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.
U.S. bishops praise DHS policy change on wait times for religious worker visas January 15, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, Religious Freedom, World News The Department of Homeland Security said Jan. 14 it issued an interim final rule reducing wait times for religious worker visas. Catholic advocates were among those who pushed the Trump administration to address the backlog in their visa category.
U.S. commission hearing focuses on persecution of Christians around globe January 15, 2026By Kurt Jensen OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., a longtime champion of religious liberty, particularly in Tibet, proudly wears a bracelet of brown prayer beads, called mala, given to him by the Dalai Lama during a visit to India in 2024.
Polish students refuse to remove classroom crucifix when teacher reportedly asked them to do so January 9, 2026By Katarzyna Szalajko OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News An alleged desecration of a crucifix at a primary school in northern Poland has triggered nationwide outrage in the predominantly Catholic country.
Nigerian bishop calls for decisive military action to ‘eliminate’ bandits January 8, 2026By Fredrick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News A Nigerian bishop urged intensified military action to “eliminate” bandits and their hideouts in the Kainji Game Reserve amid reports of the killing of 50 people between Christmas and New Year’s and traumatizing of children recently abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri.
Catholics should identify neither as liberal nor conservative January 8, 2026By Kenneth Craycraft OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Religious Freedom Our Catholic faith fundamentally rejects the possessive individualism of both major parties as contrary to the doctrine of solidarity. We do not have a home on the continuum of liberalism.
Sisters who manage school of kidnapped Nigerian children: ‘Your compassion became a lifeline’ January 5, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Following the liberation of all the children and staff abducted from St. Mary’s School in the Nigerian town of Papiri, the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, who manage the school, have expressed deep gratitude for the support received during the trying period.
India: Christmas celebrations disturbed or canceled over Hindu nationalist violence December 30, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Christmas visit to a Protestant cathedral in New Delhi has drawn renewed criticism from Christian leaders, who say symbolic gestures are no substitute for action amid rising anti-Christian violence.
All children kidnapped from Nigeria Catholic school will be home for Christmas December 22, 2025By Fredrick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Catholics in northwestern Nigeria are celebrating just days before Christmas, as the last group of students kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri has been freed.
Illinois Catholic bishops back pregnancy centers’ suit over law requiring abortion referrals December 17, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, Religious Freedom, Respect Life, World News Catholic bishops in Illinois offered their support to a lawsuit from pro-life pregnancy centers that say a Prairie State law requiring those centers to refer women for abortions violates their First Amendment rights.
Trump, lawmakers call for Jimmy Lai’s release after ‘unjust conviction’ December 16, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News President Donald Trump, the State Department, and members of Congress expressed concern after Hong Kong’s prominent Catholic media tycoon and pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai was convicted of national security offenses under the city’s controversial national security law.
