Charitable giving dropped about 5 percent in 2009, a decrease of $11.2 billion, reports the Boston College Center on Wealth and Philanthropy. • Bishop Francisco Claver, S.J., a defender of civil rights, died on July 1 in Manila, Philippines. He was the author of a statement in 1986 by the Philippine bishops that helped the People Power Revolution that unseated President Ferdinand Marcos. • Italy defended the display of the crucifix in public schools before Europe’s human rights court on June 30, arguing that it is a symbol of the country’s cultural heritage, not an imposition of religious belief on students. • Great Britain’s coalition government has dropped plans to amend the laws of succession that might have allowed a Catholic to become king or queen. • The Rev. Joseph Zhang Shulai, the “underground” vicar general of the Diocese of Ningxi, China, and Sister Mary Wei Yanhui were found murdered in their rooms on July 6 at a church-run home for the aged in Wuhai city, Inner Mongolia. • Pope Benedict XVI named Msgr. Robert McElroy of the Archdiocese of San Francisco as an auxiliary bishop. A contributor to America, Monsignor McElroy is the author of “Why We Must Withdraw From Iraq” (4/30/07).
News Briefs
Show Comments (
)
Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
The latest from america
When Miami native Tom Llamas was named “NBC Nightly News” anchor following the retirement of Lester Holt, one of the first phone calls he placed was to the rector/president of his Jesuit high school alma mater.
Father Alejandro Moral Antón, prior general of the Augustinian order, spoke on Pope Leo XIV's vacation at Castel Gandolfo.
This week on “The Spiritual Life,” Father James Martin speaks with Stephen Colbert about his experience of being a “fallen away” Catholic and returning to the faith.
Catholics across Texas and the world, including Pope Leo XIV, are offering their prayers and support after deadly flooding struck Texas on July 4.