Refugee resettlement has resumed in the U.S., but only for white South Africans President Donald Trump considers to be victims of the country’s post-apartheid government. The first group of 49 Afrikaners landed at Washington Dulles International Airport May 12, The…
High-profile TheoBro confesses to creating fake social media accounts
A prominent figure among Southern Baptist Calvinists has been accused of creating fake social media accounts, email addresses and Substack platforms to attack the very people who he allegedly associated with. On May 12, the conservative ministry G3 released a…
50 NGOs protest Israel’s restrictions on aid to Palestinians
More than 50 nongovernmental organizations are protesting new Israeli regulations they contend will further degrade humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and place already endangered relief workers at even greater risk. The international NGOs issued a statement May 6 imploring the world…
ICE escalates conflict with Congress over immigration practices
Tensions are rising in New Jersey after Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested outside a federal immigration detention center and three members of Congress were threatened with criminal action after inspecting the facility. The incident occurred May 9 outside Delaney…
Trump’s immigration plays are testing the waters, ACLU attorney warns
President Donald Trump’s immigration policies are as much about redefining American identity as about kicking immigrants out of the country, said David Donatti, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas. Rounding up, detaining and deporting…
Celebrating Grace acquires Smyth & Helwys
One of the earliest moderate Baptist enterprises arising from the late-20th-century schism in the Southern Baptist Convention has been acquired by a later independent entity. Smyth & Helwys Publishing was established in 1991 as a direct competitor to the SBC’s…
Some Baptist leaders hopeful about Pope Leo XIV
“I did not think this would happen in my lifetime,” Baptist scholar Elizabeth Newman said of the election of an American as pope. Newman, a theologian and ethicist who serves as co-chair of the Baptist-Catholic dialogues convened by Baptist World…
Chicago association declares itself a ‘sanctuary region’
As the Trump administration seeks to prosecute “sanctuary cities” that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration police, a Baptist association has declared itself a “sanctuary region.” The action was taken May 3 by the American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago…
Trey’s Law passes in Missouri Senate, moves forward in Texas
On April 29, “Trey’s Law” passed the Missouri Senate as an amendment to HB-737. The child protection bill, sponsored by Sen. Jamie Burger and authored by Rep. Melissa Schmidt, now awaits Gov. Mike Kehoe’s signature. Sponsored by Sen. Brad Hudson…
Pope Leo XIV is likely to continue the Francis agenda
Pope Leo XIV will be known for many things, including being the first American pope and the first Augustinian pope, but he most likely will not be known for turning the Catholic Church in a more conservative direction. Cardinal Robert…
Americans United calls out ‘Christian boy band’ for proselytizing in NC schools
A North Carolina public school system required students to attend a religious assembly that included a performance by the Christian boy band 3 Heath Brothers, according to Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The March 11 school-day event…
Will Trump’s plan for college accreditation help or hurt?
On April 23, President Donald Trump signed an executive order seeking to reshape the independent agencies that accredit U.S. colleges and universities. Trump’s conservative allies praise his action as a long-overdue correction of anti-conservative bias, while his critics — including…