RNS Morning Report: 'Tammy Faye' is now an Elton John musical

Top Stories ‘Tammy Faye’ is now an Elton John musical, to premiere in London this fall (RNS) — The show about the evangelical icon will open at north London’s Almeida Theatre in October.   Bishop slams ‘negative rhetoric’ as conservative Methodists declare end to moratorium (RNS) — In his first presidential address as president of the United Methodist Church’s Council of Bishops, Bishop Thomas Bickerton called on conservative groups encouraging churches to leave the denomination to stop the negative rhetoric.   Calling on saints and spiritual guides, activist advocates for Armenia’s vulnerable women (RNS) — The director of the Women’s Resource Center looks to Armenia’s ancient spiritual traditions to stay strong against the rape and death threats she’s received over the years.   Washington state seeks dismissal of SPU’s suit claiming religious rights violations (RNS) — ‘The First Amendment does not provide religious organizations with such sweeping immunity that it is unconstitutional for the government simply to ask them for information,’ Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said.   Retired Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland dies at age 95 (AP) – The liberal archbishop, who pushed for social justice and spoke openly about his struggles with being gay, has died at age 95, according to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. RNS Opinion Demi Lovato’s fusing of the sacred and the profane is part evolution, part miracle (RNS) — Lovato knows how it feels to break the tenets of conventional society while all eyes are on you.   Reform of Vatican Curia to be considered at meeting of cardinals (RNS) — As the cardinals discuss curial reforms, they will also be thinking about who among them might be the next pope. ICYMI Eight over 80: Ruth Messinger’s long second act honors ‘an obligation to respond’ (RNS) — After her two decades as a New York City politician, anyone may have reasonably assumed Messinger’s career in public service complete. But Messinger was hardly done.    Christian groups step up harassment of pagan festivals (RNS) — American pagans and witches depend heavily on assemblies with names like Pagan Pride and Between the Worlds to share information and camaraderie. In Other News Student and her family are fighting for her religious identity after school says her hijab wasn’t in line with the uniform policy Alarm over Texas law forcing schools to display ‘In God We Trust’ signs   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 at religionnews.com/donate. If you prefer to mail a donation, please address to: Religion News Foundation, PO Box 1808, Columbia, MO 65205. Yes, I support the work you're doing! Forward this email to a friend