Tiffany Stanley.

FILE - Douglas Wilson, Senior Minister of Christ Church, Moscow, Idaho, speaks at the National Conservatism Conference, Sept. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

A once-fringe Christian leader gets a warm welcome in Trump’s Washington

Doug Wilson was once a fringe pastor in Idaho and is now a significant voice in the Christian right. Wilson recently shared a stage with Trump administration officials in Washington and preached at his denomination’s new church in the area. Wilson’s teachings and support of Christian nationalism have gained traction as evangelicalism aligns with President Donald Trump’s Republican agenda. The pastor’s Christ Church launched a location on Capitol Hill this summer, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in attendance. Hegseth is a member of Wilson’s denomination in Tennessee. Critics take issue with Wilson’s writings on race, gender and patriarchy. Wilson’s movement aims for long-term influence.

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CORRECTS TO JOSEPH, NOT JOESPH - From left, the Rev. Joseph Connor, the Rev. Tim Banach, the Rev. John Meyerhofer, and the Rev. Mike Sampson, attend rehearsal for their ordination Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)

A US diocese defies trends and ordains its largest class of Catholic priests in decades

The Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, recently ordained 12 new Catholic priests in a joyful Mass at its cathedral. It’s the second-largest class of new priests in the diocese’s 50-year history. The occasion offers hope for the U.S. Catholic Church, which has suffered from division, abuse and a shortage of incoming clergy. The 12 Virginia priests range in age from 28 to 56. They include former engineers, a tech company founder and two future military chaplains. They are entering the priesthood at an exciting time for the church as Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born pontiff, begins his papacy.

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