RNS Morning Report: Vatican launches massive restoration effort of baldachin in St. Peter’s Basilica

Top Stories Vatican launches massive restoration effort of baldachin in St. Peter’s Basilica VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Restorers plan to complete the work in time for the start of the Jubilee of 2025.   Sharon Brous on the power of saying ‘amen’ in a broken world (RNS) — 'The Amen Effect' is an extended meditation on the importance of showing up — in good times and bad.   Florida welcomes students fleeing campus antisemitism, with little evidence that there’s demand ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — College campuses across the U.S. have been roiled by protests since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, and university presidents have been caught in the crosshairs   Africa’s Catholic hierarchy refuses same-sex blessings, says such unions are contrary to God’s will VATICAN CITY (AP) — The controversy has deepened a growing chasm between Francis’ progressive, reform-minded papacy and the conservative church in much of the world RNS Opinion A new biblical epic, ‘The Book of Clarence,’ captures the political side of the messiah (RNS) — An irreverent biblical comedy counters decades of whitewashed and stiff-necked biblical narratives.   Blacks and Jews: Shame, pride and the Curse of Canaan (RNS) — We share the heritage of the Bible, which has been used to inspire and at times to subjugate both groups. ICYMI The SBC will sell insurance, retirement to women pastors — if they aren’t Southern Baptists (RNS) — In 2004, Southern Baptists voted to allow their insurance and retirement agency to work with other churches. The latest denomination to sign up is the Global Methodist Church, made up of former United Methodists.   Wheaton College restricts employees’ ability to state preferred pronouns (RNS) — Updates to the policy do not appear to explicitly prohibit students from using or stating preferred pronouns, including they/them pronouns. In Other News Georgian Orthodox Church calls for Stalin religious icon to be changed Inside the “secular churches” that fill a need for some nonreligious Americans   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