Catholic Nutshell News: Wednesday 12/17/25
Topics include: Liquefaction of blood of St. Januarius; German bishops over the cliff; Petition to halt cannabis rescheduling; & Iowa priest rebuked by bishop
“Here was an almond tree in bloom before me”
Today's sources are the CRUX, Pime Asia News, National Catholic Register, Vatican News, The Pillar, Aleteia, and CNA. (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
Miracle of the liquefaction of blood of St. Januarius still going on
By Andrés Henríquez, December 16, 2025
The miracle of the liquefaction of the blood of St. Januarius, patron saint of the Italian city of Naples, occurred again on Tuesday, Dec. 16, his feast day. “Dec. 16 is the third of three annual celebrations in honor of the martyred saint. This date commemorates the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 1631, when the Neapolitans requested and obtained the miraculous intervention of St. Januarius to prevent the lava from engulfing the city,” he explained.f St. Januarius. The miracle usually occurs on two other days of the year: every Sept. 19 (the anniversary of St. Januarius’ martyrdom) and the Saturday before the first Sunday of May (in remembrance of the transfer of his remains to Naples). On Sept. 19, 2024 — despite the miracle having occurred that day — the archbishop of Naples, Cardinal Domenico Battaglia, urged the faithful not to place their hope in physical manifestations but in Jesus, who calls us to care for the most vulnerable.
National Catholic Register
German bishops’ conference, over the cliff
By George Weigel, December 17, 2025
When it was first published in 1993, Pope St. John Paul II’s encyclical on the reform of Catholic moral theology, Veritatis Splendor (The Splendor of Truth), dealt a severe blow to the pride of many German theologians, who had long thought themselves the cutting edge of Catholic intellectual life. German resistance to the papal magisterium antedated even John Paul II. It would be hard to find a prominent German theologian (or bishop, for that matter) who defended Pope Paul VI after he issued the 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae on the morally appropriate means of regulating fertility. And now the German resistance to the truth has metastasized into what seems to be an embrace of the claims of gender ideology and the “trans” movement by most of the country’s bishops. So: No affirmation of biblical anthropology. No proclamation that the Church authoritatively teaches a sexual ethic that has fostered human flourishing and sanctity for two millennia. No call to conversion. Do-it-yourself moral discernment.
CatholicVote
CatholicVote’s petition urging halt to cannabis rescheduling
By Kelsey Reinhardt, December 9, 2025
CatholicVote on Dec. 16 launched a national petition urging President Donald Trump to halt any effort to reclassify marijuana, as his administration weighs loosening federal restrictions on the drug. “Rescheduling cannabis now, before FDA approval, before long-term safety studies, before we understand the full public-health consequences, would repeat the catastrophic mistake America made with tobacco,” CatholicVote President Kelsey Reinhardt said in a statement announcing the petition. “We cannot afford another generation paying the price.” Under the federal Controlled Substances Act, Schedule I is the most restrictive drug classification. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) defines Schedule I substances as having “no currently accepted medical use” and a “high potential for abuse.” Marijuana is currently listed as a Schedule I substance.
Christian religious education in Northern Ireland ruled unlawful
By Patrick J. Passmore, December 17, 2025
A U.K. Supreme Court ruling has found that Christian religious education taught in schools in Northern Ireland is unlawful. In its judgment, the court found that the current approach lacks an “objective, critical, and pluralistic” framework and leans more toward indoctrination than fostering a diverse understanding of beliefs. Responding to the ruling, which does not apply to Catholic schools, Bishop Alan McGuckian, SJ, of the Down and Connor Diocese, firmly challenged the idea that Christianity should be given no priority in all schools, stating that anyone seeking to do so is “cutting off their nose to spite their face.” The landmark ruling follows a case brought by an unnamed father and his daughter who attended a non-Catholic state-controlled primary school in Belfast. The girl received nondenominational Christian religious instruction and participated in Christian worship.
The Pillar
Iowa priest theft prompted bishop’s sharp rebuke
By Michelle La Rosa, December 16, 2025
“This priest has apparently sequentially, deliberately forsaken his identity as both father and son, squandering an inheritance he has not produced,” Des Moines’ Bishop William Joensen said, taking a notably different approach from officials asking courts to issue light sentences for criminal offenders who have embezzled church money. “The folly, presumption, arrogance, greed, and magnitude of sin are glaring … they are for me personally infuriating, among the other emotions I continue to experience…we pray justice is served.” Father Thomas Thakadipuram, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Shenandoah, and St. Mary Parish, Hamburg, did not inform anyone at the parish or diocese that he was taking parish assets from mature certificates of deposit. The parish finance council had voted to roll the proceeds over into new certificates. Thakadipuram misappropriated $164,000 in parish funds from St. Mary in Shenandoah, investing them in what turned out to be a scam investment
Vatican News
Turn to Jesus in ‘our everyday lives’
By Kielce Gussie, December 17, 2025
Pope Leo XIV reflected today on the universal feeling that we all have to be constantly on-the-go, which “drives us to do, to act.” He highlighted how speed is often required to reach the ideal goals in almost any field. Rather than focus on worldly demands, Leo focused on Jesus’ Resurrection and how this can affect our daily life. When all of us participate in Christ’s victory over death, the question is: Will we find rest? The Pope explained that our faith tells us that we will. Yet, it will not be an inactive rest. We will live in peace and joy. “So, should we just wait, or can this change us right now?” Our daily lives are filled with choices, problems, difficulties, and responsibilities, yet Jesus’ focus remained on “giving Himself to the end.” Pope Leo warned against thinking that doing so many things gives fulfillment. Instead, it “becomes a vortex that overwhelms us, takes away our serenity, and prevents us from living to the fullest what is truly important in our lives.”
Pime Asia News
South Africa’s Cardinal Brislin decries ‘scandal fatigue’
By Silas Isenjia, December 17, 2025
The president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) has expressed concern over the rising prevalence of corruption and impunity in South Africa, noting that “scandal fatigue” is obstructing the experience of Christmas and Christ’s light. In his Christmas message issued on December 15, Stephen Cardinal Brislin states that the growing revelation of corruption cases in the country is causing scandal among the people of God, as there is no precise figure for the amount of embezzled public funds. “In South Africa, we continue to face the lack of accountability for crime, corruption, and service delivery failures, as poverty and unemployment remain unconscionably high,” Cardinal Brislin says. “This Christmas brings to a close a momentous year - for us as the Catholic faithful and for the peoples of the world. It is a time of great uncertainty. In so many places, it is difficult for people to experience the Light of Christmas as darkness and despair overwhelm them.”
Crux
Brazilian cardinal orders a popular Catholic priest to go offline
By Mauricio Savarese, AP, December 17, 2025
Sao Paulo’s Deputy Mayor Col. Ricardo Mello Araujo has accused Father Júlio Lancellotti of empowering drug users scattered downtown, a claim the priest denies. City councilors allied with former President Jair Bolsonaro have tried to open investigations against the clergyman’s work. 40 Brazilian organizations that work for homeless people sent a letter to Cardinal Odilo Scherer, Sao Paulo’s archbishop asking him to reconsider his decision to suspend Lancelotti’s broadcasts and social media activity. With 2.3 million followers on Instagram, Father Júlio Lancellotti, 76, is famous all over Brazil for his extensive advocacy and outreach work with homeless people in Sao Paulo. On Tuesday, Lancellotti told journalists he received the news from the Cardinal, “in a spirit of obedience and resilience.” Lancellotti’s services were regularly broadcast on Sunday mornings. He warned churchgoers that his online following would not be able to watch if they did not attend in person.
From Loop & Agency to Pillar Post for 12/17/25
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BONDI BEACH KILLERS: LATEST FINDINGS IN AUSTRALIA - Australian authorities have confirmed that the Dec. 14 mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach was an anti-Jewish terrorist act inspired by ISIS ideology. The alleged perpetrators are a father-and-son duo identified as Sajid Akram (50, killed by police) and Naveed Akram (24, hospitalized and expected to face charges).
WSJ: EFFORTS TO RESCUE JIMMY LAI ONLY BEGINNING - The conviction of Catholic hero and media mogul Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong this week struck many as a severe blow to him and his supporters. The Wall Street Journal editorial board offered a different perspective. According to the WSJ, diplomatic efforts to secure Lai’s release can move forward more seriously now that the conviction has been handed down.
MICHIGAN AG REPORTS GRAND RAPIDS ABUSE CASES - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released a report on decades of alleged sexual abuse and misconduct by clergy in the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids this week. The over-300-page report documents allegations dating back to 1950 against 51 priests, 37 of whom are now deceased, and none of whom are still in active ministry. The attorney general’s report concluded that no criminal charges would be filed in connection with the diocese.
Catholic News Agency
CNA’s top headlines — December 17, 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 activities of the Holy See, available to anyone with internet access.
Why religion matters at the EU-Balkans summit today - Dec 17, 2025 - By Bohumil Petrík - The Balkans’ complex religious reality plays an important role as officials and diplomats gather on Wednesday to discuss the membership plans for six nations.
With special permission, prisoners travel to Rome for the jubilee - Dec 16, 2025 - By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú - The group comprised 13 people from Valencia, including prisoners, volunteers, and the chaplain. Six of them were inmates in the second and third degree of the prison system — regimens that combine incarceration with controlled outings
EU funding freeze causes financial problems for Catholic family association - Dec 16, 2025 - By AC Wimmer - A drastic cut in EU funding has plunged the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE) into financial crisis.
The Pillar
Pillar Post for Tuesday, 12/17/25
The Pillar offers a news summary and a capsule take on Catholic News. Here’s JD Flynn’s analysis of the news from yesterday in the Pillar Post:
A few weeks ago, Pope Leo XIV told reporters that a spiritual classic — “The Practice of the Presence of God” — is a key book for understanding his own spiritual life. It’s a “simple book,” the pope said, but the simplicity is deceptive — it is a text written from a prosperous and vibrant interior life, with suggestions of a pathway to get there.
Edgar Beltran — himself a Venezuelan national and a Pillar reporter — breaks down a complicated situation in Venezuela. The Holy See has long prioritized protecting clergy and preserving its role as a mediator, opting for quiet diplomacy rather than public confrontation.
An unlikely place for Catholics to be caught in an international conflict: The land border between Cambodia and Thailand. Both countries are more than 90% Buddhist, and in conflict with each other, and Catholics aiming to provide humanitarian aid have been caught in the middle of the war.
Nutshell reflections for 12/17/25:
USCCB Daily Reflection Audio - December 17, 2025
Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent
The Obscure, Forgotten, and Undiscovered
Historical roots of Notre Dame football remaining independent
By James K. Hanna, December 16, 2025
“Contemplating such places as the University of Notre Dame, we forget about the wart on the point of America’s nose.” That sentence appeared in 1924 in the Dublin, Ireland Evening Herald. It concluded an editorial praising the organization of Notre Dame, especially its football team. The wart on America’s nose? It was the Ku Klux Klan. In 1924 Notre Dame, not a member of any football conference then as now, was considered the national champion. Before battling on the gridiron in the autumn of 1924, many on the team battled the KKK on the streets of South Bend. I wrote about the confrontation a year ago. And now, years later, with all the current talk about Notre Dame being left out of this year’s college playoff extravaganza, many have asked why Notre Dame Football has always remained independent.
Aleteia
Heisman winner Mendoza speaks on God, Catholic faith
By crousselle, December 16, 2025
Fernando Mendoza was recently awarded the Heisman Trophy, which is given annually to the top player in college football. After he was announced as the first-ever Heisman Trophy winner from Indiana University, he wasted no time in using the moment to share his faith and express his gratitude to God. “I’m at a loss of words. Wow. I mean, thank you. Thank you to everybody. First, I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to chase a dream that once felt a world away.” Mendoza said that his Catholic faith “is a huge component” to his life and is “maybe the sole reason why I got here.” The coronavirus pandemic derailed Mendoza’s high school career, and he only had one scholarship offer to play college football. “Building that faith throughout college and now to be able to share my faith with these amazing teammates and just the community of faith, realizing having God on my side, always praising Jesus Christ, it’s incredible.”
National Catholic Register
The limits of intelligence
By David Mills, December 17, 2025
I had to tell a Catholic woman I know, a kind and thoughtful woman, that someone she had known had been a sex abuser. “But how could he have been?” she said, mentioning how nice he had been, and then added, “He was so smart.” That wasn’t so odd a response as it may seem. We Americans, I think, tend to connect intelligence with insight and wisdom, as if having the first meant having the second, and to connect insight and wisdom with goodness. It’s more instinct and attitude than conviction. We think of Doctor Who more than of Dr. Frankenstein, Gandalf and Galadriel more than Sauron and Saruman. I’ve heard and read a lot of people say what the Catholic woman said. Yet, they weren’t wise or good enough to see that they couldn’t control the world the way they thought they could.
Catholic Exchange
If Adam and Eve were perfect, why did they sin?
By Nate Guyear, December 17, 2025
This is a common question for those who contemplate the Faith. Satan exploited the truth that God is the highest good, goodness itself. Adam and Eve recognized that God made them in His image and likeness, and they knew that God was the highest good. So, they understood that becoming more like God was a good thing. But how did Satan’s temptation work? Adam and Eve had no inclinations to sin, no unruly passions, and there was no strife between them, between them and God, or between them and creation. In a very subtle and duplicitous way, which is why Genesis refers to him as a serpent, he could appeal to their pride. God created Adam and Eve with a healthy pride, a pride that was docile to God’s will and that did not try to dominate one another. They were humble and innocent.
Image of Almonds by Monfocus from Pixabay
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