ACN congratulates US Legislators for renewed commitments to religious freedom
A bill approved by the US Congress will go a long way to helping fund efforts to promote religious freedom in countries where it is lacking.
The pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has expressed its appreciation for the recent decision by the United States Congress to renew and deepen its commitment to religious freedom in countries and regions where people continue to suffer for their faith.
On Friday, 28 June, the United States Congress adopted the full text of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill for a total of USD 51.7 billion. The Bill includes several paragraphs related to funding of actions and projects for the promotion and protection of religious freedom, as well as directing financial support to faith-based organisations active in Nigeria.
The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need, dedicated to helping address the pastoral and material needs of suffering and persecuted Christian communities throughout the world, and publishers of a biennial Religious Freedom in the World Report, salutes this outcome.
“This is a concrete manifestation of how US legislators acknowledge the painful consequences of religiously motivated violence,” said Regina Lynch, Executive President of ACN International. “Because this is a decision on taxpayers’ money, the acknowledgement includes the fact that faith-based organisations such as the Church are reliable partners for US humanitarian and development projects.”
Thanks to the charity’s advocacy work, project partners are able to bring their testimonies and explain their situation to policy makers and express their concerns. This reflects ACN’s mission to give a voice to the voiceless. In the past several months, ACN project partners from Nigeria, Pakistan, Iraq, and other regions where Christians are persecuted and discriminated against, brought their valuable first-hand witness to European and US policy-makers.
This year’s funding bill contains several strong provisions related to international religious freedom, including:
- $4.8m in funding for the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
- $50m in funding for international religious freedom programming at the U.S. State Department.
- $15m in funding made available for democracy and religious freedom programmes in Nicaragua.
- $10m to support religious freedom and atrocity response projects in Nigeria, including in the Middle Belt and Benue State.
- A requirement that the Secretary of State explain to the appropriate congressional committees, within 30 days, why his department did not designate a state as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) when making CPC designations, in cases where the USCIRF had so recommended.
- Language expressing concern at the destruction and desecration of religious and historical sites “of importance to ethnic and religious minority communities in conflict zones” and a request for a report within 120 days of bill passage from the Secretary of State, in consultation with USCIRF, to the appropriate congressional committees on such “religious and historical sites in conflict zones that have been destroyed or desecrated… due to recent conflict.”
- Language requiring USAID to report on its efforts to remain compliant with U.S. law in non-discrimination against faith-based organisations in competing for and administering projects funded by U.S. foreign assistance.
- Language expressing concern that persecuted religious minorities are not receiving necessary assistance and requiring a report on the status of “small and medium-sized projects to benefit such victims.”
As per its statutes and mandate, ACN does not take any funding from government sources, and therefore does not stand to benefit from this outcome.
“In the belief that this package will be of great assistance to the many groups who continue to suffer terrorist attacks, hardship and discrimination due to their religious convictions, ACN once again expresses its appreciation to US commitment to the cause of religious freedom, and invites other countries to follow this example,” affirms Lynch.
Don't miss the latest updates!
Nigeria: A decade of terror for Catholic priests
New data highlights scale of priest kidnappings amid Nigeria’s security…
Gaza prepares for a Christmas without peace, but not without hope
As Christmas approaches, the priest of the only Catholic parish…
Burkina Faso: In the north, faith resists amid heavy international silence
The Church in northern Burkina Faso deplores the lack of…
Nigeria: 99 children freed reunite with their parents while 154 remain in captivity
Securing the release of the remaining students and staff remains…
Nigerian bishop on school kidnappings: “Our hearts are broken, but our faith remains firm”
“Evil will never win,” said Nigeria’s National Security Advisor, during…
ACN raises religious freedom concerns at European Parliament’s “Human Dignity” event
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN – International) recently…
Pope is travelling to Lebanon to “heal wounds” and “work for peace”
Lebanon is still recovering from years of conflict and economic…
Cardinal Kurt Koch appointed president of ACN – “We are grateful to Pope Leo,” says executive president Regina Lynch
Cardinal Koch has been a friend of ACN for many…
Nigerian Bishops: “Lasting peace cannot be achieved through silence or delay”
Catholic Bishops of Nigeria warn of escalating violence and call…
Nigeria: A decade of terror for Catholic priests
New data highlights scale of priest kidnappings amid Nigeria’s security crisis Between 2015 and 2025, at least 212 Catholic priests were kidnapped in Nigeria, in a wave of violence that...
Gaza prepares for a Christmas without peace, but not without hope
As Christmas approaches, the priest of the only Catholic parish in Gaza, Fr Gabriel Romanelli, tells Aid to the Church in Need that his community is attempting to keep the...
ACN, like St Joseph, called to let the light of God shine in the world
In a Christmas homily to the staff of Aid to the Church in Need, Cardinal Kurt Koch invited the charity to follow the example of St Joseph, and “to live...
Meet other authors
Aleksandra Szymczak
Aleksandra Szymczak is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Amélie Berthelin
Amélie Berthelin is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Amy Balog
Amy Balog is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Andrea Krogmann
Andrea Krogmann is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Blanca Tortosa
Andrea Krogmann is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Charlotte Halle
Charlotte Halle is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Christophe Lafontaine
Charlotte Halle is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Conn McNally
Conn McNally is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Daniel Beurthe
Daniel Beurthe is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Esther Gaitan-Fuertes
Daniel Beurthe is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Fadi Essa
Daniel Beurthe is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Father Jan Zelazny
Daniel Beurthe is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Filipe d’Avillez
Filipe d’Avillez is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Hernan Cadena
Hernan Cadena is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Hernán Darío Cadena
Hernan Cadena is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
John Burger
Hernan Cadena is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
John Newton
Hernan Cadena is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
John Pontifex
John Pontifex is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Jonas Soto
John Pontifex is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Josué Villalón
Josué Villalón is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Lucía Ballester
Lucía Ballester is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Łukasz Zając
Lucía Ballester is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Marcela Szymanski
Marcela Szymanski is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Maria Lozano
María Lozano is a Spanish journalist and media producer based in Germany. She is the Director of the Press and Media...
Marta Petrosillo
Marta Petrosillo is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Martina Ferrero
Martina Ferrero is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Massimiliano Tubani
Massimiliano Tubani is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Milena
Massimiliano Tubani is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Nathalie Raffray
Massimiliano Tubani is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Oliver Maksan
Oliver Maksan is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Paulo Aido
Paulo Aido is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Rodrigo Arantes
Paulo Aido is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Sina Hartert
Sina Hartert is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Sylvain Dorient
Sylvain Dorient is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Tatiana Porto
Sylvain Dorient is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Tatianna Porto
Tatianna Porto is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Teresa Fontes de Albornoz
Teresa Fontes de Albornoz is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based...
Tobias Lehner
Teresa Fontes de Albornoz is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based...
Volker Niggewöhner
Volker Niggewöhner is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...
Xavier Burgos
Volker Niggewöhner is an experienced journalist with a deep focus on topics central to ACN’s mission, including faith-based initiatives, humanitarian...