A federal judge in Texas ordered the state to extend its private school voucher application deadline to March 31. The ruling addresses a lawsuit filed by four Muslim parents and three Islamic schools, who argued that excluding them from the program constituted religious discrimination. Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock had previously barred Islamic schools, citing concerns about associations with groups designated as terrorist organizations by Governor Greg Abbott. The U.S. State Department has not designated these groups as terrorists. The extension allows affected families to apply for public funds to cover private or home-schooling costs for the 2026-27 academic year.
Religion News Service published a weekly photo selection highlighting two major events. The images document the final week of Ramadan, showing activities as the holy month winds down. Additionally, the collection features coverage of an attack on a synagogue in Michigan. The outlet presents these visuals to capture significant religious and community moments occurring within the United States during this period. The summary notes the inclusion of these specific events in the weekly roundup without providing further details on the nature of the attack or the specific Ramadan observances depicted.
Young Latino Catholics are increasingly defining the future of the US Catholic Church through faith-based social justice activism. In Broadview, Illinois, clergy successfully entered an ICE facility for Ash Wednesday Mass in 2026 after a legal victory by the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership. This group, founded by Michael N. Okińczyc-Cruz and Joanna Arellano-Gonzalez, sued the Trump administration to secure spiritual care for detainees. Simultaneously, the Season of Faithful Witness campaign, led by Joseph Tomás McKellar and Sergio Lopez, encourages Catholic solidarity with migrants. Research by Hosffman Ospino and Timothy Matovina indicates that this engagement helps retain young Latino Catholics, who often bridge cultural worlds and prioritize justice issues within their faith practice.
Violent incidents occurred nearly simultaneously at Old Dominion University in Virginia and a Michigan synagogue. At the university, former Army National Guard member Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a convicted ISIS supporter, killed an ROTC leader and wounded two others before being shot dead by students. Authorities labeled the act terrorism. In Michigan, Ayman Mohammad Ghazali rammed a vehicle into Temple Israel near Detroit, injuring a security guard before killing himself. Ghazali had recently learned his family members were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon. Officials credited quick responses for preventing greater casualties in both cases.
Three Texas Islamic schools and several parents filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against state officials, alleging religious discrimination. The plaintiffs claim that the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program unlawfully excluded accredited Muslim schools from its $1 billion voucher fund. The suit argues that the comptroller’s office barred these institutions without explanation, violating constitutional rights. This legal challenge follows similar actions by other families and occurs amid heightened political rhetoric against Muslim communities in Texas. The plaintiffs seek to halt the exclusion before the application deadline, asserting that the policy prevents Muslim families from accessing public education funds for their faith-based schools.
Following the arrest of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January, evangelical Christian groups in Venezuela are experiencing significant divisions regarding their political allegiance. While some leaders, such as Bishop Gamaliel Lugo of the Venezuelan Evangelical Pentecostal Union, continue to support the Chavista movement and a new worship bill, others like Moisés García of MOCEV have distanced themselves. García cites exclusion from a 2024 meeting in Puerto Cabello and the current silence of acting President Delcy Rodríguez as reasons for cooling ties. Many churches remain silent after U.S. military action, with analysts suggesting the uncertainty reflects broader geopolitical shifts and calls for new elections.
Members of the Family Federation and supporters plan to gather outside the Japanese Embassy in Washington, DC, on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Organizers state the demonstration aims to highlight the dissolution of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in Japan, which they say has led to the closure of 400 churches and offices. The group claims thousands of members were forced to leave their places of worship. Approximately 500 participants are expected to attend the peaceful rally to advocate for religious liberty and express solidarity with Japanese members who cannot currently gather publicly. The event coincides with visits by Japanese leadership to the US capital.
Religion News Service published a list of significant attacks on religious buildings over the past 15 years. The report highlights incidents in the US, Australia, Congo, Egypt, Britain, France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, and Syria. Recent events include a vehicle ramming at a Detroit synagogue and a shooting at a Michigan church in 2025. The outlet notes that while worship is statistically safe, these tragedies have intensified global fear among clergy and worshippers. The summary covers diverse targets, including synagogues, churches, mosques, and temples, detailing casualties and perpetrator backgrounds as reported by the news agency.
Organizers in the United States are hosting a week-long public Bible reading event at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., from April 18 to 25. Bunni Pounds, who founded Christians Engaged, coordinated the project to encourage spiritual engagement among Americans. Nearly 500 participants, including politicians like Mike Huckabee and Ted Cruz, as well as religious figures, will read Scripture passages. The initiative aims to inspire Christians to engage more deeply with the Bible and civic life, addressing what Pounds describes as an apathetic church. The event is livestreamed and cost approximately $2.5 million to organize.
Jihadi factions, including Boko Haram and ISWAP, have intensified attacks against Nigerian military bases in the northeast, killing at least two officers and several soldiers. Security analysts report a remarkable level of coordination in these assaults across Borno and Yobe states, where extremists captured trucks and military hardware. The Nigerian military described the actions as an attempt to overwhelm troop positions. These incidents have sparked public anger, with critics accusing President Bola Tinubu’s government of prioritizing upcoming elections over security. Despite recent U.S. support for training and logistics, the groups continue to demonstrate significant operational sophistication and dominance in the region.
Conservative Anglican leaders gathering in a Nigerian city have reorganized as the Global Anglican Communion, electing a Rwandan archbishop as chairman. The group announced a policy of disengagement from the Archbishop of Canterbury and traditional structures, citing theological disagreements. This decision precedes the installation of Sarah Mullally as the first female archbishop. While organizers claim they seek reform rather than schism, critics like a Kenyan bishop argue that withdrawing from shared instruments harms unity and excludes women from leadership roles.
Conservative Anglican leaders gathered in a city in Nigeria for a global conference to elect a new head for their network, known as GAFCON. This move aims to reorder the worldwide Anglican Communion following the election of a female leader for the traditional body. GAFCON officials state they are rejecting the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury due to disagreements over female leadership and same-sex marriage. The group claims to represent a significant portion of global Anglicans and plans to establish a new council based on the Bible. This development highlights deepening divisions within the 85-million-member communion.
Chabad-Lubavitch has increased security measures after former Fox News host Tucker Carlson falsely accused the Jewish group of instigating the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. Carlson claimed without evidence that Chabad seeks to build a Third Temple in Jerusalem and destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Chabad spokesman Yaacov Behrman condemned the remarks as dangerous blood libel. The group, which has faced recent attacks in the U.S., Australia, and the UAE, reiterated its peaceful mission. Columbia University’s Chabad branch also strengthened safety protocols following the broadcast.
Mehdi Cherkaoui, a Houston father, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Comptroller Kelly Hancock. He alleges that the blanket exclusion of accredited Islamic schools from the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program violates the U.S. Constitution. The voucher program, launched in February 2026, initially listed three Muslim schools but removed them shortly after. Paxton and Hancock defended the exclusions, citing concerns about ties to the Council on American-Islamic Relations and foreign adversaries. Cherkaoui seeks injunctive relief to prevent what he describes as religious discrimination before the application deadline.
Religious aid organizations across Latin America face a dual crisis as U.S. deportations surge while federal funding collapses. Agencies in countries like Mexico, Haiti, and El Salvador report that staff reductions and budget cuts hinder efforts to assist deportees arriving in southern regions. Similarly, groups in Haiti and El Salvador have scaled back programs due to USAID cuts. These organizations now serve more displaced individuals with fewer resources, struggling to provide legal, educational, and basic support amid increased deportations from the United States.
A recent U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom report highlights severe religious violence in a West African nation, citing thousands of deaths and abductions. While many local Christians believe they are targeted due to their faith, security analysts and government officials argue the conflict stems from land disputes, criminality, and weak governance. The debate centers on whether the violence constitutes religious persecution or a broader security breakdown affecting all communities in the country. Public figures like the Information Minister and the U.S. President have commented on the situation, emphasizing the need for accurate assessment of the crisis.
Verizon has awarded a $100,000 grant to New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS) to expand its House of Worship Alert system in New York City. The funding, announced on March 2, will enhance the automated messaging network that notifies congregations about emergencies such as extreme weather and health crises. According to NYDIS executive director Peter Gudaitis, the grant supports translation technology and additional training for faith leaders in crisis communication. The system currently reaches approximately 3,000 houses of worship, with goals to include all 5,000 in the city. Officials state the initiative aims to save lives by ensuring timely, trusted information reaches vulnerable communities during critical events.
Following the death of the Supreme Leader and recent regional conflict, religious minorities in Iran face heightened vulnerability. Groups such as Baháʼís, Christians, and Jews have long endured repression under the theocratic regime. Reports indicate increased arrests and property confiscations targeting Baháʼís. A former State Department adviser argues that the United States must integrate religious freedom into post-conflict negotiations. He warns that ignoring human rights could lead to long-term instability, citing historical precedents where such commitments helped empower dissidents and foster democratic transitions. The article highlights the urgent need for international attention to protect these vulnerable communities amidst ongoing political turmoil.
Following reports that the Supreme Leader was killed in US-Israeli strikes, a prominent evangelical pastor in Iran says believers are pausing emigration plans. The pastor, founder of a ministry, told Religion News Service that the community feels hope but remains uncertain about the regime's future. While ethnic minority churches are recognized, Protestant converts face severe persecution, with arrests rising sharply. Many attend online services to avoid the danger of underground house churches. Despite internet shutdowns, contact is difficult, yet the mood is one of cautious waiting rather than mass exodus at this time.
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