Thursday, November 13, 2025

SojoMail - Make America ashamed again

In this week’s SojoMail: We need to do better than post-shame politics, a look at the possible paths forward for Catholic-rooted feminism, and California’s churches respond to ICE.

The Moral Lesson Buried in Last Week’s ‘Blue Wave’

Tyler Huckabee writes that America should feel shame again:

Following a stronger-than-expected showing from Democratic candidates in last week’s elections, there's been a lot of media discourse about what the party can learn from these wins. Much of the focus has been on Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral victory in New York City.

Personally, I’m not sure those lessons are too complicated. Running charismatic, media-savvy politicians with an independent streak and message discipline has been something Democrats have excelled at since President John F. Kennedy. God only knows why the party largely gave up on it after President Barack Obama left office. Maybe Mamdani’s success will jog the collective memory.

But there are other, deeper lessons from Tuesday night’s “blue wave,” and an important one comes from Virginia, where 36-year-old Democrat Jay Jones unseated Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares. Attorney general races don’t typically end up on the national stage, but this one did for morbid reasons, and there are some hard lessons for all of us here, including one about shame. I do not think anyone should live in shame, but feeling bad about doing something wrong is a sign of moral maturity.

Read the full article

Our Latest Stories

Reckoning, Renewal, and the Next Chapter of Catholic Feminism (by Emma Cieslik)

How a new generation of women is picking up the torch and charting a course for the future of the Catholic Church.

The Noose Has Tightened in Palestine (by Kenji Kuramitsu)

With a ceasefire in place, it’s tempting to ignore the broader issues that Palestinians still face, including continuing settler violence.

Jesus Led Him to the Top of a Refrigerator to Protest SNAP Cuts (by Ethan Meyers)

Terence Lester, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Love Beyond Walls, has sat on a refrigerator for over 60 hours.

From the Magazine: The Fallout From Trump’s ICE Storm (by Kathryn Stelmach Artuso)

The most recent chapter of grassroots activism for churches in Vetura County, California, is all about responding to ICE.

Advertisements

Mennonite Central Committee seeks new US Executive Director

This role guides MCC’s relief, development, and peacebuilding efforts across this worldwide ministry of Anabaptist churches. The Director provides collaborative leadership for MCC’s programming and speaks on behalf of MCC U.S. to build understanding and support for the mission of MCC among its increasingly diverse constituency.

Need a unique gift that offers stories of faith, courage, and hope?

Give a gift subscription to Sojourners this holiday season and save $10! Your recipient will receive 10 issues of Sojourners magazine keeping them informed and inspired all year long. Order your gift subscription today and we will mail a hand-signed postcard to your special person letting them know of your generosity.

Donate