Papal To Do List (2026)

Joe Tevington | 01/05/2026

While it is NEVER too late for a corrective "to do" list, we are not yet even a third of the way through the first month of 2026!

Clearly reaffirm that sexual acts are ONLY for wives and their husbands & that ALL sexual acts MUST be open to procreation. Only practicing Catholics not in a state of mortal sin may receive Holy Communion

In addition to so-called educational institutions, other "Catholic" institutions have long acted in inappropriate manners. Pope Benedict XVI left us with seemingly much ignored guidance:

Art. 11. – The diocesan Bishop is obliged, if necessary, to make known to the faithful the fact that the activity of a particular charitable agency is no longer being carried out in conformity with the Church’s teaching, and then to prohibit that agency from using the name “Catholic” and to take the necessary measures should personal responsibilities emerge" (Pope Benedict XVI, On the Service of Charity, 11/11/2012)

Outlandishness by certain Jesuits and a former Jesuit (i.e.,Father James Martin, Cardinal Tucho Fernandez, Father Marco Rupnik merits assessment of whether they (especially Rupnik) should continue in Holy Orders.

Canon lawyer Father Gerald Murray, 12/19/25 (12:42) has been a voice of clarity in calling out sources of confusion that need attention:

I'm talking about blessing homosexual couples who are living as couples and you know mimicking marriage and getting a pseudo blessing. But you can't bless sin.

I would also say we have to look at the unicity of Christ and we have to reexamine that statement that Pope Francis signed saying that God wills all religions. uh that causes immense confusion in the world....

The process for declarations of marital nullity should be reviewed with an eye to tightening things up.

Horrific treatment of Catholics in Nigeria and China sits atop a seemingly ignored pile of Catholic suffering.

Pope Francis suppressed the Latin Mass and his pontificate's novel so-called "blessings" confused treatment of so-called gay couples with Holy Matrimony. The former should be loosened up and the latter abrogated.

In the current issue of First Things, John Grondelski, PhD, offers a fitting reminder to the Holy Father and the cardinals to prioritize recapturing the culture (The Fertility Crisis Will Not Be Solved by Economics Alone).

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About the Author

Joe Tevington

Joe Tevington is a proudly orthodox Catholic, a husband since 1986, a dad to two adult children, a grandpa to two, and a civil service retiree. He is a sign language fluent certified rehabilitation counselor with graduate degrees in deafness rehabilitation, religious studies/moral theology, & Christian counseling psychology, as well as a catechetical diploma and certificates in benefits planning and Catholic social ministry. He deeply appreciates Catholic teaching on the sanctity of human life and the sanctity of the transmission of human life, as well as how they are to inform us in our apostolates and ministries.

On much lighter notes, he fancies himself to be the foremost authority on his native Brooklyn, when it comes to architecture, cinema, geography, history, Italian food, stick ball, stoop ball, or wiffle ball.