Churches against planned ban on church services in Russian apartment blocks December 6, 2024By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Russian politicians want to close house churches and ban anointing faithful in flats. This would hit the religious communities hard and following the Orthodox Church hierarchy, Catholic bishops are also opposing the move.
Sudanese Catholic bishop narrowly escapes execution December 6, 2024By Frederick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Sudanese Catholic Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku Andali of El Obeid Dec. 2 described narrowly escaping execution in his country, where he has remained with the faithful amid a deadly war between the Sudan Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Japan’s ‘hidden Christian’ sites are living witness of faith, pope says December 3, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News Christians in Japan should keep alive the memory of the persecution their ancestors endured for their faith and should also pray for Christians suffering persecution around the world today, Pope Francis said.
Caritas Georgia head: ‘We are being torn apart’ amid political upheaval, protests December 2, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News The head of a Catholic humanitarian agency told OSV News the nation of Georgia is “being torn apart” after the ruling party suspended European Union membership talks — and “the poor will remain hungry,” she warned.
Faith, hope ‘work miracles,’ pope tells people of Nicaragua ahead of Immaculate Conception December 2, 2024By David Agren OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News In a moving letter, Pope Francis expressed his closeness with the people of Nicaragua as Central American bishops called for a day of prayer for the country on the feast of the Immaculate Conception amid constitutional changes that will lead into an even darker dictatorship.
Catholic priests face new pressures after nuncio departs Belarus November 25, 2024By Jonathan Luxmoore OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vocations, World News Clergy in Belarus are deleting their social media profiles to avoid arrest, according to church sources, as local parishes face pressure under a new religious law.
Mozambique bishops set National Day of Prayer after nation hit by post-election crisis November 23, 2024By Frederick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Mozambique’s bishops designated Nov. 24 as a National Day of Prayer for peace and reconciliation following the recent deaths and injuries related to the country’s election crisis.
Kenyan Catholic Church rejects President Ruto’s financial donation November 20, 2024By Frederick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News A disagreement between the Catholic bishops in Kenya and the government has taken a new twist, with the church rejecting a $40,000 donation from President William Ruto.
Red Wednesday to put Christian persecution in the spotlight November 16, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News This coming Nov. 20 will mark “Red Wednesday,” a commemoration held annually by Aid to the Church in Need to highlight the fact that today one in seven Christians face extreme hostility, violence and repression because of their faith in Christ. In some countries, the observance is being extended throughout the week and is called a “Red Week.”
More than 2,400 anti-Christian hate crimes occurred in Europe in 2023, report finds November 15, 2024By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Religious Freedom, World News With new reports by human rights organizations in Europe, it is clear that anti-Christian discrimination is a hot-button issue on the old continent, and on the rise.
Nicaragua expels bishops’ conference’s president November 14, 2024By David Agren OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News The ruling Sandinista regime expelled the president of the Nicaraguan bishops’ conference, further decimating the country’s Catholic leadership as clergy are forced into exile.
Federal judge blocks Louisiana law requiring public schools to post Ten Commandments November 13, 2024By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Louisiana’s law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments is unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled Nov. 12.
