In Haiti, the Church Is the “Last Line of Defence,” says a bishop

As the country sinks into an unprecedented crisis, ravaged by armed gangs, the Church remains standing and sows hope amid despair. The legislative and presidential elections due to be held in Haiti on August 30 – the first since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 – have been postponed until December. But the …

Mexico: Aid to the Church in Need Joins the Bishops’ Appeal

Although relations between the Church and the state have improved over the past century, the bishops denounce the cartels’ “parallel government,” which undermines religious freedom in Mexico. (Banner photo: In 2022, the funeral of Jesuit Fathers Joaquín Mora and Javier Campos, who were allegedly murdered by members of a drug cartel.) The Catholic bishops of …

Medjugorje desecration latest in wave of attacks on churches

From Spain to the USA, several churches have been vandalized in the past three months. Although the attacks seem unrelated to each other, they show that religious freedom is not to be taken for granted, even in majority Christian countries. The popular European shrine of Medjugorje, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was vandalized and desecrated in …

Canada and religious freedom: numerous concerns

Montreal, October 22, 2025 — “The loss of freedom of religion, conscience, and conviction follows virtually the same curve as that of freedom of the press, once again this year.” Marie-Claude Lalonde, National Director of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Canada for the past 25 years, is observing this trend with increasing clarity. …

Mexico: A bullet-dodging bishop

In Guerrero, one of the most violent states in Mexico, faith is the last refuge for a population living under the weight of organized crime. Bishop José de Jesús González of the Diocese of Chilpancingo-Chilapa carries out his pastoral mission with a commitment that has put him, quite literally, in the line of fire. Bishop …

Cuban religious help care for families and the sick amid crisis

The Sisters of Charity of Cardinal Sancha occupy a special place in the hearts of many Cubans who know they can count on the “Sanchinas” when they need help. The congregation was founded on the island in 1869 to help the disabled and poor children. Over time, they extended their reach to cover education, support …

For healing and reconciliation, join the dance!

May 30 Webinar in French Next Friday, May 30, from 12 to 1 p.m. (ET), take part in the French webinar entitled Entrez dans la danse. Quand la spiritualité rassemble. (Come dance with me. When spirituality unites.) This webinar is an opportunity to launch the French translation of Come Dance with Me, published in 2022 …

ACN Project of the Week – Mexico

Help for the training of 13 seminarians There are over 120 Redemptoris Mater seminaries around the world. They were established by Pope Saint John Paul II to promote the new evangelization. Young men from many different countries and nationalities pursue their vocations to the priesthood in these seminaries today. The particular feature of the seminaries is …

Mexico: “The hardest thing is telling a child their father has been killed.”

In one of the most dangerous states in Mexico, the Worker Sisters help children who are exposed to violence. With support from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), they also train novices who grew up in difficult environments, preparing them to bring hope to vulnerable communities. “One of our children saw his father be …

Haiti on the brink: bishops issue a “cry of alarm” for peace

In the face of rampant violence which is paralyzing Port-au-Prince and isolating Haiti from the rest of the world, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Haiti, in a message received by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), calls on the government to act and appeals to every Haitian to work for peace and overcome hatred. …