Weekly religion news roundup (October 2-8, 2026)
Photograph by Utsav Srestha via Unsplash
Hannah Estifanos
Three years of Israel’s genocide in Gaza: In numbers. Three years of attacks has devastated Gaza, killing tens of thousands, destroying homes, and collapsing essential services. (Al Jazeera)
Three years after Oct. 7, some US Jews want to carry guns to synagogue. Many US synagogues hire on- or off-duty police officers to stand guard, usually outside the building. Now some synagogues say that’s not enough. They want armed congregants in the building. (Religion News Service)
Gaza’s Christians mourn mother and daughter killed in Israeli attack. Maysa Abu Daoud and her daughter Mary al-Najjar among five Palestinians killed in Gaza City attack. (Al Jazeera)
Pope Leo XIV opens status check on Pope Francis’ contentious opening to civilly remarried Catholics. Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday urged Catholic leaders to courageously accompany families in their weaknesses and failures, as he embraced one of Pope Francis’ most contentious teachings about welcoming Catholics in second marriages and otherwise “irregular” unions. (Associated Press)
Episcopal bishop who urged Trump to ‘have mercy’ to resign post in Washington DC. Mariann Budde gained national attention for calling on US president to consider immigrants and LGBTQ+ people. (The Guardian)
Hegseth creates a Pentagon Office of Religious Affairs that reports directly to him. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is launching an office of religious affairs, the latest of his faith-related reforms at the Pentagon. (PBS News)
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.
As anti-Hindu rhetoric grows, Texas Hindus rethink public celebrations. In recent months, a wave of anti-Hindu and anti-Indian sentiment has swept across Texas. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, home to the second-largest Indian American community in the United States, has emerged as one of the major flashpoints, with much of the backlash targeting immigrants. (Religion News Service)
‘A beacon of peace’: London’s oldest mosque celebrates centenary. Fazl Mosque was used as an air raid shelter in the war – but that is not its only link to a pivotal moment in world history. (The Guardian)
Christianity Today names new editor in chief. Christianity Today has named a new editor in chief, continuing a reset after Russell Moore left the post in October 2025. (Baptist News Global)
Jim Bakker, who built ‘PTL Club’ televangelism empire, has died at 86. Jim Bakker, who along with his first wife Tammy Faye built an evangelical empire around the hugely successful “The PTL Club” TV show, only to lose it all over a sex scandal and financial crimes, has died. He was 86. (NPR News)
Meet the PCUSA pastor who won on ‘Jeopardy!’ Kristin Franke was ordained in March at National Presbyterian, where she serves as associate pastor for next generation formation. She was previously the church’s director of youth ministries and has worked in youth ministry for 20 years. (The Christian Century)
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.
Get early access to the newest stories from Christian Citizen writers, receive contextual stories which support Christian Citizen content from the world’s top publications and join a community sharing the latest in justice, mercy and faith.