This week, the US Catholic Bishops Conference is marking their annual Religious Freedom Week, reminding people of the importance of this basic human right and highlighting some areas that need special attention and prayers. One of those areas is Nicaragua. The bishops have set June 25 as a day of prayer for the Central American country, which has seen a sharp rise in the persecution of the Church in recent years. One of Pope Leo XIV’s first acts since becoming ...

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is profoundly saddened and alarmed by the deadly attack that took place on Sunday evening in Damascus, Syria, during a service at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Elias in the Dweila district. According to early reports, an explosion at the church entrance caused at least 20 deaths and more than 50 injuries among those attending and passersby. Regina Lynch, Executive President of ACN International, said: “We are deeply shocked by this tragic ...

The priest in Nigeria who narrowly escaped with his life following one of the country’s worst massacres of Christians has spoken of his determination to stay and help the community rise again out of the ashes of persecution. Father Ukuma Jonathan’s latest interview with Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) comes amid reports that the death toll in Yelewata, Benue State had risen to more than 200, with as many as 20 corpses recently discovered in a ...

Religious Freedom. It’s a value that was so important to the Founding Fathers that they dedicated the First Amendment to the Constitution to it. It’s a freedom, though, that many Americans tend to take for granted. Each year, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops sponsors Religious Freedom Week, to remind Americans of this precious value and to serve as a call to prayer, reflection, and action. The week begins with the feast of the martyr Saints Thomas More and ...

Four Salesian priests and four women religious serve a population of over 90,000 South Sudanese refugees in Palabek, Uganda. For World Refugee Day, June 20, we look at the education and spiritual needs they are addressing, and the ways ACN is helping.  The Salesian priest Fr. Ubaldino Andrade, or “Fr. Ube,” as he is known, laughs a lot. In fact, he laughs so much that one would not imagine that he currently lives in one of the most desolate places ...

ACN’s accounts for 2024 once again reflect the generosity of the foundation’s benefactors from all over the world, to help suffering Christians and the Church in Need. Ukraine, Lebanon, and India were the countries that received the most aid in 2024, while Africa was the continent that received the most support.   The international pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) received a total of $150.4 million in donations and legacies in 2024 – a sign of the ...