San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria vetoed the reappointment of Pastor Dennis Hodges to the County Police Advisory Board. The decision followed an incident where Hodges abstained from voting on a policy and stated that transgenderism is a sin according to the Bible. Advocates for Faith and Freedom argues this violates Hodges' First Amendment rights. A district court dismissed the case, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that ruling in February 2026. The group is now appealing to the Supreme Court, arguing that government officials cannot exclude individuals from public service based on their religious beliefs. The case highlights tensions between religious expression and government appointments in the United States.
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Illustrative photo
Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Aaron Burden on UnsplashPersecuted church
Voice of the Martyrs is hosting its 30th International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians in the US and Canada. Todd Nettleton, the organization's vice president, explained that the initiative originated from requests by believers in oppressive regions to pray for them. The event highlights severe persecution in countries like North Korea and Eritrea. According to Christian Global Relief, approximately 388 million Christians face high levels of discrimination as of 2026. Nettleton encourages supporters to pray, educate themselves, and send letters to imprisoned believers to offer encouragement and potentially improve their treatment.
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