Christian conservatives are enraged.
The proposed Republican Party platform, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, represents a significant departure from previous stances on key social issues. It seeks to soften the GOP’s pro-life stance by omitting calls for federal abortion restrictions and language opposing same-sex marriage.
During a closed-door session of the 2024 Republican convention platform committee, the proposed abortion plank was approved by an 84-18 vote. Unlike Trump’s platforms in 2016 and 2020, which advocated for a national abortion ban and a constitutional amendment protecting unborn life, the new draft supports states’ rights to decide their own abortion laws. Trump has voiced support for this decentralized approach, criticizing federal efforts to impose restrictions and previously rebuking Florida for enacting a six-week abortion ban.
The platform draft also removes condemnation of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. Instead, it emphasizes promoting a culture that values marriage, childhood blessings, and supportive policies for working parents, without taking a stance on same-sex marriage itself.
Conservative Christian groups, including the Family Research Council, have campaigned to preserve the GOP’s traditional socially conservative positions. They argue that party platforms are crucial for articulating principles and priorities, particularly in a time of moral and cultural confusion.
Ralph Reed of the Faith & Freedom Coalition views the platform as firmly pro-life, asserting that it upholds the constitutional right to life under the 14th Amendment’s due process clause. This language, echoing sentiments expressed in past GOP platforms and by Ronald Reagan, reflects a longstanding conservative viewpoint on abortion.
However, not all Republicans are aligned on these changes. Senator Marco Rubio supports adapting the platform to reflect the nominee’s stance, emphasizing that the Supreme Court’s actions have shifted abortion policy to state-level decision-making. This view contrasts with critics like Tony Perkins, who warn that abandoning pro-life principles in the platform could alienate conservative voters.
Perkins has raised concerns about transparency in the platform committee’s deliberations, criticizing new rules that restrict access for guests and the press. He argues that such measures could lead to a diluted platform lacking meaningful policy commitments.
As the debate within the GOP continues, the direction of the party’s platform on abortion and other social issues remains a point of contention, reflecting broader ideological shifts and strategic considerations ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
