RNS Morning Report: Unitarian Universalists elect first woman of color, openly queer president

Top Stories Unitarian Universalists elect first woman of color, openly queer president (RNS) — A womanist theologian, ethicist and minister, the Rev. Sofía Betancourt previously served as interim co-president of the UUA in 2017.   Catholic Democrats issue new ‘statement of principles’ defending abortion rights WASHINGTON (RNS) — The statement frames abortion as a personal choice in keeping with Catholic teaching regarding freedom of conscience and suggests restrictive abortion laws may violate the separation of church and state.   US Jews mourn the anniversary of the fall of Roe with a yahrzeit (RNS) — American Jews lit a candle made to burn for 24 hours to remember the souls of people who have died in forced births.   Meet Natalie Drew: Christian, trans woman, veteran and pacifist (RNS) — 'I get asked a lot, why do I stay?' said Drew, a wife and mother of two. 'I stay because I truly believe Jesus Christ came, died and rose again the third day.'   Photo of first US ordained woman rabbi to be exhibited in National Portrait Gallery (RNS) — Rabbi Sally Priesand, who is now 76 and retired, was ordained by Hebrew Union College in 1972.   Ambitious Saudi plans to ramp up Hajj could face challenges from climate change MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — The increased number of pilgrims, with the associated surge in international air travel and infrastructure expansion, also raises sustainability concerns, even as the oil giant pursues the goal of getting half its energy from renewable resources by 2030. RNS Opinion If India and the US really share values, Biden must call out Modi (RNS) — A state visit is more an occasion for course correction than celebration.    ‘Rabbi, what happens after I die?’ (RNS) — If you never learned this in religious school, then (in Brooklynese) 'you was robbed.' ICYMI For church worship teams, Auto-Tune covers a multitude of sins. Especially online. (RNS) — The boom in livestreaming and the ubiquity of Auto-Tune and other technologies have led churches to up their game when it come to sound technology. But has it gone too far?   Abuse experts look to coming synod to promote accountability on abuse VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis’ project to reform power structures in the church might have a strong impact in addressing the clerical sexual abuse crisis. In Other News He walked away from his evangelical roots to escape feeling suffocated Becoming ‘self-made’ stars in a secular age   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