religious freedom
The Latest
Appeals court halts sale of Native American religious site defended by Catholic groups
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit said in a brief ruling on Aug. 18 that the Oak... Read more
Report: Taliban law erases religious freedom, targets women and religious minorities
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released a report examining the decline in religious liberty in Taliban-ruled... Read more
Nicaraguan dictatorship confiscates Catholic school: ‘An outrage against religious freedom’
The dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and his wife and “co-president” Rosario Murillo in Nicaragua on Aug. 12 confiscated one of... Read more
Report finds over 400 cases of vandalism, other ‘hostile’ acts against churches in 2024
The Family Research Council documented more than 400 cases of “acts of hostility” against Catholic and other Christian churches in... Read more
Pakistan softens death penalty laws to keep EU trade, preserves blasphemy statutes
Islamabad removes death penalty for two crimes to preserve European trade benefits, but blasphemy laws targeting Christians remain untouched. Read more
Trump administration acts to protect religious expression of federal workers
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has issued new guidance to safeguard the right of federal employees to express their religion... Read more
Report highlights which states are the best and worst at protecting religious liberty
In the past year Florida has been the most successful state at protecting religious liberty through safeguards in the state’s... Read more
Swiss politician faces court after firing 20 shots at image of Mary and Jesus
The Zurich public prosecutor’s office accuses Sanija Ameti of publicly disparaging religious beliefs and disturbing religious peace. Read more
Lawmakers introduce resolution condemning Christian persecution abroad
A joint resolution introduced in the U.S. House and Senate last week condemns the persecution of Christians in Muslim-majority countries... Read more
Nigerian bishop: Displaced families in need of spiritual and material help
Since his 2022 appointment, Bishop Mark Maigida Nzukwein has seen the destruction of at least 325 Catholic places of worship... Read more
Andrea Picciotti-Bayer named religious freedom award winner
The Religious Freedom Impact Award honors leaders who demonstrate “consistent, effective, and innovative leadership in advancing religious freedom.” Read more
Kenya hosts landmark summit on religious freedom in Africa
Regional and global experts as well as proponents of religious freedom gathered June 17 for the first International Religious Freedom... Read more
Bishop Barron at Religious Liberty hearing warns of ‘dictatorship of relativism’
At the first hearing of President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, Bishop Robert Barron echoed Pope Benedict XVI’s warning against... Read more
At Religious Liberty Commission hearing, scholars urge government to support faith, freedom
Since its creation, a number of prominent Catholics have been appointed to the White House Religious Liberty Commission, including Bishop... Read more
Religious freedom expert says the West uses a ‘suffocation technique on religion’
Former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback recently spoke with OIDAC Europe about challenges to religious freedom. Read more
Native group backed by U.S. bishops loses Supreme Court bid to halt sacred land transfer
The Supreme Court this week denied a request from the Native American coalition group Apache Stronghold to halt the sale... Read more
.jpg?w=220&h=165)
Bishops Paprocki, Rhoades join Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission advisory board
Bishop Thomas Paprocki, Bishop Kevin Rhoades, and Father Thomas Ferguson will join advisory board for President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission. Read more
During oral arguments, Supreme Court seems open to state-funded Catholic charter school
The case could reshape school choice and religious freedom in the United States. Read more
Former ambassador Sam Brownback praises Trump’s religious freedom pick: ‘It’s in his DNA’
Brownback served in the religious freedom role from 2018 until 2021. He was the first Catholic to serve in that... Read more
Kansas governor vetoes bill to protect religious liberty of adoptive parents on gender issues
The bill would have prohibited the state from requiring prospective adoptive or foster parents to first affirm support for gender... Read more
