Christian groups express ‘grave concern’ over Cuban fuel blockade
THE World Council of Churches (WCC) and the ACT Alliance, in a joint statement on Thursday of last week, expressing “grave concern over humanitarian impacts of the fuel blockade on Cuba”, ordered by President Trump on 29 January. Reports from the island suggest that the blackouts are affecting homes, businesses, and hospitals. Refuse trucks cannot operate, hotels are closed, and there are shortages of basic supplies. “A collective punishment of such an existential nature on the entire Cuban people cannot be justified,” the statement says. “Moreover, this extreme form of unilateral economic coercion, without authorization from the United Nations Security Council, is fundamentally incompatible with international law.” The organisations urged all countries to reject the measures.
Vatican will not participate in Gaza Board of Peace
THE Holy See “will not participate” in President Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza, “because of its particular nature, which is evidently not that of other States”, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said in a meeting with the Italian government at the Palazzo Borromeo on 11 February. “There are points that leave us somewhat perplexed. There are some critical points that would need to find explanations. The important thing is that an attempt is being made to provide a response. However, for us there are certain critical issues that should be resolved.” One concern was that “at the international level it should above all be the UN that manages these crisis situations.”
CAFOD marks one year since UK cut overseas aid
THE director of the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), Christine Allen, marking the one-year anniversary of the cuts to the UK’s overseas-aid budget, said on Wednesday that the effects could be seen in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan: “children going hungry; women being denied shelter and access to safe spaces; once-thriving communities unable to rebuild after disaster. . . The real impact of these cuts will be felt more keenly in the new financial year.” The cut in aid spending from 0.5 to 0.3 per cent of gross national income (the lowest level since 1999) in 2027 was announced on the grounds of higher defence spending (News, 28 February 2025).