Monday's News & Ideas - 4/14/2025

Palm Sunday was a protest, not a procession*
The New York Times: At the time, it was a deliberate act of theological and political confrontation. It wasn’t just pageantry; it was protest.

Federal judge sides with Trump in allowing immigration enforcement in houses of worship
The Associated Press: A federal judge on Friday sided with the Trump administration in allowing immigration agents to conduct enforcement operations at houses of worship for now, despite a lawsuit filed by religious groups over the new policy.

State Department wants staff to report instances of alleged anti-Christian bias during Biden’s term
The Associated Press: The State Department has issued an appeal for its employees to report instances of alleged anti-Christian bias, including formal or informal actions due to opposition to vaccines or personal pronoun choice, that may have occurred during the Biden administration.

Joan Campbell, former activist who led U.S. church council, dies at 93*
The Washington Post: She was ordained in the same Baptist denomination as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and led the National Council of Churches in the 1990s.

‘I became like a slave’: Why 43 women are suing the secretive Opus Dei Catholic group in Argentina
The Guardian: Lured by promises of an education but allegedly trapped in servitude and self-mortification, the former members are suing the ultra-conservative organization over their “exploitation and abuse.”

The Spark

Is it ‘Made in USA’? The answer can be complicated
Intricate trade rules and far-flung manufacturing networks can mean the country-of-origin stamp may tell only part of the story, NPR says.

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