The Trump administration appealed directly to the U.S. Supreme Court Sept. 8 seeking clearance to implement a database it wants to use to purge voter rolls leading into the midterm elections. The move came just four days after a federal…
Second Baptist Houston members try one last legal maneuver
The legal action against Second Baptist Church of Houston isn’t dead yet — although it is hanging by a thread. Jeremiah Counsel, the group of church members who filed suit against the leadership of the megachurch over governance changes, has…
Another SC church accused of not limiting known sex offender
A second Southern Baptist church in South Carolina has made headlines recently for allowing a registered sex offender to participate in congregational ministry. Ministry Watch reported Aug. 31 that Brookwood Church in Simpsonville recently disqualified an adult male from serving…
Gloria Steinem was inspired by Jewish heritage
Gloria Steinem, a feminist journalist and women’s rights activist, died on Wednesday 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…
Trump admin must prove it didn’t violate injunction against Baptist church
The Trump administration must prove to a federal judge that its surveillance of a Baptist church and other congregations did not violate an injunction barring the government’s clandestine efforts. U.S. District Judge Dennis Saylor in Massachusetts scheduled a Sept. 4…
Lawsuit seeks to force Trump admin to disclose use of voter database
A nonprofit housing-justice organization filed a lawsuit to force federal agencies to disclose how they are using an immigration-related database to track benefits given poor and working Americans. Democracy Forward announced the litigation filed Aug. 26 in the U.S. District…
Perryman’s book an instant bestseller with advice for saving democracy
It’s time to pick up a shovel and stop complaining about the impending death of democracy in America, according to Skye Perryman. The president of Democracy Forward in Washington, D.C., is well known to BNG readers because she is frequently…
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. Robert Lee Perry and his fellow protesters were…
Jewish couple asks Tennessee court to end adoption discrimination
A Jewish couple denied foster and adoption training by a state-funded Christian organization urged a Tennessee court to rule their religious rights were violated by a law that funnels taxpayer funds to faith-based child placement providers. Attorneys for Elizabeth and…
Faithful America names 10 more ‘false prophets’
Faithful America is back with its annual list of false prophets of Christian nationalism. This year’s list of 10 includes four members of the Trump administration, five current candidates for office and one governor. The “False Prophets Don’t Speak for…
Talarico will speak at Baylor Sept. 16
As anticipated, James Talarico will speak at Baylor University this fall. The Baptist-affiliated university announced Sept. 1 that Talarico, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, will host a campaign event at Baylor Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Mark and…
Study documents ICE hiring violent criminals as agents
At least 152 federal immigration agents have been charged with or convicted of violent crimes including rape, kidnapping, child molestation and murder at some time in their lives, according to a new report by the Ohio Immigration Alliance. The organization…