Tiffany Stanley

Thank you so much!

Immigration crackdown stokes fear and solidarity at a Catholic church in DC The Shrine of the Sacred Heart, a Catholic church a short drive from the White House, was intended to be a sanctuary for worshippers.

More than 40 members of one Catholic parish have been detained in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

A dispatch from the heart of DC’s Latino community.
apnews.com/article/immi...

Largest US Lutheran denomination to install Yehiel Curry as its first Black presiding bishop The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America installs the Rev. Yehiel Curry as its first Black presiding bishop on Saturday, marking a historic moment for the predominantly white denomination.

Largest U.S. Lutheran denomination to install Yehiel Curry as its first Black presiding bishop. apnews.com/article/blac...

It's déjà vu for Muslim Americans as anti-Muslim playbook follows Zohran Mamdani's success Zohran Mamdani’s rise in New York City’s mayoral race has brought him national prominence and a surge of anti-Muslim vitriol, including from elected officials and prominent conservatives.

Zohran Mamdani’s rise in New York mayoral race sparks anti-Muslim vitriol. apnews.com/article/zohr...

Weekly Roundup: Sept. 12 Here’s the weekly roundup from A Public Witness. This week we published a look back at a Sunday School lesson by President Jimmy Carter and a reflection after yet another case of political violence.

Our fresh news roundup features insights from @gregcareyphd.bsky.social, @adellembanks.bsky.social, @nuriamk.bsky.social, @fiona-ndre.bsky.social, @tiffanystanley.bsky.social, @raushenbush.bsky.social, @jonshorman.bsky.social, @bymatthewkelly.bsky.social, @gbrumfiel.bsky.social, and more!

A once-fringe Christian leader gets a warm welcome in Trump’s Washington Doug Wilson was once a fringe pastor in Idaho and is now a significant voice in the Christian right.

A once-fringe pastor gets a warm welcome in Trump’s Washington. New from me on Doug Wilson. apnews.com/article/cons...

Pastor Doug Wilson's Fringe Teachings Go Mainstream in Trump's Washington - Word&Way ‘Whatever he may have been in the past, he’s not fringe now,’ said Brian Kaylor, a Baptist minister and Wilson critic who wrote the forthcoming book ‘The Bible According to Christian Nationalists.’

Good @apnews.com piece by @tiffanystanley.bsky.social on "Pastor Doug Wilson's Fringe Teachings Go Mainstream in Trump’s Washington" wordandway.org/2025/09/08/p...
I appreciate being included along with @sarahstankorb.bsky.social & @tialevingswriter.bsky.social to critique Wilson.

Is empathy a sin? Some conservative Christians argue it can be Some voices on the Christian right are arguing the virtue of empathy has become a vice. Those Christians claim empathy can manipulate people into accepting what they see as sins, like abortion access ...

Is empathy a sin? Some conservative Christians argue it can be.

apnews.com/article/cons...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth belongs to an archconservative church network. Here's what to know Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has expressed pride in being part of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, a conservative Christian network.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth belongs to an archconservative church network. Here’s what to know. apnews.com/article/pete...

it is really hard to find an adequately staffed nursing home in good times…

US adults want the government to focus on child care costs, not birth rates, AP-NORC poll finds A new AP-NORC poll finds most Americans do not want the government to focus on increasing birth rates, despite efforts by the Trump administration to make this a priority.

About three-quarters of U.S. adults say the cost of child care is a “major problem.” That includes about 8 in 10 Democrats and women, as well as roughly 7 in 10 Republicans and men.

A US diocese defies trends and ordains its largest class of Catholic priests in decades The Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, recently ordained 12 new Catholic priests in a joyful Mass at its cathedral.

Meet “the 12.” A Virginia diocese defied trends and ordains its largest class of priests in decades. apnews.com/article/us-c...

Meet the men who just became Catholic priests in Virginia The U.S. Catholic Church is grappling with a severe priest shortage. So it's noteworthy that the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, recently ordained 12 new priests in a single, joyful Mass at its cathed...

They once worked in engineering, counseling and law. Now, they’re Catholic priests. apnews.com/article/new-...

A US diocese defies trends and ordains its largest class of Catholic priests in decades The Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, recently ordained 12 new Catholic priests in a joyful Mass at its cathedral.

Meet “the 12.” A Virginia diocese defied trends and ordains its largest class of priests in decades. apnews.com/article/us-c...

Supreme Court says Maryland parents can pull their kids from public school lessons using LGBTQ books The Supreme Court has ruled that Maryland parents who have religious objections can pull their children from public school lessons using LGBTQ storybooks.

BREAKING: The Supreme Court rules that Maryland parents can pull their children from public school lessons that use LGBTQ storybooks.

In Virginia, a military stronghold becomes a haven for Afghan refugees The Trump administration’s suspension of the federal refugee program has upended the lives of many Afghans who worked with the United States during wartime.

In Virginia, a military stronghold has become a haven for Afghan refugees.

apnews.com/article/afgh...

From the left and right, US Catholics hope new pope fulfills their hopes News that the global Catholic church would get its first-ever U.S.-born pope was welcomed by Catholics across the ideological spectrum in Pope Leo XIV’s homeland, raising the question of whether he mi...

apnews.com/article/pope...

Pope Francis bestowed a special nickname on AP's Vatican reporter for her often-tough questions Associated Press reporter Nicole Winfield, who covered Pope Francis at the Vatican during his entire pontificate, earned the nickname “la prima della classe” -- or “the first in class” -- from him in ...

A great piece about great beat reporting apnews.com/article/pope...

A historic Black church took the Proud Boys to court. Now it controls their trademark Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., has hosted funerals for Rosa Parks and Frederick Douglass and welcomed American presidents.

The church can seize money the Proud Boys make through merchandise sales. And the congregation has begun to sell lookalike shirts on its website with lines like “Stay Proud, Stay Black.” It plans to offer similar apparel for Pride Month and Juneteenth, with proceeds going to a community justice fund

A historic Black church took the Proud Boys to court. Now it controls their trademark Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., has hosted funerals for Rosa Parks and Frederick Douglass and welcomed American presidents.

A historic Black church took the Proud Boys to court. Now it controls their trademark.

apnews.com/article/blac...

Afghan Refugees struggle as federal funding is halted Thousands of newly arrived refugees have been left without jobs and without money to pay rent after the Trump administration cut the federal refugee program.

Meet some of the Afghan allies affected by Trump’s immigration policies in this video: apnews.com/video/afghan...

Afghan refugees in US struggle as faith-based aid is disrupted An Afghan father of two is among thousands of newly arrived refugees who lost financial assistance when the Trump administration cut off funding for the federal refugee program in January.

Afghan refugees in the U.S. are struggling as faith-based aid is disrupted under Trump. Dozens in Maryland and Virginia face eviction. apnews.com/article/afgh...

Still sad I gave up the 706! Last Southern number I had.

The US Christian population has declined for years. A new survey shows that drop leveling off The number of Americans who identify as Christian has declined steadily for years, but that drop shows signs of slowing.

Data nerds rejoice! Pew released a new report, showing a slowdown in the decline of religious Americans. apnews.com/article/pew-...

Christian aid groups weigh life-threatening choices about who to help after USAID funding pause Christian aid groups are being hard-hit after the Trump administration froze most foreign aid and sidelined the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The U.S. helps fund Christian aid groups like World Relief, World Vision, Samaritan’s Purse and Catholic Relief Services. Severe cuts now threaten their humanitarian work around the world. apnews.com/article/usai...

Ahh now I see why I’m getting emails reminding me of the end times. In fairness, this explainer was trying to do a lot of things. There are lines that nod to the end-times theology, which we have also covered extensively elsewhere and linked.

Why conservative American evangelicals are among Israel's strongest supporters One of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s first meetings in the United States this week was with American evangelicals on Monday.

In which we try to explain Christian Zionism, the two-state solution and ancient biblical history in 1,100 words. apnews.com/article/isra...

Refugee resettlement agencies scramble after Trump orders them to halt their federally funded work Tens of thousands of recently arrived refugees might lose support for basic necessities like food and rent after a new Trump administration order suspended federal funding for resettlement agencies.

Tens of thousands of refugees in the U.S. are at risk of losing money for food and rent after Trump order.

apnews.com/article/trum...

Who is Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop who upset Trump during an inaugural prayer service? The Right Rev. Mariann Budde, Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Washington, made headlines this week after she angered President Donald Trump with her sermon during an inaugural prayer service.

Bishop Mariann Budde published a book called “How to Be Brave” in 2023.

“The capacity to respond in such a moment doesn’t drop from the sky, nor is its significance measured by a week’s worth of media coverage,” she wrote.

apnews.com/article/trum...

"She thought phrasing her words to the president as a plea for mercy “was a very gentle way to do it because I was acknowledging his authority and his power.”

“I guess I had that wrong,” she said."