Jack Jenkins
Jack Jenkins is a national reporter for RNS based in Washington, covering U.S. Catholics and the intersection of religion and politics.
All Stories by Jack Jenkins
Trump’s Israel strategy makes few inroads with Jewish voters
By Elana Schor and Jack Jenkins — September 25, 2020
WASHINGTON (AP/RNS) — With battleground states like Pennsylvania, Florida and Michigan collectively decided in 2016 by fewer than 200,000 votes, any loss of the Jewish support by Democratic nominee Joe Biden could be pivotal.
ICE apprehension on church grounds violated federal policy, say faith leaders
By Jack Jenkins — September 21, 2020
BALTIMORE (RNS) — The incident is the latest example of escalating tensions between faith-based sanctuary movement activists and the Trump administration.
Faith leaders respond to death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
By Jack Jenkins — September 20, 2020
WASHINGTON (RNS) — People of all faiths mourned Ginsburg, the person and the public figure, as news of her death spread Friday night (Sept. 18).
Amy Coney Barrett, controversial Catholic, re-emerges as potential Supreme Court pick
By Jack Jenkins — September 20, 2020
(RNS) — A 1998 law review article Barrett co-authored has many questioning if she'd vote against both the death penalty and abortion as a justice.
Head of Federal Election Commission calls separation of church and state a ‘fallacy’ and 2020 election a ‘spiritual war’
By Jack Jenkins — September 17, 2020
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Another FEC commissioner disputed many of the chairman’s comments, saying, ‘My colleague is not correct.’
Trump campaign launches new Jewish outreach coalition
By Jack Jenkins — September 16, 2020
(RNS) — Nevada casino mogul and conservative donor Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam, will co-chair the initiative.
Biden talks faith and poverty at Poor People’s Campaign event
By Jack Jenkins — September 15, 2020
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Former Vice President Joe Biden addressed the faith-based anti-poverty group at a virtual event on Monday evening (Sept. 14), telling its members, ‘I want to be part of your movement.’
Being a good guy with a gun is what God wants, say ‘sheepdog’ evangelicals
By Jack Jenkins — September 15, 2020
(RNS) — John Correia, a pastor turned security consultant, says that being a good guy with a gun can be a godly way to prevent violence and protect the innocent.
Poll: Biden bests Trump with Jewish voters on every issue but may have lost ground overall
By Jack Jenkins — September 14, 2020
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The survey asked Jewish voters who they trusted more on a number of issues; they chose Biden on all topics, including U.S.-Israel relations. Even so, the former vice president may be slipping compared to past Democratic presidential candidates.
Black church leaders demand apology for Trump ad
By Jack Jenkins — September 13, 2020
(RNS) — The Rev. Silvester S. Beaman of Bethel AME Church in Delaware said the digital spot portrays Black church leaders and their flocks as 'thuggish rule breakers.'
Trump campaign ad shows Biden kneeling in Black church to argue Americans ‘won’t be safe’
By Jack Jenkins — September 10, 2020
(RNS) — After showing Joe Biden kneeling in a Black church in front of a row of Black leaders, words appear on the screen reading ‘stop Joe Biden and his rioters.’
Trump announces new Supreme Court justice options in apparent appeal to religious base
By Jack Jenkins — September 9, 2020
(RNS) — The president said the potential Supreme Court nominees would protect religious liberty, oppose abortion and keep ‘under God’ in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Theologians, activists, former bishops staff urge Catholic voters to oppose Trump
By Jack Jenkins — September 9, 2020
(RNS) — The letter comes as the two presidential campaigns rapidly escalate their fight for Catholic voters ahead of the November election.
Eric Metaxas confirms he punched protester, says protester was to blame
By Jack Jenkins and Emily McFarlan Miller — September 1, 2020
(RNS) — Last week, a viral video began circulating on social media showing a man who closely resembles Eric Metaxas striking a protester and running away backward.
At Republican convention, a vision of faith under fire
By Jack Jenkins — August 29, 2020
(RNS) — ‘In America, we don’t turn to government to restore our souls. We put our faith in almighty God,’ Trump said.
