Gunmen shoot Catholic priest dead in Nigeria on Boxing Day December 30, 2024By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News In a dark sign of descending security in Africa’s most populous country, a Catholic priest has been shot dead on the open road in southeast Nigeria on Boxing Day.
African bishops cry out for their people amid horrific persecution in 2024 December 30, 2024By Frederick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News From Nigeria to Mozambique, Sudan and Congo to Burkina Faso, Christians across Africa were victims of horrific persecution in 2024, mainly because of their faith.
For Catholics in Nicaragua, the year has been ‘tragic on every level’ December 27, 2024By Junno Arocho Esteves Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News For Latin American Catholics, December is an important month, not just in anticipation of the Christmas celebrations, but also for important Marian feast days, such as Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Immaculate Conception, that remain linked to their cultural history.
Supreme Court to hear Catholic agency’s religious exemption case December 16, 2024By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Supreme Court, World News The U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 13 agreed to hear a case from the Catholic Charities Bureau of the Diocese of Superior, Wisconsin, in which the agency argued a decision by the Wisconsin Supreme Court discounted its religious identity.
Jesuit priest honored for pioneering peace efforts in South Sudan December 15, 2024By Ngala Killian Chimton OSV News Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Religious Freedom, World News Jesuit Father Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, the dean of the Jesuit School of Theology of California-based Santa Clara University, has been awarded “The Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation” by the archbishop of Canterbury for his “outstanding contribution to ecumenical work,” honoring “his leadership of a 2019 retreat for politicians on opposing sides in South Sudan’s civil war.”
New Catholic-Jewish resource looks to ‘translate hate’ and counter antisemitism December 11, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Religious Freedom, World News Catholic and Jewish leaders have created a new tool to tackle record-high levels of antisemitism through education and awareness.
Latin American bishops launch campaign to protect human rights activists December 9, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News Three months after the murder of Juan López, a Honduran church worker and environmental activist whose death was publicly mourned by Pope Francis, the bishops of Latin America are raising awareness on attacks against those fighting for social justice in the continent.
Pope, Central American Catholics pray for Nicaragua December 9, 2024By David Agren OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News Pope Francis and the country’s bishops in exile prayed for Nicaragua as the Central American country observed the Immaculate Conception of Mary amid persecution.
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.
