Bob Smietana
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bmietana.bsky.social
Bob Smietana
@bmietana.bsky.social
3.6K followers 800 following 410 posts
National writer Religion News Service. New grandad. Author of Reorganized Religion. Enthusiastic Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Sci-Fi fan. Ridiculously Gregarious
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bmietana.bsky.social
Some background on Smith (who built a giant cross in Arkansas) and started an antisemitic Passion Play--here
religionnews.com/2023/03/07/f...
Old-school Christian nationalism's avatar of racism, antisemitism and conspiracies
(RNS) —The early version of Christian nationalism turned the fear of communism into an excuse to embrace prejudice and forfeit American democracy.
religionnews.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:34 PM
bmietana.bsky.social
FWIW, academics did not invent the term Christian It was used by folks like Gerald LK Smith, an ally of Father Coughlin-- who knew it meant that America was only for White Christians
thecrossandflag.com/articles/chr...
Christian Nationalism - The Cross and Flag
The Cross and Flag is dedicated to the memory of Gerald L. K. Smith a great patroit and the founder of the Christian National Crusade, The Cross and the Flag publication, The Sacred Projects, The Chri...
thecrossandflag.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:33 PM
bmietana.bsky.social
One point of note. SBC President Clint Pressley says he has not talked to the DHS about church raids. When we asked him what he would say if asked, he said he opposed them

religionnews.com/2025/11/20/v...
Viral warnings of planned ICE raids on churches have pastors worried
(RNS) — Rumors and viral reports about potential ICE raids have immigrant church leaders worried about their congregations. DHS says it doesn’t have plans to raid churches — but won’t rule it out.
religionnews.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:28 PM
bmietana.bsky.social
We don't know if the viral ICE is planning to raid churches story is accurate-- ICE denies it-- but a real person wrote it
religionnews.com/2025/11/20/v...
Viral warnings of planned ICE raids on churches have pastors worried
(RNS) — Rumors and viral reports about potential ICE raids have immigrant church leaders worried about their congregations. DHS says it doesn’t have plans to raid churches — but won’t rule it out.
religionnews.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:26 PM
bmietana.bsky.social
Warnings that ICE will raid churches over the holidays are going viral. We looked into one story that's got pastors worried -- and it wasn't what we thought it might be
religionnews.com/2025/11/20/v...
Viral warnings of planned ICE raids on churches have pastors worried
(RNS) — Rumors and viral reports about potential ICE raids have immigrant church leaders worried about their congregations. DHS says it doesn’t have plans to raid churches — but won’t rule it out.
religionnews.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Bob Smietana
scalzi.com
An important and grace-filled post about grieving a partner.
November 21, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Reposted by Bob Smietana
reveverett.com
Update on DHS threats reported from #Worcester: I spoke with @bmietana.bsky.social at @rns.org about what we were hearing on the ground. Bottom line? DHS claims no ICE raids on churches during holidays but won’t rule it out. This is why we at council of churches sue religionnews.com/2025/11/20/v...
Viral warnings of planned ICE raids on churches have pastors worried
(RNS) — Rumors and viral reports about potential ICE raids have immigrant church leaders worried about their congregations. DHS says it doesn’t have plans to raid churches — but won’t rule it out.
religionnews.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Reposted by Bob Smietana
brlawrencelc.com
Notably, *that* viral church raid story continues to be shared, including by some very large accounts!
November 21, 2025 at 12:38 AM
bmietana.bsky.social
The NY Episcopal Diocese just passed a new plan to save its finances. But the biggest church in the diocese says the plan won't work.
religionnews.com/2025/11/20/a...
A new funding plan puts NYC Bishop and Trinity Church at odds
(RNS) — A new funding plan would cut costs for most New York churches but calls on Trinity Church to double its donations to the diocese. Trinity leaders say they want to help but the bishop’s plan wo...
religionnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by Bob Smietana
drbethany.bsky.social
In Denver accepting the Religious Communication Association Book of the Year award!
November 20, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Reposted by Bob Smietana
jimnaughton.bsky.social
I'm not sure people understand how racially diverse American Christianity has become. The US Catholic Church, for instance, is more than one-third Hispanic. This and more in @bmietana.bsky.social's story, including good stuff from @robertpjones.bsky.social.
Why Trump's immigration crackdown may make America less Christian
(RNS) — America has become less religious because white Americans are less religious. Most recent immigrants are religious, and many are Christians.
religionnews.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:15 PM
bmietana.bsky.social
Some history of where Christian Nationalism comes from -- folks like Gerald L. K. Smith and Father Coughlin
religionnews.com/2023/03/07/f...
Old-school Christian nationalism's avatar of racism, antisemitism and conspiracies
(RNS) —The early version of Christian nationalism turned the fear of communism into an excuse to embrace prejudice and forfeit American democracy.
religionnews.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:13 PM
bmietana.bsky.social
Some history of where Christian Nationalism comes from -- folks like Gerald L. K. Smith and Father Coughlin
religionnews.com/2023/03/07/f...
Old-school Christian nationalism's avatar of racism, antisemitism and conspiracies
(RNS) —The early version of Christian nationalism turned the fear of communism into an excuse to embrace prejudice and forfeit American democracy.
religionnews.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:11 PM
bmietana.bsky.social
Want to make America less religious? Deport immigrants
religionnews.com/2025/11/18/w...
Why Trump's immigration crackdown may make America less Christian
(RNS) — America has become less religious because white Americans are less religious. Most recent immigrants are religious, and many are Christians.
religionnews.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Reposted by Bob Smietana
kateshellnutt.bsky.social
More than 18 million Bibles have been sold so far this year—set to surpass last year's 20-year-high in Bible sales.

@bmietana.bsky.social story:
November 18, 2025 at 12:32 AM
bmietana.bsky.social
A bit of history--women could vote at the SBC's annual meeting before they could vote in America. (Some Southern Baptists now are talking about repealing the 19th Amendment.)

religionnews.com/2023/03/15/s...
Since the 1880s, Southern Baptists have argued over the role of women
(RNS)— At the SBC’s meeting this summer, delegates may debate a constitutional amendment to limit women leaders. It wouldn’t be the first time.
religionnews.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Reposted by Bob Smietana
rns.org
OPINION: I hadn’t planned or scheduled the grief followed by hope that the All Saints’ Day service brought me. Rather, the church calendar had scheduled it for me long, long ago, when I didn’t know I needed it.
religionnews.com/2025/11/11/h...
How All Saints’ Day brought me grief, then hope this year
(RNS) — Just as the Christian faith is a story rooted in time, so, too, are our lives’ stories rooted in time.
religionnews.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:00 PM
bmietana.bsky.social
Hoping to find some folks who bought a new Bible or their first Bible for a story on the continued boom in Bible sales
November 11, 2025 at 3:21 PM
bmietana.bsky.social
A little crowd sourcing - trying to talk with some folks who have recently bought their first Bible or a new Bible
November 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Reposted by Bob Smietana
newyorker.com
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Reposted by Bob Smietana
jennycohn.bsky.social
Under Kevin Roberts, the Heritage Foundation also donated $50,000 to American Reformer, another Nate Fischer organization, in 2023, per Heritage’s tax form. Heritage donated only to 13 organizations that year. irs-efile-renderer.instrumentl.com/render?objec...
November 7, 2025 at 1:15 AM
bmietana.bsky.social
Bob Franke wanted to be a priest as a young man but became a songwriter instead-- penning heartfelt ballads like The Great Storm is Over, Thanksgiving Eve, and For Real.
Peace to his memory

marbleheadcurrent.org/2025/10/17/j...
Just weeks after retiring, local folk musician struck by motorcycle, dies in Guatemala - Marblehead Current
Local folk musician Bob Franke, 78, died Oct. 16 after being struck by a motorcycle in Antigua, Guatemala, where he and his wife had retired within the last few weeks. Franke survived surgery after th...
marbleheadcurrent.org
November 4, 2025 at 3:55 PM
bmietana.bsky.social
The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia promised $10 million in reparations, but needed to sell Truro Church to do so, claim former members of the reparations task force. Instead the task force members were all fired
,
religionnews.com/2025/11/03/f...
Virginia Episcopalians promised reparations. Progress has lagged.
(RNS) — 'I felt like we were kind of misled as a task force in terms of level (of) engagement,' said one member of a reparations task force of the diocese's efforts.
religionnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:58 PM
bmietana.bsky.social
The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia promised $10 million in reparations. Four years later, nothing has happened.

religionnews.com/2025/11/03/f...
Virginia Episcopalians promised reparations. Progress has lagged.
(RNS) — 'I felt like we were kind of misled as a task force in terms of level (of) engagement,' said one member of a reparations task force of the diocese's efforts.
religionnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Reposted by Bob Smietana
bmietana.bsky.social
A pastor in Oklahoma blew the whistle on alleged embezzling by his bishops. He lost his job. The bishop kept his, until he was arrested this week
religionnews.com/2025/11/01/a...
An Oklahoma pastor was fired after reporting missing church funds. His bishop just got arrested.
(RNS)— The Rev. Jerry Beeson said he followed denominational rules in raising the alarm about missing church funds.
religionnews.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:45 PM