Thursday, January 15, 2026

This Week in Religion - In Minneapolis, a pastor observes ICE

Lead story

Rev. Ashley Horan, a white woman, sits in the driver seat of her car. The car is parked and she is looking at her phone.

Editor's note:

In Minneapolis, where Renee Good was shot and killed while reportedly operating as an ICE observer, monitoring Department of Homeland Security agents has become so common that organizers have struggled to manage the influx of volunteers. This week, RNS national reporter Jack Jenkins shadowed the Rev. Ashley Horan on her first driving shift as an ICE observer, an activity that was once largely reserved for a subset of advocates seeking to resist the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts across the country. He also witnessed a group of clergy denied access to offer pastoral care to immigrant detainees, as well as vigils and church services across the city mourning Good, as Twin City faith networks that mobilized during the George Floyd protests of 2020 have reignited in the last week to resist ICE and support immigrants.

A banner with a photo of Amanda Koehn, Managing Editor at Religion News Service.
 

Religion News

FBI says arson suspect targeted Mississippi synagogue because it's a Jewish house of worship

A suspect in an arson fire at a Mississippi synagogue bombed by the Ku Klux Klan decades ago confessed what he had done to his father, who turned him in to authorities, the FBI said. By Sophie Bates, Jeff Martin and Mike Schneider/The Associated Press

New Communion rules spark debate over bishop's authority in Charlotte Catholic diocese

A letter has exposed divisions over liturgical authority, leadership style and worship practices. By Fiona Murphy/Religion News Service

In Beirut, a sold-out nightclub event featured an unusual DJ – Padre Guilherme, a priest from Portugal. Known for his dual role as priest and DJ, he uses music to connect with youth and spread messages of peace. By Malak Harb and Hussein Malla/The Associated Press

A line of Buddhist monks in their traditional clothing walk through a neighborhood. There is a woman kneeling and offering one of the monks a handful of flowers.

Buddhist monks and their dog captivate Americans while walking for peace

A group of Buddhist monks and their rescue dog are striding single file down country roads and highways across the South, captivating Americans nationwide and inspiring droves of locals to greet them along their route. By Deepa Bharath/The Associated Press

'Holding Liat' documents a more complicated reality behind the Oct. 7 hostage crisis

The documentary offers a nuanced portrayal of an American-Israeli family whose adult daughter was kidnapped from her home on a kibbutz near the Gaza Strip. By Yonat Shimron/Religion News Service

 

Commentary and Analysis

Christian Reconstructionism, a little-known movement to rebuild society on biblical law, can often shape US debates over religion, politics and education. By Art Jipson for The Conversation

The simple concept of caring for those in your proximity holds religious resonance. By Najeeba Syeed/Religion News Service

Po'pay, a Tewa religious leader, led the Pueblo Revolt, the most successful Indigenous rebellion in what’s now the United States. By Peter C. Mancall for The Conversation

Martin Luther King Jr. and Thich Nhat Hanh shared a vision of 'beloved community' that shows how democracy begins not with power, but with how we live together. By Jeremy David Engels for The Conversation

 
A large gathering of people in cold water. Many of them are wearing white headbands.

Participants bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

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