RNS Morning Report: Bart Barber elected SBC president in runoff election

Top Stories Bart Barber elected president of Southern Baptist Convention in runoff election ANAHEIM, Calif. (RNS) — The election was one of the closely watched aspects of the two-day meeting, during which messengers, or delegates, addressed a sexual abuse investigation.   Southern Baptists overwhelmingly approve abuse reforms amid contentious first day of meetings (RNS) — ‘We have guests with us and many of them have suffered much,’ Southern Baptist President Ed Litton said. ‘We thank those survivors for being with us today.’   Saddleback remains Southern Baptist for now, after surprise appeal by Rick Warren ANAHEIM, Calif. (RNS) — Saddleback had been reported to SBC’s credentials committee after the megachurch ordained three women pastors. But the committee has not yet decided how to vote after feedback from local church messengers and confusion over what the word ‘pastor’ means.   Colorado bishops ‘weaponizing’ Communion, Catholic lawmakers say (RNS) — Catholic bishops asked Catholic lawmakers in Colorado who supported abortion rights legislation to voluntarily refrain from the sacrament.   Buddhist and Catholic, priests and theologians practice ‘double belonging’ (RNS) — ‘Religions need each other to understand themselves,’ said one Buddhist-Catholic practitioner.   Raphael Warnock says his Senate colleagues sometimes ask, ‘Rev, pray for me’ (RNS) — ‘I enjoyed being a pastor, and, in my heart, that’s who I am essentially — not only a pastor but the son of two pastors.’   SBC Pastors’ Conference rejects CRT critic Voddie Baucham in vote for president (RNS) — The election marked a day of setbacks for the Conservative Baptist Network, which claims the SBC has become too liberal.   Slideshow: Opening Day at the SBC annual meeting in Anaheim   Israeli lawmaker chided for wishing Palestinians ‘disappear’ Matan Kahana's remarks drew condemnation from Palestinian Israeli lawmakers and from his own coalition members.   Pope says traditionalist Catholics “gag” church reforms Francis told a gathering of Jesuit editors in comments published Tuesday that he was convinced that some Catholics simply have never accepted the Second Vatican Council.   German federal court rejects bid to remove antisemitic relic Despite the defamatory nature of the original statue, “the legal system does not demand its removal,” the federal court said.   Pope blasts Russian ‘cruelty,’ lauds Ukrainian ‘heroism’ While sharply criticizing Russia’s invasion, Francis also insisted there weren’t “good guys and bad guys” and that Russia was in some ways provoked by NATO’s expansion east.   Synagogue challenges Florida abortion law over religion The lawsuit filed by the Congregation L'Dor Va-Dor of Boynton Beach contends the law that takes effect July 1 violates Jewish teachings. RNS Opinion Global summit on religious persecution presents opportunity to fight abuse (RNS) — The power of these summits is in bringing together all stakeholders around advancing religious freedom.   Patriarchy and purity culture silence women in the Southern Baptist Convention (The Conversation) — Accused men were protected by the SBC while the women who dared to speak up were called sluts, adulteresses, Jezebels and even agents of Satan. A scholar of evangelicalism writes about this culture. ICYMI Canadian megachurch discloses 38 reports of sexual misconduct by 4 pastors (RNS) — Bruxy Cavey isn't the only pastor of The Meeting House to be charged with sexual misconduct. Four pastors at the church he once led have been accused — and two convicted — of sexual crimes.   Pope Francis disrupts tradition while drawing firm lines in new cardinal picks (RNS) — Bishops who head large and powerful archdioceses should not take the red hat for granted. In Other News King and today’s global democratic struggles Pope Francis says Ukraine war was ‘perhaps somehow provoked’ 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