Religious Freedom

On the 50th anniversary of when the Khmer Rouge took power in Cambodia and left close to 2 million people dead, the Catholic Church there, still a fledgling minority, is making strides, according to religious missionaries who have spent significant years of service in the southeast Asian country.

Police and paramilitaries maintained a heavy presence outside the Nicaraguan Managua cathedral on Palm Sunday, ensuring celebrations occurred entirely on church property — and sending a not-so-subtle message of intimidation.

Catholic religious sisters in Congo have become the latest victims of violence as the country grapples with ongoing conflict tied to mineral resources.

The military junta in Myanmar’s strife-torn Kachin state allegedly burned down a Catholic cathedral dedicated to St. Patrick on the eve of the revered saint’s feast.