Weekly religion news roundup (July 10-16, 2026)
Photograph by Utsav Srestha via Unsplash
Hannah Estifanos
In a year of faith-talking Democrats, a Muslim candidate speaks up. James Talarico isn’t the only Democratic candidate making faith a calling card of his campaign this year.In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed will face Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Aug. 4. In a fundraising letter this week, he highlighted his Muslim faith in a way seldom seen among Democratic candidates. (Baptist News Global)
After US Aid Cuts, the Sick Wonder Who Will Visit Them. One year after the US shuttered USAID and cut HIV funding, faith-based institutions struggle to stay in touch with rural patients who might fall through the cracks. (Christianity Today)
Amid ICE killings, more than 100 clergy from across the US stage protest at Delaney Hall. Amid the recent killings of two immigrants by immigration enforcement agents, around 100 religious leaders from across the country staged a protest outside the Delaney Hall immigrant detention center on Monday afternoon, demanding the closure of the privately run facility over what they say are inhumane conditions. (The Christian Century)
Iran persecutes its Baha’i minority fiercely in a year of protests and war, rights groups say. This year, amid massive anti-government protests and war with the United States and Israel, the Islamic Republic has mounted a fierce crackdown on the country’s largest non-Muslim religious minority, human rights groups say. (Religion News Service)
Many US Jewish adults have experienced assault or harassment over the past year, AP-NORC poll finds. The findings highlight the vulnerability that many Jewish adults in the U.S. feel as bipartisan support for Israel erodes and significant divides emerge within the Jewish community about what constitutes antisemitism — particularly when it comes to protesting Israel. (Religion News Service)
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.
World Cup: Djed Spence, England’s first Muslim player, lifts hopes. Britain swells with pride over the 25-year-old, the first Muslim to wear the England jersey at a FIFA World Cup. (Al Jazeera)
The unshakable faith of Ms. Rachel. Though her videos are intentionally inclusive for people of all faiths and creeds, they are replete with Christian virtues: love, joy, kindness, empathy and hope. Rachel Griffin Accurso made it clear that her work — as an educator, advocate and now media personality — is rooted in her love for Jesus and the Gospel imperative to serve others. (National Catholic Reporter)
Faith-based AI company Gloo faces moment of truth after $438M in losses. Serial entrepreneur Scott Beck believes he has a mission to help churches and Christian ministries spread God's work and help others. After years of financial losses, he believes his investment in building a faith-based tech company will soon pay off. (Religion News Service)
American Dominion traces deep roots of Seven Mountain Mandate. Those who share in Christ’s resurrection “will reign with him for a thousand years,” says Revelation 20:6, but some believers want Christians to exercise dominion right now. That’s the heart of author Keri Ladner’s message in American Dominion: The Rise and Radicalization of a New Christendom. (Baptist News Global)
Kenyan court dismisses Rastafari case seeking to legalize marijuana. Kenya’s High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition seeking to legalize the use of cannabis by Rastafarians for religious purposes. (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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