Weekly religion news roundup (September 4-10, 2026)
Photograph by Utsav Srestha via Unsplash
Hannah Estifanos
As 9/11 anniversary falls on Rosh Hashanah, Jews are asked to remember — and move forward. As the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks coincides with the Jewish new year, Jewish leaders, rabbis and their interfaith partners reflect on what it means to remember — and how to live with what cannot be forgotten. (Religion News Service)
Mosques have more than doubled since 9/11. But Muslims say opposition is fierce. New mosques often stir up local resistance and anti-Muslim sentiment. Even when they get built, the blowback can be intense. (Religion News Service)
As the far-right in Germany takes power, churches are fighting back. Conflict between churches and the AfD has been growing since 2017, when the Catholic and Protestant churches barred AfD politicians from speaking at the largest Christian gatherings in Germany. (The Christian Century)
AP Exclusive: Lawyer for China’s Zion Church seeks resettlement help while transiting through Taiwan. A Chinese lawyer who defended a prominent underground church in Beijing fled to Taiwan and is seeking help for resettlement abroad, following mounting pressure from Chinese authorities on her firm and her colleagues. (Associated Press)
Gloria Steinem was inspired by Jewish heritage. Gloria Steinem, a feminist journalist and women’s rights activist, died on Wednesday, September 2 at 92 years of age.Born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1934, Steinem was raised in an interfaith family — her father Jewish and mother Protestant. And while she generally did not describe herself as religious, antisemitism was a justice issue she fought against unequivocally. (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.
The Trump Administration Has Resettled Zero Religious Refugees This Year. One in seven Christians around the world face persecution. The US refugee program accepted none of them. (Christianity Today)
Baptist minister among six jailed for protesting ICE in Missouri. An 81-year-old Baptist minister, author and former Southern Baptist state organization official was one of six people recently arrested for protesting immigration enforcement at the Greene County Sheriff’s Office in Springfield, Mo. (Baptist News Global)
American Muslims are giving Texas barbecue a halal makeover. At a time when Republican leaders are increasingly targeting the state’s growing Muslim communities, barbecue joints like Goldee’s that offer halal options are thriving in Texas. Across the state, Muslim pitmasters are gaining recognition for putting their own spin on one of Texas’ most iconic culinary traditions. (NPR News)
Eiffel Tower reopens after strike over limits on women staff during Hindu delegation visit. The Eiffel Tower reopened Tuesday, a day after one of the world’s most-visited landmarks was closed by a strike to protest what a union official called “unacceptable” management instructions limiting the presence of women during a visit by a Hindu delegation on Saturday. (Associated Press)
Catholic colleges and universities jumping into quick-moving AI field. Rather than eschewing the technology, a growing number of Catholic higher education institutions in recent years have introduced new academic majors and programs in artificial intelligence that combine technical training with ethics. (National Catholic Reporter)
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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