RNS Morning Report - Flashy AI campaign ads use religion to stir emotions and attack candidates

Top Stories Flashy AI campaign ads use religion to stir emotions and attack candidates (RNS) — In some key races, AI has been used in campaign ads to depict candidates’ religious views and convey religious messaging, ranging from highly realistic to provocative and eccentric. Hispanic evangelicals are turning on Trump. But will they vote for Democrats? (RNS) — In the absence of strong outreach from the Democratic Party, it’s an open question whether Hispanic evangelicals defecting from Trump will hold their nose to vote for Democrats or Republicans — or whether they’ll sit the race out altogether. New Vatican document cautions against ‘triumphalism’ over rise in baptisms VATICAN CITY (RNS) — A new Vatican document welcomes rising baptisms as signs of hope but warns against triumphalism, urging Catholic communities to help converts build lasting faith. Multisite churches — also known as franchises — are now a staple of American life (RNS) — A new study of multi-site churches has found that such congregations have become commonplace, found in almost every state in the nation. Many of the 1,800 multisite churches have started a new location by merging with another church.   Opinion Democratic candidates must be bad Christians (RNS) — After half a century of portraying itself as the Party of God, the GOP is understandably annoyed to find a slew of Christian clerics running for office on the other side. They've got to be PINOs — Pastors in Name Only. ICYMI AME Church retirees to receive tens of millions more in funds lost amid scandal  (RNS) — Some retired clergy who once served as ministers in the AME Church have said that after their retirement plans were allegedly mismanaged, they've had to depend on their children or return to work for financial security. Landslides, fires, El Niño: Big Sur’s spiritual centers ‘living with precariousness’ BIG SUR, Calif. (RNS) — For those who visit, work and live at the remote spiritual centers, ruggedness goes hand in hand with sacredness. But as climate change amplifies the region’s volatility, some — like the monks of New Camaldoli Hermitage — are weighing the costs.       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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