RNS Morning Report: Rome feels the bustle of returning synod delegates as Catholics wait for action

Top Stories Rome feels the bustle of returning synod delegates as Catholics wait for action (RNS) — While this month’s discussions in Rome may be robust and equitable, many observers — Catholic or otherwise — wonder what has been achieved beyond talk.   Bring your pets to church, Haitian immigrant priest tells worshippers. ‘I am not going to eat them … I will bless them.” CONCORD, N.H. (RNS) — At St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Concord, New Hampshire, the Rev. Jean Beniste, a Haitian immigrant and Episcopal priest turned internet curses into blessings during an annual blessing of the animals, held in honor of St. Francis.   Oversharing her faith is Hindu ‘momfluencer’ Niki Patel’s comfort zone (RNS) — Instagram content creator Niki Patel gives conscious parenting a Hindu spiritual twist.   Donald Trump’s favorite Bible might be on the way to Oklahoma schools (RNS) — An Oklahoma Department of Education bid proposal for 55,000 Bibles seems tailor-made for the 'God Bless the USA' Bible due to its mix of religious texts and historical documents. The bid could make the Trump-endorsed Bible an even bigger hit.   Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield, former president of AME bishops’ council, dies at 74 (RNS) — ‘God can see what you can’t see,’ Byfield preached in a sermon at the African Methodist Episcopal Church General Conference in August.   RNS Opinion Three steps faith leaders must take on the first anniversary of Oct. 7 (RNS) — We need faith leaders to find their moral voice and the courage of ancient prophets.   Jerry Falwell Jr. is back and it’s bad for everyone (RNS) — Falwell and school officials have kissed and made up.   ICYMI Calling it ‘religious duty,’ Jordanians boycott products from Israel-allied countries (RNS) — The boycott took hold last year, said one Jordanian homemaker, after a saying of the Prophet Muhammad began to circulate on social media: ‘Strive … with your wealth and yourselves and your tongues.’   Church-linked groups are helping South Sudanese refugees live like locals in Uganda (RNS) — Responding to the crisis, a coalition of church-linked organizations is providing education, skills trainings and farming equipment to help refugees at the camps participate in the local economy and become self-reliant. In Other News Pope names 21 new cardinals, increasing pool who will one day elect his successor A year of war accelerates ‘silent departure’ of Israel’s elite   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. RNS 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