Lead story
Editor's note:
The Shrine of the Sacred Heart, a Catholic church a short drive from the White House, was intended to be a sanctuary for worshippers. Now, its mostly immigrant congregation is steeped in fear. Church leaders say more than 40 parishioners have been detained or deported since federal law enforcement stepped up their deployment in August. Many parishioners are too scared to leave home to attend Mass, buy food or seek medical care. The parish was established a century ago by Irish, Italian and German immigrants. Today, most of its 5,600 members come from El Salvador. As the AP Religion Team’s Luis Andres Henao and Tiffany Stanley report, the church community rejects being reduced to powerless victims. During the crisis, pastors and church volunteers have attended immigration court hearings, covered rent and legal fees, and donated and delivered food to those fearful of leaving home.
Religion News
Samaritan's Purse to play a larger role in Gaza aid distribution
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is being phased out, said Samaritan's Purse CEO Franklin Graham. By Yonat Shimron/Religion News Service
Pope condemns antisemitism and vows to fight it as tensions rise over Israel's war in Gaza
Pope Leo XIV acknowledged there had been misunderstandings and conflicts with Jews over Israel’s war in Gaza. But he confirmed the Catholic Church’s commitment to fighting antisemitism as part of Christians’ Gospel-mandated friendship with the Jewish people. By Nicole Winfield/The Associated Press
Dissenting former evangelical Christian women are forging a path different from those who have left the church in the decades-long decline in institutional faith. By Malcolm Foster/Religion News Service
Undergarment upgrades bring many Mormon women comfort and joy
Sleeveless versions of the sacred undergarments worn by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints flew off the shelves on their first day available in the U.S., a momentous occasion for many LDS women. By Hannah Schoenbaum, Holly Meyer and Deepa Bharath/The Associated Press
Romanians flock to a new cathedral that is the world’s largest Orthodox church
Thousands of pilgrims turned out in Romania’s capital for the consecration of religious paintings inside the world’s largest Christian Orthodox church, which was being opened after 15 years of construction. By Vadim Ghirda and Stephen McGrath/The Associated Press
Commentary and Analysis
Two groups of clergy challenged a Washington state law meant to help fight child abuse – but which could have required clergy to break the seal of confession. By Ann M. Murphy for The Conversation
The crucial truth to remember is that when someone comes forward and tells the truth about abuse, they are not the one causing harm to the church. By Abbi Nye/Religion News Service
The movement to protect the long-obscured sites allows communities to reckon with painful histories through healing, remembrance and ancestral connection. By Joanne Gilmore for The Conversation
Artists often turn to the supernatural to reflect on and speak to the anxieties brought about by social, religious and political upheaval. By Penelope Geng for The Conversation
Pope Leo XIV, center, speaks with Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican after a state visit and prayer with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Did a friend or colleague forward this to you? Click here to subscribe.
- This Week in Religion is a publication of the Global Religion Journalism Initiative, a collaboration among the Religion News Service, The Associated Press and The Conversation U.S.
- The three news organizations work to improve general understanding and analyze the significance of developments in the world of faith.
- The Associated Press Newsletter Hub
- Religion News Service newsletter sign-up page
- The Conversation U.S.'s daily and weekly newsletters
