Authorities in Mozambique have arrested a former police officer in a northern province concerning the murder of a Catholic bishop. The suspect, dismissed years ago, allegedly fled to a neighboring country before being apprehended. Investigators link him to another priest who also faces arrest after money transfers were traced. The National Criminal Investigation Service states that other suspects remain at large. The killing of the bishop at his residence has caused deep concern within the local Church and society, prompting calls for full judicial accountability and restored public trust in civil and religious institutions.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Muzammil Khan on UnsplashPersecuted church
On November 6, 18-year-old Ajak Mabior was beaten to death in Jonglei, South Sudan, after refusing a forced marriage to an older Muslim man. Her brother and cousin committed the killing. Police in Bor arrested the suspects but released them without charges, citing familial ties. Christian leaders condemn the decision, noting that tradition often overrides the law and leaves vulnerable women unprotected. The incident highlights the severe risks Christian girls face when resisting religious coercion and forced unions within their communities. Authorities' inaction has sparked concerns about justice and the safety of believers in the region.
A Catholic Marian shrine was vandalized in a village in West Bengal. The incident has raised concerns among local Christians about the safety of religious sites. Police have opened an investigation, though no suspects have been identified. A priest stated the act appeared intended to hurt religious feelings. This event follows a large protest rally in a major city in the region, organized by a Christian council, where thousands demanded an end to attacks. The council reported numerous incidents of intimidation in the area, prompting meetings with Hindu nationalist representatives to address growing tensions and ensure protection for Christian communities.
Pope Leo XIV met with bishops in Lima, Peru, on November 12, urging the Church to confront clerical abuse through truth, justice, and prevention. The Pontiff emphasized the need for a culture of protection for the vulnerable, referencing local saints as examples of humility. This address follows the 2025 suppression of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, an organization marked by severe abuse allegations. Before his election, Robert Francis Prevost served as a bishop in Chiclayo and worked on child protection. The Pope also met with survivors in Buenos Aires to listen to their stories and ensure the Church remains a safe space for all.
Belgian Primate Luc Terlinden urges the faithful to illuminate churches in red from November 15 to 22, 2026. This initiative, organized by the Catholic Aid to the Church in Distress, highlights persecuted Christians worldwide. Terlinden emphasizes that red symbolizes martyrdom and encourages concrete solidarity actions. The campaign aims to make support visible in parishes and schools. The organization provides resources for prayer vigils and lighting permissions. This annual event seeks to raise awareness about religious freedom violations and foster global Christian unity during times of suffering.
Military chaplains are offering crucial spiritual and emotional support to Ukrainian soldiers facing exhaustion and fear on the front lines. Mikhail Pavenko, an American-Ukrainian chaplain from Washington, recently completed his tenth rotation in Ukraine after traveling through Poland. He describes the extreme danger posed by Russian FPV drones and artillery, recounting a narrow escape in the Zaporizhzhia region. According to Oleksandr Vovkotecha, head of the Ukrainian military chaplaincy service, these volunteers provide a confidential space for soldiers to process trauma. Despite a shortage of personnel, chaplains like Denis Gorenkov emphasize listening and presence as vital tools for maintaining morale during the ongoing conflict.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
An independent human rights organization, the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR), reports that Russian forces have killed at least 80 religious leaders in occupied Ukrainian areas. The findings appear in a report titled 'Who is Your God?', cited by RISU and Radio Svoboda. The data relies on interviews with twelve clergy from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and Protestant groups. Many survivors described torture and detention. The IPHR states these actions may constitute war crimes. Additionally, the report notes that occupation authorities banned most religious activities except for those aligned with the Moscow Patriarchate.
Ciprian Olinici, Romania's Secretary of State for Cults, and US Ambassador Darryl Nirenberg met in Bucharest to discuss global Christian persecution. According to the Secretariat, nearly 5,000 Christians were killed in 2025 alone due to religious discrimination. The officials also addressed rising antisemitism, religious extremism, and the legal status of Saint Catherine's Monastery in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. The meeting highlighted cooperation between public institutions and religious organizations in Romania. This dialogue follows previous discussions between Patriarch Daniel and US Special Envoy Riley Barnes regarding religious freedom and support for Ukrainian refugees.
The Bolivian Community of Survivors has appealed to the Vatican to excommunicate former Jesuit provincial leaders Marcos Recolons and Ramón Alaix. The group filed the request after the Archdiocese of Cochabamba refused jurisdiction over the case. Recolons and Alaix were convicted in 2025 for covering up sexual abuse by the late priest Alfonso Pedrajas. The survivors argue that the local church denied justice and asked the Apostolic Signatura to intervene. They demand permanent bans on ministry and residence near minors for the two Spanish priests. This action follows public revelations about Pedrajas’s abuse of children in Cochabamba schools.
A major aid foundation released its latest report, stating that oppression of Christians has reached unprecedented levels in 18 studied nations. The document notes that approximately 220 million Christians are exposed to persecution, with conditions worsening in 55 percent of the analyzed countries. The report highlights severe violence in several African and Asian nations, citing terrorist attacks and forced conversions. It attributes the rise in hostility to nationalism, extremism, and anti-Western sentiment. The foundation is currently organizing awareness events in a European country to highlight these global religious freedom violations.
The Dominican Province of France has publicly acknowledged spiritual abuse committed by the late Father Marie-Dominique Molinié. Provincial Nicolas Tixier stated that Molinié dominated several families and a religious community between 1974 and 2002, causing serious harm. An investigation involving over 70 witnesses confirmed these findings after a 2020 report. The province announced a restorative process with victims, including meetings scheduled for 2025 and 2026. Molinié, who died in 2002, was previously known for his spiritual writings and influence in charismatic renewal groups. The province emphasized its ongoing commitment to combating abuse.
The Catholic Church in Mexico recently marked the anniversary of the beatification of Cristero War martyrs. The ceremony, led by Cardinal José Saravia Martins under Pope Benedict XVI, honored figures like José Sánchez del Río and Anacleto González Flores. These individuals, including priests and laypeople, suffered persecution under Plutarco Elías Calles for defending religious freedom without using weapons. The outlet highlights their roles in the ACJM and their ultimate execution or torture. This remembrance underscores the historical struggle for faith in Mexico during the 1920s and 1930s.
The Gospel Media Association and Holy Breakwater urged the South Korean National Assembly to withdraw Representative Park Ju-jin’s Equality Bill, arguing it threatens religious and expression freedoms. Although the bill lacks criminal penalties, the groups claim administrative orders and financial penalties by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea create undue burdens. They warn that defending against such claims drains time and resources, citing similar legal battles in Finland and the United States. The organizations insist that existing laws should be enforced rather than passing new comprehensive legislation that they believe suppresses dissenting religious views.
A chapel in a village in Egypt was deliberately set on fire. An armed man entered the building, poured accelerant, and ignited the flames. Security personnel arrested the suspect, and the fire was contained before damaging the main church structure. While the Egyptian Interior Ministry attributes the act to mental illness, local Christians dispute this explanation, citing a pattern of impunity and inadequate security measures. The incident highlights ongoing discrimination against Christians in Egypt, where the country ranks 42nd on the 2026 World Watch List for persecution.
A pastor and two others were tried in a Chinese court for alleged fraud involving voluntary donations from congregants. Several prominent rights lawyers were intercepted outside the courthouse; one was taken to a local police station, while another went missing. Family members criticized procedural violations and requested intervention from China's top judicial authorities. The incident highlights ongoing restrictions on legal representation in unregistered religious cases in the region, underscoring the severe challenges faced by believers and their advocates in the country.
Four Christians in a city in Guizhou province, China, were detained in March 2026 and now face criminal charges including fraud and illegal assembly. According to ChinaAid, the defendants are also accused of organizing minors to disrupt public order, a charge activists say targets normal religious activities like Sunday school. On November 12, 2026, the wives of the accused released a joint statement calling for attention to the case and demanding legal rights. The outlet reports that defense lawyers have been unable to access case files, hindering the preparation for the ongoing court proceedings.
A city in the Czech Republic will host a screening of journalist Tomáš Etzler’s documentary film Nebe. The event is part of Red Wednesday, an international campaign organized by Aid to the Church in Need to raise awareness about persecuted Christians. A local evangelical pastor states the goal is to reach a broader audience beyond existing church communities. Etzler, a former CNN correspondent and long-term reporter in China, will attend for a Q&A session. The film highlights human rights issues and religious freedom in China, drawing on Etzler’s seven years of experience there. According to ACN, approximately 413 million Christians live in countries with serious restrictions on religious freedom.
A cardinal has frequently visited a French priest detained in Algeria for 500 days. Reports indicate the cardinal met with the imprisoned cleric recently. During their encounter, the detained priest mentioned he is reading a classic novel by Marcel Proust. This visit underscores the continued spiritual support offered to the priest during his extended incarceration in the North African nation. The situation highlights the challenges faced by Christians in the region, with high-ranking church officials providing direct pastoral care to those imprisoned for their faith.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience has launched an inquiry into the Cherkasy diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The agency states the investigation follows legal requirements to check for affiliations with banned foreign religious groups. This move coincides with ongoing criminal proceedings against Metropolitan Theodosius (Denys Snigiryov). He faces charges related to justifying Russian aggression and inciting religious hatred. The court recently extended his personal commitment as a preventive measure, allowing him to continue leading services while the case proceeds.
Translated from Українська
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