Faith and politics lead us off this week, with clergy running as Democrats facing Republican attacks on their faith, anti-Muslim candidates losing primaries, and a “profoundly troubling” Michigan result. Ohio Catholics pray and protest for Haitians as TPS ends. Citizens Bank drops ICE detention ties after faith leaders withdraw funds. “Killer robots” have arrived. And we close with Theology Beer Camp.
Faith and politics
“They’re not real pastors”: As clergy run as Democrats, Republicans are openly questioning their faith. “It’s a sign that they are really scared they’re gonna lose this seat.” So said the Rev. Sarah Trone Garriott, a Lutheran pastor running for Congress in Iowa, part of a wave of religious figures running as Democrats for congressional seats. From Religion News Service.
In Tennessee, anti-Muslim Republican candidates face defeat. Rep. Andy Ogles, who has said Muslims don’t belong in the US, narrowly lost his reelection bid, while state Rep. Monty Fritts, who campaigned to ban mosques, placed third in the Republican primary race for governor. From Religion News Service.
Here’s another take on the issue, from Baptist News Global. “As Trump slams Democratic ‘jihadists,’ Islamophobic candidates get bounced.”
Commentary: Michigan primary ‘profoundly troubling’
Michael Sean Winters, for National Catholic Reporter, says “The results of the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan are profoundly troubling.” Dr. Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated Congresswoman Haley Stevens, confirming that the anti-establishment mood of the Democratic Party rivals the anti-establishment mood of the Republican Party.
Catholics pray, protest for Haitians
Ohio Catholics were among a group of hundreds who gathered outside a federal immigration office near Cincinnati Aug. 9 to show prayerful support for Haitian immigrants. The gathering took place just four days after a federal judge ruled that temporary protected status (TPS) for roughly 350,000 Haitians had officially ended. From National Catholic Reporter.
Preventing protests
A new bipartisan bill in Congress would create protest-free buffer zones around houses of worship, seeking to prevent protests. It follows a rowdy demonstration outside a Manhattan synagogue last year. From Religion News Service.
PETITION: ‘Safeguarding the Human Person’
The Saint Meinrad Class of 1967 recently launched an advocacy petition inspired by Pope Leo’s Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence, reports Bob Stewart, a friend of the AUSCP. You can read the full text of the petition and sign it if you agree. Put Human Dignity and Democracy at the Center of Artificial Intelligence. The link was missing from this item last week.
Faith leaders win Citizens Bank withdrawal
Citizens Bank ends ties to companies running ICE detentions after faith leaders, activists strategically withdraw funds. From the Christian Century.
Justice Bulletin Board
“Job of the Laity is to build a just world,” says Barbara Molinari Quinby, for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 16.
‘Public religious schools’
Federal court urged to uphold ban on religious charter schools in Oklahoma. From Baptist News Global.
‘We need a biblical view of American history’
Thomas Reese says a nationalism that ignores the failings of leaders and people is not biblical. From Religion News Service.
Preserving Yiddish
In Weimar, a festival preserves Yiddish culture while reinventing it. Since its start, the festival has grown from a weekend workshop with a handful of participants to the largest festival of its kind in Europe. From Religion News Service.
A swastika is not a Hakenkreuz
“I think it’s very important that young people are told that the swastika has a very positive meaning, but it has been taken and used as a racist symbol,” said Baijayanti Roy of Goethe University Frankfurt, reported by Religion News Service. He says the swastika does not have any negative connotations, whereas the Hakenkreuz stands for evil.
‘We garden on our knees’
A Kew Theology & Gardening project explores faith, nature and climate. An Anglican church in West London is using its proximity to one of the most famous botanical gardens in the world, Kew Gardens, as a reason for a new venture linking theology and nature. From Religion News Service.
Is it still possible to imagine a brighter future?
Mark Silk: “Amidst wars, wildfires and ICE raids, we are woefully short these days of images of a better future for Earth and its inhabitants. Here then, in the summer of our discontent, are two transcendent portrayals of a world to be hoped for.” From Religion News Service.
How American churches survived
A history lesson from Religion News Service. American churches could not rely on the state for financial support. Private philanthropy helped them survive – and shaped the country’s religious diversity today.
‘Killer Robots’ have arrived
The National Catholic Register reports, “Here’s How the Church Is Responding.” As the Catholic Church stands firm against autonomous weapons, does AI have any place in warfare?
New Seminary in Kansas
The Diocese of Wichita announced Aug. 6 that Bishop Carl Kemme will formally establish St. Philip Neri Seminary, named for the 16th-century priest and founder of the Congregation of the Oratory who helped to revive both clergy and church during the Counter-Reformation. From National Catholic Reporter.
On the legal front
Judge allows abuse survivors to seek adding parishes, schools to Vermont diocese bankruptcy case. From National Catholic Reporter.
Court spares New York nuns — for now — from complying with assisted dying law. From National Catholic Reporter.
Florida AG’s threat to Catholic schools “clear violation” of the First Amendment, law scholar says. From National Catholic Reporter.
Personal Reflection
Daniel P. Horan: “It has been nearly two years since I shared publicly in NCR that I had decided to leave religious life after a lengthy period of prayer, reflection and dialogue. I had been a member of the Franciscan order for 20 years and an ordained priest for more than a dozen years, and as an academic and public figure beyond pastoral ministry.” From National Catholic Reporter.
Latin lives
After SSPX schism, some Catholics urge greater access to the older Latin Mass. From National Catholic Reporter.
With much of the Vatican curia in summer mode and Pope Leo XIV having just returned to Rome from vacation, conservative cardinals and bishops are taking advantage of the news lull to call for greater access to the Latin Mass and to cast doubt on the ongoing synodal process. From National Catholic Reporter.
Msgr. Rossetti resumes deliverance ministry
The priest who was removed as an Archdiocese of Washington exorcist is relaunching his nonprofit deliverance ministry, while remaining a priest in good standing in his home diocese. From National Catholic Reporter.
‘Manhattan Project 2.0’
If you’re already afraid, just wait until you hear about Manhattan Project 2.0. That’s the headline of a lengthy analysis by Kristen Thomason, for Baptist News Global, on a new atomic age.
In praise of Ordinary Time
“It is in these days after Pentecost, Ordinary Time in the church’s calendar, that dreams are molded into deeds.” Ken Sehested offers this reflection at Baptist News Global. He is the author and editor of prayerandpolitiks.org, an online journal at the intersection of spiritual formation and prophetic action.
Theology Beer Camp
It began as an experiment in “pub theology.” A few “theology nerds” delving into deep subjects like God, the universe and the meaning of life over a few brews. Alan Bean offers his opinion (he’s going to camp) for Baptist News Global.
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