One of the most heart-breaking tasks Ashley ever faced was explaining to her 4-year-old son why his father, an undocumented immigrant, faces possible deportation after being arrested by federal agents last month, the American woman said during a Feb. 6…
Churches educating congregants on how to respond if ICE shows up
Religious groups are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst now that immigration raids can be conducted in churches, schools and other spaces historically off limits to such actions. The Trump administration rescinded previous guidance barring Immigration and…
‘The church of fear is still in effect,’ author says
The fear and rage that drove evangelical support for Donald Trump has not abated since his return to office, journalist and author Christine Emba observed during a webinar on Christianity and democracy hosted by the Brookings Institution. On the contrary,…
‘It’s a hard time to be a pastor,’ refugee advocate says
Leading churches with ministries to internationals or with multi-ethnic congregations is becoming more challenging under a federal government hostile toward immigrants and refugees, faith leaders said during a recent webinar hosted by World Relief. Panelists focused on how the Trump…
MAGA ramps up attacks on US Christian groups
Donald Trump and his allies are widening their attacks on religious groups compassionate toward immigrants, refugees, the poor and LGBTQ people. The Catholic and Episcopal churches have faced the heat from the MAGA movement for some time and are again…
Partners for Sacred Places helps churches see their spaces anew
Bob Jaeger and his team at Partners for Sacred Places want struggling American congregations to know there are numerous ways to preserve and use aging facilities beyond just seeing them become pieces of commercial real estate. But doing so requires…
ADL documents rising tide of antisemitism
Antisemitism has reached “deeply alarming” levels around the world by doubling in the past decade, according to a new report by the Anti-Defamation League. Close to half of all adults worldwide — or about 2.2 billion people — harbor “elevated…
Trump intends to traumatize his opponents, Perryman explains
The avalanche of Donald Trump’s first-week executive orders was intended to traumatize Americans as much as to implement new policies, according to Democracy Forward President Skye Perryman. In those first days, the president signed more than 35 directives on everything…
Supreme Court will hear Oklahoma charter school case
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide the constitutionality of using taxpayer dollars to fund a religious K-12 charter school in Oklahoma. The justices announced Jan. 24 they will review a June 2024 Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling determining the…
Federal appeals court takes up Louisiana Ten Commandments case
A three-judge panel last week heard oral arguments about a Louisiana law requiring Ten Commandments displays in K-12 and public college and university classrooms. The Jan. 23 hearing in the Fifth U.S. Cricut Court of Appeals in New Orleans came…
‘Laken Riley Act’ sets the stage for Trump campaign against immigrants
Amid a flurry of executive orders from the White House immediately after Donald Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20, immigrant and refugee advocates were on the lookout for signs of the campaign promises they fear most. Some of those things came true…
Here’s a rundown of Trump’s ‘day one’ immigration actions
Donald Trump issued a slew of immigration-related executive orders on “day one” ranging from closing the southern border and ending birthright citizenship to closing asylum and refugee admissions. Trump has claimed immigration was the issue that got him elected and…