religious freedom
The Latest
Underground bishop detained in China
Chinese officials reportedly arrested an elderly bishop of the underground Catholic Church last week. Read more
US bishops ask Catholics to pray for Brownsville diocese border wall fight
For Religious Freedom Week 2020, the U.S. Catholic bishops are highlighting an unusual case—a Texas chapel that could be demolished... Read more
US religious liberty commission recommends 'binding agreement' with Pakistan to halt abuses
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a report Tuesday recommending a “binding agreement” between the United States and... Read more
Trump admin to allow homeless shelters to serve on basis of biological sex
The Department of Housing and Urban Development is set to roll back an Obama-era rule that requires single-sex homeless shelters... Read more
India denies visa to US religious freedom investigators
India has barred U.S. representatives from investigating the county’s reported violations of religious freedom, continuing what critics call a trend... Read more
State Department warns governments could exploit coronavirus to close churches
The U.S. ambassador for religious freedom warned on Wednesday that some governments might close houses of worship for good after... Read more
HHS: Hospital restrictions mean ‘too many dying alone’ during coronavirus
Federal health officials say they hope the resolution of a disability rights case will help ensure hospital patients are deprived... Read more
Christian pastor and pregnant wife killed in Nigeria
A Christian pastor and his pregnant wife were killed on their farm in northeastern Nigeria last week, the latest victims... Read more
Madison changes church reopening rules after Catholic bishop threatens lawsuit
Houses of worship in Dane County, Wisconsin, will be permitted to operate at 25% capacity, it was announced Friday, after... Read more
US bishops ask Supreme Court to protect Catholic foster agency in Philadelphia
In a brief filed with the Supreme Court, the U.S. bishops argued that a Catholic agency should not be banned... Read more
Trump signs order on international religious freedom after JPII shrine visit
President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order “to advance international religious freedom,” after he visited the St. John... Read more
LA archdiocese announces reopening plan
After California relaxed public health restrictions on churches, the nation’s largest diocese announced its plan on Tuesday to resume public... Read more
After Minnesota bishops plan to defy Mass restrictions, governor eases rules
The governor of Minnesota has issued an order allowing for the resumption of limited public worship gatherings, days after the... Read more
Labor Department issues new religious freedom guidelines
Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia has issued a directive that agency leaders should incorporate respect for religious freedom into the daily... Read more
Former judge: coronavirus restrictions have a place, but religion is 'essential'
Public health orders to limit the spread of the new coronavirus raise important questions about the U.S. Constitution and religious... Read more
Federal judge blocks Kentucky governor's soon-to-expire ban on religious services
With Kentucky already set for a limited resumption of religious services May 20, a federal judge has said Gov. Andy... Read more
DOJ files statement of interest in church suit against Virginia governor
The Justice Department (DOJ) is backing a small community church suing Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, arguing that the state cannot single... Read more
Virginia church sues governor over stay-at-home order
A small Virginia church has filed a lawsuit against the governor, after a pastor was cited for hosting a service with 16... Read more
Bans on religious gatherings cannot last indefinitely, warn law professors
Public religious services cannot be stopped “indefinitely” during the pandemic, especially when liquor stores are considered “essential” businesses, two law... Read more
Kansas governor can't single out churches in COVID rules, judge says
The Kansas governor’s emergency restrictions on church services wrongly treated religious gatherings more strictly than similar activities, a federal judge... Read more
