government
Pete Hegseth’s spiritual adviser longs for a day when Latter-day Saints can’t hold office or possibly even vote
Summary by The El Paso Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Stacker , KVIA ABC-7
· July 22, 2026
· 7 min read
If Pete Hegseth was attempting a theological purge when the Pentagon recently rolled out a controversial “Christian list” that left out Latter-day Saints, the defense secretary’s spiritual adviser wouldn’t have necessarily objected. After all, Pastor Doug Wilson doesn’t see members of The Church ...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The El Paso Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Stacker, KVIA ABC-7 Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 22, 2026 Indexed here Jul 22, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Wilson is the most prominent figure to emerge from a denomination founded in the late 1990s known as the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches , which claims between 23,000 and 25,000 adherents globally.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The views of Pastor Doug Wilson, spiritual adviser to Pete Hegseth, have significant implications for the diverse community of El Paso. As a city with a strong presence of various faiths, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Wilson's stance on who can be considered a Christian raises concerns about religious tolerance and inclusivity. Furthermore, his vision for a "Christian republic" where only one member of each household can vote, typically the husband, is particularly troubling in a city like El Paso, where women and minorities have made significant strides in civic engagement and leadership. The fact that Wilson's ideology could potentially influence policy decisions at the national level is a reminder that El Pasoans must remain vigilant in protecting their rights and promoting a culture of respect and understanding among people of all faiths and backgrounds.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: government ·
Published: July 22, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 7 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? If Pete Hegseth was attempting a theological purge when the Pentagon recently rolled out a controversial “Christian list” that left out Latter-day Saints, the defense secretary’s spiritual adviser wouldn’t have necessarily objected. After all, Pastor Doug Wilson doesn’t see members of The Church ...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 22, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Stacker at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more government coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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