Since August 2025, Rev. Esdras Paredes has led his Wisconsin congregation remotely after being barred from re-entering the United States. The ban stems from a 1991 deportation order that resurfaced when he applied for a visa in Guatemala. Paredes, who pastors Ven y Descansarás in Fond du Lac, now preaches online and manages church affairs from abroad. His wife, Rev. Wanda Paredes, remains in the U.S. with their family. The situation highlights broader issues facing immigrant clergy, with reports of at least 25 similar cases during the current administration. The congregation has faced financial strain and emotional distress due to the separation.
Israeli settlers in the West Bank illegally diverted water from a natural spring near the Palestinian village of Fasayil to fill an ancient pool, declaring it a tourist attraction linked to King Herod. COGAT, Israel’s military civil affairs body, acknowledged the unauthorized diversion and promised an investigation. Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu praised the act and allocated funds to rehabilitate the site, despite research indicating the land is privately owned by Palestinians. This incident reflects a broader pattern of settler violence and water seizures in the region, which the UN reports has damaged hundreds of Palestinian water structures in 2026, severely impacting local agriculture and tourism.
The U.S. Department of Justice asked a federal appeals court to reverse a lower court ruling that upheld the Johnson Amendment. This law prohibits 501(c)(3) nonprofits, including churches, from endorsing political candidates. DOJ lawyers argued that the church autonomy doctrine prevents civil courts from enforcing the ban. The case stems from a challenge by Texas churches and the National Religious Broadcasters against the IRS. A district judge previously dismissed their lawsuit, citing lack of jurisdiction and harm. The DOJ now contends the IRS lacks authority to restrict pastoral speech. This development highlights ongoing tensions between religious groups and federal tax regulations regarding political activity.
The Trump administration notified Congress on September 22 that it plans to admit only 17,500 refugees next year, primarily targeting white South Africans. This marks the second consecutive year with historically low admissions and excludes refugees fleeing religious persecution, such as Iranians and Iraqis. Faith-based groups like HIAS and Global Refuge expressed outrage, calling the policy discriminatory and illegal. Several organizations are suing the government to enforce congressional mandates for special humanitarian concerns. The White House defends the focus on Afrikaners, claiming they face persecution, a view rejected by the South African government. Critics argue this approach abandons vulnerable families and undermines U.S. humanitarian leadership.
Christian and Muslim leaders in Nigeria are forming formal partnerships to prevent the country's escalating security crisis from deepening religious divisions. Representatives met in the capital to establish a coordinating group focused on countering hate speech and promoting social harmony. This interfaith cooperation follows a surge in kidnappings and killings, including the abduction of nearly 600 people in a northern state. Religious figures, including Catholic bishops and Muslim leaders, urge citizens not to view the violence as a religious war. They emphasize that insecurity affects all communities and call for joint action to address impunity and protect civilians across the nation.
The Lilly Endowment in Indianapolis is launching the Serving Neighbors Through Congregational Collaborations Initiative to fund partnerships between Christian churches and charitable groups. The foundation will award up to 60 grants of $5 million each to support projects that improve local communities. Christopher L. Coble, the Endowment’s vice president for religion, stated the program aims to help congregations address neighborhood needs like after-school programs and park improvements. Eligible applicants include denominational agencies and community development organizations. The initiative seeks to strengthen community vitality and deepen faith through collaborative service efforts across the United States.
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Pope Leo XIV visited Paris, addressing nearly 80,000 attendees at the Stade de France during a youth prayer vigil on September 25. The pope welcomed a surge in Catholic adult baptisms in France, noting that many new converts are drawn to traditional liturgy and conservative values. He urged unity among Catholics, emphasizing obedience to the Church over personal liturgical preferences. During a meeting with a synodal assembly, Leo encouraged the full integration of new believers and called for comprehensive catechist formation. The visit highlights the complex interplay between secularization and a growing, more traditional Catholic demographic in France.
Nashville entrepreneur Micah Fiechter launched Music Bible, an app that uses artificial intelligence to set every verse of Scripture to music across 30,000 songs. The project, based in the US, preserves the original text without editing, offering tracks in hip-hop, jazz, country, and other genres in English and Spanish. Fiechter created the app after his pastor father requested a musical illustration for a sermon. Industry veteran Michael Blanton serves as executive producer to ensure musical integrity. The free app aims to help users memorize and engage with the Bible through audio, coinciding with the 500th anniversary of William Tyndale’s English translation.
The city of Dearborn, Michigan, issued a statement defending itself against a federal lawsuit filed by journalist Margot Cleveland. The suit alleges the city and Mayor Abdullah Hammoud spent public funds on Muslim holiday displays while ignoring Christian and Jewish observances. The city attributes these legal challenges to its diversity and welcoming nature, asserting its commitment to equal treatment for all residents. The lawsuit seeks damages and constitutional compliance, citing specific expenditures for Ramadan symbols and contrasting them with a lack of similar recognition for Easter and Passover. This dispute follows previous tensions between the mayor and local pastor Ted Barham.
President Donald Trump has nominated Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of evangelist Billy Graham, to serve as the U.S. ambassador at large for international religious freedom. The White House announced the nomination on Monday. Lynch, who serves as a senior adviser for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, expressed honor at the prospect of the role. The nomination has drawn mixed reactions. The Family Research Council praised the selection, while the Freedom from Religion Foundation criticized Lynch’s past comments regarding Muslim communities. If confirmed by the Senate, she would fill a position vacant since the start of the second Trump administration. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom welcomed the appointment.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has restored federal funding to Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, ending a six-year financial freeze. Sister Norma Pimentel announced the decision on September 25 in Austin, Texas. The Trump administration had suspended funds last November following an investigation into alleged grant violations and inconsistent migrant data. Pimentel stated that her legal team negotiated an administrative agreement with federal officials to demonstrate compliance with requirements. The nonprofit, which operates a major migrant shelter in McAllen, will now resume receiving government support for its charitable services.
More than 120 Christian leaders, including evangelicals and mainline Protestants, signed a letter urging the Trump administration to spend $1.35 billion in expiring global health funds. Sent to White House officials on September 18, the letter argues that these resources, intended for maternal and child health, align with moral commitments to protect life. The group, organized by the 2030 Collaborative, warns that letting the money expire would harm vulnerable populations. While the White House has not yet responded, faith leaders plan to meet with officials next week to advocate for the funds' original purpose.
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — The 16th Street Baptist Church opened a new visitor center on Tuesday, marking the 63rd anniversary of the 1963 bombing that killed four girls. Church leaders state the facility aims to educate visitors about the Civil Rights Movement and encourage continued justice efforts. Guest speaker Bryan Stevenson warned against current political divisions and attacks on voting rights. The center features exhibits and community programs, operating independently within the National Park Service’s civil rights monument area. Pastor Arthur Price Jr. emphasized that history remains present and requires ongoing work to address inequality.
Religion News Service reports that dozens of faith organizations and leaders have filed at least 21 lawsuits challenging President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement actions. The plaintiffs, representing eight major religious traditions including Catholicism, mainline Protestantism, and Judaism, argue that federal policies violate their religious freedom rights. Key complaints include restrictions on ministering to detained immigrants and the rescission of protections for sensitive locations like churches. Experts note a shift in legal strategy, with liberal-leaning groups increasingly using the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to contest the administration’s mass deportation efforts and refugee program changes.
In Uganda and South Sudan, traditional rainmakers face increasing violence from farming communities when weather patterns fail or cause floods. In eastern Uganda, David Nabutsilili was beaten after excessive rain flooded crops, while in South Sudan, at least two rainmakers were killed in recent years due to drought. The Associated Press reports that erratic climate change has heightened expectations, leading to assaults or killings when rituals do not yield desired results. Farmers blame these spiritual leaders for crop failures, despite the complex nature of weather. The quid pro quo payment system often fuels conflict when refunds are denied after perceived failures.
The far-right Alternative for Germany party secured nearly 44 percent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, becoming the state’s largest political force. This result places the party within three seats of a governing majority, according to Religion News Service. Despite strong opposition from Catholic and Protestant churches, the nationalist movement gained significant ground. The victory highlights a shift in a region with deep religious history but also facing economic decline and low civic engagement. The outcome has sparked concern among moderate politicians about the broader implications for Germany and the European Union.
Christian advocacy organizations launched a petition in a city in Texas, seeking 100,000 signatures before U.S. and Chinese leaders meet. The campaign urges American officials to advocate for the return of a pastor detained in China since 2017. Although released from prison recently, authorities have withheld his passport, preventing his reunion with his family in the United States. The pastor, who resides in a city in central China, is battling stage 4 cancer. The groups describe the effort as a humanitarian plea to secure his travel documents and allow him to return home. (Religion News Service)
In Germany, right-wing Christian influencers known as Christfluencers are building networks with the US religious right to support the far-right Alternative for Germany party. Figures like Tobias Riemenschneider and Leonard Jäger use social media to promote conservative views, often mirroring strategies used by American conservative activists. This alliance gained attention when Jäger met Donald Trump and interviewed AfD leader Alice Weidel. Despite criticism regarding antisemitism and extremist ties within the AfD, these influencers argue they face persecution from progressive political groups. Their content strategy aims to validate far-right messages by connecting with dissident church leaders, following a model observed in US politics.
In Springfield, Ohio, volunteers from diverse religious communities are providing meals and protection to Haitian immigrants facing increased ICE enforcement. This response follows the death of Pierre Damas Bel, a student whose family attributes his suicide to stress from an ankle monitor. The article highlights how pluralism allows cooperation across political divides, with groups lobbying for detained pastors and supporting families separated by the removal of temporary protected status. The author argues that focusing on shared human dignity helps bridge disagreements over immigration policy while addressing immediate humanitarian needs in the region.
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