DHS Faith Director Calls for Greater Christian Political Engagement Ahead of Midterms

DHS Faith Director Calls for Greater Christian Political Engagement Ahead of Midterms

A Department of Homeland Security official and Hispanic Christian leaders are encouraging churches and believers to take a more active role in public affairs as the United States prepares for next month’s midterm elections. Irene Armendariz-Jackson, who serves as faith director at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), delivered remarks Tuesday during the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference’s (NHCLC) 25th Anniversary.
  • Christian Leaders Form “Pastors for Paxton” Coalition Ahead of Texas Senate Election
    A coalition of Christian pastors across Texas has announced its support for Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton as he faces a closely contested U.S. Senate race against Democrat James Talarico, with religious faith emerging as a prominent issue in the campaign. The newly formed “Pastors for Paxton” coalition consists of 27 religious leaders, primarily from Evangelical and charismatic congregations throughout the state.
  • Fewer U.S. Teens Identify as Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual, CDC Data Shows
    New federal survey data shows a notable decline in the percentage of younger American teenagers who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual, prompting researchers and commentators to debate what may be driving the change. An analysis of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that the shift was especially pronounced among ninth-grade girls.

Christian Group Warns California ‘Anti-Hate Speech’ Training Law Could Threaten Religious Freedom

A Christian family advocacy organization is warning that California’s new “anti-hate speech” training requirements could create conflicts for pastors, churches and Christian employees who hold traditional religious beliefs. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1803 last month, requiring California employers with at least five employees to include instruction
  • Pro-Life Groups Reach 3 Million Homes in Key Battlegrounds Ahead of Midterms
    Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and its partner, Women Speak Out PAC, say their canvassers have knocked on more than 3 million doors in competitive states and congressional districts ahead of November’s midterm elections. Student volunteers from more than 100 colleges and universities accounted for 1.4 million of those visits as part of the groups’ broader effort to influence abortion policy and voter turnout.
  • Supreme Court Takes Up Kentucky Catholic Shrine Dispute Over Zoning Rules
    The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review a Kentucky dispute over whether a Catholic organization may construct a Marian shrine on its own property despite objections from nearby residents. The justices will examine a Kentucky Supreme Court decision that ruled against the Missionaries of St. John the Baptist, which operates Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel in Park Hills, near Cincinnati.
  • Justice Samuel Alito Says Dobbs Required “Courage,” Sees Little Chance Same-Sex Marriage Ruling Will Be Reversed
    U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito says the 2022 Dobbs ruling that ended the federal constitutional right to abortion was a case that demanded judicial courage, while predicting that the court is unlikely to overturn its 2015 same-sex marriage decision. Alito made the remarks in an interview with CBS News’ Jan Crawford ahead of the release of his book, *So Ordered: An Originalist’s View of the Constitution*, reflecting on major cases from his two decades on the high court.
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  • “Real Battle Is Spiritual”: Pentagon Chief Unveils Religious Affairs Office to Strengthen Chaplain Support

    Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the creation of a new Pentagon Office of Religious Affairs during his “State of the Force” address at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Speaking to junior officers and enlisted leaders, Hegseth said technology, infrastructure and personnel development are not enough without faith, which he described as “the most essential component of our Republic.”

  • Gen Z Leads Americans in Religious Identity and Spiritual Engagement, Survey Finds

    Generation Z adults are more likely than older Americans to identify as “religious,” while also reporting high levels of participation in a wide range of spiritual practices, according to a new Harris Poll. Gen Z was the generation most likely to describe itself as “religious,” at 33%, compared with 22% of Gen X adults, 19% of millennials and 18% of boomers. Gen Z was also least likely to identify as “neither religious nor spiritual,” at 19%, followed by millennials at 20%, Gen X at 21% and boom

  • Senators Press Trump to Confront Xi Over Detained Pastors, Religious Minorities

    A bipartisan group of 10 U.S. senators called on President Donald Trump to raise China’s persecution of Christian pastors and other religious minorities during his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington this week. Led by Sens. Ted Budd, R-N.C., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., the lawmakers thanked Trump for diplomatic pressure they said helped secure the July 3 release of Beijing Zion Church founder Ezra Jin after 266 days in detention.

  • DOJ Defends IRS Agreement Limiting Johnson Amendment Enforcement for Churches

    The U.S. Department of Justice is backing Christian organizations and the Internal Revenue Service in an appeal involving a proposed agreement that would limit enforcement of the Johnson Amendment against certain religious groups. The Trump administration filed a brief Monday with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in National Religious Broadcasters et al. v. Scott Bessent et al., a case challenging whether the Internal Revenue Service had authority to submit an agreement in court stating it

  • Trump Highlights Global Christian Persecution at UN, Warns Iran of “Annihilation” Without Deal

    President Donald Trump used his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to draw attention to the persecution of Christians worldwide, criticizing the U.N. Human Rights Council for giving the issue little attention while condemning some of the world’s most repressive governments. “Christians are being persecuted all over the world; it's not even believable. I never thought I'd say it, but it's been happening for a long time.”

  • JD Vance Targets Adam Hamilton Over Church’s Pride Sponsorship, Calls Linked Drag Group “Anti-Christian”

    Vice President JD Vance criticized Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and United Methodist pastor Adam Hamilton at a campaign rally in Olathe, Kansas, accusing his church of financially supporting a Pride event associated with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.Vance urged voters to back Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, who is seeking reelection against Hamilton, pastor of Resurrection, a multi-campus United Methodist congregation in Leawood.

  • Charlie Kirk Among Most “Difficult” Topics for College Students to Discuss on Campus, Survey Finds

    Christian political activist Charlie Kirk ranks among the subjects U.S. college students say are most difficult to discuss openly on campus, according to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s 2027 College Free Speech Rankings. FIRE also reported that several Turning Point USA chapters faced challenges to their status as recognized student organizations following Kirk’s assassination, including denials of recognition or calls for chapters to lose official standing.

  • ERLC Calls on Trump to Confront Xi Over China’s Religious Persecution During Washington Visit

    The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission is urging President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to raise religious freedom concerns with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of his expected Sept. 24 visit to Washington. The Southern Baptist entity is calling on U.S. officials to press China over its treatment of religious minorities and imprisoned Christian leaders.
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