Explainer: U.S. birth and fertility rates fall to record lows

A new provisional report from the Centers for Disease Control finds that the United States had the lowest number of births since 1979 and the lowest fertility rate in our nation’s history.
According to the report, the number of births for the United States in 2020 was 3,605,201, down 4% from 2019. This is the sixth consecutive year that the number of births has declined after an increase in 2014.

Editor's Note

At the ERLC, we are passionate about seeing women flourish and utilize the creative gifts in service to the kingdom. This is why I’m excited to let you know about our next digital event on May 13 focused on these very themes. Register now at no cost to attend the event and hear from Jen Wilkin, Katie McCoy, Missie Branch, and the ERLC’s Chelsea Sobolik.

This Week in Washington, D.C.

This week, President Biden signed an order raising the refugee admissions ceiling for the current fiscal year to 62,500 from its historically low level of 15,000.

Russell Moore, president of the ERLC, said in an Evangelical Immigration Table press release commending the Biden Administration’s decision that he was “thankful President Biden revised his decision on the refugee ceiling.”

President Biden’s decision to raise the refugee ceiling came only weeks after Moore and the Evangelical Immigration Table expressed dismay and disappointment in the Biden Administration's failure to follow through on their commitments. As Moore has said, “Rhetoric is no refuge for the persecuted.”

The ERLC will continue to work with our coalition partners and the executive branch to advance issues of concern to Southern Baptists and bear witness to policies pursued by the government that run contrary to biblical principles.

From The Public Square

Montana Governor Signs Bill Protecting And Empowering People’s Religious Freedom
Christian Daily

Entitled "Montana Religious Freedom Restoration Act," the Christian Daily reported that Gianforte signed the law out of his desire that the "right to freely exercise their religion" be protected. Gianforte was referring to citizens who he intends to be delivered from the government's "burdening" of their religious liberty.

Germany announces bust of 'one of the world's biggest child pornography darknet platforms'
The Week

German prosecutors announced Monday that they have dismantled the child pornography platform "Boystown" and arrested three alleged site administrators and one extremely active German user. With more than 400,000 registered members, "Boystown" was "one of the world's biggest child pornography darknet platforms," prosecutors said.

US Catholic bishops may press Biden to stop taking Communion
Associated Press

When U.S. Catholic bishops hold their next national meeting in June, they’ll be deciding whether to send a tougher-than-ever message to President Joe Biden and other Catholic politicians.

Arizona Enacts New Abortion Restrictions
Religion Clause

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed SB 1457 placing additional limits on abortion in the state. The new law bans abortions sought because of a genetic abnormality of the fetus, except in medical emergencies. It prohibits performance of abortions in facilities run by or located on the property of public educational institutions, except when necessary to save the life of the mother.

What You Need to Read

Jared Kennedy with Conversations about gender should begin with humility: Helping parents navigate hard topics with their children

Beyond the uncomfortable emotions involved, navigating conversations about gender and sex with our children means exploring emotional, moral, personal, and theological matters — serious subjects. Most parents feel a lot of pressure to respond perfectly. We’re afraid if things go sideways and our children choose to reject our values and beliefs, it could be our fault for not handling the teachable moment well. It’s easy to feel paralyzed by what we should or shouldn’t say and do. If we’re honest, we feel desperate and ill equipped.

Alex Ward with Why reading classics can help us answer age-old questions: An interview with Karen Swallow Prior

We are wise to understand, then, that our limited understanding must be measured against the only reliable source of truth we have — God and his Word. We are our own unreliable narrators. But by God’s grace, we can see ourselves within the context of his story. Reading other people’s stories helps to realize our need to do so.

Rachel Lonas with Why it’s important to value neurodiversity in the Church: And three ways you can help

Within the body of Christ, where the dignity of all humans as image-bearers of our triune God is affirmed, such joyful celebration of God’s infinite creativity should be commonplace. So why does it feel like many of us have been waiting too long to hear the church speak to these issues in a meaningful way?

This Week at the ERLC

Featured Podcasts

On WeeklyTech, Jason Thacker is joined by Dr. Jonathan Armstrong, Professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute, and Dr. Darrell Bock, Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary to talk about their latest book, “Virtual Reality Church.”

Jeff Pickering and Travis Wussow welcome Matthew Soerens of World Relief, a refugee resettlement agency, to Capitol Conversations to talk about what happened with President Biden’s decision on the refugee admissions ceiling.