Story behind beatification of Poland’s Father Stanislaw Streich is one of quiet courage May 22, 2025By Katarzyna Szalajko OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Saints, World News In one of the first beatifications under Pope Leo XIV, the church in Poland is preparing to celebrate the beatification of Father Stanislaw Streich, a humble parish priest murdered at the altar in 1938.
USCIRF praises Pope Leo XIV for continuing Vatican’s international religious freedom work May 19, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent, bipartisan U.S. government commission that monitors religious freedom around the globe, praised Pope Leo XIV May 16 for demonstrating the Vatican would continue its advocacy for international religious freedom during his papacy.
Trump names three U.S. bishops, priest to religious liberty commission advisory board May 19, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Three U.S. Catholic bishops and a parish priest were among religious leaders President Donald Trump appointed to an advisory board of his recently established Religious Liberty Commission.
French town near city with papal history to mark 100 years since Martyrs of Orange beatification May 11, 2025By Caroline de Sury OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Saints, World News On May 11, Archbishop François Fonlupt and neighboring bishops will mark the 100th anniversary of the beatification of the Martyrs of Orange — 32 religious sisters guillotined during the French Revolution for refusing to renounce their faith.
Civil rights probe launched over state abuse reporting law’s lack of Catholic confession protections May 8, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Religious Freedom, World News The Justice Department said May 5 it opened a civil rights investigation into the development and passage of legislation in Washington state that requires clergy to report child abuse or neglect but provides no exceptions for clergy-penitent privilege.
Trump establishes religious liberty commission including Cardinal Dolan, Bishop Barron May 2, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News President Donald Trump on May 1 signed an executive order creating a religious liberty commission during an interfaith event marking the National Day of Prayer in the White House Rose Garden.
Justices to decide on Catholic charter schools after hearing case April 30, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Supreme Court, World News The U.S. Supreme Court on April 30 heard oral argument in a case concerning the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City’s effort to establish the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, which would be the nation’s first publicly funded Catholic charter school if it survives the challenge.
Washington Roundup: Trump, Biden to attend papal funeral; ‘Anti-Christian bias’ task force convened April 25, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, a bipartisan congressional delegation, and former President Joe Biden are among the U.S. officials traveling to Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral.
Religious freedom, migration on agenda as Vance meets Cardinal Parolin April 19, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News Against the backdrop of deep differences with the Trump administration over migration and foreign aid as well as concerns for Ukraine and for Gaza, the Vatican secretary of state welcomed U.S. Vice President JD Vance to the Vatican.
Rebuilt Brick Chapel in St. Mary’s City with its new interior features highlights Maryland as a birthplace of religious freedom April 18, 2025By Mark Zimmermann Catholic Standard Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Religious Freedom A major milestone for the Brick Chapel – a landmark of faith that symbolizes Maryland’s status as a birthplace of religious freedom in the United States – unfolded that day, as the chapel’s interior features were unveiled, culminating more than four decades of historical research, archaeological excavation and painstaking reconstruction work.
Church accompanies scarred Cambodians 50 years into the Khmer Rouge genocide April 17, 2025By Simone Orendain Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News On the 50th anniversary of when the Khmer Rouge took power in Cambodia and left close to 2 million people dead, the Catholic Church there, still a fledgling minority, is making strides, according to religious missionaries who have spent significant years of service in the southeast Asian country.
Catholic leaders, public officials condemn violence after attack on governor’s residence April 14, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Catholic leaders and public officials condemned violence and called for peace after an alleged arson attack on the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.