Religion
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Deportation flight to Iran included Christians at risk
(RNS) — The Trump administration’s deportation of more than a hundred Iranians held in ICE custody on a flight that touched down in Tehran on Sept. 29 includes Christian converts and other religious minorities who may face harsh penalties for their religious beliefs upon return to the Islamic Republic, advocates warned. “Among those deported were four women and a 72-year-old…
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Varghese’s St. John Divine installation cut short
NEW YORK (RNS) — Nearly 700 people packed the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine on Manhattan’s Upper West Side on Saturday (Sept. 27) to witness the installation of the Rev. Winnie Varghese, the first queer woman of color named dean of the world’s largest Episcopal Gothic cathedral. The ceremony, planned for an hour and a half, made clear…
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What is Navaratri, the Hindu festival of nine nights?
(RNS) — Monday (Sept. 22) marks the start of Navaratri, a vibrant, nine-night Hindu festival dedicated to the Divine Feminine in all her forms. Hindus will dedicate rituals to the goddess Durga — the “Mother Goddess” who embodies the feminine energy known as Shakti — in recognition of her victorious nine-day battle against the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. In Hindu tradition…
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Are Residential Estimating Services Really Worth It?
When planning a residential construction project—whether it’s a custom home, a remodel, or a multi-unit build—one of the biggest questions contractors and homeowners face is: “Do I really need a professional estimating service?” At first glance, it might seem like something you can handle in-house or with a quick spreadsheet. But the truth is, inaccurate estimates are one of the…
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Pulpit Politics: Why the Johnson Amendment Still Sparks Political Drama
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Trump task force report says Biden administration discriminated against Christians
(RNS) — During his campaign to return to the White House, Donald Trump promised to return Christians to power and prominence in American life and to root out any anti-Christian policies in the federal government. Not long after taking office, Trump ordered cabinet members to form a task force to eliminate anti-Christian bias in their departments. “My Administration will not…
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Adam Nicholas Phillips on Bridging Divides
What does it mean to build bridges amidst the turmoil of the second Trump Administration? How have interfaith communities moved forward with productive dialogue post-October 7th? Is there a more nuanced way to think about Christian Nationalism and the MAGA constituency? In this episode of The State of Belief, Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenush and Interfaith America CEO Rev. Adam Nicholas…
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How we shared the values of Arbaeen with our Toronto neighbors
(RNS) — Commemorating a month of tragedy and mourning is not the way my thrill-seeking almost-6-year-old child typically envisions spending her holidays. The Islamic months of Muharram and Safar are marked by two key days of commemoration for many Muslims worldwide: Ashura and Arbaeen. On Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram, observed July 4 to 5 this year, Husayn, the grandson…
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Pope Leo Chiclayo abuse case proves tricky to translate outside Peru
(RNS) — A Peruvian woman who says she was sexually abused by two priests as a girl traveled to Pope Leo XIV’s hometown of Chicago in late July to personally tell media her claims of how the newly elected pope mishandled her case when he served as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru. Organized by The Survivors Network of those Abused by…
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Shaken by ICE raids, pastors rethink ministries
(RNS) — When the Rev. Tanya Lopez talks about the day in June when she had to confront masked agents in her church parking lot, she focuses on the man they detained. As the pastor of Downey Memorial Christian Church near Los Angeles, California, she said her primary concern was the person being taken away by the apparent federal immigration…
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