Mormon Church explains, finally disavows ban on black priests

[additional-authors]

Brad A. Greenberg

December 10, 2013

The Mormon Church lifted its ban on black priests 35 years ago. But not until Friday had it offered much explanation or bothered to disavow the ban. That is when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints posted on its website ““>posthumous baptism). Of course, Christians once used the Bible to justify slavery, so …

Regardless of the reasons for delay and the effects that will follow, this seems like an important moment for the Mormon Church. Much more on the statement and reactions to it from Peggy Fletcher Stack at the

Did you enjoy this article?

You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Israel and the Internet Wars – A Professional Social Media Review

Marion Haberman

The Invisible Student: A Tale of Homelessness at UCLA and USC

Tabby Refael

What Ever Happened to the LA Times?

Dan Schnur

Who Are the Jews On Joe Biden’s Cabinet?

Ryan Torok

You’re Not a Bad Jewish Mom If Your Kid Wants Santa Claus to Come to Your House

Marion Haberman

No Labels: The Group Fighting for the Political Center

Larry Greenfield

Latest Articles

Grateful, Brave, and Looking Ahead: Niver’s End of Summer News

Lisa Ellen Niver

Nail Polish in a War Zone: Keeping Our Sanity in a Time of Turmoil

David Suissa

A Moment in Time: “Team Building”

Rabbi Zach Shapiro

Elul Anytime

Chaim Steinmetz

Every Rose Has Nothing To Fear – A poem for Parsha Shoftim

Rick Lupert

Accuser of Israel Confesses to Genocide

Rafael Medoff

Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn: A Moral Tale

August 28, 2025

Huck’s journey was Twain’s journey, but it extended beyond humanizing the Blacks to the Jews as well.

The DOJ’s Leo Terrell Is Fighting Antisemitism and Standing Up for the Jewish People

August 28, 2025

A Bisl Torah — Help it Grow

August 28, 2025

May it be a season of change and a season of growth.

Hermeneutics of Suspicion Casting Suspicion

August 28, 2025

Episode 122 Taste Buds with Deb Jennifer Stempel: “With a Needle and Thread,” Cuban Jewish Culture and Guava and Cheese Pastry

August 28, 2025

Taste Buds with Deb – Episode 122

Jewish Family Service LA Launches Program to Shape Next Generation of Social Service Leaders

August 28, 2025

JFSLA’s Community Impact Network aims to inspire and equip young adults to lead social change

Shoftim – Judges and Officers – And a Lifetime of Study

August 27, 2025

New Series Spotlights Israel’s Unexpected Allies

August 27, 2025

A digital series produced by ILTV and sponsored by Israel Bonds is amplifying passionate voices speaking up for Israel

Summer Travel Summit 2025: Road Trips, Budget Travel, and Nissan’s Drive Into the Future

August 26, 2025

Bringing God Down to Earth

August 26, 2025

Mark Gerson’s new book, “God Was Right,” offers a continuous dance between ancient wisdom and modern science, and comes out with practical lessons on virtually every aspect of life.

Unveiling Europe’s Rising Stars: A Perfect Blend of Beaches and Culture.

August 25, 2025

Jews Must Bring Back King’s Dream

August 25, 2025

As Jew-haters continue to separate us from America, there’s no better moment to reaffirm our bond with this country than the anniversary of King’s defining speech.

Jews and Guns: Time for a Reckoning?

August 25, 2025

Perhaps it’s time to make amends not only with guns, but also with the millions of our fellow Americans who carry them.

Calling All People of Principle

August 24, 2025

Where are the men and women of courage and moral clarity, like Émile Zola, who recognize biblical scapegoating in the world’s condemnation of Israel?

An Israeli Soldier’s Suicide Reminds Us of the Survivor’s Guilt So Many Carry

August 22, 2025

We’re Allowing Jew-Haters to Define American Jewry and Distance Us From America

August 22, 2025

We should never stop fighting the haters, but we should fight them as Jewish Americans, not just as Jews who worry only about Jews.

There’s Always a Jewish Party Around the Corner – A poem for Parsha Re’eh

August 21, 2025

There’s always a Jewish party around the corner…

If I Had Lived: Anne Frank on Why Israel Must Always Defend the Jewish People

August 21, 2025

Yesterday, I visited the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. In this imagined essay, Anne Frank reflects on the Holocaust, the massacre of October 7, and why the State of Israel and a strong IDF are the only guarantee that “Never Again” is not an empty slogan.