WCC News: WCC renews commitment to peace with justice for people of Sudan

As the devastating war in Sudan enters its fourth year, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay reflected that, in a context of pain and uncertainty, the enduring faith, resilience, and witness of the churches in Sudan remain a powerful sign of hope. Children wait outside the full chapel during Catholic Mass in Lugi, a village in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan. The area is controlled by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, and frequently attacked by the military of Sudan (2018). Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth 17 April 2026 “The WCC takes particular encouragement from recent expressions and commitments by the Episcopal Church of Sudan, which we recognize as significant signs of hope,” he said.  “This message of gratitude and hope underscores the vital role of global solidarity.” Prayers, advocacy, and material support offered by churches and partners worldwide have been a source of strength and encouragement to those enduring the hardships of war, Pillay added. “Such solidarity must not diminish but rather deepen in this critical moment,” he urged. “The WCC reaffirms its unwavering commitment to accompanying the churches and people of Sudan in their pursuit of a just and lasting peace.” Pillay called upon all parties to the conflict to cease hostilities, prioritize dialogue, and take concrete steps toward reconciliation and rebuilding the nation. “We also urge the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts, humanitarian support, and action for the protection for civilians,” he said. “As we mark this sombre anniversary, we lift up our prayers for healing, justice, and restoration.” Pillay said he envisions a Sudan where peace prevails, where dignity is upheld, and where all displaced persons and refugees may safely and willingly return home to rebuild their lives. “The WCC stands in faith and solidarity with the people of Sudan, trusting that, through God’s grace and inspiration, peace with justice will indeed prevail,” he concluded. World Council of Churches Statement on the Third Anniversary of the War in Sudan See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

EarthBeat Weekly: Decade-old scars of environmental disaster in Vietnam

Decade-old scars of environmental disaster in Vietnam   EarthBeat Weekly Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change April 17, 2026   Thi Mai sells fish at a market in Hue, Vietnam, on Apr. 4, 2026. She like other locals believe the chemical alteration of the water after the 2016 Formosa marine disaster has stunted the growth and quality of the catch. (Photo: Reporter in Vietnam) For many fishermen in Vietnam, the memory of April 7, 2016, does not fade with the tides. That day marked the beginning of the Formosa marine disaster — one of the most devastating human-caused environmental catastrophes in Vietnam's history. Ten years later, for the Catholic communities spanning 200 km of coastline, the "common home" described by Pope Francis in Laudato Si' remains a place of profound brokenness. While the government claims the waters have recovered, the families who live by the rhythms of the sea say the environmental penance is far from over. The disaster was precipitated by the Taiwanese-owned Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation, which admitted to illegally discharging a cocktail of phenol, cyanide and iron hydroxides into the ocean. The toxins formed dense compounds that settled on the seabed, suffocating the marine ecosystem. Read more: Vietnam's coastal Catholics hold the scars of Formosa disaster 10 years later What else is new on EarthBeat:   Daughters of the Redeemer pilot 'climate-smart' agricultural program in Zambia by Derrick Silimina In 2022, the Daughters of the Redeemer launched the Community Transformation Programme, which supports five Zambian villages with agricultural mentorship, nutrition programs, and water, sanitation and hygiene activities. Read more here »   Indiana bishops put Eucharist at center of call to 'integral ecology' in new pastoral by Gina Christian, OSV News The letter was commended by Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, who extended Pope Leo XIV's blessing to the bishops. Read more here »   Pope Leo upholds Vatican opposition to nuclear weapons despite Trump's 'weak' critique by Brian Roewe The pope's repeated calls for a world without nuclear arms challenges the president's accusation that he has been soft on the nuclear issue. Read more here » What's happening in other climate news: Americans' view of environment hits new low ahead of Earth Day: Gallup —Max Rego for The Hill Iran war's global energy crisis sharpens China's advantage in clean tech —Chan Ho-Him, Aniruddha Ghosal and Anton L. Delgado for the Associated Press Afghanistan's capital is in the grip of a water crisis —Elena Becatoros for the Associated Press Supreme Court hands win to Chevron, Big Oil in environmental damage case —Julian Mark for the Washington Post Big win for mining as Senate votes to remove moratorium on Boundary Waters watershed —Ana Radelat for MinnPost BLM advances contentious South Dakota uranium mine —Hannah Northey for E&E News A Trump 'blockade' is stalling hundreds of wind and solar projects nationwide —Brad Plumer and Rebecca F. Elliott for The New York Times Environmental groups take Trump administration's 'God Squad' to court —Wyatt Myskow for Inside Climate News Final Beat: In the top story in this week's newsletter, the name "Formosa" may sound familiar for some readers. Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation is one of five subsidiaries of the Taiwan-based Formosa Plastic Group, the corporation behind efforts to build a massive petrochemical facility in southeastern Louisiana, an area often referred to as "Cancer Alley." At the center of the effort to oppose the Formosa Plastics plant is Sharon Lavigne, a Catholic activist who through her grassroots group RISE St. James has rallied community and environmental organizations to prevent another industrial facility from being built in the region already inundated with dangerous levels of pollution. Lavigne's work for environmental justice has been recognized with the 2021 Goldman Environmental Prize and a year later the prestigious Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame. Still, the eight-year struggle to block the Formosa plant continues.  While a state judge in 2022 vacated air regulation permits for the proposed plant, which she said posed "serious health consequences" for residents, that decision was overturned in 2024. In February, RISE St. James and environmental groups filed a new lawsuit to block the air permits.  "Formosa wants the state to keep this project on life support, even though it would double toxic air pollution in an already overburdened parish, and LDEQ keeps extending the permit as if our lives don't count," Lavigne said in a statement. "How many of our neighbors have to die? We're still here, we're still fighting, and St. James Parish is not a sacrifice zone." As always, thanks for reading EarthBeat.   Brian Roewe Environment Correspondent National Catholic Reporter broewe@ncronline.org     Featured Advertisers   Looking to Hire? Offering Retreats? Selling Books? Place an Ad in NCR's Online Classified Section for Only $75 per Month!   Advertisement

Truth and Action Roundup 4.17.2026

View this email in your browser Welcome to the Truth and Action Roundup, your reliable weekly source for information, inspiration, and opportunities for action during the second Trump administration.  Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up here to continue receiving it. Being centered on the message of the Gospels, Pope Leo provided us with a model for meeting the violence and militarism promoted by the Trump administration. With President Trump sharing imagery depicting himself as Jesus Christ, his self-centered understanding of his role, Pope Leo’s call to moral responsibility and diplomacy was a stark and needed contrast. In focusing on the Christian responsibility towards peace, the clarity of the Gospels cannot be overwhelmed by the political messaging tactics that have so effectively distracted too many.  In attacking the Pope and attempting to frame his message as a personal feud, Trump is attempting to distract from the human cost of his policies both here and abroad. In Arizona, 47% of SNAP participants have been removed from the program, including 180,000 children, and in Nebraska, 40% of Medicaid enrollees will now be subject to work requirements designed to reduce participation. Abroad, we’re well familiar with the growing toll of lives, where at least 2,076 people have been killed by US-Israeli attacks on Iran since February 28, and in Cuba where 90,000 people are on hospital waitlists. In every decision to prioritize militarism over peace, we see Trump affirm his vision that “we can’t do daycare” because we have to pay for the armed forces. In remaining focused on the human costs of these politics, we too can stop ourselves and others from being distracted. We’ve seen communities across the country, from Minneapolis to Los Angeles come together in a beautiful demonstration of God’s love by focusing on the human costs of mass deportation policies on their neighbors. Pope Leo’s call to protect the innocent abroad shares this same spirit, and we can follow this example in demanding peace for everyone. –Rev. Moya Harris and Chad Stanton, Sojourners In the News Here’s a look at what happened this week: The Trump administration continued to implement its cruel mass deportation agenda. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a new tactic for conducting immigration enforcement under new department head Markwayne Mullin. In some localities, DHS has opted for a less visible ICE presence by paying local police departments to make immigration arrests. A February report estimates that more local police officers nationwide have been trained to conduct immigration enforcement than the number of ICE agents DHS has added since Trump returned to office. Testimonies from former detainees indicate that conditions in ICE detention remain dismal. Reports describe these conditions as “unsafe and degrading, with inadequate access to food, water, personal hygiene, and basic care, particularly harming children.” A Canadian woman recently detained for three weeks with her seven-year-old daughter, who was recently diagnosed with autism, described her fellow detainees as “wonderful people” who are “suffering greatly” under a system that is “wrong and illegal.” International developments this week were marked by tumult and upheaval. The U.S. Navy’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz persists, with Navy officials claiming that “U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going in and out of Iran by sea.” Meanwhile, a Pakistani delegation met with Iranian officials to facilitate further talks before the current ceasefire ends next Wednesday. A recent think tank report suggests that if the international community invested $8 billion in renewable energy for Cuba, the island nation would no longer depend on the fossil fuels currently subject to a U.S. blockade. Such investment could position Cuba as a regional leader in renewable energy and diminish the U.S.’s capacity to undermine the island’s economy and society. A Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine this week resulted in the highest number of casualities in months, killing 17 people across three cities. In response, a Ukrainian drone attack killed two people in Russia. These incidents followed the brief ceasefire for Orthodox Easter last weekend. Voters in Hungary removed longtime far-right leader Viktor Orbán from office, electing former Orbán ally Peter Magyar, who secured a two-thirds majority of seats in Parliament. Magyar immediately pledged to urge Russian leader Vladimir Putin “stop the killing and stop the war.” Several states saw developments related to benefit programs designed to assist people in vulnerable situations. Nebraska is poised to become the first state in the nation to implement new work requirements for Medicaid recipients, eight months ahead of the federal deadline. Hospitals have warned that many patients may not be prepared for the change, and that 10-15% of current Medicaid patients could eventually be disenrolled. The new work requirements stem from last summer’s so-called “big, beautiful bill.” The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services reported that thousands of Iowans may have had their Medicaid information exposed online after a file was inadvertently uploaded to its website. The Department asserts that names and other personal or medical information were not disclosed. Arizona’s SNAP enrollment has declined by 47% since the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last July, representing the largest decline among all states by a significant margin. The bill’s new eligibility criteria and Arizona’s shortage of state workers have combined to make the program much harder to access, meaning less food on nearly half a million people’s tables. Take Action Join us in calling for companies to end aiding ICE in taking our neighbors with the S.T.O.P. and Break the ICE Campaigns. We are demanding Congress end the blockade of Cuba. What We’re Reading “How Pope Leo XIV Understands His Role in Politics” | Leo wants to situate himself not as an adversary but as a person capable of fostering dialogue and preserving peace. (by Mitchell Atencio) “Trump Has Ushered in a New American Age of Moral Catastrophe” | The world remains gripped with anxiety over what will happen next time the U.S. spins the chamber with nuclear bullets. (by Wesley Granberg-Michaelson) Deep Breaths We must stay connected to the Spirit. We MUST stay connected to Spirit. God’s Spirit is what will keep us and sustain us as we navigate the coming days. We cannot go it alone. We are not alone. There are more of us who care about the world being better than those who are trying to do harm. We are powerful. More powerful than we realize, especially when we turn to the Spirit of God for guidance and strength. Yet, even together, we can get a little shaky with the onslaught of life’s trials. Our shoulders might slump, and our knees might knock, all while still believing in God. It is a part of being human. It is part of survival. Sometimes we can feel helpless in the middle of believing. Today, I am sharing this prayer by Cole Arthur Riley from her book Black Liturgies. ––Rev. Moya Harris, Senior Director of Programs, Sojourners FOR WHEN COURAGE FEELS FAR FROM YOU God of those who tremble, Courage can feel foolish when we’ve seen the world in all its terror. But, protect us from life lived in perpetual vigilance. Keep fear from monopolizing our relationships, our desires, our motivations, so that we can act without rehearsing the worst of our imaginations. Help us meet our fear with kindness and mercy. There are times when we feel small and exhausted. Harness our courage. Grant us contentment in our limits, and community in our battles. Send others who tremble alongside us, who will speak truth with calmness. Show us we need not be giants if we have good friends. And lead us beside still waters. The space is thin between bravery and rest. Remind us that fear is as bodily as any emotion. Slow our breath, ground our attention. Lie still with us as courage finds us. May it be so. –Cole Arthur Riley The Truth and Action Roundup is compiled by Sojourners staff: President: Rev. Adam Russell Taylor Senior Research Associate: J.K. Granberg-Michaelson Digital Content and Community Specialist: Kassandra Tapia Chief Program and Impact Officer: Bryan Epps Political Director: Chad V. Stanton Senior Program Director: Rev. Moya Harris Digital Education and Outreach Specialist: Cortnie Brooks Policy and Action Assistant: Trinity Williams Donate Subscribe Copyright © 2026 Sojourners. All rights reserved. Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842

SojoMail - The president vs. the pope

View this email in your browser By Betsy Shirley Editor in Chief, Sojourners It was a peaceful scene, if you didn’t look too closely: Earlier this week Pope Leo visited the ancient city where St. Augustine of Hippo once lived, preached, and wrote. Leo prayed, planted an olive tree, and watched as doves were released. Never mind the swarm of press, police, and sharpshooters who surrounded the pontiff as he walked through muddy ruins. Or the palpable tension between the Vatican and the White House, as the president and vice president ratcheted up their rhetoric following Leo’s blunt condemnation of war. On his Truth Social platform, Trump said Leo should “focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician.” In an interview with Fox News, Vice President J.D. Vance said the Vatican should “stick to matters of morality,” and “let the president of the United States stick to dictating American public policy.” Which raises the question: To what extent should a pope—or any religious leader, for that matter—be involved with politics? And while the pope is clearly not a politician, this week experts in Catholic theology and international policy told Sojourners news editor Mitchell Atencio that “it would be a mistake to interpret the pope or bishops as suggesting that the gospel or his papacy are apolitical.” Elsewhere this week, we’re looking at the blasphemous AI-generated meme that earned even MAGA’s condemnation, attempts to baptize the Iran war, a new TV show about women in the Bible (yes, really), and a call for churches to practice digital equity. How Pope Leo XIV Understands His Role In Politics (by Mitchell Atencio) Leo doesn’t want to be seen as a rival to President Trump. That doesn’t mean he thinks the gospel is apolitical. Read the full article Advertisement Our Latest Stories Trump Has a Pattern of Thinking He’s America’s Messiah (by Michael Woolf) This isn’t the first time he’s done this. Here are four other times Trump portrayed himself as a savior. Read more ‘The Faithful’ Gives Biblical Women More Voice—But Not More Depth (by Brandon Grafius) The series emphasizes the strength and agency of the women in the Bible, but is opaque about why we should admire them. Read more Trump Has Ushered in a New American Age of Moral Catastrophe (by Wesley Granberg-Michaelson) The gospel was a rebuke to Roman emperors. It's still a rebuke to would-be emperors today. Read more From the Magazine: Our Digital Divide Is Growing. What Can Churches Do? (By Stacy Dandridge) Access to the internet is a justice issue. Here are some steps toward a practical theology of technology. Read more Advertisements Sleep for justice. Sleep for service. Sleep for Life. New from Ken Wytsma. If exhaustion has become your unwelcome companion, this book will help you rediscover the joy of a well-rested life. We overlook the power of sleep—until we struggle to get enough. Our culture glorifies productivity, yet millions suffer from chronic exhaustion and anxiety. If we slept better, could we live better? Prophecy, Preaching, and Prayer in a Time of Crisis How can Christian congregations respond faithfully in a time of danger to our democracy? The Craigville Colloquy brings together ordained and lay leaders in a unique experience of theological reflection and renewal in scenic Craigville Village on Cape Cod. July 6-10, 2026. Student scholarships available. Register: craigvillecolloquy.com Donate Subscribe Copyright © 2026 Sojourners. All rights reserved. Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842