religious freedom

The Latest

Novelty sign in church parking lot.

Mississippi city lifts drive-in church ban

Apr 16, 2020

The mayor of Greenville, Mississippi, has withdrawn a controversial executive order that levied fines on residents if they attended drive-in church services.  Read more

Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey.

Governor 'wasn't thinking of the Bill of Rights' when banning religious meetings

Apr 16, 2020

By Christine Rousselle

The governor of New Jersey said on Wednesday that he had not considered the Bill of Rights when issuing an... Read more

California churches sue governor to allow public worship services amid coronavirus

Apr 15, 2020

Three Southern California ecclesial communities have filed a lawsuit against Governor Gavin Newsom, alleging that social distancing orders he imposed... Read more

Church parking lot, stock image.

Justice department backs Mississippi church over drive-in services

Apr 15, 2020

The Justice Department is supporting a Mississippi church after local authorities fined attendees at a drive-in service during the coronavirus... Read more

Sign for the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Washington, D.C.

Justice Department to act on unfair religious restrictions during coronavirus

Apr 14, 2020

The Justice Department (DOJ) has promised to act on any abuses against religious freedom after some state and local governments sought... Read more

Supreme Court of the United States.

With Supreme Court hearings on hiatus, Catholic groups may face wait for justice

Apr 8, 2020

By Matt Hadro

After the coronavirus pandemic forced the Supreme Court to postpone oral arguments in cases scheduled in March and April, several Catholic... Read more

Mayor Bill de Blasio.

NYC mayor threatens 'permanent' closure of churches defying coronavirus ban

Mar 30, 2020

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday, March 27 threatened to “permanently” shut down houses of worship that... Read more

Sign for the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Washington, D.C.

Justice Department highlights state-level religious freedom violations

Mar 9, 2020

By Matt Hadro

The Department of Justice is targeting state and local government violations of religious freedom, a senior DOJ official told reporters on... Read more

Child vaccination.

Maine law removes religious exemptions for vaccinations

Mar 4, 2020

Voters in the state rejected an effort to overturn a state law that will go into effect next September. The... Read more

Photographer holding camera against newlywed couple.

Justice Department weighs in on Kentucky religious freedom case

Feb 28, 2020

Chelsey Nelson, a photographer with her own business, sued the city of Louisville over an ordinance she says would compel... Read more

Supreme Court of the United States.

Supreme Court will hear Philadelphia Catholic foster care case

Feb 24, 2020

The Supreme Court will decide if the city of Philadelphia was correct to terminate its relationship with Catholic Social Services... Read more

NHS National Health Service sign UK.

UK health service clarifies policy to deny care to 'homophobic' patients

Feb 19, 2020

By Christine Rousselle

Britain’s National Health Service has clarified a new policy that will allow patients found to be homophoic, racist, and sexist... Read more

Uyghurs at a mosque in Kashgar, Xinjiang, China, September 2010.

Leak from Xinjiang shows some Uyghurs are detained for family size

Feb 17, 2020

A leaked document from a county in China's northwest details the personal information of some 3,000 Uyghurs. It gives violation... Read more

The White House, Washington, DC.

How a new presidential religious freedom adviser could shape US foreign policy

Feb 7, 2020

By Matt Hadro

Reports of a new special adviser to the President on international religious freedom could be a game-changer for U.S. foreign... Read more

US Secretary of State Michael Mike Pompeo.

Pompeo announces new alliance for religious freedom

Feb 6, 2020

A new International Religious Freedom Alliance with 27 member states was announced on Wednesday by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.  Read more

US Supreme Court.

US bishops speak up on school choice as Supreme Court hears case

Jan 22, 2020

States should not deny tax credit programs to families who choose religious private schools, said members of the U.S. Conference... Read more

Imran Khan, now the prime minister of Pakistan, speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 26, 2012.

Archbishop Chaput asks Pakistani PM to follow through on religious liberty

Jan 22, 2020

On behalf of Philadelphia’s Pakistani Catholic community, Archbishop Charles Chaput encouraged the Pakistani prime minister Tuesday to shape a culture... Read more

Bishop George Murry. CNA file photo.

Bishop calls Americans to build 'culture of religious freedom'

Jan 16, 2020

The head of the U.S. bishops’ religious liberty committee called on Americans to build a “culture of religious freedom” that... Read more

Critics: Utah bill on confession would criminalize priests, not counter sex abuse

Jan 16, 2020

By Kevin J. Jones

A Utah legislator’s proposal to remove protections for priests and other clergy who hear confessions of the sexual abuse of... Read more

Tenn governor to sign bill protecting faith-based adoption agencies

Jan 15, 2020

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced Jan. 15 that he intends to sign into law a bill to protect adoption organizations... Read more