Congress
National Prayer Breakfast will be virtual in 2021 due to COVID-19
By Bob Smietana — December 17, 2020
(RNS) — Every president since Dwight Eisenhower has attended the National Prayer Breakfast, which will go virtual in 2021 for the first time due to COVID-19.
The ‘Squad’ returns: 5 faith facts about the House’s firebrand group
By Bob Smietana — November 4, 2020
(RNS) — The Squad — four women of faith — represents the often-overlooked side of religion and politicians.
Women leaders condemn threat against Muslim candidate
By Luis Andres Henao — May 7, 2020
(AP) — Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, the founder of MuslimGirl.com who is running for Congress, is the first Muslim woman to run for federal office from New Jersey.
Unequal suffering: Here’s how Congress should help
By Jim Wallis — May 1, 2020
(RNS) — While each of us has borne a variety of new burdens and dangers during this pandemic, those burdens are by no means distributed equally.
The (national) fall and (local) rise of pro-life Democrats
By Charles C. Camosy — May 10, 2019
(RNS) — The evisceration of pro-life Democrats from Congress is all but complete, but on the local level Democratic parties are increasingly committed to a diversity of opinion on abortion.
Rep. Omar apologizes for tweets on AIPAC’s influence
By Laurie Kellman — February 11, 2019
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Speaker Nancy Pelosi's public rebuke of a freshman representative who helped deliver the Democratic House majority was the latest exposure of an increasingly tense split among Democrats over U.S.-Israeli policy.
Dear Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats: A hijab is not a hat
By Liz Bucar — January 3, 2019
(RNS) — Changing a 182-year-old ban on headwear in the U.S. House to accommodate Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar’s headscarf is a nice gesture. But the congresswoman’s attire should be automatically protected by the First Amendment.
Study: New Congress showcases religious diversity but is still mostly Christian
By Jack Jenkins — January 3, 2019
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The incoming class of lawmakers is predominantly Christian, but several newcomers are expected to take the oath of office while placing their hands on books other than the Christian Bible.
Welcome Muslim congresswomen by dropping ban on headwear
By Simran Jeet Singh — November 20, 2018
(RNS) — If Congress is guilty of maintaining outdated policies that infringe on religious freedoms, how can Americans expect to change these discriminatory policies in everyday life?
Data mining gets religion as campaigns target voters of faith
By Menachem Wecker — October 15, 2018
WASHINGTON, D.C. (RNS) — Powerful data-mining tools allow today's campaigns to connect religious voters with their political viewpoints and to micro-target ads to fit their particular brand of faith.
Muslim women poised to change the next Congress
By Yonat Shimron — August 16, 2018
(RNS) — With their two primary wins, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan have made history not only for their faith but also their gender.
Tlaib wins Conyers’ seat; Congress to get 1st Muslim woman
By Corey Williams — August 8, 2018
DETROIT (AP) — Former Michigan state Rep. Rashida Tlaib won the Democratic nomination to run unopposed for the House seat long held by former Rep. John Conyers, setting her up to become the first Muslim woman elected to Congress.
Muslim candidates running in record numbers face backlash
By Yonat Shimron — July 15, 2018
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Spurred to action by the anti-Muslim policies and rhetoric of President Trump and his supporters, Muslims are running for elected offices in numbers not seen since before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
House chaplain wins job back after scalding letter to Ryan
By Yonat Shimron — May 3, 2018
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, forced the Rev. Pat Conroy to tender his resignation last month, sparking a firestorm. Ryan has said he was dissatisfied with Conroy's pastoral care to lawmakers.
House chaplain retracts resignation, presses Speaker Ryan to let him remain in post
By Yonat Shimron — May 3, 2018
WASHINGTON (USA Today) — Conroy said he initially felt he had “little choice to resign,” but he has now reconsidered – especially in light of comments Ryan made that he fired the chaplain because his "pastoral services were not being adequately served, or offered."
