RNS Morning Report: Dutch coverup; Polluted Ganges; Hurricane hero

Pope Francis prays during an audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on July 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Need to know: Monday, September 17, 2018

Dutch Catholic church accused of widespread sexual abuse cover-up

20 of 39 Dutch cardinals, bishops and auxiliaries "covered up sexual abuse, allowing perpetrators to cause many more victims," a report says.

‘Sacrilege’: Varanasi priests warn Ganges luxury cruises could contaminate river

Hindu holy men say if mutton or alcohol are served on trips along city’s ghats, it could pollute the sacred river.

Disgraced Baptist leader Paige Patterson body-shames a woman in his return to the pulpit

When Patterson returned to the pulpit last week to offer a pair of sermons, he didn't exactly offer a statement of humble contrition, Jonathan Merritt writes.

What one pastor’s anti-Nike protest says about religion and nationalism in America

When an Alabama pastor cut up his Nike gear at the pulpit, white supremacy, evangelical identity and a distinctively Christian nationalism combined.

#MeToo is an American Yom Kippur

The scriptural readings for the Days of Awe are filled with women’s cries, Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin writes.

Pastor rescues cats and dogs left behind during Florence

Pastor Matthew Drake and two church members were out in a boat seeking to help those trapped by floodwaters.

Latest news from RNS

‘Connecting the dots’ between faith and climate change

The Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco is a chance to raise the profile of the small and large ways California’s faith communities are fighting for the environment.

Will Graham: It’s ‘daunting’ to portray his famous granddad in ‘Unbroken’ sequel

"I carry on what he's taught me on an everyday basis," the famed evangelist's grandson said. "That doesn't bother me. But trying to do it on a movie set is different."

Abuse scandal hits diocese of cardinal set to meet with pope

(AP) — Daniel DiNardo, the cardinal leading a delegation to a Vatican meeting about the church abuse crisis, has been accused of not doing enough to stop a priest who was arrested this week on abuse charges.

More views from RNS

Discovered letter exposes roots of Ronald Reagan’s ‘city on a hill patriotism’

(RNS) — The president's vision of America, inspired by the Sermon on the Mount, was not a mere rhetorical, or political, device. It was rooted in his own religious identity.

Pressing pope to accept his resignation, Cardinal Wuerl does the right thing

(RNS) — Cardinal Wuerl is certainly not the worst bishop of his generation in handling abuse. In fact, he was one of the best, but that is still not good enough. Today we have a higher standard.

Mormonism and the dangers of empire

This week's leaked document about Mormon cover-ups for alleged sexual abusers raises the uncomfortable reminder that my religion is firmly enmeshed with the politics of empire. Which really never ends well.