Weekly religion news roundup (August 14-20, 2026)
Photograph by Utsav Srestha via Unsplash
Hannah Estifanos
13 US citizens denied entry to Israel for weeklong trip to learn about Palestinian Christians. Amid escalating violence in the West Bank, an interfaith group, led by a retired Emory University theology professor, was turned back at Israel's border. (Religion News Service)
Fourth Circuit upholds order protecting houses of worship from ICE. A Trump administration policy that gives immigration officers free rein to carry out enforcement actions at or near the houses of worship was blocked again by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. (Baptist News Global)
Christian metal band sues Netflix over KPop Demon Hunters name. 25-year-old band Demon Hunter says name of streamer’s hit movie creates ‘substantial confusion’ among consumers. (The Guardian)
A Jewish scholar of Jesus makes history as president of the Catholic Biblical Association. The New Testament scholar has had a lifelong fascination with all things Catholic and has devoted her life's work to understanding Jesus as a first-century Jew. (Religion News Service)
Swiss tourist sentenced to a year in jail for insulting Bali’s sacred Day of Silence. A court on the Indonesian resort island of Bali sentenced a Swiss tourist on Thursday to one year in prison for insulting a sacred Balinese Hindu observance. (Associated Press)
Each week in The Christian Citizen, we publish a Religion News Roundup with summaries of religion news stories and links for those who want to read more.
How a trans activist and a priest are creating inclusion in India’s Catholic Church. Earlier this year, the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore launched the first sustained initiative by India’s Catholic Church to minister to and engage with transgender people. (Religion News Service)
As ICE closes in, Ohio churches line up to care for Haitians. Many of Springfield’s Haitians attend evangelical, Catholic, mainline, and Pentecostal churches across the city. And in the months of dread and uncertainty before a federal judge cleared the way on August 4 for the termination of Haiti’s TPS protections, faith leaders and congregations from within and beyond the Haitian community have emerged as pivotal actors in the support networks for affected families. (The Christian Century)
As Buildings Fell, Colombia’s Churches Stood Up. Volunteers from across the country sent supplies, served meals, and dug through rubble after last week’s devastating earthquake. (Christianity Today)
US missionary kidnapped in Niger is released after 9 months in captivity, his organization says. An American missionary who was kidnapped in Niger in October has been released, his organization said Friday. (Associated Press)
Black Church played a role in surprise election result in Florida. The Black Church played a role in a surprise upset in Florida’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Aug. 18. (Baptist News Global)
Hannah Estifanos is the copyeditor of The Christian Citizen.
The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of American Baptist Home Mission Societies.
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