RNS Morning Report: Kavanaugh’s faith; Franklin Graham’s T-shirt; Unchurched in Minnesota

Brett Kavanaugh appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on April 26, 2004. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook, File)

Need to know: Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Trump names religious liberty ‘warrior’ Brett Kavanaugh to Supreme Court

Trump's nomination of U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Brett Kavanaugh sets the stage for a heated confirmation battle that will likely focus on his views regarding both law and religion.

5 faith facts on Trump’s Supreme Court pick, Brett Kavanaugh

Kavanaugh, who is Catholic, has ruled on several issues important to religious conservatives.

As churches close, a way of life fades

Minnesota’s mainline Christian denominations face unprecedented declines, altering communities and traditions celebrated for generations.

Inspired by The Beatles’ love gospel, ‘submarine churches’ bucked tradition

"Yellow Submarine" quickly influenced fashion, design, animation and music, but the 1968 film also influenced organized religion with "submarine churches" based on the gospel of Lennon and McCartney.

Franklin Graham: Wear your support for President Trump — for $15.99

The evangelist is selling "Pray for 45" T-shirts in the store at North Carolina's Billy Graham Library.

Latest news from RNS

Killings of Catholic priests in Africa raise fears that peacemakers are targets

NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Following the killings of several priests in the Central African Republic, Catholic officials worry that clergy are being targeted by armed groups for their peacemaking efforts.

Haiti unrest strands a number of US church groups

(AP) — Church groups from South Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Alabama are among those that haven't been able to leave, according to newspaper and television reports.

Pope warns climate change turning Earth into desert, garbage

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Francis urged governments to honor their Paris commitments and said institutions like the IMF and World Bank had important roles to play in encouraging reforms promoting sustainable development.

More views from RNS

Pope Francis teaches discernment for coping with spiritual battles

(RNS) — Spirituality frequently uses the language of battle, so it is not surprising that Pope Francis promotes the Christian equivalent of a spiritual jihad. Many in the West think jihad only means warfare, whereas it can also mean the struggle within oneself against sin.

How I caused an earthquake in Israel

JERUSALEM (RNS) — A funny thing happened on the way to Jerusalem this past Shabbat.

Keeping the faith in an age of anxiety

Writer Rachel Marie Stone has dealt with anxiety since childhood. Sometimes her faith made it worse with a he-sees-you-when-you're-sleeping Jesus. In her new memoir, she talks about an adult faith that calms her fearful heart and helps her shift the narrative.