RNS Morning Report: Amid fighting in Ukraine, Pope Francis urges leaders not to give up on peace

Quote of the Day “Looking forward to Easter, it’s supposed to be this joyous resurrection celebration, and, for me, it just feels like it’s going to be stuck in death. I just feel like people are rushing on to Easter morning, and I will be stuck on Holy Saturday.” – The Rev. Emmy Kegler Top Stories Amid continuing fighting in Ukraine, Pope Francis urges leaders not to give up on peace (RNS) — 'Peace is possible; peace is a duty; peace is everyone’s primary responsibility,' Pope Francis said in his Urbi at Orbi message.   Pope Francis showcases his vision for peace at Good Friday’s Via Crucis VATICAN CITY (RNS) — On the day commemorating the steps of Jesus’ execution, Pope Francis focused on the need for forgiveness in overcoming the logic of war.   Virtual bathtub baptisms help Maryland megachurch gain online members during pandemic (RNS) — 'This pandemic has pushed me to understand that there are things that I never thought we could do that we can do,' said Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr.   With high hopes for holidays, three faiths take stock of COVID-19 losses and gains (RNS) — Even with the convergence of Easter, Passover and Ramadan this year, many Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders are uncertain whether they can count on a post-COVID-19 resurgence or what it will look like.   Grand Rapids pastors mobilize in wake of fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya (RNS) — 'We think that our faith perspective is critical in this hour,' said Pastor Jathan K. Austin.   Palestinians and Israeli police clash at major holy site JERUSALEM (AP) — Clashes at the site last year helped spark an 11-day war with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.   Centro Islámico, a hub for Latino Muslims near and far, breaks ground on expansion during Ramadan (RNS) — 'We realize that there are people who have moved specifically because we're building the only Spanish-speaking Islamic center in America,' said Jaime 'Mujahid' Fletcher, chief executive officer and founder of IslamInSpanish.   Bride’s side or groom’s? How photographers navigate gender-segregated weddings (RNS) — Capturing a family’s special moments can be a challenge in faith communities where being in the presence of the opposite sex can be seen as a religious violation. RNS Opinion Five lessons recent church leadership failures can teach us (RNS) — There are clear reasons why our leadership is not performing to the standards we should expect.   Christians hold many views on Jesus’ resurrection – a theologian explains the differing views among Baptists (The Conversation) — Christians have engaged in passionate debates over the meaning of the resurrection. Baptists may be distinct in that they believe an external religious authority cannot enforce views on such matters. ICYMI Tennessee woman baptized by sheriff’s deputy after traffic stop found dead (RNS) — A federal judge ruled that a coerced baptism violated the First Amendment.   On Holy Thursday, Pope Francis warns priests against the idolatry that leads to devil worship VATICAN CITY (RNS) — It’s not uncommon for the pope to candidly address clergy during Holy Thursday’s Chrism Mass, when priests renew their vows of ordination. In Other News Easter sunrise at the Lincoln Memorial is an emotional return to church for some The $1m challenge: ‘If the Turin Shroud is a forgery, show how it was done’ Talk to Us We want your feedback on the RNS Morning Report — what you think we're doing right and what we should be doing differently. Send us an email at Comments@ReligionNews.com Subscribe to other RNS Newsletters. Forward this email to a friend. View the archive of past newsletters. Religion News Service is free to read, but it's not free to produce. If you value our reporting, please consider making a donation today. Yes, I support the work you're doing! Forward this email to a friend