Thousands of Jews, Muslims, and Christians visited Jerusalem’s Old City holy sites on April 9, following a two-week closure ordered by Israeli authorities. The restrictions were implemented due to fears of Iranian missile attacks and potential stampedes during the conflict between Israel and Iran. The sites, including the Western Wall, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, remained closed since February 28. The reopening coincides with a recent ceasefire announcement. Local merchants and pilgrims expressed relief, though some remained concerned about future security and economic impacts. The event marks the first time the public has accessed these locations in 40 days.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Stanisław Lul on UnsplashPersecuted church
The Pentagon and the Vatican have confirmed a January meeting between U.S. military officials and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. This confirmation follows allegations by The Free Press that Pentagon officials pressured the cleric to support U.S. military actions in Iran. Vice President JD Vance stated he would investigate the claims after initially expressing ignorance of the meeting. The incident occurs amidst heightened tensions between the Trump administration and religious leaders, who have criticized Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump for invoking divine support for the ongoing conflict with Iran. While the Defense Department called the media's characterization of the meeting distorted, the controversy highlights growing friction between the government's militaristic rhetoric and faith communities.
NASA astronauts on the Artemis II mission emphasized a pluralistic approach to religion during their recent lunar flyby. Astronaut Victor Glover shared Christian messages about love, while Commander Reid Wiseman acknowledged diverse beliefs, including references to Ramadan and Easter. This contrasts with the Apollo 8 mission, which faced legal challenges after reading Genesis. The shift reflects NASA's evolving stance on public religious expression, avoiding specific faith traditions in favor of inclusive spiritual appeals for all humanity.
Pope Leo XIV declared that the U.S. President’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization is unacceptable. Speaking from a Vatican location, he urged Americans to contact political leaders to reject war and protect civilian infrastructure, noting such attacks violate international law. This marks a significant departure from Vatican diplomatic neutrality, as Leo explicitly criticized the U.S. president regarding the escalating conflict in Iran and its spillover into Lebanon. The Pope also expressed solidarity with Christians in southern Lebanon whose aid shipments were blocked, emphasizing the need for peaceful dialogue to protect innocent civilians.
The US Supreme Court ruled 8–1 that therapists have a First Amendment right to practice conversion therapy, overturning a Colorado ban. This decision potentially invalidates similar bans in other states. Advocates report that the number of LGBTQ+ youth subjected to these practices nearly doubled in the last year, rising from 10 to 20 percent. The ruling affects survivors like Tim Schrader Rodriguez, who spent eight years attempting to change his sexuality through religious counseling. The outlet notes that this legal shift removes protections for those who previously relied on state laws to prevent such therapeutic interventions.
Lawyers in the US report increased FBI visits and hate incidents targeting Shiite Muslims following recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Advocates in California and New Jersey state that political rhetoric from the Trump administration has placed a target on these communities. While no arrests resulted from the visits, civil rights attorneys argue the government is profiling individuals based on their identity. Additionally, online hate speech has surged, with thousands of Islamophobic posts recorded on social media platforms. Community leaders are now holding rights training sessions as tensions rise.
Religious leaders across the United States and globally denounced President Donald Trump’s social media warning that a civilization would die if Iran did not comply with U.S. demands. Pope Leo XIV called the threat unacceptable, while U.S. Catholic Archbishop Paul Coakley stated that targeting civilian infrastructure cannot be morally justified. Advocacy groups labeled the rhetoric genocidal. The outcry followed the start of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which has caused significant casualties. Critics argued the comments violated Christian just war principles and international law, urging immediate de-escalation.
On Easter Sunday, a US president posted aggressive threats against Iran on social media, demanding the opening of a key strait or facing destruction. This followed a Holy Week where the president hosted pastors at the White House, including prominent religious figures who compared him to Jesus. While a global religious leader urged peace, the president criticized Iran and claimed credit for a domestic religious revival. A former congresswoman condemned the rhetoric as un-Christian. The president did not attend church services, instead participating in a White House event and discussing the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Palestinian Christians in Jerusalem and the West Bank are observing Easter with limited access to holy sites due to Israeli security restrictions. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa was barred from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and public gatherings were canceled. The traditional Palm Sunday procession from Bethlehem was also halted. Orthodox leaders warn that permit requirements and checkpoint controls undermine their ability to worship. Experts cite rising settler violence and new settlements as factors driving migration. The community fears these measures threaten their long-term presence in the Holy Land.
Following months of legal battles, religious leaders have been granted court-ordered access to immigration detainees in Illinois and Minnesota. In Broadview, Illinois, the Rev. Paul Joseph Keller and colleagues led Holy Thursday services for shackled detainees at an ICE facility. In Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Revs. Susie Hayward and Kelly Gallagher visited the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building after a federal judge ordered access. The visits occurred after the Trump administration initially barred clergy entry. While DHS claims these are short-term processing centers, faith leaders argue immigrants are held for days. The access allows pastors to provide pastoral care and religious rites to those facing deportation.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Rabbi Lawrence on UnsplashPersecuted church
The US Supreme Court ruled 8-1 on Tuesday that Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ minors violates the First Amendment. The majority, led by Justice Neil Gorsuch, agreed with Christian counselor Kaley Chiles that the law censored speech based on viewpoint. The case was sent back to a lower court for further review. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, warning the decision threatens states' ability to regulate healthcare. The ruling impacts similar laws in other states and follows a trend of the court favoring religious discrimination claims over LGBTQ+ rights protections.
On Palm Sunday, March 29, Israeli security officers denied entry to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem for Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa and two other priests. The group sought to hold a small, peaceful service using a live video feed. Although Israel cited war-related safety concerns, it allowed gatherings of up to 50 people elsewhere. U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee criticized the ban as an overreach. The Patriarch was permitted to celebrate at the All Nations Church outside the Old City walls. Following global criticism, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered police to allow the Cardinal access for the rest of Holy Week. The article argues this reflects discriminatory policies against Palestinian Christians.
Catholic dioceses across the United States are reporting a significant increase in adults entering the church this Easter, with some experiencing their largest Christian initiation classes in history. Data from the Hallow app indicates that over 80% of surveyed dioceses saw an average rise of 38% in candidates compared to last year. Major archdioceses in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago reported the highest growth rates. While media coverage suggests a potential revival among Gen Z, researchers caution that long-term trends still show declining participation. Factors such as post-pandemic rebounds and online Catholic influencers appear to be driving this recent uptick in conversions.
LGBTQ-affirming faith groups in the United States condemned a recent Supreme Court decision that struck down Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for minors. The 8-1 ruling favored evangelical therapist Kaley Chiles, citing free speech rights. Religious leaders, including the Unitarian Universalist Association and the National Council of Jewish Women, argued the practice causes severe psychological harm and suicide risk. They warned the decision could invalidate similar bans in over 20 other states. Survivors and advocates expressed deep concern for youth safety, noting that religious exemptions often allow the practice to continue unchecked in community settings.
Robert Morris, founder of Texas’s Gateway Church, was released from an Oklahoma jail on Tuesday after serving six months for child sexual abuse. The 64-year-old pleaded guilty to five counts related to incidents in the 1980s. He received a ten-year suspended sentence, with the initial six months served in Osage County. Morris resigned from his megachurch role in June 2024 following the allegations. He must register as a sex offender and pay restitution to the victim, Cindy Clemishire. His attorney stated Morris apologized for his actions. Clemishire’s lawyer noted that Morris remains on probation and faces lifetime registration as a sex offender. The case highlights accountability for past abuses within religious institutions.
A Coptic Christian from Egypt was detained by US immigration officials while applying for residency, despite her husband being a citizen. Her case highlights a disconnect between American political rhetoric supporting persecuted Christians abroad and the reality of immigration enforcement at home. An anthropologist notes that Coptic migrants often face suspicion, surveillance, and detention in the US due to their Middle Eastern origins, rather than receiving preferential treatment. This suggests that the narrative of Christian persecution does not shield these individuals from standard immigration procedures or racial profiling within the United States.
A federal judge in Texas dismissed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits tax-exempt churches from endorsing political candidates. Judge J. Campbell Barker ruled that the court lacked authority to approve a settlement affecting federal tax status. The plaintiffs, including the National Religious Broadcasters and two Texas churches, argued the ban violated religious liberty. The judge noted churches could avoid penalties by relinquishing their tax-exempt status. The decision was welcomed by Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, who opposed the proposed settlement. The plaintiffs plan to appeal the ruling.
A new interdenominational initiative called Prayer at the Heart is launching across the United States during the Easter season. Organizers aim to recruit one million Christians to pray for one million individuals to embrace Christianity between April 5 and May 24. Dr. Douglas Small, the movement’s founder, states that the project addresses a national crisis of faith and hope amid deep political and cultural divisions. The campaign includes weekly prayer events in all 50 states and an online prayer wall. Supporters believe this coordinated effort will foster spiritual renewal and counter growing pessimism among Americans.
In El Paso, Texas, Scalabrinian Sisters Leticia Gutiérrez Valderrama and Elisete Signor lead a ministry supporting migrants facing deportation under the Trump administration. Since June of last year, they and approximately 30 volunteers have accompanied over 1,000 individuals in immigration courts and visited about 300 detainees annually. The integrated system provides emotional support, helps families prepare for potential detention, and maintains contact with loved ones in facilities like the East Montana Detention Facility. The sisters say the work transforms both the migrants and the volunteers, drawing on Christian theology to serve vulnerable people. Hope Border Institute advocates that other groups adopt this comprehensive approach.
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