Religious persecution

The Latest

Bishop Rolando Álvarez in Rome.

Nicaragua lashes out at Vatican after EWTN interview with Bishop Rolando Álvarez

Feb 10, 2025

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The Nicaraguan government has lashed out at the Vatican following an interview Bishop Rolando Álvarez gave last week to the... Read more

“I am not exiled, I am liberated. I do not feel exiled, but liberated,” emphasized Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Álvarez during an exclusive interview with EWTN in February 2025.

Bishop Álvarez: ‘I always believed in my liberation and what sustained me was prayer’

Feb 7, 2025

By Paola Arriaza Flynn

In an exclusive interview, persecuted Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Álvarez shares with EWTN News his experience one year after his release... Read more

Panelists discuss religious persecution in the West at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 4, 2025. From left to right: Rabbi Emile Ackermann, a co-founder of Ayeka; Janet Buckingham, the director of global advocacy at the World Evangelical Alliance; Todd Huizinga, a senior fellow at the Religious Freedom Institute; Alliance Defending Freedom International Legal Counsel Sean Nelson.

International Religious Freedom Summit examines religious persecution in the West

Feb 6, 2025

By Tyler Arnold

“People being arrested because of their faith and living out their faith is coming at odds with an increasingly secular... Read more

Father Hyacinth Ementa Ichoku.

Journalists in Nigeria urged to speak up, expose all forms of Christian persecution

Jan 31, 2025

By Abah Anthony John

A priest in the Awka Diocese in Nigeria has encouraged journalists to expose Christian persecution, which is at its highest... Read more

The Metropolitan Cathedral Santiago Apóstol and the National Palace in Managua, Nicaragua.

‘Night of terror’ in Nicaragua: Dictatorship forces cloistered nuns to leave monasteries

Jan 30, 2025

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The dictatorship’s order reportedly was carried out on the night of Jan. 28, forcing some 30 cloistered nuns belonging to... Read more

Supporters of a religious group march during a rally in support of Khalid Khan, who killed a man accused of blasphemy, in Peshawar on July 31, 2020.

Pakistan sentences 4 men to death for alleged blasphemy on the internet

Jan 28, 2025

By Andrés Henríquez

A Pakistani court has sentenced four men to death for allegedly posting blasphemous content against Islam on social media, a... Read more

St. Francis Xavier statue in front St. Joseph Cathedral in Beijing, China, Feb. 25, 2016.

China’s oldest priest dies at 104: a life of faith amid 25 years of persecution

Jan 8, 2025

By Madalaine Elhabbal

Father Joseph Guo Fude was one of the few remaining Catholic priests in China who had been ordained prior to... Read more

The Catholic Cathedral of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Minsk, Belarus.

Catholic priest sentenced to 11 years in prison by Belarusian regime

Jan 3, 2025

By Eduardo Berdejo

The Viasna Human Rights Center stated on X that 64-year-old Father Henrykh Akalatovich has denied “all charges.” Read more

The flag of the European Union flying in Rome.

Catholic Church to European Union: Fight against anti-Christian hate

Dec 10, 2024

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

“The time is mature for the appointment of an EU coordinator on combating anti-Christian hatred in Europe,” said Alessandro Calcagno,... Read more

Members representing Assam Christian Forum and CRI-NEI in India take part in a solidarity prayer meeting for restoration of peace in Manipur after ethnic violence at a school in Guwahati on June 24, 2023.

Indian church leaders plead for protection amid ‘relentless attacks’ on Christians

Dec 9, 2024

By Anto Akkara

“We need protection against what is happening and urge the government to ensure the safety of the Christians,” Archbishop John... Read more

The Nicaraguan dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and his “co-president” and wife, Rosario Murillo, kidnapped and expelled from the country a priest of the Diocese of Bluefields.

Nicaraguan dictatorship kidnaps and expels another priest 

Dec 5, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The dictatorship of Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua has kidnapped and expelled from the country Father Floriano Ceferino Vargas, a priest... Read more

Bishop Carlos Herrera is president of the Bishops’ Conference of Nicaragua.

Central American bishops call for day of prayer for Catholic Church in Nicaragua

Dec 4, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The bishops of Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala are inviting the faithful to participate in a day... Read more

Nicaraguan academic and political activist Felix Maradiaga speaks during an interview with AFP in Managua on Feb. 11, 2021.

Pope Francis’ letter to Nicaraguan Catholics is ‘balm for our spirit,’ exiles say

Dec 3, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Catholics exiled from Nicaragua are expressing their gratitude for the recent letter of encouragement Pope Francis sent to the persecuted... Read more

The Holy Father's Dec. 2, 2024, letter to Catholics in Nicaragua comes at a critical time for the country.

Pope Francis to Nicaraguan Catholics: Faith and hope work miracles

Pope Francis has written a moving letter to Catholics in Nicaragua to express his closeness, affection, and incessant prayer. Read more

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

ACN report: North Koreans in contact with Christians are sent to prison

Nov 27, 2024

By Eduardo Berdejo

The report was published this month during Red Week and is an initiative by ACN to draw attention to religious... Read more

Bishop Carlos Herrera is president of the Bishops’ Conference of Nicaragua.

Dictatorship in Nicaragua expels president of country’s bishops’ conference

Nov 15, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The prelate recently criticized a pro-Ortega mayor who interfered with a Mass by blasting loud music in front of the... Read more

A priest administers the Anointing of the Sick.

Nicaragua bars priests from anointing the dying in hospitals

Nov 13, 2024

By Andrés Henríquez

Approximately 10 priests from different dioceses have confirmed the situation to author and lawyer Martha Patricia Molina. Read more

The building of the Constitutional Court of Spain.

Constitutional Court in Spain forces Catholic brotherhood to admit woman

Nov 7, 2024

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

Spain’s Constitutional Court has ruled that by refusing to admit a woman, a male Catholic brotherhood violated the legal precept... Read more

Anglican nuns from Sisterhood of St. 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.

Coalition of faith groups side with nuns in religious freedom case before Supreme Court

Oct 23, 2024

By Madalaine Elhabbal

The Anglican nuns and religious groups are suing the state of New York after it mandated employers to cover abortions... Read more

Worshippers attend a Mass at Ouagadougou's Catholic cathedral on June 12, 2022, in Burkina Faso. The country has been grappling with Islamist terrorism since 2015 and Christian communities live in fear of furhter attacks.

Islamic terrorists massacre 150 in Burkina Faso

Oct 19, 2024

By Andrés Henríquez

More than 150 people, including many Christians, were massacred by Islamic terrorists in Burkina Faso, sources told Aid to the... Read more