Alejandra Molina
Alejandra Molina is a National Reporter covering Latinos and religion in the West Coast. She is based in Los Angeles. Previously, she was a reporter for the Southern California News Group where she covered cities, immigration, race and religion for newspapers like The Orange County Register, The Press-Enterprise in Riverside and The Los Angeles Daily News.

Martin Luther King Jr. faith events continue in time of COVID-19 and Capitol chaos
(RNS) — Many online gatherings that mark King’s birthday and the holiday in his honor will apply his messages to the current crises the country is facing.

LA clergy look to hold city officials responsible for allowing Sean Feucht’s Skid Row event
(RNS) — On Wednesday (Jan. 13), Clergy for Black Lives hosted a virtual news conference on Zoom to condemn the ‘white supremacist violence and heretical Christian prophecy’ in the nation’s capital and in downtown LA.

What four strangers of different faiths learned while living together during a pandemic
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Hadar Cohen, Ala’ Khan, Maya Mansour and Jonathan Simcosky were chosen as fellows for an interfaith experiment known as the Abrahamic House. They come from different faiths: Baha’i, Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

Faith groups among those calling for Trump’s impeachment after US Capitol occupation
(RNS) — ‘Every moment that he remains in office is a severe danger to our country,’ the groups said in a statement.

Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors helps launch #PrayforLA to honor COVID-19 deaths
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Cullors is encouraging people to share photos, artwork, a prayer or meditation of loved ones lost to COVID-19, even as the virus continues to spread and fill up hospital beds across Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles activists say Sean Feucht is ‘waging biological warfare’ ahead of homeless outreach events
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Activists are holding car caravans on Wednesday and New Year’s Eve to block Christian recording artist Sean Feucht from holding outreach events in two homeless communities in Los Angeles.

Indoor worship is now allowed in LA County, but some parishes and dioceses are waiting
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — ‘Rushing too quickly to in-person and indoor worship does not exhibit care for our families and those who are most vulnerable in our community,’ said one pastor.

As California’s hospitals fill, Kirk Cameron hosts another unmasked Christmas caroling event
(RNS) — The event took place at the parking lot of a mall with largely unmasked crowds of people singing in close proximity to one another.

Homeless advocates organize against Sean Feucht’s upcoming outreach in Skid Row
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Pastor Stephen ‘Cue’ Jn-Marie said the area’s homeless community doesn’t need ‘people to come in for a photo op.’

How a podcast is helping this Catholic and gay Latino man break the stigma
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Eder Díaz Santillan hosts the Spanish-language podcast ‘De Pueblo, Católico & Gay,’ where he openly discusses his identity as a Latino and gay Catholic man.

Former art studio of Sister Mary Corita, LA’s ‘pop art nun,’ spared from demolition for now
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — The art studio of the late Corita Kent, known as LA’s “pop art nun,” is now a dry cleaner and had been slated for demolition to make way for additional parking.

As COVID-19 surges, Catholics find new, socially distanced ways to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe
(RNS) — ‘Perhaps this year it is Our Lady who will come to our home,’ said the Very Rev. Esequiel Sanchez, rector of the Roman Catholic Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Thousands sign petition in support of five charged in Junipero Serra statue toppling
(RNS) — Five people charged with the toppling of a Junipero Serra statue at a California church in October are scheduled to appear in court this week.

California Sikhs to hold caravan and rally in support of farmer protests in India
(RNS) — Protesters are expected to stay in their cars during the caravan and rally to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Religious, ethnic minorities grapple over California’s model ethnic studies curriculum
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — The curriculum, originally designed to center Chicanos and Latino Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans and Native Americans, has become beset with arguments about who else should be represented.