Saint Michael Parish

An unborn baby at 20 weeks — well within the second trimester, when dilation and evacuation abortions are commonly performed. | Credit: Steve via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Jan 22, 2026 / 17:30 pm (CNA).

A new poll released one day before the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., found that fewer than 4 in 10 Americans identify as “pro-life” rather than “pro-choice,” but more than two-thirds of Americans still support some limits on abortion.

The survey, released on Jan. 22, was conducted by The Marist Poll at Marist University and was commissioned by the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization. Pollsters surveyed 1,408 adults from Jan. 12–13.

When respondents were asked whether they identified as either “pro-life” or “pro-choice,” only 37% subscribed to the label “pro-life” and 62% called themselves “pro-choice,” with just 1% of respondents saying they are unsure.

According to the poll, 44% of Catholics identified as pro-life and 55% identified as pro-choice, but practicing Catholics were far more likely to be pro-life.

The pollsters found that 58% of Catholics who identified as practicing were pro-life, compared with 41% who said they were pro-choice. Only 31% of nonpracticing Catholics said they were pro-life, compared with 68% who said they were pro-choice.

However, the poll also found that the “pro-choice” label does not normally translate to abortion without any limits. Rather, about one-third of Americans find themselves somewhere in the middle.

According to the poll, only 32% of Americans believe that abortion should be available at any time in pregnancy, up to the moment of birth.

Meanwhile, 37% believe most abortions should be illegal, with 6% saying it should not be legal in any circumstance, 10% saying it should only be allowed to save the mother’s life, and 21% only supporting abortion when the mother’s life is at risk or when the unborn child is conceived through rape or incest.

Twenty percent of those surveyed said abortion should be legal through the first trimester and 10% said it should be legal through the second trimester. Overall, 67% want at least some limits and 57% want restrictions at least by the end of the first trimester.

The poll also found that 59% of Americans believe an in-person visit with a doctor should be required to obtain chemical abortion drugs, which federal law does not currently require. Just 40% said it should not be required.

A small majority, 54%, oppose using taxpayer money to fund abortion in the United States, while 45% support it. About 69% of adults oppose using tax money to fund abortions overseas and 29% support it.

About 63% support conscience protections for health care workers, saying they should not have to participate in an abortion if they oppose it, and 36% do not support them. About 84% said they support the work of pregnancy resource centers, which do not perform abortions, and just 15% said they oppose it.

“Despite the publicly heated debates about abortion, there remains a consensus of opinion on this issue among Americans,” Barbara L. Carvalho, the director of the Marist Poll, said in a statement.

“Americans believe abortion should be limited yet include exceptions for rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother,” she said. “Despite the changes in practice that have occurred since the Supreme Court’s landmark Dobbs decision, public opinion has remained consistent.”

Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly said in a statement that the poll shows “a majority of Americans support legal restrictions on abortion” and “a growing majority support pregnancy resource centers, which provide assistance to mothers and their children in their time of greatest need.”

“The Knights have supported vulnerable women and their children since our founding by Blessed Michael McGivney more than 140 years ago, and our commitment has never wavered. And now, we’re guided by the encouraging words of Pope Leo XIV, who recently mentioned in his ‘State of the World’ address, ‘life is a priceless gift’ and that, as Catholics, we have a ‘fundamental ethical imperative’ to ‘welcome and fully care for unborn life,’” he said. “The Knights of Columbus’ mission will continue to be guided by these principles until abortion becomes unthinkable.”

Pope Leo XIV addresses ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives to the Holy See in the Apostolic Palace on Jan. 9, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 22, 2026 / 17:00 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV addressed the 2026 March for Life on Jan. 22, sending participants “warm greetings” and urging them to bring about a society that “safeguards the sanctity of human life.”

The Holy Father’s message was published ahead of the March for Life being held in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 23. This is set to be the 53rd year the annual pro-life observance has drawn hundreds of thousands of people to the nation’s capital.

Stressing that the protection of the right to life “constitutes the indispensable foundation of every other human right,” Leo said that society “is healthy and truly progresses only when it safeguards the sanctity of human life and works actively to promote it.”

“In this regard,” Leo continued, “I would encourage you, especially the young people, to continue striving to ensure that life is respected in all of its stages through appropriate efforts at every level of society, including dialogue with civil and political leaders.”

The pope prayed that Jesus would “accompany you ... as you courageously and peacefully march on behalf of unborn children.” Such advocacy, the pope said, is “fulfilling the Lord’s command to serve him in the least of our brothers and sisters.”

The pope extended an apostolic blessing to the march, saying he entrusted the advocates “to the intercession of Mary Immaculate,” the patron saint of the U.S.

The first pope from the United States of America, Pope Leo XIV — then Robert Prevost — was reportedly a marcher during at least one of the event’s earliest years.

Several other popes have addressed the U.S. March for Life in various forms such as via social media, though Leo’s message appears to be the first official letter directly from a pope and bearing his signature.

In 2023 Apostolic Nuncio to the United States Archbishop Christophe Pierre expressed Pope Francis’ gratitude for “the faithful witness shown publicly over the years by all who promote and defend the right to life of the most innocent and vulnerable members of our human family.” Pope Benedict XVI sent a similar letter in 2013.

Francis also tweeted in support of the march, as did Benedict XVI.

EWTN News’ coverage of the 2026 March for Life can be found here.

If you’re attending the March for Life, don’t forget to use #ewtnprolife on all your posts across X, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook!

Want to relive interviews and special moments from the march? Visit ewtnnews.com/watch and subscribe to youtube.com/@EWTNNews for full coverage.

Pro-lifers hold their signs at the March for Life on Jan. 23, 2026. | Credit: Tessa Gervasini/EWTN News

Jan 22, 2026 / 17:00 pm (CNA).

Thousands of pro-lifers gathered in Washington, D.C., for the 53rd annual March for Life. Follow here for live updates on the march.

• Thousands of pro-lifers gathered in Washington, D.C., for the 53rd annual March for Life on Jan. 23.

Live Action President Lila Rose and Ethics and Public Policy Center President Ryan Anderson speak at a press conference on Capitol Hill on Jan. 22, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Live Action

Jan 22, 2026 / 15:59 pm (CNA).

Live Action has sent an urgent memo to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urging him to take the chemical abortion drug mifepristone off the market after an investigative report revealed extensive noncompliance with safety regulations.

The leading pro-life organization showcased a new investigative video at a press conference on Capitol Hill Thursday morning about Planned Parenthood’s routine violations of safety regulations in its distribution of the chemical abortion drug.

The investigative video and accompanying letter show Planned Parenthood’s failure to consistently confirm the gestational age of unborn children before distributing chemical abortion pills, as well as its failure to screen for ectopic pregnancy, placing pregnant women at risk of severe hemorrhaging and even death.

“We’re here to call on the administration and the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] to remove these lethal drugs from the market,” Live Action President Lila Rose said at the press conference. “They don’t belong on our market; they don’t belong flooding the homes of American families, destroying the lives of American children and harming and sometimes killing American women.”

Chemical abortion drugs “were illegally fast-tracked under the Clinton administration,” Rose said. “There have been regulations that have been stripped away over the years, and now we are dealing with mass death on demand being sent via our postal mail system, and it must end.”

“Mifepristone, used as an abortive agent, should no longer be allowed in the United States if our FDA wants to do its job in protecting the American people and protecting American children,” she said.

Live Action’s letter, sent to Kennedy as well as FDA Commissioner Marty Makary immediately following the Capitol Hill briefing, states that about 7.5 million unborn babies have died as a result of the chemical abortion drug since its approval in 2000.

The group’s investigation found several instances of Planned Parenthood staff failing to verify gestational age or provide ultrasounds before distribution of the chemical abortion drug. The abortion giant also dispensed the pills without screening or follow-up care, and staff were also recorded in multiple instances “minimizing potential risks and treating key safeguards as optional or secondary in the provision of abortion pills.”

The Live Action letter also reveals that Planned Parenthood staff repeatedly failed to check Rh status and were caught sending abortion pills to fraudulent addresses in order to circumvent parental notice. Staff also failed to require a medical history before distributing the drugs or to provide transparent information about symptoms, downplaying the amount of bleeding that could occur when taking the drug as well as symptoms that mimic labor.

“Planned Parenthood even says that taking the abortion pill is safer for the mother than ‘carrying to term,’” the letter states.

Live Action cited research by the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) in its letter, which found that “10.93% of women experienced sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, or another serious adverse event within 45 days of taking mifepristone — an adverse event rate at least 22 times higher than the ‘less than 0.5%’ rate reported in the FDA‑approved clinical trials.”

EPPC President Ryan Anderson also delivered remarks at the press conference, urging the Trump administration to review his organization’s report, stating “FDA data is decades old” and is based on clinical studies with “an ideal parent under ideal conditions.”

“Our data is from the real world,” he said.

Several members of Congress attended the briefing, including Reps. Michael Cloud, R-Texas; Mark Harris, R-North Carolina; Troy Downing, R-Montana; Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas; and Andy Biggs, R-Arizona.

Other speakers included abortion pill reversal protocol developer George Delgado and former Planned Parenthood clinic director Mayra Rodríguez.

“Today’s press conference and the release of this investigative video make clear that this issue warrants immediate and thorough review and action,” the letter stated. “Live Action requests that the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration reevaluate the approval and current regulatory status of mifepristone, strengthen transparency and data collection, and remove this dangerous drug from the market.”

The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. | Credit: Andrea Izzotti/Shutterstock

Jan 22, 2026 / 15:05 pm (CNA).

Legislation supporting pregnant and parenting college students, as well as pro-life pregnancy centers that serve them, is moving through Congress this week as the 2026 March for Life gets underway.

The U.S. House passed legislation that would allow states to use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and other federal grant funds for pregnancy resource centers. The House passed the measure ( HR 6945) by a vote of 215 to 209 on Jan. 21. A Senate vote is possible next week.

Bill cosponsor Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, said: “In a pro-abortion culture of denial that dismisses unborn babies and trivializes the harm suffered by women, pregnancy centers affirm the breathtaking miracle of unborn life and the truth that women deserve better than abortion.”

Another measure scheduled for legislative action includes a bill ( HR 6359) sponsored by Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, that would require U.S. colleges receiving federal student aid to provide students with information about how to choose to carry pregnancies without sacrificing their education.

“This is an opportunity for the GOP to expose Democrats’ extremist views on abortion to the American people as well as love them both — mother and preborn child,” said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life Action, in a statement.

Newly introduced bills include a measure by Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, that would make it a crime to transport a minor across state lines to receive an abortion.

“Parents should not be kept in the dark if their kids cross state lines to receive an abortion. I’m proud to help introduce the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, which would take important steps to protect vulnerable minors and support parents,” Kennedy said in statement Jan. 21.

The bill would protect victims of child abuse as well as human trafficking, Kennedy said.

Sens. Ashley Moody, R-Florida; Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana; Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota; Steve Daines, R-Montana; Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska; James Lankford, R-Oklahoma; and Pete Ricketts, R-Nebraska, said they would cosponsor the measure.

A House version ( HR 4964) was introduced by Rep. Dave Taylor, R-Ohio, in August 2025. Taylor welcomed the introduction of the Senate measure and said: “This bill will hold all parties accountable and ensure children are not taken advantage of. As states like California and Illinois promote abortions for all and keep parents in the dark about their child’s health, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act will put parents back in the equation and protect the lives of both the child and the unborn.”

Lankford introduced a bill ( SB 6) on Jan. 15 that would set requirements for health care providers to provide care to babies born alive during botched abortions.

The bill says health care professionals must exercise “the same degree of care as would reasonably be provided to any other children born alive at the same gestational age” and that they must be immediately admitted to a hospital. If a health care professional is found guilty of failing to provide lifesaving care, he or she could face criminal penalties, up to five years in prison, or both under the measure.

“No child should be denied medical care simply because they are ‘unwanted.’ Today, if an abortion procedure fails and a child is born alive, doctors can just ignore the crying baby on the table and watch them slowly die of neglect. That’s not an abortion, that’s infanticide,” Lankford said in a statement.

Jennie Bradley Lichter, president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, speaks with host Abi Galvan during an interview on “EWTN Pro-Life Weekly” on Jan. 21, 2026. | Credit: “EWTN Pro-Life Weekly”/Screenshot

Jan 22, 2026 / 13:30 pm (CNA).

In her first year leading the March for Life, the organization’s president is reminding the pro-life movement that they “still have a lot of work to do” in the current political climate, three and a half years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

“Taking down the Roe regime of abortion-on-demand across the country was incredibly important,” Jennie Bradley Lichter, who became president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund in February 2025, told “EWTN Pro-Life Weekly.”

“But there are still way too many abortions happening in this country,” she said. “So that’s the No. 1 reason why we’re still marching.”

Tens of thousands of pro-life activists are expected to gather in Washington, D.C., for the 53rd March for Life on Friday, Jan. 23. The march, which drew out about 150,000 people last year, has been held annually since Jan. 22, 1974, one year after Roe v. Wade was decided.

The speakers will include Lichter, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Rep. Chris Smith, among others. President Donald Trump provided a prerecorded message to the marchers, which will be played during the pre-march rally.

Lichter said in the interview that the annual march “accomplishes three really important things for the movement that cannot be accomplished any other way.”

The first, she said, is “forming young people for pro-life mission,” noting that many attendees are “teenagers and with college students and people in their 20s.” Second, she said, it is “also a really important moment of refreshment and being reenergized, and a lot of people have shared that with me this year.”

Third, Lichter said, is “the public witness impact of having this many people gathered in the heart of our nation’s capital.”

“When you stand at the March for Life, you have the Capitol dome behind the stage, and then the Washington Monument behind the marchers,” she said. “You are right in the heart of the most powerful and important city in the world, and the city shuts down every year on the day of the March for Life.”

“The Lord gives us a chance to show the nation what we’re made of, year after year,” she added. “It’s so powerful.”

Political climate

As pro-life advocates gather in Washington, D.C., 30 states and the nation’s capital still permit abortion up to the 22nd week or later, with nine states allowing elective abortion through nine months until the moment of birth.

In 13 states, nearly all abortions are illegal and in four states, most abortions are illegal after six weeks’ gestation. Two states prohibit abortion after 12 weeks, and one prohibits abortion after 18 weeks.

At the federal level, Lichter expressed some concern stemming from the Trump administration, which was mostly focused on his comment that asked Republicans to be “flexible” on the Hyde Amendment during negotiations about extending health care subsidies related to the Affordable Care Act.

The Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal tax money from being spent on abortion, has been included in spending bills since 1976, shortly after Roe v. Wade was decided.

“The response to the comment about being flexible on Hyde was swift and strong from everyone,” Lichter said, referring to criticism of the comments that came from the pro-life movement.

“The truth is, we’re not going to be flexible on Hyde,” she said. “We can’t be flexible with an issue that implicates human life — the preeminent issue — abortion.”

“The Hyde Amendment is Pro-Life 101,” Lichter said. “It’s a baseline policy that has been in place for 50 years and that every pro-life politician knows is just at the very heart of what it means to be a pro-life lawmaker. So of course, we’re not going to be flexible on Hyde.”

Lichter noted that some people think abortion “might be a losing issue in the midterms” for Republicans in November, but she believes “that’s completely wrong” and “misreads the electorate.”

“There’s no data, no examples to support the idea that pro-life politicians have been losing elections since [the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade],” she said.

“They just haven’t been,” she said. “And there’s a lot of counter examples, of course, of really strong pro-life politicians who have put life at the center of their work, who have continued to win reelection.”

The March for Life rally will be held on the National Mall from 11 a.m. until about 1 p.m., after which attendees will march past the U.S. Capitol and conclude in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building.

Credit: JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock

Jan 22, 2026 / 13:00 pm (CNA).

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced policy actions to “affirm the dignity of life consistent with the Hyde Amendment.”

The enforcement “holds a state accountable for limiting the rights of conscientious objectors in a manner that violates federal law,” said Paula Stannard, director of HHS’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR), in a Jan. 21 press release.

“To receive the benefits of Illinois’ liability shield, Illinois forces providers with conscience objections to refer patients for abortion — compelling them to participate in the very procedure they oppose,” she said.

The actions include a Notice of Violation from OCR to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker; Kwame Raoul, Illinois’ attorney general; and Mario Treto, secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. HHS’ notice said the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act (HCRCA) violates law as it relates to abortion.

According to HHS, the state “engaged in impermissible discrimination when it amended the HCRCA to require providers with a conscience objection to certain services to counsel patients about, refer patients for, and/or make arrangements for, the performance of or referral for, such services.”

OCR reported the state is in violation of the Weldon and Coats-Snowe Amendments, which are federal protection laws prohibiting government entities from discriminating against health care workers, institutions, or insurance plans that refuse to provide, pay for, or refer abortions.

The “enforcement action holds a state accountable for limiting the rights of conscientious objectors in a manner that violates federal law,” Stannard said.

Other ‘comprehensive actions’

OCR also announced other actions the agency said would advance the rights of physicians, facilities, and health care personnel “to live out their professions without compromising their conscience regarding abortion and the dignity of human life.”

To “educate the public” on the matter, OCR released a nationwide “ Dear Colleague Letter” summarizing federal health care protection statutes, including laws specific to abortion, sterilization, and assisted suicide.

The letter highlighted the statutes that prohibit government discrimination against individuals and institutions that decline to participate in services, generally based on religious beliefs or moral convictions.

OCR also released three public notices describing how the actions align with the Trump administration’s presidential action, Enforcing the Hyde Amendment. The notices “describe OCR deregulatory actions that repudiate or rescind Biden-era documents that are outdated or inconsistent with the law.”

The announcement of the policy actions “builds on HHS’ recent efforts to safeguard conscience rights more broadly including investigations to protect health care workers, support whistleblowers, and reinforce adherence to religious and conscience exemptions in the Vaccines for Children Program,” according to the HHS statement.

John Allen Jr. | Credit: John Allen/CC BY-SA 3.0

Jan 22, 2026 / 12:30 pm (CNA).

John Allen Jr., the prolific author and longtime Vatican reporter hailed for his insightful coverage of the Holy See across multiple pontificates, died on Jan. 22 at 61 years old.

Allen passed away in Rome after a long struggle with cancer, EWTN News confirmed.

Born Jan. 20, 1965, Allen grew up in Hays, Kansas, and received a philosophy degree from Fort Hays State University, after which he obtained a master’s in religious studies from the University of Kansas.

After several years teaching journalism at Notre Dame High School in Los Angeles, Allen joined the staff of the National Catholic Reporter, where he worked as a writer and a Vatican correspondent from 1997 to 2014.

In 2014 he joined the Catholic outlet Crux, which launched that year as a project of the Boston Globe. The newspaper transferred ownership of Crux to its staff in 2016, with Allen serving as its editor until his death.

He is survived by his wife, Elise, Crux’s senior Rome correspondent.

Praised by journalists and media figures for his years of coverage of the Holy See, he was described variously as “the most authoritative writer on Vatican affairs in the English language” and “the best Anglophone Vatican reporter ever.”

He was also the author of multiple books, including two biographies of Pope Benedict XVI as well as a profile of Cardinal Timothy Dolan.

Francis X. Rocca, the Vatican editor for EWTN News who knew Allen for two decades, said he “changed the way journalists cover the Vatican and the Catholic Church, enriching and enlivening what had been a stodgy beat.”

“He brought an insider feel and an unprecedented level of detail and nuance to his reports, drawing on his tireless engagement not only with cardinals and bishops, but with the mostly anonymous officials who make the Vatican and other Church institutions run,” Rocca said.

He was also “very effective on the air, a master of the thoughtful soundbite, which in his case was not an oxymoron,” Rocca added.

“His legacy includes the many younger journalists for whom he played the role of mentor over the years,” he said.

Crux notes that Allen’s work was “admired across ideological divides,” with his writing having appeared in a broad variety of outlets throughout his life, including the New York Times, NPR, and numerous others.

Known for years among newsmakers and leaders at the Vatican, Allen’s outsized reputation in Holy See media was perhaps best underscored in 2008, when he was offered the chance to ask Pope Benedict XVI the first question while flying aboard the papal plane to the United States.

“Holy Father,” the Vatican spokesman said at the time, “this man needs no introduction.”

Actor David Henrie in the new series “Seeking Beauty,” which airs on EWTN+. | Credit: EWTN Studios

Jan 22, 2026 / 12:00 pm (CNA).

Catholic figures gathered in Los Angeles on Jan. 16 for the premiere of “Seeking Beauty,” the first original series from EWTN Studios airing exclusively on the network’s brand-new streaming platform, EWTN+.

Here are five things to know about the new series and its host, actor David Henrie.

What is ‘Seeking Beauty’?

“Seeking Beauty” is a first-of-its-kind adventure documentary series that explores culture, architecture, food, art, and music, and aims to point viewers to the beautiful — and ultimately to the divine.

The series follows Henrie’s journey into the heart of Italy to explore what makes Italian culture one of the most beautiful in the world. It not only looks at the physical beauty of the country but also its spiritual richness.

Where can I watch it?

“Seeking Beauty” is available to watch exclusively on EWTN+, a free digital streaming platform that offers faith-based content. EWTN+ is available on RokuTV, GoogleTV, AppleTV, AmazonFireTV, and on EWTN.com.

Where does ‘Seeking Beauty’ take place?

The first season of “Seeking Beauty” takes place in several cities across Italy including Vatican City, Rome, Milan, Florence, and Venice.

Who is David Henrie?

Henrie is best known for his breakout role as Justin Russo on Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place.” He grew up in a Catholic household with Italian heritage; however, Henrie’s early adult years were marked by what he has described as a relativistic and agnostic period. He has also spoken about how the successes of early fame left him feeling unfulfilled and searching for deeper meaning.

Henrie’s return to the Catholic faith was a profound personal transformation that he says began around age 21 or 22.

A significant influence came while working on the movie “Little Boy,” where conversations with Catholic cast members Kevin James and Eduardo Verástegui, as well as a visit to St. Michael Abbey in Orange County, California — including his first confession since childhood — played a pivotal role in rediscovering his faith.

Since then, Henrie has embraced his faith publicly and personally, integrating his beliefs into his family life, creative projects, and charity work, including serving as a brand ambassador for Cross Catholic Outreach and participating in mission trips that reflect his commitment to living out his faith. He is married and has three children.

Will there be another season of ‘Seeking Beauty’?

Yes! The second season of the series was filmed in Spain and is scheduled to premiere this fall.

Daniel Ortega, dictator of Nicaragua, and his wife and co-president, Rosario Murillo. | Credit: Council of Communication and Citizenship of the Government of Nicaragua (CC0 1.0)

Jan 22, 2026 / 11:30 am (CNA).

Open Doors, an international organization dedicated to supporting Christians who suffer discrimination and persecution around the world, noted in its 2026 report that Christians in Nicaragua “are being increasingly silenced” under the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and his wife and co-president, Rosario Murillo.

Earlier this month, Open Doors published its report titled “ World Watch List 2026,” which lists the 50 countries in the world where Christians suffer the most persecution because of their faith. Nicaragua is ranked 32nd.

“Believers who raise their voices against the government over issues including human rights violations have faced surveillance, intimidation, and imprisonment. Some even face exile and loss of citizenship,” the report states.

Meanwhile, “churches and other Christian institutions (e.g. schools and charities) are deemed a threat to the regime. They have had assets seized, activities disrupted and banned, and buildings vandalized. Rather than be seen as a valuable part of the country’s fabric, many Christians are viewed as ‘destabilizing agents,’” the text continues.

Open Doors also points out: “This growing suffocation of Christian freedoms goes back to 2018, when nationwide protests broke out against the government. This worsened following elections in 2021 and constitutional reform in 2025. Both have been used to make legal changes to further justify the crackdown on dissenting voices — and that includes further silencing the church.”

As the largest Christian community in Nicaragua, “ Catholics are a primary target for the regime. Clergy face imprisonment, exile, house arrest, travel bans, and legal threats,” the report states.

In fact, as Martha Patricia Molina, author of the report “ Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church,” told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, earlier this month, between 2018 and the end of 2025 a total of 43 properties had been confiscated from the Church, and the dictatorship has carried out 1,030 attacks against Catholics in addition to having banned 18,808 processions.

The newspaper Confidencial published at the end of 2025 a detailed report explaining how, between 2022 and 2025, the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship confiscated 39 properties belonging to the Catholic Church, properties that are now being used for purposes other than those for which they were originally intended.

Molina also said that according to the running count there are “304 priests and nuns who no longer exercise their pastoral ministry in Nicaragua, 172 men and 132 women.”

Four bishops have been exiled from the country: Silvio Báez, auxiliary bishop of Managua, who celebrates Mass on Sundays at St. Agnes Parish in Miami; Bishop Isidoro Mora, bishop of Siuna; Rolando Álvarez, bishop of Matagalpa and apostolic administrator of Estelí; and Carlos Enrique Herrera, bishop of Jinotega and president of the Nicaraguan Bishops’ Conference. The other five Nicaraguan bishops still remain in the country.

Open Doors reports that “anyone who speaks out against the government is especially vulnerable, and that includes Christians from other denominations (e.g. Pentecostals and Baptists). Some also face pressure to show political loyalty to avoid further repercussions.”

“Those who preach the Gospel without censorship — proclaiming Jesus’ love and the freedom the Holy Spirit brings — are exactly the ones they want to silence,” says Pastora, a Christian quoted by Open Doors in its report.

“The situation in Nicaragua has changed very little. Even though the country fell two places from last year’s World Watch List, persecution remains difficult,” the report notes.

“Believers — especially pastors and church leaders — now face more suffocating surveillance, threats to restrict or shut down church activities, and constant interference in their ministries,” Open Doors explains.

In March 2025, the Nicaraguan newspaper Mosaico CSI reported that the dictatorship is monitoring priests, checking their cellphones, and demanding weekly reports on their activities, in addition to restricting their freedom of movement.

“For the priests who remain in Nicaragua, homilies must be entirely theological. They cannot speak about issues related to the social doctrine of the Church or offer social criticism,” the newspaper stated.

Open Doors also notes that “persecution is present throughout the country” but is more intense in “Bluefields, Chinandega, Estelí, Granada, Jinotega, Jinotepe, León, Masaya, Managua, Matagalpa, the South Atlantic Autonomous Region, and Rivas.”

Open Doors explains that in view of this situation, the organization aims to “strengthen the church in Nicaragua amid persecution, through livelihood support, legal assistance, persecution-survival training, and leadership care.”

The organization also offers a prayer for persecuted Christians in Nicaragua:

Heavenly Father, give our sisters and brothers wisdom, courage, and protection as they follow you in an increasingly hostile environment. Encourage those who’ve suffered loss and pain for their faith, provide for them, and heal their wounds. Soften the hearts of the regime and touch the hearts of the authorities as they monitor Christians. In these difficult times, strengthen your church in Nicaragua and shine brightly through them. Amen.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.