Pope Leo XIV has used a visit to San Marino and a major Catholic gathering in the nearby Italian city of Rimini to urge Catholics to reject division, conflict and social polarization, calling instead for dialogue, mercy and friendship across political and cultural differences. He spoke on Saturday at the annual Rimini Meeting, warning against a culture that “rearms minds, words and nations.” Leo said Christians should work to overcome poverty, inequality and war. He also delivered a strong message to young Catholics, describing them as “a sign that the future is promising, and not a threat,” and encouraging them to engage with society and help build a “civilization of love.”
The Department of Defense is introducing a course centered on Western civilization and Christianity this fall in the schools it operates for military families. It's part of an effort by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to redirect the education system toward patriotic values and classical learning. The Western civilization course planned for this fall will use a textbook published by Encounter Books, a conservative publishing house. Historians and educators who reviewed excerpts of the text told The Associated Press it depicts points throughout history in misleading ways. The text represents Western civilization and Christianity as one and the same and casts Islam as a threat to both, scholars said.
Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed says his Muslim faith shapes his progressive views. Speaking recently to faith leaders in Detroit, El-Sayed emphasized accountability and helping others. El-Sayed supports “Medicare for All” and highlights growing inequality and the responsibility of the wealthy. As progressive Democrats gain traction, some connect their economic policies with religious beliefs. Faith-driven economic initiatives extend beyond elections, with some organizations supporting workers' rights. These efforts are being seen across the country. Religious support for labor movements is not new, even if it has ebbed and flowed in the U.S. over the centuries.
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission. The lawsuit, filed by an interfaith group, argued that the commission's overwhelmingly conservative Christian makeup lacked a legally required balance of viewpoints. On Monday, U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan ruled that while federal law requires advisory commissions to have a balance of viewpoints, it doesn't specify how this should be done. The lawsuit sought a more ideologically and religiously diverse commission. However, Cronan said the commission is diverse in other ways.
Laura Loomer, President Donald Trump's ally with a reputation for incendiary social media comments, has sat down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after a dramatic about-face regarding the war. Loomer had spent years minimizing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and amplifying Russian propaganda to her nearly 2 million followers. But during a visit to the country this week, she said she had been wrong. Loomer said she interviewed Zelenskyy on Thursday for her Rumble show. Zelenskyy's office confirmed the meeting.
Close up of an old Bible laid on wooden floor, burning candles next to it
URBANA, Ill. (WAND) - It's been less than a week since the New Zealand mosque shooting.