religious freedom

The Latest

St. John’s Cathedral in the Netherlands is lit up for Red Wednesday on Nov. 23, 2022.

Churches around the world lit up red in honor of persecuted Christians

Nov 21, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

Organized by the Christian aid group Aid to the Church in Need International, “Red Week” has been taking place every... Read more

The apostolic vicar for Southern Arabia, Bishop Paolo Martinelli.

Catholic leader promotes interfaith unity through charity work in Yemen

Oct 21, 2024

By ACI MENA

Bishop Paolo Martinelli, who serves as the apostolic vicar for Southern Arabia, emphasized the special importance of interfaith dialogue in... Read more

Adam Smith-Connor on Oct. 16, 2024, was found guilty of praying silently outside of an abortion clinic, with the pro-life advocate facing a near-$12,000 fine over the verdict. 

British army veteran convicted of praying silently near abortion clinic

Oct 16, 2024

By Daniel Payne

A British army veteran and Christian has been found guilty of praying silently outside of an abortion clinic, facing an... Read more

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justices Brett Kavanaugh (left) and Neil Gorsuch (right) arrive for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 7, 2024.

Kavanaugh: Supreme Court made ‘important strides’ for religious freedom in recent years

Oct 7, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

Ahead of the United States Supreme Court’s newest term, Justice Brett Kavanaugh lauded recent court decisions that have protected religious... Read more

View of the coastal part of the city of Aden, Yemen.

Yemeni Christians pressured to conform to Islamic law: ‘We were forced to wear the hijab’ 

Sep 23, 2024

By ACI MENA

A Yemeni Catholic woman born in the 1980s and living in Aden spoke recently about the plight of Christians in... Read more

Isabel Spruce-Vaughn was arrested twice for praying outside abortion clinics.

UK bishops warn new Public Order Act unfairly affects people of faith

Sep 19, 2024

By Madeleine Teahan

Bishops of England and Wales have condemned legislation relating to prayer outside abortion clinics, saying it represents a step backward... Read more

Deacon Bob Young, representing Knights of Columbus Council 694, accepts the First Liberty Institute's Philip B. Onderdonk Jr. Religious Liberty Award award at the American Legion’s National Convention in New Orleans on Aug. 28, 2024.

Virginia Knights receive religious freedom award after spat with federal government

Sep 13, 2024

By Daniel Payne

A Knights of Columbus council in Petersburg, Virginia, has received a religious freedom award after it won a dispute over... Read more

A sign outside the Internal Revenue Service building in downtown Washington, D.C.

Religious broadcasters sue IRS over rule limiting political speech for nonprofits

Aug 29, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The complaint, filed by the National Religious Broadcasters, argues churches “are placed in a unique and discriminatory status” by the... Read more

St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne, Australia.

Australian archbishop calls for faith protections in wake of shelved religious bill

Aug 14, 2024

By AC Wimmer

“It is regrettable that such important legislation is not proceeding,” Melbourne Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli said in a statement. Read more

Hong Kong media tycoon and Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai.

Jimmy Lai remains in solitary confinement after Hong Kong trial delayed until November

Aug 5, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

Media mogul and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai will remain in solitary confinement after a Hong Kong court delayed his national... Read more

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Suspect charged with felony hate crime after beheading statue of Jesus at New York parish

Jul 16, 2024

By Daniel Payne

This incident is one of numerous acts of vandalism against Catholic churches and other faith organizations in recent months and... Read more

Details from St John Fisher by Jacobus Houbraken (c. 1760), and St Thomas More by Hans Holbein the Younger (1527).

Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More: following God’s law above all else

Jun 22, 2024

By CNA Staff

On the feast of Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More, CNA presents a question-and-answer lowdown on their lives and legacies. Read more

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U.S. bishops invite Catholics to ‘pray, reflect, and act’ to promote religious freedom

Jun 11, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

Marking Religious Freedom Week, beginning June 22, the bishops invited Catholics to reflect on a particular topic related to religious... Read more

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Los Angeles County gives fire captain partial religious exemption in gay pride flag dispute

Jun 10, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Capt. Jeffrey Little has received a partial religious exemption in his dispute with the county over raising a gay pride... Read more

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

Joe Donnelly was appointed U.S. ambassador to the Holy See by President Joe Biden on April 11, 2022.

U.S. Ambassador to Holy See Joe Donnelly will step down, report says

May 30, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

Former Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly from Indiana is reportedly stepping down from his post to return home to Indiana. Read more

The European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

European bishops call for inclusion of Christian principles in Europe

Mar 22, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The bishops bemoaned what they see as the political and institutional marginalization of Christian voices. Read more

Interior of the Scottish Parliament building.

Scotland’s controversial new hate crime law set to come into effect April 1

Mar 19, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

The new law creates a new crime of stirring up hatred against any of the protected groups covered by the... Read more

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Survey: Slight decrease in gay marriage support, uptick in religious freedom support in U.S.

Mar 13, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

The American Values Atlas survey of more than 22,000 Americans found that support for homosexual marriage declined slightly in 2023... Read more

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Court rules Christian nonprofit does not have to cover gender transition

Mar 8, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

“We are overjoyed our members will not have to choose between the biblically based employee benefits and quality health care... Read more