RNS Morning Report: Ahmadi caliph; Amish #MeToo; Teaching clergy science

Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the fifth and current caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, speaks to his followers at the Jalsa Salana on Aug. 4, 2018, in Alton, England. Photo courtesy of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

Need to know: Thursday, October 4, 2018

US-bound Ahmadi leader models a different kind of Islamic caliphate

Fifteen years into his caliphate, Mirza Masroor Ahmad is heading to the U.S. to meet his growing community and share his message of world peace through prayer.

Amish not immune to #MeToo, victims say

Lack of education and a culture of submission create an environment ripe for abuse, says the founder of the nonprofit Amish Heritage Foundation.

America’s clergy are teaming up with scientists

American Association for the Advancement of Science says one way to combat the intensifying science-religion divide is to educate future religious leaders in all things STEM.

Survey: White Christians more likely to consider supporting candidates accused of sex harassment

Beyond internal religious divides, the pre-Kavanaugh PRRI survey also revealed a deep partisan divide.

Minister’s daughters ask: Why is photo of our father, a pedophile, on a church wall?

Didn’t Matthews United Methodist Church know that their father, the church’s former pastor, was in prison because of child sex abuse crimes?

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California’s Catholic bishops targeted in sex abuse lawsuit

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The lawsuit asks a judge 'to abate the continuing nuisance' of abuse by ordering each diocese to name all accused priests, detail their history of alleged assault and identify their addresses.

US confidence in Pope Francis’ handling of abuse scandal drops

Only 3 in 10 Catholic adults say Francis is doing an "excellent" or a "good" job with the child sex abuse crisis – down 14 points from January.

Survey: Summer camp may be key to fostering Reform Jewish values

The success of Jewish overnight camps is well-documented. A new survey attempts to measure whether camps also help shape adult Jewish values and social justice commitments.

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To overcome patriarchy, men first have to see it in themselves

(RNS) — Those with brown skin know that those who don’t experience racism have a hard time relating to it, a feeling we call 'white privilege.' But the Kavanaugh case has forced us all to confront the male privilege we didn't see.

Pope urges synod’s bishops to dream, reject conformism

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The pope's words came during his homily at the opening Mass for the Synod of Bishops on Young People before a large crowd in St. Peter's Square.

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