An opinion piece in the New York Times last week unfairly thrashed Americans of the Christian faith who support the belief that life begins at conception.

First – an inaccuracy. The Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade did not “rescind the reproductive rights that American women have enjoyed (emphasis mine) over the past half-century…”  The Supreme Court returned this decision where it belongs – to the people and to the states. Whatever one’s opinion is on when life begins (conception or birth), the Supreme Court made the right decision in since there is zero mention of abortion in the Constitution – it cannot be defended on a legal basis.

The opinion piece argues for the “individual rights,” but nowhere does it address the rights of the baby- the unborn! Scientific advances allow surgery in vitro, and heartbeats are detected at 6 weeks of pregnancy.

If one believes life begins at birth, the shocking legislation proposed in California to also allow parents to decide the baby’s life or death during the “perinatal period” (4 weeks post birth), should give even the hardest heart a chill. If this bill passes, what is next? Will the limit be raised to a toddler, and then a kindergartener?

To opine that Christians are trying to break American democracy is beyond absurd – they are trying to retain it. Google, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and other Big Tech platforms have been “deplatforming” any views THEY do not agree with, which are usually traditional, yes, what used to be known as Judeo-Christian values. Access to public airwaves, public communications are much like access to a train – a public good that all must be able to enter its doors.

It is a tenet of our democracy to “non-discriminate.” This was recently upheld in Maine whereby funding for school choice cannot EXCLUDE religious schools. The Supreme Court correctly ruled that the exclusion of schools that provide religious instruction violates the First Amendment’s free exercise clause. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights guarantee freedom OF religion and not FROM religion.

The author of the opinion piece is sadly ignorant or unbelieving of the Bible. Psalm 139, verse 11 (MEV): “You brought my inner parts into being;   You wove me in my mother’s womb.” (Emphasis mine).

The Gospel of Luke, Chapter 1:41a notes that “When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb (Emphasis mine). Chapter 1:44b notes that “…the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” (Emphasis mine).

What the author labels as “Christian nationalism” refers to men and women who are seeking a return to godly, and yes, Christian values with regard, reverence, and respect for our loving Creator and His ways. Hopefully one day the author will find it.