religious freedom

The Latest

NBA 'unreasonable' in moving All Star game from North Carolina

Jul 22, 2016

The National Basketball Association’s decision to pull its all-star game from Charlotte, North Carolina over the state’s bathroom bill has... Read more

Republican VP candidate Mike Pence at the RNC in Cleveland, Ohio on July 20, 2016.

Where are the values at the Republican National Convention?

Jul 21, 2016

By Adelaide Mena, Matt Hadro

As the 2016 Republican National Convention draws to a close, some Catholics are concerned about a perceived lack of priority... Read more

US Capitol.

US bishops throw support behind conscience protections on marriage

Jul 13, 2016

Two leading U.S. bishops have spoken out in favor of a proposed law which would ensure federal religious freedom protections... Read more

Church pews. Public domain.

Will new 'civil rights' silence churches? In Iowa, the fear is real.

Jul 9, 2016

By Kevin J. Jones

An Iowa church fears the state civil rights commission could penalize it for preaching and following its views on homosexuality... Read more

Court rules Christian Mingle must allow LGBT couples

Jul 6, 2016

A California court ruled last week that ChristianMingle and it’s affiliate faith-based dating websites must allow LGBT singles to search... Read more

Saints, martyrs and the cross – Archbishop Gomez on true freedom

Jul 5, 2016

As church leaders rallied U.S. Catholics to defend their faith against an increasingly antagonistic society and government, the relics of... Read more

Feet of Jesus Christ.

Why one bishop thinks you should be a 'footnote' for Christ

Jul 5, 2016

By Matt Hadro

On America’s 240th Independence Day, Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh called on Catholics to be “footnotes” for the truth that... Read more

The story behind the Catholic Church in the United States

Jul 4, 2016

By Adelaide Mena

Both the Catholic Church and the tradition of religious freedom can trace their roots in the United States to the... Read more

Child peering through fence.

ACLU targets grants for pro-life groups that aid migrants

Jun 29, 2016

Catholics and other groups that receive grants to care for immigrants are in the sights of the American Civil Liberties... Read more

'An ominous sign' – Supreme Court refuses to hear Washington pharmacy case

Jun 28, 2016

The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear a conscience rights case raised by pro-life pharmacy owners came with a stark warning... Read more

California Capitol Building.

California leaders are threatening Catholic colleges. Again.

Jun 28, 2016

By Kevin J. Jones

A bill that strips longstanding legal protections for religious colleges and universities is underway in the California legislature – and... Read more

Greg Stormans.

Here's what actually happens when you fight for conscience rights

Jun 24, 2016

Every morning, Greg Stormans contemplates a Bible verse perched in a tiny frame above his bathroom sink, which his daughter... Read more

  Fr. Thomas Reese. Courtesy of USCIRF.

Jesuit appointed head of US religious freedom commission

Jun 23, 2016

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has a new chairman, and for the first time, the position will be... Read more

Beware 'polite persecution,' archbishop warns

Jun 22, 2016

By Matt Hadro

With relics of two English martyrs currently touring the U.S., the Archbishop of Baltimore implored Catholics to follow their example... Read more

St. Thomas More. Public domain.

Now touring America: two English saints who died for their faith

Jun 21, 2016

A relic tour currently taking place in the United States highlights the virtues of two English saints who stood up... Read more

Is the situation in Nigeria about to get much worse?

Jun 12, 2016

By Matt Hadro

Nigeria is a ticking time bomb, with violence and discrimination threatening to tear the country apart and spread its existing... Read more

The Brooklyn brouhaha over Jewish women and swimming pools

Jun 7, 2016

By Mary Farrow

A swimming pool in New York City has recently come under fire for its women-only swimming hours.  Read more

Concerns over religious freedom help sink LGBT bills

May 27, 2016

By Matt Hadro

Religious liberty was among the primary concerns that ultimately defeated controversial legislation aimed at enforcing an LGBT executive order twice... Read more

Supreme Court sends more mandate cases back to lower circuits

May 24, 2016

After sending the Little Sisters’ HHS mandate case back to the circuit courts on May 16, the Supreme Court voided... Read more

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A bizarre ruling in Colombia bans civic prayer...and hugs

May 20, 2016

In what's been labeled an “absurd” move, a judge in Colombia has banned prayer and “fraternal hugs” at the start... Read more