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Religious Observer

@religiousobserver.bsky.social
1.6K followers 3.8K following 207 posts

Covering and Curating Stories About Faith. Unfiltered & Unapologetic.

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Reposted by Religious Observer
Roys Report @roysreport.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
Six additional men have accused Christian music star Michael Tait of sexual abuse, two saying they were minors at the time. The new allegations, reported by The Guardian, follow Tait’s recent confession of past unwanted sexual contact and drug use. julieroys.com/michael-tait...
julieroys.com
Michael Tait Accused of Sexual Harassment, Abuse, and Drugging by 6 More Men, 2 Were Minors
Six more men have accused Grammy award-winning superstar Michael Tait of sexually harassing, abusing, or drugging them between 2001 and 2009.
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Reposted by Religious Observer
Roys Report @roysreport.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
An Ohio pastor indicted for sexually abusing two teens is now preaching at a nearby church that defends him as innocent—despite his criminal past and a divorce citing “extreme cruelty.” julieroys.com/ohio-pastor-...
julieroys.com
Ohio Pastor Accused of Sexually Abusing Children Now Serving at New Church
An Ohio pastor accused of sexually abusing children is serving at another church where his new congregation believes in his innocence.
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Money, God, and lies: the unholy trinity fueling Trump’s rise. A slick, fear-fed machine sells faith and doom, luring millions into a movement set on gutting their freedoms.
salon.com
"His mission is to eradicate 'woke Jesus'": How money, lies and religion are abused to gut democracy
Journalist Katherine Stewart's "Money, Lies, and God" takes readers into Trump's movement to end America
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Reposted by Religious Observer
Right Wing Watch @rightwingwatch.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
Indiana's Christian nationalist Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith did a podcast attacking Pride Month in which he said that the LGBTQ movement is driven by an ancient "demonic spirit": "This is the same demonic playbook just playing out all over again." www.peoplefor.org/rightwingwat...
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
“Recent reports of my reckless and destructive behavior, including drug and alcohol abuse and sexual activity are sadly, largely true,” Singer for the Christian band Newsboys, Michael Tait, said.
variety.com
Christian Music Star Michael Tait Confesses to Unwanted Sexual Advances on Men and Cocaine Use: ‘I Was Living Two Distinctly Different Lives’
Michael Tait, until recently lead singer for Newboys and DC Talk before that, has confessed to unwanted sexual advances on young men and cocaine use.
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Reposted by Religious Observer
Beks @antifaoperative.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
Jim Dale Mustain, 64, former Preston Trail Community Church pastor, has been charged w 1st degree possessing child sexual abuse materials & promoting lewd visual material depicting a child.
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PortiaMcGonagal @portiamcgonagal.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
A real shocker! 1/ Pro-Trump pastor faces damning allegations of 'financial crimes' and 'psychological abuse' www.alternet.org/feucht-trump...
alternet.org
Pro-Trump pastor faces damning allegations of 'financial crimes' and 'psychological abuse'
Evangelical singer/preacher Sean Feucht has been a prominent figure in the MAGA movement, preaching far-right Christian nationalist views and heading the nonprofits Sean Feucht Ministries and Light a ...
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Beks @antifaoperative.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
Alabama evangelical pastor Allan Jones has been sentenced to only 6 months in jail for possessing images of children being sexually abused. www.wkrg.com/baldwin-coun...
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SometimesPDX @sometimespdx.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
The "sex discipler," Pastor Ben Rose, claims Ted Haggard had a sex and drug abuse scandal because he played a woman in a grade school play and that's how Satan got his hook in him to be a closeted homosexual living a duplicitous life. What a bunch of garbage.
White man on a stage. Caption: "...play and he played a woman in the school play."
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Reposted by Religious Observer
Joe Sudbay @joesudbay.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
From @jonathanlarsen.bsky.social (who spent Father’s Day watching videos of Boelter): Christian Pastor Charged with Murder open.substack.com/pub/thefucki...
open.substack.com
Christian Pastor Charged with Murder
Vance Boelter was a Trump supporter and a lover of Jesus even though no one wants to believe both of those things
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Erin Reed @erininthemorning.com · 16/06/2025
This far right pastor preached hateful sermons in the DRC. Glad he'll be behind bars after his heinous crime. bsky.app/profile/erin...
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Eileen Clancy 🧿 @clancyny.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
"Faith Ministers are BLOCKING the entrance to the ICE Detention Center, Delaney Hall in New Jersey where Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested last week." Posted by @scootercaster.com on "X" at 1:19 pm EDT
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Mike Hixenbaugh @mikehixenbaugh.com · 12/05/2025
We spent 6 months investigating a children’s pastor accused of being a serial rapist. His accusers have spent 40 years fighting to stop him. Today he works for disgraced televangelist Jim Bakker and runs a secluded camp for kids in the Ozarks. My latest w/ @ahylton26.bsky.social for @nbcnews.com
nbcnews.com
A preacher’s dark secret: Sleepovers, porn and sex abuse allegations dating back decades
Joe Campbell says his calling is to share God’s love, but a group of women say he sexually abused them as girls. An NBC News investigation uncovered decades of missed warnings and failures to act.
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NPR @npr.org · 12/05/2025
The church said it's terminating a decades-long partnership with the federal government to help refugees arriving in the U.S., citing moral opposition to resettling white Afrikaners from South Africa.
npr.org
Episcopal Church refuses to resettle white Afrikaners, citing moral opposition
The church said it's terminating a decades-long partnership with the federal government to help refugees arriving in the U.S., citing moral opposition to resettling white Afrikaners from South Africa.
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Humanists UK @humanists.uk · 12/05/2025
Council papers say the expensive super-schools being given away to the Catholic Church need to 'meet future demand' for faith-base education, but Wales is majority non-religious and rapidly secularising, with no evidence offered that such demand will grow whatsoever. humanists.uk/2025/05/12/w...
humanists.uk
Welsh Government to spend over £100 million on two new Catholic schools the church will own
The Welsh Government will spend over £100 million on two new Catholic schools that would then be handed to the church, it has been reported. Wales Huumanists has expressed alarm at the news, saying th...
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Reposted by Religious Observer
Right Wing Watch @rightwingwatch.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
Far-right Christian nationalist Michigan state Rep. Josh Schriver has released an album. This track opens with the line: "I just took some pre-workout. I guess that means that I should lift." It then somehow gets worse. Trust us when we say that you are unprepared for when he goes a cappella.
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
“To me it’s clear — you either stand with victims, or you stand with the people who harmed them,” said State Representative Jeff Leach of Texas, the chair of the state’s House Judiciary Committee. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/u...
nytimes.com
A New Push to Open the Doors on Childhood Sexual Abuse
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
"A man suing the Christian Brothers in the Supreme Court of Tasmania has settled his case part-way through the civil trial.The man previously told the court he had been sexually and physically abused while a student at St Virgil's College in Hobart." www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03...
abc.net.au
Abuse case against Hobart Catholic school resolved part-way through trial
A trial involving allegations of sexual and physical abuse at Hobart Catholic school St Virgil's College has been abandoned after a settlement was reached at the weekend.
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
Religion, Abuse | Greater Grace Megachurch A former Greater Grace World Outreach member is suing the megachurch and its youth pastor, alleging years of sexual and emotional abuse.
thebaltimorebanner.com
Former member sues Greater Grace, alleging megachurch ignored sexual abuse
The lawsuit is the first filed against Greater Grace church leadership since The Banner last year exposed decades of child sexual abuse and cover-up within the insular organization.
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
"Love for strangers was also codified into Israel’s law, which expanded the category of “stranger” to include society’s most vulnerable: sojourners, foreigners, widows, orphans, and the poor (see Deuteronomy 10:18–19 or Leviticus 19:33–34, for example)." www.desiringgod.org/articles/str...
desiringgod.org
Strangely Hospitable: What Sets Apart a Christian Home
What drives Christian hospitality? The goal is not to craft a lavish meal or create an authentic ambience, but to display the stranger-loving heart of God.
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
Christian | Paul Prather "I hoped to offer an alternative. Namely, love. God’s love for sinners. Our love for God in return. Our love for our fellow fallen humans." religionunplugged.com/news/2025/4/...
religionunplugged.com
Some Churches Are Driven By Fear, Others By Love
(OPINION) The criticism of my preaching I’ve heard most across the decades is this: I don’t preach enough against wickedness. I’m too easy on reprobates. I don’t threaten rebels with hellfire. I’m sof...
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Erin Reed @erininthemorning.com · 09/05/2025
4. Beyond Ohio, Click has convened strategy sessions with lawmakers from other states, advising them on how to advance similar anti-trans bills. A pastor by profession, he has repeatedly insisted his legislative efforts are not religiously motivated.
ohiocapitaljournal.com
Sponsor of Ohio trans youth health care ban claims no religious motive. Sermon suggests otherwise. • Ohio Capital Journal
Ohio Republican lawmaker Gary Click is a pastor sponsoring a bill to ban gender-affirming health care for trans youth, but he claims he's not motivated by religion. A sermon he gave on trans issues, "...
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Blackraven @blackraven30.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
This just keeps happening as if it's the norm. Castration should be the punishment for this 🤬 #CINCO Pastor Is Accused of Sexually Assaulting 2 Girls at a Florida Church people.com/pastor-accus...
people.com
Pastor Is Accused of Sexually Assaulting 2 Girls at a Florida Church — and Allegedly Gave a Chilling Reasoning Behind the Abuse
A Florida pastor is facing legal trouble after being accused of sexually assaulting two underage girls on church grounds. Yersson Solarte, 33, has been charged with sexual battery of a minor and lewd ...
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dell cameron @dell.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
*youth pastor voice* you know who else was a jew…
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Religion Dispatches @religiondispatches.org · 09/05/2025
like we said religiondispatches.org/new-wa-manda...
religiondispatches.org
New WA Mandatory Reporter Law Is Only Anti-Catholic if 'Catholic' Means Protecting Sexual Predators
In our latest installment of “somehow this is actually happening,” Trump’s DOJ announced this week—with no apparent sense of irony or shame—that it will investigate whether a new Washington state law ...
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Prof. Anthea Butler @antheabutler.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
I'll be writing about him soon but this from Michael Sean winters is a great start
ncronline.org
Prevost is new pope, an American cardinal committed to the reforms Pope Francis began
Augustinian Cardinal Robert Prevost was the least American among the American cardinals, having spent most of his ministry in Peru and Rome. The cardinals clearly wanted someone committed to Pope Fran...
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
Renewal | Premier Christianity This kind of work shows how faith, when grounded in service and stewardship, can inspire real, positive action by caring for people and the planet alike. www.premierchristianity.com/thank-god-it...
premierchristianity.com
The renewable energy manager: 'I want to love God and neighbour by making a positive difference'
The Church is made up of Christians from a myriad of different professions, and yet their ordinary tales of God at work rarely get told. In this series, we bring you stories of faith on the frontline
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
Religion, Politics | #religion #christian “To find anti-Christian bias, the Trump administration should look in the mirror at its own targeting of Christian communities that dare to oppose its extreme agenda.” baptistnews.com/article/anti...
baptistnews.com
‘Anti-Christian bias’ task force focuses solely on grievances of evangelicals – Baptist News Global
The first meeting of the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias featured only conservative evangelicals complaining about mistreatment
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Roys Report @roysreport.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Megachurch pastor John Gray publicly apologized for multiple inappropriate relationships, blaming his actions on childhood sexual abuse. In a 3hr episode of the Dear Future Wifey podcast, Gray said his marriage is healing through God and therapy. julieroys.com/megachurch-p...
julieroys.com
Megachurch Pastor John Gray Apologizes on Podcast for His Struggles with Marriage Infidelity
Megachurch pastor John Gray has publicly apologized to his wife for the multiple inappropriate relationships that almost ended their marriage.
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Roys Report @roysreport.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
A North Carolina children’s pastor has been arrested for distributing child sexual abuse material involving an elementary school-aged girl. Aaron Luke Bradley, a pastor at Living Hope Raleigh since 2022, is charged with second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. julieroys.com/north-caroli...
julieroys.com
North Carolina Children’s Pastor Charged with Distributing Child Sex Abuse Materials
A North Carolina children’s pastor was arrested May 6 for distributing child sexual abuse materials involving an elementary school-aged girl.
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Erin Reed @erininthemorning.com · 09/05/2025
1. Anti-transgender Republicans often like to hide their religious animosity towards transgender people, arguing they are instead for "science." Rep. Click, the Ohio law's author, let his mask slip yesterday, comparing trans people to "Lucifer." Subscribe to support my journalism.
erininthemorning.com
Ohio Republican Author Of Anti-Trans Law Compares Trans People To "Lucifer"
Representative Gary Click has previously asserted that there was no religious motivation to his gender affirming care ban law.
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Right Wing Watch @rightwingwatch.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
Well, it's a good thing Russel Brand was granted bail in his sexual assault case so he'll be free to participate in Christian nationalist worship leader Sean Feucht's upcoming mass baptism event.
Russell Brand gets conditional bail after appearing in London court on rape, assault chargesPromo image of Brand and Feucht for a "mass beach baptism" in Florida on May 23.
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Catholic, Priest | Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church "A Catholic priest ( Fr. Jaime Arriaga ) serving at a church in Downey was arrested after being accused of raping a minor, LA County records showed."
nbclosangeles.com
Catholic priest in Downey arrested for raping a minor
Fr. Jaime Arriaga remained in custody after his initial court appearance Monday.
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Pastor, Tennessee | Cornerstone Church of God "A suspended senior pastor ( Richard Lee Sentell ) in Cleveland, Tennessee who pleaded guilty to having more than 100 images depicting child sex abuse on his laptop has now learned his fate."
thenationaldesk.com
Senior pastor in Tennessee pleads guilty to collecting child sex abuse materials
Authorities arrested Sentell in December 2023.
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Youth Pastor | Futures Church "A former youth pastor at Futures Church in Adelaide, has been arrested in Atlanta, Georgia, for allegedly possessing and sharing child sexual abuse material on social media messaging app, Kik."
premierchristian.news
Former youth pastor arrested for possession of child sex abuse images - Premier Christian News | Headlines, Breaking News, Comment & Analysis
During questioning, he allegedly admitted to receiving explicit material and struggling with pornography addiction.
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Christian, Pastor (1/2) | #religion #christian #pastor "A recently retired Orland pastor has been arrested on several child molestation charges, court documents say."
21alivenews.com
Orland pastor arrested on several child molestation charges
A recently retired Orland pastor has been arrested on several child molestation charges, court documents say.
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Italian, Priest (1/2) | #priest #italian #church "An Italian priest has been placed under house arrest on charges of aggravated sexual assault against a minor, while also facing at least five other charges of abuse in other communities."
cruxnow.com
Arrest of Italian priest for abuse may renew calls for national reckoning
The episode comes as activists for survivors are pressing the Italian church to engage in the sort of systematic study of its record vis-à-vis clerical abuse that other European nations such as France...
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Youth Pastor, Christian | #religion #wisconsin #FaithReformedChurch "Former youth pastor James Lane, 53, pleaded guilty on April 8, 2025 to repeated sexual assault of the same child."
weau.com
Former Youth Pastor pleads guilty to sexual assault of a child reported through clergy and faith leader abuse initiative
A sentencing hearing is scheduled to take place June 3.
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
"A 33-year-old pastor accused of sexually abusing minors in Florida was behind bars Friday after police officers arrested him in Virginia. Detectives reported Yersson Solarte, a married father, met the victims while preaching in Spanish at a Pentecostal church in a strip mall in Sanford."
local10.com
Florida pastor accused of sexually abusing girls, arrested in Virginia
A 33-year-old pastor accused of sexually abusing minors in Florida was behind bars Friday in Virginia
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Right Wing Watch @rightwingwatch.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
Christian nationalist pastor Jack Hibbs prayed over Steve Hilton at his campaign event today: "God, we just commit him into your hands and we pray that you'd make California golden and great again."
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Right Wing Watch @rightwingwatch.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
MAGA evangelist Mario Murillo is certainly not the first person to compare the left to Nazis, but he might be the most historically ignorant. For the record, the Brownshirts were not "a youth movement" and the word "führer" does not mean "father," it means "leader."
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Right Wing Watch @rightwingwatch.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
After attending Trump's Easter dinner at the White House, MAGA pastor Jackson Lahmeyer declared that Joe Biden was a "wicked ruler" and "an instrument of God's judgment upon our nation." www.peoplefor.org/rightwingwat...
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
Catholic, Priest | #catholicism #church #religion The “sacred confidentiality” of confession shouldn’t protect abusers. If your faith demands silence while children suffer, it’s not holiness but cowardice. No priest’s oath should ever shield predators from justice
newsweek.com
Catholic Church to excommunicate priests for following new US state law
The Justice Department is investigating whether the new law violated the First Amendment.
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
Religion, Bishop (1/2) | #religion #liverpool #clergy "The bishop of Liverpool is under pressure to quit after senior clergy in his diocese said his position was untenable following allegations of sexual misconduct." From The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
theguardian.com
Bishop of Liverpool under pressure to quit over sexual misconduct allegations
John Perumbalath’s senior leadership team says he should step aside while claims investigated
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
Religion, Christian | #religion #christian #abuse "James Wilson, 74, was found guilty of 13 offences by jurors at Newcastle Crown Court, including indecent assaults and inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity." From the BBC: www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Gateshead paedophile used religion to mask abuse
A judge says born-again Christian child abuser James Wilson is a "hypocrite of the worst kind".
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
Religion, South Africa | #religion #africa "The Cultural, Religious and Linguistic (CRL) Rights Commission has set up a committee comprising religious leaders, to look into ongoing abuses in churches." From SABC: www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/crl...
sabcnews.com
CRL Commission sets up committee to investigate church abuse - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.
This follows its investigative hearings regarding the commercialisation of religion
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
If your faith demands that you obsess over what consenting adults do in private rather than tending to the poor, the sick, and the outcast then perhaps it’s not Christianity you follow, but a prejudiced echo chamber wearing a cross.
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Religious Observer @religiousobserver.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
The absolute state of Twitter. Grotesque. Classic cowardice, not conviction. Maybe try reading history instead of conspiracy nonsense.
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