Weekly religion news roundup (March 7 –13, 2025)
Photograph by Brotin Biswas via Pexels
Rev. Dr. Anna Piela
Faith-based refugee resettlement groups concerned about Trump administration's new plans. In a status report sought by a federal judge, the Trump administration’s lawyers argued the State Department is not required by law to provide reception and placement benefits to refugees when they arrive in the U.S. (RNS)
Is taking Ozempic during Ramadan cheating? Not if taken for the right reasons, say Islamic scholars and doctors. (RNS)
Robert Morris indicted on child sex abuse charges in Oklahoma. Robert Morris, founder and former pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, and previous adviser to President Donald Trump, was indicted on five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child. (Baptist News Global)
Cuts to Education Department threaten religious liberty, BJC head warns. The Trump administration’s decision to cut nearly half the U.S. Department of Education workforce is a careless action that will wreak havoc in public schools and erode religious freedom, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty said. (Baptist News Global)
Attack, assault, arrest, repeat. In 2024, persecution increased for Indian Christians due to growing Hindu nationalism and stricter anticonversion laws. (Christianity Today; paywalled)
Each Friday in The Christian Citizen, we publish a Religion News Roundup with summaries of religion news stories and links for those who want to read more.
How LGBTQ-friendly churches are tackling the Trump era. Since taking office, Trump has issued executive orders to acknowledge only the sexes of male and female, ban transgender people from military service, restrict gender-affirming care and end government DEI programs. (Religion Unplugged)
Syrian leader signs constitution that puts the country under an Islamist group’s rule for 5 years. Syria’s interim president on Thursday signed a temporary constitution that leaves the country under Islamist rule for five years during a transitional phase. (Associated Press)
FCC chair sends letter to Google questioning faith-based discrimination claims against YouTube TV. The claims arise from multiple unsuccessful attempts by Great American Media to have its linear network, Great American Family, carried on YouTube TV. (Yahoo!News)
Seattle ties as the least religious U.S. metro area in new study. Seattle has long been known as one of the least religious parts of the country. A new survey shows it’s gotten even less religious in the past 10 years. (Seattle Times; paywalled)
Can feminism and religion coexist, Ukrainian activist asks in ‘Girls & Gods’ (exclusive trailer). The film from directors Arash T. Riahi and Verena Soltiz, written and narrated by Inna Shevchenko, premieres at Copenhagen documentary festival CPH:DOX. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Rev. Dr. Anna Piela is senior writer at American Baptist Home Mission Societies and assistant editor of The Christian Citizen.
The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of American Baptist Home Mission Societies.
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