Catholics await word on Jimmy Lai as Trump meets Xi in Beijing May 14, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News While global issues of Iran, Taiwan, trade and AI are major topics dominating talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, at a two-day summit, Catholics around the world hope a major human rights issue is on the table — the freedom of Jimmy Lai, Catholic media entrepreneur and activist who has spent over 1,900 days in prison.
New Mexico diocese fights Trump push to seize pilgrimage site for border wall May 13, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, Religious Freedom, World News A New Mexico diocese is citing a breach of religious freedom protections, as it pushes back against the Trump administration’s efforts to seize land from a pilgrimage site to build a portion of a border wall.
Religious freedom watchdog urges Trump to fill key ambassador vacancy May 13, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom on May 12 reiterated its recommendation that President Donald Trump “swiftly” make a nomination to fill a key ambassador position to promote and protect religious freedom abroad.
USCIRF hearing: Children ‘bear the brunt’ of international religious freedom violations April 30, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News Children “bear the brunt” of international religious freedom violations, panelists at an April 30 hearing of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said.
Catholic leaders appeal to end Russia’s religious persecution in Ukraine April 15, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, War in Ukraine, World News Several prominent American Catholics have launched a petition calling for the end of Russia’s religious persecution in occupied areas of Ukraine.
Religious Liberty Commission holds final hearing in shadow of Christian backlash to Trump posts April 14, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News At the capstone hearing of the Department of Justice’s Religious Liberty Commission April 13, commissioners considered testimony from their seven hearings, signaling several areas for potential policy recommendations that they may include in their report to the president.
America at 250: Celebrating both a birthday and a history of religious liberty March 21, 2026By Kimberly Heatherington OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News As the United States indulges in a star-spangled celebration of its 250th birthday, a cornerstone of historical significance that stands out is religious freedom, and unlike for many other nations, it is a unique founding principle of this nation.
House speaker defends role of religion in public life at National Catholic Prayer Breakfast March 20, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, U.S. Congress, World News House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., defended the role of religion in public life during comments March 19 at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington.
Archbishop, witnesses testify to religious freedom risks health care providers face March 17, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Health Care, News, Religious Freedom, World News Conscience protections for faith-based health providers remain a key religious freedom concern, witnesses at a March 16 meeting of the Department of Justice’s Religious Liberty Commission said.
Pope Leo to receive Liberty Medal for promoting religious liberty, human dignity March 16, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, News, Religious Freedom, World News As the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary, Pope Leo XIV will be honored in the nation’s former capital of Philadelphia for his efforts to promote religious liberty as well as freedom of expression and conscience.
Christians ‘most persecuted religious community in the world,’ Vatican tells UN March 9, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News The Vatican’s permanent observer to the United Nations in Geneva called on governments and international organizations to strengthen religious freedom protections for persecuted Christians.
Experts: Debates about Zionism, even by Catholics, often at odds with Catholic understanding March 7, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Religious Freedom, World News Experts in Jewish-Catholic relations told OSV News that some current public debates about Zionism, including among Catholics, are at odds with the Catholic understanding of the term — which itself has an array of meanings, as does the word “Israel” itself.
