Weekly religion news roundup (September 26-October 2, 2025)
Photograph by Utsav Srestha via Unsplash
Rev. Dr. Anna Piela
Who were the victims killed in the Michigan church shooting? New details about the deadly attack at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan on Sept. 28 emerged as family and friends identified more of the people who were killed and injured. (USA Today)
Mormons raising money for the family of Michigan LDS church shooter shocks his sister. The response is indicative of Mormons and others living their faith, said Patrick Mason, a professor of Mormon history at Utah State University and a member of the church. (Detroit Free Press)
What we know about Manchester synagogue attack. Two Jewish people have died in a car ramming and stabbing attack at a synagogue in Manchester, England. The attack came on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish religious calendar, and is being treated by police as a terror incident. (BBC News)
Nepal chooses a 2-year-old girl as new living goddess worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists. A 2-year-old girl chosen as Nepal’s new living goddess was carried by family members from their home in a Kathmandu alley to a temple palace Tuesday during the country’s longest and most significant Hindu festival. (Associated Press)
Ruwa Romman, Georgia's first Muslim woman legislator, launches bid for governor. A Palestinian American, Romman gained prominence in August 2024 when her scheduled speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago was canceled at the last minute. (Religion News Service)
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.
Scaffolding collapsed as people climbed to see Ethiopia church mural, eyewitness tells BBC. A day after the joyous celebration of a religious festival, mass funerals were held in the small Ethiopian town of Arerti for the 36 people killed when scaffolding inside an Orthodox Christian church collapsed. (BBC News)
Pope intervenes in US abortion debate by raising what it really means to be pro-life. Church teaching forbids abortion but it also opposes capital punishment as “inadmissible” under all circumstances. (Religion News Service)
Andrew Cuomo apologizes to Orthodox Jews for past handling of COVID-19 restrictions. The apology came on the eve of Yom Kippur and in the form of a video shared with Orthodox rabbis, who may be considering backing Cuomo’s mayoral run. (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
J. Alfred Smith remembered as giant among preachers and justice advocates. J. Alfred Smith will be remembered in services Oct. 9 and 10 as one of the most influential Black Baptist pastors of his generation. Not only did Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, Calif. grow from 500 to 4,500 members under his leadership, he and the church became synonymous with the fight for social justice in Oakland and beyond. (Baptist News Global)
Bestselling author Jen Hatmaker says she’s no longer worried about saving Christianity. In an interview with the Associated Press, Hatmaker (whose new memoir “Awake” released last week) discussed what has changed since 2020 and why she no longer feels the need to save Christianity from the religious right. (Associated Press)
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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