Sister Loraine Marie Maguire, mother provincial of the Denver-based Little Sisters of the Poor, outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington March 23, 2016 after attending oral arguments in the Zubik v. Burwell contraceptive mandate case (CNS photo/Joshua Roberts, Reuters).

The fight for religious liberty is never going to end. We’d better get used to it.

by Stephanie Slade February 15, 2017

The Bill of Rights has failed to protect religious groups from legal assault on a number of occasions since our nation’s founding. Can it happen again?

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures during the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 2 in Washington. (CNS photo/Carlos Barria, Reuters)

News, Politics & Society

US bishops urge Trump administration to issue executive order on religious freedom

by Carol Zimmermann - Catholic News Service February 14, 2017

Those opposing the order say it would legalize discrimination and was too far-reaching

Worshippers pray during a Dec. 4 Mass in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Beijing. (CNS photo/How Hwee Young, EPA)

Dispatches, Faith

Cardinal Tong: The Vatican and China could be close to a milestone agreement

by Gerard O’Connell February 9, 2017

One fruit of this Sino-Vatican agreement, which neither side has confirmed, will be that “from now on, there will be no more the crisis of a division between the open and underground communities in the church in China,” wrote Cardinal Tong.

Father Sean Gann presents Children of God and Light of Christ medals to Scout honorees during a Mass marking Scout Sunday at St. Joseph Church in Kings Park, N.Y., on Feb. 5. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)

News, Politics & Society

Boy Scouts’ gender identity policy will not change Catholic Scouting policies

by Catholic News Service February 8, 2017

The Boy Scouts change in policy “has no impact on the operation and program delivery of Scouting program(s) in Catholic-chartered units,” said the Catholic Scouting committee.

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News, Politics & Society

Should churches be able to endorse politicians? Clergy aren’t so certain.

by Mark Pattison - Catholic News Service February 7, 2017

President Trump wants to repeal the code banning all federally recognized nonprofit organizations—including religious organizations—from endorsing political candidates.

News, Politics & Society

Trump says he will roll back political limits on churches

by Catherine Lucey - Associated Press February 2, 2017

The president made no mention of steps he may take on religious freedom, saying only that it is a “sacred right.”

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Faith, News

No future for Christians in Mosul, says Iraqi Christian leader

by Paul Jeffrey - Catholic News Service January 31, 2017

“Christians aren’t going to come back to stay. The churches I saw were not destroyed with bombs, but by the everyday business operations of the community.”