Religion/ Spirituality

At least 5 Muslims were sent packing back to Yemen early Sunday morning from LAX, after Customs and Border Protection officials strong-armed them into signing a document to essentially wave the white flag and agree to go back to their homeland ... this according to the ACLU.

An ACLU attorney on the front lines tells TMZ ... the detainees were not allowed representation by attorneys who were eager to help them.

The attorney also says the number of detainees at LAX "far exceeds" the 7 people reported. We're told the number is closer to 40 people ... as of 1 AM Sunday morning.

Ivanka Trump and hubby Jared Kushner got special permission from a rabbi to break from Orthodox Jewish laws that ban use of technology -- like cars -- on the very night they're celebrating Donald Trump's inauguration.

As you might know, the day of rest for Jews -- or the Sabbath -- begins at sundown Friday until sundown Saturday. During that time traveling by car is not allowed for followers of Orthodox doctrine.

But Ivanka and Jared got a pass for their own safety, as the rule of pikuach nefesh overrides other commandments in the Torah.

The pastor taking part in Donald Trump's swearing-in ceremony isn't fazed by the haters, because when it comes down to it, it's an order from the Man above.

Bishop Wayne T. Jackson of Great Faith Ministries International in Detroit tells TMZ ... helping with readings and giving the benediction at Friday's ceremony isn't about Democrats or Republicans.

The Bishop's pretty clear -- he's answering a calling bigger than he can imagine.

It's not the first time the Bishop's heard rumblings -- he got the same treatment when he hosted Trump at the church back in September.

When Dylann Roof is executed, the son of slain Rev. Daniel Simmons wants to bear witness -- but not out of vengeance.

Daniel Simmons Jr. tells TMZ he and other members of the Charleston church were relieved by the jury's guilty verdict and decision to give Roof the death penalty -- but he's still waiting to see an ounce of remorse.

Simmons says he will absolutely attend Roof's execution by lethal injection ... in hopes the killer experiences God's forgiveness in the moments before he dies.

Simmons' father was one of the 9 victims Roof shot in cold blood inside Emanuel AME Church -- so, the amount of restraint and grace he shows here is extraordinary.

The Church of Scientology has gone on the attack against A&E, alleging a glaring double standard by cancelling "Generation KKK" but touting its Leah Remini anti-Scientology program.

TMZ obtained a letter Scientology's lawyer fired off to A&E, in which it scoffs at the network's decision to pull the plug on the 'KKK' show because producers paid some of the Klan members money. A&E said it was a direct violation of its policies to pay the subjects of a documentary.

The Scientology lawyer counters in the letter, "Church of Scientology understands that two on-air accusers/participants in Leah Remini's docuseries, "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath" received substantial cash payments for their participation, in violation of the same standards."

The letter goes on to essentially accuse A&E of becoming partners in Remini's show, giving them "free advertising and promotion for anti-Scientology books they have published."

And the lawyer says, "It is hypocritical for A&E to proclaim its intent to 'expose and combat racism and hatred in all its forms' in cancelling the KKK show and at the same time promote Leah Remini's program which promotes hatred that A&E claims that it wants to stop."

An official at A&E tells us there's a difference in the 2 shows because Remini is an executive producer on her show and she's "not the member of a hate group."

We reached out to Remini's rep but so far, no word back.

Tim Tebow is an awesome dude ... he prays for everyone, but sometimes he talks sports with God.

Tim was flying out of LAX when our photog asked a great question ... whether he sometimes asks the Almighty for a connection -- with his bat.

Montell Jordan says Kanye West needs a real God in his life ... and he's willing to take him under his wing to show him how to properly reach the man upstairs.

We got the singer-turned-pastor at LAX, where he extended his best wishes for 'Ye amid a mental breakdown that he says can happen to the best in the music biz.

Even Pope Francis is jumping on the Chicago Cubs bandwagon -- flossin' his brand new Cubbies hat and signed ball ... AT THE VATICAN!

His Popeness was pope'in around with Archbishop Blase J. Cupich -- the Archbishop of Chicago -- who came bearing some baseball-themed gifts.

So long, curse!

Mariah Carey was ordered out of the house she was sharing with billionaire James Packer, but she's staying put and demanding that he buy her an L.A. mansion as PART of a settlement in what has become a nasty breakup ... so say sources connected to Mariah.

Our Mariah sources say she doesn't blame the breakup on James ... she blames it on famed, former Scientology bigwig Tommy Davis ... who worked closely with Tom Cruise until Davis broke from the org.

Mariah believes Davis has had an extreme influence on Packer, whom they say has not been himself since Davis got in his ear. Our Mariah sources believe Davis poisoned the relationship, complaining to Packer he was spending an exorbitant amount on lavish gifts for her.

Other sources tell us Packer brought Davis in partially to help curb wasteful spending, and he immediately ID'd gifts to Mariah as prime examples. BTW, Davis played a similar senior role as Chief of Staff for Tom Barrack's private equity firm, Colony Capital. This situation became a very contentious thing between Davis and Mariah's manager, Stella.

One source pointed out that Mariah has a multi-million dollar home in NY.

As we reported, Mariah said peace out after an alleged incident on a yacht in Greece between James and her assistant. Our sources say when she returned, she was ordered out of their Beverly Hills home, but she refused.

TMZ broke the story ... Mariah is demanding $50 mil from Packer, partly because she uprooted her family to be with him in L.A. and partly because the breakup left her so distraught she had to cancel a leg of her tour.

We're told part of Mariah's demand is that Packer buy her a home in L.A.

Our sources say Packer is expected to respond to Mariah's demand Monday.

Donald Trump's turning to a higher power in the homestretch of the campaign.

The Republican presidential nominee was at St. Patrick's Cathedral Friday morning in NYC. Trump was flanked by Melania and his campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway.

He's denied all the recent allegations of sexual misconduct, and even promised to sue.

The bible Tupac read while serving time at a maximum security prison is up for sale ... and it's expected to command a pretty penny, thanks to the rapper's John Hancock.

We're told a member of Tupac's family put the bible in the hands of online dealer Moments in Time -- which set the price at a cool $54k. The late rapper signed it along with his inmate number from the 9 months he spent at Clinton Correctional Facility in 1995.

You'll recall Tupac famously gave his "homeboys in Clinton Max" a shout-out in "Hail Mary."

Important note ... we're told Tupac's estate is not behind the sale. But when the bible sells we're told the family will get a bulk of the cash.

Paul McCartney can still shake it out like his Beatles days, and we got video of him proving it for Persian Rosh Hashanah.

Sir Paul hit the dance floor at a pal's Rosh celebration Sunday night in Bev Hills. He's got his big Desert Trip concert coming up this weekend, but we'll go ahead and assume this was not a rehearsal. Watch, you'll agree.

He was definitely loosening up though after seder, which we're told was stocked with the usual Persian delicacies ... apples and honey, beef tongue and stew.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had Rosh Hashanah dinner with someone who knows a thing or two about eating ... the dude from "Epic Meal Time"!

Harley Morenstein and Trudeau are fellow Canadians and family friends. As the Jewish half of the duo, it fell on Harley to teach the PM all "aboot" the holiday. We're told Trudeau joined the party at Harley's brother's house in Ottawa ... and dug into apples and honey, Challah bread ... the whole nine.

JT had a front row seat for the blowing of the shofar, but passed on blowing it himself. Still, wine, laughs and based on the pics ... a wonderful time with a nice Jewish family.

Tennessee Titans linebacker Avery Williamson says he was conflicted about wearing special cleats to pay tribute to 9/11 victims ... so he asked for advice from the man upstairs ... and God told him to lace up.

As you've probably heard, Williamson said he was concerned about his cleats being a distraction -- and even possibly earning him a fine from the NFL -- and waffled about the footwear.

Check out the clip ... Williamson explains how he prayed for an answer -- and got one.

There's more ... Williamson also says he got love on Sunday from one of the people holding the American flag during the National Anthem -- and it's the kind of story that gives you the tingles.

Kanye West would probably agree he's bigger than the Pope -- only now he can actually peg that belief to hard numbers ... in merchandise sales.

Sources close to Mr. West tell us he set a record at his Madison Square Garden show Monday night, where he hawked $780,000 in Yeezy merch ... beating Pope Francis' previous record by $240k.

Pope Francis sold $540,000 in Pope-laced gear a year ago at the same venue, but the Saint Pablo Tour crowd proved more fast and loose with their wallets.

Both guys had stuff with their faces all over it ... but we're guessing Francis' Rosaries don't hold a candle to Saint Pablo swag.

Al Sharpton says Colin Kaepernick's National Anthem protest reminds him of Jackie Robinson -- because the MLB legend also said he refused to stand for "The Star-Spangled Banner."

It's true ... As Sharpton pointed out in NYC Wednesday, Robinson made his feelings clear in his 1972 autobiography, 'I Never Had It Made.'

"As I write this twenty years [after my MLB debut], I cannot stand and sing the anthem," Robinson wrote ... "I cannot salute the flag; I know that I am a black man in a white world."

Sharpton says both Robinson and Kaepernick raise a "critical point" about Francis Scott Key and the negative references to slaves in the complete version of "The Star-Spangled Banner."