NEW: Faith-based organizations that partner with the government to resettle refugees are instituting mass furloughs.
Why so soon?
Because Trump all but shut down the refugee program AND, per one of the groups, is refusing to reimburse them for work done before he assumed office.
So they're laying off staff to make sure they can still gives what's left of their resources to refugees. https://religionnews.com/2025/02/04/faith-based-refugee-groups-face-furloughs-after-trump-halts-program-and-refuses-to-reimburse-work/
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My latest: A prominent Lutheran leader invoked the story of a martyr while defending work to help the needy after Elon Musk described federal funding for Lutheran aid orgs as “illegal” over the weekend.
"Be of good courage, Church, and let us persevere," she said. https://religionnews.com/2025/02/03/musk-spotlights-federal-funds-for-lutheran-social-services-calls-them-illegal-payments/
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Oh wow.
Full video from Bishop Eaton, who tells the story of St. Lawrence, who defied a Roman emperor by insisting the church’s riches were the poor and needy.
Eaton concludes: “he was martyred for that. Be of good courage, church, and let us persevere.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Liqz0VdZG1E
https://mastodon.online/@jackmjenkins/113937010056273114
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NEW: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton is releasing a video, saying the church remains “steadfast” in its work & accusing Musk/others of spreading “misinformation” and “casting baseless doubt” about “funding that supports Lutheran (orgs) across our country.”
https://mastodon.online/@jackmjenkins/113935625355738919
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NEW: A statement from Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, President and CEO of Global Refuge, formerly known as Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service:
“Global Refuge condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the false accusations being lodged against our humanitarian work.” https://mastodon.online/@jackmjenkins/113934999345650522
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Elon Musk and DOGE are now publicly targeting religious groups — specifically, Lutheran groups — for cuts.
Among those listed: Global Refuge (formerly LIRS), one of 6 faith-based groups that have long helped the government resettle refugees.
Not at all clear why Musk contends this funding, which is longstanding and well known, is "illegal."
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Just a truly gutting piece from Christianity Today about when ICE agents came to a church to arrest an immigrant last week.
The whole thing is worth reading, but this section gets at a core question: why was it necessary to arrest him there? https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/01/should-churches-fear-ice-raids-atlanta/
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What are you reading this weekend?
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LDS Church: Members should care for the needy ‘regardless of immigration status’ https://religionnews.com/2025/01/31/lds-church-members-should-care-for-the-needy-regardless-of-immigration-status/
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Via Aleja Hertzler-McCain: Despite Vance attack, Catholic bishops press ahead on defending migrants —> https://religionnews.com/2025/01/30/despite-vance-attack-catholic-bishops-press-ahead-on-defending-migrants/
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A thought experiment I keep thinking about, not because it's important, but because of questions it raises about Silicon Valley culture and, well, money: if Steve Jobs were still alive and in charge of Apple, would he have gone to Trump's inauguration?
I think not, but not necessarily because of any political objection. I think it'd be a power move on Jobs' part.
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NEW: In a rare move, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issues statement reaffirming immigration stance.
"We seek to provide basic food and clothing, as our capacity allows, to those in need, regardless of their immigration status. We are especially concerned about keeping families together.” https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-reaffirms-immigration-principles-love-law-family-unity
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Fantastic reporting from Kathryn Post and Fiona André here.
And, just…what a lede. https://religionnews.com/2025/01/29/with-federal-funds-for-refugees-gutted-local-faith-groups-brace-for-tough-years/
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INBOX: A group of Jewish organizations — including the Union for Reform Judaism, the largest Jewish denomination in the U.S. — are quitting Twitter/X, saying it "has become a platform that promotes hate, antisemitism, and societal division."
https://urj.org/press-room/statement-ending-engagement-xtwitter
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NEW: Maryland Catholic bishops issue statement affirming solidarity with immigrants.
"We … commit to advocating for policies that protect your rights and uphold your dignity, trusting that our collective voices will help build a society rooted in compassion and justice." https://www.mdcatholic.org/immigration2025/
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EXCLUSIVE: In letter, a broad group of influential Jewish groups urge Trump not to enact "widespread persecution of immigrants" —> https://religionnews.com/2025/01/27/in-letter-jewish-groups-urge-trump-not-to-enact-widespread-persecution-of-immigrants/
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Ex A: https://religionnews.com/2023/07/24/republicans-are-mainstreaming-a-right-wing-attack-on-catholic-charities/
Ex B: https://religionnews.com/2024/03/22/threats-to-catholic-charities-staffers-increase-amid-rightwing-anti-migrant-campaign/
Source of interview: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jd-vance-transcript-face-the-nation-01-26-2025/
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@ivory — I realize this would be a Whole Thing, but is there any talk of expanding Ivory to include AT Proto, allowing one united Bluesky/Mastodon feed for users?
There are apps that already do it, but I feel like y’all could do something special.
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This is your regular reminder that if you have story tips you want to share or want to leak me anything (documents, etc.), my DMs are open (less secure, but handy for quick tips), my Signal is in my bio (much more secure), and there are other ways to reach me here: https://www.jackjenkins.me/contact.html
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