- Vatican watchdog skips scandals in annual report (CWN)
In his annual report, made public on July 3, the president of the Vatican’s Financial Information Authority (AIF) does not mention the October 1 police raid on the AIF offices, nor the abrupt departure of the agency’s top two officials. - Hong Kong cardinal appeals for unity of the Church (Vatican News)
Cardinal John Tong Hon was Hong Kong’s bishop from 2009 until his retirement in 2017, and is currently apostolic administrator following the death of his successor, Bishop Michael Yeung. In recent weeks, Cardinal Tong and his predecessor, Cardinal Joseph Zen, have expressed contrasting views about new Chinese security legislation. - Turkish high court puts Hagia Sophia's future in Erdogan's hands (Fides)
Dedicated in 537, Hagia Sophia has been the cathedral of the Patriarch of Constantinople (until 1453), a mosque (until 1931), and a museum (since 1935). - Vatican CO19 commission official backs debt reduction, ceasefires, universal basic income (Our Sunday Visitor)
Father Augusto Zampini, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development’s adjunct secretary is playing a leading role in the Vatican’s new CO19 commission. - San Francisco archdiocese 'surprised' by order to cease indoor, public Masses (Catholic San Francisco)
The City of San Francisco ordered the archdiocese to halt Masses that fail to comply with CO19 regulations. - As Congo turns 60, cardinal says the country has failed (CNS)
The nation of 87.3 million (map) is 52% Catholic and 43% Protestant, with 3% adhering to ethnic religions. - New Supreme Court decision will protect Mexico City policy (C-FAM)
The policy, praised by the US bishops, prevents the federal government from funding pro-abortion organizations abroad. - Pakistani Christian, attacked after moving into Muslim neighborhood, dies in hospital (Fides)
The attack took place in Peshawar, a city of 2 million. - 'Soft despotism' of anti-Catholicism on the rise, USCCB religious liberty chairman warns (CNA)
Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami spoke of “these new Jacobins we see around”—a reference to the French Revolution (Encyclopaedia Britannica article). - Bishop chairman calls on administration to reverse course on federal executions (USCCB)
“I implore Attorney General Barr and President Trump to abandon this path to preside over the first federal executions in 17 years,” said Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. - Mali cardinal urges Catholic-Muslim peace efforts (The Tablet)
The West African nation of 19 million (map) is 89% Muslim, with 9% adhering to ethnic religions. - Turkey deports 2 foreign Christian workers (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)
One is the pastor of a Protestant church in Istanbul; the other, the American wife of a Turkish pastor. - Court rejects diocese's suit against abortion coverage mandate (Albany Times-Union)
The Diocese of Albany (New York) argued that the state regulation “went against First Amendment protections for freedom of religion, speech, expression, the equal protection clause of the state and U.S. constitutions and certain separation of powers doctrines,” according to the report. - Video released for July papal prayer intention (Vatican News)
The Pope’s July 2020 prayer intention is “that today’s families may be accompanied with love, respect, and guidance.” In the video, Pope Francis comments, “The family ought to be protected. It faces many dangers: the fast pace of life, stress. Sometimes, parents forget to play with their children. The Church needs to encourage families and stay at their side, helping them to discover ways that allow them to overcome all of these difficulties.” - Ohio priest indicted on charges of child pornography, child exploitation and juvenile sex trafficking (US Department of Justice)
Father Robert McWilliams was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Cleveland in 2017. - Vatican spokesman pays tribute to Second Vatican Council as 'seed that continues to grow' (Vatican News)
Sergio Centofanti is co-deputy director of the Holy See Press Office. - San Francisco orders archdiocese to halt Masses that fail to comply with CO19 regulations (ABC7 News)
In response, the archdiocese’s attorney pledged that the archdiocese would comply with city and county regulations, which limit the size of outdoor Masses to 12 persons with face coverings. The regulations also forbid indoor Masses, apart from “those people necessary to serve the Mass and livestream it.” - Cardinal Zen prepared to be arrested (UCANews)
Cardinal Joseph Zen acknowledges that he could be arrested under the terms of Hong Kong’s new security law, and is prepared to face imprisonment. Officials have already arrested scores of political dissidents. - Vatican Secretary of State summons US, Israeli envoys over West Bank annexation moves (Reuters)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin met with the US and Israeli ambassadors “in order to express the concern of the Holy See regarding possible unilateral actions that may further jeopardize the search for peace between Israelis and Palestinians,” according to a press office statement. As the meeting took place, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s annexation plan was in disarray. - Tucson bishop closes churches (KOLD)
Bishop Edward Weisenberger of Tucson, Arizona, has closed the churches of the diocese in response to a surge of CO19 cases. “Now is the time to let the Church come to you in your homes,” the bishop said. Arizona emergency regulations allow for gatherings of up to 50 people, but the bishop said that “our parishes will no longer be open to the public.”