When architects Hadley and Peter Arnold rescued a condemned church in Warren, R.I., they knew the 19th century building was something special. But just how special wasn’t clear until it was time to remodel the church’s windows. Behind one of…
The war on abortion is now a war on birth control
Inspired by influencers on TikTok, young women are abandoning hormonal birth control and seeking alternative methods of contraception. But not everyone behind the push to “natural” family planning has their best interests at heart. Conservative religious groups and rightwing political…
The federal appeals court that just ruled a father can control his daughters’ access to birth control is part of an intentional network strategically advancing conservative causes
On March 12, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling that gave a Texas father the right to deny his daughters access to birth control made available through the federal government’s Title X free contraception…
Remembering the early days of controversy over IVF in America
An Alabama court’s recent decision deeming frozen embryos “extrauterine children” resulted in the shutdown of several prominent IVF clinics. While many conservative Christians were pleased to see the cessation of invitro fertilization in the state, just as many were left…
He Gets Us — again
Thanks to Taylor Swift, Super Bowl 58 was the most-watched telecast ever. This is good news for advertisers like “He Gets Us,” who paid $17 million for two commercials totaling 75 seconds of airtime. However, despite the record number of…
All in the Family set the stage for Rob Reiner to understand Christian nationalism
It was easy for television viewers to forget the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights struggle and women’s liberation when immersed in the gauzy nostalgia of The Andy Griffith Show or The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Then, in 1971, producer…
The two men behind the possible schism in the Church of England
At the start of each year in the United Kingdom, the monarch doles out “honors” to citizens who’ve contributed to the betterment of British society. This year, both Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, and his longtime friend, Nicky Gumbel,…
What Greta Gerwig’s Oscars snub means for Hollywood and the church
The Academy Awards are not the final word in film, but like any institution they reflect the power dynamics of American society, including those in the church. That’s why the Academy denying Greta Gerwig a nomination for best director for…
Guns turned in at buybacks often end up back on the street
Concerned about rising gun violence, St. David’s Episcopal Church outside Detroit hosted a gun buyback in December so residents could trade firearms for gift cards. “We’re trying to help build a safer community,” explained Chris Yaw, the church’s rector. “Guns…