RNS Morning Report: With Warnock’s win, Democrats eye faith as a pathway to victory

RNS is the national expert at covering religion and belief – but we can’t do it without you. As a nonprofit, we depend on your support. Will you help our newsroom continue to thrive? Top Stories With Warnock’s win, Democrats eye faith as a pathway to victory in the South (RNS) — Once a faith-based activist arrested for protesting in the US Capitol, Warnock stands to elevate the various causes of the religious left — especially voting rights.   Chicago priest Michael Pfleger cleared of abuse charges, reinstated to St. Sabina (RNS) — Cardinal Blase Cupic of the Archdiocese of Chicago announced Saturday that an investigation had found no support for the allegations against the well-known priest.   SPU board members seek dismissal of lawsuit over LGBTQ exclusion (RNS) — The lawsuit, board members say, is an effort to 'intimidate and punish leaders of a religious institution for the exercise of protected First Amendment rights.'   US leaders gather to discuss rights of nonreligious people across the world (RNS) — 'Discrimination against the non-religious is often caused, not by a desire to hurt atheists, but by the desire to help one or more religions,' according to a new report by Humanists International.   As their World Cup team advances, Argentines call on folk saints for help SÃO PAULO, Brazil (RNS) — One expert said that while official Catholic saints tend to be invoked in church, ‘folk saints tend to be more visible in public spaces, including soccer fields.’ RNS Opinion Native Hawaiians believe volcanoes are alive and should be treated like people, with distinct rights and responsibilities (The Conversation) — The eruption of Mauna Loa is a profound spiritual experience for many Native Hawaiians. An anthropologist explains Native American beliefs on the living Earth and volcanic lava.   Who’s giving Americans spiritual care? As congregational attendance shrinks, it’s often chaplains (The Conversation) — Chaplains have always provided spiritual care outside traditional houses of worship, but their significance is growing as Americans’ religious identities change.   Mormon TikTok star debunks Bible conspiracies, misinformation (RNS) — More than a quarter-million TikTok followers enjoy Dan McClellan's unusual combination of deadpan humor and solid biblical scholarship.   A pilgrimage in the footsteps of Lott Carey’s pioneering mission to Africa (RNS) — A journey 'home' to a place my ancestors never saw again.   What Greek myth tells us about modern witchcraft (The Conversation) — From ancient Greece to modern-day TikTok witchcraft, the world of witches has been a changing one.   The veil in Iran has been an enduring symbol of patriarchal norms – but its use has changed depending on who is in power (The Conversation) — The veil as a symbol of oppression has once again moved to center stage in Iran, but it’s important to know about the history of veiling – and mandatory unveiling.   How to be the wrong kind of Jew A primer on intra-Jewish bigotry. It isn't pretty, but we can fix this. ICYMI ‘Silence is golden’: Vatican archivist defends Pope Pius XII’s response to the Holocaust (RNS) — Vatican archivist Johan Ickx claims that Pius instructed clergy to save the Jews from the Nazis, while failing to provide proof.   Park is planned for Jewish philanthropist who built over 5,000 schools for Black kids (RNS) — Julius Rosenwald partnered with Black educator and civic leader Booker T. Washington to fund the construction of more than 5,000 rural schools for Black children. Now the National Park Service is considering forming a park in his honor. In Other News Advent calendars, explained: Where they came from and why they’re everywhere now Putting the poetry back in Christmas   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