Thomas Reese

Thomas Reese

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

Senior Analyst at Religion News Service, Jesuit priest, author of "Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church" https://religionnews.com/author/tomreese/ https://bsky.app/profile/rns.org

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My @rns.org column: Voting is a sacred right and duty, no matter where you live religionnews.com/2026/10/27/v...

religionnews.comVoting is a sacred right and duty, no matter where you live(RNS) — If you do not live in a competitive district, the temptation is to stay home and not vote.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

Working as a voter assistant clerk at the voting center at the university of the District of Columbia. Will be here until 7 PM. And back on Friday.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/26/c... @jackjenkins.me @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social

religionnews.comCatholic bishops accuse White House of manipulation over prayer video(RNS) — Retired Kansas City Archbishop Joseph Naumann's office told RNS, 'The bishops were assured that no photographs would be made public. They came to have a discussion on important policy matters....

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/26/u... @yonat.bsky.social

religionnews.comUS rabbi barred from entering Israel on trip to help Palestinians harvest olives(RNS) — The annual olive harvest is of economic and cultural importance in the occupied West Bank but has become a flashpoint of tension with Israeli settlers over recent years.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/26/h...

religionnews.comHow ultra-Orthodox Jews — and issues surrounding them — may shape Israel’s electionJERUSALEM (RNS) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has tolerated the refusal of tens of thousands of Haredim to serve in the military. That support will likely hurt him at the ballot box...

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/26/h...

religionnews.comHow ultra-Orthodox Jews — and issues surrounding them — may shape Israel’s electionJERUSALEM (RNS) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has tolerated the refusal of tens of thousands of Haredim to serve in the military. That support will likely hurt him at the ballot box...

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/26/n...

religionnews.comNew York's archdiocese and survivors of clergy abuse agree to $800 million legal settlement(AP) — The agreement with the New York archdiocese would end more than seven years of lawsuits.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/26/i...

religionnews.comIsrael presses ahead with West Bank army operation days before electionHEBRON, West Bank (AP) — The operation took place in cities across the West Bank just days before Israelis vote on whether to keep Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in power.

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religionnews.com/2026/10/26/g...

religionnews.comGunmen open fire at a church during a funeral in Jordan, killing 7 and wounding 40JERUSALEM (AP) — The shooting took place at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of the capital, Amman.

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religionnews.com/2026/10/26/i...

religionnews.comIn India, police shootings of alleged cow smugglers raise alarm about impunity and biasMEERUT, India (AP) — Police have publicized the shootings as part of a broad crackdown on crime and characterize them as acts of self-defense.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/26/w...

religionnews.comWhy ultra-Orthodox parties hold so much sway in Israeli politics(The Conversation) — Ultra-Orthodox Jews, often called Haredim, make up a small but growing percentage of Israel’s population. Still, their political parties wield significant influence.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/26/i... @bmietana.bsky.social

religionnews.comA Kentucky man becomes the first humanist granted religious exemption from AI(RNS) — David Durman, an administrator at the University of Kentucky, said using AI would cause him to offload his thinking and decision making, which would violate his humanist views. He hopes other ...

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/25/d... @bmietana.bsky.social

religionnews.comDHS says Christian blogger Samuel Sey, arrested by ICE, will be deported(RNS) — Conservative influencers have rallied to support Sey, who is being held for ICE in an Ohio jail, blaming his arrest on a clerical mix-up.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/26/m...

religionnews.comMovie review: 'Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother'(RNS) — The Islamic hadith that ties together the threads of Bassam Tariq’s new film, 'Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother,' not only literally shows up in the title but is also woven throughout thi...

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

Despicable Doesn’t Begin to Cover It www.nytimes.com/2026/10/25/o... @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social

nytimes.comOpinion | Despicable Doesn’t Begin to Cover ItTrump’s culture of cruelty spreads.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

washingtonpost.comWhy scientists no longer think plastic is the safest material aroundFor decades, scientists believed that plastics were some of the safest materials around. Now it's clear how flawed that view was.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

www.ncronline.org/news/milwauk...

ncronline.orgMilwaukee archbishop who prayed with Trump apologizes, says bishops were 'manipulated'Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob expressed "sincere regret" for participating in what he said was "a political photo opportunity" orchestrated by the White House.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/202...

realclearpolitics.comSecretary Rubio’s Revaluation of the West and of America | RealClearPoliticsOn Oct. 7, against the stunning backdrop of the Acropolis, Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a rousing speech that illuminated Western civilizations and Americas roots in classical...

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religionnews.com/2026/10/23/r...

religionnews.comReformation Sunday asks Christians a question: What is power for?(RNS) — As Haitian Christians lead a pilgrimage across Ohio, their witness offers a different vision of Christian power — and a reminder of what happens when churches forget whom they serve.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/23/i...

religionnews.comIndian Gen Z ‘cockroach’ protesters aim to upend assumptions about democracy – and populism – in Modi’s India(The Conversation) — The protests challenge the government’s view of who “the people” are, what democracy means, and who speaks for youth, women and the politically marginalized.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/24/t... @yonat.bsky.social @ulaakuzi.bsky.social

religionnews.comEl-Sayed’s campaign test: Can he win over Black and Jewish voters?DETROIT (RNS) — El-Sayed’s identity as a Muslim and an Arab American is a factor among key constituents in the Democratic Party: Black and Jewish voters.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/23/c... @clairegiangrave.bsky.social

religionnews.comCatholic bishops pray over Trump days before midtermsVATICAN CITY (RNS) — The U.S. bishops’ conference said it had no role in the Oval Office gathering, which echoed prayer sessions with Trump’s evangelical supporters.

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religionnews.com/2026/10/23/r... @yonat.bsky.social

religionnews.comMichigan’s US Senate race deeply divides the state’s JewsDETROIT (RNS) — Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate, has been a sharp Israel critic, dividing Michigan Jews.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

Nearly All of the World’s Shallow Coral Reefs Are Now Critically Endangered www.nytimes.com/2026/10/22/c...

nytimes.comI.U.C.N. Red List Classifies Most Shallow Coral Reefs as Critically EndangeredIf climate change continues apace, 96 percent of shallow coral reef ecosystems may collapse within 50 years, including in Australia’s Great Barrier reef.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

I am interviewed on Jesuitical youtube.com/watch?v=-KZI...

youtube.comAmerican Catholics are souring on Trump. Here’s why.YouTube video by America - The Jesuit Review

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/22/m... @bmietana.bsky.social

religionnews.comMultisite churches — also known as franchises — are now a staple of American life(RNS) — A new study of multi-site churches has found that such congregations have become commonplace, found in almost every state in the nation. Many of the 1,800 multisite churches have started a new...

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/22/n... @clairegiangrave.bsky.social

religionnews.comNew Vatican document cautions against ‘triumphalism’ over rise in baptismsVATICAN CITY (RNS) — A new Vatican document welcomes rising baptisms as signs of hope but warns against triumphalism, urging Catholic communities to help converts build lasting faith.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/22/j...

religionnews.comJapan’s expensive funerals and declining birth rates are transforming ancestral traditions(The Conversation) — With fewer people to care for their ancestors’ graves, many in Japan are looking for innovative solutions.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/22/w...

religionnews.comWhat the failed attack on an Illinois temple reveals about anti-Hindu hate in the United States(The Conversation) — Hostility toward Hindu worship practices draws on a long history of prejudice portraying the faith’s followers as idolaters, argues a scholar of Hindu studies.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/22/f... @fiona-ndre.bsky.social

religionnews.comFlashy AI campaign ads use religion to stir emotions and attack candidates(RNS) — In some key races, AI has been used in campaign ads to depict candidates’ religious views and convey religious messaging, ranging from highly realistic to provocative and eccentric.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/22/p...

religionnews.comPope Leo's alma mater Villanova traveling to Rome for hoops doubleheader vs. Notre DameROME (AP) — The Catholic universities are promoting the games as a celebration of their shared mission and heritage.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/22/t...

religionnews.comTakeaways from AP’s report on the taxpayer-funded growth of classical Christian schools(AP) — The Associated Press interviewed more than 30 ACCS leaders and parents, as well as more than a dozen other experts and advocates. The reporting was done from Washington, D.C., inside schools in...

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/22/t...

religionnews.comTaxpayers are funding private school tuition. It's helping classical Christian schools expandHURST, Texas (AP) — This summer, Texas began rolling out $1 billion in public funding that eligible families can put toward private education expenses.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/22/c...

religionnews.comCelebrity exorcist priest to take one-year 'media fast' after meeting with Denver archbishop(AP) — The decision arose from a meeting he had with Denver Archbishop James Golka, who asked the Catholic priest to consider taking the break.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

www.cbsnews.com/colorado/new...

cbsnews.com78-year-old priest carried out of Colorado ICE facility by fellow detainees after judge orders releaseA 78-year-old Ugandan priest who spent more than a year in immigration detention was released from an Aurora facility Tuesday.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/22/d... @directorsilk.bsky.social

religionnews.comDemocratic candidates must be bad Christians(RNS) — After half a century of portraying itself as the Party of God, the GOP is understandably annoyed to find a slew of Christian clerics running for office on the other side. They've got to be PIN...

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/22/h... @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social

religionnews.comHispanic evangelicals are turning on Trump. But will they vote for Democrats?(RNS) — In the absence of strong outreach from the Democratic Party, it’s an open question whether Hispanic evangelicals defecting from Trump will hold their nose to vote for Democrats or Republicans ...

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/21/a...

religionnews.comLandslides, fires, El Niño: Big Sur’s spiritual centers 'living with precariousness'BIG SUR, Calif. (RNS) — For those who visit, work and live at the remote spiritual centers, ruggedness goes hand in hand with sacredness. But as climate change amplifies the region’s volatility, some ...

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/21/4... @adellembanks.bsky.social

religionnews.comAME Church retirees to receive tens of millions more in funds lost amid scandal(RNS) — Some retired clergy who once served as ministers in the AME Church have said that after their retirement plans were allegedly mismanaged, they've had to depend on their children or return to w...

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/21/h...

religionnews.comSurvey shows a rise in Christian nationalism in Britain(RNS) — The Christian nationalist movement is relatively new in Britain but has caused concern, including among bishops who have tried to disassociate the established Church of England from it, follow...

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/21/p...

religionnews.comPhotos of the Week: Peruvian procession, Dalai Lama(RNS) — This week’s photo selection includes an annual procession in Peru, the Dalai Lama and more.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/20/d...

religionnews.comDallas faith groups, volunteer lawyers amplify legal support for detained immigrants(RNS) — A North Texas coalition of congregations, clergy and attorneys is helping asylum seekers connect with legal support and challenge detentions. Their efforts have reached more than 1,200 people ...

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/21/p...

religionnews.comPastor Philip Anthony Mitchell’s spiritual warfare is more political than he admits(RNS) — The devil isn’t the only one who is strategic.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/21/e...

religionnews.com'East of Eden' is perhaps the ultimate Jewish story(RNS) — A modern midrash on Cain and Abel — with a small Hebrew lesson embedded within it.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/20/a...

religionnews.comAmerican Jews’ toxic family feud over Israel(RNS) — Divisions over Israel and the war in Gaza are testing longstanding political loyalties among American Jews, whose votes could prove decisive in closely contested congressional races.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/20/4...

religionnews.com40 days to arrive, 40 days to leave: How Armenian culture honors life’s most important moments(The Conversation) — Armenian culture marks major events such as birth and death with a special period of 40 days, called ‘karasunk,’ as people transition from one state to another.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/20/w...

religionnews.comWhat to know about Kenya's starvation cult after its leader is convicted on 191 murder charges(AP) — Pastor Paul Mackenzie was convicted alongside 28 others who helped run a sect connected to Mackenzie's Good News International Church in coastal southeast Kenya.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/20/h...

religionnews.comHouthi rebels strike Yemen's government forces, killing at least 53CAIRO (AP) — The attack wounded an additional 200 recruits at the military camp in the southern province of Shabwa, the provincial government there said.

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/20/m... @ulaakuzi.bsky.social

religionnews.comAs Texas Gov. Abbott targets Muslim groups, his PAC receives millions from Muslim oil exec(RNS) — While Gov. Abbott has been a vocal opponent of what he calls the 'Islamification' of Texas, he also has received more than $15 million in donations from S. Javaid Anwar, a philanthropist and o...

@thomasreesesj.bsky.social

religionnews.com/2026/10/19/b...

religionnews.comBelonging and belief: Why evangelical churches draw many migrants in the US(The Conversation) — Many migrants find community in evangelical churches in the U.S. – part of wider shifts in the country’s religious landscape.