Freedom of religion

The Latest

The Catholic bishops are backing a suit by Apache Stronghold, a coalition of Native Americans and their supporters, in its lawsuit against the federal government. The lawsuit argues that the coalition’s freedom of religion was violated when the federal government announced its intention to sell formerly protected land in Arizona to a mining company.

U.S. bishops, Knights of Columbus back Apache religious freedom bid at Supreme Court

Oct 17, 2024

By Daniel Payne

After years of protecting Oak Flat from development, the government several years ago moved to transfer the land to the... Read more

U.S. Supreme Court.

Oklahoma Catholic charter school petitions U.S. Supreme Court to consider approval

Oct 8, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

The Oklahoma Supreme Court had ruled that the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board could not authorize a charter with... Read more

Nuns from the Missionaries of Charity hold candles in recognition of the May 3 annivesary of ethnic violence in Manipur, India.

Christians face arbitrary arrests, grave religious freedom violations in India

Oct 8, 2024

By Madalaine Elhabbal

According to a recent report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Christians in India are facing increasingly... Read more

Parents protest the Montgomery County School Board's policy blocking them from opting out their children from pro-homosexual and transgender materials.

A look at the religious freedom cases that could be on the Supreme Court docket this term

Oct 2, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

The most high-profile religious liberty case being appealed to the Supreme Court deals with religious freedom and parental rights in... Read more

Terrorist attacks in Benue State, Nigeria, have forced residents to flee their villages and, in some cases, seek shelter in local Catholic churches and schools. Pictured here is St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Yelewata.

Over 70 Christians killed, 20 medical students kidnapped in recent Nigeria violence

Aug 20, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

The attacks have renewed calls from religious freedom advocates that the U.S. Department of State designate Nigeria a “country of... Read more

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Oklahoma school board rescinds contract for Catholic charter school

Aug 13, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

In late June the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled against the school’s establishment and ordered the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board... Read more

Christians take part in a Good Friday procession in Amritsar on March 29, 2024.

Hundreds of Christian leaders appeal for persecuted religious minorities in India

Aug 8, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

A letter organized by the Federation of Indian-American Christian Organizations in North America called for India to be named a... Read more

As part of a consent decree, a North Carolina IHOP restaurant will have to pay damages to an ex-employee and revise its religious accommodations policies.

IHOP to pay settlement to employee who was forced to work on Sundays

Aug 7, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

The general manager was also alleged to have made comments to other employees such as “religion should not take precedence... Read more

The Church of the Rock in Castle Rock, Colorado, is a nondenominational Christian church that was founded in the 1980s. After a legal battle with the town over a short-term homeless shelter, the church was vindicated on July 19, 2024, and permitted to continue its ministry on church property.

Federal court rules in favor of Colorado church blocked from running homeless shelter

Jul 22, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

Town officials had blocked the ministry, saying that housing people on church grounds violated zoning laws. Read more

A map of Nigeria.

Biden administration criticized for omitting Nigeria from religious persecution watchlist

Jun 28, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

Nina Shea, director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute, told CNA that the report demonstrates a... Read more

Religious sisters show their support for the Little Sisters of the Poor outside the Supreme Court, where oral arguments were heard on March 23, 2016, in the Zubik v. Burwell case against the HHS mandate.

Supreme Court overturns ‘Chevron’ doctrine with big implications for religious liberty

Jun 28, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The decision returns the authority to interpret law to the courts. Read more

Cake artist Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado.

Colorado baker returns to court after activist sues over ‘gender transition’ cake

Jun 20, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Philips, the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, who was sued for... Read more

Bryan and Rebecca Gantt, two foster parents in Vermont, had their licenses revoked for refusing to embrace gender ideology.

Foster parents sue Vermont after state revokes license for rejecting gender ideology

Jun 12, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

Vermont requires foster parents to affirm that they would support a child in his or her self-asserted gender identity and... Read more

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Colorado discriminated against Catholic preschools, judge finds

Jun 5, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

A federal court ruled Tuesday that the state’s decision to exclude Catholic preschools was unconstitutional. Read more

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U.S. religious freedom watchdog’s new appointments include three Catholics

May 20, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

The USCIRF is a government organization that reviews violations of religious freedom around the world and makes policy recommendations.  Read more

Classroom in a Catholic school.

Court backs Catholic school sued by teacher in same-sex union who was denied rehire

May 8, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

The ruling affirmed that religious schools can hold employees to the moral teachings of the Church. Read more

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Here are the countries that rank worst in the world in religious freedom 

May 1, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

Among the countries topping USCIRF’s list of the world’s most egregious religious freedom violators are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, and India. Read more

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Bishops: New Biden HHS Obamacare rule advances ‘ideological view of sex’

Apr 30, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

The change means that any insurer or physician receiving federal financial assistance must cover or provide sex-reassignment surgeries and therapies. Read more

Anglican nuns from Sisterhood of Saint Mary (photographed with bishops from the Anglican Church of North America's Diocese of the Living Word) are among those suing the state of New York for requiring that they cover abortion in their health plans.

Catholic and Anglican nuns defend religious freedom in New York’s highest court

Apr 17, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

The lawsuit is over a New York Department of Financial Services regulation that could require faith-based organizations to cover “medically... Read more

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New Idaho law aims to protect against forced use of incorrect pronouns, names

Apr 10, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

The new law covers government employees and students at public schools. Read more