Spanish bishops clarify Pope Leo XIV’s remarks following media reports February 25, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News The executive commission of the Spanish bishops’ conference clarified a recent report that alleged Pope Leo XIV had warned about attempts by far-right political parties in the country to “weaponize the Church.”
Trump touts immigration enforcement in State of the Union address as polls show growing concern February 25, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, Religious Freedom, World News President Donald Trump touted his administration’s immigration enforcement actions in his Feb. 24 State of the Union address, as polls show increasing concern about these policies among U.S. voters.
Public disapproval of Trump’s immigration policy increases February 25, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Immigration and Migration, News, Religious Freedom, World News Disapproval of President Donald Trump’s immigration policy increased ahead of his State of the Union address, according to several recent polls.
U.S. Church faces these areas of ‘critical concern’ on religious liberty, says bishops’ report February 19, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News The USCCB Committee for Religious Liberty issued Feb. 17 its “Annual Report on the State of Religious Liberty,” which highlights the legislative actions, executive actions, and U.S. Supreme Court cases the U.S. bishops are closely watching.
Federal judge orders Catholic group be let into ICE facility on Ash Wednesday February 16, 2026By Simone Orendain Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, Lent, News, Religious Freedom, World News A federal district judge granted a preliminary injunction Feb. 12 that will allow clergy, religious and Catholic social justice advocates to enter a Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility west of Chicago on Ash Wednesday to provide ashes and holy Communion.
Catechist, pregnant wife among kidnapped in latest anti-Christian attacks in Nigeria February 13, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Several gunmen abducted 32 people in Nigeria’s Kaduna state, including a catechist and his pregnant wife, in an attack that has increased fears of Christians in the country who have been targeted over several weeks.
Carrie Prejean Boller removed from Religious Liberty Commission after antisemitism row February 11, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Religious Freedom, World News Carrie Prejean Boller has been removed from the Religious Liberty Commission, its chair, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Feb. 11.
Jimmy Lai’s daughter hopes for ‘political solution’ after devastating sentence February 10, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Journalism, News, Religious Freedom, World News The daughter of imprisoned media entrepreneur and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai said that while the 20-year sentence he was given was heartbreaking, her family, and especially her father, still trusts in “divine providence” for a solution.
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: America's 250th anniversary, 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.
