WCC news: WCC strongly condemns treatment of activists detained by Israeli authorities

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay strongly condemned the reported humiliation, manhandling, and degrading treatment of activists detained by Israeli authorities following the interception of the Gaza-bound flotilla. Fishing boats at sunrise in the Gaza City harbor in 2011. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth 22 May 2026 “Such treatment of civilians and peace activists constitutes a serious violation of human dignity and of international human rights and humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention,” Pillay said. “No security consideration can justify abuse.” Pillay demanded the immediate release of all detained activists and called for an independent investigation and full accountability for all reported violations. “We also acknowledge the principled actions taken by several governments to formally express their condemnation of these acts and their concern over the continued violations of international law by the State of Israel,” he said. “The dehumanizing rhetoric and actions promoted by certain Israeli political and settler actors continue to fuel violence, hatred, and impunity.” Humanitarian solidarity and peaceful civic action must never be criminalized, Pillay urged. “As churches committed to justice and peace, we affirm the God-given dignity of every human being,” he concluded.  Read the full statement 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: For young US adults, climate change remains major worry

For young US adults, climate change remains major worry   EarthBeat Weekly Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change May 22, 2026   (Unsplash/Joice Kelly) In April, the journalism consortium Covering Climate Now (of which National Catholic Reporter is a member) issued a white paper examining the state of climate coverage in mainstream media.  It found that climate news coverage globally declined 14% in 2025, while in the U.S. the three main broadcast networks — CBS, NBC, ABC — spent 35% less airtime on climate news last year.  "Much of the media has gone, if not silent, certainly quiet," Covering Climate Now said in the report.  Reduced news attention on climate change, even while its impacts become more pronounced around the country and the world, could partly explain a slight drop in levels of "eco-anxiety" among young adults in the U.S., which was a main finding in a survey from Sacred Heart University that I covered this week for EarthBeat. A majority, 55%, of the 1,500 respondents ages 15-29 still reported eco-anxiety — psychological distress over climate change impacting their daily lives — but that represented an 8-percentage point decline from the 2025 survey.  Researchers with Sacred Heart's Laudato Si' Office of Sustainability and Social Justice, which conducted the survey, suggested the fall in eco-anxiety might be linked to the issue being less top-of-mind, to which less news coverage could be a contributor.  "Climate concern is widespread among U.S. youth, but the climate experience is defined by anxiety, not intensity," they said in a report on the survey results. Overall, the vast majority of U.S. young adults, nearly seven in 10, still worry about climate change but have declining faith in government and institutions to effectively act on sustainability issues. Each of the 11 institutional groups listed by the survey received lower trust ratings in 2026 than 2025, with the steepest drops for the federal government (42.1%, down 14.4 percentage points), large corporations (36.5%, down 11.4 percentage points) and the country's wealthy elite (33.2%, down 11.5 percentage points). Read more: US young adults concerned by climate change, skeptical on action, Sacred Heart U survey finds What else is new on EarthBeat:   The church defended workers from industrial capitalism. Now Pope Leo XIV is taking on AI. by Brian Fraga Catholic labor historians see parallels between Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV's upcoming encyclical on protecting the human person in the age of AI, and his 19th century predecessor's landmark encyclical Rerum Novarum. Read more here »   Bolivia's bishops urge 'humanitarian pauses' as protests collapse country by David Agren, OSV News Bolivia's Catholic bishops appealed for dialogue and "humanitarian pauses" during disruptive protests, which have collapsed the highlands of the Andean country and threatened the administration of President Rodrigo Paz.  Read more here »   As Ebola epidemic spreads, Uganda postpones Martyrs Day celebrations by Frederick Nzwili, OSV News Catholic bishops in Uganda have urged the people to remain calm after the government postponed the annual Martyrs Day celebrations, following an Ebola outbreak in the East African region. Read more here » What's happening in other climate news: The worst climate future is less likely, but the best one is slipping away, scientists say —Seth Borenstein for the Associated Press What to know about the predictions for a potentially record-breaking El Nino —Jennifer Mcdermott for the Associated Press Trump eases restrictions on climate 'super pollutants' —Lisa Friedman and Maxine Joselow for The New York Times EPA wants to repeal limits on 'forever chemicals' in drinking water —Jake Spring and Brady Dennis for the Washington Post Utah's fragile desert could feel like the Sahara if America's biggest data center gets built —Leia Larsen for Grist and The Salt Lake Tribune ICE changes environmental review plan for detention centers —Taylor Mills for Bloomberg Law Companies join a deep-sea mining rush after Trump executive order, as regulators fast-track permits —Helen Wieffering for the Associated Press Solar to overtake coal on Texas grid for the first time ever this year —Julian Spector for Canary Media Final Beat: On Monday, Pope Leo XIV will release the first encyclical of his papacy, Magnifica Humanitas, on "the protection of the human person in the age of artificial intelligence." Two days earlier marked the 11th anniversary of Pope Francis signing his first solo encyclical, "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home." (Francis had previously issued Lumen Fidei, a document on faith begun by Pope Benedict XVI.) How Magnifica Humanitas connects with Laudato Si' — specifically Francis' stinging critiques of the technocratic paradigm that holds technology alone can solve environmental challenges like climate change facing the world — will be something I'll be watching and reporting on next week. In the meantime, you can revisit all of EarthBeat's coverage of Laudato Si' at its 10th anniversary last year. 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 5.22.2026

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. This Monday, there was a mass shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Three men were killed before the two teenagers responsible committed suicide. After this tragedy, people have questioned what motivated the killers. In targeting the Islamic Center, the pair hoped to copy past mass shootings, aiming to harm the children at the center, but were stopped by the courage of Amin Abdullah, the center’s security guard. There is clear evidence that the shooters wanted to follow the example of past killers. It is important to understand what led these teenagers to violence, but we also need to recognize and speak out about the hatred that drove them. This hatred is not limited to online spaces. Proverbs 31:9 calls us to “open our mouths, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” We must be clear-eyed and honest about the hatred Muslims face in our communities. Right now, our country is at war with Iran, the third Muslim country we have fought since 2000. This war is being led by the Secretary of Defense, an open supporter of Christian Nationalism, and commanded by a President who regularly denigrates Muslims himself. Ignoring this context when we talk about Monday’s violence dishonors the victims and keeps us from taking responsibility to ensure this violence never happens again. As Christians, we cannot stay silent about violence done in our name. We must advocate for peace and commit ourselves to healing the pain caused by hatred toward Muslims, both here and around the world. This means we must also challenge those in power who spread this hatred. –Rev. Moya Harris and Chad Stanton, Sojourners P.S. We are continuing to build an intentional community of people looking to enact their faith in our Sojourners Faith and Practice Forum on Mighty Networks. Please consider joining us. In the News Trump’s cruel deportation agenda barreled ahead, sometimes in defiance of the law. Senate Republicans advanced a budget reconciliation bill that would fund immigration agencies within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through 2029. The reconciliation process allows Republicans to sidestep a filibuster and pass the $72 billion bill along party lines. A federal judge banned ICE from making arrests, except in rare cases, in and around three Manhattan buildings where immigration hearings take place. But just one day later, ICE agents seemed to ignore the judge’s order by making arrests at the immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza. Former City Comptroller Brad Lander called this a “constitutional crisis.” The U.S. continued to put pressure on Cuba while also attempting to force concessions from Iran. The U.S. Department of Justice indicted Raul Castro, the 94-year-old former president of Cuba, for allegedly helping to shoot down two U.S. planes carrying anti-Castro activists in 1996. This indictment came soon after CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials on May 14. The U.S. and Iran are still negotiating to try to end the war started by the U.S. and Israel, which is now almost three months old. NBC News reported a “new burst of diplomatic action” on Thursday to try to break the deadlock between the two countries. The Trump administration continued to show clear signs of authoritarian overreach. Months before Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund was announced, DOJ official Ed Martin told a Republican operative that January 6th Capitol rioters would get millions of dollars from the government before Trump’s presidency ended. In the past few weeks, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has targeted ABC, speeding up the review of eight local broadcasting licenses. This happened soon after the White House strongly criticized ABC’s late-night host, Jimmy Kimmel, for a joke he made about Melania Trump the week before. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke Monday at a campaign event boosting the Trump-backed challenger to Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., ahead of Tuesday’s primary elections, which the challenger, Ed Gallrein, went on to win. It’s highly unusual, to say the least, for the defense secretary to participate in a political event. Take Action Next week, we’re launching the Context Unlocked webinar series with Trinity Williams to discuss the war in Iran. We’re continuing to call for an end to the blockading of Cuba. What We’re Reading “The San Antonio Nuns Chanting ‘Go Spurs Go! And God Bless!” | “Playing sports is a way of glorifying God with the gifts that he has given you. But as we’re playing, just know that everything you do is a gift from him. (by Jenna Barnett) “MAGA's 9-Hour Prayer Festival Is Based on a False Idea” | “Christian nationalism reveals itself to be sinful because of its idolatrous fruits...” (by Heather Brady) Deep Breaths This week, Rev. Harris is traveling, so this week I’ll share some thoughts about joy. –Chad Stanton, Political Director, Sojourners ————— I’ve been thinking a lot about my grandmother Carolyn as she grows older. When I consider that my grandmother was born into a world that was still striving to recognize her full humanity by recognizing her civil rights, and how we are back striving once again, I sometimes fall into despair. But one of the memorable and striking things about my grandmother is her showing her wonderful smile. Despite everything, the boundless joy and optimism of her life have bound together generations of my family. It’s her spirit I want to carry forward and share in this moment when things look bleak. With this in mind, I’d like to share this performance of “Joy Comes In The Morning” by Chris Blue here. 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 - We've never seen corruption like this. The prophets did.

View this email in your browser By Betsy Shirley Editor in Chief, Sojourners We’re almost to the long weekend (and Pentecost). This week has brought deeply disturbing news, including shootings at a San Diego mosque and the nearly $1.8 billion dollar slush fund President Donald Trump created for his allies. But first, I wanted to start off with a story that made me smile (and truthfully, tear up a bit). ‘All the colors of the rainbow’ In 1997, the contemporary Christian music group Avalon released the hit song “Testify to Love.” Several years later, band member Michael Passons left—and later revealed he was fired for being gay. But this week, Passons joined a former bandmate and a country music star to release a new version of “Testify to Love,” this time fully as himself. Sojourners’ Mitchell Atencio interviewed Passons about what this song means—and I dare you read it without getting choked up. A ’90s Christian Hit Song Is Now Blooming as a Queer Anthem (By Mitchell Atencio) “Testify to Love” means more to former Avalon singer Michael Passons now that he can sing it as “someone who has embraced my identity.” Read the interview + listen to the song Advertisement Thy corruption stinketh Earlier this week, the Department of Justice—currently under the leadership of Trump’s former personal lawyer—announce it would create an unprecedented fund for the president’s allies who had been criminally investigated by the prior administration. As Adam Russell Taylor explains, this is exactly the kind of situation that prompted the prophet Micah to write some of the Bible’s sharpest critiques. The Prophet Micah on Trump’s $1.8 Billion Fund for His Allies (By Adam Russell Taylor) The president is using public resources to reward his allies and ignore justice. This corruption cannot stand. Read Adam's commentary Unleash the Spirit This Sunday begins Pentecost—a season in the church calendar that marks when the Spirit descended upon the early believers after Jesus’ resurrection. If you’re feeling a little fuzzy on what this unleashing of the Spirit means for us in the year of our Lord 2026, Renée Darline Roden and Stuart C. Lord offer examples. Pentecost Means Singing Together (By Renée Darline Rodin) How a bilingual choir offers a glimpse of the church as Pentecost imagines it: many voices, one song. Read more Why We Still Shout (By Stuart C. Lord) Connecting the story of Pentecost to the power of embodied worship in the Black Church. Read more Advertisements Explore Environmental Justice Through PATHWAYS Theological Online Program The PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc. online, asynchronous Environmental Justice Program provides tools for engaging EJ work while also connecting you locally and challenging you to develop theologically, biblically and ethically. LAST CALL: Sojourners Special Issue on America’s 250th Birthday We're down to the last few extra copies of the June 2026 special issue! Join Julia Alvarez, Edwidge Danticat, Fr. James Martin and others for this landmark Sojourners special issue. Includes a pull-out poster, new hymn and reflection resources. Great for groups. Order now before they're all gone! Donate Subscribe Unsubscribe or update email preferences Copyright © 2026 Sojourners. All rights reserved. 611 Pennsylvania Ave SE #342, Washington, DC 20003 Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842