Lessons from the Catholic Church in the Philippines
The Catholic Church’s actions during the 1986 People Power Revolution in the Philippines offer powerful lessons for the Church in countries experiencing authoritarianism today.
Human Rights
Upholding human rights enables a society to put people at the center of all policymaking – political, economic and social – thus protecting the life and dignity of the human person whatever its condition or stage of development. In the year 2020, the world entered into the novel coronavirus pandemic, an unprecedented crisis that impacts all aspects of life and presents new threats to upholding human rights.
December 10 is International Human Rights Day. Join us in reciting this prayer by Rabbi Brant Rosen. Explore our Lenten Reflection Guide on human rights.
To understand what our faith teaches about human rights, see “Catholic Social Teaching and Human Rights.”
To learn about Maryknoll mission experience honoring and protecting human rights and the life and dignity of the human person, especially those who are poor and vulnerable, read Maryknoll’s 100 Years of Mission.
To learn about human rights advocacy, watch a 30-minute webinar, “Human Rights Advocacy and the Legacy of Sr. Dianna Ortiz.” You will also find a corresponding page of resources on current human rights issues.
To learn about new threats to human rights, see our articles featured in Maryknoll Magazine:
Upholding Human Rights During the Pandemic
A “David and Goliath” Story of Water Defenders
Catholic Church Responses to Authoritarianism in History
The Catholic Church and its members have served as crucial counterweights to oppressive governments throughout history, defending human rights under authoritarian rule.
Faith-filled Resistance to Immigration Enforcement
Faith-based organizations across the United States are mobilizing in response to the Trump administration’s heightened immigration enforcement.
Peru: Church Leaders Denounce Violence, Defend Human Rights
President Dina Boluarte, who had overseen one of the worst massacres in recent Peruvian history in 2023, was impeached and removed from office by Peru’s Congress on Oct. 10 for failing to curb a wave of violent crime in the country. Weeks earlier, the Congress had passed an amnesty law pardoning members of government security…
Tanzania’s Rights Crisis Deepens Post-Election
Abductions, deadly suppression of dissent, internet blockades, and the targeting of vulnerable groups prompt domestic and international warnings against rights violations in Tanzania.
Catholic Public Witness for Immigrants
On October 22 and November 13, Catholics across the United States are invited to join the “One Church One Family Catholic Public Witness for Immigrants.” The Maryknoll Office for Global…
Faith Organizations Speak Out Against Deep Sea Mining
Twenty-six faith organizations tell Congress to oppose the Trump administration’s executive order to fast track deep sea mining in the open ocean outside of U.S. territorial waters, destroying habitats that have taken millions of years to form, and endangering marine life and coastal communities. Read the letter as a PDF October 30, 2025 We, the…
U.S. Sanctions on Palestinian Human Rights Orgs Erode International Law
The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns joined 79 organizations in an open letter expressing grave concern about the Trump administration’s imposition of sanctions on three prominent Palestinian human rights organizations due to their engagement with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and efforts investigating potential war crimes committed by the government of Israel in Gaza.
Letter to Congress Opposing U.S. Strikes on Venezuelan Boats
Sixty-two faith and civil society organizations, including the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, sent the following letter to Congress expressing our alarm at the Trump administration’s “unwarranted and illegal military strikes and extrajudicial killings of civilians” on boats off of the coast of Venezuela.
Faith Leaders Denounce Political Violence
“Our sacred texts are clear: violence is never the answer,” say more than 100 faith leaders in statement denouncing political violence and attacks on free speech and nonprofit independence in the United States.
Faith Leaders Denounce Political Violence
“Our sacred texts are clear: violence is never the answer,” say more than 100 faith leaders in statement denouncing political violence and attacks on free speech and nonprofit independence in the United States. October 1, 2025 As faith leaders, we denounce all forms of political violence. Just this year alone, our country mourned the horrific…
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Maryknoll Fr. Frank Breen reflects on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Today’s gospel from Luke, about the rich man and Lazarus the poor man, is one of many passages that highlight a major thematic issue in Luke, namely the relationship between wealth and poverty. The gospels in general do not give a…
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Maryknoll Lay Missioner Gabe Hurrish in South Sudan reflects on the Parable of the Unjust Steward. Today’s Sunday readings struck me right in the face. I live in South Sudan where almost everything written in the readings resonates with the current struggles of the people. The leaders of this extremely poor East African country have…
Join the Let Children Live Campaign
Take action for Palestinian Children. Join the Let Children Live campaign. Today, children in Gaza are enduring unimaginable devastation: Hunger is widespread and worsening. Bombs are falling without warning. Even…
Trump Administration Targets Legal Immigrants
The executive branch is waging legal warfare against the legal designations that protect people from deportation back to the dangerous countries they have fled. Immigration Advocacy Intern Rehema Klueg reports.
Sudan: Famine and Foreign Aid Cuts
As new frontlines in the Sudanese civil war worsen the humanitarian crisis, U.S. and U.N. agencies cut international humanitarian funding. Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns Program Associate Fellow Mark Joyce reports.
Haiti: Stop Illegal Weapons Trafficking from the U.S.
Ninety-six civil society organizations sent the following letter on August 26, 2025, to the leaders of the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security asking for immediate action to stop the flow of illegal weapons from the United States to Haiti.