Religious persecution
The Latest
Dozens still captive in Nigeria after deadly raid on Catholic town
Armed bandits killed one person and kidnapped more than 100 others in a March 14 raid on a predominantly Catholic... Read more
Local Chinese authorities order parents at school to sign pledge renouncing their faith
In another crackdown on religious freedom, authorities in an eastern Chinese city ordered parents to sign a pledge that affirms... Read more
Waves of attacks displace Catholic natives in central Nigeria
Recent terrorist raids in Benue, a predominantly Catholic state in north-central Nigeria, are getting scant mention in Nigeria news. Read more
Pope Francis meets with two Nigerian girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram
The women, who both saw members of their families murdered by Boko Haram, met with the pope at the end... Read more
Nicaragua’s dictatorship sentences Bishop Rolando Álvarez to 26 years in prison
The Ortega regime sentenced the bishop on Friday, Feb. 10, to 26 years and four months in prison, accusing him... Read more
Dictatorship in Nicaragua sentences priest critical of the regime to 10 years in prison
Father Óscar Danilo Benavidez Dávila was found guilty Jan. 16. State prosecution requested a sentence of eight years in prison;... Read more
Exiled priest says bishop on trial in Nicaragua created secret human rights office
Father Uriel Vallejos recounted how the Bishop Rolando Álvarez opened the office to help those persecuted after anti-government protests in... Read more
Trial of Mark Houck, pro-life advocate, begins with night of prayer
A crowd of about 50 supporters gathered in front of the federal courthouse in Philadelphia on Tuesday, one day before... Read more
Prosecution accused of fabricating witnesses for trial of Nicaraguan bishop
An exiled priest and a human rights defender charge that the dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega is manipulating and “fabricating”... Read more
Four Latin American countries among the top 50 most dangerous in the world for Christians
According to the study, Colombia is the most dangerous country for Christians in the Americas and ranks 22nd worldwide. Read more
Report: Christian persecution at its highest point in 30 years
The World Watch List, released by Open Doors on Jan. 18, reported that the number of Christians facing persecution worldwide... Read more
2022 was the worst year for the Catholic Church in Nicaragua
Lawyer and researcher Martha Patricia Molina Montenegro reported that “2022 was the most disastrous year for the Nicaraguan Catholic Church.” Read more
‘Rising Islamist extremism’ spreading across globe, says report
Aid to the Church in Need found that as a result of increased jihadist activity, persecution of Christians along the... Read more
Dictatorship in Nicaragua prohibits Immaculate Conception procession
The decision forces San José de Tipitapa parish in the Archdiocese of Managua to hold their celebrations in the parish... Read more
Prohibiting Nativity scenes in Mexico would be an ‘attack’ on religious freedom, group says
The National Front for the Family said prohibiting Nativity scenes on public property in Mexico would be “an enormous absurdity.” Read more
ADF calls on human rights commission to defend religious freedom in Mexico and Nicaragua
“Latin America is currently experiencing a surge of human rights abuses in the area of religious freedom,” stated Tomás Henriquez,... Read more
Another Catholic priest has been ‘kidnapped’ by Nicaragua’s government, says exiled churchman
According to a prominent human rights group, Father Enrique Martínez Gamboa is the 11th Catholic priest to be arrested and... Read more
Christians excluded from Australian sports? Bishops raise alarm after exec resigns
One day after being appointed chief executive of an Australian rules football club, Andrew Thorburn stepped down from the role... Read more
Priest prevented from returning to Nicaragua: It’s ‘not a crime’ to criticize government
Before Father Guillermo Blandón could take the flight from Miami to Nicaragua, he was informed that the Nicaraguan government had... Read more
Nicaraguan dictator Ortega verbally attacks pope, calls Church ‘the perfect dictatorship’
President Daniel Ortega called the pope a “holy tyrant” and said the Church is “the perfect dictatorship” during a Sept.... Read more
