Dozens of priests arrested in 2023 as authoritarian regimes crack down on Church

Thirteen priests and one religious brother lost their lives in 2023, with half of the deaths seemingly unrelated to persecution. While arrests increased, kidnappings of clergy decreased compared to 2022, still posing a significant concern, especially in Africa.

According to data gathered by the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a total of 132 Catholic priests and religious faced arrest, kidnapping, or murder in 2023, up from 124 in the previous year. However, these are confirmed cases, and the actual number could be higher due to challenges in obtaining reliable information in some countries.

Among these cases, 86 were clergy arrested during 2023, a notable increase from the 55 recorded in 2022. Nicaragua and Belarus topped the list of authoritarian regimes detaining priests, targeting the Church for speaking against injustices or merely attempting to operate freely.

China, though challenging to confirm, showed approximately 20 cases of clergy under arrest during 2023, emphasizing the worldwide impact. Belarus detained at least 10 priests, with three still incarcerated as the year concluded. In India, where anti-conversion laws hinder Catholic organizations, six were arrested, including a religious sister, all later released but still facing potential charges.

Kidnappings saw a decrease to 33 from 54 in 2022, with Nigeria leading at 28 cases, and Haiti having two. Tragically, 14 murders occurred in 2023, including 11 priests, one bishop, one religious brother, and one seminarian. Nigeria witnessed the highest number of murders, with seven unclear or indirectly related to persecution. ACN continues to monitor cases globally, focusing on persecution-related incidents among Catholic clergy and religious.

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