For the First Time, a Catholic Archbishop Sues Trump Over Access to Immigrant Detainees
The lawsuit, from Archbishop Mitchell Thomas Rozanski along with the Archdiocese of St. Louis, accused the Department of Homeland Security and ICE of instituting policies that violate 'core constitutional values.'
Christian Nationalism Backfires With Satanic City Council Prayers
This issue of A Public Witness pulls back the curtain to explore self-defeating efforts from the religious right in Washington and Iowa.
Vanderbilt Divinity School Is Under Receivership. No One Seems to Know Why.
One of the most prominent centers of theological education in the country, Vanderbilt Divinity School has been known for its social justice advocacy. Now students, faculty, and alumni wonder what the future holds.
Review: Too Sick to Pray
C. M. Howell shows that the religious dimension of Outlaw Country is best understood as musicians involved in a mode of theological play.
Clergy Rally for Voting Rights, Against Gerrymandering at Start of Interfaith Bus Tour
This issue of A Public Witness drives over to the opening stop of the 2026 'The Vote Is Sacred Tour' at a Missouri church that’s seen firsthand the efforts this year to distort elections and dilute the voting power of Black communities.
Bishop Mariann Budde, in New Election Ad, Urges People to Vote
'I am asking for your courage to love your neighbor, to respect the dignity of every human being, and now, to vote,' Budde says in the new ad, which references her headline-grabbing sermon to President Donald Trump last year.
Televangelist Jim Bakker, Once Imprisoned for Scandal, Dies at 86
By the time Bakker and his first wife, Tammy Faye, were forced to give up their Praise the Lord ministry — known as PTL — in 1987, they were a well-known television couple with a loyal following.
‘I’m Standing With Isaiah’: Warnock Blasts Hegseth for ‘Twisting the Scripture’
The defense secretary’s conscription of Isaiah 6:8’s ‘send me’ to promote military recruitment has also drawn rebukes from Christian Nationalist figures such as pastor/commentator Joel Webbon and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
As ICE Readies Louisiana Facility for Children and Families, Faith Leaders Hold Vigil
Part of the Trump administration’s efforts to ramp up deportations, the facility — which will hold unaccompanied minors and families — is situated beside an airport that has become known as the country’s busiest hub for deportation flights.
Bishop Mariann Budde to Resign, Will Remain in Post During Lengthy Replacement Process
Budde, who shot to fame after urging President Donald Trump to have mercy on immigrants and others, will remain the Episcopal bishop of Washington until June 2028, when her replacement will be consecrated.