![A 15-starred “Star-Spangled Banner” hangs on the facade of the historic Baltimore Basilica, the first cathedral built in the United States.](https://publisher-ncreg.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pb-ncregister/swp/hv9hms/media/20210805210848_49f27de45f6be8eef8bb147cde472d904e58376b6f21fa24c3058baea617d4b3.jpg)
![A 15-starred “Star-Spangled Banner” hangs on the facade of the historic Baltimore Basilica, the first cathedral built in the United States.](https://publisher-ncreg.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pb-ncregister/swp/hv9hms/media/20210805210848_49f27de45f6be8eef8bb147cde472d904e58376b6f21fa24c3058baea617d4b3.jpg)
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![Rebecca Shah (l) and Ambassador Sam Brownback Rebecca Shah (l) and Ambassador Sam Brownback](https://publisher-ncreg.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pb-ncregister/swp/hv9hms/media/20220604010652_fcfbeda86edb39d3905c61761987335d89273e8a2fd5da9134caf40e4f544079.jpg)
Ambassador Sam Brownback and Rebecca Shah (Season 4 — Ep. 5)
Our guests on this episode of Religious Freedom Matters are Sam Brownback, a former U.S. senator and Kansas governor who served as the U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom from 2018 to 2021, and Rebecca Shah, principal investigator for the Religion and Economic Empowerment Project (REEP) and a senior fellow at the Archbridge Institute.
![A religious sister prays the Rosary during a prayer and penance service for peace and security in Nigeria in Abuja on March 1, 2020. The Catholic Bishops of Nigeria organized the procession amid ongoing killings and kidnappings of Christians by Boko Haram and other Islamist groups. A religious sister prays the Rosary during a prayer and penance service for peace and security in Nigeria in Abuja on March 1, 2020. The Catholic Bishops of Nigeria organized the procession amid ongoing killings and kidnappings of Christians by Boko Haram and other Islamist groups.](https://publisher-ncreg.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pb-ncregister/swp/hv9hms/media/2022052716050_c781ce29db99eb9e4a624dcb380dea76bd480ceb8b24ba145673ed5050cf7a0d.jpg)
Facing the Root of Violence in Nigeria: Islamic Extremism (Season 4 — Ep. 4)
For at least 100 years Christians in Nigeria have been persecuted and the West has not wanted to call it what it is: 'violence by Islamist groups against Christians,’ says the Religious Freedom Institute's Stephen Rasche.
![Protesters hold up a lighted candles to show solidarity in Bandung, Indonesia, on May 13, 2017, for the release of Jakarta’s governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as “Ahok.” Ahok was jailed for two years after being found guilty of blasphemy, in a decision that stoked concerns over religious intolerance in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation. Protesters hold up a lighted candles to show solidarity in Bandung, Indonesia, on May 13, 2017, for the release of Jakarta’s governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as “Ahok.” Ahok was jailed for two years after being found guilty of blasphemy, in a decision that stoked concerns over religious intolerance in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.](https://publisher-ncreg.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pb-ncregister/swp/hv9hms/media/20220518190556_d60b8e3527113980d3c8dfb23364162164003a029a05ebf6ab2e8a6616300533.jpg)
Facing a Rise in Religous Repression in India and Elsewhere in South Asia (Season 4 — Ep. 3)
In most South and Southeast Asian countries, ‘religion is a powerful force, and in most of them, more radical forms of the religion have been getting stronger,’ says religious freedom expert Paul Marshall. ‘I would say the overall pattern is increased tension, increased repression.’
![In this picture taken March 5, 2018, Cardinal Joseph Zen, former Bishop of Hong Kong, listens to a question during an interview with AFP in Hong Kong. In this picture taken March 5, 2018, Cardinal Joseph Zen, former Bishop of Hong Kong, listens to a question during an interview with AFP in Hong Kong.](https://publisher-ncreg.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pb-ncregister/swp/hv9hms/media/20220512230524_1ff4e71a38d58680567bc74ba90023c7063100e7209c502a9bd5a3e245b2b02c.jpg)
Cardinal Zen’s Arrest: A Window Into Religious Persecution in China and Hong Kong (Season 4 — Ep. 2)
How has the Communist party “winnowed down” Christianity in China and Hong Kong and what does this mean for the future of the Catholic Church there? International Rights Lawyer Nina Shea of the Hudson Institute sheds light on the persecution of religious believers in China on Religious Freedom Matters.
![Galina Malets (c) drops to her knees as she sees the coffin of her brother at Sts. Peter and Paul Garrison Church Thursday. Her brother, Igor Malets, a 59-year-old soldier, was wounded April 27 in Izyum and died April 30 in the hospital in Dnipro. Galina Malets (c) drops to her knees as she sees the coffin of her brother at Sts. Peter and Paul Garrison Church Thursday. Her brother, Igor Malets, a 59-year-old soldier, was wounded April 27 in Izyum and died April 30 in the hospital in Dnipro.](https://publisher-ncreg.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pb-ncregister/swp/hv9hms/media/20220505190524_f3a6089b8b1230bca732a8996c30d6ba8e8ab26dda2f1fec799898b77a573d8f.jpg)
Russia’s ‘False Story’ (Season 4 — Ep. 1): George Weigel Weighs in on the Ukraine Crisis
George Weigel of the Ethics and Public Policy Center gives important context on the Russia and Ukraine conflict. Also, Father Benedict Kiely of Nasarean.org, an advocacy and aid organization for persecuted Christians, talks about the special need to support Ukrainians displaced in their own country by the war.
![Protesters hold signs at a rally for Religious Freedom on June 8, 2012, in Miami. Protesters hold signs at a rally for Religious Freedom on June 8, 2012, in Miami.](https://publisher-ncreg.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pb-ncregister/swp/hv9hms/media/2022030517030_633734171e17a1a40fb1756d58bf3d21ea91323e276ae422f10eb33a2d7fa67a.jpg)
Catholic Schools and Advocates Prepare for More School Choice (Season 3 — Ep. 5)
Only Catholic schools can save the Church, says Boston Archdiocese’s superintendent of schools. He tells Religious Freedom Matters how it can happen.
![Sam Brownback speaks during a news conference at the State Department in Washington, DC, on June 10, 2020. Sam Brownback speaks during a news conference at the State Department in Washington, DC, on June 10, 2020.](https://publisher-ncreg.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pb-ncregister/swp/hv9hms/media/20220305160356_387330aa1ce6665b88033ebd4d67ac477c5f08a280e6d836c47a23a75638408f.jpg)
Sam Brownback: Connecting the Dots Between Religious Freedom and School Choice (Season 3 — Ep. 4)
Ambassador Sam Brownback says school choice is crucial to religious liberty — but we’re going to have to fight for it.
![Allison Reyes-Rodriguez speaks with a journalist during a media preview at Our Lady Queen of Angels School on Aug. 20, 2015, in New York City. Allison was among 24 Catholic school children who were selected to meet with Pope Francis during his Sept. 25, 2015, visit to New York. Allison Reyes-Rodriguez speaks with a journalist during a media preview at Our Lady Queen of Angels School on Aug. 20, 2015, in New York City. Allison was among 24 Catholic school children who were selected to meet with Pope Francis during his Sept. 25, 2015, visit to New York.](https://publisher-ncreg.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pb-ncregister/swp/hv9hms/media/20220305160356_49e8a119d387e3b6cadd076f1ef68931b4c659f6f71489c7200a9030baa74236.jpg)
Que Alguien Abre La Puerta: Opening the Doors of Catholic Schools to Hispanic Catholics (Season 3 — Ep. 3)
Nearly half of U.S. Catholics are Hispanic — so why don’t more families send their children to Catholic schools? Expert Lucia Luzondo talks to Religious Freedom Matters.
![Pope Francis is surrounded by students, teachers and families at a special event to highlight Catholic schools on May 10, 2014, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Pope Francis is surrounded by students, teachers and families at a special event to highlight Catholic schools on May 10, 2014, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.](https://publisher-ncreg.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pb-ncregister/swp/hv9hms/media/20220305160356_a4f87d27d6e114b5b198444de205c9079bfd633dad6c3a76ff86082d1a406f8d.jpg)
Leave the Upper Room: Preaching the Accessibility of Catholic Schools (Season 3 — Ep. 2)
‘We need to go from neighborhood to neighborhood telling people about Catholic schools’ — so says Catholic education pioneer Shawn Peterson.