“Here was an almond tree in bloom before me”
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EWTN News
Chicago priest reinstated: Cleared in sex abuse investigation
By Kate Quiñones, August 25, 2026
Father Michael Pfleger, a priest known for his activism in Chicago, has been cleared by the archdiocese of an accusation of sex abuse. In July, the Archdiocese of Chicago withdrew Pfleger — longtime pastor of St. Sabina Church — from ministry to review an allegation of sexual abuse. A woman claimed that Pfleger abused her when she was a child more than 30 years ago. This is the fifth of several accusations of sexual abuse against Pfleger, all of which the archdiocese has cleared him of. After reviewing a joint investigation, Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, has approved Pfleger to return to ministry “effective immediately.” The archdiocese announced that “there is no reason to believe Father Pfleger is guilty of this allegation.” “The Independent Review Board, assisted by our Office of Child Protection and outside investigators, thoroughly reviewed the allegation,” Cupich’s letter, addressed to the St. Sabina Parish community, read.
aciafrica
New Angola priests: ‘You are not ordained to become civil servants’
By João Vissesse, August 24, 2026
Nine newly ordained Catholic Priests in Angola’s Diocese of Benguela have been cautioned against viewing the Priesthood as a form of employment or a path to status and material benefits. In his homily during the August 22 ordination, Bishop António Francisco Jaca urged the Priests-elect to embrace a life of selfless pastoral service, accepting whatever mission the Church entrusts to them. “Priests are not civil servants. You are not ordained to become civil servants. If you want to be a civil servant, do not become a Priest. Apply for a public service exam,” Bishop Jaca said during the Eucharistic celebration that was held at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Seafarers in Benguela. The Bishop of Benguela urged the Priests-elect to remain close to the people, particularly the poor, and to reject any temptation to seek privileges. “Do not separate yourselves from the people, especially the poor, nor go around seeking privileges,” he said.
National Catholic Register
French Council protects conscience rights for Catholics
By Solène Tadié, August 25, 2026
The official promulgation of France’s end-of-life law in the Journal Officiel on Aug. 19 came with a significant victory for religious and conscience freedom. Catholic hospitals, hospices, and nursing homes will not be forced to allow euthanasia or assisted suicide on their premises, and pharmacists cannot be compelled to prepare or dispense the lethal substance. This conscience-clause win, secured by interpretive reservations from the Constitutional Council on Aug. 14, has received less attention than the law itself, adopted by Parliament in July, which the progressive government of President Emmanuel Macron has vigorously defended since 2023. The council — France’s highest constitutional authority — said the exemption applies when hosting assisted dying becomes “manifestly contrary” to an institution’s statutory mission or project.
Zeale News
Colorado lawsuit to end parental notice for minors’ abortions
By Elizabeth Ervin, August 25, 2026
A lawsuit seeking to eliminate Colorado’s parental notification safeguard for minors seeking abortions will move forward after a state judge rejected the state’s effort to dismiss the challenge. Denver District Court Judge Ian Kellogg ruled Aug. 17 that Dr. Rebecca Cohen, an abortion provider and the plaintiff in the case, could proceed with her claim that the notification law violates Amendment 79 of the state’s constitution. Amendment 79 enshrined the deadly practice of abortion as a constitutional right and prohibits state and local governments from denying, impeding, or discriminating against its exercise. Under Colorado’s Parental Notification Act, a parent or guardian must receive written notice at least 48 hours before an abortion is performed on an unemancipated minor. Those protections delay minors’ abortions, intrude on their privacy, and undermine the confidentiality of their medical care, said Cohen, reported by the Colorado Times Recorder.
The PIllar
After Moscow meeting, Archbishop says Ukraine war must end
By Luke Coppen, August 25, 2026
Vatican Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher underlined the urgency of ending the Ukraine war Tuesday, following a meeting with Russia’s foreign minister in Moscow. Addressing the media after the Aug. 25 meeting with Sergey Lavrov, Gallagher said the conflict continued to expand more than four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, harming millions of people both materially and psychologically. Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, said: “Let us be clear, this war must end.” Lavrov said that despite geopolitical upheaval since their last meeting, relations between Russia and the Holy See remained marked by “trust, friendship, and pragmatism.” Gallagher said, “For this reason, during our exchange, I reiterated the appeal of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, to end hostilities and to begin authentic negotiations with the support of the international community.”
Fides News Agency
Drug traffickers ‘Security pact’ allows U.S. military in Colombia
By Cosimo Graziani, August 23, 2026
On 12 August, Foreign Minister Edoardo Mora signed an agreement with the United States allowing the North American country to carry out military operations in Colombia. The agreement is justified by the two countries’ stated intention to combat drug trafficking, a priority at the heart of the policy platforms of both administrations. Representing the United States at the signing of the “Pact” was Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who also announced that Colombia will join the “Shield of the Americas,” an initiative involving seventeen other countries and officially aimed at combating terrorism and drug trafficking in North and South America. “This is the beginning of a new chapter in defense cooperation between the United States and Colombia,” Hegseth said. Relations between the two countries are now being reshaped around the urgency of addressing a shared problem: cocaine. Colombia is the world’s largest producer, while the United States is its largest consumer.
Graphs about Religion
Belief isn’t dying, it’s just getting less certain
By Ryan Burge, August 20, 2026
The General Social Survey asks respondents about their views of God and the Bible, but it offers only a handful of response options. A common response is, “I don’t really fit cleanly into any of those boxes.” And honestly? That criticism is right on target. Asking someone “do you believe in God?” and forcing them into just a couple of potential boxes misses an enormous amount of nuance. The Pew Religious Landscape Survey goes one step further on a belief question. A faith held with ironclad certainty looks very different from one held with hopeful tentativeness. 55% of all respondents fall into the “I believe in God with absolute certainty” category. Those absolutely certain that God does not exist are a bit less than 6%. There’s a noticeable shift in the share of younger cohorts who fall into the “I’m fairly certain God exists” box. Which means that they aren’t sliding all the way to the other side of the spectrum. Instead, they are just moving one level down.
Our Sunday Visitor
Spanish Church moved by a 16th-century mystic
By Jonathan Luxmoore, August 25, 2026
Spanish Catholics have welcomed the new public interest in St. John of the Cross, on the twin anniversary of his 1726 canonization and proclamation as a doctor of the Church on Aug. 24, 1926. “This saint sparks an interest far beyond strictly religious circles — it embraces a wide range of spiritual, literary, historical, artistic and cultural perspectives,” explained Father Miguel Ángel González González, prior of the Discalced Carmelite order’s La Santa monastery in Ávila. “While Spain bears a responsibility for him as the place where he was born, lived, wrote, suffered and died, it would be insufficient to see him only as a Spanish saint. He’s a figure of the universal Church because his teaching transcends the boundaries of country, culture and era.” “We live in a society experiencing many forms of darkness: wars, polarization, uncertainty, loneliness, mistrust and fear of the future,” said Father González. “St. John of the Cross doesn’t offer a superficial response. He knows the darkness exists.”
Keep informed - 8/26/26 news for Catholics
Snippets from Loop, Formed, & The Pillar
Zeale’s LOOP
Read daily news and political impact stories at the “LOOP”
Elections and politics matter. The LOOP gives you daily gems on the news that seek “to renew our country and culture.”
EL-SAYED CLASHES WITH JESSE WATTERS OVER ‘TRANSGENDER’ PROCEDURES, ICE, SHARIA LAW IN TENSE INTERVIEW - The Michigan Democratic Senate candidate called for the dismantling of the nation’s immigration enforcement agency and compared Islamic Sharia law to Catholic Canon law. On child surgeries for sex changes, Watters called a circumcision comparison “wacky” and told El-Sayed that “Michigan’s not going for that. That is sick stuff.”
RECORDS REVEAL PLANNED PARENTHOOD’S POST-’DOBBS’ PLAN AGAINST PRO-LIFE GROUPS - The abortion giant coordinated with state prosecutors to target pro-life organizations and activists, according to an unearthed 14-point plan. The July 2022 plan called on attorneys general to issue public warnings about pregnancy help centers and ask federal regulators to target “misinformation” from the centers about deadly abortion-inducing drugs.
SAINT OF THE DAY - Today, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Jeanne Elizabeth (1838), whose generous response to God’s call grew into a religious community dedicated to serving others through education and works of mercy. As the French Revolution disrupted Catholic life throughout France, Jeanne Elizabeth began teaching the faith and caring for the poor in the countryside.
Augustine Institute
Formed Series Programs
Formed guides Catholics and those they evangelize to a fully Catholic life through faith-informed content and draws people closer to Christ. The Formed platform provides a captivating experience that empowers and satisfies curiosity by forming Catholics for life.
The Boy from Milan: Stories of Carlo Acutis - Discover the inspiring story of Carlo Acutis, the young boy from Milan on the path to sainthood. You may have heard of him, the sneaker-wearing, computer-loving "gamer saint" of our time. But beyond the headlines and hashtags, the real story of Carlo is something deeper, something the world desperately needs.
The Violinist: Stories of Solanus Casey - Tolanus Casey’s video is a must-watch documentary that chronicles the inspiring life of Blessed Solanus Casey, a humble Capuchin friar known for his deep faith, simplicity, and profound impact on those he served. Featuring personal stories from the people who knew him, the film showcases his remarkable ability to inspire others through his gentle presence and love for God.
Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist - This visually stunning film takes viewers on a global journey to uncover the transformative power of the Eucharist. Engaging in profound dialogue with prominent Catholic leaders, the film explores the biblical origins of the Eucharist and shares powerful personal stories of lives transformed by the Blessed Sacrament.
The Pillar
Pillar Stories from the July calendar, 8/26/26
The Pillar offers a news summary and a capsule take on Catholic News. Here are news stories from the past few weeks in the Pillar Post:
Catholic Schools New South Wales, which oversees almost 600 Catholic schools in the Australian state of New South Wales, announced Friday that it had fired its chief executive, days after he appeared before a state corruption watchdog inquiry, and erased his phone and iPad hard drives amid the corruption probe. Catholic schools in Australia receive public funding.
In a case dubbed “a cross between ‘Breaking Bad’ and the ‘Bells of St. Mary,’” a Ukrainian Catholic priest has been arrested for stealing $750,000 from his parishes and from his mom. The case involves drugs and an illicit relationship and is troubling reading, to say the least. Parish theft expert Rob Warren called it one of the worst cases he’s ever seen.
Finally in the news, most of America is talking this week about Lindsay Clancy, who is on trial right now for the murder of her three children. Clancy concedes killing the children, along with an attempt at suicide which left her partially paralyzed, but says that she was acting under post-partum psychosis. Prosecutors and their expert witnesses have called that claim into question.
August 26, 2026 - USCCB Daily Mass Readings
You can listen HERE or read HERE:
Wednesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s Catholic commentary:
Crisis Magazine
Traditionally-minded young Catholics call for ‘Restorationism’
By Joe Moreshead, August 26, 2026
A while back, there was some discussion about restorationism in the Catholic Church. Not a few people raised questions about why young Catholics would want to restore the Church to what it was like before Vatican II, and some wild theories were put forward. Speaking for millennials, I can say our motives should be easy to understand. By the time we were children, much of the Church’s patrimony, from vestments to textbooks, had been discarded. It would be one thing if they had gotten rid of junk, but these were frequently nice things: high altars, statues, music, literature, scholasticism, etc. At the root of the restorationist impulse among young Catholics is a simple question: If past generations of Catholics had nice things, why can’t we have nice things?
The Catholic Weekly
Balance between protest and worship
By Marilyn Rodrigues, August 26, 2026
Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP has called on New South Wales (NSW) lawmakers to reconsider whether repeated political protests should be allowed to disrupt religious worship, arguing that freedom of political communication should not become a “super right” that overrides other fundamental freedoms. Addressing the Samuel Griffith Society conference in Sydney on 22 August, the archbishop questioned whether authorities had struck the right balance after almost three years of regular pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Hyde Park near St Mary’s Cathedral, the Great Synagogue and St James’ Anglican Church. At the weekend’s lecture, Archbishop Fisher said many people shared concern for the Palestinians who are suffering in Gaza. But he said slogans, speeches and placards at the weekly Hyde Park demonstrations had “regularly strayed into attacks on all Israelis, all Jews, or all Western nations for their supposed complicity or shared guilt.”
Catholic Digest
Time to pray our kids through college
By Faith & Family Magazine, Fall of 2010
“Just face it; you’re going to be a blubbering wreck.” It was a summer-long mantra chanted by friends, day after day after day. And it stood to reason, really. We were headed to drop off our eldest child, Allie, at college for the first time. Even the words “drop off” seemed odd. This was no play date. No school function. This particular drop-off would create a nine-hour chasm between us. Was it a chasm that could be bridged with phone calls, Facebook, Twitter, and texting? But I was so sure that where she was going was her call that I was excited for her. And that made it okay. During the weekend, I was in Allie’s dorm bathroom when I saw the notes posted on the mirror: “Be still and know that I am God.” No, my tears weren’t tears of sadness, but tears of gratitude: She really gets to go here? A momentary flashback to my “pagan days” in college told me this would be different for her. And Jesus spoke to my heart with that voice that isn’t a voice — you know, the one that reaches us as clearly as if he were sitting atop the tabernacle, legs swinging down, looking into our eyes and soul.
Church Life Journal
The internet isn’t our home
by Noah Bradon, August 21, 2026
The digital revolution has dismantled the gatekeepers of old, democratizing influence while leaving a credibility vacuum in its wake. Trust is no longer conferred institutionally but individually, and people often conflate follower count with authority. In this ever-shifting landscape, the Church faces an urgent challenge: how can we communicate our reason for hope when traditional measures of trust fail? The way forward begins with Holy Scripture. Drawing inspiration from Pope Francis’ exhortation to embody the Good Samaritan online, this essay proposes a relational framework for digital evangelization that restores credibility in a disbelieving world by regrounding online encounters in cruciform witness. God’s love knows no bounds, and neither should ours. The internet tempts us to engage only on our own terms. Christian love, however, cannot be self-centered, and comfort is not guaranteed.
Related: All chatbots are hell - Catholic Exchange - 26 Aug 2026, By Matthew McKenna
Image of Almonds by Monfocus from Pixabay
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