Category: Religion

Out Of The Rubble A New Leader

It is confirmed that the Iranian leader has been killed and now the speculation on who will lead Iran in this time of war.

Now we have an answer to that probing question….

Iran’s powerful clerical body is moving toward a dynastic handoff at the very top. Three Iranian officials who spoke to the New York Times say Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has emerged as the leading candidate to inherit his father’s post after meetings of the Assembly of Experts on Tuesday. An announcement could come as soon as Wednesday, though some clerics reportedly worry that naming him now would make him an even bigger target for the US and Israel. CNN reported over the weekend that “father-to-son succession is frowned upon in the Shiite Muslim clerical establishment and particularly in a revolutionary Iran that came about after toppling a widely reviled monarchy.”

But Mojtaba, long influential but rarely seen, is closely aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, and the officials say the Guard is strongly backing him as the safest pair of hands in a crisis. Analysts say his selection would signal dominance by Iran’s most hard-line security forces, though a Tehran-based commentator predicts a backlash from parts of the public already angered by the regime’s lethal crackdown on protesters. Two other finalists, cleric Alireza Arafi and revolution founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s grandson Seyed Hassan Khomeini, are viewed as relative moderates. One political ally has argued Mojtaba could surprise as a reform-minded figure, likening his potential role to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s—while others, including President Trump, warn Iran could simply end up with a leader as tough as the last.

Another hard core extremist to take the reins of government.

Now the question will be will this succession be for the good or the bad?

Will the Shia faithful accept this succession from father to son which is not something that is done with Shia religious leaders?

And the waiting begins.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Onward ‘Christian Soldiers’

So much twaddle!

We all know about the war that Donny and his merry band of a/holes have started with Iran and the blogs and news has been full of the reports but he best rhetoric comes from the dumb asses around Pistol Pete….

Now the religious zealots within the government are framing this conflict as some sort of ‘holy war’ (seriously?)…..at least some are nolt finding this terminology proper….

Some US service members say their commanders are casting the new conflict with Iran as a prelude to the apocalypse. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation reports receiving upward of 110 complaints since fighting began on Saturday, alleging that officers in every branch have framed the campaign as part of a “divine plan” leading to the Second Coming of Christ, per Raw Story, citing original reporting by journalist Jonathan Larsen. The complaints, from more than 40 units at roughly 30 military installations, describe what MRFF founder Mikey Weinstein calls an atmosphere of “unrestricted euphoria” among some leaders who see the war as biblically mandated.

One noncommissioned officer’s written complaint shared with Larsen says a combat unit commander opened a Monday readiness briefing by telling NCOs not to fear operations in Iran because they were “all part of God’s divine plan.” The commander allegedly cited the Book of Revelation, referenced Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus, and claimed that “President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran” to trigger those events. The NCO wrote that the statements “destroy morale and unit cohesion,” calling the comments “toxic and over the line.”

Weinstein argues that such messaging violates constitutional church-state separation and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which bars using official military authority to promote religion. Larsen notes that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has long associated with Christian nationalist leaders, including pastor Ralph Drollinger, who teaches that God rewards nations that back Israel and punishes those that oppose it.

he complainant says troops in their support unit feel forced to endure their commander’s “Armageddon views” and believe he thinks the entire chain of command backs him. The Cradle notes that the report syncs “with a pattern of senior US figures framing geopolitical policy through explicitly biblical narratives,” including Mike Huckabee claiming last month that Israel has a “biblical right” to a huge tract of territory that spans from “the Nile in Egypt to the Euphrates in Iraq.” More here from Larsen.

This is what we get when we allow morons to run the government….personally I do not give shit on Petey boy’s beliefs….they have NO place in government.

Besides is this not the same rhetoric that we condemned from Muslims and their ‘holy war’?

Jesus’ return?  How many times has that idiotic statement been made to justify stupid?

Stop using your religious ‘beliefs’ to justify and illegal act of war.

This country will be better when these twats keep their religious BS to themselves.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

You Will Submit!

Last Sunday I included this report in my Sh*t Show post….it is our on the ball SecDef doing what he does best…..everything but his damn job.

The man who oversees the nation’s military reposted a video about a Christian nationalist church that included various pastors saying women should no longer be allowed to vote. The extraordinary repost on X from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, made Thursday night, illustrates his deep and personal connection to a Christian nationalist pastor with extreme views on the role of religion and women, per the AP. In the post, Hegseth commented on an almost seven-minute-long report by CNN examining Doug Wilson, co-founder of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, or CREC. The report featured a pastor from Wilson’s church advocating the repeal of women’s right to vote from the Constitution, and another pastor saying that in his ideal world, people would vote as households. It also featured a female congregant saying that she submits to her husband.

“All of Christ for All of Life,” Hegseth wrote in his post that accompanied the video. Hegseth’s post had received more than 13,000 likes and 2,000 shares on X as of Saturday morning. Some users agreed with the pastors in the video, while others expressed alarm at the defense secretary promoting Christian nationalist ideas. Doug Pagitt, pastor and executive director of the progressive evangelical organization Vote Common Good, said the ideas in the video are views that “small fringes of Christians keep” and said it was “very disturbing” that Hegseth would amplify them.

Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell said on Friday that Hegseth is “a proud member of a church” that’s affiliated with CREC and that he “very much appreciates many of Mr. Wilson’s writings and teachings.” In May, Hegseth invited his personal pastor, Brooks Potteiger, to the Pentagon to lead the first of several Christian prayer services that Hegseth has held inside the government building during working hours. Defense Department employees and service members said they received invitations to the event in their government emails. “I’d like to see the nation be a Christian nation, and I’d like to see the world be a Christian world,” Wilson said in the CNN report.

Then there is the desire that women should not vote….that wives should submit to the desires of their husband.  What foolishness is this?

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth — who is affiliated with Christ Church and has expressed admiration for Wilson — retweeted and apparently endorsed the contents of the segment with the message “All of Christ for All of Life.”

The interview and the thumbs-up from the sec-def is, of course, making waves, and the part that seems to be prompting the most kerfuffle is Wilson’s comments made about disenfranchising women.

The idea behind this ideology is that each household should get a vote, and that men, as the heads of households, should have the final say in the matter. Admittedly, it’s a little confusing that men consider themselves heads of household when Wilson himself described women as “chief executive of the home.”

But I’m sure that’s just my silly lady brain not being able to grasp the deep intellectual rigor of their stance. Also no word in this clip on what voting rights should be afforded to single women, widows, or adult men who still live with their parents. But I’m sure they’ll come up with a solution that’s fair for everyone…

https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/hegseth-women-voting-household

Hogsbreath is married and if his wife agrees with all this stupidity then I want to know how much it cost to buy a wife that easy.

How fragile are these so-called men?

Can these fools be that afraid of women thinking for themselves?

Well….any answers?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

What Happened To Separation?

Before I go any further let me state here and now….when it comes to religion I just do not care….it is a personal practice and should be left to that….it should not be forced onto anyone by anyone for any reason.

If you will recall the first amendment states….The first clause in the Bill of Rights states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”

And yet the Donny show wants religion at work….

Federal workers now have broader leeway to pray and discuss their faith at the office under new guidelines from the Trump administration. The changes, outlined by the Office of Personnel Management, permit employees to share religious beliefs and try to “persuade others of the correctness of their own religious views,” as long as they don’t cross into harassment, per Politico. Supervisors can also encourage religious expression, including prayer, without fear of violating workplace rules.

  • OPM Director Scott Kupor framed the move as a step toward making federal workplaces more accommodating for employees of all faiths. The White House noted that similar language appeared in a Bill Clinton-era memo.
  • Reaction has been mixed. Supporters like Andrew Walker of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary say the policy simply reinforces basic constitutional rights, provided no one is coerced or harassed. “To me, that’s simply reaffirming the First Amendment,” Walker tells Politico.
  • On the other side, advocates for church-state separation voice concern about potential pressure in the workplace. Mikey Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation warns the new rules might blur lines between personal faith and professional advancement. He questions whether employees might feel compelled to conform to a supervisor’s religious preferences, framing it as a potential constitutional conflict.
  • Still other critics note that allowing religious talk in the workplace also raises the potential for more conflict. “The more religion is allowed into the workplace, the more likely it is that differences of opinion are raised,” Stefanie Camfield of HR firm Engage PEO tells the Washington Post. “In the current political environment, these types of differences have a way of turning into arguments. In some cases, it leads to outright hostility, which makes it more likely that an employee will feel singled out and discriminated against for their beliefs.”

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5423969-trump-memo-religious-expression/

I am sorry if this upsets anyone but I refuse to step anywhere near some ‘prayer group’ if I were at work….I would be paid to act in the interest of my country not some form of religious missionary work.

This needs a challenge but that would be a fart in the wind for the political hacks we have at SCOTUS are worthless and not working in the interests of the Constitution or this nation.

+++Off I go to get juiced(chemo) so this will be it for today I will be trying to shake off the funk afterwards….have a good day and a better weekend….+++

Peace.  Out.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

The BLITZ Is On!

****Warning this post may offend the ‘righteous’ but I take the Constitution seriously and for that reason I felt I had to re-post this piece****

As I stated I firmly believe that the first amendment is being violated by d/bags in the states by mandating religious issues in our schools.

This is a re-post from my blog that aggravates as much as possible.

Christian Bullshit At Its Best

All this is a concerted effort by christian nationalist to drive home their thoughts of supremacy.

Ever hear of Project Blitz?

Probably not so let me introduce you….

Project Blitz….

The guide instructs Christian nationalists to work in three phases.

First, they are supposed to pass bills that are expected to receive the least opposition. These “religious heritage” bills encourage or force public schools to offer Bible classes and display “In God We Trust,” as well as mandate the creation of “In God We Trust” license plates.

This first seemingly innocuous phase is meant to build enough momentum to pass “religious history and freedom” bills, which purport that America was, is, and will always be a Christian nation. Examples include “Year of the Bible” and “Christian Heritage Week” bills.

After grabbing this “low hanging fruit,” Christian nationalists move on to more dangerous bills that undermine equality by allowing discrimination in child welfare and religious refusals in health care.

There is so much more….read on…..

https://www.blitzwatch.org/

These religious zealots are doing what they accused Muslims of wanting to do 15 years ago…..any mandate on any religion is not in accordance with the Constitution….you can justify it any way we choose but the fact is it is a violation of our rights.

Someone needs to step up,besides the ACLU, and bring these policies down around the ears of the d/bags that pretend to be ‘christian’.

Enough said!

Be Smart!

Learn Stuff!

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Even Jews Have Had Enough

I hear justification of the destruction of Gaza everyday and I see news stories that push that line of thinking…..but the rest of the world wants the insanity to stop….yes even Jewish people are tired of the death and destruction….

This is a story that was not covered in the corporate media (I wonder why)…..

Thousands of Jewish-led protesters descended on the New York offices of the American Israel Public Affairs Council on Thursday, taking aim at both AIPAC and Democratic lawmakers who take millions of combined dollars from the lobby group while opposing a Gaza cease-fire.

Led by Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), the demonstrators marched from Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza outside the United Nations—where earlier this week the U.S. for the third time vetoed a Security Council cease-fire resolution—to AIPAC’s nearby New York headquarters on Third Street.

During the march, protesters carried large letters spelling “DUMP AIPAC” and a banner reading “AIPAC Funds Genocide,” as well as signs listing the names of New York Democrats who take campaign cash from the group while opposing a Gaza cease-fire. Members of Congress named and shamed at the rally include House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries ($829,835 in lifetime AIPAC contributions), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand ($348,818), and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer ($101,570).

Other activists occupied the offices of Schumer and Gillibrand. JVP said 18 people were arrested for refusing to obey police orders to leave.

“If you want to know one reason why more electeds aren’t calling for a cease-fire—even though a cease-fire is the overwhelming demand from the people—look no further than AIPAC,” said JVP. “AIPAC uses money and racist bullying to ensure congressional complicity in the genocide of Gaza.”

“Last cycle, AIPAC endorsed over 100 lawmakers who voted to decertify the results of the 2020 election, allying themselves with the far-right,” the group added. “AIPAC is threatening our safety here in the U.S. in order to ensure unconditional U.S. support for Israeli violence.”

https://www.commondreams.org/news/aipac-2667345553

I have been saying that AIPAC has too much influence over Congress and it is both parties….I am glad to see that someone else is pointing this out to the public.

Then on Monday night Biden goes on national TV and makes a bold statement….

President Biden said Monday that he hopes a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that would pause hostilities and allow for remaining hostages to be released can take effect by early next week. Asked when he thought a ceasefire could begin, Biden said: “I hope by the beginning of the weekend. The end of the weekend. My national security adviser tells me that we’re close. We’re close. We’re not done yet. My hope is by next Monday we’ll have a ceasefire.” Biden made the remarks in New York City after taping an appearance on NBC’s Late Night With Seth Meyers, the AP reports.

This would be great news if it comes about….but I also have this nagging thought….is Biden doing this to give Israel some cover from protests?

Why do Americans think Israel can do no wrong?

Is it some religious thing?

Or is it the Little Man Syndrome?

Just what is it?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Does Theocracy Approach?

There seems to be a more lively conversation especially from the fringe Right about this nation as being a ‘Christian nation’ founded by Christians for Christians.

I hate to break it you you people but it is absurd on the face of it.

Many Americans believe the United States was founded as a Christian nation, and the idea is energizing some conservative and Republican activists. But the concept means different things to different people, and historians say that while the issue is complex, the founding documents prioritize religious freedom and do not create a Christian nation.

According to the Constitution (remember that document?) was the US founded on Christianity?

Very simple answer….NO!

Alright you want more….what does the Constitution say about religion….

No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” (Article VI)

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” (First Amendment)

I bring this all up because of what I see as the rise of a dangerous movement here in the US….Christian Nationalism.  (And I am not alone)

The resurgence of Christian nationalism will come as no surprise to anyone who has watched Trump’s MAGA movement merge with a constellation of extremist preachers and apocalyptic prophets. Many of them, including prominent Mississippi Pastor Shane Vaughn, believe Trump was anointed by God to rule America. A growing number of evangelical voters now view the former president as the second coming of Jesus Christ and frame the 2024 election as a battle not just for America’s soul but for the salvation of all mankind.  

…

What’s truly shocking is tracking how the GOP’s embrace of Christian nationalist ideology has weedled its way into our government, most concerningly on the state Supreme Courts that will hear all manner of legal challenges to the 2024 election results. But the corrosive impact of Christian nationalism goes beyond just Trump, as Alabama’s Supreme Court again reminded us this week.

America is facing a threat of biblical proportion: The rise of Christian nationalism 

This brings us to this election, 2024 election, and Trump’s embracing of Christian Nationalism….

Donald Trump has frequently hinted or implied that he has been chosen by God as some type of prophet and messiah, a divine champion in the 2024 presidential election. The suggestion is that Trump is somehow infallible, above and outside the Constitution, the rule of law and other restraints placed on the behavior of mere mortals in modern society.

Such claims are patently absurd, but that is almost not a liability. In his overtly cruel and mendacious behavior, Trump has shown himself to be anything but “godly” and “righteous,” by supposed Christian standards. He rarely attends church and displays open disdain for his evangelical followers, a group he views as a means to an end: They provide him with the narcissistic energy, campaign funds and fervent support — and, of course, the votes — he will need to become America’s first dictator

In all, the relationship between Trump, his MAGA movement and the Christian right is transactional on both sides. During his presidency and beyond, Trump has promised the Christian right — and largely delivered — the power to enforce their will on the American public with the goal of turning the country into a theocracy. The Christian right has made Trump into the leader of its “spiritual warfare” campaign despite, or even because of, his obvious criminality. (To them, Trump is a victim of persecution by evil and demonic forces, further proof of his prophetic status.) Public opinion polls and other research increasingly suggest that Republicans, and in particular MAGA voters, do in fact believe he has been chosen by God to lead the country.

https://www.salon.com/2024/02/22/apocalypse-now-donald-dons-the-armor-of-god/

I stand my assertion that this ‘movement’ or thinking if you will is dangerous….the sooner Americans realize this the better the country will be.

Believe what you will but do not force me into believing…..PERIOD!

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Closing Thought–11Jan24

A Jewish slap fight…..and arrest that followed….

It appears that there is trouble brewing with the Hasidic Jews of New York.

The rebbe called for an expansion of the property more than 30 years ago, but legal disputes between the two sides (involving, among other things, whether a plaque could refer to the rebbe as deceased) have gone on for years. Community members believe members of the smaller faction secretly dug the tunnel to fulfill the rebbe’s vision of expanding. The New York Post, citing Jewish outlets, reports the group was trying to reach the abandoned men’s mikvah, a ritual bath, around the corner, and had been digging for almost a year. The tunnel was actually discovered late last year, but Monday’s trouble began when a cement truck was brought to fill it and some young Hasidic men tried to block that from happening.

Video from the scene shows a man emerging through the wall of the sanctuary from the tunnel, men sitting in the tunnel to block it from being filled, police confronting the men, and an altercation breaking out, involving people throwing desks and prayer books and the police apparently spraying some sort of irritant, ABC 7 reports. The men arrested were charged with criminal mischief and reckless endangerment, and one was also charged with obstruction of governmental administration. The headquarters is closed while a review of its structural integrity is carried out. A spokesperson for the movement refers to the men who dug the tunnel as “extremist students” and “young agitators” who were primarily in the US on student visas.

What was the aftermath?

Nine men were arrested Monday afternoon when an altercation broke out at a century-old Brooklyn synagogue over a tunnel that had been secretly dug underneath the building. The New York Times reports that the Chabad-Lubavitcher movement, which it describes as one of the most prominent Hasidic Jewish groups in New York, has for decades been in conflict over the movement’s future, with mainstream leadership wanting to carry out the teachings and visions of its leader, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, known as the rebbe, who died in 1994. But a smaller faction believes he never died and is actually the Messiah, and that has led to disagreements over a planned expansion to the movement’s global headquarters and sanctuary at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood.

Just one question….WTF?

Plus the problems this tunnel causes for the people around the dig site…..

New York City issued vacate orders and emergency work orders following the discovery of a tunnel that had been secretly dug over a period of nearly a year underneath a historic Brooklyn synagogue. Officials say the building and neighboring structures will be stabilized and occupant safety will be ensured, the AP reports. The synagogue has been cited for the illegal excavation, which, a spokesperson says, was carried out by a rogue group of “extremist” young men.

Why can’t they just along?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Forced Religion?

I do not usual comment on religion but there are times when I must step up and say my peace.

Recently Donald the Orange made a speech where he promised a ‘task force’ to impose Christian ideology…..

In recent campaign stops and on social media, Donald Trump has reprised lies aimed at inciting his Christian-right base against Joe Biden. These tirades, centered on the false charge that the Biden administration is persecuting Christians, aren’t just Trump’s typically dubious claims. Much like Trump’s lies about a stolen election, they are designed to immerse his loyalists in a grievance-laden alternative reality in which Trump alone can rescue them from an evil government threatening their freedom.

In a Dec. 19 speech in Iowa, for example, Trump pledged, “As soon as I get back in the Oval Office, I’ll also immediately end the war on Christians. I don’t know if you feel it. You have a war. There’s a war.” Speaking just after the Colorado Supreme Court disqualified him from appearing on the state’s GOP primary ballot, Trump tied this “war” to his own legal woes. “Under crooked Joe Biden, Christians and Americans of faith are being persecuted and government has been weaponized against religion like never before. And also presidents like never before,” he added. “I always say Al Capone was treated better than I was treated.”

Trump has promoted the theme of Christian persecution in the past, but is elevating it again as these legal issues mount. His clear purpose is to deflect attention from his own criminal liabilities by insinuating that the same Biden administration he falsely claims is unfairly targeting him for prosecution is similarly persecuting religious Americans.

Unsurprisingly, Trump’s ardent supporters see his and their “wars” as tied together. When he was indicted in a Manhattan court on charges that he illegally covered up hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, his backers compared this supposed persecution to that of Jesus Christ. In a Truth Social video two days after his Iowa speech, Trump made this persecution pact complete. He contended that under Biden, “Christians and Americans of faith are being persecuted like nothing this nation has ever seen before.” Trump has also echoed wild and debunked claims from congressional Republicans about anti-Catholic bias by the Biden administration and the FBI in particular.

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-2024-christian-right-truth-social-rcna132082

Sorry but I will not be forced to believe.

I have my religious beliefs and I shall retain them….so screw trump.

What will be next?   The Morality Police?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Changing Religious Landscape

It is a Sunday and time to look at the trends in our society.

I am always interested in how Americans choose to embrace their religious affiliations. Not because I am a religious person but rather how the times are changing and so is the religious beliefs of our people.

This is a study made along those lines….

A growing number of Americans are switching religions, Axios reports. According to a Public Religion Research Institute Poll, almost a quarter of Americans follow a different denomination or tradition than the one they grew up in, including those who switched to no religious affiliation. This trend is supported by a 2022 Pew Research Center study, which projects that religious switching will continue to reshape the American religious landscape in the years to come. With a variety of factors contributing to this shift, such as changing personal beliefs, dissatisfaction with religious institutions, and the influence of friends and family, the landscape of religious affiliation in the United States is transforming rapidly. As the Religion News Service reported in 2014, the reasons behind this trend are complex.

Certain elements in making such changes are common: People often change churches, switch faiths, or leave religion altogether due to personal experiences, evolving beliefs, or dissatisfaction with the way religious organizations handle social issues. And as individuals encounter new communities and ideas, their religious perspectives may adapt accordingly. This shift in religious affiliations has significant implications for faith-based organizations, as they must adapt to the changing needs and expectations of their congregations to remain relevant and maintain membership. As this trend continues to evolve, the American religious landscape will undoubtedly face new challenges and opportunities in the coming years.

It will be fascinating to see just how the major religions handle a changing climate for religion.

This survey could answer some of the questions…..

This is an interesting snapshot on the state of religion in America: As of 2022, not quite half of Americans have no doubt that God is watching over them, which is a little startling in that that number topped 60% in 2008, just 15 years ago. As the Hill reports, citing the General Social Survey conducted by the University of Chicago’s NORC research group, about a third of Americans—34%—never go to church, but about three-quarters of Americans classify themselves as spiritual and believe in things like life after death. Not surprisingly, churches, in terms of membership and attendance, took a hit during the pandemic—as did belief in a higher power. Findings from a recent study by the Public Religion Research Institute also add some interesting findings. Highlights:

  • Most Americans are still Christian, and white Christians have stayed static at 42% over the last five years. It’s worth noting: that number was 54% in 2006 and 72% in 1990.
  • Christians of color make up 25% of the nation’s population.
  • Only 7% of Americans do not believe in God, per the Hill. “Belief is very stubborn in America today,” say Ryan Burge, who studies faith at Eastern Illinois University. Another 7% are agnostic, meaning they think the answer is unknowable. The remainder believe but have doubts to some degree.
  • Mainline Protestantism is “collapsing,” says Burge. Nondenominational Protestants, however, clock in at nearly 15% of Americans and “are the second-largest religious group in America today, after Catholics.”
  • The percentage of those who are religiously unaffiliated has risen to 27% from 16% in 2006.
  • The number of Americans who worship in other houses—including Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or Unitarian Universalist—has held pretty steady at 6%.

Check out the full NORC survey here, or the PRRI study here.

Let’s not forget the massive sexual abuse report on the Catholic Church….

In 2018, a grand jury report was released in Pennsylvania naming 300-plus “predator priests” in the state accused of sexually abusing more than 1,000 children over a period of seven decades. Partly inspired by those revelations, then-Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan started a probe in her own state, releasing what the AP calls a “blistering” partial report on the matter before she left office in early 2019. Now Kwame Raoul, who took over for Madigan and continued the investigation, has released the numbers his office uncovered, revealing more than 450 Catholic clergy across Illinois’ six dioceses, including the Archdiocese of Chicago, sexually abused 1,197 children between 1950 and 2019.

The 696-page report released Tuesday was compiled by 25 staffers based on more than 100,000 pages of diocese documents, as well as 600 confidential interactions with survivors. The report added 149 names of accused clergy to lists of child sex abusers that the dioceses themselves had already IDed either before or during the AG’s investigation, reports the New York Times. The paper notes that none of the total 451 accused are currently in active ministry, and at least 330 of them are thought to now be dead.

Have a good Sunday and a safe Memorial Day

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”