Weekly religion news roundup (August 22-28, 2025)
Photograph by Utsav Srestha via Unsplash
Rev. Dr. Anna Piela
A shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school kills 2 children, injures 17 people. The Minneapolis city government said the shooter had been “contained” after the gunfire at Annunciation Catholic School and there was no longer any “active threat” to residents. (RNS)
The kids at Annunciation School in Minneapolis deserved better from us.
Annunciation Church and its school are a part of the fabric of south Minneapolis. (MSNBC)
Pope demands end to 'collective punishment' and forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza. History’s first American pope also called for the release of hostages taken by Hamas in southern Israel — 50 of them remain in Gaza — and for both sides and international powers to end the war “which has caused so much terror, destruction and death.” (RNS)
UN food agency chief says women and children are ‘starving’ in Gaza and pressed Netanyahu on aid. The head of the U.N. food agency said Thursday that it was “very evident” during her visit to Gaza this week that there isn’t enough food in the Palestinian territory and that she spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the urgent need for more aid. (Associated Press)
Republican congressional candidate burns Quran with flamethrower. The oldest Muslim community in the United States has condemned a Texas congressional candidate’s videotaped burning of a Quran. (Baptist News Global)
Each Friday 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.
Amish woman accused of killing her 4-year-old son by throwing him into an Ohio lake. An Amish woman who told authorities she was testing her faith when she threw her 4-year-old son into an Ohio lake was charged Wednesday with two counts of aggravated murder in the boy’s death. (Associated Press)
What happened after Jemar Tisby started a network for Black Christians? In 2013, Jemar Tisby and Phillip Holmes, co-founder of the organization then known as the Reformed African American Network, started a podcast called Pass the Mic. In May, Tisby and Burns announced Pass the Mic would end in the fall. (Sojourners)
Despite Trump’s words, most Americans believe racism is widespread. Despite the MAGA campaign to rewrite American history to deemphasize racism, a supermajority of Americans still believes racism against Black people is widespread in the United States. (Baptist News Global)
Episcopal Church removes priest who founded Christian psychedelic society. Hunt Priest was removed from ministry nearly a decade after participating in a controversial study on clergy and psychedelics. (RNS)
Why Ganesh Chaturthi Lasts 10 Days? Know The Significance Behind The Festival. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for 10 days, explore the mythological story and spiritual significance behind the grandeur of Ganesh Chaturthi. (ABP News)
Rev. Dr. Anna Piela is senior writer at American Baptist Home Mission Societies and assistant editor 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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