Wednesday's News & Ideas - 1/22/2025

At National Prayer Service, a plea to Trump: ‘Have mercy’*
The Washington Post: An Episcopal bishop urged him to show compassion toward immigrants. Trump called her “not compelling or smart.”
NPR: Bishop confronts Trump during sermon at inaugural prayer service

Migrants can now be arrested at churches and schools after Trump administration throws out policies
The Associated Press: Officers enforcing immigration laws will now be able to arrest migrants at sensitive locations like schools and churches after the Trump administration threw out policies limiting where those arrests could happen as the new president seeks to make good on campaign promises to carry out mass deportations.

Even religious people don’t trust religious institutions*
The New York Times: Often, church or temple leaders learn about accusations, and instead of dealing with them, they try to make the problem disappear by moving the perpetrator to another location.

While global media are clear on Musk’s Nazi salute US media engage in ‘Nazi-washing’
Religion Dispatches: As the crowd roared their approval at his commentary that the election “really mattered,” he slapped his chest and then threw his arm out straight, palm open and down. Then, just in case we missed the point, he turned around to face the patriot banners behind him and did it again.

The consolation of studying theology*
The Christian Century: Theological education is precarious, inconvenient, and uncomfortable. So why do students keep enrolling?

The Spark

Empire of blood: How Dana White’s UFC conquered America
What was once a late-night cable TV sideshow has grown into a culture-shifting sport* that counts President Trump as a fan, Rolling Stone says.

*access is limited for nonsubscribers