Obama's Actions On Issues Such As Abortion, Stem Cells Evoke Mixed Reactions From Evangelicals

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Stem Cell Research;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 17 Mar 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Conservative evangelical Christians who supported President Obama during the campaign are expressing emotions "ranging from disappointment to optimism" following his recent decisions on several "culture war issues," such as abortion and embryonic stem cell research, the AP/Yahoo! News reports. Most of Obama's decisions on such issues "have been expected," but "some right-leaning Christian leaders who took a risk sitting down at the table with a Democratic president feel that several major decisions fall short of the common ground Obama had promised on divisive social issues," the AP/Yahoo! News reports.

The Rev. Frank Page -- former president of the Southern Baptist Convention who currently serves on the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships -- said that he has been "disappointed to see little give" and a "lot of take so far," adding that he has "seen little give in the area of relating to the evangelical community as far as life issues."

According to the AP/Yahoo! News, the actions under scrutiny include the repeal of the so-called "global gag rule," which banned federal funding to international family planning groups that with their own funds provided abortion services and information; the selection of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D), a Roman Catholic who supports abortion rights, to be HHS secretary; and Obama's stated intention to rescind the HHS "conscience" rule, which allows health care workers to refuse care based on moral or religious reasons.

Administration officials said that although they are committed to protecting the rights of workers who oppose abortion, they are concerned the HHS rule goes too far and can limit access to family planning services and infertility treatment. Page said that administration officials reassured him they would not force health care workers to participate in abortions against their will. "So, on that hand, I think they are listening and trying to seek some common ground," he said, adding, "But basically, it seems like the more left-wing Democratic agenda is being followed." The Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the evangelical National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, said Obama's decisions show an "extreme shift toward the left." Rodriguez said that he "want[s] our president to succeed, but we need our president to really govern from the center and not from the extremes."

Most recently, Obama's decision to lift some restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research has left "many questions," as he directed NIH to create new guidelines for what kinds of research can receive funding, the AP/Yahoo! News reports. The Rev. Joel Hunter -- another advisory board member and the pastor of an evangelical church in Orlando, Fla. -- said that if Congress were to reverse legislation that bans federal funding from being used to create or destroy human embryos for research, "then we're going back into the culture wars."

However, Hunter said Obama is "not doing anything he hasn't said he was going to do during the campaign." While he is "not enthusiastic," Hunter said he is "not disappointed because we knew what to expect. I'm encouraged he is not totally flipping to the other side." He also said, "We've got to be patient here," adding, "I think it's premature to make a judgment. The president in most cases is taking a wise and cautious course."

The AP/Yahoo! News reports that other leaders within the evangelical movement also noted that Obama is a Democrat and a supporter of abortion rights, adding that he "has promised to proceed with caution on stem cells." Pepperdine University law Professor Douglas Kmiec, a Catholic opponent of abortion rights who endorsed Obama during the presidential campaign, said he has been encouraged by the administration's actions. He said, "As far as the expectations I had for a president who is a pro-choice president and did not share my pro-life views, [Obama] has been honest about what he intended to do and has done those things." He added that "we've been honest about our disagreements and the conversation continues."

Joshua DuBois, director of the White House's faith-based office, said that the advisory board has "begun to work with key leaders on tough issues in hopes of finding common ground," adding that the work will continue. Bishop Charles Blake of the Church of God in Christ said that he "can only believe [Obama] is going to keep" his commitment to find common ground on abortion. "There might have been some political motivation that caused him to take the early positions he has taken," Blake said, adding, "But I think he will be just as aggressive and consistent in pursuing policies that will make abortions less necessary" (Gorski, AP/Yahoo! News, 3/12).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

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