Religous freedom

The Latest

A map of Nigeria.

Human rights leaders call for Nigeria to be redesignated as religious freedom violator

Dec 14, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

In 2021, the Biden administration removed Nigeria, a nation notorious for extreme levels of religious persecution, from the Countries of... Read more

Former assistant secretary of state Robert Destro discusses the need for religious freedom. Pictured from left,  Imam Talib Shareef of the Nation’s Mosque; Destro; and Cole Durham of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at Brigham Young University Law School. Peter Pinedo/CNA

Religious freedom ‘under assault’ across the world, leaders testify at summit

Feb 2, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

Faith leaders from across the world gathered in Washington, D.C., at the International Religious Freedom Summit this week. Read more

Altar of St. Francis Xavier Owo Catholic Parish of Ondo Diocese, Nigeria, where dozens were slain in a massacre on June 5, 2022.

Republican and Democrat leaders urge Biden to add Nigeria to list of countries violating religious freedom

Feb 1, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

Rep. Chris Smith and a bipartisan group of leaders in Congress introduced a resolution Tuesday urging the State Department to... Read more

Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, Nicaragua, is monitored by police in early August 2022.

Ortega seeking to ‘destroy the Catholic Church in Nicaragua,’ advocates tell Congress 

Dec 15, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

Human rights experts decried the ongoing repression of the Church by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and urged additional U.S. action... Read more

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Which U.S. states rank first (and last) in religious freedom protections?

Sep 23, 2022

By Zelda Caldwell

The states are ranked according to how many laws are on the books that protect the free exercise of religion. Read more

Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth.

Guernsey scraps proposal for discrimination law that could have led to Catholic schools' closure

Nov 5, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

Catholic schools in Guernsey will be permitted to appoint only Catholics as head teachers following a vote on Nov. 3... Read more

St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, mother church of the Archdiocese of Bangalore.

India's Christians see dangers in Karnataka survey, anti-conversion push

Oct 29, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

A Catholic archbishop in India’s Karnataka state has again called on the state government to withdraw its orders to survey... Read more

Pastor Dana Moore of Second Baptist Church Corpus Christi

Texas death row inmate sues to have pastor’s touch in execution chamber

Aug 13, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

A man scheduled to be executed in early September is suing the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to have his... Read more

Armin Laschet, now the leader of the Christian Democratic Union, speaks at the party headquarters in Berlin, Jan. 11, 2017. Credit: photocosmos1/Shutterstock.

German Social Democrats attack Catholic faith of potential Angela Merkel successor's aide

Aug 11, 2021

By AC Wimmer

An anti-Catholic video targeting the election campaign of a potential successor to Angela Merkel has drawn criticism from bishops and... Read more

Federal LGBT employment guidance ‘an outrageous overreach’ one lawyer says

Jul 8, 2021

By Matt Hadro

Recent federal LGBT nondiscrimination guidance for employers goes far beyond the law, one legal and religious freedom expert told CNA. Read more

The flag of Pakistan.

Two Christians accused of breaking Pakistan's blasphemy law

Feb 16, 2021

Two Christian evangelists could face the death penalty after being charged with violating Pakistan’s blasphemy law after an encounter in... Read more

US bishops laud attorney general's new religious freedom protections

Oct 13, 2017

Following an announcement by the U.S. Attorney General detailing 20 principles of religious liberty for all government agencies and executive... Read more

Courtesy of Center for Ethics and Culture University of Notre Dame.

Global research project looks at Christian response to persecution

Sep 3, 2017

Which Christians face the most persecution around the globe, and how do they respond to it?  Read more

Judge Neil Gorsuch testifies during his Supreme Court confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, March 21, 2017.

Pro-life, religious freedom leaders cheer confirmation of Neil Gorsuch

Apr 7, 2017

By Matt Hadro

Pro-life and religious freedom advocates cheered the Senate’s confirmation of Judge Neil Gorsuch on Friday to the U.S. Supreme Court,... Read more