The president of the Southern Baptist Convention was among people of faith and pro-lifers who expressed disappointment Tuesday at the new Republican platform, which weakens the party’s stance on abortion and, for the first time since 1972, does not include language explicitly referring to “the unborn child.” The 2024 platform, passed by the Republican National Committee’s Platform Committee on Tuesday, is the first Republican platform since 1972 that does not support a federal pro-life solution to the abortion issue. Every platform since 1976 has been pro-life, with the 2016 platform stating, “We assert the sanctity of human life and recognize that the unborn has a fundamental right to life that must not be infringed.”
The new platform states that abortion is a state issue.
The language on abortion in the 2024 platform states, “We believe that the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees that no person shall be denied life or liberty without due process, and therefore that states are free to enact laws to protect those rights.”
Southern Baptist Convention President Clint Pressley spoke out against the new platform.
“I am disheartened by what has happened in the Republican Party,” Pressley wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “The Republican platform may change, but God’s Word does not. Southern Baptists ‘affirm the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death,’ and we will demand the same from our elected officials.”
I am disheartened by what has happened in the Republican Party. The Republican platform may change, but the Word of God will not. Southern Baptists “assert the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death” and will do the same for our elected officials.
— Clint Presley (@pastorclint) July 9, 2024
The 2024 platform also supports “access to contraception and in vitro fertilization,” language that has not appeared in past platforms and that some social conservatives have opposed. For example, the Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution this year expressing concerns about in vitro fertilization and calling on the government to restrict it.
Lila Rose, founder and president of LiveAction, criticized the new platform.
“The new Republican pro-life policies are a huge step down from the previous 40 years,” Rose said. Said“This is extremely unfortunate and harmful to the American unborn. Our Constitution guarantees everyone the right to equal protection. It is not for states to decide which innocent people they can unjustly kill.”
The new Republican platform on life is a significant step down from the platforms of the past 40 years.
This is extremely unfortunate and harmful to the unborn in America. Our Constitution guarantees everyone the right to equal protection. States do not get to decide which states to grant protection to…
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) July 8, 2024
Rose added, “President Trump won in 2016 on a platform of life sentence protections that have been part of the Republican platform for 40 years and a promise to appoint strong constitutional justice judges. Trump’s recent comments on life sentences and the downgraded life sentence protections in the Republican platform that he endorsed have alienated some of his most ardent supporters and will likely not win over any moderates at all.”
President Trump won the 2016 election on a platform of pro-life, which has been a part of the Republican platform for 40 years, and a promise to appoint strong constitutional justices. President Trump’s recent comments on life, and the downgrading of pro-life in the Republican platform he endorsed, are…
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) July 8, 2024
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, Criticized He is a member of the Platform Committee that did not approve the amendment.
My Statement on the 2024 Republican Platform. pic.twitter.com/DbHdnB7yY2
— Tony Perkins (@tperkins) July 8, 2024
“I’m concerned that Republicans are moving away from a strong and clear goal of protecting children from the moment of conception,” Perkins said.
2024 @gop The party platform is a fine election promise, but it lacks substance – the party’s enduring, historic principles.
I am concerned that the Republican Party is moving away from a strong and clear goal: protecting children from the moment of conception. Newsmax pic.twitter.com/LcggMuZxgB
— Tony Perkins (@tperkins) July 9, 2024
Christine Hawkins, president of the American Student Life Association, said: Said “The platform is disappointing” and “it’s as if abortion is solely a state issue.”
“President Trump is wrong on this point.“ She said:
Photo credit: ©Facebook/Clint Presley
Michael Faust He has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years, and his work has appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Chronicle, Toronto Star and Knoxville News Sentinel.
