CHURCH

May 22 2026RELIGION

Thinkers of faith and freedom: What two presidents really believed about church and state

In 2026, a big rally called Rededicate 250 filled the National Mall with prayer. Politicians and preachers asked the nation to renew its promise “under God. ” But the event didn’t just gather believers—it reopened an old debate: Should faith drive public life, or should government keep its hands off

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May 17 2026POLITICS

A National Prayer Event Sparks Debate Over Church and State

The U. S. is set to host a large gathering on May 17 in Washington, D. C. , where leaders and faith figures will share scripture, testimonies, and prayers. The event, tied to the 250th anniversary of independence, has sparked concern that it promotes a single political brand of Protestantism as the

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May 16 2026CRIME

Man Who Ran a Church Bank Is Sentenced for Stealing Over $1 Million

A former finance manager at a New Jersey Catholic parish has been found guilty of taking more than one million dollars from the church. He worked at St. Leo the Great in Lincroft, handling money and operations until he left last June. After his departure, the church staff noticed strange charg

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May 14 2026CRIME

Priest accused of misusing charity money for personal gains

A former priest in Buffalo, New York, now faces serious legal trouble after authorities say he took around $450, 000 meant for helping people in need. The money came from a fund that priests typically use to give small financial gifts to those struggling. Instead, he allegedly used it for his own ex

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May 11 2026RELIGION

The Quiet Decline of America’s Religious Leaders

Churches across the U. S. are facing an unseen crisis: fewer people are stepping up to serve as spiritual leaders. Over the past few years, training programs for pastors and priests haven’t just slowed down—they’re shrinking. Schools that prepare clergy have seen a sharp drop in students, with some

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May 10 2026RELIGION

Religious freedom debates heat up as new commission pushes boundaries

A government panel created last year is stirring controversy by pushing ideas that could reshape how religion interacts with public life in America. The group, made up mostly of conservative Christian leaders, recently shared its goals in public meetings. Their proposals include giving religious gro

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May 08 2026CRIME

A Statue, A Church, and Questions That Won’t Go Away

On a quiet April night in Staten Island, a 31-year-old man allegedly grabbed a small statue of Mary holding baby Jesus from outside a local church and threw it into the grass. The statue wasn’t just decorative—it was one of two identical figures placed on either side of the main entrance to Our Lady

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May 04 2026RELIGION

A Historic Church Hopes for a New Future Near the United Center

A 140-year-old church near Chicago’s United Center is fighting to stay alive as the area around it transforms. Greater Union Baptist Church, with its striking red brick walls and intricate wooden ceiling, has been closed since 2022 because of a broken heating system and an unpaid $14, 000 gas bill.

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May 03 2026RELIGION

Evangelicals Split Over Immigration: A New Take on a Divided Faith

A recent discussion explores how American evangelical Christians are divided when it comes to enforcing immigration laws. The conversation began with two experts who regularly think about how religion and government should interact. One is a long‑time religion reporter, the other leads a group that

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May 02 2026CRIME

A Big Payout for Survivors in New York

New York’s Catholic leadership has agreed to pay 800 million dollars to people who were abused by priests as kids. Over 1, 300 survivors will share this money, making it one of the biggest payouts ever in the U. S. for clergy abuse cases. Only Los Angeles gave more—880 million—when it settled simila

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