Secularism

The Latest

Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney, Australia.

Archbishop warns of religious freedom erosion in Australia, calls for ‘saints for our time’

Jun 10, 2024

By AC Wimmer

Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher raised the alarm over Australia’s incremental erosion of religious freedom and called for committed action. Read more

Votes are counted in Dublin, Ireland, on March 9, 2024, after voters in the country went to the polls March 8 to decide on a pair of referendums proposing wording changes to the Irish constitution aimed at reflecting secular values.

Irish voters keep motherhood, traditional family in constitution

Mar 9, 2024

By Kate Quiñones, Shannon Mullen

Irish voters by large margins rejected proposed changes to the 1937 Irish Constitution. Read more

Pope Francis speaks to bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, seminarians, and pastoral workers in St. Stephen's Co-Cathedral in Budapest, Hungary, April 28, 2023.

Pope Francis: Solutions to loss of faith ‘come from the tabernacle, not the computer’

Apr 28, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Pope Francis addressed Hungarian clergy during the first day of his three-day visit to Budapest. Read more

Raphael, “St. Michael Vanquishing Satan,” 1518

‘Hands off my statue’: How this French group hopes to save St. Michael the Archangel

Oct 11, 2022

By Solène Tadié

The recent decision of a French Court of Appeal to confirm the removal of a statue of St. Michael the... Read more

St. Michael the Archangel

Supporters of statue of St. Michael the Archangel in small French town vow to fight removal order

Sep 29, 2022

By Charlotte Evans, AC Wimmer

After a French court confirmed the removal of a statue of St. Michael from a seaside town, supporters have vowed... Read more

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Nineteen attacks on Christians during Holy Week in Spain

May 2, 2022

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The Observatory for Religious Freedom in Spain has reported that during Holy Week this year there were 19 attacks against... Read more

The then-remaining section of the World Trade Center surrounded by rubble, Sept. 27, 2001.

America's return to God after 9/11 didn't last long, priest says

Sep 14, 2021

By Shannon Mullen

Father John A. Perricone recalled how his noon Mass at St. Agnes in Manhattan on 9/11 was packed with people,... Read more

Report shows Irish teachers' concern over bullying of practicing Catholic students

Aug 11, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

A report on a survey of 214 religious education teachers in Ireland is raising alarm that students who practice a... Read more

Cardinal Pietro Parolin in St. Peter's Basilica April 27, 2017.

Cardinal Parolin: Monaco shows positive Church-state relationship can exist

Jul 20, 2021

By CNA Staff

Catholicism is the tiny Mediterranean principality’s official state religion. Read more

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, pictured in St. Peter's Basilica Oct. 3, 2015.

Cardinal Parolin: Europe needs faith in God as it struggles with ‘demographic winter’

Jul 5, 2021

By CNA Staff

The Vatican Secretary of State was preaching at Mass in Strasbourg, France. Read more

Display by Freedom from Religion Foundation at the Iowa state capitol, 2016

Secular group wins case to install mock nativity display at Texas capitol

Jun 11, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

After a six-year court battle, a secular group will be permitted to install a “Bill of Rights Nativity Exhibit” at... Read more

Quebec court upholds much of law barring religious symbols for public employees

Apr 21, 2021

By Joe Bukuras

A Canadian court upheld this week part of a Quebec law that bans government employees from wearing religious symbols at... Read more

View of St. Peter’s Basilica from the roof of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross April 1, 2015.

Catholic missionary: ‘Secularization’ in the Church threatens Christianity in Europe

Sep 8, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

According to a longtime missionary in Africa, Fr. Martin Lasarte, one of the biggest threats to Christianity in Europe is... Read more

The flag of Ireland.

Irish commission: Catholic school discriminated against atheist student

May 4, 2020

The Republic of Ireland’s Workplace Relations Commission has decided that an atheist child was discriminated against by his Catholic school... Read more

Quebecois bishops: prohibition on religious garb will 'fuel fear and intolerance'

Jun 18, 2019

The Canadian province of Quebec passed a law Sunday prohibiting future government employees “in positions of authority” from expressing their... Read more

'We're in a very different time now': Montreal officials oust crucifix from City Hall

Mar 21, 2019

Montreal’s City Hall doesn’t need Christ, officials have said. A crucifix that has hung on the wall of Montreal’s City... Read more

Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square circa 1978.

French court's decision forces a change of place for John Paul II statue

Mar 2, 2018

A statue of St. John Paul II will be removed from public land in a small French city, after a... Read more

Hobby Lobby. Courtesy of the Becket Fund.

Bishop: Hobby Lobby case shows need to fight secularism

Jul 15, 2014

Despite the recent Hobby Lobby court victory, Bishop James D. Conley of Lincoln, Neb. stressed the need for Catholics to... Read more

Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth.

Secularism too fragile a basis for society, English bishop says

Mar 12, 2014

By Carl Bunderson

During an address at his alma mater last week, Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth discussed the rise of secularism in... Read more

Paul Marshall speaks during a panel discussion at the Hudson Institute on March 27, 2013.

Experts warn of 'ominous trends' in Western secularism

Dec 16, 2013

Experts on religious liberty cautioned participants at a weekend conference in Rome that discrimination and persecution against Christians is growing... Read more