Three Leaders Who Shaped the Evangelical Pro-Life Movement
Every January the March for Life rally brings thousands of people to the National Mall in Washington D.C. to “end abortion by uniting, educating, and mobilizing pro-life people in the public square.” This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the “heightened pressures that law enforcement officers and others are currently facing in and around the Capitol,” the event organizers have made the rally virtual and are encouraging pro-lifers to join by watching the broadcast online.
The event brings in around 250,000 attendees each year, including tens of thousands of evangelicals. (In 2016 the annual Evangelicals For Life Conference began to coincide with the March for Life.) But when the original March began in 1974, abortion was still considered a “Roman Catholic issue.”
This Week at the ERLC
- The ERLC hosted the first-ever virtual Evangelicals for Life event. Russell Moore was joined by Benjamin Watson, Lauren Green McAfee, and others to discuss the future of the pro-life movement. Watch a replay here.
- Russell Moore was quoted in Baptist Press talking about court rulings on religious liberty and abortion. He also commented on President Biden's actions rescinding the Mexico City Policy.
What You Need to Read
- Jill Waggoner with How one pregnancy resource center is serving immigrant populations
Lisa Cathcart, in her role as executive director at the Pregnancy Care Center (PCC) in Nashville, Tennessee, leads her team to serve women, men, and families in the greater Nashville area facing unplanned pregnancies. Their work has grown to include a special focus on the needs of those from immigrant communities. The spirit of their work and ability to adapt is an example to all of us who seek to serve our communities, as they truly are, and honor the dignity of all people.
- Chelsea Patterson Sobolik and Josh Wester with Explainer: President Biden rescinds the Mexico City Policy
This week, President Biden announced that he will rescind the pro-life Mexico City Policy. The Mexico City Policy, established by President Reagan, prohibits U.S. foreign aid to groups that provide or promote abortion overseas. This policy has been a political football since President Clinton first rescinded it. One of President George W. Bush’s first administrative actions was reinstating this policy, and the policy has gone back and forth since then.
- Julie Masson with Why media literacy matters for Christians
Whether it’s COVID-19 related or a belief that the election was part of some conspiracy on the right or the left, many of our Christian brothers and sisters are being deceived and believing things that simply aren’t true. I am not God, and neither are you, so I can’t refute every false claim that comes at me with a counterpoint of truth. But Christians can and should exercise discernment as we engage with any and all forms of media.
News From Capitol Hill
Although the 2021 March for Life was held online, the ERLC’s policy team joined a small group gathered in D.C. today to mark the annual event by marching the route from the National Mall to the Supreme Court. They joined SBC President J.D. Greear who attended the small March as one of the speakers for the rally.
Earlier this week, the DC team joined Russell Moore, Benjamin Watson, Lauren Green McAfee, and other guests for the first-ever virtual Evangelicals for Life Conference. Travis Wussow and Chelsea Patterson Sobolik participated in a panel discussion with Steven Aden and Denise Harle on recent pro-life policy developments at the federal and state level. You can watch a replay of the event here.
The ERLC also responded to President Biden's decision to rescind the Mexico City Policy. Russell Moore urged the Biden administration to reconsider this action:
“The Mexico City policy is a common-sense matter that protects conscience freedom by preventing American taxpayer dollars from sponsoring abortions overseas. Public funds should be invested in efforts that promote human flourishing, not those that exploit women and do violence to preborn children. Foreign aid is a vital part of American leadership in the world and should be used to protect life, not end it. I urge the administration to reconsider and reverse course on this matter.”
As a key part of our 2021 public policy priorities, the ERLC will continue to work to advance a legislative agenda at the federal level that supports the protection and respects the sanctity of human life.
Featured Podcasts
In this episode, Josh, Brent, Julie, and Meagan discuss the inauguration, QAnon in light of Trump leaving the White House, the new COVID-19 variant, Uyghurs “genocide,” the four nominees for SBC president, the March for Life going virtual this year, and the states Americans are choosing to work from home in. Julie also gives a rundown of some of the ERLC’s most popular content from Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Jeff, Chelsea, and Travis discuss President Biden’s first week of executive actions. This flurry of policy-making from the White House also shows how far we’ve strayed from the constitutional structure of our federal government. Elizabeth Graham also joins the podcast to talk about the ERLC's Psalm 139 Project, this year's Evangelicals for Life conference, and the Road to Roe 50 initiative.
From The Public Square
9th Circuit Upholds California's Temporary Ban On Indoor Worship Services
Howard Friedman, Religion Clause
In South Bay United Pentecostal Church v. Newsom, (9th Cir., Jan. 22, 2021), the U.S. 9th Circuit court of Appeals affirmed a California federal district court's denial of a preliminary injunction to a church that objects to the state's COVID-19 ban on indoor religious services.
Political upheaval alters strategies in US abortion debate
David Crary, Associated Press
Anti-abortion leaders across America were elated a year ago when Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to appear in person at their highest-profile annual event, the March for Life held every January.
Religious Freedom and Democracy a Decade after the Arab Spring
Eric Patterson, Providence
When it comes to the first freedom, that which is tied to speech, conscience, assembly, the press and printing, and private property—religious freedom—the situation remains troubling.
Appeals court revisits Texas ban on abortion procedure
Kevin, McGill, Associated Press
Attorneys for the state of Texas have returned to a federal appeals court to argue that the state should be able to ban a common second-trimester abortion procedure.
