Tucson suspends public worship among COVID-19 surge (KOLD) the Diocese of Tucson once again suspended public worship in response to the growing cases of COVID-19 in Arizona. In a YouTube video published today in the Diocese of Tucson website, Bishop Edward Weisenburger strongly recommended the suspension of public worship. “As of today, our perishes will no longer be open to the public,” Weisenburger said. “Now is the time to let the church come to you in your homes…”

Pope Francis offers condolences to Benedict on brother’s death (CNA) Pope Francis offered his condolences to Benedict XVI Thursday following the death of his brother.  In a letter to the pope emeritus dated July 2, the pope expressed his “heartfelt sympathy” after the death of Msgr. Georg Ratzinger July 1 at the age of 96…

Priest suspended over bulletin article on racism (Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana) By decree of Bishop Doherty, effective 12 p.m. noon July 1, 2020 Father Theodore Rothrock is suspended from public ministry according to Canon 1333. The suspension comes in the wake of Father Rothrock’s June 28 bulletin article. The Bishop expresses pastoral concern for the affected communities…

Was Father Haake attacked by BLM activists? (WUSA) A viewer sent the Verify team a Facebook post, which alleges a Catholic priest in D.C. was attacked by “democrat backed BLM,” and targeted specifically because of his faith. There’s no evidence to support this …

Archbishop: ‘Soft despotism’ of anti-Catholicism on the rise (CNA) The new leader of the U.S. Catholic bishops on religious liberty has warned of a “soft despotism” of religious intolerance in the U.S.  Archbishop Thomas Wenski told CNA that “new Jacobins” are driving Catholics from the public square for their beliefs…

Family donates millions to diocese to assist Catholic school students (TribLive.com) Diocese of Greensburg Catholic schools could see an uptick of about 250 students in the coming year thanks to $4.1 million in tuition assistance now available. The funds were made possible after the diocese received the single largest donation by a family, amounting to $2.4 million, along with smaller donations from 100 other donors totaling $1.7 million, school officials announced at news conferences Wednesday outside Greensburg Central Catholic High School in Hempfield and Mary Queen of Apostles School in New Kensington…