Weekly religion news roundup (August 7-13, 2026)
Photograph by Utsav Srestha via Unsplash
Hannah Estifanos
After cuts, Trump administration gives $2B to Christian groups for global aid. The Trump administration announced plans to provide close to $2 billion in funding to faith-based and community groups for health and humanitarian assistance in more than a dozen countries, drawing praise from groups receiving funding and criticism from others for its emphasis on funding Christian organizations. (The Christian Century)
As Abdul El-Sayed breaks a barrier, anti-Muslim vitriol surges on multiple fronts. Abdul El-Sayed made history this month in Michigan by becoming the first Muslim nominated by the Democratic Party to run for the U.S. Senate. But elation among many of his fellow Muslim Americans was tempered by awareness of persisting and widespread anti-Muslim sentiment across much of the nation. (Associated Press)
Paxton, Talarico tap contrary versions of God and Christianity in appeal to Texas voters. In a state where two-thirds of the adult population identifies as Christian and 45% say religion is ‘very important’ in their life, the candidates are asking voters to choose between two dramatically different views of Christianity. (Religion News Service)
Bishop, doctors and Lutheran nursing home sue to block Illinois assisted suicide law. An Illinois Catholic bishop, four Catholic doctors and a Lutheran nursing home have sued the state of Illinois over a new physician-assisted suicide law before it takes effect in September. (National Catholic Reporter)
Canadian Military Chaplains Can’t Mention God in Public. A new directive bans members of Canada’s military from using religious language at events. (Christianity Today)
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.
New bipartisan bill would create protest-free buffer zones around houses of worship. A bipartisan bill to prevent demonstrations near houses of worship was introduced in both the House of Representatives and Senate August 6 and has already won the support of several Jewish organizations. (The Christian Century)
Hindu students ask schools to discern the swastika from the Nazi Hakenkreuz. ‘I think it’s very important that young people are told that the swastika has a very positive meaning, but it has been taken and used as a racist symbol,’ said Baijayanti Roy of Goethe University Frankfurt. ‘The swastika does not have any negative connotations, whereas the Hakenkreuz stands for evil.’ (Religion News Service)
‘Fear And Regret’: Former Boko Haram Fighters Seek God — And A Place In Society. Now, a unique program aims to deradicalize former Boko Haram fighters through counseling, teaching them the Quran and showing them how to live a peaceful Muslim life. However, victims of Boko Haram are pushing back against re-integrating the former fighters into their community, saying true accountability and reconciliation are needed first. (Religion Unplugged)
‘We garden on our knees’: Kew Theology & Gardening project explores faith, nature and climate. In a corner of west London, an Anglican church is using its proximity to one of the most famous botanical gardens in the world, Kew Gardens, as a reason for a new venture linking theology and nature. (Religion News Service)
Australian jury convicts former Catholic bishop of sexually abusing 2 men. An Australian jury on Thursday convicted a former Catholic bishop renowned for hosting alcohol-fueled house parties of sexually abusing two young Indigenous men. (Associated Press)
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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