WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s latest cabinet selections are as notable for their religious diversity as their political significance. From pastors to Catholic converts and even a Hindu, Trump’s team showcases a spectrum of spiritual affiliations that mirrors the evolving religious landscape of the United States. Among the nominees is hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, […]
Tag: Religious Freedom
Labour MP David Smith Appointed UK Special Envoy for Religious Freedom The UK government has named Labour MP David Smith as its new Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), a move welcomed by faith-based organizations as a significant step in addressing global religious persecution. Smith, the MP for North Northumberland and a […]
Intolerance toward Christians appears to be on the rise in the West. One very dangerous symptom of this upward trend is government officials and entities targeting Christian churches, organizations, and individuals for prosecution or punishment based on their religious beliefs. Family Research Council analyzed open-source documents, reports, and media outlets to identify religious freedom violations […]
The recent and rapid overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has created a power vacuum in the region, prompting a swift response from the United States. President Joe Biden authorized airstrikes against strategic targets to prevent ISIS from exploiting the instability. While this action is deemed necessary, the Deseret News Editorial Board argues that ensuring […]
Photo: CEC/Łukasz Troc Press Release No: 20/2416 December 2024Brussels About 80 participants, including representatives from Ukrainian and other European churches, met in Warsaw from 9 to 11 December for the European Consultation on Just Peace, organised by the Conference of European Churches (CEC). The event explored theological, ethical, and practical aspects of just peace amid […]
Syrian Christians Attend First Mass Since Assad’s Ouster, Express Hope for Future LATAKIA, SYRIA – Dec. 17 – In the northwestern port town of Latakia, Christian worshippers gathered at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Sunday, attending their first Mass since the dramatic overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad a week prior. A sense of cautious […]
White House Unveils Groundbreaking Strategies to Counter Islamophobia and Antisemitism, Highlighting a Path Toward Unity Washington, D.C. – In an unprecedented move, the White House has unveiled the first-ever National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia, a comprehensive framework aimed at combating hate, bias, and discrimination against Muslim and Arab Americans. This initiative, announced on December 12, […]
Brussels, Belgium – The European Parliament has taken a significant step to protect religious freedom by re-establishing the Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief. This bipartisan initiative, co-chaired by Bert-Jan Ruissen (SGP, ECR) and Miriam Lexmann (EPP), aims to address the growing global threat to religious freedom. The re-establishment of the intergroup comes at […]
A Call for a More Inclusive Understanding In today’s complex world, religious freedom remains a vital but often contested issue. While the right to freedom of religion or belief is enshrined in international law, its practical implementation varies widely across different countries and cultures. Dr. Jaclyn Neo, an associate professor at the National University of […]
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on Friday released the following report: Key IRF-Related Positions – This factsheet provides an overview of the key political appointments within the U.S. government that are most relevant to international religious freedom (IRF). The primary IRF positions that the president appoints derive from the International […]