U.S. declares genocide in Sudan as country undergoes ‘unimaginable’ suffering January 16, 2025By Frederick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Amid what a Catholic charity called “unimaginable” suffering of civilians trapped in civil war brutality in Sudan, the United States declared that one of the fighting factions is committing genocide in the country and slapped sanctions on its leader.
Christian persecution on the rise worldwide, new report says January 15, 2025By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News A new report by Open Doors International said that more than 380 million Christians faced persecution and discrimination in 2024, an increase of 15 million from the year before.
Russia killing clergy, banning religions in occupied Ukraine, says foreign minister January 13, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, War in Ukraine, World News Since the start of their February 2022 full-scale invasion, Russian forces have killed close to 70 clergy and destroyed more than 630 places of worship in Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s ministry of foreign affairs.
Calls multiply for release of kidnapped Nigerian nuns; security in region dramatically deteriorates January 13, 2025By Ngala Killian Chimton OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Calls have multiplied in Nigeria for the release of Sister Vincentia Maria Nwankwo and Sister Grace Mariette Okoli. Both religious were kidnapped Jan. 7 along Ufuma Road as they returned from their vocational associations’ meeting held in Ogboji, a town in Anambra state.
Bishops call for Venezuelan vote to be respected January 10, 2025By David Agren OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Venezuela’s bishops called for the country’s electoral decision to be respected on the eve of the Jan. 10 inauguration of President Nicolás Maduro, whose victory in the July 28 election is disputed by the opposition and not recognized by the United States.
Christian woman hospitalized after attack; Christians demand rights in Bangladesh January 10, 2025By Stephan Uttom Rozario Catholic Review Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Christians and Indigenous minorities protested publicly against the beating of a minority woman and the burning of her house in Gobindganj, in the northern Gaibandha district of Muslim-majority Bangladesh.
Christians in Syria ask whether their rights will be preserved under new Islamic rule January 3, 2025By Dale Gavlak OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Religious Freedom, World News Although Christian leaders in Syria are trying to stay positive about the new Islamist interim government in Damascus, others are pointing to worrying concerns about what lies ahead for the country’s diverse population.
Religious freedom ‘getting worse’ in Russia, Belarus and central Asia, says expert January 3, 2025By Gina Christian Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, War in Ukraine, World News OSV News recently spoke with researcher Felix Corley of Forum 18 — a news service that partners with the Norwegian Helsinki Committee in defending freedom of religion, thought and conscience — on religious freedom in Russia, Belarus, occupied Ukraine and other nations in the region.
Catholic priest in Belarus convicted of treason, sentenced to 11 years in penal colony January 2, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Father Henrykh Akalatovich, pastor of the Catholic parish in Valožyn, was sentenced to 11 years in a penal colony in Belarus Dec. 30 in a move that highlights the growing persecution of Catholics in the Russia-aligned country.
Arizona bishops, faith leaders denounce spectre of immigration raids on churches December 31, 2024By Kimberly Heatherington OSV News Filed Under: Immigration and Migration, News, Religious Freedom, World News The expectation that President-elect Donald J. Trump’s incoming administration will revoke the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s long-standing policy restricting the arrest of unauthorized immigrants at or near houses of worship has led faith leaders to protest what they say represents an impending threat to religious freedom.
Indigenous Christian village in Bangladesh burned to the ground on Christmas December 30, 2024By Stephan Uttom Rozario OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News An Indigenous Christian village was burnt to the ground on Christmas Eve in Muslim-majority Bangladesh.
Vatican says 13 missionaries were killed in 2024 December 30, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Missions, News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News Thirteen Catholic “missionaries” were killed in 2024, most of them during the commission of a robbery, but several obviously were targeted for the church work they did.
