Denis Alaniz keeps a close eye on his homeland as he enjoys freedom and democracy in “home away from home.”As America celebrates its 250th birthday, the “inalienable rights” of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness acknowledged by the Declaration of Independence continue to inspire millions of would-be immigrants and refugees.Those rights — including religious liberty — are still denied to significant numbers of people living under oppressive regimes.Denis Alaniz is one of those refugees who has come to these shores ...

Iraq is no longer plagued by a jihadist group, but for Christians, evangelization is almost out of the question. Iraq is not the country it was in 2014, when the Islamic State group threatened Christians and other minorities as it sought to establish a caliphate. Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda, the Chaldean archbishop of Erbil in northern Iraq, said in an interview that his country is much more stable than it was a dozen years ago and that Christians are free ...

Archbishop Raúl Biord of Caracas says the Church is accompanying victims of the earthquakes while rescue efforts continue. As search and rescue efforts continue following the devastating earthquakes that shook Venezuela, the Church has begun to deal with the great challenge of accompanying a deeply traumatized population. “For those who survived, it was a miracle, but we lost many people,” says Archbishop Raúl Biord of Caracas, speaking to international charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). The magnitude of ...

Foundation is in constant contact with Church officials in the devastated country. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has allocated $120,000 in immediate aid for the Church in Venezuela following the two major earthquakes that struck the country June 24. The pontifical foundation wants to support the work of the priests and religious communities which, despite having suffered serious damage, are accompanying the victims, welcoming families and spiritually supporting communities struck by fear, mourning and uncertainty. As rescue teams ...

The Church’s vast charitable work in India could be at risk if lawmakers tighten the already restrictive law on foreign funding of NGOs. Christians all over India are preparing for a day of prayer on Sunday, June 28, due to their concern over proposed legislation that could have a negative impact on the Church’s mission. The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) Amendment Bill 2026 is set to be discussed during the next session of the federal parliament. It includes proposed ...

The Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need received €145.8 million in donations and legacies and supported one in every 10 priests and one in every eight seminarians worldwide Thanks to the generosity of 363,176 benefactors around the world, the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) was able to fund 5,368 projects in 141 countries during 2025. Income from donations and legacies amounted to €145.8 million (approximately $169.9 million), enabling ACN to respond positively to thousands ...