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Amid what a Catholic charity called "unimaginable" suffering of civilians trapped in civil war brutality in Sudan, the United States declared that one of the fighting factions is committing genocide in the country and slapped sanctions on its leader.

When the next consistory convenes at the Vatican on Sept. 30, a South Sudanese archbishop -- whose installation met stiff resistance -- will be among the 21 recipients of the red hat.

NAIROBI, Kenya -- Sudanese people can now "worship and practice their various religious beliefs without fear," said the general secretary of the Sudanese bishops' conference.

NAIROBI, Kenya -- The Catholic archbishop of Juba condemned "in the strongest terms possible" the murder of three young girls, killed while watching television in their Juba home.

NAIROBI, Kenya -- Catholic bishops in South Sudan praised the recent peace agreement for neighboring Sudan, which has experienced political turmoil since April, when the military ousted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

NAIROBI, Kenya -- Sudanese Catholic Bishop Yunan Andali of El Obeid said his country has become too fragile, after months of protests in which demonstrators have been pushing for a civilian government.

NAIROBI, Kenya -- A prominent African cardinal has called for restraint in Sudan, as the ruling junta cracks down on peaceful protesters in the capital city, Khartoum.

NAIROBI, Kenya – Catholic bishops in South Sudan and Sudan appealed to the citizens of the two countries -- including those in diaspora -- to work harder for peace, telling them, "True peace can only be built by citizens like you."

NUBA MOUNTAINS, Sudan – The Nuba Mountains region in southern Sudan is a land the world has largely forgotten, except for the Catholic Church, which for more than three decades has stood with the people as they endured hunger, bombing and neglect.

NUBA MOUNTAINS, Sudan – After watching for years as newly independent South Sudan has succumbed to civil war fought largely along ethnic lines, displacing one-third of the population, church leaders in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan are working hard to ensure that their small enclave of liberated territory will not go the way of its neighbors to the south.

KHARTOUM, Sudan – Dust and mud brick houses everywhere – as far as the eye can see. The houses are indistinguishable in colour from the ground on which they stand. Trees are few and far between.

WASHINGTON – Hidden in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan, a war zone for the past few years, a U.S. Catholic missionary, Dr. Tom Catena, ministers to a village of 750,000 people as the single medical doctor in the area.

KHARTOUM, Sudan – Christians who are criticizing government action against churches are facing pressure from SudanöÏÓãÊÓƵapp National Intelligence and Security öÏÓãÊÓƵapp.

KHARTOUM, Sudan – Charges have been dropped against one Christian pastor in Sudan, but another pastor could face execution for what his defenders say are trumped-up charges based on animosity toward their religion.

WINDSOR, ONT. – Fr. Nichola Mauro-Iko of WindsoröÏÓãÊÓƵapp St. Alphonsus parish is pleading for mercy from Canadian authorities for a 29-year-old South Sudanese man in custody for portraying himself as a 17-year-old high school student to remain in Canada.