religious freedom
The Latest
Top 2025 religious freedom developments included mix of persecution, protection
Here is an overview of some of the religious freedom developments and news in the United States and abroad in... Read more
Catholic leaders back pregnancy centers, doctors in federal suit over abortion referrals
The lawsuit challenges a 2016 Illinois rule that requires health care providers who refuse to perform abortions to refer women... Read more
Bangladesh Catholics face Christmas under military guard after church attacks
Bangladesh Catholics face Christmas under military guard after bomb attacks on St. Mary’s Cathedral and Catholic schools in Dhaka. Read more
EU funding freeze causes financial problems for Catholic family association
A drastic cut in EU funding has plunged the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE) into financial crisis,... Read more
Jimmy Lai found guilty of national security violations, faces life in prison
Catholic human rights advocate Jimmy Lai, 78, is facing up to life in prison. His sentence will be handed down... Read more
Religious Liberty Commission hears testimony of religious freedom concerns in military
The commission heard testimony from expert witnesses who served in the various branches of the military, many as chaplains. Read more
Catholic colleges in Bangladesh threatened over conversion claims
Archbishop Bejoy D'Cruze of Dhaka said threats against Catholic colleges in Bangladesh pose "a grave concern for the Catholic Church,"... Read more
Human rights advocates decry Armenian government crackdown on Christian church
Human rights advocates said the Armenian government’s crackdown on Christians has included the unlawful detentions of clergy. Read more
China’s ‘assault on religious freedom’ threatens U.S., congressional commission told
The Chinese Communist Party’s “ongoing assault against religious freedom” has national security implications for the U.S., a congressional commission was... Read more
Maine court to rule if mother can take daughter to church over father’s objections
The Maine State Supreme Court is considering whether to give a mother the right to take her daughter to church... Read more
Catholic bishop calls Sheikh Hasina death sentence ‘one-sided’ and ‘abuse of power’
A Catholic bishop has criticized Sheikh Hasina’s death sentence as politically motivated, calling it an abuse of power that violates... Read more
Violence against Christians rises sharply across Europe, report warns
A new report by OIDAC Europe documents 2,211 anti-Christian hate crimes across Europe in 2024, including a sharp spike in... Read more
Catholic schools in Bangladesh close amid political unrest
Catholic schools in Dhaka will close amid security concerns as Bangladesh’s International Crime Tribunal announces a verdict date for ousted... Read more
Bangladesh police arrest suspect in bomb attacks on Catholic sites
Dhaka police have arrested a 28-year-old man in connection with homemade bomb attacks that targeted a Catholic cathedral and a... Read more
Bavarian city backs down on ‘buffer zone’ banning prayer at abortion clinic
The town lifted a 100-meter (328-foot) censorship zone around abortion clinics after courts ruled the restrictions violated constitutional freedoms. Read more
Mother of 6 brings child-centric vision to Lithuania’s justice ministry
Kristina Zamarytė-Sakavičienė, a mother of six and pro-life advocate, has been appointed Lithuania’s vice minister of justice, drawing praise from... Read more
The ‘General of the Secret Church’: Remembering Vladimír Jukl a century after his birth
A hundred years ago, Vladimír Jukl was born — a secretly ordained Catholic priest in communist Czechoslovakia who endured imprisonment... Read more
Author of religious freedom report weighs in on Cardinal Parolin’s Nigeria comments
The author of Aid to the Church in Need’s 2025 Religious Freedom Report, Marta Petrosillo, is coming to Vatican Secretary... Read more
State-level religious freedom protections grow in recent years
As of 2025, 30 states have adopted a version of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) or similar legislative... Read more
French senators urge action against rising anti-Christian attacks in the country
Eighty-six French senators have signed a public appeal denouncing the alarming rise of anti-Christian acts in France. Read more
