Religious freedom Archives

Asia Bibi appeals for the repeal of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws

Apr 21, 2021

During the presentation of a report on religious freedom produced by a papal charitable foundation, Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian who spent eight years on death row on blasphemy charges, appealed to her country’s government to put an end to this discriminatory law.

By Inés San Martín

CT House passes bill ending religious vaccine exemption

Apr 20, 2021

The Connecticut House of Representatives passed a contentious bill early Tuesday that would end the state’s long-standing religious exemption from immunization requirements for schools, beginning with the 2022 school year.

By Susan Haigh

Majority of world’s population live in countries that violate religious freedom, report says

Apr 20, 2021

A papal charity says that at least two thirds of the world’s population live in countries where religious freedom is not upheld, and the most persecuted religious group are Christians.

By Inés San Martín

Irish archbishop meets with govt. officials over law issuing fines, jail time for Mass attendance

Apr 20, 2021

Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh on Monday met with the Republic of Ireland’s health minister to discuss a new statute that bans public worship, imposing fines and even jail time for those who attend unauthorized events.

By Charles Collins

Head of Irish bishops calls new law on Mass attendance ‘draconian’

Apr 19, 2021

The head of the Irish bishops’ conference said the government’s move to criminalize attendance at Mass as part of COVID-19 regulations was a “potential infringement of religious freedom and of constitutional rights.”

By Michael Kelly, CNS

Governor signs bills defending campus free speech in Montana

Apr 16, 2021

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed Thursday two bills that supporters say aim to protect freedom of expression and association on public university campuses in the state.

By Iris Samuels

Arkansas House sends governor stripped-down hate crimes bill

Apr 13, 2021

Arkansas lawmakers on Monday approved a stripped-down alternative to hate crimes legislation that longtime supporters of such laws have criticized as not providing true protections following a succession of new measures restricting the rights of transgender people.

By Andrew DeMillo

Kings Bay Plowshares protester receives 21-month prison sentence

Apr 12, 2021

A Kings Bay Plowshares participant convicted of federal charges stemming from a 2018 protest at a Georgia naval submarine base received a 21-month prison sentence.

By Dennis Sadowski