WASHINGTON, DC, Sep. 5, 00 (CWNews.com)

    The US State Department issued its second annual report on religious freedom around the world on Tuesday with the list of offenders not changing substantially.

    Among the worst offenders against religious freedom were China, Sudan, and Afghanistan, but also included for rebuke were US allies Saudi Arabia, Germany, and France. China's crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritualist sect earned the harshest criticism, while Sudan was noted for its harsh restrictions on non-Muslims and military attacks on Christian civilians in its pursuit of rebels in the country's civil war.

    Last year, the Clinton administration chose not to use sanctions provided by Congress in the law ordering the annual reports against the worst offenders-- China, Iran, Iraq, Myanmar, and Sudan. US officials said they do not expect any change from that policy this year.

    Germany was added to list because it labels the Church of Scientology a dangerous cult and imposes restrictions on the group. France's 1996 law labeling 173 groups as cult included groups which were "merely unfamiliar or unpopular," the report said.

We encourage you to check the Catholic World News site at the CWN home page and Church News at Noticias Eclesiales and the Dossiers, features and Daily Dispatches from ZENIT International News Agency CWN, NE and ZENIT are not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC, but provide this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.