery, the Mass, with reverence and love.
Aleteia
Philippines inaugurates center for exorcism, healing
By Simone Lorenzo-Peckson, March 31, 2026
Exorcism is not a common topic in Sunday homilies, less so in conversations among the laity, even among those who are particularly fervent. Yet, last month, the Archdiocese of Manila publicly inaugurated the St. Michael Center of Spiritual Liberation and Exorcism, the latest project of the archdiocese’s exorcism ministry. During the inauguration, the archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Jose Advincula, corrected narrow-minded misconceptions surrounding exorcism. He explained how the center’s mission and work will support the Church’s wider vocation. “It is a public proclamation that the Church continues to take the reality of spiritual struggle seriously, and that She stands with a sure and unshakeable confidence and hope in the victory of Christ over all forms of evil.” The cardinal outlined three dimensions of bondage we all experience. Bondage includes injustice, exploitation, and corruption. Second, physical illness and poverty. Third, is the “the crisis of truth.”
National Catholic Register
Congressmen renew push to make Easter Monday a federal holiday
By Madalaine Elhabbal/EWTN News, April 7, 2026
Rep. Riley Moore, R-West Virginia, is once more calling on Congress to pass his bill to enshrine Easter Monday as a federal holiday. “In just seven years, we mark the 2,000th anniversary of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That milestone will be one of the most significant moments in world history. We should be preparing for it.” His social media post comes a year after Moore, alongside Sen. Eric Schmitt, introduced legislation that would make the day after Easter Sunday a federal holiday. No hearings have been held on the House and Senate measures, which have been referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Senate Judiciary Committee, respectively. “More than 80% of Americans — Democrats and Republicans — celebrate Easter,” Moore said. “Most other Western nations already observe Easter Monday as a public holiday. The U.S. is the outlier. It’s time to fix that.”
OSV News
Youth harm verdict be ‘tobacco industry moment’ for Big Tech
By Kimberley Heatherington, April 7, 2026
It’s the landmark court decision some are calling Big Tech’s “tobacco industry moment”: a verdict that — just like the misrepresentation that cigarettes are safe — indicates social media companies may have a lot to answer for to the public. The Meta and YouTube suit alleged features such as auto-scrolling addicted the plaintiff to the platforms, leading to anxiety, depression, and body image issues — assertions parents and researchers have been making for years, previously to no avail. On March 25, social media giant Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, Threads, and more) and video streaming service YouTube (owned by Google) were found liable for negligence owing to design features of their products. Popular apps TikTok and Snapchat — named in the same suit — settled out of court earlier. Meanwhile, OpenAI — an artificial intelligence research company offering services such as ChatGPT — faces copyright and data privacy litigation
Pulpit, EWTN, & Fides News for 4/7/26
BIG PULPIT
Tito Edwards Catholic blogger site: April 7, 2026
The Big Pulpit website is an intelligent news aggregator offering insights and analysis on the Catholic Church worldwide. Here are Chief Editor Tito Edward’s top recommendations for today.
The Devil’s Flagpole: Refuting Catholic Antisemites – James Keating at The Fourth Watch
Beautiful Conversion Stories of Catholics Who Entered the Church This Easter – Church Pop
A Chronology of the Resurrection Appearances – Msgr. Charles Pope at Community In Mission
What Are the Four Last Things? A Practical Guide for Everyday Catholics – Scepter Blog
EWTN News
EWTN’s top headlines — April 7, 2026
EWTN News 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.
Irish childhood shaped Father Flanagan’s lifelong work with youth - By Patrick J. Passmore - Boys Town founder Father Edward Flanagan, who was declared “venerable” by Pope Leo XIV on March 23, was formed by “the warm embrace of a loving family.”
Defense Secretary Hegseth removes top Army chaplain amid Iran war, chaplaincy reform - By Tyler Arnold - The reason for the removal of Maj. Gen. William Green Jr. is unclear. However, Hegseth has removed more than a dozen military leaders during his tenure and has vowed to reform the chaplaincy.
Vittorio Messori dies, Italian Catholic journalist and author, defender of the faith - By Walter Sánchez Silva - Messori converted to Catholicism and used his considerable literary and investigative skills to vigorously defend it. Messori authored “The Ratzinger Report” (1985), and “Crossing the Threshold of Hope” (1994) after interviewing Pope John Paul II.
Agenzia Fides
Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies - 4/7/26
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.
“Without priests, we would not have the fullness of the sacramental encounter with the living and risen Christ” - From the homily given by Cardinal Giorgio Marengo during the Chrism Mass celebrated on Holy Tuesday, April 1, in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Ulaanbaatar.
LEO XIV IN AFRICA - The “Anglophone crisis” in Cameroon - Yaoundé (Agenzia Fides) – Bamenda, the capital of Cameroon's Northwest Region, which Pope Leo XIV will visit on April 16, is at the heart of the so-called "Anglophone crisis" that has shaken the country since 2016.
EUROPE/ITALY - A Mission focused on young people: 120 years of Salesian presence in Asia - Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Don Bosco had expressed his desire to go as a missionary to Asia and Oceania. His dream became a reality when the first Salesian missionaries arrived in Asia about 120 years ago.
Nutshell reflections for 4/7/26:
USCCB Daily Reflection AUDIO - April 7, 2026
Tuesday in the Octave of Easter
The Imaginative Conservative
Irenaeus expounded Christianity, establishing a biblical worldview
By Michael De Sapio, April 6, 2026
St. Irenaeus of Lyons is one of the major Christian theologians from the second century after Christ. One commentator has gone as far as to call him the first great Christian theologian (not counting St. Paul, of course). Irenaeus led the intellectual assault against Gnosticism, a powerful destabilizing force in early Christianity. His works did much to destroy Gnosticism’s credibility. He is often compared with his older contemporary St. Justin Martyr, sometimes known as “the first Christian philosopher.” But Justin and Irenaeus have a different approach. Whereas Justin—somewhat like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas in later eras—strove to reconcile Christianity with dominant philosophical models, Irenaeus is much more interested in expounding Christianity in terms of the biblical worldview. As such, Irenaeus is the perfect guide for people today who are seeking a faith that is evangelical, Christocentric, and catholic.
Catholic World Report
How much should we emphasize politics?
By James Kalb Colu, April 7, 2026
People today expect politics to give more than it can, often to the point of secular utopianism. There are two basic reasons for that. The first is a decline in transcendental faith. People need an ideal point of reference, and when God disappears, they fasten on something this-worldly. Nothing that actually exists comes up to the mark, but such hope can substitute for reality, so they place their ideal in the future. The second is faith in technology. Modern natural science has given us enormous control over natural forces. Applied technology and modern administrative methods have greatly increased government control over society. There appear to be no limits to these trends, so people have the impression that we can do anything. That project is the new religion.
CRUX
The sundial of Pope Gregory XIII & the Gregorian calendar
By Daniel B. Gallagher, April 7, 2026
Around the corner from my old office in the Apostolic Palace is the Torre dei Venti, a sixteenth-century tower housing the sundial Pope Gregory XIII used to correct the Julian calendar. Aided by a team of brilliant Jesuits, Gregory tracked the movement of sunlight across the floor to ascertain the precise timing of the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. This led to the removal of 10 days from October in 1582. With very few exceptions (Iran being one of them), the “Gregorian calendar” has been the standard mode of computing the annual cycle ever since. Few people know that the Vatican continues to collect astronomical data assiduously for the international scientific community. Its primary instrument is the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT) located in southeast Arizona, which observes light in the optical and infrared ranges. The Artemis II mission is, even as this column appears, carrying a crew around the Moon. If all goes according to plan, we’ll be watching humans walk on the moon again in 2029.
First Things
A weakened & demoralized West due to open-society consensus
By R. R. Reno, April 1, 2026
Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke at the recent Munich Security Conference. Last year, Vice President JD Vance issued stern warnings with harsh rhetoric. Rubio’s speech was conciliatory, often speaking warmly of common purpose and mutual friendship. But the substance was not much different from last year’s. Vance and Rubio convey the Trump administration’s conviction that the West suffers from civilizational malaise. Restoring confidence in our shared Western inheritance is of foundational importance. The problems besetting a weakened and demoralized West were the result of a powerful open-society consensus. America led the way in pioneering globalization. Unfortunately, as the twentieth century came to an end, the open-society consensus demanded that we have a culture without religion, something never before tried in human history. The animus against vibrant and civically engaged Christianity will be difficult to overcome. But as Rubio suggests, we must overcome it.
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