Does the Mormon Church Empower Women? A Social Media Storm Answers.

Ruth Graham at The New York Times writes about a recent social media backlash following the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ global celebration of the 182nd anniversary of a women’s organization within the church known as the Relief Society. After a quote from the gathering lauding the role of women in the church was shared on the L.D.S official Instagram page, nearly 15,000 people left comments expressing frustration and discontent with the church’s restrictions on women in leadership. According to PRRI’s Health of Congregations survey, 16% of Americans are considering leaving their religion, compared with nearly a quarter of L.D.S members.

What’s at Stake in the Supreme Court Abortion Pill Case

For The Washington Post, Ann E. Marimow and Caroline Kitchener explore the implications of tomorrow’s oral arguments over access to the abortion pill mifepristone. Less than two years after Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh wrote that the basic legality of abortion would be decided by elected representatives in his concurring opinion in the Dobbs ruling, this case could limit abortion access across the country and override the Food and Drug Administration’s regulatory authority. Fewer than four in ten Americans (37%) approve of the job President Biden is doing on the issue of abortion, according to PRRI’s 2023 American Values Survey. This includes 71% of Democrats compared with 34% of independents and 12% of Republicans.

Washington State Makes School Curriculum More Inclusive by Adding LGBTQ History

Ryan Adamczeski at The Advocate reports that Washington State has recently made the inclusion of LGBTQ curriculum in schools law. Senate Bill 5462 requires the state’s education agency to include lessons on LGBTQ+ history and contributions and create curricula for other underrepresented groups, including racial and ethnic groups, those with disabilities, and varying socioeconomic backgrounds. According to the ACLU, 479 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced so far this year, many of which restrict or outright prohibit LGBTQ curriculum in public schools. PRRI finds that 34% of Americans say it is never appropriate to teach about same-sex romantic relationships in public schools.

An ‘Exvangelical’ on Loving, Leaving and Reporting on the Culture of Christianity

On NPR’s Fresh Air, Tonya Mosley interviews Sarah McCammon about her new book, The Exvangelicals, which explores her experience growing up in a conservative evangelical Christian community. McCammon describes the prevalence of the term “Christian worldview” in evangelical literature, explaining that: “There’s a real emphasis on this idea that we see the world differently. And really the implication is that those of other faiths see it wrongly.” While the number of Americans who identify as evangelical or “born again” Christians peaked in 2004 at 30%, PRRI finds that 14% of Americans are white evangelicals today.