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.
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.
