Religion & Global Affairs Newsletter, Vol. 6, Issue 30

It is a perilous moment for the international religious freedom movement. Over the past few decades, an array of advocacy networks have emerged to protect religious freedom for everyone, everywhere, all buttressed by an interlocking network of standards at the international and regional levels. These joint efforts took an unprecedented leap forward ten years ago with the launch of the International Contact Group on FoRB, an overlooked anniversary I reflected on earlier this summer.

Now, a decade later, the movement faces extraordinary challenges. Global instability is increasing, institutional support is declining, and unrelenting religious persecution continues to impact every faith community somewhere. At the same time, political priorities are shifting back towards hard interests, reverting to the historical norm in foreign affairs. Over the past 75 years, nations became increasingly mindful of human rights, reflecting a growing belief that pursuing interests and values could be mutually supportive. Of course, values diplomacy has never been as robust as advocates hoped, but global rights advocacy since 1948 has nonetheless been an unparalleled development in human history.

That achievement, however, may become a historical anomaly if current trends continue. Recent months have revealed a shallower commitment to humanitarian work and human rights than advocates believed. In the United States, the deeply concerning cancellation of billions of dollars in U.S. foreign assistance and the shuttering of key institutions made global headlines. Yet the retrenchment around interests isn’t unique to the United States, as policymakers in Western capitals have also changed priorities (see here, here, here, and here). It's concerning all around.

Yet, persecution requires we not sit back and shrug in response to diminishing political interest and shrinking funding. In recent weeks, I highlighted China's continued persecution of Uyghurs (starting at the 32:30 mark), the ISIS genocide of Yezidis, and criminal violence targeting religious actors in Latin America (see my article and program webinar summary). Artificial intelligence is also fast becoming the 21st-century frontier of global persecution. These are but a few examples.

Consequently, we must proactively develop new strategies and recalibrate to ensure religious freedom networks and organizations survive (and even thrive in) this turbulent era. We need to strengthen past approaches while developing new strategies. For instance, I wrote for the Bush Institute about how sacred heritage sites can combat religious nationalism, reflecting on a visit to the Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba, Spain. I also highlighted USIP's strategic religious engagement work, as well as the opportunity for northern European nations to step forward.

My book, Ending Persecution, also advances new ideas, and September marks the one-year anniversary of its release. Speaking at a Capitol Hill briefing on religious freedom strategies was a fitting conclusion to my book tour, which crisscrossed the world. Stops included Union Theological Seminary in New York City, the London School of Economics, and the East-West Center. Also, Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana, and Dublin, Ireland, Amedalen in Visby, Sweden, and with friends in Springfield, Missouri. Notable interviews with The Bulletin, the Trinity Forum, the Faith Angle Forum, as well as briefings at the State Department, USCIRF, U.S. Army Pacific Command, Religions for Peace, the IRF Roundtable, and many more. I appreciated the positive reception in Providence Magazine, The National Review, Religion Unplugged, Public Discourse, Liberty Magazine, and others.

I hope and pray the book has contributed to the cause. I was honored that it received the 2025 Catholic Media Association Book Award for Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations. In addition, due to its strong reception, Notre Dame Press will publish a paperback edition in Fall 2026.

Despite recent shifts, the book’s core recommendations remain relevant: ending persecution requires consequential diplomacy that exposes abuses. Conservatives have expressed concern about the Administration’s lack of IRF priorities (here and here) and global rights in general (here and here). Without strategic action, others who do not share our values will fill the void. While the second Trump administration has yet to demonstrate the same vigor towards international religious freedom as the first, there's still time.

Of course, it's natural to focus on the current administration in office, but we’ve seen diminished attention from both parties. For instance, the Biden administration never issued its final CPC designations, the most potent tool in the IRFA toolbox. I wrote for The Hill about the troubling lack of interest in the Yezidi genocide as a barometer for declining interest on both sides of the aisle, something that should concern us all, regardless of party. We need to revive support, and I’ve spoken about how the United States can advance human rights unlike any other nation. Can we leverage our networks outside of DC to spark interest among all Americans, regardless of their political affiliation? Success can motivate policymakers and elected leaders from both parties.

The church has a role to play. Upcoming CAAP Network events will equip Christians to pray and advocate for anyone facing religious persecution, including fellow believers and their persecuted non-Christian neighbors. On October 20-21, at the Global Religious Freedom Gathering, we will launch a bold new declaration calling on Christians to pray for anyone experiencing religious persecution. It will lead up to November 1, Pray for ALL the Persecuted Day.

Unrelenting religious persecution demands we push ahead and adapt to this new environment. We should use our collective voice to push back against rising persecution, shrinking resources, declining political will, and increasing polarization. It won’t be easy, but it never was. What we do matters. Millions suffering persecution are praying we continue to advocate.

I welcome your feedback, and, as always, the views expressed here are my own. For more articles, check out my previous newsletter, which includes my Georgetown College commencement address, a discussion about religious persecution in Russian-occupied Ukraine, and more. Also, Amazon's book sale makes it an excellent time to pick up a copy of Ending Persecution.