RNS Morning Report - These houses of worship are older than America. How they outlasted wars, schisms and lawsuits.

These houses of worship - older than America - outlasted wars, schisms and lawsuits    Only about 1 percent of U.S. congregations — such as Old North Church in Boston and Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island —  existed before America’s founding. RNS Projects Editor and National Reporter Adelle Banks traveled in February to visit four of them.   Jenifer Miller, a native of England, joined Old North Church a couple of years ago. Her forehead marked with ashes in the shape of a cross after a noon Ash Wednesday service, she told Banks that she thinks of those who have worshipped in the Episcopal church’s box pews since 1723.   “You imagine all the people that have sat there before and all that, and we all have the worries, we all have the wants, we all have the loves and the sadness all through life,” she said. “So I enjoyed the thought that this is not new. It’s been around for a long time.”    Read about each of the four churches in Adelle's latest.   Top Stories These houses of worship are older than America. How they outlasted wars, schisms and lawsuits. (RNS) — Only about 1% of houses of worship in the U.S. today existed in 1776. Here are four that predate the revolution — and still hold services. Muslim principal in Texas reassigned, investigated after right-wing backlash (RNS) — Interfaith religious leaders and district parents say the Fort Worth Independent School District capitulated to a hateful online smear campaign against Shayma Alzubi. Trey Falwell sues Liberty University, the school his father once led (RNS) — Jerry Falwell Jr. resigned as president of Liberty University nearly six years ago. His wife and son still are feuding with one of the largest Christian colleges in the country. Inquiry into antisemitism in Australia condemns online hatred and bigotry targeting witnesses MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion was created in response to two gunmen allegedly inspired by the Islamic State group slaying 15 people at a Sydney Hanukkah celebration in December. Opinion Why Protestants should read the pope’s encyclical  (RNS) — Since “Rerum Novarum,” Catholic social teaching has generally assumed that the state served as the primary counterweight to concentrated economic power. “Magnifica Humanitas” suggests that this arrangement no longer adequately describes reality.  San Diego mosque shooting shows importance of teaching pluralism (RNS) — This shooting was not just an attack on a sacred space — it was an attack on the very idea that all of us, across our differences, deserve to live in safety and dignity. ICYMI Amid protests at Delaney Hall, a Catholic nun has been offering ‘radical hospitality’ NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) — In a new video series, RNS goes behind the front lines of the immigration crisis. Episode 1 is about Sister Susan Francois, who bears witness and offers 'radical hospitality' to family members and friends visiting immigrant detainees at Delaney Hall. How worship music became the soundtrack of today’s political right (RNS) — One of the most popular worship songs, “How Great Is Our God,” has moved from churches to political rallies in recent years. Support Our Work As a nonprofit newsroom that covers all faiths, RNS sits uniquely at the intersection of freedom of the press and freedom of religion. News tips or feedback? Email comments@religionnews.com. Like the Morning Report? Share it with a friend. Forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. We rely on reader donations to power our reporting. Donate here. Or send a check to: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205

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