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Dear World of Faith readers,  

This week, we look at where anti-Muslim vitriol is showing up in the U.S., and how Israel's Christians are coping with rising fears of harassment. And in Chicago, we learn just how much White Sox fans love pope-related swag.  

A man prays at the Islamic Society of Tulsa, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Brittany Bendabout)

ANTI-MUSLIM VITRIOL

As Abdul El-Sayed breaks a barrier, anti-Muslim vitriol surges on multiple fronts 

Abdul El-Sayed made history this month in Michigan by becoming the first Muslim nominated by the Democratic Party to run for the U.S. Senate. But elation among many of his fellow Muslim Americans was tempered by awareness of persisting and widespread anti-Muslim sentiment across much of the nation. Read more. 

Key points:

• Some Republicans, including President Donald Trump, swiftly began referring to the nominee by his full name: Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, while depicting him as a danger to America. 

   

• The vitriol extends far beyond the political class. Tensions related to anti-Muslim sentiment have been high in several communities around the country where large numbers of residents bitterly opposed proposals to build new mosques.
  
  

• Edward Ahmed Mitchell, a senior official of Council on American-Islamic Relations, depicts the vitriol as a combination of election-year scaremongering and a backlash to advances that Muslim Americans have made in politics and other fields.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

• How Abdul El-Sayed went from political oblivion to progressive breakthrough in Michigan Senate race 

• Anti-Muslim rhetoric rises among Republicans with little pushback from GOP leadership 

• Muslim rights group sues Florida Gov. DeSantis over ‘foreign terrorist’ label 

INTERFAITH TENSIONS

Israel’s Christians rely on faith and allies as they fear rising harassment 

Many Christians in Israel, who make up less than 2% of the country’s population, are worried visible signs of their faith will draw harassment, which has increased as multiple conflicts grip the region. Incidents like spitting and violence have risen, especially since the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023. However, interfaith leaders are hopeful due to better policing and a new government envoy to the Christian world. Read more.

Key points:

• One Catholic nun is accompanied by a Jewish volunteer for protection as she walks to work near where another sister was violently attacked in Jerusalem’s Old City. She's afraid but finds resilience in her faith — and in support from Israelis like the volunteer.   

   

• For many Christians and Jews, protecting coexistence in the Holy Land is a moral imperative after their own long histories of religious persecution.   

   

• Religious Freedom Data Center, an organization founded to track harassment of Christians, has recorded a doubling in incidents in Jerusalem from April to June compared to the first three months of the year — about one a day now — virtually all by Jewish religious nationalists. 

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

• Israeli settlers’ siege of Palestinian homes draws a sharp US rebuke 

• Israel indicts Jewish man accused of attacking Christian nun in Jerusalem 

• Lebanon resident recognizes family crucifix smashed by Israeli soldier in viral image 

WHITE SOX FANS

Pope hats and other creative ways MLB teams lure fans to the ballpark 

It started as a limited promotion for a specialty theme night. Then the Chicago White Sox heard from their fans. Everyone wanted a pope-themed hat. Fun is the overarching theme when it comes to stadium giveaways, and business has been good at major league ballparks this year. The White Sox ended up giving the hats shaped like the pope’s miter to everyone in the crowd at Tuesday night's game. Read more.  

Key points:

• The pitch clock and other innovative rules introduced by MLB in 2023 are often credited for spurring fan interest. But it's clear from the long lines — and occasionally astronomical resale prices on eBay — what a clever giveaway can do for ticket sales, too. 

   

• Promotions for the White Sox go through a committee led by senior director of marketing and promotions Mike Downey. They throw out ideas and concepts, and they also look at samples from different vendors. 

   

• There were multiple fans looking to buy additional pope hats at Tuesday night’s game, and there were several listings for them and other MLB giveaways on eBay after the game.