Welcome to Wisdom Wednesday. The plan to televise a firing squad killing a man in a wheelchair draws condemnation from religious leaders of many faiths. The planned event — along with the botched execution in Tennessee — also surfaces wide discussion of the death penalty. Some very strong opinions this week. We report them, not support them. First, though, what we can learn from Pope Leo’s surgery.
Pope Leo’s surgery
A lung specialist who worked at Rome hospital explains Pope Leo’s surgery, says risks are low. From National Catholic Reporter.
From the Associated Press. The 71-year-old pope said the nodule was found at an early stage and was “circumscribed” or well-localized.
From the National Catholic Register. “What We Know About Pope Leo XIV’s Health.”
Public execution
Catholic and evangelical leaders have condemned the public execution plan of the Fort Hood gunman. “The public execution even of one who has done grave harm will only further undermine the moral fabric of our nation and be a blight on the conscience of its people,” Archbishop Paul S. Coakley said. From Religion News Service.
US Archbishop ‘obliges’ Catholics to request to be excused from firing squad. Archbishop Timothy Broglio says Catholics on army firing squad should ask to be excused since it clashes with church teachings. From Vatican News.
Pope Leo XIV Calls the Death Penalty ‘Inadmissible’ after announcement of the planned Public Execution in US. He emphasized that the protection of society and the application of justice can be guaranteed without resorting to capital punishment. From the National Catholic Register.
Archbishop Christophe Z El Kassis, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, delivered a statement October 7 at the Third Committee of the 81st session of the General Assembly. The Holy See reaffirmed its position that the death penalty is inadmissible because it attacks the inviolability and dignity of the person, a dignity that is never forfeited, whatever the gravity of the crime. From Independent Catholic News.
Texas pastor Joel Webbon, known for his outspoken antisemitism and criticism of Israel, in a social media post called for the public execution of Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel. Huckabee, in turn, approved of a social media called for the FBI to arrest Webbon. From Religion News Service.
Beyond the planned public execution
Josh Olds, writing for Baptist News Global headlines his analysis, ‘Pete Hegseth’s gospel of violence.’
Leela M. Ramdeen, in an article published by Independent Catholic News, writes about ‘Finding alternatives to the death penalty.’
Supreme Court to rule on how IQ scores are weighed in death penalty disability claims. From EWTN News. The high court ruled in 2002 that executing people with intellectual disabilities violated the Constitution’s Eighth Amendment, which prohibits “cruel and unusual punishment.”
The mid-term elections
The leader of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc., a historically Black denomination, said gerrymandering threatened to “destroy” the power of voters, in a plea for turnout in the midterm elections this fall. From Religion News Service. “You got to get back up and fight for your vote.”
“Conservatives are clinging to the hope that the election forecasts — like the weather — will be wrong,” said Family Research Council in its article, “Republicans Race to Flip the Media’s Gloomy Midterm Script.” From Baptist News Global.
Ongoing legal developments are casting light on the disturbing lengths the Trump administration is willing to go to subvert the November midterms. Baptist News Global studies a “Trove of documents [that] shows Trump plans to subvert the midterms.
‘Make it so big it can’t be rigged,’ said Michigan Baptist leader the Rev. James C. Perkins, of voter turnout efforts. From Religion News Service.
OPINION
‘Trump Has Created His Own Catholic Church.’ Opinion from Michael Fox, Catholics for the Common Good. “As Pope Leo XIV and U.S. bishops condemn his wars and deportations, Trump has assembled an alternate Catholic authority to worship him and sanctify his policies.
A writer published by the Christian Century examines ‘Pete Hegseth’s war horse.’ He says “The secretary of war quoted Psalm 33 to bless American might. He should have kept reading.”
Immigration and deportation
A Catholic Iowa bishop steps up in case of immigrant from Ivory Coast facing deportation. Bishop Dennis G. Walsh wants to stop the deportation of Fatou Traore, which he called a ‘grave violation of her human dignity and the rights that are intrinsic to each one of us.’ From National Catholic Reporter.
For the first time, a Catholic archbishop sues Trump over access to immigrant detainees. From Religion News Service. The lawsuit accused the Department of Homeland Security and ICE of instituting policies that violate ‘core constitutional values.’
Suicide memorial in Chicago
The first US memorial for suicide victims dedicated by the Chicago archdiocese signals a compassionate shift by the Catholic church. From The Guardian.
FEATURES
In Palestinian culture, the olive tree is more than a source of food and income. It is a living symbol of identity, family, and connection to the land. From Independent Catholic News. “The relationship between olive harvesting and traditional weddings reveals how deeply the land influences the rhythm of life, turning hard work into celebration and agricultural prosperity into family happiness.
A dance party marked the final night of a retreat for the Deconstruction Doulas, a network of ex-fundamentalists and former real-life “trad” wives who left insular religious groups where long skirts, early marriage, physical abuse and educational neglect were often the norm. From Religion News Service.
‘The monk and the machine’ headlines a Christian Century article on “How can we be better stewards of AI? Thomas Merton’s writing on technology can help.
The Marriage Crisis Is No Longer Just a Western Problem, says the National Catholic Register. The Vatican’s assembly on ‘Amoris Laetitia’ is putting in the spotlight a global breakdown of marriage and the family, including in traditionally Catholic countries like Poland and the Philippines.
New Film on Augustus Tolton
Tolton: From Slave to Priest, a film about the inspiring life of Venerable Augustus Tolton, is now premiering in select theaters. The film from St. Luke Productions takes a slightly different approach to films as it stirs emotions in telling the story of America’s first black priest in the late 19th century. From the National Catholic Register.
Carlo Acutis and the 4 popes
Carlo went on pilgrimage to see John Paul II, offered up his suffering from cancer for Benedict XVI, was beatified during the pontificate of Pope Francis, and was canonized by Pope Leo XIV. Oct. 12, 2026, marks the 20th anniversary of his death. From EWTN News.
Lying and ‘the Right to the Truth’
Now, although you are not obligated to say everything you know to anyone who asks, a writer at The Catholic Thing says, but “the easygoing acceptance of outright lying troubles me.”
How is the church honoring its retired workers?
Workers who retire after years of service and dedication to the church should not be forgotten, says an article in US Catholic.
In support of nuclear disarmament
Pax Christi International and Pax Christi USA are organising international online discussion circles bringing together Catholics from different regions who are already engaged in peace and nuclear disarmament work, or who would like to explore these questions more deeply.
Let us Walk (and Sing)
There are lots of things to enjoy when on pilgrimage: the beautiful countryside, the rich encounters, the food, fellowship and fun; even walking long distances. And there’s a pleasing simplicity about life on the pilgrim path. From Independent Catholic News.
Sustainability Medal
A new Sustainability award bearing Pope Leo’s name spotlights his own environmental record, says Brian Roewe in the National Catholic Reporter. The new Pope Leo Sustainability Medal, created by Villanova University, puts a spotlight not just on its inaugural recipient but on how Leo has situated environmental concern for the church during his papacy so far.
‘It’s not too late for climate action’
“The God-given gift of human ingenuity,” says activist Bill McKibben, “is on par with the God-given gift of sunshine and wind.” From the Christian Century.
A familiar feeling?
“There are days when I am so dismayed by the number of
needs that cross my desk or come through e-mails that I find
myself almost overwhelmed.” If you have ever felt that way, check out this week’s Justice Bulletin Board.
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