Press Release  Abortion

ERLC Commends Trump Administration for Reinstating Pro-life Policies 

ERLC Commends Trump

Brent Leatherwood, president of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, commended President Donald Trump for signing a series of executive orders aimed at preventing the use of federal taxpayer dollars from funding abortion both overseas and in the United States. 

“The consciences of millions of Americans were offended and grieved by President Biden’s 2021 memorandum that described abortions at home and abroad as ‘healthcare’ and did away with essential restrictions on federal funding for abortion providers,” said Leatherwood. “The ending of a human life is not healthcare, and taxpayer dollars should never be used to fund abortions in any capacity. Guaranteeing that the Hyde Amendment is not circumvented and reinstating the Mexico City policy are vital examples of the important role the federal government can and should play in the fight for life. We are grateful to President Trump for his willingness to take these significant steps to save preborn lives.”

On Nov. 12, the ERLC sent a letter addressed to then President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team, highlighting five primary policy actions the ERLC urged the administration to give immediate attention to during President Trump’s first 100 days in office. 

Chief policy priorities included: 

  1. Reinforce policies that ensure the government does not fund abortion. The Hyde Amendment and similar provisions ensure that the federal government cannot directly fund abortion. Each year during the appropriations process, there is a risk that these pro-life provisions will not be included for the upcoming fiscal year. The ERLC asks the Trump administration to affirm continued support for these pro-life policies upon taking office.
  2. Withhold government funding for abortion providers, domestically and abroad. Several government programs, such as USAID and Title X, provide contracts or grants to entities for family planning and related projects. The ERLC asks the Trump administration to reinstate the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy (formerly known as the Mexico City Policy) and similar Title X policies, which barred entities that perform or counsel for abortions domestically and abroad from receiving government funds.

Miles Mullin, ERLC vice president, also commented on the ERLC’s commitment to championing life. 

“For many years, Southern Baptists have stood on the frontline to promote a culture of life, and we wholeheartedly affirm that every life is made in the image of God, including our preborn neighbors,” said Mullin. “Here at the ERLC, we will continue to prioritize and advance policies that both protect life and support our churches in those efforts, work that will help usher in a new era in the pro-life movement.”

ERLC Commends Trump


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