Sex education in Catholic schools sparks a dispute between parents and the bishop of Hamburg, with the Vatican looking on

Sep 24, 2026 18:52

The programme, titled “Male, Female, Diverse,” was presented in June 2025 and began taking effect in August 2026 across the archdiocese’s 15 Catholic schools Photo: Unplash / Aci Prensa

Bioethics•Euthanasia•Religious Freedom

France legalizes euthanasia but also safeguards the right to conscientious objection

The decision does not overturn France’s legalization of euthanasia. Rather, it establishes a boundary around the institutions and individuals expected to participate in the new system—and, in doing so, gives religious freedom a significant foothold within a law that had initially offered little room for conscientious dissent

Aug 25, 2026 23:14

ZENIT Staff

Religious Freedom

Court Excludes Spiritual Direction from the Legal Protection Afforded to the Sacrament of Confession

The court described a protected confession as a confidential acknowledgment of wrongdoing made to clergy for the purpose of seeking spiritual absolution, comfort or guidance. The religious tradition does not necessarily have to use a formal rite of absolution. What matters is the function and purpose of the communication

Aug 24, 2026 23:03

ZENIT Staff

Religious Freedom

Massachusetts Court Blocks Catholic Saints’ Statues at Public Safety Building

The ruling does not finally determine the fate of the statues. The case now returns to the Norfolk Superior Court, where the underlying litigation will continue, and the city could potentially seek review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Aug 24, 2026 22:55

ZENIT Staff

Justice and Peace•Religious Freedom•Woman

Nigerian Court Rules Religious Police Cannot Arrest Christian Woman for Converting from Islam

A Nigerian court has ruled that Kano State’s Hisbah religious police cannot arrest Sarah*, a young woman who converted from Islam to Christianity. Christian family that helped her is still facing false criminal charges.

Aug 23, 2026 13:27

ZENIT Staff

Justice and Peace•Religious Freedom•Woman

Iraq’s Court of Cassation affirms woman’s right to be classified as Christian in state’s official database

Country’s highest court for civil, criminal, and family matters affirms right of Iraqi Christian to freely choose her religion, sets persuasive precedent for scores of Christians in Iraq facing serious legal and personal consequences of state-assigned religion.

Aug 23, 2026 13:21

ZENIT Staff

Sex education in Catholic schools sparks a dispute between parents and the bishop of Hamburg, with the Vatican looking on

Canadian Chaplains and the Boundaries of State Neutrality

Can Europe Force the Church to Erase a Baptism? A Belgian Case Puts Religious Freedom Before the EU Court

The Catholic Church in Poland Takes a Stand on Surrogacy and Faces a Battle to Defend Religious Education Classes

USA: Maine Supreme Court Rules Dad Can Forbid Mom From Taking Teen Christian to Church

How Beijing Turned Uyghur Childhood Into a State Project

India: Bill Against Religious Conversions in Goa Withdrawn

France legalizes euthanasia but also safeguards the right to conscientious objection

Court Excludes Spiritual Direction from the Legal Protection Afforded to the Sacrament of Confession

Massachusetts Court Blocks Catholic Saints’ Statues at Public Safety Building

Nigerian Court Rules Religious Police Cannot Arrest Christian Woman for Converting from Islam

Iraq’s Court of Cassation affirms woman’s right to be classified as Christian in state’s official database