Resources on International Religious Freedom

Backgrounder on International Religious Freedom: Justice for the Persecuted
January 2021

Backgrounder on Religious Freedom
February 2019

Background on Religious Persecution and Discrimination
January 2016

Background on International Religious Freedom
February 2013

Letter to Congress in Support of Resolution Recognizing Religious Freedom as a Fundamental Human Right
Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, March 22, 2024

Letter to Congress on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Reauthorization Act of 2024
Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, February 29, 2024

Statement to Mark the 25th Anniversary of International Religious Freedom Act
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan and Bishop David J. Malloy, October 25, 2023

Letter to U.S. Senate in Support of Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Reauthorization Act of 2022
Bishop David J. Malloy, May 24, 2022

Letter to Secretary of State Pompeo Regarding the Final Report from the Unalienable Rights Commission and Religious Freedom
Bishop David J. Malloy, October 26, 2020

Letter to Secretary of State Pompeo Regarding Proposals to Condition International Assistance Based on Promotion and Protection of Religious Freedom
Bishop David J. Malloy and Mr. Sean Callahan, December 12, 2019

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives on Introduction of Resolution to Prevent War Crimes and Systematic Violence Against Religious and Ethnic Minorities
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, May 31, 2018

USCCB’s International Justice and Peace Chair Urges Solidarity with Those Suffering Religious Persecution in Asia, Middle East
Bishop Oscar Cantú, June 15, 2017

USCCB Chairmen Express Solidarity with Muslim Community, Deep Concern Over Religious Freedom Issues, in Response to Executive Order on Refugees
Bishop Michael T. Rozanski, Archbishop William E. Lori, and Bishop Oscar Cantú, January 31, 2017

Letter to Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in Support of International Religious Freedom Legislation
Bishop Oscar Cantú, May 17, 2016

Letter to Congress in Support of Legislation to Advance International Religious Freedom
Bishop Oscar Cantú, March 21, 2016

Statement on Persecution of Christians to the USCCB General Assembly
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, November 2015

Letter Urging Congress to Reauthorize United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
Bishop Oscar Cantú, September 29, 2015

Testimony Submitted to the House of Representatives on Challenges to Religious Freedom in the Americas
Richard Coll, September 17, 2015

USCCB Urges Congress to Reauthorize the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
Bishop Oscar Cantú, August 26, 2015

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives in Support of the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act
Bishop Oscar Cantú, April 10, 2015

Testimony Before Congress on Religious Persecution
Bishop Oscar Cantú, March 11, 2015

Letter to Senate Regarding Reauthorization of U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
Bishop Richard E. Pates, July 22, 2014

Letter to House Supporting Reauthorization of U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
Bishop Richard E. Pates, July 8, 2014

Letter to Senate regarding Bill to Establish Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom
Bishop Richard E. Pates, March 4, 2014

Joint Letter to Congress on establishing a Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia
March 4, 2014

Congressional Briefing on "International Religious Freedom"
Bishop Richard E. Pates, February 7, 2014

Address to the USCCB General Assembly
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, November 11, 2013

Letter to U.S. Senate Regarding Establishing Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia
Bishop Richard E. Pates, May 20, 2013

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Regarding Establishing Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Asia
Bishop Richard E. Pates, February 15, 2013

"International Religious Freedom: An Imperative for Peace and the Common Good"
Timothy Cardinal Dolan, September 12, 2012

Speech by Archbishop John Onaiyekan on International Religious Freedom in Nigeria
September 12, 2012

Speech by Archbishop Silvano Tomasi on International Religious Freedom
September 12, 2012

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives on Protecting Religious Minorities in the Arab World
Bishop Richard E. Pates, September 4, 2012

Letter to Patriarch Twal on Anti-Christian Incident at Monastery
Timothy Cardinal Dolan and Bishop Richard Pates, September 7, 2012

The Church and the Global Crisis of Religious Liberty
Thomas F. Farr, June 13, 2012

An Example from Local, Suffering Church Reflection from Iraqi Bishop Shlemon Warduni
June 13, 2012

Congressional Testimony on International Religious Freedom
Bishop Ricardo Ramirez, CSB, November 17, 2011

Letter to the U.S. Senate on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, October 27, 2011

Letter to Representatives Frank and Eshoo on Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom Act
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, June 27, 2011

Letter to House Foreign Affairs Committee on International Religious Freedom Act
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, June 17, 2011

Letter to Secretary Clinton Emphasizing Importance of Religious Freedom
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, February 9, 2011

Letter to Secretary Clinton on Protection of Religious Freedom following Attacks in Egypt, Iraq and Nigeria
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, January 6, 2011

Statement on Anti-Muslim Prejudice
Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, Bishop William F. Murphy, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, September 9, 2010

Letter to Secretary Clinton on Importance of Religious Freedom
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, March 1, 2010

Letter to Representative Smith on the 2006 Annual Report on Religious Freedom
Bishop Thomas Wenski, December 20, 2006

Testimony for Hearing on the 2005 International Religious Freedom Report of the U.S. Department of State
Bishop Ricardo Ramirez, November 15, 2005

Statement on the 35th Anniversary of the Declaration on Religious Freedom

Statement on State Department Report on International Religious Freedom
September 20, 1999

Remarks on the Final Report of the Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad
May 1999

Remarks on the Final Report of the Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad
Most Reverend Ricardo Ramirez, May 1999

Testimony for Hearing on Religious Intolerance in Europe Today
Fr. Drew Christiansen, September 18, 1997

Testimony Before House Committee on International Relation on The Freedom from Religious Persecution Act of 1997
Fr. Drew Christiansen, September 10, 1997

Letter to Assistant Secretary Shattuck on State Department Report on Religious Freedom
July 22, 1997

Statement on Religious Freedom Today
March 31, 1997

Written Testimony, Responses to Religious Persecution
February 15, 1996

Testimony on Religious Liberty a Human Right
Rev. J. Bryan Hehir, February 25, 1981