Catholic News Service

In the coronavirus year 2020, fewer Christians left the church in Germany than in previous years, two church organizations reported on July 14.

The Vatican's financial watchdog agency said that in 2020 more financial transactions were flagged as suspicious by Vatican offices, but after investigation it did not have to suspend any transactions or freeze any accounts.

The Cuban bishops' conference called on the island's government and protesters to "listen to each other" and avoid violence as the country reels from demonstrations sparked by food shortages, power outages and worsening economic conditions.

Immigrant advocates, including Catholic organizations, launched a campaign July 13 to provide legal aid those who may need it, in case Congress, under the Biden administration, approves some type of reform.

U.S. theologians and human rights experts on Cuba worried that any repeat of the widespread protests in Cuba on July 11 may be met with a swift, violent set of state-sponsored reactions.

Bishop-designate John C. Iffert is currently vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois.

The Buffalo Diocese said July 13 it has been notified of an allegation of abuse made against now-retired Auxiliary Bishop Edward Grosz by an individual who claims he was abused as a child in 1990 by the bishop.

Four Cuban American bishops called on the international community to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Cuba and expressed solidarity with them following protests that erupted on the island nation starting July 11.

A new PRRI report examined the U.S. religious landscape, and declared that "the most substantial cultural and political divides are between white Christians and Christians of color."

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced July 9 it would not detain, arrest or take into custody pregnant or nursing migrants for violating immigration laws except in exceptional circumstances.

New minister general of worldwide order has served on the 'peripheries,' among migrants, jobless, homeless.

"The tragic loss of more than half a million lives is aggravated by accusations of malfeasance and corruption," prelates say of pandemic.

The Christian Liberation Movement in Cuba has called on people to continue to pressure communist authorities to hold a general election. The country has seen demonstrations in its major cities joined by thousands of people to protest the unprecedented scarcity of essentials and the rising death toll caused by COVID-19.

Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, retired archbishop of Kinshasa, died July 11 near Paris where he had been rushed for medical care. Monsengwo was one of the original members of Pope Francis' Council of Cardinals.

Vatican has not confirmed Pope Francis' attendance at COP26, but he and other faith leaders are preparing for global conference.

Faith groups that work with immigrants are applauding a decision by the U.S. government to extend immigration protections for nationals from Yemen whose citizens find themselves dealing with war and famine, as well as the coronavirus pandemic.

During a July 7 teleconference call organized by Welcome with Dignity, a coalition of groups that support migrants, speakers worried that only families will soon be exempt from the policy known as Title 42.

Pope Francis, Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury and the Rev. Jim Wallace, moderator of the Church of Scotland, marked the 10th anniversary of South Sudan's independence and promised to visit the country when it has a stable peace.

The Vatican's indictments of Cardinal Angelo Becciu and nine others may prove to be a litmus test for Pope Francis' efforts to reform the Vatican's finances, which have been marred by scandals over decades.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines elected Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Caloocan as its new president July 8. He will begin his two-year term as head of the conference Dec. 1.