Freedom of speech

The Latest

Lorie Smith, owner and founder of 303 Creative, at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

Supreme Court hears free speech case of artist who objects to same-sex weddings

Dec 5, 2022

By Katie Yoder

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Lorie Smith’s case — 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis — for nearly two... Read more

Elon Musk

Elon Musk Twitter takeover: How should Catholics think about free speech?

Apr 26, 2022

By Katie Yoder, Joe Bukuras

Elon Musk — the world’s richest man — reached a deal Monday to acquire Twitter for approximately $44 billion. This... Read more

Professor Nicholas Meriwether

Professor who resisted mandatory transgender pronouns reaches settlement with university

Apr 19, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Shawnee State University and Prof. Nicholas Meriwether have agreed to a $400,000 settlement after the professor faced disciplinary action for... Read more

People praying at an abortion clinic.

Spain criminalizes pro-life witness near abortion clinics

Apr 7, 2022

By ACI Prensa

Spain’s Senate voted Wednesday in favor of a bill amending the country’s penal code to criminalize “harassment” of women entering... Read more

Right to Live members protest a bill that would criminalize prayer near abortion clinics in Madrid's Plaza de la Marina Española, April 6, 2022.

Bill criminalizing prayer near abortion clinics protested outside Spain's Senate

Apr 6, 2022

By Diego López Marina

The Right to Live platform in Spain held a protest Wednesday in front of the the country’s Senate of a... Read more

Päivi Räsänen, Finland’s interior minister from 2011 to 2015, speaks to reporters while holding her Bible at Helsinki District Court on Jan. 24, 2022.

After acquittal, Christian MP says: I’m ready to keep defending freedom of speech and religion

Mar 30, 2022

By CNA Staff

Päivi Räsänen said she was prepared to go to the European Court of Human Rights ‘if needed.’ Read more

Päivi Räsänen, Finland’s interior minister from 2011 to 2015.

Christian MP acquitted on all charges after Finland’s Bible tweet trial

Mar 30, 2022

By CNA Staff

The court said in a unanimous ruling that ‘it is not for the district court to interpret biblical concepts.’ Read more

Päivi Räsänen, Finland’s interior minister from 2011 to 2015.

Verdict in Finland’s Bible tweet trial expected in March

Feb 16, 2022

By CNA Staff

The trial of Päivi Räsänen, a physician and mother of five, ended on Feb. 14. Read more

Marijana Petir, a member of the Croatian Parliament and former Member of the European Parliament.

Muslim leaders ‘alarmed’ by Catholic politician’s inclusion in European Islamophobia report

Feb 9, 2022

By CNA Staff

The Global Imams Council issued a statement defending Marijana Petir. Read more

A pro-life ad at a bus stop in Spain.

Pro-life ads removed in several Spanish cities

Jan 24, 2022

By David Ramos

Alfonso Galdón, founding president of the Spanish political party Valores, denounced Friday the Murcia city government for banning the pro-life... Read more

Päivi Räsänen, Finland’s interior minister from 2011 to 2015, speaks to reporters while holding her Bible at Helsinki District Court on Jan. 24, 2022.

Finnish MP facing jail after tweeting Bible verse pleads not guilty as trial begins

Jan 24, 2022

By CNA Staff

Päivi Räsänen, a mother of five, is facing three criminal charges. Read more

Marijana Petir, a member of the Croatian Parliament and former Member of the European Parliament.

Catholic politician rejects ‘false accusations’ in European Islamophobia report

Jan 21, 2022

By CNA Staff

Marijana Petir questioned why she was cited in the study. Read more

Ballot boxes for federal elections in Mexico City, June 6, 2021.

Mexican Electoral Tribunal rules political party's pro-life ads 'offensive'

Nov 9, 2021

By David Ramos

Mexico’s Electoral Tribunal ruled Thursday that political ads against abortion and adoption by same-sex couples from the the Solidarity Encounter... Read more

Päivi Räsänen, Finland’s interior minister from 2011 to 2015.

Court date set for Finnish MP facing jail after tweeting Bible verse

Sep 16, 2021

By CNA Staff

Päivi Räsänen could be given a two-year prison sentence for the tweet. Read more

Credit: NYCStock/Shutterstock

'Big Tech' censorship of religion is real and deserves an effective response, critics say

Aug 31, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

The power of major internet companies like Facebook, Amazon, YouTube, and Twitter over public life is a particular threat to... Read more

CNA

UK bill would fine universities for failing to protect free speech

May 14, 2021

By CNA Staff

A proposed law in the UK aiming to bolster the protection of free speech could impose fines on universities if... Read more

Päivi Räsänen, Finland’s interior minister from 2011 to 2015.

Finnish MP faces criminal charges after tweeting Bible verse

Apr 30, 2021

Päivi Räsänen said: “I cannot accept that voicing my religious beliefs could mean imprisonment.” Read more

Credit: sockagphoto/Shutterstock.

Canadian student journalist fired for Catholic views charges discrimination

Jan 26, 2021

A Catholic student who said his university’s newspaper wrongly fired him for his critical views of homosexuality and transgenderism has... Read more

Pro-life prayer outside an abortion clinic.

Call for abortion clinic buffer zones throughout Scotland

Nov 24, 2020

Pro-choice activists are calling on the Scottish government to ban prayer and public discussion of abortion in the vicinity of... Read more