Christian churches

A report circulating online claims that a man described as a migrant tried to break down the door of a church in Italy by hurling stones at it, and that Christians are under attack worldwide. Details about the location, the suspect and whether authorities responded are not provided, and the incident has not been independently confirmed.

Critics are drawing a connection between American evangelical churches, billionaire wealth and persistent poverty, arguing that religious institutions have aligned themselves with oligarchic interests rather than the teachings of Jesus. The discussion frames American capitalism and fundamentalist Christianity as mutually reinforcing, with hashtags linking Jesus, money and billionaires to frustration over inequality and the political influence of wealthy donors.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has condemned a Defense Department office of religious affairs created under Pete Hegseth, calling it unconstitutional. The group says the office is charged with securing funding and resources for religious ministry, facilities, and chaplain-led programs, and warns it could push Christian extremism on US military personnel.

A pastor linked to the MAGA movement has claimed that a US state has been 'hijacked' by 'toxic empathy' for LGBTQ people, remarks reported by LGBT Nation. The comments drew immediate mockery online, with critics citing them sarcastically as another example of the Christian love of inclusion and welcome that churches publicly preach, contrasting it with what they call MAGA hate.

A new report highlights how caste discrimination continues within India's Christian churches, extending even to burial practices, where Dalit Christians are often separated from upper-caste members in graveyards. Despite Christianity's message of equality, many churches maintain caste-based segregation in cemeteries, pews and leadership, prompting renewed debate over how deeply caste divisions run in Indian religious life.

A commentator argues that modern institutional Christianity has become a multi-billion-dollar enterprise resembling a corporation, complete with luxurious leadership, a centralized hierarchy and bureaucracy. The claim is that none of this reflects the early church of 33 AD, which reportedly operated without a headquarters, and readers are being invited to debate whether organised religion has strayed from its origins.

A Palestinian Christian mother and her daughter have been killed in an Israeli strike on a building in Gaza City. The deaths, reported by Christian media outlets, highlight the toll of the conflict on Gaza's small Christian community, which has shrunk dramatically during the war and drawn particular attention from churches and Christian organisations worldwide.

A Russian glide bomb struck near a historic 19th-century church in Sumy, Ukraine, damaging the building and scarring a monument to Christ, according to Ukrainian outlets. The attack is being widely condemned as another Russian strike on civilian and religious targets, renewing calls for accountability and continued Western support for Ukraine's air defense.

The Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza is mourning Maysaa Daoud and her young daughter Mary, who were killed when a residential apartment was bombed west of Gaza City overnight. The deaths add to the mounting civilian toll in the territory, and grief over the family is being shared widely online alongside renewed calls for people to be able to escape the enclave.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has established a new religious office at the Pentagon, drawing sharp criticism from observers who say it blurs the line between church and state. Critics point to his 'spiritual battle' rhetoric, arguing it reflects a Christian nationalist agenda that could politicize the military and alienate diverse service members and recruits, undermining unit cohesion.

Gaza's small Christian community is mourning members killed in the latest Israeli air strike on the territory. The deaths have drawn attention to the plight of the tiny Christian minority caught in the ongoing conflict, with church leaders and community members expressing grief as the war between Israel and Hamas continues.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem says two Christian women were killed in a strike on Gaza City. The Patriarchate, which leads the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, is mourning their deaths, and Catholic news outlets including EWTN News and the National Catholic Register are covering the announcement amid ongoing fighting in Gaza.

A Culture, Faith, and Politics segment from October 1 argues that Christian conservatives in Georgia will lose their political power, urging listeners to remember how they used it while they held it. The commentary frames the debate around religion's role in government and the separation of church and state, reflecting wider frustration among critics of religious influence in US politics.

A funeral was held at a church in Gaza for a mother and her daughter who were killed in an Israeli strike. The service drew mourners from the local Christian community, one of the region's smallest and most vulnerable populations. Images and reports of the ceremony circulated widely, underscoring the civilian toll of the ongoing conflict.

A Christian mother and her daughter killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza have been buried at a church there. The funeral highlights the toll of the war on Gaza's small Christian community, one of the oldest in the region, and comes as international attention focuses on civilian casualties in the territory.