11 faith groups accuse Trump administration of violating court order while spying on churches 
(RNS) — Religious groups now argue that the government has committed ‘multiple egregious violations’ of a preliminary injunction handed down in their case back in February. Read more

Pope Leo: War fuels a ‘vicious cycle’ of environmental destruction 
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The pope linked war, environmental destruction and inequality to the same crisis of the human heart, calling for a spiritual and ecological transformation. Read more

New book ‘A Nation Wrestles With God’ traces religious dialogue through our history 
(RNS) — Wrestling — with the divine, with morality — might well be America’s most sustained pastime. Read more

Highland Park UMC leaders escalate response to lawsuit
Highland Park United Methodist leaders are intensifying their reaction to Horizon Texas Conference’s lawsuit on church-governance issues. Read more

Undercover ICE agent spies on Minneapolis Baptist church
Leaders and members of a Minnesota Baptist church were stunned and angered to learn recently that an undercover immigration agent entered their facilities to spy on the congregation. Read more

Paxton, Talarico tap contrary versions of God and Christianity in appeal to Texas voters 
AUSTIN, Texas (RNS) — In a state where two-thirds of the adult population identifies as Christian and 45% say religion is ‘very important’ in their life, the candidates are asking voters to choose between two dramatically different views of Christianity. Read more

Protect the Vote: Become an Election Observer ​
WASHINGTON — As the United States prepares for the 2026 midterm elections, the United Methodist Board of Church and Society has created the “UMC Election Observers Program” to equip United Methodists to serve as nonpartisan election observers. The online training is at 7 p.m. U.S. Eastern time Tuesdays, Aug. 18-Sept. 22. Read more

With three prisoners scheduled for execution, southern churches toll their bells
(RNS) — On the first day in 16 years that three death row inmates were scheduled to be executed on the same day, faith groups in Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Iowa tolled their bells as part of a campaign led by the Death Penalty Action advocacy group. Read more

Buffer zone bills debated as protecting freedom to worship|
Jewish groups are rallying around federal legislation that would establish 100-foot buffer zones around houses of worship to prevent demonstrators from interrupting services. “No one should have to push through a hostile crowd or shout over a bullhorn in an attempt to pray,” said Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. Read more

As Trump slams Democratic ‘jihadists,’ Islamophobic candidates get bounced
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump may get away with Islamophobic language, but the same language is backfiring on some Republicans in midterm primaries. Several Republicans who have drawn national attention for outrageous comments about Muslims lost their primary elections this cycle. Read more

U.S. Catholic bishops urge ‘fair representation’ on Voting Rights Act anniversary
A subcommittee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) urged policymakers to protect “fair representation” in elections ahead of the 61st anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Read more

Archbishop Mullally ends Africa tour with calls for healing from church’s role in slavery 
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — The trip marked Mullally’s first visit to Africa and highlighted the Church of England’s controversial reparations fund to address its historic links to slavery. Read more