Monday’s News & Ideas - 7/13/2026
- Matthew 25 & immigration
- Formerly enslaved pastor’s grave
- CAIR fights for trust
- Russia uses saints for ‘values’
- One-day choir
- Bombing of LaGuardia
A Bible passage is at the center of a debate over how the U.S. should treat immigrants
NPR: A debate over a Bible verse in Matthew 25 is pitting mainline pastors, Black protestants and the pope against evangelical politicians put on the defensive over President Trump’s policies.
After more than a century, formerly enslaved Pittsburgh pastor’s grave finally marked
WESA: A Baptist church from Arlington, Virginia, is celebrating its 160th anniversary in Pittsburgh, of all places. Their founding pastor, Reverend Dr. Robert Simon Laws, was buried here in the Homewood Cemetery in 1903, in an unmarked grave.
Muslim advocacy group fights for trust after Texas brands it a terrorist group
Religion News Service: A terrorist designation in Texas is fraying trust inside Muslim communities as mosque and nonprofit leaders decide whether standing by CAIR is worth the risk.
How Russia turned to saints in its push for ‘traditional values’ — and more babies
National Catholic Reporter: Events for some saints’ feast days serve a Russian government campaign to present itself as a defender of “traditional values.”
‘You come out feeling high’: I sang with strangers in a one-day choir — and it was surprisingly spiritual
The Guardian: As people yearn for connection, these events are popping up around the world and spreading “collective effervescence.”
The Spark
The forgotten bombing of LaGuardia Airport
It’s been called “one of the greatest cold cases of the 20th century.” It remains unsolved,* Slate says.
*access is limited for nonsubscribers
