Catholic Nutshell News: Wednesday 3/11/26
Topics include: Vatican promoting dialogue on Cuba; Faith and science are not enemies; Priests thought to engage in native African healing; & Christmas is political, after all
“Here was an almond tree in bloom before me”
Today's sources are the CRUX, National Catholic Register, Vatican News, The Pillar, Aleteia, and EWTN News. (Catholic Nutshell is a subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise the Catholic News Muscle)
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EWTN News
Vatican promoting dialogue on Cuba, Cardinal Parolin says
By Victoria Cardiel, March 10, 2026
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the Holy See is promoting dialogue on Cuba and has taken “the necessary steps” with the aim of encouraging a negotiated solution to the problems facing the island. “For Cuba as well, we have done what we had to do, we met with the foreign minister, and we took the necessary steps, always with a view to a dialogue-based solution to the problems that exist,” Parolin said in comments to several media outlets, including the Holy See’s official news outlet, Vatican News. The visit by Cuba’s top diplomat came days after another significant meeting in Rome on the situation in Cuba. On Feb. 20, the head of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana, Mike Hammer, met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states, to discuss conditions in the Caribbean nation and the “important role” played by the Catholic Church in Cuban society. Hammer said Cuba is at a decisive moment and expressed hope that the country will soon attain “the freedom it has not had in 67 years.”
National Catholic Register
Faith and science are not enemies — young people need to hear it
By Bishop Earl Fernandes, March 10, 2026
For some time now, both Catholic and secular news outlets have reported the rise of the so-called “nones,” those who have disaffiliated from Catholicism or organized religion. One suspected reason for disaffiliation is the perception that faith and reason are incompatible. Young people struggle to reconcile biblical revelation, including the creation accounts in Genesis, with the hard sciences. The methods of science and theology appear so different that some suggest that a major reason for leaving the practice of the faith is that faith has nothing to offer to the world of reason, especially in an increasingly technocratic society. The ideology of scientism, which holds that only the findings of the natural sciences count as truth, has worsened the conflict between faith and science. And with the two pitted against each other, and many young people not wanting to be perceived as “unscientific,” they choose the laboratory and leave the parish behind.
CatholicVote/Zeale
Illinois Right to Life says Gov. JB Pritzker’s office withheld records
By Hannah Hiester, March 10, 2026
Illinois Right to Life (IRL) has filed a complaint with the state attorney general’s public access counselor, saying that Gov. JB Pritzker’s office failed to comply with Illinois law by not providing requested records related to a potential pro-abortion constitutional amendment. IRL, in a March 9 press release, said it asked the governor’s office to provide information about the potential amendment, which could head to the 2026 ballot and dictate abortion law in Illinois. According to the release, the office failed to comply with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), allowing the five-day deadline from the date of the organization’s request for information to lapse. IRL worries that it would include broad provisions for abortion and may extend to “gender-affirming” medical procedures as well. The organization has also raised concerns that the amendment could allow minors to obtain abortions without parental consent.
Jerusalem Post
UK bans Al Quds Day march in London
By Mathilda Heller, March 11, 2026
The UK’s Home Secretary has approved the Metropolitan Police’s ban on the upcoming annual Al Quds march and any associated counter-protest marches on account of elevated risk and potential for terror support. The Al Quds Day Rally is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, during Ramadan. The rally is a well-known part of an international day of demonstrations established in 1979 by then-Islamic supreme leader Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini with the aim of mobilizing opposition to Israel and expressing solidarity with Palestinians. It is organized by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), a group believed to have extensive ties to the Islamic regime in Iran and Iranian-backed extremism. The threshold for banning a protest is high, and the Met said it did not take the decision lightly; this is the first time it has used this power since 2012. Free speech and the right to protest are protected in UK law, and the Met has, until now, policed hundreds of protests from across the political spectrum, including 32 major pro-Palestinian protests and both pro and anti the Iranian regime.
The Pillar
Priest who engages in native African healing practices moved
By Luke Coppen, March 3, 2026
Members of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, hope to meet March 11 with Archbishop Mandla Jwara of Durban, to discuss why their priest was placed on an involuntary sabbatical. Fr. Sifiso Ndlovu has served as pastor of the Pinetown church since 2021. He is one of two clerics in the Durban archdiocese dubbed “the poster priests for syncretism” by the Sunday Tribune. Fr. Thembelani Ngcobo of Sacred Heart Parish in Montclair, who has a large social media following, was placed on an involuntary sabbatical. Neither priest has publicly acknowledged any engagement with traditional healing practices, but their reassignments generated a controversy that the Sunday Tribune has called a “syncretism crisis.” Eight KwaZulu-Natal bishops cautioned priests against syncretism, defined as “the blending of Catholic beliefs and practices with traditional African practices (esp. ubungoma) in ways that contradict the Gospel.”
Aleteia
Different languages, cultures: All one people of God
By Kathleen N. Hattrup, March 11, 2026
Pope Leo said at his general audience of March 11, "It is a great sign of hope ... to know that the Church is a people in which women and men of different nationalities, languages, and cultures live together in faith." Pope Leo continues his reflection on the Church, drawing on the Second Vatican Council's document Lumen gentium. “Therefore, the identity of this people is given by God’s action and by faith in Him. They are called to become a light for other nations, like a beacon that will draw all peoples, the whole of humanity, to itself (cf. Is 2:1-5). Indeed, it is Christ who, in giving His Body and His Blood, unites this people in Himself and in a definitive way. It is a people now made up of members of every nation; it is united by faith in Him, by adherence to Him, by living the same life as Him, animated by the Spirit of the Risen One.”
CRUX
Christian families flee southern Lebanon
By Crux Staff, March 11, 2026
Families in southern Lebanon have been fleeing Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah and have taken shelter in Beirut stadiums and schools. The United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, helped almost 100 Christian residents leave Alma al-Shaab early Tuesday, the last group of residents who for days tried to stand their ground amid the ongoing bombardments between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group. Father Pierre El-Rahi, a Maronite priest, was killed on Monday in the village of Qlayaa in the south of Lebanon, reportedly by Israeli artillery fire. The Israeli military has said it launched a “focused raid” to eliminate Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure using a brigade combat team under the command of the 36th Division. The military said that before initiating the operation, its forces launched a combined air and ground attack in the area. Hezbollah, meanwhile, said it struck Israeli troops inside Lebanon with anti-tank missiles and that it fired a volley of rockets on the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona in retaliation for Israeli strikes on cities, towns, and villages in Lebanon.
Related: Pope Leo calls Maronite priest killed in bombing ‘a true shepherd’ - “I am close to all the Lebanese people at this time of grave trial,” the pope said on March 11 - EWTN News, By Victoria Cardiel, March 11, 2026
OSV News
Wyoming governor signs ‘well-intended’ but ‘fragile’ heartbeat law
By Gina Christian, March 10, 2026
Wyoming’s governor enacted what he called a “well-intended” but ultimately “fragile” ban on abortions of unborn children with a detectable heartbeat. The legislative liaison for the Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming’s only Roman Catholic diocese, expressed support for the new law despite its shortcomings. Gov. Mark Gordon, a Republican, signed into law the Human Heartbeat Act, which makes it a felony to perform abortions where an unborn child’s cardiac activity can be detected with standard medical equipment. Penalties include up to five years’ imprisonment and up to $10,000 in fines, as well as mandatory revocation of a guilty party’s professional license. According to the law, “if, in reasonable medical judgment, a medical emergency exists” for the mother, a licensed physician is permitted to “terminate the pregnancy” even if the baby’s cardiac activity is present. Gordon, described as “pro-life, with exceptions,” expressed concern the new law would not survive a legal challenge under the state’s “current constitutional framework,”
From Loop & EWTN to Pillar Post for 3/11/26
CatholicVote: Zeale’s LOOP
Read daily news and political impact stories at the “LOOP”
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POPE ACCEPTS RESIGNATIONS OF TWO CHALDEAN LEADERS - Pope Leo yesterday accepted the resignation of Bishop Emanuel Hana Shaleta of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle of San Diego. On the same day, the Holy Father accepted the resignation of Cardinal Louis Sako, the Chaldean patriarch of Baghdad. Bishop Shaleta was arrested last week while trying to leave the country amid embezzlement accusations. READ
CARDINAL BURKE IN 'ZEALE FOR AMERICA 250' PRAYER CAMPAIGN -CatholicVote announced on March 10 a bold campaign promoting prayer and patriotism across America for its 250th birthday, inviting citizens to pray daily to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the country and cultivate the virtue of patriotism through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Here's how you can take part! READ
PORTLAND ARCHBISHOP AGAIN CONDEMNS OREGON’S ‘ABORTION PROVIDER APPRECIATION DAY’ - Governor of Oregon Tina Kotek proclaimed an official “Abortion Provider Appreciation Day,” Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland, Oregon, renewed his criticism of the proclamation, saying it represents a “moral tragedy.” The archbishop said many Oregonians are disturbed by the declaration. “Rather than celebrating the destruction of innocent human life, our society should be promoting love, protection, and meaningful support for mothers and their children.” READ
EWTN News
EWTN’s top headlines — March 11, 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.
Spanish bishops: Abortion can never be a right - By Nicolás de Cárdenas - The Spanish Bishops’ Conference (CEE, by its Spanish acronym) have stated that “abortion can never constitute a right, since there is no right to eliminate a human life,” in response to the governmentʼs attempts to include it in the Spanish constitution.
During Lent, a bishop invites people to practice ‘spiritual intelligence’ - By Julieta Villar - The bishop of San Ignacio de Velasco in Bolivia, Robert Flock, reviewed the different types of intelligence and encouraged the development of “spiritual intelligence,” which allows one to move from a mere understanding of things to true wisdom.
Before being killed in a strike, a priest in Lebanon declared: ‘We will remain until death’ - By Romy Haber - Father Pierre Al Rahi, who had chosen to remain with his parishioners, died alongside the community he refused to abandon. Pope Leo XIV expressed sorrow over the death on March 9.
The Pillar
Pillar Stories for Tuesday, 3/11/26
The Pillar offers a news summary and a capsule take on Catholic News. Here are news stories from the past week in the Pillar Post:
On Monday, before his resignation was made known, Bishop Emanuel Shaleta was arraigned in a San Diego courtroom, pleading not guilty on the criminal charges that could see him do 15 years in prison. The bishop’s lawyer said her client would be shown innocent, and argued that he was not a flight risk and should be given bail without monitoring
The U.S. bishops’ conference made headlines earlier this month for a legal brief on President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting birthright citizenship. The brief was widely criticized by Catholics who said it argued that birthright citizenship is a requirement of morality for nations. The Conference corrected that notion, arguing that revoking birthright citizenship in the U.S. would leave some children born here potentially stateless.
Meanwhile, a report from Switzerland, where bishops agreed last week that mandatory psychological assessments of future pastoral workers, including laity, should continue past an initial trial period, following a positive assessment of their effectiveness. There’s controversy, though, between those who say the tests are helpful to prevent abusive situations and those who say they’re not well-administered or well-proven.
Nutshell reflections for 3/11/26:
USCCB Daily Reflection Audio - March 11, 2026
Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent
CBCPNEWS
Christmas is political, after all
By Daniel Franklin E. Pilario, CM, December 24, 2025
People are often warned, “Keep politics out of Christmas”. You might ruin the yuletide spirit. Our portrayal of the baby Jesus in the manger looks so sweet and safe. Coupled with the flying angels and cute sheep and the magi’s gifts, the story sounds so harmless and sentimental. We have romanticized and domesticated Christmas, rendering it ahistorical and out of its real context. Of the four gospels, only two talk about the birth of Jesus: Luke and Matthew. If you read them with a different lens, their narratives are deeply political. Christmas has been political from the start. Luke took pains to situate the birth of Jesus in the context of the Roman Empire. He started with the decree of Caesar Augustus — when Quirinius was governor of Syria — that all be enrolled in their own towns. When his birth was announced to Mary earlier, the angel said: “He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord will give him the throne of David… and his kingdom will have no end.” These are not innocent pronouncements but rebellious narratives.
Aleteia
Michelangelo rediscovered in a Roman basilica
By Daniel Esparza, March 11, 2026
A marble bust of Christ that has stood quietly inside a Roman basilica for centuries has now been re-attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, shedding new light on how the Renaissance master’s works circulated after his death. The sculpture, depicting Christ the Saviour, is housed in the Basilica of Sant’Agnese fuori le mura along the historic Via Nomentana. For generations, it was preserved by the Order of Lateran Canons Regular, but its authorship had long been uncertain. Now, after years of archival investigation, Italian researcher Valentina Salerno argues that the work should once again be credited to the famed Florentine artist. Italian researcher Valentina Salerno challenges a longstanding narrative that Michelangelo destroyed many of his works late in life. Instead of widespread destruction, the documents suggest that drawings, studies, and marble sculptures were carefully distributed among trusted pupils and associates after Michelangelo’s death at age 88.
Catholic Exchange
Why do I keep asking God for more?
By C.E. Albanese, September 26, 2025
“Ask, and it will be given to you . . . For everyone who asks receives.” (Mt. 7:7–8). I’d built my entire prayer life around this verse, constantly petitioning God for more. More strength when I felt weak. More patience when I felt irritated. More faith when I doubted. Always more. But I’d been reading that verse backward. The radical truth is that He already gives me more grace than I could ever need. He gives it constantly, abundantly, without reservation. So why do I still feel spiritually famished, always needing to ask for more? The answer is simple and yet profound. I ask for more because I don’t know how to receive what’s already given. Because I block His love. Because I’m the barrier to receiving “more.” Not Him. The Holy Spirit made this startling idea clear to me one morning with a simple prompt: “What did your children do to deserve your love?”
Crisis Magazine
An apostle of peace in an era of war
By Eric Sammons, March 11, 2026
Many aspects of Blessed Emperor Karl of Austria’s life can and should be admired. He was an obedient child of his parents, a loving husband and father, the devoted head of his domestic church, a courageous soldier, a faithful emperor and king.
and a saint in accepting his suffering and death. Most people would be lucky to obtain just one of these virtues in a long life, yet he attained them all in just 34 years on this earth. He has been dubbed “The Emperor of Peace,” and that he was. But I would go even further. I would argue that Blessed Emperor Karl of Austria was an “Apostle of Peace.” And we in the 21st century desperately need to listen to the Gospel of Peace that Blessed Karl proclaimed in his day, as the news of this past week makes abundantly clear.
Image of Almonds by Monfocus from Pixabay
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