RNS Morning Report - France's 'Catholic moment'; Al Mohler rejects blasphemy laws; T.D. Jakes' 50 years of ministry

RNS coverage of Hindus and Hinduism: Thanks to the Guru Krupa Foundation   Scroll down to read more.     Top Stories As Pope Leo prepares to visit France, can its ‘Catholic moment’ become a lasting revival? (RNS) — Record numbers of young people are seeking baptism in France. As Pope Leo arrives to greet 80,000 of them later this month, the country's diminished Catholic Church is faced with the challenge of turning the burst of enthusiasm into a lasting renewal. Al Mohler reverses course, rejects blasphemy laws after controversy (RNS) — The longtime president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary said he erred in saying the government should be able to punish those who don’t believe God was part of America’s founding. T.D. Jakes’ megachurch pays tribute to his 50 years of ministry (RNS) — ‘The Potter's House is never just Bishop Jakes,’ he told his megachurch congregation. ‘It never was, and it never will be.’ Opinion What to do with a Gospel text that asks us to forgive two days after 9/11? (RNS) — Killings and torture lead to more killings and torture. A balance is never achieved. Vengeance inspires more vengeance. Two rock stars, two messages — and a lesson for Jews this new year (RNS) — A Jewish community thanks Boy George. We all should do the same. ICYMI At NBCUSA denominational meeting, leaders, advocates and AOC urge midterm voter turnout (RNS) — ‘They're trying to make voting difficult, but you stand in line if you got to stand all day,’ said the Rev. Boise Kimber, president of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc. ‘You are immovable.’ What the shofar’s ancient sound means on Rosh Hashanah (RNS and NPR) — The shofar marks moments of heightened experience and emotion — and the Jewish new year.   Partner Spotlight Sharing Stories that Matter about Hindus and Hinduism Supported by the Guru Krupa Foundation   RNS is grateful to the Guru Krupa Foundation (GKF) for their continued partnership, which serves as the foundation of RNS’ expanded coverage of Hindus and Hinduism. Because of this collaboration, RNS has shed light on the many stories of the Hindu community in the U.S. and abroad. Trisha Mukherjee wrote about Hindu students asking schools to discern the swastika from the Nazi Hakenkreuz; Bob Smietana highlighted a Hindu group suing to build a temple, citing a 1967 legal barrier; and Madhiha Anis featured the drawing power of one of the oldest U.S. Hindu temples.   The Religion Communicators Council honored the work of Richa Karmarkar in April 2026 with a coveted Wilbur Award of Excellence for her deep-dive series on Hindu immigrants and visibility that included: 'We have arrived': Mammoth deity statues announce Hindus' rising status in the West; Hindu advocates, rejecting H-1B 'elite,' seek to defend all Indian immigrants; and Hindu refugees from Bhutan are being deported to a country they cannot live in   Because of GKF’s generosity, our reporting on the increasingly influential Hindu community is available for free across our website, podcasts, and social media. We thank the foundation for helping RNS fulfill its mission to foster discussion and improve the public's understanding of faith in everyday life.   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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