An evangelical father in Spain has appealed to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg after the Spanish Constitutional Court rejected his claim. Spanish judges previously prohibited him from taking his minor son to church or teaching him religious content due to the mother's opposition. The Constitutional Court ruled in May 2025 that while internal religious practice is protected, involving a child in faith conflicts with the other parent and the child's best interests. The father argues this violates his religious freedom. The Evangelical Religious Entities Federation of Spain is intervening to highlight the broader implications for family religious rights. The outcome could redefine parental rights to share faith in divided households across Europe.
The Federation of Free Evangelical Churches in Germany reported a 76 percent increase in baptisms over four years, reaching 2,624 by the end of 2025. This trend contrasts sharply with declining membership in the country's two largest religious bodies, the EKD and the Catholic Church, which lost approximately 1.2 million members combined in 2025. The federation, comprising 504 congregations, attributes the growth to renewed interest in faith following the pandemic. While average congregation size has slightly decreased due to new church plantings, overall attendance has recovered to 92 percent of pre-pandemic levels. Leaders expressed gratitude for the positive statistics while emphasizing the need for continued growth.
A DatosUN survey conducted in April 2026 reveals that 28.8% of Venezuelans identify as non-Catholic Christians, establishing this group as the country's second-largest religious force. The outlet Evangelico Digital notes that a conservative estimate places the evangelical and Protestant population at approximately 25%. The study, based on 2,028 respondents across all Venezuelan states, highlights that most converts come from the Catholic Church. Evangelical adherence is particularly strong in Apure, Bolívar, Monagas, and Delta Amacuro, and is highest among adults aged 30 to 39. This growth reflects a broader regional trend in Latin America.
David Smith, the UK’s special envoy for religious freedom, told the House of Commons that Russia restricts worship in occupied Ukrainian territories to the Russian Orthodox Church. He stated that other Christians and Crimean Tatars face persecution. Smith questioned Defence Secretary Wes Streeting about the link between religious freedom and democracy. Streeting agreed, noting similar misuse of Christian symbols by far-right groups in Britain. The report highlights ongoing attacks on Ukrainian evangelical churches and seminaries since 2022, alongside Patriarch Kirill’s support for the invasion. European evangelical alliances have condemned these human rights violations.
Argentine Senator Gerardo Zamora issued a statement ahead of Pope Leo XIV's arrival in Argentina, urging citizens not to normalize violence or individualism. The former governor of Santiago del Estero welcomed the Pontiff, stating his visit brings love and hope while continuing the legacy of Pope Francis. The Pope is scheduled to land in Buenos Aires on November 8, 2026, where he will meet President Javier Milei. His itinerary includes a national address and visits to Córdoba and Luján before departing on November 11. This marks the first papal visit to the country in 39 years. Meanwhile, reports suggest Zamora may be considered as a presidential candidate for the 2027 elections by former President Cristina Kirchner.
According to The Christian Post, Andrew and Noleen Sedra, a pastoral couple in Sydney, Australia, reported that masked activists attacked their home on September 3. The intruders cut power, threatened to kill the family, and mentioned a newborn baby. The couple, who oppose same-sex relationships and abortion, plan to relocate due to safety concerns. Separately, an incident occurred in New York City on September 12, where a transgender artist tore pages from a Bible during a counter-protest marking the 11th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Police were present but did not intervene in the New York event.
The Iberoamerican Congress for Life and Family will hold its tenth anniversary in Madrid from June 16 to 18, 2027. This event marks the platform's decade since its 2017 founding and the 150th anniversary of the Evangelical Alliance of Spain. Organizers describe it as Iberoamerica's Pro-Life Festival, gathering evangelical leaders and politicians. The congress will honor the Reina-Valera Bible and feature sessions on current topics, youth, media, and politics. Pastor Jorge Márquez and Aarón Lara are coordinating the event, which aims to project a message of faith and unity from Spain to Europe. Registration is currently open.
Translated from EspañolAlso reported by 1 other outlet
Juan G. Biedma published a new book in Spain examining seventy years of the Evangelical Defense Commission and forty years of the Federation of Evangelical Religious Entities of Spain. The work details the history of religious intolerance, persecution, and the gradual struggle for legal equality under the former national-Catholic regime. According to the review by Dr. Juan Antonio García Muñoz, the volume uses extensive documentation to show that current rights resulted from long resistance rather than spontaneous democratic concessions. The author argues that laws alone are insufficient without effective equality and a culture of mutual recognition for all consciences.
Chiclayo, Peru, is finalizing preparations for Pope Leo XIV's visit on November 13. The pontiff, formerly bishop of the diocese, will celebrate mass in Pimentel before an estimated crowd of up to one million people. Authorities have implemented strict access controls requiring QR codes, alongside nighttime bus services and pedestrian routes of up to four kilometers to manage traffic. Security involves multiple police rings and drone restrictions. The event is expected to generate significant economic activity for the Lambayeque region, despite local infrastructure challenges and ongoing weather emergencies. The visit highlights the logistical efforts required to host such a large gathering in the coastal area.
Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, Archbishop of Kigali in Rwanda, launched the “50 years – 50,000 trees” project at the Butamwa TVET center. The initiative aims to plant 50,000 trees to mark the archdiocese’s 50th anniversary in 2026. Government officials, including Local Administration Minister Dominique Habimana, and youth groups attended the event. The cardinal emphasized environmental stewardship and urged young people to preserve this legacy. One thousand fruit trees were planted initially, with activities planned across 44 parishes. This effort aligns with Rwanda’s national campaign to plant 100 million trees. The project seeks to foster economic development and ecological protection while celebrating the church’s history.
Eugenia Granito, a 75-year-old woman from Roccagloriosa in Salerno, Italy, announced she is selling her family's 17th-century palace. According to the outlet, she will donate the entire proceeds to Doctors Without Borders to support medical care for children in Gaza. The historic estate, which includes an 18th-century chapel, is being marketed by real estate agent Francesco Pio Vigliola. Granito stated that her motivation is to help save lives amid the ongoing conflict. She plans to oversee the transfer of funds directly to medical institutions treating injured children. This initiative has gained attention on social media as a gesture of global solidarity with Palestinians.
On November 8, Dionisie Kenan Wang became the first Chinese priest ordained in Romania during a service at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Cluj-Napoca. Born in China and raised in Brazil, Wang studied theology and history in Romania before converting to Orthodoxy. According to Vasile Bănescu, former spokesperson for the Romanian Patriarchate, the new priest will serve immigrants from Asian countries in English and Romanian. The ordination highlights the universal nature of the faith and Romania's openness to diverse backgrounds, challenging prejudices about Orthodox exclusivity.
Brandon Baptist Church in Mississippi is hosting its annual Shoebox Packing Party on Sunday, November 8, from 1 to 6 p.m. The event supports Samaritan’s Purse's Operation Christmas Child, which delivers gift-filled shoeboxes to children globally. Volunteers will fill boxes with school supplies, toys, and personal care items. Organizers aim to collect over 20,000 shoeboxes in Central Mississippi as part of a worldwide effort to reach 12 million children. The church states the event is open to all community members and serves as an opportunity to share the Gospel. Activities, music, and refreshments will be provided for attendees.
Costa Rican lawmakers from the Broad Front and other parties introduced bill 25.776 to prohibit conversion therapies, known as ECOSIG, in the country. The proposal seeks to amend the General Health Law to ban practices aimed at altering sexual orientation or gender identity. Deputy Antonio Trejos Mazariegos states these methods lack scientific backing and are not medical treatments. The Ministry of Health would enforce the ban, imposing fines and suspending permits for violating clinics. Religious sermons and voluntary spiritual counseling remain exempt. The bill updates a 2018 initiative and now awaits legislative committee review before a full assembly debate.
World Evangelical Alliance Secretary General Rev. Botrus Mansour prayed at Ukraine’s third National Prayer Breakfast in Kyiv on August 23, 2026. The event, attended by over 1,500 people and patronized by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, featured addresses from former US Vice President Mike Pence. Mansour, part of a ten-person delegation, urged international supporters not to grow weary in their aid. The group previously visited war-affected cities including Lviv, Irpin, and Bucha. The visit highlighted the resilience of Ukrainian churches and the ongoing impact of the conflict, which has lasted 1,642 days. A separate prayer event occurred on August 24 for Ukraine’s independence anniversary.
Evangelical leaders from across the Americas gathered in Washington D.C. to request that the Trump administration extend Temporary Protected Status for Salvadorans. Representing the CEPA network of 21,000 churches, the group warned that the program's expiration threatens over 170,000 individuals. Bishop Angel Marcial stated the appeal was pastoral, emphasizing mercy and family unity. Speakers highlighted that 150,000 U.S. citizen children are affected and condemned ICE arrests of pastors. They called for due process protections and a two-year extension to prevent traumatic family separations.
A major Anabaptist denomination in Ethiopia has voted to withdraw from the World Mennonite Conference. This decision, announced recently, removes over half a million members from the global body. The Ethiopian church cites a growing theological rift, specifically opposing the inclusion of churches that support same-sex marriage. Although only a few national conferences permit such practices, the denomination views this as a liberal drift incompatible with biblical teachings. The conference secretary general acknowledged the significant structural impact of this split. The move highlights tensions between Global South churches and liberal sectors in the North regarding doctrinal authority.
Pro-life legislators and diplomats met in New York on September 17 and 18 to propose creating a Core Group at the United Nations. Organizers stated the initiative aims to counter the influence of the pro-LGBT bloc, which has operated since 2008. Participants, including representatives from Peru, Honduras, Uruguay, and the Dominican Republic, agreed to form a steering committee. This group will draft a charter and define diplomatic steps to seek official recognition. The effort seeks to transform the Geneva Consensus Declaration into sustained multilateral coordination for nations defending life and family values.
A US federal court has ruled that humanism qualifies as a religion, granting David Durman, an employee at the University of Kentucky, an exemption from using artificial intelligence tools. Durman argued that relying on AI undermined his moral reasoning and decision-making capabilities. The American Humanist Association supported his claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which protects religious beliefs in the workplace. The university agreed to the accommodation, allowing him to refuse AI usage. This decision marks a rare legal precedent where humanist beliefs are recognized similarly to traditional religious faiths for employment accommodations.
Translated from Español
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