Religious Liberty Commission tussles over antisemitism as lawsuit challenges its legality February 10, 2026By Kate Scanlon Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Religious Freedom, World News The Religious Liberty Commission held its fifth hearing — with some tense exchanges — to examine a rise in antisemitism Feb. 9, the same day a lawsuit was filed challenging the committee’s creation as unlawful.
Thousands of Christians gather at Bangladesh’s famed shrine despite anxiety of election violence February 10, 2026By Stephan Uttom Rozario OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Thousands of pilgrims have gathered at St. Anthony’s shrine in Bangladesh’s Archdiocese of Dhaka, despite anxiety and fears of violence, ahead of national elections in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, as they pray for peace in Bangladesh and the world.
Pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20-year imprisonment February 9, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Journalism, News, Religious Freedom, World News Media entrepreneur and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai, whose arrest nearly six years ago prompted outrage around the world, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
A Quaker, Bavarian monk and Catholic king: Exploring Catholic history in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey February 8, 2026By Father Anthony D. Andreassi OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Religious Freedom In this continuing series on the origins of Catholicism in the 50 states, the Catholic history of the mid-Atlantic offers a particularly revealing case. In New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Catholic life took shape unevenly, shaped as much by law and political culture as by migration and missionary effort.
U.S. solicitor general says Colorado should not deny Catholic preschools early education funds February 5, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Schools, Supreme Court, World News A case before the U.S. Supreme Court urging the court to stop Colorado from excluding Catholic preschools and families from the state’s “universal” funding now has federal support.
House hearing examines rising global religious freedom threats, policy challenges February 5, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, U.S. Congress, World News Authoritarian regimes increasingly threaten the cause of international religious freedom, lawmakers and witnesses at a House subcommittee hearing on the topic said Feb. 4.
Threats to religious freedom present risks to global security, experts warn February 3, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News The cause of international religious freedom is tied to global stability and is increasingly threatened by authoritarian regimes, said speakers and participants in the sixth annual International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington Feb. 2 and 3.
Amid UK–China talks, Jimmy Lai’s daughter finds hope in faith, calls for his release January 30, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News As British Prime Minister Keir Starmer traveled to China amid renewed calls to press Beijing on human rights, Claire Lai, daughter of imprisoned Catholic media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, marked the moment in prayer at a snowy Washington Mass.
South Sudan bishops warn of genocide, plead for peace as fears of a full-scale war grow January 29, 2026By Fredrick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News As fears of a return to full-scale war in South Sudan escalate, Catholic bishops in the country have reiterated their call for peace and dialogue, amid fighting and mobilization in parts of the country.
Pope appeals for end to antisemitism, prejudice, genocide January 28, 2026By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV called for an end to all antisemitism, prejudice, oppression and persecution worldwide.
Conflicting reports of recent kidnappings in Nigeria raise alarm for Christian advocates January 21, 2026By Ngala Killian Chimton OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News After reports spread that dozens of Christians in Nigeria have allegedly again fallen prey to kidnappers in yet another sign of persecution against Christ’s followers in Africa’s most populous nation, some police said the kidnapping did not happen.
Report: More than 388 million Christians worldwide face ‘high levels’ of persecution January 15, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News More than 388 million Christians — or 1 in 7 believers worldwide — face “high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith,” according to a new report.
