As resistance to their core beliefs intensifies, particularly on the issue of abortion, conservative Christians are grappling with an evolving political landscape. Despite their long standing victories, including the historic overturning of Roe v. Wade, the future appears more uncertain, reports New York Times.
Former Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, a known advocate for socially conservative causes, recently addressed a small gathering of Christian voters in Grapevine, Texas. When he asked if they felt discouraged, nearly all attendees raised their hands—a surprising response given their significant legal wins, including the Supreme Court’s decision favoring public prayer in schools. Yet, with the 2024 presidential election nearing, their optimism appears diminished, as powerful efforts to oppose their values, especially on abortion, seem ever-present.
Despite their historical victories, many conservative Christians now find themselves increasingly isolated. While they are expected to overwhelmingly support Donald Trump in the upcoming election, they face the growing reality that many of their views are not widely accepted, and advancing their agenda requires powerful national allies. However, Trump has recently shown signs of distancing himself from their causes, leaving them politically uncertain.
For decades, conservative Christians, particularly evangelical and Catholic voters, believed they represented a “silent majority” that could win key battles by rallying their base. The 2016 promise by Trump that “Christianity will have power” resonated with them, and his administration delivered significant victories, such as appointing judges who ultimately overturned Roe. However, in the post-Roe era, the political climate has shifted, and many Republicans have softened their stance on key issues like abortion and same-sex marriage.
In states like Alabama and Oklahoma, conservative Christian priorities continue to hold sway. Alabama’s Supreme Court declared that frozen embryos have rights as children, and Oklahoma mandated Bible teachings in public schools. However, these successes have been accompanied by significant mainstream backlash, with Christian opposition to abortion and other reproductive issues becoming increasingly unpopular. As a result, figures like Trump have distanced themselves from staunch opposition to abortion rights, leaving many Christian activists feeling alienated.
Senator JD Vance of Ohio, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, remains committed to their causes, maintaining strong opposition to abortion and advocating for traditional family values. Trump’s allies, through the Project 2025 initiative, are working to craft a socially conservative agenda aimed at reshaping American policies on issues such as abortion, marriage, and education. Still, many Christian conservatives feel frustrated, noting Trump’s lack of outreach to their base.
Bunni Pounds, who leads Christians Engaged, expressed disappointment in the Republican Party’s evolving platform, particularly its removal of a reference to marriage being between a man and a woman. She believes this shift complicates efforts to mobilize Christian voters, although she remains confident that “Bible-believing Christians” will not support Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
Christian conservatives are still working to mobilize their base for the 2024 election. In Wisconsin, Wisconsin Family Action aims to insert voting reminders into the bulletins of 700 evangelical churches, marking a fourfold increase from the 2022 midterms. Their efforts are inspired by the belief that, just as the Apostle Paul influenced the Roman government for Christian values, they too can shape America’s future.
By Elizabeth Dias and Ruth Graham, New York Times
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