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Happy Thursday and happy Pride! This week we’re celebrating a queer archivist determined (and proud!) to let her church know that LGBTQ+ and trans Catholics exist. And there are signs that churches are cautiously moving forward after the pandemic’s gut-punch.

But let’s start with the story the internet can’t stop talking about.

Our basketball habit

Something you may not know about the Sojourners editors: We take basketball pretty seriously, especially culture editor Jenna Barnett, a die-hard San Antonio Spurs fan.

So when Jenna saw that a group of Salesian sisters had been watching the NBA semifinals in white habits and Spurs jerseys (“Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili—a holy trinity to Spurs fans,” writes Jenna), she wasted little time in contacting the sisters to talk God, basketball, and Victor Wembanyama.

News of the sisters’ fandom went viral and Jenna’s interview has now been cited by The New York Times, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, People Magazine, and National Catholic Reporter. In it, Sr. Bernadette Mota tells Jenna they only watch games that appear on “regular tv” because, in Mota’s words: “We used to have cable but it was ridiculously expensive, so that wasn’t a good use of our funds.”

The San Antonio Nuns Chanting ‘Go Spurs Go! And God Bless!’

“We pray for the other team too,” Sr. Bernadette Mota said. “But we really want our team to win.” By Jenna Barnett

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Out, proud, and Catholic

These days, there are many churches that welcome LGBTQ+ and trans folks as full and beloved members. But not all traditions and denominations are there yet. And for people like our Catholic siblings, reconciling faith with queer identity can be lonely.

Enter Emma Cieslik, a queer Catholic woman who decided to put her skills as a museum worker and researcher to good use by creating the Queer and Catholic Oral History Project. Through the project, Cieslik has “recorded over 100 interviews with LGBTQ+ clergy and laypeople who are proud to let the Catholic Church know that they exist, even if the church continues to bar them from being full members of the faith.”

An Archive of Queer Catholic Histories Didn't Exist. So I Made One

No one should feel alone being queer and Catholic. By Emma Cieslik

Church after COVID

My church still prays every Sunday for all who have lost their lives to COVID-19. We know the grief and destruction wrought by the pandemic lingers, even as we move forward. And a new study suggests that churches are—gradually, slowly, modestly—finding those paths.

Michael Woolf, a pastor of a “median-size” congregation outside Chicago, takes care not to sensationalize the study’s findings. He balances good news (more hopefulness among clergy!) with more mixed trends regarding church attendance.

Churches Are Rebounding After COVID-19. Yes, Really

For the first time since 2022, congregations are growing—and it goes beyond in-person attendance. By Michael Woolf

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Action Alert: No War With Iran!

Contact Congress now to demand peace and an end to the war with Iran. As Christians, we know that each and every life is precious and every step must be taken to avoid bloodshed. Instead of recklessly pursuing a policy of escalation, we demand an end to violence and vigorous oversight from Congress in pursuit of peace.

Action Alert: End the Blockade Against Cuba

Join us now to contact Congress and demand an end to hostilities against Cuba. In this moment, we must follow the best traditions of our faith and extend our hand to Cuba in love and charity. Demand that we start true diplomatic talks paired with natural disaster aid for the island while respecting the Cuban people’s right to determine their own government.