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Welcome to the Faithfully Magazine Newsletter edition: January 22, 2025. Click here to learn how to sponsor an edition of this newsletter.
Trump Signs Dozens of Executive Orders Within Hours of Starting 2nd Term
(“News With Nicola”) – Donald Trump, who it is believed admitted (CSPAN clip) to having the election “rigged” during remarks thanking Elon Musk — who sparked his own controversy with a Nazi salute (PBS clip) — has signed dozens of executive orders that not only reverse many of the policies put in place by his Democratic predecessor but also introduce agendas targeting immigration, education, energy, and capital punishment.
Among those that stand out is the Restoring The Death Penalty And Protecting Public Safety presidential act that instructs the Attorney General to “seek the death penalty regardless of other factors for every federal capital crime involving…the murder of a law enforcement officer.” The Republican president’s desire to guarantee the death penalty for those who kill police officers appears to contradict his pardon of nearly 1500 January 6 insurrectionists — including those who directly caused or contributed to the death of at least one police officer and/or physically attacked cops defending “Congress from a violent mob that had tried to prevent the certification of the 2020 Presidential election results.” This, to the slight dismay of the pro-Trump DC police union — slight, because the union is also counting on him to pardon two local cops sentenced in the death of a young father, described as “an illegal” by the president.
Speaking of “illegals,” the Department of Homeland Security, empowered by Trump’s executive actions, has made it known that it plans to apprehend “criminal aliens,” such as alleged “murders and rapists,” who seek sanctuary in churches.
I’m offended that my government is accusing churches of sheltering murderers
In any case, the guidance revoked today already would have allowed ICE to raid a church in that unlikely instance
The real effect of this change is that people will be afraid to go to church on Sunday https://t.co/8eY0YST3jh pic.twitter.com/gqmuA57GbG
— Matthew Soerens (@MatthewSoerens) January 22, 2025
You can familiarize yourself with the Republican Administration’s priorities via the list of executive orders here.
Oh, and you’re too late if you were hoping to get your hands on a copy of the limited Gold Edition God Bless the USA Bible. However, I’ve been told that, due to “overwhelming demand, publishers have announced two new limited-edition releases: the Golden Age Edition and Platinum Edition, each restricted to just 4,745 copies.”
Priced at just $99 and woven into the narrative of making “America great again,” these currently limited edition bibles “are poised to become both cultural artifacts and coveted collector’s items,” according to promoters.
Best,
Nicola, Managing Editor
Bishop Asks Trump to Show ‘Mercy’ to Marginalized Communities in Fear
The Right Rev. Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, D.C., implored President Donald Trump “to have mercy upon” communities across the country “who are scared now” after his election. Read More
(Despite Trump recently “restoring freedom of speech,” a GOP lawmaker is calling for Budde, a citizen, to be “deported.”)
Ex-Georgia Prosecutor on Trial for Hindering Ahmaud Arbery’s Murder Probe
Former District Attorney Jackie Johnson’s trial is underway over interference with the police investigation into the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, the Black jogger chased and killed by three white men in 2020. No arrests were made until months later, and only after video of the racist crime emerged. Read More
Trump’s UN Ambassador Pick: Israel Has ‘Biblical Right’ to West Bank
Trump’s pick to be the United States ambassador to the United Nations has become the latest administration nominee to express the belief that Israel has “biblical” dominion over the occupied West Bank. Read More
Via the faithfullymagazine.com Events Calendar, here are some upcoming free virtual events:
- Christianity and the Future of American Democracy
- Suffering, Wayfaring & Hope: an Online Conversation With Warren Kinghorn and Curt Thompson
A few books have been popping up on the immigration debate and other issues (a couple of which are heavily discounted, as of 01/22/25):
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