Weekly religion news roundup (July 31-August 6, 2026)
Photograph by Utsav Srestha via Unsplash
Hannah Estifanos
Top Arab, Muslim diplomats launch plan to protect Jerusalem religious sites. States warn Israeli violations may spark religious conflict, jeopardising regional and global peace and security. (Al Jazeera)
Empty pews and fear of ICE on Maryland’s Eastern Shore after TPS ends for Haitians. These are harrowing days for the Word of Life Center, a church that has long been a vibrant hub of the Haitian community on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. (Associated Press)
Archbishop Mullally ends Africa tour with calls for healing from church’s role in slavery. The trip marked Mullally’s first visit to Africa and highlighted the Church of England’s controversial reparations fund to address its historic links to slavery. (Religion News Service)
Church leaders not bound to report sexual abuse confessions, Arizona Supreme Court rules. The Arizona State Supreme Court ruled that church leaders do not need to report cases of sexual abuse, disclosed during confessions, to authorities, in a lawsuit brought against a man who confessed to Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bishops to sexually abusing his daughter. (The Christian Century)
Faith groups organize for anti-nuclear war action this week. Faith groups around the world are preparing to host prayer events to mark the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. (Baptist News Global)
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.
Ethiopia landslide kills 14 at monastery ritual, search continues for missing. The landslide occurred at Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery, where hundreds of worshippers had gathered for a holy water cleansing ritual that is popular among people seeking spiritual healing for chronic illnesses. (Associated Press)
CAIR, Islamic Society of Tulsa sue Broken Arrow over denied mosque proposal. The lawsuit challenges the Broken Arrow City Council’s January decision to deny the Islamic Society of Tulsa's request to rezone property near East 121st Street South and South 129th East Avenue. (KTUL News Tulsa)
Suspected arson gutted Montreal’s trendiest kosher restaurant. The city’s Jews say they saw it coming. Surveillance video shows a man setting fire to Nöam, a popular pizza establishment. Canadian Jews say it’s part of a pattern officials refuse to name. (The Forward)
Adam Hamilton wins Democratic primary in Kansas. United Methodist megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton won the Democratic primary in Kansas for a contested U.S. Senate seat Aug. 4 and will face the Republican incumbent in November. (Baptist News Global)
Houston mothers challenge Texas Ten Commandments law under state religious freedom protections. The lawsuit is the latest challenge to Senate Bill 10 — this time under Texas law. (Religion News Service)
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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