RNS Morning Report: In Vatican summit’s closing document, agreement that synodality is church’s future

Top Stories In Vatican summit’s closing document, agreement that synodality is church’s future (RNS) — Pope Francis’ synod on synodality never sought to answer the church’s hot-button questions, but it achieved its goal of promoting dialogue.   Haredi Jews, exempt from Israel’s military service mandate, sign up to fight Hamas JERUSALEM (RNS) — 'This isn’t a drill. This is an actual war,' one ultra-Orthodox Israeli said. 'During wartime, we must all do the maximum. Anyone who isn’t studying Torah full time should contribute.'   Israel pushes deeper into Gaza and frees Hamas captive; Netanyahu rejects calls for cease-fire KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Gaza Health Ministry later said three people were killed in the car that was hit. The Israeli military declined to comment on where its forces were deployed.   Anchorage’s oldest building, a Russian Orthodox church, gets new life in restoration project EKLUTNA, Alaska (AP) — The Russian Orthodox church was established in Alaska on Kodiak Island in 1794 and missionaries spread the faith, baptizing an estimated 18,000 Alaska Natives. RNS Opinion The evangelical Christian activist who is now speaker of the House (RNS) — Does Mike Johnson’s Bible-based worldview stop at the border?   Synod on Synodality report is disappointing but not surprising (RNS) — For Francis it was never about the hot-button topics. ICYMI Advocates erect empty Shabbat tables in support of hostages taken by Hamas WASHINGTON (RNS) — Speakers, who included family members of those believed to be kidnapped, led the crowd in chants of ‘Bring them home!’ as well as songs and prayers in Hebrew.   Protesters occupy New York’s Grand Central to demand cease-fire in Gaza New York (RNS) — The event was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, an anti-Zionist organization created in 1996 that also occupied Congress a week ago, asking for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. In Other News What Matthew Perry said about prayer and religion ‘This war is prophetically significant’: why US evangelical Christians support Israel   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