Chloë-Arizona Fodor

US migrants are much more likely to have a religious identity than the American-born population.

One of the meeting's top priorities was to explain how faith communities can better use federal funds for clean energy initiatives. 

"We speak out as Christian leaders with a deep concern for the common good for all affected by war and conflict without exception," reads the letter, which was organized by Churches for Middle East Peace, a coalition of Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox churches based in Washington. Besides a cease-fire and the return of hostages, the letter goes on to call for "the release of Palestinian prisoners held without due process," as well as a free flow of humanitarian aid and a halt on shipping arms into the region.

In Brazil, the forced removal of vulnerable people from privately owned land has created a role for Catholic priests as mediators between landowners and beleaguered communities.