U.S. solicitor general says Colorado should not deny Catholic preschools early education funds February 5, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Schools, Supreme Court, World News A case before the U.S. Supreme Court urging the court to stop Colorado from excluding Catholic preschools and families from the state’s “universal” funding now has federal support.
House hearing examines rising global religious freedom threats, policy challenges February 5, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, U.S. Congress, World News Authoritarian regimes increasingly threaten the cause of international religious freedom, lawmakers and witnesses at a House subcommittee hearing on the topic said Feb. 4.
Threats to religious freedom present risks to global security, experts warn February 3, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News The cause of international religious freedom is tied to global stability and is increasingly threatened by authoritarian regimes, said speakers and participants in the sixth annual International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington Feb. 2 and 3.
Amid UK–China talks, Jimmy Lai’s daughter finds hope in faith, calls for his release January 30, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News As British Prime Minister Keir Starmer traveled to China amid renewed calls to press Beijing on human rights, Claire Lai, daughter of imprisoned Catholic media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, marked the moment in prayer at a snowy Washington Mass.
South Sudan bishops warn of genocide, plead for peace as fears of a full-scale war grow January 29, 2026By Fredrick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News As fears of a return to full-scale war in South Sudan escalate, Catholic bishops in the country have reiterated their call for peace and dialogue, amid fighting and mobilization in parts of the country.
Pope appeals for end to antisemitism, prejudice, genocide January 28, 2026By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV called for an end to all antisemitism, prejudice, oppression and persecution worldwide.
Conflicting reports of recent kidnappings in Nigeria raise alarm for Christian advocates January 21, 2026By Ngala Killian Chimton OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News After reports spread that dozens of Christians in Nigeria have allegedly again fallen prey to kidnappers in yet another sign of persecution against Christ’s followers in Africa’s most populous nation, some police said the kidnapping did not happen.
Report: More than 388 million Christians worldwide face ‘high levels’ of persecution January 15, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News More than 388 million Christians — or 1 in 7 believers worldwide — face “high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith,” according to a new report.
U.S. bishops praise DHS policy change on wait times for religious worker visas January 15, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, Religious Freedom, World News The Department of Homeland Security said Jan. 14 it issued an interim final rule reducing wait times for religious worker visas. Catholic advocates were among those who pushed the Trump administration to address the backlog in their visa category.
U.S. commission hearing focuses on persecution of Christians around globe January 15, 2026By Kurt Jensen OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., a longtime champion of religious liberty, particularly in Tibet, proudly wears a bracelet of brown prayer beads, called mala, given to him by the Dalai Lama during a visit to India in 2024.
Polish students refuse to remove classroom crucifix when teacher reportedly asked them to do so January 9, 2026By Katarzyna Szalajko OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News An alleged desecration of a crucifix at a primary school in northern Poland has triggered nationwide outrage in the predominantly Catholic country.
Nigerian bishop calls for decisive military action to ‘eliminate’ bandits January 8, 2026By Fredrick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News A Nigerian bishop urged intensified military action to “eliminate” bandits and their hideouts in the Kainji Game Reserve amid reports of the killing of 50 people between Christmas and New Year’s and traumatizing of children recently abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri.
