Nicaragua Jails Bishop For 26 Years
The pope on Sunday condemned the long imprisonment of Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando José Álvarez Lagos, a prominent opponent of autocratic President Daniel Ortega.
Christian Persecution – Americas
Ohio: Christian teacher fired for refusal to use students’ preferred pronouns, files suit
A Christian school teacher in Ohio has filed a lawsuit against her former employers for wrongful dismissal after allegedly being fired for refusing to address two students by their preferred pronouns, the Daily Caller reports.
Jailed Canadian Pastor acquitted of breaching COVID-19 restrictions on church services
A pastor in Canada who was jailed for breaching COVID-19 restrictions on in-person worship services was acquitted this week of charges that he violated public health orders, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Canada: Pastor wins appeal against conviction for defying COVID-19 orders
Canadian pastor Artur Pawlowski has won his appeal against a conviction for holding church services in defiance of Alberta public health COVID-19 restrictions, the Washington Examiner reports.
US Jails Danish Evangelist For Weapons Smuggling
A Danish evangelist says he is being held in jail by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities for allegedly “smuggling weapons from Mexico to America.“
Washington DC: Arson, vandalism at three churches on one street
On a single street in Washington DC, two churches were set on fire, and another vandalized at the weekend, in attacks believed to be motivated by last month’s US Supreme Court reversal of the 1973 Roe v Wade case, which had legalized abortion, CBN News reports.
Canada: Pastor Pawlowski released after 6 weeks in jail for ‘inciting mischief’ at Freedom Convoy blockade
Canadian pastor Artur Pawlowski has been released after spending 51 days in jail on charges of inciting “mischief” while preparing to hold a service in Alberta for Freedom Convoy activists protesting US-Canada border Covid-19 restrictions on February 8, CBN reports. The pastor is reported to have been in solitary confinement during his incarceration.
Canada Not Releasing Jailed Pastor Who Opposes COVID Restrictions
A Canadian Protestant pastor who became a symbol of the fight for religious freedom during the coronavirus pandemic remains in prison more than a month after being detained.
Cuba: Government gives no information on imprisoned pastor
Cuban authorities have still not responded to a written request by five United Nations advocates for information on Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo of the Monte de Sion Independent Church in Palma Soriano, who has been in prison since his July 2021 arrest during a peaceful protest against the communist government, Christian Headlines (CH) reports.
Detained Pastor Denied Bail In Canada
A prominent Poland-born pastor has been denied bail as Canadian authorities appear increasingly worried about his opposition to coronavirus restrictions.
Cuba: Head of Protestant denomination placed under house arrest
Cuba’s communist government has placed the President of the Christian Reformed Church of Cuba under house arrest on apparently trumped-up charges of receiving illegal goods, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports.
Mexican Christians released from jail after representations from human rights group
Three Christians in Mexico were released Thursday after being jailed three days for refusing to help fund a patron saint festival that involves a mix of indigenous and Catholic religious traditions, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. The believers were freed following representations by the Defense of Human Rights of the Peoples of Oaxaca (DDHPO) organization.
Texas pastor forgives church vandal; Christmas services continued despite damage
The pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas has extended forgiveness to a vandal who caused between $100,000 – $300,000 damage to the church building on Christmas Eve, CBN reports. Pastor Eric Borchers said the attack would not stop his congregation from enjoying Christmas services as parishioners rallied to clean up the damage.
US Missionaries At Christmas After Haïti Escape
Seventeen U.S.-based missionaries kidnapped in Haiti could celebrate Christmas in freedom after most of them miraculously escaped the street gang 400 Mawozo, who held them for two months, a spokesman said.
Cuba: European Parliament mentions imprisoned Christian pastor in resolution denouncing Cuban “systemic” rights abuses
The European Parliament named Christian pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo among other prisoners in an urgent resolution it passed last week to denounce “systematic abuses” by Cuba’s government against citizens, Evangelical Focus (EF) reports.
American Missionaries Released In Haiti Return To US
The remaining members of a U.S. Christian missionary group abducted in Haiti in October has been released and returned to the United States, their boss confirmed.
‘We Glorify God for Answered Prayer!’ All Missionary Hostages Finally Freed in Haiti
The remaining members of a U.S. Christian missionary group abducted in Haiti in October have been released, their group and authorities confirmed late Thursday.
Missionaries Face Two Months Hostage Crisis
A U.S. mission group has thanked for prayers as it remembers that precisely two months ago, 17 American and Canadian missionaries were kidnapped in Haiti.
Three more abducted missionaries released by Haiti gang
Three more Christian Aid Ministries hostages in Haiti were released Sunday by the Haitian 400 Mawozo gang, which had abducted 17 of the US organization’s missionaries (16 Americans and one Canadian) on October 16, the Washington Times reports. Few details on the new releases have been given for security reasons; two of the missionaries were previously freed on November 21.
Two Of 17 Kidnapped Foreign Missionaries Released In Haiti
Two people of 17 foreign missionaries kidnapped last month by a feared gang in Haiti have been released, Worthy News learned.