Caritas official: Bombing of new Tanzanian parish surpasses other attacks

May 6, 2013 - 08:50 am .- A top official with the charity Caritas Tanzania says a Sunday attack on a new Catholic parish was the first of its kind for the East African country.

Pastor's move to solitary confinement in Iran sparks worry

May 4, 2013 - 01:19 pm .- A U.S. citizen being held in an Iranian prison for his Christian activities has reportedly been moved to solitary confinement, prompting concerns over his health and safety.

Syrian patriarch asks Vatican to increase peace efforts

Apr 18, 2013 - 05:00 am .- The most powerful Catholic leader in Syria met Pope Francis today to ask the Vatican to get more involved in bringing peace to his tortured homeland.

At DC event, Christian converts recount captivity in Iran

Apr 13, 2013 - 04:01 pm .- Two Iranian converts to Christianity recently spoke of their experiences facing persecution and imprisonment in their country for their religious beliefs.

Panel urges awareness of global Christian oppression

Mar 29, 2013 - 04:03 am .- Authors of a new book on the global persecution of Christians warned that Americans must recognize the grave threat that is facing the faithful throughout the world.

US help for jailed Iran pastor 'woefully' inept, congressmen charge

Mar 22, 2013 - 12:04 am .- Five members of Congress say the U.S. State Department is not doing enough to help Pastor Saeed Abedini, an imprisoned U.S. citizen being held in an Iranian prison because of his Christian beliefs.

Patriarch urges protection for Iraq's fleeing Christians

Feb 26, 2013 - 12:03 am .- Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako, head of the Chaldean Catholic Church, says greater security is needed for Christians in Iraq who are leaving their homeland for fear of local disorder.

Jailed Iranian pastor reports 'threatening' abuse

Feb 22, 2013 - 05:07 pm .- Christian Pastor Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen sentenced to eight years in an Iranian prison, has spoken out about his plight, which includes physical violence, psychological abuse and death threats.  

Report finds Chinese persecution of Christians rising

Feb 8, 2013 - 12:01 am .- A new analysis by ChinaAid found that persecution of Christians by the Chinese government increased in 2012, and focused on the eradication of Protestant “house churches.”

Syrian bishop hopes new patriarch's experience will save lives

Feb 4, 2013 - 08:50 am .- A Syrian bishop is happy with the election of Archbishop Louis R. Sako as Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church as he believes his experience at building dialogue in Iraq could save the lives of many Christians.

Vatican official hopes legal dialogue will help persecuted Christians

Jan 29, 2013 - 10:28 am .- As the Church celebrates the 30th anniversary of canon law, legal experts at the Vatican are continuing their push for dialogue with their counterparts in other countries, hoping that these talks could reduce the hostility Christians are experiencing worldwide.

Iran's eight-year sentence for Christian pastor draws outcry

Jan 28, 2013 - 01:58 pm .- Christian pastor Saeed Abedini's sentence of eight years in prison by an Iranian judge for allegedly threatening local security with his leadership of house churches has been met with harsh criticism.

Imprisoned Christian pastor banned from trial

Jan 24, 2013 - 12:02 am .- An American citizen imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith has been barred from attending his own trial and faces serious danger, warned a legal team monitoring his case.

One Iranian pastor freed, another remains imprisoned

Jan 9, 2013 - 02:03 pm .- Reports in Iran indicate that a Christian pastor who was arrested on Christmas Day has been released, while a second pastor remains in prison for his religious beliefs.

Eritrea's forced military service drains Church manpower

Dec 4, 2012 - 12:25 am .- The Eritrean government’s practice of forced military conscription means that seminarians and other church workers are being forced into the army, causing a personnel shortage for the Catholic Church.

Car bombs terrorize Syrian Christians in Damascus

Nov 30, 2012 - 02:05 am .- Two deadly car bombs that exploded in a Damascus suburb Nov. 28 killed at least 34 people and are “terrorizing” the Christian population, a local priest says.

Nigerian cardinal condemns bombing of Protestant church

Nov 26, 2012 - 06:03 pm .- The newest cardinal from Nigeria has condemned a deadly terrorist attack on a Protestant church at a local military base, lamenting the lack of security in the country.

Court dismisses blasphemy case against Christian teen

Nov 20, 2012 - 03:16 pm .- The Islamabad High Court has dismissed all charges leveled against a disabled Christian girl accused of violating Pakistan’s blasphemy law.

Nigerian Catholics respond to attack with prayer and fasting

Nov 13, 2012 - 12:17 am .- After his parish in southern Nigeria was desecrated on Nov. 4, Monsignor Obiora F. Ike called on his parishioners to observe a week of prayer and penance.

After Catholic church bombing, Nigerians call for security

Nov 1, 2012 - 01:42 am .- Following the deadly suicide bombing on a Catholic Church in north Nigeria, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria has said local Catholics are showing “apprehension and consternation” at the apparent government failure to provide security and capture the perpetrators.