With Vice President JD Vance calling Charlie Kirk “a martyr for Christianity,” some Kirk admirers suggest his assassination will galvanize throngs of people — notably young conservatives — to become more engaged in evangelical and Catholic churches.

A surprise move by the IRS that would allow pastors to back political candidates from the pulpit without losing their organization’s tax-exempt status is drawing praise from conservatives and even some progressive religious groups but concern from other leaders of faith, along with tax and legal experts.

Faith leaders across denominations are joining nationwide protests against immigration raids ordered by the Trump administration and making a united call on nonviolence to curb clashes with law enforcement.

The Right Rev. Mariann Budde, Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Washington, made headlines this week after she angered President Donald Trump with her sermon during an inaugural prayer service.

Numerous faith leaders across the U.S. say the immigration crackdown launched by President Donald Trump’s new administration has sown fear within their migrant-friendly congregations.

The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, bishop of the Diocese of Washington, says she will continue to pray for President Donald Trump, hours after he lashed out at her over a sermon.

President Donald Trump is demanding an apology from the Episcopal bishop of Washington after she asked him to have mercy on the LGBTQ+ community and migrants in the United States illegally during a prayer service marking his inauguration.

Former President Donald Trump once again won the support of about 8 in 10 white evangelical Christian voters in his election to a second term.

Large numbers of Americans believe the founders intended the U.S. to be a Christian nation.

For eight years, Donald Trump has managed to secure the support of many evangelical and conservative Christians despite behavior that has often seemed at odds with teachings espoused by Christ in the Gospels.

As Republican governors ramp up their transports of migrants to Democratic-run jurisdictions, the practice is getting a mixed reaction from Christian faith leaders — many of whom, especially evangelicals, have supported GOP candidates by large numbers in recent elections.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has prompted some of America’s most prominent evangelical leaders to raise a provocative question.

By the thousands, Americans have been seeking religious exemptions in order to circumvent COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Facebook already asks for your thoughts.

A recent photo posted online of the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, America’s largest evangelical denomination, getting the COVID-19 vaccine drew more than 1,100 comments.

The state Department of Public Health says the number raises the state's death toll since the start of the pandemic to 29,233. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)Here’s what’s happening Sunday with the pandemic in the U.S.:— Public health officials have complained for months that they do not have enough support or money to get COVID-19 vaccines quickly into arms. As they work to ramp up the shots, state and local public health departments across the U.S. cite a variety of obstacles, most notably a lack of leadership from the federal government. The Capitol’s attending physician notified all lawmakers Sunday of the virus exposure and urged them to be tested. With the virus transforming consumer spending habits, economists believe some portion of these service jobs won’t return even after the economy has regained its footing.

As the first vaccines neared approval last year, some Catholic bishops warned they might be morally unacceptable. “The Church, on multiple levels, has said that it’s morally acceptable to receive the vaccines that are currently available. Among Protestant evangelical leaders, who generally have strong anti-abortion views, there’s been relatively little anti-vaccine rhetoric, according to the Rev. In the past, the council has ruled that some vaccines for other diseases were unacceptable because they used pork-derived gelatin. But on Friday the council gave its approval to China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, paving the way for its distribution in Indonesia.

As his administration draws to a close, some of those backers are approaching President-elect Joe Biden with skepticism, but not antagonism. During the Obama administration, Graham attended a conversation Biden convened among faith-based advocates about gun legislation. However, some groups such as Perkins' may find occasional opportunities to work with the Biden administration even while remaining critical of it in their messaging to members and fundraising, according to evangelical writer and analyst Napp Nazworth. Meanwhile, evangelicals outside those most closely associated with Trump already are identifying commonalities where they could partner with Biden. The Trump administration had slashed the refugee target to historic lows.

They have a message in common for members of their faiths: Voting for Democrats who support abortion rights is an evil potentially deserving of eternal damnation. Most members of the clergy, including foes of abortion, steer clear of overt endorsements or denunciations of political candidates. Numerous denominations try to frame their stance on abortion in ways that respect multiple viewpoints. Both the Conservative and Reform branches say abortion is acceptable under various circumstances, and the decision is up to the woman involved. Abortion is generally frowned on if poverty is the motive, but accepted if a women’s health is at risk.

During a break between morning church services, Beverly Sides, right, with the Prestonwood Cultural Impact Team shows Suzie Brewer election voter guides for various north Texas counties at Prestonwood Baptist Church Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Plano, Texas. He spoke in the parking lot of a pizza place in McKinney, Texas, the county seat. Jeffress, the leader of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, also sees the changes underway in his state. Despite the United States’ troubles with the pandemic and economic crash, white evangelicals remain among the president’s most loyal supporters. Texas evangelicals expect Barrett, whose confirmation hearings are underway in the U.S. Senate this week, to uphold more limits to abortion.

Yet from the earliest phases of the pandemic, and continuing to this day, some worship services and other religious activities have been identified as sources of local outbreaks. Union County, with a population of 25,000 people, had recorded fewer than 25 cases during the pandemic prior to the church outbreak. Also in June, West Virginias health department announced outbreaks linked to five churches in different parts of the state. The diocese announced Thursday that the church would be closed indefinitely after a priest who celebrated Mass this week tested positive. Greg Abbott issued an order requiring people wear face masks in most public settings with several exceptions, including participants in religious services.

Vice President Mike Pence, left, greets Senior Pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress, right, after Pence spoke at the Southern Baptist megachurch First Baptist Dallas during a Celebrate Freedom Rally in Dallas, Sunday, June 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)NEW YORK Churches connected to President Donald Trump and other organizations linked to current or former Trump evangelical advisers received at least $17.3 million in loans from a federal rescue package designed to aid small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. Graham, whose megachurch claims more than 42,000 members, is not related to Trump evangelical adviser Franklin Graham, son of the late Rev. Other program beneficiaries connected to veteran evangelical Trump allies include The Faith & Freedom Coalition, founded by conservative strategist Ralph Reed, which got a loan of between $150,000 and $350,000. King Jesus International Ministry, the Miami megachurch where Trump launched his evangelical outreach push ahead of Novembers election, received a loan of between $2 million and $5 million according to the data. That church's pastor, Guillermo Maldonado, was also among a group of faith leaders who met and prayed with Trump at the White House last fall.

TEXAS – Vice President Mike Pence is moving forward with a trip to Texas on Sunday as the state rushes to respond to a coronavirus surge. Texas was one of the states the task force highlighted during the meeting as a site of a concerning outbreak. At First Baptist, Pence is participating in an event billed as "Celebrate Freedom Sunday." It remains to be seen how large the First Baptist event will be. There is currently no occupancy limit for religious services in Texas, though it is unclear if the First Baptist event fits that category.

For over a week, Pence has been scheduled to speak at First Baptist Dallas, a church led by Pastor Robert Jeffress, an enthusiastic supporter of President Donald Trump. But the coronavirus situation in Texas has deteriorated quickly in recent days, and Pence indicated Friday that his Texas visit will at least partially focus on the outbreak now. At First Baptist, Pence is participating in an event billed as "Celebrate Freedom Sunday." It remains to be seen how large the First Baptist event will be and what precautions the church is taking coronavirus cases increase. There is currently no occupancy limit for religious services in Texas, though it is unclear if the First Baptist event fits that category.