Weekly religion news roundup (May 2-8, 2025)
Photograph by Utsav Srestha via Unsplash
Rev. Dr. Anna Piela
Robert Prevost, first pope from US in the history of the Catholic Church, takes the name Leo XIV. Robert Prevost, the Chicago-born missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and took over the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops, was elected the first pope from the United States in the history of the Catholic Church on Thursday. (Associated Press)
Pope Francis’s popemobile set to become health clinic for Gaza children. One of Pope Francis's popemobiles is being transformed into a mobile health clinic for children in the Gaza Strip, fulfilling one of his final wishes, the Vatican's official media outlet said on Sunday. (Reuters)
To put pressure on Trump, Democrats turn to religion — and religious activists. ‘Faith leaders have been at the forefront of every progressive movement in our nation’s history … so I’m glad to see faith leaders speaking out and getting into good trouble in opposition to the upcoming reconciliation bill,’ Delaware Sen. Chris Coons told RNS. (RNS)
Lawyer says it’s fair for Christians to discriminate because that’s what the Founders intended. It is fair for Christians to have the privilege of posting the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms because the nation’s Founders based the government on the Ten Commandments, a former Texas Congressman argued at the state Capitol April 29. (Baptist News Global)
Released Palestinian student to help launch immigrant legal aid initiative in Vermont. A Palestinian student arrested during an interview about finalizing his U.S. citizenship is helping to launch an initiative to help other immigrants facing deportation in Vermont on Thursday, a week after a federal judge freed him from custody. (Associated Press)
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.
Trump, brushing aside separation of church and state, establishes religious liberty commission. “We’re bringing religion back to our country, and it’s a big deal,” the president said. (Politico)
Ask Brandan: What’s it like to be a queer Christian? Pastor, author and activist Brandan Robertson had no desire to write another book when he was approached by his publisher to write on being queer and Christian. However, the result surprisingly meets the unexpected moment we’re in. (Baptist News Global)
‘A Faith Under Siege’ Documents Russia’s Persecution Of Christians In Ukraine. Christian faith threatens Russian President Vladimir Putin because it is out of his control. As such, his war on Ukraine has centered on the systematic persecution of Christians, their families and their churches. (Religion Unplugged)
Believing in Spirits and Life After Death Is Common Around the World. Across three dozen countries with a wide range of religious traditions, belief in life after death is widespread, as is the belief that spirits can reside in animals and in parts of nature such as mountains, rivers or trees. (Pew Research)
Why Jordan has banned the Muslim Brotherhood. The shock decision by the Jordanian kingdom to ban the Muslim Brotherhood is due to hostilities that have been building for years, writes Osama Abu Arshid. (New Arab)
550 US rabbis sign letter condemning Trump’s antisemitism policy. More than 550 rabbis and cantors have signed a letter objecting to President Trump’s crackdown on universities for what the administration calls tolerance of antisemitism. (RNS)
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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