Pew: More U.S. adults see religion as important, positive to public life October 20, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Religious Freedom, World News A new study indicates a growing number of U.S. adults see religion as gaining influence in public life — with more Americans saying religion has a positive impact on society.
Just societies respect religious liberty, pope says October 10, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News Religious freedom is “a cornerstone of any just society” and contributes to building peace, Pope Leo XIV said.
Bishops, state agree to protect confession in Washington mandatory reporter law October 10, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Religious Freedom, World News Washington state’s government and its Catholic bishops reached an agreement Oct. 10 in a federal lawsuit over the state’s mandatory reporter law they said could force priests to violate the seal of confession.
Justices hear faith-driven free speech challenge to Colorado conversion therapy ban October 7, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Supreme Court, World News The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Oct. 7 in Chiles v. Salazar, a First Amendment challenge to a Colorado law banning professional counseling services that practice “conversion therapy” for minors, efforts intended to change a minor’s gender identity that differs from the young person’s biological sex or to change their sexual orientation.
Hatred and learning from history October 7, 2025By Greg Erlandson OSV News Filed Under: Books, Commentary, Racial Justice, Religious Freedom This is a story of great relevance for Catholics, for we were one of the three groups most targeted by the Klan, along with Blacks and Jews.
Supreme Court begins fall term amid split in public opinion on its work October 6, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, Supreme Court, World News The U.S. Supreme Court began its fall term Oct. 6, with cases on its docket that include legal battles over some of President Donald Trump’s policies and use of executive authority.
Key church anniversary sparks reparation calls from English Catholics October 4, 2025By Jonathan Luxmoore OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News As English Catholics commemorate their church’s Victorian-era restitution, some are asking whether their country should also atone for past anti-Catholic cruelties.
Catholic hospital system sued for not providing ’emergency abortion’ as ‘standard of care’ October 3, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Health Care, News, Religious Freedom, Respect Life, World News A Catholic health care system in California is being sued for its refusal to perform an abortion on a woman who twice experienced miscarriage, with the plaintiff alleging the hospital’s religious directives endangered her life while failing to meet the proper “standard of care” for her condition.
Religious freedom in nation’s schools examined by Religious Liberty Commission September 30, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, Schools, World News The third meeting of the Department of Justice’s Religious Liberty Commission Sept. 29 examined a range of religious liberty issues related to public and private schools, as well as reflections on recent instances of violence at houses of worship.
Pope encourages European parliamentarians to pursue ‘healthy secularism’ September 29, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV encouraged members of the European Parliament to pursue “a healthy secularism” that maintains the distinction between religions and governments.
Hostile legislative climate over confessional seal nothing new, says priest-canon lawyer September 27, 2025By Kimberly Heatherington OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News, Worship & Sacraments If it seems like batches of states are suddenly legislating mandatory clergy reporting laws — legal decrees that require clergy to report child abuse or neglect revealed in the confessional — Father John Paul Kimes, a canon lawyer, has some current and historical context to offer.
Bishop Zaidan highlights ‘solidarity’ with African faithful amid conflict, crises September 25, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, Religious Freedom, World News As conflicts rage in several African nations, a U.S. Catholic bishop has underscored his support for African bishops and faithful.
