Three years after disputed election, Belarus church is urged to speak up for the persecuted August 23, 2023By Jonathan Luxmoore OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News A Christian campaigner has urged Catholic church leaders and the Vatican to condemn worsening human rights abuses in Belarus, after another Catholic priest was arrested in front of his parishioners for spreading “extremist material.”
‘We are willing to die for the name of Jesus,’ persecuted Christians say as world marks day of awareness for religion-based violence August 22, 2023By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News On the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence based on Religion or Belief, observed on the United Nations’ calendar Aug. 22, Pakistan and India are among places of particular concern for Christian rights advocates.
Maryland, New Jersey cases on public schools’ trans student policy, parental rights get day in court August 20, 2023By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News A federal appeals court threw out a Maryland lawsuit Aug. 14 from parents challenging guidelines barring teachers from notifying parents if a student identifies as transgender. In New Jersey, a case is under consideration by a judge after the state government objected to three Monmouth County school districts implementing new policies requiring school staff to notify parents in such cases.
Maryland court rules religious exemption bars discrimination claim against CRS August 17, 2023By Julie Asher OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Religious Freedom The Maryland Supreme Court ruled Aug. 14 that the religious exemption in the state’s Fair Employment Practices Act “bars claims (of) religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity discrimination against religious organizations by employees who perform duties that directly further the core mission(s) of the religious entity.”
Lawsuit seeks to block public funding for nation’s first religious charter school August 2, 2023By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, Schools, World News A lawsuit filed July 31 in Oklahoma is seeking to block state funding for what could become the nation’s first publicly funded religious charter school if it survives the legal challenge.
U.S. official calls state of religious freedom in Nigeria ‘abysmal,’ says country in ‘slow -motion genocide’ July 30, 2023By Ngala Killian Chimton OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News The chairman of U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, has described religious freedom conditions in Nigeria as “abysmal.”
Pence defends role of faith in public life at Catholic conference July 28, 2023By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: 2024 Election, Feature, News, Religious Freedom, Respect Life, World News Former Vice President Mike Pence defended the role of faith in public life at a Catholic conference on July 27.
Global status of religious liberty ‘dire,’ House lawmakers warn July 19, 2023By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, U.S. Congress, World News U.S. House lawmakers called the global status of religious liberty “dire” during a hearing July 18, citing concerns across the globe from China to Nicaragua.
Pence pushes back on false claims about Ukraine’s religious freedom at GOP forum July 18, 2023By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: 2024 Election, Feature, News, Religious Freedom, War in Ukraine, World News Former Vice President Mike Pence had a tense exchange with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson July 14 at an Iowa candidate forum about the war in Ukraine, shedding light on both how Republican presidential candidates are navigating increasingly conflicted views on the subject among their base, but also an oft-repeated disinformation tactic by Russian propagandists.
Catholic hospitals must be free to function according to teachings July 4, 2023By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Religious Freedom Catholic health care services should not be involved in any procedure that would assist in the physical “transition” of a person from his or her biological sex.
High court sides with Christian web designer opposed to making websites for same-sex marriages June 30, 2023By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, Supreme Court, World News The U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 30 in favor of a Christian web designer who argued she had a First Amendment right to refuse to provide services for same-sex marriages despite a Colorado law prohibiting discrimination against people who identify as LGBTQ+.
Supreme Court expands protections for workers seeking to observe holy days, Sunday rest June 29, 2023By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, Supreme Court, World News The U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision June 29 in favor of a former postal worker who said he was denied a religious accommodation to observe Christian precepts on keeping holy the Lord’s Day by his former employer.
