Washington: As the United States marks Religious Freedom Week 2025, Bishop Kevin Rhoades, who chairs the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Religious Liberty, has drawn attention to mounting concerns over both domestic and global threats to religious freedom. His remarks, delivered in an interview with Vatican News, emphasized the urgency of defending the right to live out faith freely amid rising ideological pressures and government restrictions.
This year’s observance began on a reflective note, focusing on the dangers of deepening political polarization within American society. Bishop Rhoades expressed concern that individuals are increasingly prioritizing partisan loyalty over fidelity to Church teachings. “There’s a temptation to abandon truth and Church doctrine in favor of aligning with a political camp,” he cautioned, warning that this shift risks distorting religious conviction through the lens of political ideology.
The bishop also highlighted that threats to religious freedom arise not from one particular political side, but across the spectrum. Both left- and right-leaning factions have at times attempted to suppress or restrict the religious liberties of those with differing beliefs. This dynamic, Rhoades noted, challenges the Church’s mission to maintain its moral and spiritual identity in a politically charged environment.
Religious Freedom Week 2025 is structured around daily themes addressing specific liberty-related issues. While much of the focus remains on the American context, this year’s program also draws attention to severe religious repression abroad, particularly in Nigeria and Nicaragua. In these nations, Christians face persecution, violence, and systemic efforts to silence their faith.
Domestically, one of the central concerns of the bishops is the Church’s freedom to serve migrants and refugees, regardless of their immigration status. Bishop Rhoades stressed that Church ministries do not ask about legal documentation before offering food, shelter, or support. Efforts to curb or penalize such acts of charity, he said, represent a direct violation of religious freedom. “Our mission to serve is rooted in Gospel values, not political categories,” he affirmed.
The right of parents to direct the education of their children also emerged as a pressing issue. Bishop Rhoades underscored the Church’s long-held belief that parents are the primary educators of their children and must be free to choose religious schools if they so wish. However, he pointed out that Catholic and other faith-based schools often face discrimination when it comes to funding or policy recognition. “This lack of support undermines both religious freedom and educational equity,” he said.
In vitro fertilization and other morally contested medical procedures supported by public funding were also flagged as troubling developments that conflict with the Church’s teaching on the sanctity of life.
Religious Freedom Week is bookended by the feasts of Saints Thomas More and John Fisher at the beginning, and Saints Peter and Paul at its conclusion. Bishop Rhoades highlighted these saints as enduring symbols of fidelity in the face of oppression. “Though they loved their nations deeply,” he said, “their ultimate allegiance was to Christ and His Kingdom.” Their courageous witness, he added, continues to inspire those committed to defending religious liberty today.
As the Catholic Church in the U.S. navigates an increasingly complex and often hostile landscape, Bishop Rhoades' message during Religious Freedom Week serves as a clarion call: to remain unwavering in truth, courageous in witness, and committed to preserving the right to live out one’s faith freely, publicly, and without compromise.