New Survey: More Americans Say Religion Is Gaining Influence

 A new survey by Pew Research Center shows a growing share of Americans believe religion is becoming more influential in public life, but most still oppose churches endorsing political candidates or taking sides in day--to--day political debates, the Christian Daily website reports today (May 27, 2026).

The survey, conducted April 6--12 among 3,592 U.S. adults, found that 37% now say religion is gaining influence in American life --the highest proportion recorded in Pew surveys going back to 2002. That figure has climbed 19 percentage points in just two years.

Despite the uptick in perceived influence , 79% of respondents  said churches and other houses of worship should not endorse candidates during elections.Two--thirds said religious institutions should stay out of day--to--day social and political matters. Those figures have changed little in recent years.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Statue Beheaded at NY State Church

Suffolk county police in New York state are investigating whether a hate crime was committed after a suspect beheaded a Sacred Heart of Jesus statue at the Church of St. Mary in East Islip on May 15, the Christian Post website reports today (May 20, 2026). 

The church's pastor, the Rev. Anthony Iaconis told the Christian Post that the Crimes Unit in the Sufolk County Police was called to the church around 11 a.m. on May15after a group doing planting on the property discovered the statue's head in nearby bushes.

Iaconis said the group didn't realize the statue had been vandalized until they found the head.

A review of the church's security camera footage showed that the beheading of the statue, made of resin and fiberglass, was carried out by one person. 

Global Baptism Set for Calif.This Month

A California megachurch pastor's evangelism ministry is gearing to host a global baptism event this month, hoping to baptize tens of thousands, the Christian Post website reports today (May 14,2026).

Baptize California, overseen by Pastor Mark Francey of the multi--campus Oceans Church in Orange County, has announced the global event "Baptize the World" for May 24.

"We believe it was an idea God gave us," Fancey said.

"We won't know for sure how many people will be baptized until the day of the baptism.We are believing for tens of thousands, and possibly more than 100,000. " We just want to organize the net and help the Church throw them in the water. We will leave the catch up to Jesus."

Fulani Terrorists Kill 13 Christians in Plateau State, Nigeria

 The slaughter of Christians continued in Plateau State, Nigeria on May 8, as Fulani herdsmen killed 13 Christians in Bassa County, the Christian Daily website reports today (MAY 11, 2026).

Muslim Fulani gunmen killed the Christians in a pre-dawn attack on Ngbra Zongo community in Kwall District, said Joseph Chudu, Yonkpa spokesperson of area Mango communities in a statement issued in Jor.

"The attack has left dozens of other Christians injured, and hundreds of others displaced,"Yonkpa said.

New Global Study:Catholics Losing Members While Protestants Gain Some

A new global study by Pew Research Center shows that Catholicism has experienced net losses through religious switching in nearly every country surveyed, while Protestantism has recorded gains in several regions, the Christian Daily website reports today (May 3, 2026).

The analysis, released as part of Pew's Global Religious Futures project with a different religion than the one in which they were raised. 

The report found that more people left Catholicism than joined it in 21 of the 24 countries surveyed. Hungary was the only country where converts into Catholicism outnumbered those leaving the church.

Pew defines "religious switching" as a change between the religion.