When “Religious Freedom” Becomes a Tool of Secular Imperialism
EWTN News portal reports (May 7, 2026): The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released a fact sheet recommending targeted sanctions against Russian officials and state agencies, including the Federal Security Service, alongside officials from the Taliban, Iraqi militias, Nicaragua, Nigeria, China, India, and other nations. The report advocates visa bans, asset freezes, and financial transaction blocks against individuals deemed responsible for religious liberty violations. This entire framework, however, rests upon the fundamentally modernist and liberal Catholic premise that “religious freedom” — a concept condemned by the Church — constitutes a universal human right that secular governments may define, adjudicate, and enforce through coercive economic measures.



