"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you." Luke's Gospel reminds Christians of every century that Jesus taught his followers to love their enemies (Lk 6:27). In every century, however, this has seemed, for reasons unique to the times, a very difficult teaching to follow.
Happening Now
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
Policy and Advocacy Letters and Statements on International Religious Freedom
Background Information
2018-Present
Statement: Religious Freedom is a Basic Human Right
Bishop A. Elias Zaidan and Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, October 25, 2024
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
2015-2017
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
2000-2014
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
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
Prior to 2000
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
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
Study Guide and Videos on the Intrinsic Evil of Torture
Study Guides on the Intrinsic Evil of Torture
-
Torture is an Intrinsic Evil Study Guide
A Catholic Study Guide for a One-Session Workshop Facilitator Packet
Videos on the Intrinsic Evil of Torture
- Video Part One - 6:39
- Video Part Two - 1:50
Policy and Advocacy Letters and Statements: Human Rights and Torture
Background Information
Torture is a Moral Issue Study Guide
Torture is an Intrinsic Evil Study Guide
A Catholic Study Guide for a One-Session Workshop Facilitator Packet
Backgrounder on Torture
February 2013
2016-Present
Letter to Secretary of State Blinken Regarding International Moratorium on the Use of the Death Penalty
Bishop David J. Malloy, December 14, 2022
Letter to Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on 10th Anniversary
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, December 20, 2018
Letter to Secretary of Defense Mattis on Indefinite Detention at Guantanamo Bay Facility
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, April 10, 2018
Letter to Secretary of Defense Mattis Regarding U.S. Policies on Handling of Terrorist Detainees at Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility
Bishop Oscar Cantú, October 3, 2017
2010-2015
Letter to U.S. Senate Supporting Amendment to National Defense Authorization Act Prohibiting Torture
Bishop Oscar Cantú, June 10, 2015
Letter to Special Envoy for Guantanamo Closure Sloan Regarding Expediting Transfer of Cleared Guantanamo Bay Detainees
Bishop Oscar Cantú, December 9, 2014
Letter to U.S. Senate Committee on Intelligence on CIA Report and Torture
Bishop Richard E. Pates, March 17, 2014
Prior to 2010
Coalition Letter to President-Elect Obama on Torture
National Religious Campaign Against Torture, January 9, 2009
Statement Supporting Executive Order Banning Torture
National Religious Campaign Against Torture, June 25, 2008
Letter to President Bush Regarding Anti-Torture Provisions in Intelligence Authorization Act
Cardinal Francis George, March 5, 2008
Letter to U.S. Senate Supporting Expansion of the Ban on Torture in the Intelligence Authorization Act
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, January 30, 2008
Letter to U.S. Senate on Torture and the Intelligence Authorization Act
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, December 17, 2007
Statement Denouncing Torture
National Denominational and Faith Group Leaders, October 23, 2006
Letter to U.S. Senate Regarding Uniform Standards for Interrogation and Prohibition of Torture in Defense Appropriations Act
Bishop John H. Ricard, October 14, 2005
Letter to U.S. Senate Regarding Amendments for the Prohibition of Torture in the Defense Authorization Act
Bishop John H. Ricard, October 4, 2005
Letter to Congress on Human Rights, the Prohibition of Torture and the Defense Authorization Act
Bishop John H. Ricard, July 12, 2004
Statement on Human Rights
July 26, 1973
Violence Against Women and Human Trafficking
Background Information
Human Trafficking
USCCB Office of Migration and Refugee Services
Backgrounder on Violence Against Women
February 2010
Confronting a Culture of Violence: A Catholic Framework for Action
A Pastoral Message of the U.S. Catholic Bishops, 1994
Letters and Statements
Human Trafficking
USCCB Office of Migration and Refugee Services
Letter to Congress Regarding Reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, March 9, 2022
USCCB Committees Express Concerns Over Domestic Violence Legislation
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, Archbishop William E. Lori, and Archbishop José H. Gomez, March 6, 2013