RNS Morning Report: Iraqi cleric shows power as thousands attend mass prayer

Top Stories Iraqi cleric shows power as thousands attend mass prayer BAGHDAD (AP) — The event was among the largest gatherings of al-Sadr’s followers after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.   The activist behind opposition to the separation of church and state (RNS) — Antipathy toward the separation of church and state appears to be a retread of a disputed, decades-old argument popularized primarily by a controversial Texas activist.   More than 100 Florida churches file lawsuit to leave United Methodist Church (RNS) — The lawsuit comes amid a slow-moving schism in the United Methodist Church largely over the ordination and marriage of its LGBTQ members.   A new survey found Latino Catholics overwhelmingly support abortion rights. Here’s why. (RNS) — With Roe v. Wade overturned, new data from the Washington, D.C.-based Public Religion Research Institute found that among Latino Catholics, 75% say abortion should be legal in most or all cases. That’s a big jump from the 51% who said so in 2010.   China’s Xi, in Xinjiang, signals no change to Uyghur policy BEIJING (AP) — Xi, on what was described as an “inspection tour” from Tuesday to Friday, said that enhanced efforts should be made to uphold the principle that Islam in China must be Chinese in orientation. RNS Opinion Abortion opponents have won. But they risk losing it all. (RNS) — Don’t be surprised when national Republican candidates take a soft line on abortion.   Shinto religion long entangled with Japan’s politics, Abe associated with many groups (The Conversation) — A scholar of Japanese religion explains the connections that Japan’s political parties have with several religious groups and how religion is tied in with the legacy of Shinzo Abe. ICYMI As politics poison churches, a nonprofit is teaching a new skill: Deep listening (RNS) — Resetting the Table does not seek agreement. But it hopes the techniques it teaches will allow people to see each other in all their humanity.   Monsters are everywhere in the Bible – and some are even human (The Conversation) — The field of ‘monster studies’ looks at how texts reflect ideas about what’s evil, weird or scary. In Other News David Weiss Halivni, controversial Talmudic scholar, dies at 94 Why is God a man? The woman who searched the world for a feminist religion   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